I’m back with another Sunday episode of Wrestling Observer Live, talking about all the top stories from this past week.
On Friday, WWE set what looks to be the main event of night one of WWE WrestleMania 40 when Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins officially accepted Roman Reigns & The Rock’s challenge for a tag team match. I talk about the spectacle this match will likely be, but that in no way will it be a classically worked match.
I also discuss AEW’s big week with the retirement of Sting at last Sunday’s Revolution and the fallout on Dynamite that saw the debut of the new Elite with Kazuchika Okada joining the Young Bucks. I also break down Saturday’s Collision including my thoughts on the debut match for the new Elite and the Atlanta street fight main event.
Plus, I talk WWE’s new ring sponsor, how Raw might be presented on Netflix, and the WWE Hall of Fame.
The match was officially announced during Friday’s SmackDown episode where an in-ring confrontation took place between all four competitors. Rollins & Rhodes accepted the challenge issued by Rock & Reigns on last week’s SmackDown for the WrestleMania bout.
A stipulation for the match was also agreed to, where if Rock & Reigns are victorious, the Rhodes vs. Reigns Undisputed Universal title match for night two will be Bloodline rules (a no-DQ match where The Bloodline can freely interfere). If Rhodes & Rollins are victorious in the tag team bout, The Bloodline will be banned from the building for the Reigns vs. Rhodes match on night two.
An additional stipulation was agreed to for the Universal title match on night two, where if Rhodes loses, he cannot challenge Reigns for the Universal title ever again.
SmackDown went off the air Friday while the in-ring confrontation between the WrestleMania competitors was still underway. WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque made the official match announcement in a social media post shortly after:
Here is the current card for both nights of WrestleMania. The shows stream live on Peacock/WWE Network on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. Eastern time:
WrestleMania 40 night one —
The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins
WrestleMania 40 night two —
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre
WrestleMania 40 night TBA —
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends his title
An Undertaker one-man show has been added to WWE’s slate of events in Philadelphia during WrestleMania week.
WWE has announced that The Undertaker will perform his “1 deadMAN SHOW” at The Fillmore in Philly on Thursday, April 4. It will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Tickets for the one-man show are going on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Eastern next Wednesday (March 13). Before that, a pre-sale will be available starting at 10 a.m. Eastern next Tuesday.
“UNDERTAKER 1 deadMAN SHOW will feature ‘The Phenom’ in an intimate setting, sharing never-before-heard stories from his Hall of Fame career and taking questions from the WWE Universe in attendance,” WWE wrote. “The show has sold out venues in Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston, San Antonio and Australia, among others, since debuting in 2022.”
When Undertaker had a one-man show in Perth before Elimination Chamber last month, Paul “Triple H” Levesque made a surprise appearance at the event.
The greatest of our generation & the measuring stick of our business. To truly capture his impact, we’d probably need to invent new phrases.
WrestleMania 40 is being held in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. Philly is also hosting SmackDown & the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, NXT Stand & Deliver, and the post-WrestleMania episode of Raw.
Sports Business Journal reports that WWE “has signed what’s believed to be its first spirits sponsorship” in company history with Wheatley Vodka. As part of the deal, Wheatley will be designated the “Official Vodka of WrestleMania 40.”
Wheatley will also be sponsoring a handful of other WWE events.
“Until now, WWE generally did not do long-term ‘official sponsor’ designations, as most brands were looking for deals in specific time periods. Under TKO, that is changing,” Sports Business Journal wrote. “This new deal includes live-event brand integrations on both nights of WrestleMania XL, inclusion in the event’s Kickoff Show, social/digital media executions and a sweepstakes promo.”
WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.
Wheatley is also going to be the presenting sponsor of an upcoming six-part series on WWE’s social media and digital channels. The series will feature Cody Rhodes interviewing other WWE wrestlers. “A [Wheatley]-branded tour bus will be in the series,” Sports Business Journal noted.
Further details about that series have not been announced.
Grant Norris-Jones, EVP/head of global partnerships for TKO, stated that WWE is looking for an official beer sponsor:
Our strategy now at TKO is to open up new categories and sign bigger, broader deals. We’re out in the market looking hard for an official beer partner [for WWE].
Sports Business Journal writes that Mike’s Hard Lemonade will be returning as a sponsor for SummerSlam this year.
TKO is the parent company of WWE and the UFC. It was formed last September when Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE became official.
A John Cena appearance is looking more likely for WWE WrestleMania 40.
