Blog

WWE’s ground-breaking RAW on Netflix deal begins in early January 2025. The new era is going to bring about a lot of changes, and a new report has stated that the sports entertainment giant is in a position to make a first-time-ever change in the month of March.

Some of you might know this, but for those who don’t, the final month on the road to WrestleMania 41 is going to be a bit unconventional from a viewer’s perspective. As WWE is embarking on a major European tour during March, it leaves them in a position where they have to hold RAW and SmackDown tapings in Europe as well.

Barcelona, Brussels, Bologna, Glasgow, and London will be the cities where the tapings take place. Due to the time difference, the shows will likely be taped in what will be mid-day in the United States. For example, Central European Time (CET) is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST/ET) while Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is 5 hours ahead of EST. So what does this have to do with Netflix?

On WrestleVotes Radio exclusively on Backstage Pass, JoeyVotes and TC said that Netflix officials are happy to air RAW live regardless of what time it’s taped. This could mean a first-time-ever change where Monday Night RAW airs in the middle of the day. WWE is reportedly still considering this, but Netflix is fully on board with this idea – so it seems to be a decision that Triple H and Nick Khan will have to make.

---

What is the status of the WWE Draft with both RAW and SmackDown changing networks?

Fightful Select reported that while Netflix has requested certain major names like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk for RAW, they also understand that there will need to be equality as SmackDown needs big stars too.

The brand split is not dead and as of now, superstars aren’t aware of which brand they’ll be assigned to. The $500-million-a-year broadcasting fee that Netflix is paying for the red brand could put WWE in a tough position, but it’s unlikely that they would leave SmackDown out to dry as the USA Network is also paying a huge fee for broadcasting rights.

A brand split seems to make the most sense as it’s a tried and tested method that has worked for years. WWE fans also seem to prefer having exclusive rosters as it gives more of a reason to tune in to each show.

---

If you use this exclusive, please provide credit to Sportskeeda Wrestling & don’t forget to listen to WrestleVotes Radio only on Backstage Pass.

Source: Sportskeeda

Goldberg recently announced he would have a retirement match in WWE next year. Meanwhile, WWE analyst Peter Rosenberg suggested the former Universal Champion’s final opponent could be a surprising name.

The 57-year-old Hall of Famer last competed in a WWE ring in February 2022 when he lost to Roman Reigns in a Universal Championship match at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia. He has since been vocal about wanting to have a retirement match. Goldberg returned last month at Bad Blood, where he almost got into a physical altercation with World Heavyweight Champion Gunther after the latter insulted him. However, security interfered to separate the two superstars.

While many expect Goldberg’s retirement match to be against The Ring General, analyst Peter Rosenberg recently discussed the possibility of Dominik Mysterio being the Hall of Famer’s final opponent on the Cheap Heat podcast. He claimed the match would be “easy and great!”

“Dominik, that could be easy and great. And he could look like a million bucks,” he said. [19:02-19:08]

---

Goldberg should lose his final match in 10 seconds, says ex-WWE star

On a recent edition of the Gigantic Pop podcast, former WWE star Matt Morgan addressed Goldberg’s retirement match and the possibility of the legendary wrestler facing Gunther in his final in-ring battle.

The wrestling veteran said that The Ring General must squash Goldberg in 10 seconds if the two squared off.

“He [Gunther] can still be champion, and he needs to job Goldberg out in 10 seconds flat. It cannot be a back-and-forth match. With respect to Goldberg, great career, one of the greatest streaks of all time, we all were fans of his [sic] when I was in college. He was one of the most over talents of all time during his height [sic] of his success. But we all get old; it is what it is, and Gunther would absolutely eviscerate him, and he needs to eviscerate him,” he said.

Gunther recently threatened to”teach Goldberg a lesson” if the Hall of Famer decided to wrestle again. It will be interesting to see if The Ring General indeed becomes Goldberg’s final opponent.

---

Please credit Cheap Heat, and give an H/T to Sportskeeda if you use the above transcription.

Source: Sportskeeda

Edge and Christian were among the most prominent WWE tag teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Jim Ross, a WWE commentator and talent relations executive at the time, recently gave his thoughts on the duo’s separation.

In 2001, Edge and Christian became singles competitors after capturing seven tag titles together. While Edge won the 2001 King of the Ring Tournament and became a fan favorite, Christian turned heel and sometimes struggled for regular television time.

