Tag: wwe video highlights

WWE SmackDown video highlights: AJ Styles addresses his future

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AJ Styles has got a lot left in the tank.

Throughout last night’s SmackDown, Styles teased that his in-ring career might be over. The episode culminated with an emotional Styles, wearing a powder blue suit, giving what appeared to be a retirement speech. But it all ended up being a ruse like Mark Henry in 2013. Styles used the fake retirement as a way to target Cody Rhodes. After calling Rhodes out to the ring, Styles attacked the Undisputed WWE Champion and laid him out with a Styles Clash.

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis told Styles last week that he would need to go to the back of the line and earn another shot at Rhodes. Styles then met with Aldis last night and requested some time to address his future.

Styles brought Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson out with him for his speech. After thinking about what Aldis said, Styles realized that, at this point in his life and career, he can’t work his way back up to a title shot.

“This past week, my son graduated high school,” Styles said. “And I got to be there. We had his graduation party at my house, and it was beautiful. So many friends and family were there. And it was literally at that point, clarity hit me upside the head — ‘How many of these have I missed?’ So instead of being the Phenomenal AJ Styles, maybe I stay at home and be a phenomenal father.”

Styles expressed his appreciation for Gallows and Anderson before the trio did one last Too Sweet together. He then had Rhodes join him in the ring.

“Before I came out here to do what I got to do, I just wanted to look you in the eyes, face-to-face, and tell you I had one of the greatest matches I’ve ever had at Backlash in Lyon, France,” Styles told Rhodes. “The crowd was electric. And if I was going to have one last match, that would be it. But just so you know, this is still the house that AJ Styles built. And I called you out here to hand you the keys.”

Rhodes revealed that he and Styles have only ever texted each other once. After Backlash, Rhodes reached out to see if Styles was ok. Styles’ response was, “I’m all good, little bro.” On behalf of everyone in the locker room, Rhodes thanked Styles for being a big bro to them.

The two hugged and Rhodes raised Styles’ arm in celebration, but Styles dropped Rhodes with a lariat. He beat Rhodes down as Gallows and Anderson prevented officials from putting a stop to the attack. Styles then gave Rhodes a Styles Clash, jumping from the steel steps and planting Rhodes on the floor.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Piper Niven & Chelsea Green attack Bayley during Nia Jax’s coronation

AJ Styles requests some time to speak about his future

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Austin Theory

LA Knight wants Logan Paul’s United States title

Andrade declines an invitation to join Legado Del Fantasma

Andrade vs. Apollo Crews

Paul Heyman pleads with Kevin Owens to back off The Bloodline

Kevin Owens & The Street Profits brawl with The Bloodline

The Street Profits vs. Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa

Jade Cargill will gladly put Indi Hartwell on the shelf next to Candice LeRae

Bayley & Naomi vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

AJ Styles speaks with LA Knight, Cody Rhodes, and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson

AJ Styles addresses his future, lays out Cody Rhodes

WWE Raw video highlights: Liv Morgan kisses Dominik Mysterio

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Liv Morgan’s first Women’s World Championship defense was a successful one — thanks to Dominik Mysterio.

Two days after losing the title to Morgan, Becky Lynch got her rematch inside of a steel cage in the main event of Raw last night. Seemingly inadvertent interference by Dominik again led to Morgan defeating Lynch. Dominik said he was going to make things right to Rhea Ripley by ensuring that Morgan lost the title. But after being pushed by Braun Strowman, Dominik accidentally slammed the cage door into Lynch’s face. That allowed Morgan to escape the cage and remain Women’s World Champion.

The dynamic between Morgan and Dominik continued to get more complicated after the match. In a moment that happened after the USA Network feed went off the air, Morgan planted a kiss on Dominik. He seemed confused by the kiss.

With Lynch’s future in question and her WWE contract scheduled to expire soon, she made the following post on social media after Raw ended:

There was also a moment earlier in the episode where, when giving a pep talk to Lyra Valkyria, Lynch said that you keep learning “until it’s time to walk away.”