On Wednesday night, Cena joined Jimmy Fallon as a guest on The Tonight Show. Cena was asked about a recent Instagram post he made and if it’s teasing something involving Cena and The Rock for WrestleMania. Cena responded by initially hyping up the possibility before saying that he doesn’t know yet.
“People are talking. WrestleMania 40. They’re speculating that The Rock and I will be in the ring in Philadelphia for WrestleMania 40,” Cena said. “They’re going to keep talking until it happens, we don’t know yet.”
“That was not satisfactory,” Cena added after the audience groaned. “We just took the wind out of your sails. Do you want me to make a promise I can’t keep? You want me to write a check I can’t cash? Am I in the business of writing checks that my ass can’t cash? Is that what we’re doing here? Is that what type of outfit you’re running?”
Cena told Fallon that he knows when and where WrestleMania is taking place. Cena said he’s “free that day (April 6).”
“I mean, I’m free that day,” Cena said. “I’m just saying. I’m just saying to you guys out there. Now the energy’s coming back a little bit.”
Cena then made a “You Can’t See Me” joke.
“This is a great answer: Maybe you won’t see me there,” Cena joked. “Yes! We did it. We have dodged the question.”
Dave Meltzer reported last week that, if Cena does appear at WrestleMania, it’s likely that he’ll do “something fun, short and memorable and with substance” rather than something that would be deemed a physical risk.
WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. A tag match with The Rock & Roman Reigns facing Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins is set to headline night one. Reigns vs. Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship will then main event night two.
During a Wednesday morning guest spot on ESPN, John Cena teased potentially appearing at WWE WrestleMania 40.
Cena was a guest on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN First Take. The topic of his attire came up during the interview. Cena was asked if he prefers wearing his signature jorts or three-piece suits. Cena responded that, if we’re talking WrestleMania 40, he hopes the jorts are there. If we’re talking First Take, he’ll put a suit on.
Ryan Clark asks John Cena if he prefers jorts or suits, but first notes: "Today I'm sitting in Stephen A.'s seat and this the best dressed this seat is going to be for the entire year."
So it depends. It depends. If we’re talking WrestleMania 40 — crossing my fingers — I hope the jorts are there. If we’re talking First Take, I will do my best to put on a waistcoat for you guys.
Dave Meltzer reported last week that Cena’s acting schedule will determine whether or not he can appear at WrestleMania. If Cena is involved with the event, it’s likely that he’ll do something fun, short, and memorable rather than something that would be deemed a physical risk.
Cena will soon be filming a second season of ‘Peacemaker.’ There has been some talk about Cena at Mania. It’s basically up to his acting schedule and if there is something going on. If there is, he may appear but couldn’t do anything that would be deemed a risk. We were told that if he does appear, the idea is to do something fun, short and memorable and with substance.
In fall 2023, Cena was able to make an extended return to WWE due to Hollywood being on strike. He lost to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel last November and then returned to Hollywood after the strike ended.
Cena competed in the ring at WrestleMania 39 last year, losing to Austin Theory.
A gauntlet match on the March 11 WWE Raw will determine Gunther’s WrestleMania challenger for the Intercontinental Championship.
WWE announced during this week’s episode that a gauntlet match on next week’s show will decide the number one contender to the IC title, with the winner advancing to face Gunther at WrestleMania 40.
Ricochet, Chad Gable, Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, and JD McDonagh will square off in the gauntlet match on the Monday, March 11 Raw to decide Gunther’s next challenger.
A women’s division contest is also set for next week’s Raw, as Becky Lynch will face Liv Morgan. Morgan interfered in a Lynch vs. Nia Jax match on this week’s Raw, attacking Jax and causing a DQ loss for Lynch to set up next week’s bout.
The Women’s Tag Team titles will also be on the line on Raw next week. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) will defend the titles against Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark following an in-ring confrontation between the two teams on this week’s Raw.
Asuka & Sane are set to defend the Women’s Tag titles on Tuesday’s NXT Roadblock episode against Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley, but the Asuka & Sane vs. Baszler & Stark Tag title match was announced for next week nonetheless.
The announced lineup for the Monday, March 11 WWE Raw which takes place at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas:
Gauntlet match to decide Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship challenger at WrestleMania 40: Ricochet vs. Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. JD McDonagh
Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) defend against Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
The Bloodline have issued a challenge to Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins for a tag team match on night one of WWE WrestleMania 40.
