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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Goldberg breaks silence with an apology to senior WWE official
Image via WWE Goldberg issued an apology to a senior WWE official. Charles Robinson was the referee for Goldberg's last match. During the intense game at SNME, Robinson was on the receiving end of a spear. The veteran posted a picture of it on X. In the recent episode of the Ariel Helwani Show, Goldberg was asked if he was aware of the referee's injury. The wrestler immediately issued an apology. Goldberg apologizes to Charles Robinson after the latter's injury at SNME Goldberg and Charles Robinson shared a bond since their WCW days. Robinson called several matches for Goldberg, even at WCW. In the episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, Goldberg made a revelation. It was he who had invited Robinson to call his final match at the Saturday Night Main Event. During the match, Robinson was hit by an accidental spear from Goldberg. The 61-year-old veteran revealed his injury via a post on Instagram. He wrote, 'Thanks @goldberg95! Never fear…I am ALL MAN and I can't be kept down! I will return for @wwe #smackdown next week in #SanAntonio! #wrestling #nofear' Reacting to the injury, Goldberg apologized to the WWE veteran. He stated, 'Yeah, I mean. here's the deal. I asked for Charles to be in there. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Charles and I have a long history, and Charles has taken that before, and I might have broken a rib last time, and Charles is a freakin'. he is a, I don't know, I'm not gonna say 'Renaissance Man''. EXCLUSIVE: Goldberg Shoots on Why He's "PISSED" About WWE Retirement Match, Feels Slighted He further continued, 'That dude's indestructible. I don't know how old he is, but he's taken that Spear a number of times, a lot of times, actually, and more power to him. Man, I love him to death, but I do apologize for the rib, but it'll heal like the other one did.' Goldberg lost that match to Gunther. Despite the loss, he ended his career on a high note. Goldberg reveals his future plans It is unlikely for Goldberg to make a WWE appearance anytime soon. In the same episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, the wrestler opened up on his future plans. He straight up negated any possibility of him showing up in the promotion. At the same time he acknowledged the run he had in WWE. 'I don't think I'm lingering anywhere around the WWE in the anytime future. Oh, man. Stretched imagination.' Goldberg stated, 'It was a lot of fun. It told it taught me that I could do things that I never thought that I could do.' The wrestler continued to reveal his next plans, 'I got August 29th, I think we got a home game against Georgia Tech at the University of Colorado at Gage. I'm going to be there and that's kind of what's next.' He further stated, 'I mean, I'm jumping back into my cars and doing some TV show stuff in the automobile world and trying to put some smiles on kids faces and I'm going to have a little bit of fun, man. And I'm going to train my ass off and I'm going to get back in the gym. ' Goldberg seems to be full of content. The wrestler, away from the Television, is focusing more on his personal life than on anything else. Also Read: Will WWE Evolution 3 happen? Triple H and Backstage reactions hint YES Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Goldberg Not Happy With Final WWE Match
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 days after competing in what was billed as his final match, WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg has expressed disappointment with how his retirement was handled. In a new, candid interview, Goldberg revealed he was "less than thrilled" with the execution of his final bow against World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. The match took place this past Saturday, July 12th, at the Saturday Night's Main Event premium live event in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Goldberg did not hold back his frustrations. "A Little Less Than To Be Desired" Goldberg explained that while he was grateful to face a talent like GUNTHER, he had always envisioned his retirement match happening on a grander stage. He felt that a Saturday night television taping was not the ideal send-off. "You always have your dreams of how you're going to do things," Goldberg said (H/T to Ringside News). "And ultimately to have a little bit more control over the time and the space would have been much more preferred, let's just put it that way." His frustrations went beyond the choice of event. He also revealed that he was not given a proper chance to address the fans after the match, despite it being the end of his iconic career. "They cut me off for freaking 20 seconds with the microphone in my hand, for God's sakes," he stated. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: Bill Goldberg poses in the ring with Triple H during Bad Blood at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: Bill Goldberg poses in the ring with Triple H during Bad Blood at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. WWE/Getty Images The Grand Tradition Of The Final Bow In the world of professional wrestling, the retirement match for a legend is often treated as a sacred and emotional moment. Superstars like Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels had their careers ended in epic, story-driven main events at WrestleMania, WWE's biggest stage. These farewells are remembered as some of the most emotional moments in wrestling history. Goldberg's match, by contrast, took place at a smaller "B-level" premium live event. While Saturday Night's Main Event holds a nostalgic place in wrestling history, the modern version does not carry the prestige of a show like WrestleMania or SummerSlam, which may have contributed to Goldberg's feeling that his send-off was undervalued. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation More To The Story? Goldberg also hinted that he has more to say on the matter once he is able to. His comments suggest he may be under a short-term contractual obligation that prevents him from speaking freely. "I got two weeks before I can really, you know, spill the beans and, you know, make my feelings kind of known about the entire rundown from the inception of the idea to its delivery," he revealed. The match itself saw Goldberg put up a valiant fight before ultimately being put to sleep by GUNTHER's sleeper hold, allowing the dominant champion to retain his World Heavyweight Title. While Goldberg passed the torch to a current-day star, it is clear he feels the story of his final chapter was not told the way he had hoped. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Roundtable: What should WWE do with Seth Rollins' injury? And did AEW win the weekend?