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Video package recaps King & Queen of the Ring

Damian Priest interrupts Gunther’s King of the Ring victory celebration

Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest try to get under each other’s skin

Braun Strowman vs. JD McDonagh

Ricochet vs. Ilja Dragunov, Bron Breakker demolishes both with spears

Karrion Kross tries to convince Xavier Woods that Kofi Kingston is holding him back

Authors of Pain vs. The Creed Brothers

WWE honors the United States Armed Forces on Memorial Day

Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser brawl backstage

Lyra Valkyria vs. Kairi Sane

Rey Mysterio vs. Carlito

Otis vs. Bronson Reed

Chad Gable holds an Alpha Academy meeting

Sami Zayn attempts to talk sense into Otis

Steel cage match: Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship

Liv Morgan plants a kiss on Dominik Mysterio

Raw fallout: The Savannah Bananas had a blast attending Raw

Raw Talk: The Final Testament, Ludwig Kaiser, Lyra Valkyria appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Randy Orton, Nia Jax advance to tournament finals

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Randy Orton and Nia Jax will be SmackDown’s representatives in the King & Queen of the Ring finals.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia hosted its first of two straight nights of WWE events. Orton defeated Tama Tonga in the main event of SmackDown to earn his spot in Saturday’s King of the Ring finals. Jax advanced to the Queen of the Ring finals with a victory over Bianca Belair earlier in the episode.

Orton vs. Gunther and Jax vs. Lyra Valkyria are the finals of the respective tournaments. In addition to bragging rights, the King & Queen of the Ring winners will receive title shots at SummerSlam.

Gunther and Valkyria were in the crowd watching on as Orton and Jax won their matches last night.

A storyline knee injury will be a factor for Orton against Gunther. The two had a staredown after Orton defeated Tonga. Solo Sikoa tried to take Orton out in a post-match attack, but Kevin Owens ran out to make the save.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Queen of the Ring semifinal match: Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell mock Bianca Belair

Street Profits help LA Knight even the odds against Grayson Waller, Austin Theory & Carmelo Hayes

LA Knight & The Street Profits vs. Grayson Waller, Austin Theory & Carmelo Hayes

Cody Rhodes calls Logan Paul’s bluff about not having brass knuckles

Bayley vs. Chelsea Green

Piper Niven lays out Bayley in post-match attack

Paul Heyman tells Solo Sikoa there’s a reason why Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa weren’t in WWE before

King of the Ring semifinal match: Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga

SmackDown fallout: To become a legend, Gunther has to defeat a legend like Randy Orton

SmackDown fallout: Lyra Valkyria performs best when the stakes are the highest

SmackDown fallout: Piper Niven can’t wait to clash with Bayley again

WWE Raw video highlights: Gunther, Lyra Valkyria advance to tournament finals

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Gunther and Lyra Valkyria have a chance to become WWE royalty this Saturday.

Monday night’s Raw saw Gunther and Valkyria advance to the finals of their respective tournaments. In the main event of the show, Gunther defeated Jey Uso to earn a spot in the King of the Ring finals. Valkyria booked her place in the Queen of the Ring finals with a victory against IYO SKY earlier in the night.

The story for the main event was Uso coming close to defeating Gunther but ultimately passing out in a sleeper. There was a moment where Uso gave Gunther a spear but accidentally took out the referee as well. When Uso followed up with a top rope splash, the referee was still recovering and slow to make the count. That gave Gunther enough time to kick out. He then locked Uso in a sleeper for the win.

Valkyria, a recent NXT call-up, was able to continue her run in Queen of the Ring by upsetting SKY. After avoiding a moonsault, Valkyria went for her Nightwing finisher. SKY slipped out of it, but Valkyria then sat down on a pin to get the three count.

Saudi Arabia is hosting King & Queen of the Ring this Saturday (May 25). The event streams live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The King of the Ring finals will be Gunther vs. either Randy Orton or Tama Tonga. For Queen of the Ring, it will be Valkyria vs. Bianca Belair or Nia Jax.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Sami Zayn wants Alpha Academy to stop putting up with Chad Gable’s crap

Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable

Cruz Del Toro gets attacked backstage

Bron Breakker demolishes Kale Dixon

Queen of the Ring semifinal match: Lyra Valkyria vs. IYO SKY

Bron Breakker lays out Ricochet with a spear

Carlito needs to keep earning his keep if he wants Judgment Day’s protection

Sonya Deville returns

Awesome Truth vs. Judgment Day for the World Tag Team titles

Becky Lynch congratulates Lyra Valkyria, Liv Morgan gives Valkyria a cheap shot

Otis apologizes to Sami Zayn for costing him match against Chad Gable

Liv Morgan is ready to complete her revenge tour and become Women’s World Champion