In a long promo segment on Friday’s SmackDown, The Rock laid out a challenge to Rhodes & Rollins with a stipulation attached — If The Rock & Reigns win the tag team match, Rhodes vs. Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal title on night two of WrestleMania will be a Bloodline rules match where anything goes, and the group would stack the deck against Rhodes. Should Rollins & Rhodes win, The Bloodline will be banned from the building for the Rhodes vs. Reigns title bout.
The Rock invited Rhodes to respond to the challenge on next Friday’s SmackDown. The Rock is scheduled to appear on the next two SmackDown episodes — Friday, March 8 in Dallas, and Friday, March 15 in Memphis. Rhodes has been advertised for those episodes as well.
Rollins will defend the World Heavyweight title against Elimination Chamber winner Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania, with that match also presumably set for night two.
A tease of dissension between The Rock & Reigns was also part of The Bloodline segment on this week’s SmackDown, with Reigns smoldering as The Rock laid out the challenge and cut a promo. Reigns then insisted on The Rock acknowledging him as Tribal Chief, which The Rock did.
In the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave an update on whether fans can expect to see John Cena at WrestleMania 40.
Meltzer reports that whether or not Cena will appear at WrestleMania is “basically up to his acting schedule and if there is something going on.” If Cena is involved with WrestleMania, the idea is for him to do something fun, short, and memorable.
Meltzer wrote:
Cena will soon be filming a second season of ‘Peacemaker.’ There has been some talk about Cena at Mania. It’s basically up to his acting schedule and if there is something going on. If there is, he may appear but couldn’t do anything that would be deemed a risk. We were told that if he does appear, the idea is to do something fun, short and memorable and with substance.
Cena did compete in the ring at WrestleMania 39 last year, losing to Austin Theory.
Cena was then able to make an extended return to WWE last fall due to Hollywood being on strike. Cena hasn’t wrestled since losing to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel.
In recent media interviews, Cena has stated that he plans to retire from in-ring competition before he turns 50. Cena is celebrating his 47th birthday next month.
WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.
For the third straight year, Snickers and WWE 2K will be the sponsors of WrestleMania.
WWE, Mars, and Take-Two Interactive issued a press release on Thursday announcing that Snickers and WWE 2K will be the presenting sponsors of WrestleMania 40. They were also the sponsors of WrestleMania 38 in 2022 and WrestleMania 39 in 2023.
This is the ninth consecutive year that Snickers has been a WrestleMania sponsor.
The press release said:
Both brands will be showcased during WWE’s flagship TV programs Monday Night Raw on USA Network and Friday Night SmackDown on FOX leading up to WrestleMania, as well as during the WrestleMania Kickoff Show and WrestleMania each day on Peacock. The partnership also includes custom digital and social content on WWE.com and WWE’s YouTube channel, which is the No. 1 most-viewed sports channel in the world.
Quotes from Mars, 2K, and TKO Group executives were included in the press release:
‘SNICKERS is proud to return to WrestleMania, bringing a satisfying solution to WWE fans around the world,’ said Martin Terwilliger, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley. ‘We look forward to showing up for the passionate fanbase with WWE 2K24 as presenting partners for WrestleMania XL, bringing fans what is sure to be one of the most exciting sporting events of 2024.’
‘While fans can relive forty years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K24, we’ll once again tag-team with SNICKERS to co-present WrestleMania XL,’ said Dennis Ceccarelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports at 2K. ‘We’ll be cheering on our cover Superstars: Rallying Cody Rhodes to ‘Finish the Story,’ rooting for Rhea Ripley to defend her title, and looking forward to Bianca Belair putting on the ‘EST’ WrestleMania performance of all.’
‘WrestleMania XL is shaping up to be the biggest event in WWE history and we are excited to take our partnership with 2K and Snickers to new heights as the brands unite for a third consecutive year,’ said Grant Norris-Jones, EVP & Head of Global Partnerships, TKO.
The official release date for WWE 2K24 is Friday, March 8. Early access starts on Tuesday, March 5 for the Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions of the game.
WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. The following matches have already been made official:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre
Dave Meltzer reported that both Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton and AJ Styles vs. LA Knight would both be taking place at WrestleMania 40, writing in Sunday’s Daily Update:
Coming off the Chamber show, those at WWE have confirmed both bouts, AJ Styles vs. LA Knight and Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton, that yesterday’s show appeared to set up. Both are right now listed for Mania.
WWE set up both matches during Saturday’s Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia. After Bobby Lashley was eliminated in the men’s chamber match, Styles entered the structure and pummeled Knight with steel chair shots, then gave him the Styles Clash on top of the chair, ultimately eliminating him from the match.