Are you tired of us yet? No? Good. A wrestling weekend like we just experienced, requires — no, DEMANDS — an emergency gathering of the Uncrowned Horsemen to discuss everything that transpired from the good (there was A LOT) to the bad (Seth Rollins' reported knee injury). Advertisement Kel Dansby, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger are here once again to examine how the pro wrestling landscape has changed in the wake of AEW All In/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/WWE Evolution — with a little Great American Bash sprinkled in — and offer up their thoughts on arguably the most important non-WrestleMania weekend of the year. 1. What was your favorite match of the weekend and which match had the most significant impact on its promotion moving forward? Riggs: I'm about to give the most non-definitive answer possible, which shows just how much happened this past weekend. Thankfully, there was much more good than bad. First I want to shout out the AEW Women's Casino Gauntlet match, because of how much it exceeded expectations. Yet as someone who loves the lengths AEW will go to when the pressure is on to deliver a masterpiece — more often than not, they do so, like with the world title match between Jon Moxley and Hangman Adam Page. And that's also my answer for part two of this question, because of how absolutely momentous that match — and its result — felt. Just as Hangman has done by being the company's main character, Page vs. Moxley embodied the spirit of everything wrestling fans love about AEW and sent everyone home happy. That being said, it needs to be argued that LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins wound up as the most impactful match of the weekend, if only because of Rollins' knee injury. As Mr. Money In the Bank, Rollins felt like a guarantee to be up next for another world title run and he's been the centerpiece of "WWE Raw" since WrestleMania 41. Now Triple H presumably has to do a massive deck shuffling. But that's more speculation than what we saw to close AEW All In, so I'll stick with Page vs. Moxley as my answer. Advertisement Dansby: Tough question — two matches fit the bill perfectly. But if I have to pick, I'll go with Hangman vs. Moxley, even though Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley was the more entertaining match from bell to bell. Hangman feels like the guy for AEW right now, and ending Moxley's Death Rider streak only reinforces that. The Texas Deathmatch stipulation is tailor-made for both guys, and they leaned all the way in on Saturday — brutality, chaos, interference, all of it. It wasn't just a bloodbath for shock value — it set the tone for AEW's next few months. We now know Hangman has MJF in his sights, but the looming presence of the Hurt Syndicate throws a wrench in that. Meanwhile, Moxley's story feels far from over. He still has unfinished business with Bryan Danielson and Darby Allin, both of which could blow up into their own feuds. Advertisement Jackman: In a very competitive field I'm going with the triple threat match that opened WWE Evolution. Remember this time last week when the overall sentiment on social media toward Evolution wasn't exactly optimistic? Don't get me wrong: I think most people wanted the event to succeed, but there was a lot of consternation about the low ticket sales and whether WWE had made a mistake by booking three separate events in one weekend. The second this match started, though, all of that went out of the window. All three women — Bayley, Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria — absolutely smashed it, and the crowd was on fire instantly. From that moment on, you just knew the naysayers were going to end up eating their words. As for the most significant, I say Moxley vs. Hangman. I've set out my thoughts on the Death Riders a couple of times recently, but, in short, I genuinely think this one was existential for AEW. To stick with Moxley as champion would have sent a bold signal (to put it mildly) about the future of AEW. Thankfully, Tony Khan decided to take the right decision, rather than burn all that goodwill he's been building up lately. Sulla-Heffinger: I'm going with two AEW contests here. For my favorite match, I have to go with Mercedes Moné vs. 