Xavier Woods is cleared to compete, gets unnerved by Karrion Kross

Fatal four-way match determines challengers for Women’s Tag Team titles

Drew McIntyre is playing chess, Damian Priest is just playing with his guyliner

Chad Gable needs Otis to help him win the Intercontinental title at King & Queen of the Ring

King of the Ring semifinal match: Jey Uso vs. Gunther

Raw fallout: Gunther is looking forward to defeating either Randy Orton or Tama Tonga

Raw fallout: Awesome Truth are in a good mood after their successful title defense

Raw fallout: Baszler & Stark tell Jackie Redmond to mind her business about Sonya Deville

Raw Talk: Lyra Valkyria, Braun Strowman, Ilja Dragunov appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Logan Paul pulls a bait-and-switch

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cody Rhodes vs. Logan Paul won’t be a title vs. title match after all.

During their contract signing on SmackDown last night, it was revealed that Paul won’t be defending his United States title when he faces Rhodes at WWE King & Queen of the Ring. Only Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line. Paul ripped up the initial contract for the match, claiming that he never agreed to put his U.S. title on the line. He instead had his lawyer draw up a new contract.

Paul claimed that Rhodes has done nothing to earn a U.S. title shot. SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis was furious at Paul for the bait-and-switch, but Rhodes agreed to sign the new contract. Rhodes vowed to defeat Paul, just like Mike Tyson is going to do to Logan’s brother Jake in their boxing match.

“Here’s the situation: the honeymoon with you is over,” Rhodes said. “I’ve seen you do a flip. Whoop-de-doo. After our match at King & Queen of the Ring, you will find out exactly who Logan Paul is on the inside. And you mention Mike Tyson, good. Because in eight days, a WWE Hall of Famer is going to knock your brother out. And in Saudi Arabia, a future WWE Hall of Famer is going to beat you.”

Paul attempted to give Rhodes a cheap shot, but Rhodes was able to duck and then clothesline Paul out of the ring. He then powerbombed a member of Paul’s entourage through a table.

The King & Queen of the Ring PLE is happening next Saturday (May 25). Last night, SmackDown’s quarterfinals in the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments took place. Randy Orton, Tama Tonga, Bianca Belair, and Nia Jax all advanced. Jade Cargill was dealt her first WWE loss when she got disqualified against Jax.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Queen of the Ring quarterfinal match: Bianca Belair vs. Tiffany Stratton

Carmelo Hayes interrupts LA Knight’s backstage interview

King of the Ring quarterfinal match: LA Knight vs. Tama Tonga

Cody Rhodes & Logan Paul contract signing

Queen of the Ring quarterfinal match: Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax

DIY vs. Legado del Fantasma

King of the Ring quarterfinal match: Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes

Randy Orton isn’t intimidated by The Bloodline

SmackDown fallout: Carmelo Hayes didn’t lose — he just didn’t win

SmackDown fallout: LA Knight doesn’t know how to quit

WWE Raw video highlights: King & Queen of the Ring quarterfinals

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Raw’s side of the King & Queen of the Ring tournament brackets continued to narrow down with the quarterfinals taking place last night.

Gunther and Ilja Dragunov won’t be renewing their rivalry on the main roster quite yet. Gunther was able to advance to the King of the Ring semifinals with a victory over Kofi Kingston, but Dragunov fell short in his main event match against Jey Uso. It will be Gunther vs. Uso next week with a spot in the King of the Ring finals on the line.

Raw ended with Gunther having a staredown with Uso. As he made his way out to the ring, Gunther also glanced at Dragunov.

IYO SKY vs. Lyra Valkyria is Raw’s semifinal match in the Queen of the Ring tournament. That bout is happening next Monday as well.