Speaking to his Grilling JR podcast host Conrad Thompson, Ross made it clear he thought Edge was the bigger star:

“Well, have you looked at him, Conrad? Can you tell them apart? Of course you can. I’m being an a**hole. He [Edge] had it.” [1:17:45 – 1:17:52]

When Thompson said he did not view Edge or Christian as a bigger star than the other, Ross explained why he disagreed:

“Wow, that’s interesting. Well, I do, I do. It’s an opinion. His look, Adam had a big-time premium look. He was very well received by the audience, whether he was doing comedy or being a heel. He just had that intangible.” [1:18:05 – 1:18:34]

Edge, real name Adam Copeland, won 11 world titles in WWE. Christian, aka Christian Cage, has also won several world titles, including the World Heavyweight Championship twice in World Wrestling Entertainment and TNA’s IMPACT World Championship once. Both men now wrestle for AEW.

---

Jim Ross disliked WWE’s booking of Edge

Kurt Angle defeated Christian in the 2001 King of the Ring Tournament semi-final before losing to Edge in the final. Later in the show, the Olympic gold medallist beat Shane McMahon in a memorable Street Fight.

Edge’s King of the Ring triumph was supposed to be a big breakout moment for the Canadian. However, Jim Ross believes the victory was overshadowed due to Angle competing before and after the final on the same night:

“It was clumsy booking, shall we say? It wasn’t creative. It was clumsy. But what we found out in all that critiquing is that we had a star in our hands, and that’s what we needed to know. Is the audience going to accept Adam Copeland, aka Edge, as a bona fide star? And their attendance and their noise will tell us many of those answers.” [1:17:00 – 1:17:29]

Ross also addressed why Edge and Christian’s villainous WWE personas were “adversely affected” by their humorous segments.

---

Do you think Edge was clearly a bigger star than Christian? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

Please credit Grilling JR and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.

Source: Sportskeeda

Jey Uso is riding a high wave right now as his popularity continues to surge. On the November 4th episode of RAW, he went off script and inadvertently created a moment to remember.

The November 4th episode of RAW was taped in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and featured a segment between Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and Sami Zayn. While Jimmy Uso disapproved of Sami Zayn having anything to do with The Bloodline again, Jey stood up for him and acknowledged the 4-time Intercontinental Champion as “Sami Uso” – a moment that got a great response from the live audience and fans on social media.

On WrestleVotes Radio exclusively on Backstage Pass, JoeyVotes stated that Jey Uso saying “Sami Uso” was an unscripted moment. Jey reportedly played into the crowd’s chants and seemed to create a moment that will be remembered.

Sami Zayn’s popularity in Saudi Arabia is huge because of his Syrian roots.

---

WWE uploaded a video of Jimmy and Jey Uso’s exchange as they were heading backstage on RAW

WWE captured a great moment and posted it on their Instagram. After the “Sami Uso” moment, Jimmy and Jey were walking backstage, with the former questioning his brother over his praise of Sami Zayn.

You can see the hilarious interaction in the footage above, with Jimmy asking Jey when the last time he or Sami Zayn “ever felt Ucey” before Jey responds by asking him the same.

Sami Zayn was invited to SmackDown to meet Roman Reigns – the man he accidentally took out at Crown Jewel 2024 when trying to help the original Bloodline. All signs seem to be pointing towards a huge match at Survivor Series: WarGames.

---

If you use this exclusive, please provide credit to Sportskeeda Wrestling & don’t forget to listen to WrestleVotes Radio only on Backstage Pass.

Source: Sportskeeda

WWE has taken a different direction since Vince McMahon’s departure earlier this year. TKO President Mark Shapiro recently revealed what the former chairman thinks of that new direction.

Following McMahon’s initial retirement in 2022, Triple H became the new Head of Creative. Despite the former chairman’s return the following year, The Game remained in his position. The 79-year-old left again earlier this year amid being sued for alleged sexual assault and sex trafficking by former employee Janel Grant.

In a recent interview with CNBC, Shapiro disclosed that he recently had breakfast with McMahon. When asked about the latter’s opinion of the company’s current direction, the TKO President claimed it was positive:

“Couldn’t have been more positive, but I wasn’t asking for his opinion,” he said. [H/T: Cultaholic]

---

Mark Shapiro says ex-WWE chairman Vince McMahon is still a shareholder but doesn’t make business decisions

In his interview with CNBC, TKO President Mark Shapiro disclosed that Vince McMahon is still a shareholder in the company despite putting his remaining shares up for sale earlier this year.