'Timeless' Toni Storm. When you look at the body of work they have put together since coming to AEW, it's hard to argue anything other than these two being the best female wrestlers in the world. Considering this was probably the most important women's match in the history of AEW, the stakes and anticipation for it were remarkably high — and naturally, Storm and Moné knocked it out of the park, as it took an avalanche Storm Zeroes to finally end Moné's unbeaten singles streak. A lot of times the term 'dream match' is either thrown around or used far too late in careers, but that isn't the case with what we saw Saturday. Advertisement As far as the most significant impact, Rollins' injury not included, Hangman Adam Page defeating Jon Moxley has to be the most impactful moving forward. Unlike the feel-good AEW title win from Bryan Danielson last year, I would imagine Page's run post-All In lasts significantly longer and there were two high-profile returns and a major Swerve (see what I did there) that make it hard to not get overly excited about the future of the top of the card at AEW. Seth Rollins' reported knee injury could have major implications across all of WWE. (Photo by Heather McLaughlin/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 2. What is the best way for WWE to navigate the Seth Rollins injury/MITB briefcase? Sulla-Heffinger: If Rollins is out for an extended period of time, it's absolutely brutal in the sense that he has been the centerpiece of 'Raw' for the entirety of 2025. That said, if we're going to try and look at the positives, it opens the door for CM Punk, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Bron Breakker or Sami Zayn to cycle in and out of the main-event picture — after his win on 'Raw,' Punk gets the first crack at Gunther— until Rollins returns. It's unclear if Roman Reigns' return was a 'break glass in case of emergency' move or planned, but there are multiple, extremely compelling angles immediately with his return. Depending on the recovery timetable, you could have Knight and Breakker battle for the MITB briefcase — and then Rollins has a built-in title shot when he returns — or just have Rollins refuse to give it up and then when he does return for an immediate cash-in, the moment will be bigger than perhaps any before. As for the 'Seth Riders,' WWE could give the fans what they want and have Karrion Kross take over the group and get his big push finally, which would be an interesting twist, especially involving Paul Heyman. Advertisement Jackman: Well, first you need to answer the million-dollar question: Is he really injured at all? For readers who haven't followed this one, there's been some convincing sounding reporting coming out of Post Wrestling that this whole thing is actually a set up to pull off a massive shock cash-in at SummerSlam, presumably at the expense of CM Punk. I'm on the record as saying how distasteful I find these 'fake injury' angles, so I hope that's not the case. When you look at the genuine outpouring of sympathy we've seen from the WWE and AEW fanbases towards Kevin Owens and Adam Cole respectively in recent months, I can't see why anyone would think it's a good idea to use a serious injury for storytelling purposes. It's the same response I had to Triple H pretending that the R Truth 'fake firing' was some stroke of creative genius. Does he not realize that if he makes these things fair game, then you'll have internet sleuths second-guessing every reported injury or release from now until eternity? If I hear that Kevin Owens is undergoing life-changing neck surgery, I don't want even a little part of me thinking 'Wait, is this all a work?' If the injury is genuine, then obviously I hope Seth will be back on his feet soon. Though assuming it requires a rewriting of the MITB storyline, then I'd suggest just passing the briefcase on to Bron Breakker. Surely that's the sort of thing that Paul Heyman could arrange (in kayfabe terms) having used his years of experience to call an audible? Advertisement Riggs: No matter the direction taken, it has to involve LA Knight heavily. Realistically, he should probably be given the briefcase for beating Rollins, despite that not being a stipulation. You can't just get rid of that element, though. At the same time, it would be fair to Rollins to wait and see what a timetable might look like for his return. And in that case, if it's not overly long, this could be an ultra-happy accident for a big surprise. Regardless, suppose Knight doesn't receive something big and possibly related to the briefcase. In that case, he should kayfabe be livid about it, taking an aggressive anti-hero approach until he gets what he wants. Dansby: WWE should treat the MITB briefcase like the wild card it is. If Seth is out for a while, the briefcase becomes more valuable than ever. Whoever holds it—especially if it's a heel—can tease cash-ins constantly to keep the world title picture interesting. The key is not rushing. The worst thing they can do is give it immediately to a returning Roman Reigns. Let the briefcase holder be someone who could simmer and build some momentum. It's been a while since the contract has truly felt dangerous. Jade