In the quarterfinals last night, SKY defeated Shayna Baszler and Valkyria defeated Zoey Stark. There was an angle later in the show where Valkyria and SKY went face-to-face when Valkyria saved Becky Lynch from an attack by Damage CTRL

The finals of both tournaments are being held at WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring PLE in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25. The quarterfinal matches on SmackDown’s side of the bracket are taking place this Friday. They are: Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight vs. Tama Tonga, Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax, and Bianca Belair vs. Tiffany Stratton.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Damian Priest will give Drew McIntyre a World title shot when he’s cleared to compete

Queen of the Ring quarterfinals: IYO SKY vs. Shayna Baszler

Carlito wants to work with The Judgment Day, Damian Priest doesn’t trust him

Chad Gable needs the serious version of Otis to help soften up Sami Zayn for him

Lilian Garcia appears, shares a moment with Samantha Irvin

King of the Ring quarterfinals: Kofi Kingston vs. Gunther

Liv Morgan gets slapped after insulting Becky Lynch behind her back

Akira Tozawa vs. Bronson Reed

Queen of the Ring quarterfinals: Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark

Sami Zayn vs. Otis, Chad Gable slaps Otis after his loss

Becky Lynch vs. Dakota Kai, Lyra Valkyria saves Lynch from post-match attack

Carlito helps Judgment Day win fatal four-way number one contender’s tag match

Damian Priest wants to see Carlito handle his business against Rey Mysterio

King of the Ring quarterfinals: Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov

Raw fallout: Jey Uso is fit to be King of the Ring

Raw fallout: Ilja Dragunov and Kofi Kingston get interviewed after their King of the Ring losses

Raw fallout: Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark react to their Queen of the Ring losses

Raw fallout: Rey Mysterio says it’s time for Carlito to pay for his betrayal

Raw Talk: Damage CTRL, Awesome Truth, Bronson Reed appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Cody Rhodes & Logan Paul confrontation

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After a successful defense against AJ Styles at Backlash, Cody Rhodes already has a new challenger for his Undisputed WWE Championship.

Logan Paul will challenge Rhodes for the title at WWE King & Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25. It was indicated that Paul’s United States title will also be on the line. The champion vs. champion match was set up on SmackDown last night.

The show opened with SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis revealing that Paul will face Rhodes at King & Queen of the Ring. A promo back-and-forth between Paul and Rhodes then took place. Paul boasted about being the longest-reigning current champion in WWE, and he claimed to be fueling the success of WWE’s new era.

“Three years ago at WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes and I debuted on the same night,” Paul said. “And since then, I have been the rocket fuel for the spaceship that is WWE. So my question for you is: How can you finish the story when it’s not even your story?”

Rhodes praised everything that Paul has accomplished, but he called Paul disrespectful, self-centered, and delusional. Rhodes said WWE’s success isn’t because of any one person — it’s a team effort. At King & Queen of the Ring, Rhodes will make Paul understand where he stands on that team.

During his promo, Rhodes also brought up that he’ll be a Grand Slam champion if he wins the United States title from Paul. The segment concluded with Rhodes and Paul going face-to-face and posing with their title belts.

SmackDown’s action in the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments also got underway last night. Randy Orton, Tama Tonga, Carmelo Hayes, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax all advanced.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Logan Paul will challenge Cody Rhodes at WWE King & Queen of the Ring

Queen of the Ring tournament match: Naomi vs. Nia Jax

DIY hype video

King of the Ring tournament match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Baron Corbin

Queen of the Ring tournament match: Jade Cargill vs. Piper Niven

Queen of the Ring tournament match: Bianca Belair vs. Candice LeRae

Solo Sikoa claims Roman Reigns has left him in charge of The Bloodline

King of the Ring tournament match: Angelo Dawkins vs. Tama Tonga

King of the Ring tournament match: Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles

SmackDown fallout: Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell are irate after LeRae’s loss

SmackDown fallout: Ring announcer Alicia Taylor reacts to her first night on SmackDown

WWE Raw video highlights: Gunther vs. Sheamus, Dragunov vs. Ricochet, more

Posted on by Joseph Currier
The start of WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring tournaments was the focus of last night’s Raw.

On the show, six tournament matches took place. Gunther, Ilja Dragunov, Jey Uso, IYO SKY, Lyra Valkyria, and Zoey Stark all advanced to the quarterfinals. The remaining first-round matches on the Raw side of the bracket (Kofi Kingston vs. Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler) will take place at WWE house shows this weekend.

Gunther and Sheamus renewed their rivalry with another banger in last night’s main event. With his victory, Gunther now has a 3-0 record against Sheamus in singles matches. He tapped Sheamus out with a half-crab after Ludwig Kaiser had interfered and attacked Sheamus’ knee.

Sheamus shared a photo of his beat-up chest after the match and said there won’t be a fourth match between him and Gunther.

Dragunov and Valkyria, both former NXT champions, won their matches after being called up in the WWE Draft.