Nevertheless, Shapiro stated that the former chairman is out of the business and does not make any decisions:

“He’s out of the business entirely, he doesn’t make decisions, he’s not on the board, he doesn’t opine, we don’t consult him. He’s got some litigation that he’s working through and frankly, he wants the privacy and the time to work through it. Which is great because in the meantime we’re going to keep building TKO and WWE and expanding the horizon, expanding the opportunities. And by the way, he’s still a shareholder. Not the shareholder he once was, but he’s still a shareholder,” he said. [H/T: Cultaholic]

Former head writer Vince Russo recently addressed Vince McMahon’s current relationship with his son-in-law, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H. He claimed The Game has “flipped” on the 79-year-old. Meanwhile, he predicted Executive Director Bruce Prichard is an “informant” for the former chairman inside the company.

Source: Sportskeeda

The Wyatt Sicks faction indeed has captivated fans. However, former WWE Superstar Matthew Rehwoldt (FKA Aiden English) has claimed that the group’s potential remained untapped due to inconsistent booking and unclear direction.

The Uncle Howdy-led faction succeeded in its first feud, which was against the American Made stable. On the September 9, 2024, edition of Monday Night RAW, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan emerged victorious over Ivy Nile, Brutus Creed, Chad Gable, and Julius Creed in a Mixed Street Fight.

Following that, the eerie group’s next target has been The Miz and The Final Testament. They kidnapped The A-Lister on last week’s RAW. This week on the red brand, a new, disturbing video showed the former WWE World Champion being held hostage by the leader of the Wyatt Sicks.

In a recent episode of the REBOOKED podcast, the erstwhile Aiden English discussed The Miz’s abduction, which was orchestrated by the Bray Wyatt-inspired group. The former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion criticized the inconsistent booking of the Wyatt Sicks, highlighting the stable’s abrupt disappearances and sporadic appearances following its initial high-profile debut and wild backstage antics.

“The Wyatt Sicks’ stuff, in general, feels really inconsistent in terms of, like, their debut, and there were these wild vignettes and videos, and that wild backstage show, boom. And then they were gone for like two to three weeks, and then they were back doing a little bit, then they’re kind of like gone, and then they pop into a video,” he said. [From 28:18 to 28:36]

Watch the entire episode below:

---

The Wyatt Sicks’ leader Bo Dallas makes a heartbreaking revelation about his WWE character

Bray Wyatt’s (real name: Windham Rotunda) brother, Bo Dallas (Taylor Rotunda), is the man behind Uncle Howdy’s mask on WWE TV. The 34-year-old star recently opened up about his on-screen persona.

During an interview with Collider, Bo Dallas revealed that the Uncle Howdy persona was a tribute to the late former Universal Champion and that the character kept Bray’s memory alive.

“It’s been an absolutely insane year. Me and Windham had big plans when we got together, and we had a lot we were going to do. I thought that was all taken away, but through a lot of sequence of events, it’s like he’s still here with me. I always have something on that’s directly his, whether it’s his shoes, a pair of his socks, or a glove—like, he’s with me in every bit of this. I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t something I knew he would love. And I’m loving it too—it’s keeping him alive in my heart, in my life,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether the Wyatt Sicks and The Final Testament will clash in WWE ahead of the Survivor Series: WarGames Premium Live Event.

Source: Sportskeeda

Nia Jax has dominated the SmackDown women’s division since winning the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam this year. With Survivor Series 2024 around the corner, The Irresistible Force demands a high-profile match. There is a good possibility that a legendary former women’s champion might return to challenge Jax for the coveted title in Vancouver, Canada.

The star in question is Trish Stratus. The prospect of her return arose because the upcoming premium live event is set to take place in her home country. Additionally, there have been numerous instances where The Quintessential WWE Diva has teased her WWE return. Therefore, Survivor Series 2024 could serve as a perfect stage for her highly anticipated comeback.

There is a high possibility of it happening. Given the grandeur of the spectacle and the significance of the location, Stratus may very well decide to lace up her boots for one more match. Her addition to the card would garner huge buzz and could become one of the biggest highlights of the night. Moreover, there has been a scarcity of credible opponents for Nia Jax on SmackDown.

The Irresistible Force has yet to feature in a major program for the WWE Women’s Championship since winning it. Therefore, facing a WWE legend like Trish Stratus would put her in a blockbuster feud, giving Jax a fresh new story away from the Bayley-Naomi saga. Hence, this could prompt the seven-time Women’s Champion to return for a showdown with the 40-year-old.

