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WWE to explore 'WrestleMania IX' in new doc 'Becoming a Spectacle'

WWE to explore 'WrestleMania IX' in new doc 'Becoming a Spectacle'

Yahoo02-04-2025

WWE to explore 'WrestleMania IX' in new doc 'Becoming a Spectacle'
April 2 (UPI) -- WWE and Peacock announced on Wednesday a new documentary that will explore 1993's WrestleMania IX, titled Becoming a Spectacle.
The documentary, which is coming to Peacock on April 11 ahead of this year's WrestleMania 41, will give a behind-the-scenes look at the making of WrestleMania IX and how WWE transformed their marquee event to become more of a spectacle.
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WWE Hall of Famers and legends such as Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Lex Luger, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Papa Shango, Jimmy Hart, Kofi Kingston, Mike Rotunda, Natalya, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner, Rikishi and Ted DiBase will provide commentary.
WrestleMania IX took place in Las Vegas outside Caesars Palace on April 4, 1993. The show was WWE's first outdoor WrestleMania event and was billed as the "World's Largest Toga Party" due to its Roman-inspired theming.
The show set the stage for how WWE would produce WrestleMania going forward, with outdoor shows and a bigger emphasis on entertainment aspects.
WrestleMania IX was also controversial, however, for how the main event ended.
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The main event featured champion Yokozuna defending his title against Hart, who lost the match after Yokozuna's manager Mr. Fuji threw salt in Hart's eyes.
Hogan then arrived onto the scene and faced Yokozuna in an impromptu championship match. Hogan went on to win the bout quickly and became the new champion after Mr. Fuji accidentally threw salt at Yokozuna.
WrestleMania 41 is also taking place from Vegas at Allegiant Stadium on both April 19 and April 20.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will be defending his title against the now villainous John Cena.

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The best movie of 2025 (so far) you missed in theaters just arrived on streaming — and it's a hilariously heartfelt watch
The best movie of 2025 (so far) you missed in theaters just arrived on streaming — and it's a hilariously heartfelt watch

Tom's Guide

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  • Tom's Guide

The best movie of 2025 (so far) you missed in theaters just arrived on streaming — and it's a hilariously heartfelt watch

I have a well-documented love of all things dark, from twisting crime thrillers to brutal horrors. My favorite movies of the year list usually ends up stuffed with flicks that can be considered pretty bleak in tone. But, I do have a slightly sappy side as well, and my love for 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' proves it. I caught this British comedy-drama in theatres last weekend, and while my expectations were relatively low ahead of watching, after 100 joyful minutes I walked out of my screening with a broad smile on my face, convinced I'd just seen a frontrunner pick for the most overlooked movie of 2025 (so far). 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' received only a limited theatrical release in the U.S. back in March, which means an awful lot of people didn't get to see it on the big screen. That's a real shame. But fortunately, life is all about second chances (a theme of the movie itself), and now this heartfelt movie is available to stream on Peacock or via PVOD on platforms like Amazon and Apple. If you were one of the many who didn't get to catch 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' in cinemas earlier this year, I strongly implore you to seek it out on streaming, because it's something very special. Here's why I love it so much. Charles Heath (Tim Key) is a reclusive lottery winner, living on the eponymous Wallis Island off the coast of Wales. He's also the world's biggest superfan of folk music duo McGwyer Mortimer. Unfortunately, the band, made up of Herby McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), who were previously romantically involved, broke up 10 years ago, and haven't played a show together live since. Using his lottery winnings, Charles convinces them to both come to the island, reunite, and play a very intimate concert for an audience of one. Once on the island, old tensions flare up, and McGwyer and Mortimer find themselves grappling with their past and their present. They also have to tolerate Charles' fawning fandom and personality quirks. Eventually, the increasing tensions between the pair put the dream gig under threat. 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' wormed its way into my affections almost immediately. That's thanks in large part to the comedic brilliance of Tim Key. The flick opens with McGwyer arriving on the island in a small boat with a giddy Charles welcoming his hero, and this brilliant scene sets the tone. From the off, one thing becomes immediately apparent: Charles just cannot shut up. He is a persistent babbler and fills every silence with a running stream of nonsense. Loads of his lines had the entire audience in my local theatres laughing out loud, but as the movie progresses, we slowly peel back the layers and learn there's more to Charles than just his extreme levels of fandom. 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WWE's 'The Miz' suggests Chiefs star for American Gladiators, talks Browns fandom
WWE's 'The Miz' suggests Chiefs star for American Gladiators, talks Browns fandom

