Latest news with #Indiatimes
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SmackDown: WWE subtly hints at John Cena's expected face turn, here's what may happen next
The latest episode of SmackDown ended with an intense segment in which John Cena-Logan Paul shared the ring with Cody Rhodes-Jey Uso ahead of their tag match at Money in the Bank. The YouTuber will be joining forces with the current Undisputed Champion to take on 'QB1' and the reigning World Heavyweight Champion at the Premium Live Event. The segment played out as expected, with the babyfaces (Uso and Rhodes) standing tall over the heels (Paul and Cena). However, a key moment during the segment caught everyone's attention as it suggested that 'The Franchise Player' may become a good guy (face) again. All is not well between John Cena and Logan Paul? Cody Rhodes kicked off the final segment of the night with a fiery promo in which he addressed the events that transpired at WrestleMania 41 where he lost the Undisputed title to John Cena after Travis Scott interfered. 'QB1' was then joined by Jey Uso. The two were soon interrupted by John Cena, who spewed venom on them and accused them of being 'wannabes'. The soon-to-retire star then revealed that Logan Paul was in the building. 'The Maverick' soon made his way to the ring. This led to a brawl between the two sides. Rhodes and Uso were on the same page. However, Cena and Paul were not. At one point, 'The Last Real Champion' even tried to walk away. He, however, changed his mind after an insult from Rhodes. This led to absolute chaos. In the end, Rhodes hit Logan Paul with a 'Cody Cutter' and nailed Cena with a 'Beautiful Disaster' as they closed the show. Logan Paul to turn John Cena at Money in the Bank? Cena and Paul are not on the same page. And, this suggests that the veteran may soon turn face. In fact, this could happen as early as the Money in the Bank event. Hypothetically, the YouTuber could turn on Cena at the event after some miscommunication. This could force The Marine actor to reassess his priorities and once again become the baby face he was before 'selling his soul' to The Rock at Elimination Chamber. If this happens, it will be along expected lines. Dave Meltzer, a pro wrestling journalist, had earlier told Indiatimes that the star will turn a 'hero' again before calling time on his career later this year. Stay ahead of the game with the latest updates, match highlights, and insider stories from IPL, cricket, WWE, and more! Click here.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: Veteran writer calls Rusev's latest WWE run 'horrible', reveals what has gone wrong
Rusev returned to the WWE on the Raw after WrestleMania 41 and destroyed the Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) in the cruelest way possible. Many expected this to be the beginning of a dominant run for the star who was previously with the Stamford-based promotion from 2010 to 2020. However, over a month later, he is yet to make a major impact. In an exclusive interaction with Indiatimes, veteran writer Vince Russo called its second stint with the company 'horrible' and revealed why it is not working. Vince Russo is not a fan of Rusev's latest run with the WWE Rusev has had merely two matches since returning to the WWE on the Raw after WrestleMania 41. In the first one, he beat Otis. The other one saw him squash Akira Tozawa in a matter of minutes. There was also a significant time gap in his matches against the lower midcard talents as the WWE relied on packaged promos to build an aura around the powerhouse. In them, the former Miro spoke about wanting to 'redeem' himself. According to Vince Russo– a writer who worked with the WWE in the 90s– the promos are 'meaningless' and Rusev does not have a storyline to work with. '(The run is) horrible. Nothing special. There is no story upon his return. Those vignettes are meaningless,' he told Indiatimes. Rusev was paired with Lana, who later married him in real life in 2016, during his first run with the company. Lana acted as his manager and helped him generate heat through her caustic promos. This established him as a bankable heel and paved the way for him to win the US title on three occasions. Russo feels that Lana's absence too has detailed the second run even before it started. 'They needed him to come back with Lana. He's going to be just another name on the roster,' said the writer. Interestingly, Lana too is currently with the WWE under a 'Legends' deal. As such, there is a possibility of her being paired with Rusev again. What's next for Rusev? As seen on the latest episode of Raw, Rusev is likely to feud with Sheamus now that his rivalry with Otis and Akira is the rearview. The Irish brawler confronted 'The Bulgarian Brute' on the red brand this week and stopped him for doing some permanent damage to Akira. This may pave the way fore meatier feuds down the line
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: 3 signs R-Truth may score a shocking win over John Cena