Cargill stood tall at WWE Evolution and was among Uncrowned's breakout performers for the weekend. (Photo by Chansey Augustine/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 3. Who was the breakout performer of the weekend? Dansby: That honor goes to Jade Cargill. Her No Holds Barred match with Naomi was not just her best match to date—it was a legit show-stealer. She's always had the look, the presence, the confidence. But now? She's adding in-ring legitimacy to the package. Advertisement Winning Queen of the Ring punched her ticket to SummerSlam, and with Naomi cashing in the MITB briefcase and walking out as Women's World Champion, there's some real tension building. Their chemistry was undeniable, and now they've got a story that could headline a major PLE. Jackman: We haven't included the event in our round-ups so far, but I'd like to give a shout out to Yoshiki Inamura for his performance against Oba Femi at The Great American Bash. I was in two minds whether that match was going to be a total flop, but my goodness did they bring the goods. If you didn't catch it due to WWE's choice to book the event alongside All In, I'd highly recommend that you go back and watch it. Sulla-Heffinger: As odd as it is to have a champion in this spot, I firmly believe it has to be Sol Ruca. As Riggs wrote in his SmackDown recap last Friday, the Fatal 4-way match she was involved in felt like a showcase to specifically introduce her on the main roster. For anyone who has been watching NXT, none of this was really a surprise, but for anyone who was unsure of what's on the horizon for the women's division, this weekend showed that the future is very bright — OK, enough Sol puns, I swear. Ruca retained her NXT Women's North American Championship the following day and even though she took the pin at Evolution on Sunday night, she showed she's closer to the main roster than we think. Also, the Sol Snatcher is already in the conversation for the best finishers in WWE today. Riggs: It has to be Lash Legend. Her performance in the WWE Evolution Battle Royal was as star-making as it gets. She felt like a force, almost akin to Keith Lee's first Royal Rumble appearance years back. Possibly even to a higher degree than that, though. WWE booked her so well that I bought a ticket, thinking she might actually win it. That match was the perfect catalyst for a mega push because man, did she earn it. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 12: Goldberg retires from wrestling during Saturday Night's Main Event at State Farm Arena on July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 4. Do you feel any differently about the pro wrestling landscape for the rest of 2025 after this weekend? Jackman: Whatever your thoughts on WWE's aggressive 'double booking' strategy, I have to say it was a real treat to have so much wrestling over the weekend. Sure, it might not work to do it every month (or even every six months), but the back-to-back events made the whole thing feel similar to a WrestleMania weekend. Advertisement In terms of the bigger question, I'd just echo what I said earlier about AEW. I wrote a column on Friday about how a Hangman victory would be the perfect starting point to a new era for the company and I really hope that's the direction they take. The imagery of Hangman retrieving that belt from the briefcase perfectly captured that sense of AEW being re-born after the long shadow of the Death Riders. Dansby: Not really, but some pieces have definitely shifted. AEW is having a strong summer, especially at the top of the card. Their men's and women's main events feel intentional and meaningful. The big question now: can they elevate the midcard and tag/trios divisions to that same level? That's where long-term momentum is either made or lost. On the WWE side, the creative highs are still being carried by special events. Evolution was arguably their best PLE in recent memory, but the company is still heavily leaning on part-timers, legacy names, and viral moments. The main roster feels like it's stuck balancing corporate obligations with fan engagement. Not an easy line to walk. Riggs: Yes. Each company is going in a clear, different direction. Whether you think that is good or bad is up to you. WWE is entirely playing into the entertainment, more playful demographic, with the reinvitations of celebrity matches like Jelly Roll's upcoming in-ring debut. Meanwhile, AEW just had their wrestlers stab each other with forks and rub glass in their faces. For WWE, they need to recover the incredibly bumpy first half of the year they've had from a story perspective in most angles, while AEW simply needs to carry the incredible momentum they've accrued. All the pieces are in place for each