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

WWE's 'The Miz' suggests Chiefs star for American Gladiators, talks Browns fandom

WWE's 'The Miz' suggests Chiefs star for American Gladiators, talks Browns fandom This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin about his participation in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe, his earliest memory of the Cleveland Browns fandom, and hosting the upcoming American Gladiators reboot while name dropping Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as an ideal Gladiator. The Kelce brothers are confirmed to be Miz's competition again this year, as he will seek a better finish than last year's tournament. Miz is an Ohio native and a die-hard Browns fan, having witnessed the franchise's ups and downs. Cleveland's last divisional round postseason appearance was against Kansas City in 2020, when they lost at Arrowhead Stadium 17-22. He recalled his earliest memory of the team as a child attending school, singing about their quarterback, Bernie Kosar. "I believe I was in, like, fifth grade, and I was going to school in the bus, and we were just singing, Bernie, Bernie, oh baby Super Bowl," said Miz, "So, yeah, I remember that verbatim, and I also remember us not making it to the Super Bowl. I believe that year was either the fumble or the drive. I'm not sure which one, but those are the two things that really screwed us." The former WWE champion was recently named host of the upcoming reboot of American Gladiators on Prime Video. "I can't wait. I think, with this show, we're gonna, you know, give a nod to what, what American Gladiators was in the past, and elevate it and put it, you know, with 100% and go literally, ball to the wall, if you will." said Miz, "I mean, American Gladiators is a staple, and now to be the host of American Gladiators. It's an absolute honor, and I take it very, very seriously. I want to make sure that this show is everything people imagine it to be and more, and it will be. I can't wait for people to meet the Gladiators. I can't wait for people to see the events, and I can't wait for people to see me as the host." During a recent appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, Miz suggested that Chiefs star Travis Kelce would make a great addition to the show as a Gladiator. "I'm gonna go with two tight ends. I'm gonna go, George Kittle, I'm gonna go with Travis Kelce, because of personality," said Miz during the broadcast, "A Gladiator has to have a great personality, and got to be out there, not only do that be physically dominating but they got to be someone, either you're root for, or you're gonna boo kind of like a WWE superstar." The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC, along with a first-place prize of $150,000, makes the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf world.

When 'Real Housewives' Makes Women Want to Be More Than Housewives
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Newsweek

