Latest news with #2025SummerSlam
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Roman Reigns Reacts to New WWE-ESPN Deal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Walt Disney Company shocked the wrestling world when it officially announced that it had struck a deal with WWE for exclusive rights to its Premium Live Events (PLEs). ESPN 🤝 @WWE Starting in 2026, ESPN's DTC platform will be the U.S. home of every WWE Premium Live Event - including @WrestleMania Details: — ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) August 6, 2025 Starting in 2026, all WWE PLEs will appear on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service in the United States. This will include iconic events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, the Royal Rumble, and more. Needless to say, this move has gotten strong reactions from the WWE Universe. And now, this includes the Original Tribal Chief Roman Reigns. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 02: Roman Reigns makes an entrance before the tag team match during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 02, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 02: Roman Reigns makes an entrance before the tag team match during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 02, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Elsa/Getty Images During an appearance on ESPN's First Take, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns shared his opinion on the promotion's newest partnership. "It's almost like the news cycle in itself," Reigns said. "It's always something new for us. It's always something bigger and better. You know, I think Nick Khan has done a great job of leading us and the proof is in the pudding. We just keep leveling up, and this is no different." .@WWERomanReigns joined First Take to discuss ESPN's new rights agreement with the WWE 🤝 — First Take (@FirstTake) August 6, 2025 When it came to the WWE fanbase, Reigns believed that this only meant good things for the future. "I think it's a chance to continue to grow," Reigns said. "I mean, anytime you can team up with a platform like ESPN, I mean, you guys are the sports media leaders. Nobody does it better than you guys. So to help us tell these stories, to help us reach and have as much attention, it's an obvious partnership. "So it's huge for our fanbase. Anytime we can grow our art form of sports and entertainment, it's always gonna benefit our fans." More Pro Wrestling: WWE Announces Major Deal With ESPN WWE President Nick Khan seems confident that fans will make the move from Peacock to ESPN during an appearance on The Varsity. "Will the subs follow the product to whatever that new platform is? I think we've demonstrated to Peacock, our subs will follow, they certainly all followed from the WWE Network, and that expanded that subscribership extensively with Peacock," Khan said. "And there's obviously other product at Peacock to watch, which our fans who subscribe primarily for us were able to sample. Same will be the case with ESPN." Nick Khan is confident people who subscribed to Peacock for WWE 'PLEs' will follow the product to be subscribers of ESPN to continue watching their 'PLEs.' 'Will the subs follow the product to whatever that new platform is? I think we've demonstrated to Peacock, our subs will… — Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) August 6, 2025 While this is certainly a nice sentiment, WWE fans appear to be against the idea in general, largely due to the significant price increase that will come with the move. Currently, WWE PLEs are on Peacock along with a massive back catalog of content. For all this as well as the rest of the NBCUniversal library, people only need to pay $10.99 per month at the most basic level. Meanwhile, the ESPN streaming service will cost $29.99 per month, nearly three times as much. While there will be an option to bundle that with Disney+ and Hulu at the same price, that will only be for the first 12 months. More Pro Wrestling: John Cena Breaks Silence On Brock Lesnar's Shocking WWE Return For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
John Cena Breaks Silence On Brock Lesnar's Shocking WWE Return
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just two days after being brutally attacked by the returning Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, John Cena has broken his silence. In a new interview, the 17-time world champion seemed completely unfazed by the assault, suggesting it is all part of the plan for his final chapter in WWE. The shocking and controversial return of "The Beast Incarnate" came at the conclusion of SummerSlam Night Two. Lesnar stormed the ring and laid out Cena with an F5 after he had lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes. "They Deal 'Em, I Play 'Em" While speaking to Adam's Apple, John Cena was asked about the chaotic end to SummerSlam. He responded with his classic "company man" philosophy, indicating he is ready for whatever WWE has planned for his farewell tour. "I've been saying the same thing for 25 years. They deal 'em, I play 'em," Cena said (H/T to "I'm just really excited. We got like 12 of these things left." He acknowledged that the book is closing on his career, but WWE has to continue building its future. "They're just trying to make the most exciting show for the fans, man," he added. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 03: Brock Lesnar throws John Cena during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 03: Brock Lesnar throws John Cena during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. John Cena's Controversial Wishlist Cena's calm acceptance of the situation appears to confirm what WWE's Chief Content Officer, Triple H, stated at the post-SummerSlam press conference. At the media scrum, Triple H heavily implied that Brock Lesnar's controversial return was specifically requested by John Cena himself as part of his "wishlist" for his final run. His return was a shocking and divisive decision, but WWE has framed it as the final chapter in a legendary rivalry, seemingly at the request of the retiring icon. The Final Chapter Of A Legendary WWE Rivalry The feud between John Cena and Brock Lesnar is one of the most violent and important of the modern era. Their infamous match at SummerSlam 2014 saw Lesnar completely demolish Cena in a one-sided beatdown to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Lesnar's return to target Cena now sets the stage for an epic and brutal final encounter between the two legends. With Cena's retirement tour set to conclude at the end of 2025, this feud with his most dominant rival is poised to be one of the last and biggest programs of his storied career. A match between the two is now expected at the Clash in Paris premium live event later this month.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Top WWE Star Pushed For Shocking Brock Lesnar Return
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Following Brock Lesnar's shocking and controversial return at SummerSlam, WWE's Chief Content Officer Triple H has addressed the decision to bring him back. At the post-show, Triple H heavily implied that the return was specifically requested by John Cena for his farewell tour. Lesnar made his stunning return after the main event of Night Two, brutally attacking John Cena after his loss to Cody Rhodes. It was Lesnar's first appearance in a WWE arena in nearly two years. At the media scrum following the event, Triple H was asked about the decision to bring Brock Lesnar back. He framed the move as being part of John Cena's "last chapter." "This is John Cena's wishlist, it's him writing the last chapter of his book," Triple H stated. "It's about John being able to go out the way he wants to go out, to write his chapter." These comments suggest that a final, violent feud with his legendary rival was something Cena personally wanted for his 2025 retirement tour. Nixed Brock Lesnar Plans Brock Lesnar's return is a highly controversial one. "The Beast Incarnate" had been absent from all WWE programming since January 2024. He was pulled from the Royal Rumble that year and a WrestleMania match with GUNTHER. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match That loyalty appears to extend to his on-screen rivals as well. He and Lesnar have a long and storied history in the ring. Brock Lesnar throws John Cena during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brock Lesnar throws John Cena during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A Legendary John Cena Rivalry Reignited The feud between the two icons has spanned multiple eras and has always delivered physicality and drama. The feud between John Cena and Brock Lesnar is one of the most violent and memorable of the modern era. It began with Lesnar's 2012 return to WWE, leading to a brutal classic at Extreme Rules. The most infamous chapter of their rivalry occurred at SummerSlam in 2014. By this point, Lesnar had conquered The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania and was an unstoppable "Beast Incarnate." He challenged the then-champion, John Cena, in what was expected to be a competitive main event. What transpired was one of the most one-sided and shocking demolitions in WWE history. Lesnar dominated Cena from bell to bell, delivering 16 German suplexes and leaving the seemingly invincible "Super Cena" utterly broken to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The match forever changed the perception of both men. While Cena would get a disqualification win in their rematch at Night of Champions, the damage had been done. This new program, set to be a major part of Cena's farewell tour, will serve as the epic final chapter to their historic feud. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