With Survivor Series 2024 just a few weeks away, it will be interesting to see whether WWE brings Trish Stratus back on SmackDown and what Triple H has in store for Nia Jax and the WWE Women’s Title.

---

Nia Jax to suffer a huge betrayal at Survivor Series 2024?

Nia Jax has had a huge target on her back since capturing the WWE Women’s Championship. With every woman on the roster looking to get their hands on her title, the biggest threat might actually be lurking right behind her. There is a chance that Jax might suffer a massive betrayal at the hands of Tiffany Stratton at Survivor Series.

There have been several occasions when The Buff Barbie teased cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on The Irresistible Force. In fact, she even came close to seizing the moment at Crown Jewel. Therefore, Stratton can potentially make her move against Nia Jax at the upcoming spectacle.

The 25-year-old has been looking for an opportunity for a long time. With Survivor Series being a historic event, it could serve as the ideal moment for WWE to finally pull the trigger on Tiffany Stratton. Not only could this mark the end of Jax’s title reign but it could also end her friendship with Tiffany.

It will be interesting to see how WWE plans this dramatic turn of events between Jax and Stratton. Considering their friendship, the betrayal could lead to a compelling storyline between the two superstars.

Source: Sportskeeda

Since Solo Sikoa stepped up to lead The Bloodline after Roman Reigns, things have been shifting quickly. Sikoa added Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu to his crew.

The Bloodline has a wide network, with plenty of stars from both within and outside the organization likely set to join their legendary legacy down the line. The Street Champion could soon add 6’8″ Tongan Hikuleo into the faction since the Stamford-based promotion has reportedly signed him.

If the old Enforcer adds another member, Roman Reigns might need to consider boosting his crew as well. Here are four potential recruits he could bring on board if The Bloodline makes a new addition.

---

#4 Rikishi could return to bring in his fourth son Thamiko Fatu to aid Roman Reigns

The WWE Hall of Famer could return and introduce his fourth son, Thamiko Fatu, to the Original Tribal Chief’s clan.

The young Samoan is putting in the hard work to sharpen his wrestling skills and get comfortable on the mic. His improvements have been impressive, and if he keeps this up, we might just see him in the WWE limelight before long.

With the WarGames match at Survivor Serie later this month possibly involving The Bloodline Civil War, the former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion might want to add some backup. That’s where Rikishi could step in and bring The Usos’ youngest of the brothers into the mix.

Involving him in The Bloodline storyline would be a win-win for both WWE and the up-and-coming star, plus it gives Reigns a solid ally to take on Sikoa and company.

---

#3 Paul Heyman may finally return and bring in Umaga’s son Zilla Fatu as Roman Reigns’ new Enforcer

Paul Heyman was last seen in the ring on the June 28 episode of SmackDown, where he got brutalized by Solo Sikoa and the rest of The Bloodline. The Wiseman ended up crashing through the commentary table after failing to acknowledge Solo as his Tribal Chief.

Roman Reigns is in a tough spot right now, and he might be turning to his Wiseman for help like never before. This time, though, Heyman could be bringing along the son of the legendary Umaga into the mix.

The 58-year-old veteran could explain that he had been away to scout the Anoaʻi family for credible candidates to back his Tribal Chief, and he finally found Zilla Fatu. This young real-life Bloodline member bears a striking resemblance to his famous father and is eager to carve out his legacy in WWE, possibly joining forces with his cousins in the ongoing saga.

---

#2 The OTC may finally recruit Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn joining forces with the OG Bloodline has been something fans have been waiting for. In the latest episode of RAW, it seemed like it might finally go down as Jey Uso invited him on SmackDown to have a discussion.

The former Honorary Uce made a surprise appearance to back Roman and The Usos at Crown Jewel 2024. In a twist of fate, he inadvertently delivered a Helluva Kick to the former leader of The Bloodline. His actions during the event reveal that Sami still holds a special place in his heart for his old faction mates.

However, he declines to align with Roman due to the latter’s persistent doubts about Zayn’s loyalty in the past. But things might change if the 40-year-old decides to take Jey’s offer and show up on the blue brand this week.

Should Roman Reigns refrain from casting any shadows on Sami’s loyalty, he may very well be open to rekindling ties with them.

---

#1 The 39-year-old could recruit Lance Anoa’i

Lance Anoa’i is the son of Samu, who happens to be a cousin of the former Intercontinental Champion, Rikishi. Back in 2019, he teamed up with Reigns, stepping in as a member of the Anoa’i family to face off against Shane McMahon, who was in a fierce feud with the Original Tribal Chief, along with Drew McIntyre.