John Cena is set to take on R-Truth in a singles match at Saturday Night's Main Event in what many expect to be a cakewalk for the Cenation Leader. The 53-year-old has been nothing more than a lower midcard act in recent years. This, theoretically, makes him a weak opponent for the GOAT. However, going by recent developments, the possibility of Truth picking up an unexpected win over Cena can't be ruled out. Here are three signs that point towards a massive upset at Saturday Night's Main Event. The title is not on the line John Cena won the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania 41 when he beat Cody Rhodes after resorting to unfair means. Given the fact that this is his final year as a full-fledged performer, he is expected to have a longish reign. This made the outcome of his championship match against Randy Orton at Backlash predictable. Interestingly, the belt is not on the line at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. This makes the result less predictable as Cena can lose the match without his run as the champion being cut short. R-Truth can go over via a DQ or a countout. He may also manage to pin Cena with an assist. These finishes will help shake things up without affecting Cena's credibility. Cody Rhodes' return is around the corner Cody Rhodes has not been seen on WWE programming since he lost the title at WrestleMania 41. This could change at Saturday Night's Man Event. 'QB1' was recently spotted in Orlando, just two hours away from Tampa, Florida, where Saturday Night's Main Event is being held. This suggests that a return may be on the cards. He might interfere in the match if 'The Last Real Champion' tries any underhanded techniques. He may then proceed to help Truth get the three-count over Cena. Cena needs a setback to turn face again Not too long ago, journalist Dave Meltzer told Indiatimes that Cena– who turned heel at Elimination Chamber 2025, is unlikely to retire as the bad guy. Given this, a face turn is on the table. Heel Cena has often resorted to cheating to win after failing to get the job done the conventional way. He hit Rhodes with a low blow and the belt shot at 'Mania before getting the win. He did something similar against Orton at Backlash. His underhanded techniques may backfire at Saturday Night's Main Event, giving R-Truth to beat him clean. This embarrassing loss could then compel Cena to look inward and once again become the virtuous man he once was. Stay ahead of the game with the latest updates, match highlights, and insider stories from IPL, cricket, WWE, and more! Click here.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Narivetta: Tovino Thomas' Malayalam film needs to collect around Rs 25 cr worldwide to be a success
Tovino Thomas is gearing up for the release of Narivetta, slated to hit the screens on May 23. The Malayalam thriller has created a great deal of buzz among fans with its intense trailer. Tovino's mature avatar too has added to the curiosity surrounding the flick. Narivetta, which has been shot on a small budget of Rs 10 crore, needs to earn over Rs 20 crore worldwide to emerge as a commercial success. Narivetta breakeven target revealed Narivetta is one of the most talked-about Malayalam films of the month. It has the potential to help Tovino score another big hit after L2 Empuraan in which he was seen with Mohanlal. According to Manobala Vijayabalan,a trade analyst, Narivetta needs to gross somewhere around Rs 25 crore globally to be a commercial success. 'It's a small budget film, hence a positive WoM with decent to good box office figures will make this a profitable affair. The breakeven figure may be around Rs 25 crore,' he told Indiatimes. This means it needs to gross in the Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore range in Kerala to be successful. Tovino's films usually pack a punch at the box office. 2018 is a case in point. The survival drama earned Rs 177 crore worldwide. Similarly, Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) made over Rs 100 crore despite mixed reviews. Given Tovino's star power there is a distinct possibility of Narivetta emerging as a success. About Narivetta Narivetta is an action drama directed by Anuraj Manohar. It centres on the sensitive issue of state-sponsored violence. The film features Tovino Thomas, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Cheran in the lead. Its music is composed by Jakes Bejoy. For all the latest coverage on Southern cinema & OTT shows, click here
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jaat lifetime BO collection: Sunny Deol's film earns Rs 115 cr, trade analyst cites reason for mediocre show
Jaat lifetime box office collection: Sunny Deol's Jaat hit the screens on April 10 and opened to a decent response at the box office, and grossed Rs 9.5 crore worldwide on the first day. The film then witnessed growth in mass centres but remained flat in the urban areas. Now, nearly a month later, Jaat's run is over and its verdict is out. Jaat disappoints at the worldwide box office Jaat, Sunny Deol's first release after Gadar 2 (2023), has failed to live up to expectations despite the mass hero's popularity. According to Manobala Vijayabalan, a trade analyst, the actioner earned Rs 115 crore globally in its full run. This is not a bad figure when viewed in isolation. It, however, pales in comparison to what Gadar 2 made in its full run. Anil Sharma's well-received sequel to Gadar (2001) earned Rs 691 crore in its lifetime on a budget of Rs 60 crore and emerged as a blockbuster despite facing competition from Akshay Kumar's OMG 2 and the Rajinikanth-led Jailer. Jaat received mixed reviews with critics praising the performances but panning the presentation. Manobala feels that the average word-of-mouth stunted its performance at the box office. 'Jaat is an average to hit venture at the box office when compared with its budget. The film managed to fetch ₹115 cr across the world. It couldn't perform well because of mixed reactions and competition,' he told Indiatimes. Jaat was released alongside Ajith Kumar's Good Bad Ugly, which emerged as the top choice of the audience in the Tamil market and earned an impressive Rs 242 crore at the box office. Sunny Deol's film also faced competition from Kesari Chapter 2, which hit the screens the next week and did well in the urban market. About Jaat Jaat is an action drama directed by Gopichandh Mallineni. The film centres on a man of the masses as he locks horns with a criminal. The film features Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, and Regina Cassandra in the lead. The music is composed by S Thaman.