There were a couple of changes to the planned lineup for last night. Drew McIntyre and Asuka were both pulled from their scheduled tournament matches due to injury. Uso replaced McIntyre and defeated Finn Balor. Dakota Kai filled in for her Damage CTRL stablemate Asuka in a losing effort against Valkyria.

SmackDown’s King & Queen of the Ring matches begin this Friday night. The tournaments will culminate at WWE King & Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Damian Priest apologizes to Judgment Day for losing his cool at Backlash

King of the Ring first-round match: Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor

CM Punk is the unforgiving consequences to Drew McIntyre’s actions

Queen of the Ring first-round match: Natalya vs. IYO SKY

King of the Ring first-round match: Ricochet vs. Ilja Dragunov

Queen of the Ring first-round match: Ivy Nile vs. Zoey Stark

R-Truth tries to set up a World Tag Team title defense against UConn basketball

Sami Zayn disrupts Bronson Reed vs. Chad Gable

Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan title match official for WWE King & Queen of the Ring

Queen of the Ring first-round match: Lyra Valkyria vs. Dakota Kai

King of the Ring first-round match: Sheamus vs. Gunther

Raw fallout: CM Punk says Drew McIntyre picked a fight he can’t win

Raw fallout: Jey got emotional seeing the Backlash crowd bring back the Fireflies

Raw fallout: Ilja Dragunov wants to fight the best

Raw Talk: Lyra Valkyria, Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler, The LWO appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Cody Rhodes & AJ Styles face-to-face

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In front of a red-hot crowd in Lyon, SmackDown took place from France last night.

The episode was the highest-grossing SmackDown in history. It set the stage for Saturday’s Backlash premium live event, also being held in Lyon. The main event of the PLE will feature Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles facing off for the first time ever.

Rhodes and Styles met face-to-face last night in advance of their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match. The confrontation ended with Styles delivering a slap to Rhodes.

At the start of the segment, Rhodes spoke about how he grew up watching Styles and admiring him. Styles took exception to that, believing that Rhodes was actually insulting him. Styles said that, while he may be older than Rhodes, he’s still in his prime.

Despite their similarities, Styles said he and Rhodes were never on the same path. Rhodes was immediately accepted into WWE due to being the son of Dusty Rhodes. Cody had legends watching his back at WrestleMania, but Styles was kept out of WWE for years and then had to fight to prove himself when he got there.

Styles vowed to defeat Rhodes at Backlash.

“You see, I’m going to find my way to the top again and remind you and everyone else that I am Phenomenal,” Styles said.

Rhodes agreed that Styles will always be Phenomenal, but he wasn’t happy with Styles’ comments about him.

“Do not disparage my accomplishments in an effort to build yourself up. Every sacrifice I made, every mistake I endured — and there were many — to stand here as the WWE Champion,” Rhodes said. “And my very first title defense happens to be our very first match. Commentary can call it a dream match. You are and forever will be Phenomenal. But tomorrow I’m not looking at you as Phenomenal, I’m looking at you as my first. And that — that’s Too Sweet.”

Styles responded by putting up the Too Sweet hand gesture. Rhodes went to Too Sweet him, but Styles slapped Rhodes in the face instead.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton & Damage CTRL

Bobby Lashley warns Carmelo Hayes to be careful who he disrespects

New Catch Republic vs. The Authors of Pain

Paul Heyman hasn’t spoken to Roman Reigns since WrestleMania

The RKO Show with Paul Heyman

LA Knight vs. Angel

LA Knight and Santos Escobar both declare for King of the Ring

Dragon Lee attacks Carlito during backstage interview

A special tribute to Andre the Giant

Grayson Waller & Austin Theory vs. The Street Profits for WWE Tag Team titles

Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles go face-to-face ahead of Backlash

Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga continue brawling with Randy Orton & Kevin Owens

SmackDown fallout: Cody Rhodes praises the Lyon crowd

SmackDown fallout: Damage CTRL & Tiffany Stratton react to their loss

SmackDown fallout: Grayson Waller refuses Byron Saxton’s shoey offer

WWE Raw video highlights: NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes appears

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Night two of the 2024 WWE Draft featured some noteworthy appearances.

With Raw being held in Kansas City, two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes was in the building. The Kansas City Chiefs superstar took part in an angle using his three Super Bowl rings. Mahomes gave Logan Paul the rings to use as a weapon against Jey Uso. But when Uso moved out of the way, Paul struck JD McDonagh with them.