to keep going the way they are. Advertisement Sulla-Heffinger: Like Riggs, my biggest takeaway from the weekend is just how different AEW and WWE truly are. I teased this in our preview Horsemen column when we talked about how 'success' is defined for each company and I think this weekend hammered home that point in particular. With a stacked card, AEW put on an absolutely incredible stadium show that somehow managed to at least exceed — if not completely obliterate — all of the expectations going in. The momentum Tony Khan's company has is undeniable. On the other side, WWE took over Atlanta and ran three shows, including an Evolution PLE that should not be overlooked in the slightest, and managed to involve both celebrities (Jelly Roll) and legends, particularly Trish Stratus and Goldberg. As much as we want this to be a recreation of the 'Monday Night Wars,' the reality right now is this: AEW is the better pure wrestling promotion and WWE is the better sports entertainment promotion. There's plenty of room for both to thrive in this space and EVERYONE from the talent, to the media, to the fans are better off for it. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: Naomi speaks at the Press Conference Desk during WWE Evolution at State Farm Arena on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 5. Give your one-word review of each show from the weekend and a short explanation why. Riggs: AEW All-In: Momentous. The 2025 iteration truly felt like the company's version of WrestleMania, and a WrestleMania of old — an actual culmination point of everything that happened since the last titular event. I don't want to say "reset point," but rather something like the "end of season" or "next book in the series" type of event. Advertisement WWE Evolution: Epic. The second event of its name just felt special, and almost like a continuation of that evolution label. Every performer channeled it beautifully. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Pass. I'm not saying anything new by calling SNME a glorified house show, but that's just what they are. Occasionally, a banger of a match unfolds in the short time given. That's about it, though. As overall events, they're almost totally missable. Sulla-Heffinger: AEW All In Texas: Defining – AEW's first true stadium show in the U.S. marks a significant real-life milestone and acts as a turning point for the creative future of the company. More than any other stateside AEW show, All In Texas felt like a WrestleMania. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Forced – Again, not necessarily bad because there were some decent matches on the card, but even if Rollins didn't get hurt, this felt like it took a little bit away from a weekend that Evolution should have dominated in the WWE landscape. Great moment and a fitting end for Goldberg, though. Advertisement WWE Evolution: Worthy – Sunday proved that this should be a tentpole event on the WWE PLE calendar every year. Dansby: Great American Bash: Meh. This felt more like a placeholder than a peak NXT event. They've got to figure out how to make the TNA involvement actually mean something and start building up the next wave of top stars. Right now, it feels like they're in a holding pattern. All In: Electric. AEW is giving its core fans exactly what they want—and doing it well. But the challenge now is to turn that momentum into growth. Can they bring in new fans without losing their base? We're about to find out. Evolution: Eye-opening. The women delivered. Period. The talent is there, the performances were top-tier, and the response was overwhelming. If WWE doesn't make this a yearly event, it'll feel like a huge missed opportunity. This was proof that the women can consistently headline, draw, and steal the show. Advertisement Jackman: AEW All-In: Coherent. Unlike previous AEW events, this actually felt like more than the sum of its respective parts, with multiple storylines gelling perfectly throughout the evening. The whole feel was much more professional and narrative-driven than the Wembley events, which always felt more like a big carnival show than a self-contained PLE. WWE Evolution: Justified. I made the risky play of expressing some skepticism about the merits of an all-women event and I'm pleased to see that they knocked it out of the park. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Mixed. As usual, the whole thing felt more like a procession of 'SmackDown' main events rather than a proper PLE (in fairness, I should note that WWE doesn't actually call SNME a PLE, but they do kind of imply it...). The Goldberg stuff was excellent though. I'm not embarrassed to say that I welled up a bit when Doug Dellinger knocked on the door that one final time.