The finish of the men’s chamber saw Paul put on a pair of brass knuckles, but ended up taking an RKO from Orton, eliminating him. Once Paul recovered, he struck Orton with the knuckles, allowing Drew McIntyre to recover and score the win, officially setting up McIntyre vs. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania.
Drew McIntyre is set for a WrestleMania clash against Seth Rollins.
Rollins defending his World Heavyweight Championship against McIntyre is now official for WrestleMania 40. The two-night event is being held in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.
The title match was confirmed when McIntyre won the men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia on Saturday. McIntyre, Randy Orton, Logan Paul, Kevin Owens, LA Knight, and Bobby Lashley were the six competitors in the match.
Knight and McIntyre started the match as the first two entrants. At the end, McIntyre and Orton were the final two left. Orton appeared to have the match won after giving McIntyre an RKO, but Paul laid out Orton with a brass knuckles shot and McIntyre pinned Orton to get the win. Paul was angry after being eliminated by Orton.
McIntyre eliminated Orton, Knight, and Lashley from the match. Orton eliminated Paul and Owens.
Rollins vs. CM Punk was WWE’s original direction for WrestleMania 40, but those plans had to change after Punk suffered a torn triceps.
Rollins made an appearance at Elimination Chamber during a Grayson Waller Effect segment. Rollins announced that he’s “just days away” from being cleared to return to the ring. He’s been out of action since suffering a torn MCL and partially torn meniscus while facing Jinder Mahal on Raw last month.
Four title matches have now been confirmed for WrestleMania 40:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre
Becky Lynch has secured a WrestleMania 40 title shot.
Lynch will challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40. Lynch earned the title shot by winning the women’s Elimination Chamber match at Saturday’s event in Perth, Australia. In the main event of Elimination Chamber, Ripley retained her Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax.
This was the first Elimination Chamber match that Lynch has ever competed in. She started the match against Naomi. They were followed by Tiffany Stratton, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Bianca Belair.
It came down to Lynch, Morgan, and Belair at the end. Morgan eliminated Belair but was then pinned after being given a Manhandle Slam by Lynch.
Stratton eliminated Naomi from the match first, Morgan eliminated Stratton second, and Belair eliminated Rodriguez third.
Lynch hasn’t held a singles title on the WWE main roster since losing the Raw Women’s Championship to Belair at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. Lynch did have a reign as NXT Women’s Champion last year.
WrestleMania 40 is being held in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. The following matches have been made official for the event so far:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave an update on Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone potentially being involved with WrestleMania 40.
WrestleVotes reported on Thursday that, with WrestleMania 40 taking place from Philadelphia, WWE was hoping to collaborate with Stallone for the event in some form. WrestleVotes noted that whether or not the collaboration is ultimately going to end up happening is to be determined.
Stallone played the iconic character Rocky Balboa (who is from Philly) in the “Rocky” series of movies.
Meltzer confirmed WWE’s interest in working with Stallone for WrestleMania. But, as of right now, there’s a scheduling conflict that would need to be resolved if Stallone is going to appear:
Wrestlevotes reported that WWE was talking to Sylvester Stallone about [being involved with] WrestleMania this year, since the character of Rocky Balboa was based in Philadelphia. Those at WWE have confirmed the talk but said that as of earlier in the week Stallone had said there was a schedule conflict so the deal hasn’t been done unless you can or wants to remove the conflict.
Stallone appeared at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2005 and inducted Hulk Hogan into the HOF. The two worked together on “Rocky III,” where Hogan played the character Thunderlips.
Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field is hosting WrestleMania 40 on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.
With WrestleMania 40 taking place in Philadelphia, WWE is interested in collaborating with the city’s most iconic (fictional) sports star.
WrestleVotes reports that WWE is hoping to collaborate with Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form, though whether or not it will end up happening is to be determined. Stallone is from New York but played the iconic character Rocky Balboa in the “Rocky” movie franchise. Balboa is from Philadelphia in the movies, and a Balboa statue is one of Philly’s most popular landmarks.
WrestleVotes wrote:
Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there’s hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined. Stallone, born in NYC, gained fame through the iconic Rocky films, deeply associated with Philadelphia.
Can confirm I had heard that convos were happening about getting Stallone but no idea how far along this is.
In 2005, Stallone inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame. Hogan played the character Thunderlips in “Rocky III.”
Stallone received Oscar nominations for acting in the original 1976 “Rocky” film and for writing its screenplay. He also received a supporting actor nomination for the 2015 spinoff “Creed.”
WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. It will be headlined by Cody Rhodes challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