With his well-known family background, a lot of people are curious if Lance might return to the company. With Roman Reigns having such a strong influence in WWE, it looks like there’s a solid shot that the wrestler could be brought back. And honestly, what could be cooler than teaming up with his cousin for a Bloodline vs. Bloodline showdown?

Source: Sportskeeda

The ending of Bad Blood 2024 seemed to suggest Cody Rhodes could be facing both The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41. A new report has come out regarding WWE’s possible backup plan for the Undisputed WWE Champion.

On WrestleVotes Radio exclusively on Backstage Pass, JoeyVotes and TC went into detail about Cody Rhodes, specifically if WWE had any plans for removing the World Title from him and what his spot at WrestleMania 41 seemed to look like.

JoeyVotes first said that WWE was very happy with Cody Rhodes as the face of the company, similar to how the company felt when it had John Cena. That’s because both are family-friendly babyfaces that represent the promotion well.

With regards to Triple H’s backup plans for The American Nightmare at WrestleMania 41, JoeyVotes stated that if The Rock vs. Roman Reigns got booked, it would likely headline Night Two and Cody would main event Night One. He continued by saying that Night One would be “Cody-heavy” in the main event, and the 39-year-old getting the spot largely had to do with the champion’s work in the last year.

---

Cody Rhodes headlining Night One of WrestleMania 41 could lead to CM Punk missing out again

If The American Nightmare gets the main event spot on Night One and The Rock vs. Roman Reigns headlines Night Two, it will be another year when CM Punk won’t headline WrestleMania.

The Best in The World had the rivalry of the year with Drew McIntyre, and his pending feud against Seth Rollins has been teased time and again, with many speculating that it will take place at WrestleMania 41.

It’s a hard decision to make for Triple H and Co., but considering how much they’ve invested in Cody as the full-time face of the company, it’s difficult not to give him that spot.

When it comes to The Second City Saint, headlining WrestleMania seems to be the only real goal he wants to achieve more than anything. Only time will tell if he ever gets a chance. Cody facing The Rock and Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat Match could give CM Punk that spot.

---

If you use this exclusive, please provide credit to Sportskeeda Wrestling, and don’t forget to listen to WrestleVotes Radio only on Backstage Pass.

Source: Sportskeeda

The WWE is the dream for most pro wrestlers, but there are times when that dream does not live up to the mark. More often than not, when this proves to be the case, we have seen disgruntled superstars jump ship. Usually, promotions like AEW, TNA, and NJPW are their preferred destinations. However, could we see a change in this trend? Could we see a 34-year-old superstar who recently vented his frustrations, making a surprise debut in the UFC?

Since 2023, the WWE and UFC have operated as sister promotions under TKO Group Holdings. In recent times, the two companies have collaborated on various occasions, including guest appearances at their respective events. However, it has been some time since a UFC fighter competed in a ring or a WWE Superstar entered the octagon. This might be set to change soon, as 34-year-old Montez Ford is rumored to be considering a switch.

Recently, Ford opened up about his booking with the Stamford-based promotion. Frustrated with how things were going, he spoke to the Daily Mail about making adjustments, and how there were things he wished to do before his body went past his athletic prime. Now, these statements were likely made concerning the recent mediocrity he and Angelo Dawkins have felt on SmackDown, but it could also be a nod to his aspirations of one day fighting in the UFC.

His wife, fellow WWE star Bianca Belair may not be happy about it, but Ford has reportedly talked to Nick Khan about a potential crossover, so anything is possible. But, as things stand, this is nothing more than mere speculation.

---

Ford will be following in the footsteps of other WWE Superstars if he joins the UFC

Montez Ford is not the first WWE Superstar to express curiosity in the UFC, and he probably won’t be the last. Many pro wrestlers, mostly those with ties to Vince McMahon and Triple H, have attempted to make a name for themselves in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. If Ford decides to switch from wrestling to MMA, he would be continuing a trend set by others before him.

When reflecting on the past, the names that stand out the most are CM Punk and Brock Lesnar. Bobby Lashley, who recently appeared in AEW has also had stints with various promotions. Additionally, Ronda Rousey and Matt Riddle, who began their careers in the octagon, should not be overlooked as two of the biggest names to trade grappling gloves for wrestling gear.

The point is, that such a move is not foreign to a professional wrestler. Should Ford make the decision to give the UFC a shot, there are plenty of people he can reach out to for advice.

Source: Sportskeeda