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
WWE Raw takeaways: Roman Reigns returns; Naomi, IYO SKY, Rhea Ripley SummerSlam match set
The OTC is back, but where will he fit in at SummerSlam? WWE Monday Night Raw on July 14 took place at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., and featured a No. 1 contender gauntlet match to face Gunther at SummerSlam. The fallout from Evolution and Saturday Night's Main Event was a big focus of this week's show – and this episode was jam-packed with key moments. WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella faced Chelsea Green, Gunther gloated about retiring Goldberg, and AJ Styles may have landed an Intercontinental Championship match at SummerSlam against Dominik Mysterio. Here's the top takeaways from a very strong episode of Raw: Naomi takes a victory lap, gets SummerSlam triple threat The new Women's World Champion Naomi kicked off the show to take a victory lap for her successful cash-in on IYO SKY at Evolution. The crowd attempted to chant "You deserve it," but Naomi didn't want to hear it. She said they didn't "feel the glow" but they're definitely feeling her now as the new champion. Naomi sent a message to all of the "raggedy heifers" in the back to proceed with caution. Enter Rhea Ripley. Ripley said she had two goals going into Evolution: beating IYO SKY and getting her title back. But now that Naomi ruined those plans, she's been added to the list. Enter IYO SKY. The former champ told Ripley to get in line because her shot should be first. Naomi then said they both can get to the back of the line. The "back-ity, back, back of the line." Enter Adam Pearce with a solution: all three will mix it up in a triple threat for the title at SummerSlam. This was a fun first promo from Naomi as champion. She didn't bend to the crowd coming around to cheer for her. I'm not a fan of the triple threat announcement for SummerSlam, though. It feels like Naomi is being punished for successfully cashing in, but heel champs are going to find themselves in these predicaments. Judgment Day retain women's tag titles The first match of the night had some gold on the line: champs Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez faced The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi San) for the women's tag titles. This was a good back and forth match that was largely dominated by the champs early on. However, the challengers turned the tide and got themselves in position to win the titles with clever teamwork, beating down on Perez. Just when a double team move put Perez down for what would have been a three count, Dominik Mysterio jumped on the apron to distract the referee to prevent a count. Rodriguez broke up the pin, and a moment later, Perez rolled up Asuka for the pin to escape with a title defense. Mysterio getting involved in every Judgment Day match he's not officially in is getting a little tiresome. On the heels of Evolution, just let the women work. Sure, that's part of the numbers game and the advantage of being in a faction, but the interference took away from this one. At the end of the day, it was a championship match on weekly television, which is always welcome. Paul Heyman on Seth Rollins' health Seth Rollins legitimately hurt himself during a match against LA Knight at Saturday Night's Main Event, raising many questions about what will happen with the Money in the Bank briefcase and other booking plans. Jackie Redmond caught up with Paul Heyman backstage to ask if there was a medical update on Rollins. Not only did Heyman dodge the question, but he said Rollins has until next June to cash in the MITB contract. Therefore, Rollins' health is "not a relevant subject." Well, throw out all of the theories about the briefcase being put up for grabs again in a multi-way match. It appears WWE will put the MITB briefcase on ice until Rollins returns – which if done right, could be one of the best cash-ins ever. The right play would be to keep Rollins off programming until he shows up out of nowhere to cash in and steal a title. First and foremost is his recovery, which hopefully goes well. Lyra Valkyria wins incredible 2-out-of-3 vs. Bayley With a shot at Becky Lynch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship on the line at SummerSlam, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria clashed in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match. The crowd was hot early for this one, filling the arena with dueling chants. Just as the action got intense, Bayley scored a quick roll-up pin to score the first fall. Valkyria bounced back to put Bayley in trouble, but a hard Irish Whip reversal into the turnbuckle had Valkyria screaming in agony. Bayley seemed proud of her work, but didn't go for the pin. As Bayley continued to go to work, a pin attempt was reversed, and Valkyria evened the score with a three-count. From that point, the action only got more intense as the race for the final pin was on. The final sequence was amazing: Bayley dropped an elbow to the back of Valkyria, straight into a crossface after the pin failed. Bayley then attempted to kick off the ropes to give herself more room, but Valkyria reversed it and lifted her up for a Nightwing to get the pin. Women's wrestling has owned the past 72 hours. This was a fantastic match that didn't miss a beat. The only thing that could have made this better is if it was for the title itself instead of No. 1 contender status. Bravo, Bayley and Valkyria. CM Punk wins gauntlet match, Roman Reigns returns The main event of this week's show was a No. 1 contender gauntlet match, with the winner earning the right to face Gunther at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight title. Bron Breakker started things off, as Gunther overlooked the action from a box seat. Breakker's first opponent was Penta. Zero fear was shown, but Penta was eliminated after Breakker hit a spear as a counter to a springboard maneuver. Up next was LA Knight. Another valiant effort was given, but another spear connecting sent Breakker to the next opponent. Enter Jey Uso, who came in on fire. After sending Breakker to the outside, Uso called for an encore to his entrance theme, and yeeted into a commercial break. Uso overcame a momentum shift, just to get screwed over by interference from Bronson Reed. Another spear, another pin for Breakker. Enter CM Punk. Once again, another opponent came in like a house on fire. After some back and forth, Punk caught Breakker in a submission hold, which prompted Reed to come into the ring and drop an elbow. Uso returned, hearing his music for a third time during this gauntlet. With the odds evened, Punk caught Breakker with a GTS to win and advance to SummerSlam to face Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Breakker and Reed put a post-match hurtin' on Punk and Uso. As Reed was going up for a Tsunami, Roman Reigns' music filled the speakers to a ridiculous pop from the crowd. The OTC cleared the ring with multiple Superman punches and a spear. Reigns helped Uso to his feet, but didn't extend that courtesy to Punk. All the while, the crowd was chanting at the top of their lungs. What a way to close an incredible episode of Raw. Reigns is back just in time for the build to SummerSlam. Seeing him and Uso on agreeable terms is nice, but where will he fit into the second biggest show of the year? Surely plans have changed drastically after Rollins' unfortunate real injury, so it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks.