The returning Braun Strowman then saved Jey from an attack by Paul and Finn Balor. Strowman went face-to-face with Mahomes and his teammates Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith until Jey pulled him away. This was Strowman’s first time back in action since undergoing neck fusion surgery last year.

Mahomes has a sponsorship deal with Paul’s Prime Hydration.

Paul also brought internet celebrity IShowSpeed to Raw last night to help announce some of the draft picks. Stephanie McMahon, The APA, Alundra Blayze & Teddy Long, and The Dudley Boyz announced picks as well.

Though CM Punk is still recovering from his torn triceps, he appeared last night and was among the wrestlers drafted. Punk and Drew McIntyre both ended up on Raw. Punk promised that, when he’s 100 percent, he’ll make McIntyre’s life a living hell.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Nia Jax issues a challenge for her last night on Raw

Stephanie McMahon announces first-round draft picks

Gunther vs. Xavier Woods

Logan Paul & IShowSpeed announce second-round draft picks

Logan Paul attempts to use Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl rings as a weapon

Braun Strowman returns, saves Jey Uso from Logan Paul & Finn Balor’s attack

Chad Gable interrupts Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed Intercontinental title match

The APA announce third-round draft picks

Maxxine Dupri vs. Candice LeRae

CM Punk promises to make Drew McIntyre’s life a living hell when he’s 100 percent

Alundra Blayze & Teddy Long announce fourth-round draft picks

Liv Morgan vs. Nia Jax

The Dudley Boyz announce fifth-round draft picks

Awesome Truth vs. Alpha Academy for the World Tag Team titles

Adam Pearce & Nick Aldis announce sixth-round draft picks

Jey Uso, Ricochet & Andrade vs. The Judgment Day

Raw fallout: It was destiny for Ilja Dragunov and Gunther to be on the same brand

Raw fallout: Lyra Valkyria is ready to conquer Raw

Raw fallout: This is everything Blair Davenport has ever wanted

Raw fallout: Dijak gets drafted to Raw

Raw fallout: Ava knows NXT’s draft picks will shine on their new brands

Raw fallout: Kansas City Chiefs, guests of honor, first responders open Raw

Raw Talk: Imperium, Awesome Truth, Nia Jax appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: All night one draft picks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Of the wrestlers eligible to be selected last night, Bianca Belair went first overall in the 2024 WWE Draft.

The draft began with SmackDown and Raw each making eight selections on last night’s SmackDown episode. Belair (SmackDown) and Jey Uso (Raw) were the first picks for each brand. Carmelo Hayes also went to SmackDown and Seth Rollins went to Raw in the first round.

It didn’t take long for former NXT Champion Hayes to make his in-ring debut as a SmackDown wrestler. He confronted Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes and then faced Rhodes in last night’s main event. Hayes lost the non-title match but earned Rhodes’ respect in the process.

SmackDown also added Randy Orton, Nia Jax, LA Knight, The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga & Paul Heyman), AJ Styles, and Andrade to its roster.

Raw selected Bron Breakker, Liv Morgan, Ricochet, Sheamus, Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa & Maxxine Dupri), and NXT’s Kiana James.

After the show went off the air, there were some additional draft picks announced on social media. Baron Corbin, The O.C. (Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson & Michin), and Cedric Alexander & Ashante “Thee” Adonis were selected by SmackDown. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn, Ivar, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark have been drafted to Raw.

The final night of the draft takes place on Raw this Monday. The list of wrestlers eligible to be picked can be seen here.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Paul Heyman says Roman Reigns has “voluntarily withdrawn” from the WWE Draft

Cody Rhodes-AJ Styles contract signing

Every pick from night one of the 2024 WWE Draft

Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee vs. Angel & Humberto

Santos Escobar reveals that Carlito was Dragon Lee’s attacker

Bron Breakker vs. Cedric Alexander

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill are challenging for Women’s Tag Team titles at Backlash

Randy Orton helps Kevin Owens even the odds against The Bloodline

Number one contender’s match: Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes

SmackDown fallout: Ava reveals Baron Corbin has been drafted to SmackDown

SmackDown fallout: SmackDown has always felt like home to Bianca Belair 

SmackDown fallout: Nia Jax thinks she sent a clear message with her attack

SmackDown fallout: Trick Williams reacts to Carmelo Hayes being drafted

WWE Raw video highlights: Becky Lynch wins Women’s World Championship

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Just 16 days after coming up short at WrestleMania, Becky Lynch was crowned the new Women’s World Champion.