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  • Newsweek

When 'Real Housewives' Makes Women Want to Be More Than Housewives

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Tamra Judge attends KIIS FM's Jingle Ball in Los Angeles on December 2, returned to real estate, started selling her clothes on eBay to pay the rent, and eventually opened a gym that would become her primary business for a decade. While she ultimately partnered with her now-husband, Eddie Judge, she retained the majority stake in the company. And, unlike her first marriage, she doesn't rely on Eddie financially. "Being able to take care of yourself and your children is the most amazing feeling in the entire world," Tamra said. "I do credit the show for giving me the platform, the courage to move on and get out of this marriage that I was very unhappy with." The couple has since partnered on a successful CBD business, made smart investments, and Tamra hosts a very popular podcast with former castmate Teddi Mellencamp. Tamra still keeps her real estate license active in case she ever needs it again. 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"Sometimes I would say to Joe, like, 'I wanna go to the mall today and like push Antonia around in the stroller, like, can I get some cash?' And I hate that." Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Bravo Melissa lost her father at a young age, forcing her to work to support herself through college. When she met Joe, she was already working three jobs. While she always wanted a traditional family, her work ethic was one of the things that drew Joe to her, and that didn't change when they got married. Always receiving compliments on what she wore, Melissa realized she could monetize her sense of style by opening a boutique and selling her own clothing. Viewers watched as Joe had to take on more of the child-rearing while Melissa opened the store and famously said she "makes the crumbs" with her business, while his is the "cake." "I showed my whole journey with that and how it wasn't husband was used to me being home, me being there after school, me getting them to school, you know? The whole thing," Melissa said. "People really gravitated and rooted for me and it was inspiring to a lot of the moms out there who do have hopes and can do both. We can be great moms. We can be great wives and we can also own a business." Women wanting to work and also raise a family isn't a desire confined to reality television shows. It's reminiscent of a shift that's happening in American culture, as well. The number of working moms has doubled since 1975, and the expansion of social media and telework has given women more opportunities than ever before to build flexible work schedules. And as the share of women working rose, so did the number of women who were earning as much or more than their husbands. In 1972, 85 percent of men were the primary or sole breadwinners, according to Pew Research, and by 2022, that number had dropped to 5 percent. During the same time period, the number of women who are the primary or sole breadwinners more than tripled, increasing from 5 percent to 16 percent. But women are still the main caretakers of children, whether they're working or not, and the COVID-19 pandemic showed how fragile that balance can be. Working mothers experienced a greater rise in unemployment during the pandemic when their children transitioned to remote education than working fathers. Women are also more likely than men to take time off work to care for sick kids, according to polls. Unlike Alexis and her husband, Melissa and Joe were able to redefine their roles, offering viewers a glimpse into how couples can successfully navigate the shift. And since opening Envy, Melissa's has started a podcast and launched Let's Sprinkle, a dessert line that has become a runaway success. Joe has been there every step of the way, championing his wife. Melissa Gorga is seen behind the desk at her store "Envy By Melissa Gorga" where she was wearing a hat from the merchandise line of her fellow Housewives star and friend Luann de Lesseps on... Melissa Gorga is seen behind the desk at her store "Envy By Melissa Gorga" where she was wearing a hat from the merchandise line of her fellow Housewives star and friend Luann de Lesseps on March 11, 2025 in Ridgefield, New Jersey. MoreYes, the shift these housewives have undergone has benefited them, but they all agree that it could also be creating generational change. They're women who had a drive to work, and their kids now are getting a firsthand look at what goes into building a business and raising a family. Tamra's teenage daughter caught the entrepreneur bug and has started buying and selling clothes online. Melissa loves that her daughter, Antonia, got to see her build Envy and that her sons, Gino and Joey, got a firsthand look at what it took to get her dessert line off the ground. "I love that my children see the kind of time I put into it, but then they also see the success. So, they see I'm not just missing a game here or there, I'm trying to build something for all of us later in life," Melissa said. "Joe and I were explaining to them that there's a financial part of this learning that it's not all fun and games." Transitioning from a traditional housewife to the breadwinner isn't as simple as getting on a reality television show, although the platform certainly helps. For most women who appear on the show, their success doesn't transcend the franchise—building an empire off the back of reality television requires drive and hard work. Both Melissa and Tamra worked before the show and said they probably would have gone back to work eventually with or without it. But, being on Real Housewives opened doors they never thought possible, and the key to their success is harnessing their brand and being authentic. It's not enough to slap your name on a product; you need to connect with fans in a real way. Berwick said it's not for everyone because it means you're never off the clock. Bravo stars are stopped on the streets to hear what fans of the show think about their lives and give unsolicited advice, because once you let people into your life, like reality stars do, it's hard to turn the tap off. For the women who harness that celebrity, the opportunities are life-changing. "I think there is a school of thought for people who don't watch Bravo that this is a sometimes negative representation of women," Berwick said. "I think we are showing a lot of women being incredibly successful and doing powerful things and using their voices."

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