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
WWE Raw Highlights: Former world champion returns to save Jey Uso and CM Punk, as Paul Heyman gasps in horror
Comebacks in the WWE, and that too the ones especially timed well, are the bread and butter of the company, and it is safe to say that the writers of the show have definitely hit it out of the park this time. After being away from competing for several months after his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, Roman Reigns returned on yesterday's Raw episode to extract some long-due revenge. After a gruesome qualifying match for a spot at Summerslam, CM Punk emerged victorious, but following their classic pack mentality, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed started laying the beatdown on him. Jey Uso came out to save Punk but got caught in the crossfire. Just before Reed could deliver the finishing blow, a familiar but long-lost sound played on the speakers as the crowd erupted hearing Reigns entrance music. The 'OTC' walked out determined, and before any of the culprits standing in the ring could understand what was going on, he had rushed his way in and attacked both Breakker and Reed. After laying both the men out, Reigns helped his cousin Jey to his feet as he locked eyes with Punk. The two men were seeing each other for the first time since Heyman betrayed them both during their match at WrestleMania 41. ALSO READ: John Cena calls Barbie 'a mistake', says Fast and Furious was 'a dream come true': 'I shot both films simultaneously' The three men, Reigns, Punk and Jey, stood side by side, looking down on the members of Seth Rollins' clique as the crowd continued to cheer for the returning star. Reigns will now be playing the role of 'face' (good guy) after continuing his 'heel' persona for the entirety of his previous championship run. Punk will now be facing Gunther at Summerslam for the heavyweight championship. Gunther retained his title at Saturday Night's Main Event after he defeated Goldberg. Saturday Night's Main Event After setting up his feud with Randy Orton in the previous weeks, Drew McIntyre fell short during the actual match. Distracted by artist Jelly Roll at the ringside, Drew fell prey to the Viper and failed to secure a win. Seth Rollins went head-to-head with LA Knight, and the two delivered an impressive match, with Rollins taking the win. It was even more impressive as the two men fought through injuries, with Knight still battling a midsection bruise and Rollins sustaining an ankle injury during the fight itself. Solo Sikoa defended his US title for the first time against the returning Jimmy Uso, who was outnumbered due to the interference of Sikoa's own group, the MFT. Goldberg finally closed the curtains on his wrestling career as he failed to prevail over Gunther. The WWE legend gave an emotional speech at the end of the match and thanked all the fans who have supported him over the years and how their love facilitated his return to the company. Evolution 2025 The all-female premium event took everyone by surprise and delivered an exquisite show with past female legends joining the current talent. Becky Lynch, Lyra Valkyria and Bailey went toe to toe, as the three women laid it all on the line for the Intercontinental Championship. After an enthralling match, Lynch managed to retain her title. Rodriguez and Perez emerged victorious in the multiple tag-team match, and Tiffany Stratton managed to beat the legendary female wrestler Trish Stratus. Naomi managed to lay Jade Cargill to rest, even though the stipulation of the match seemed linear at times. She would later return during the bout between Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley and cashed in her MITB briefcase to secure the championship. The returning Nikki Bella made for a good show and positive reactions from the crowd, but ultimately the battle royal was won by Vacquer. This was only the second time Evolution took place, with the first one being held back in 2018. The show didn't have the same kind of backing it did 7 years ago, but it still managed to draw the audience in.