Lynch won the title in a battle royal on Raw last night, last eliminating Liv Morgan. The Women’s World Championship was vacant going into the match after Ripley had to relinquish the belt last week. Ripley is expected to be out of action for “quite a few months” due to a shoulder injury.

The layout for the battle royal included Lynch fighting through adversity. She was put through the announce table by Nia Jax at one point, but Lynch was able to return.

It came down to Lynch, Morgan, and Jax at the end. Lynch and Morgan worked together to eliminate Jax. As they fought on the apron, Morgan went for Oblivion but got caught by Lynch. Lynch then delivered a Manhandle Slam to Morgan to get the victory.

Lynch went into the crowd to celebrate with the fans after her win.

At WrestleMania 40, Ripley defeated Lynch to retain the Women’s World Championship. But Ripley suffered an AC joint injury during a brawl with Morgan on the Raw after WrestleMania. The injury brought an unfortunate end to Ripley’s dominant year-plus title reign

Lynch is now a seven-time Women’s Champion on the WWE main roster.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Failed JD McDonagh sneak attack leads to Jey Uso laying out Damian Priest

Awesome Truth vs. DIY for the World Tag Team titles

Gunther and Xavier Woods declare for King of the Ring

The New Day vs. Imperium

Ludwig Kaiser turns against Giovanni Vinci after loss to The New Day

Sheamus confronts Drew McIntyre

Sheamus vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Bronson Reed attacks Sami Zayn during backstage interview

Chad Gable forces Alpha Academy to pledge their loyalty to him

Damian Priest doesn’t need anyone, Judgment Day needs him

Battle royal for the vacant Women’s World Championship

Raw fallout: Everything Becky Lynch does is to make her daughter proud

Raw fallout: Awesome Truth react to retaining their tag titles

Raw fallout: Tommaso Ciampa storms out of interview after DIY’s loss

Raw Talk: Bronson Reed, Sheamus, Chad Gable appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Tama Tonga bloodies Kevin Owens

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The new-look Bloodline continued to wreak havoc on SmackDown last night.

One week after making his WWE debut by attacking Jimmy Uso, Tama Tonga found a new target on last night’s show. Tonga left Kevin Owens bloody, getting revenge after Owens disrespected The Bloodline last week. Solo Sikoa looks to have made himself the new Tribal Chief and has started calling the shots with Roman Reigns not around.

Sikoa arrived at SmackDown wearing a suit and wanted to know where Owens was. Paul Heyman didn’t know, but Tonga was able to locate him.

While Sikoa and Heyman were in the ring, Tonga emerged from the back with an already bloody Owens. Owens tried to bring the fight to Tonga and Sikoa but was beaten down even more. Officials and SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis had to stop Tonga and Sikoa from using a steel chair in the attack.

It was revealed that Tonga started his assault by crashing into Owens’ rental car in the parking lot. Aldis showed Heyman the wreckage and warned him that there will be consequences if this type of behavior continues during the WWE Draft next week.

Heyman informed Aldis that Tonga and Sikoa’s attack on Owens was not authorized.

Earlier in the show, Heyman told Sikoa that he’s making decisions that aren’t his to be made yet. Heyman said these decisions can only be made by Reigns. Sikoa didn’t listen to what Heyman was saying.

Sikoa is calling Tonga his “MFT,” though the meaning of that hasn’t been made known to the audience.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (winner challenges Cody Rhodes at Backlash)

Solo Sikoa wants to know where Kevin Owens is

Triple H unveils new WWE Tag Team title belts

Fatal four-way tag team number one contender’s match

Tama Tonga bloodies Kevin Owens

Legado Del Fantasma had nothing to do with the attack on Dragon Lee

Nick Aldis has a warning for Paul Heyman

Carlito vs. Santos Escobar

Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair confront Damage CTRL

Cody Rhodes addresses AJ Styles becoming number one contender

Bayley vs. Naomi for the WWE Women’s Championship

Tiffany Stratton disrupts Bayley and Naomi’s title match

SmackDown fallout: Damage CTRL react to Stratton’s beatdown of Bayley & Naiomi

SmackDown fallout: Waller & Theory plan on being champions forever

SmackDown fallout: Karrion Kross says everything will change with the WWE Draft

WWE Raw video highlights: Rhea Ripley vacates Women’s World title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rhea Ripley’s dominant Women’s World Championship reign came to an unfortunate end last night.

After more than a year as champion, Ripley was forced to vacate the Women’s title due to a shoulder injury. She appeared with her arm in a sling on Raw last night and announced the news. A frustrated Ripley blamed her injury on Liv Morgan’s attack from the Raw after WrestleMania.

“After the attack last week from Liv Morgan, I’ve now been told that I’m stuck on the bench for quite a few months,” Ripley said. “I’ve been told that I need to vacate the one thing that means the most to me – my Women’s World Championship.”

The Montreal crowd was disappointed about Ripley having to vacate the title but showed their appreciation for her by chanting “Thank You Mami.”

A new Women’s World Champion will be crowned on Raw next Monday. Ripley said having to relinquish the title is painful, but she issued a warning to whoever becomes champion.

“This is a warning to whoever wins my Women’s World Championship,” Ripley said. “When I come back, I’m coming back for blood.”

Ripley threatened that she was going to go find Morgan backstage. Smiling at Ripley’s misfortune, Morgan attempted to come out and confront her. But security kept them from getting at each other. Ripley responded by dropping one of the security guards with a headbutt.

Once backstage, Ripley shared a group hug with her Judgment Day stablemates. She thanked them for their encouragement and told them to keep Judgment Day on top.

Morgan later did an interview saying that Ripley’s injury is karma at its finest.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque posted the following tweet thanking Ripley for her title reign and saying he knows she’ll come back stronger than ever:

Ripley had been champion since defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 in 2023. Just nine days before having to vacate the title, Ripley retained against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 40.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Rhea Ripley vacates the Women’s World Championship due to injury

Rhea Ripley tells Judgment Day to stay on top while she’s out of action

Sheamus returns to the ring against Ivar

Paul “Triple H” Levesque unveils new World Tag Team title belts

Triple threat number one contender’s tag match

Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

WWE looks at Damian Priest’s journey to the World Heavyweight Championship

Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Liv Morgan says Rhea Ripley’s injury is karma at its finest

Jey Uso has to do things on his own against Judgment Day

Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor

Sami Zayn makes an incredible hometown entrance

Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental title

Chad Gable turns heel, attacks Sami Zayn

Raw fallout: Sheamus has a message for the WWE locker room

Raw fallout: Awesome Truth are ready for next week’s title defense

Raw Talk: DIY, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, Chelsea Green & Piper Niven appear

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Cody Rhodes’ final message to The Bloodline

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cody Rhodes is ready to finish his story and start writing a new one.

The Bloodline has had momentum on their side leading into WrestleMania 40, but  Rhodes and Seth Rollins were the ones standing tall last night. The pre-WrestleMania SmackDown saw Rhodes and Rollins help Jey Uso beat down Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. They whipped Jimmy and Sikoa with a weight belt, then Rhodes got on the microphone to deliver one final message to Roman Reigns and The Rock.

That included Rhodes stating that he and Rollins are going to slap The Rock “so hard that his ego lifts out of his body like his soul and he remembers what it’s like to be The People’s Champion.”

Rhodes then vowed to defeat Reigns and win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

“I am fighting for every moment that has defined me. For every single fan who has believed in me. For everyone who ever dreamed out in the open,” Rhodes declared. “And my dream was to become champion. And this Sunday, know this, that when one good story ends, an even better one begins.”

The main event of last night’s show was Jey Uso vs. Sikoa. As Jey was about to win the match, Jimmy interfered and attacked him. Rhodes and Rollins then made the save.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Kevin Owens and Randy Orton chase Logan Paul after he interrupts The KO Show

2024 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

The Final Testament and The Pride promos

Kevin Owens and Randy Orton lay out Logan Paul before WrestleMania

Dragon Lee gets taken out in backstage attack

Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez

Andrade aligns with the LWO

Jade Cargill has a warning for Damage CTRL: “You are now in the eye of the storm”

Dunne & Bate vs. Waller & Theory, Judgment Day launch post-match attack

LA Knight is going to stomp out AJ Styles at WrestleMania

Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa, Cody Rhodes delivers message to The Bloodline

SmackDown fallout: Bronson Reed wants the Intercontinental title