Latest news with #OhioValleyWrestling
Western Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire football club owner moves into wrestling
Rob Edwards, owner of the football club, has taken over Kentucky's Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW)—the promotion that launched the careers of stars John Cena, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar. Mr Edwards said: "I've got no idea how I ended up here, really. "In the blink of an eye, I was flying to Kentucky to watch wrestling shows with the view of taking over the running of OVW. "It's completely surreal, but honestly, it all comes from the same place. "I'm obsessed with sport and the impact it can have on communities. "I'm doing things I never imagined doing, but I'm enjoying every second and looking to create a legacy as I go." Mr Edwards' sports management group, MSM, now holds a controlling stake in OVW, which was recently featured in the Netflix documentary series Wrestlers. His journey into sports ownership began unexpectedly during lockdown when he came across a listing for a semi-professional football club for sale. Six weeks later, he became the owner of Haverfordwest County AFC. Under his leadership, the Pembrokeshire club has qualified for European competition twice in three years and recently achieved its highest league finish in two decades. Mr Edwards said: "Within three years, we had gone from an amateur side to playing in Europe." He now aims to replicate that success with OVW, expanding its reach beyond Kentucky and into Europe. Since taking over, Mr Edwards has launched a company-wide survey, restructured leadership, and implemented a 'fan-first' approach. He believes OVW can become the world's leading independent wrestling promotion. He said: "We're building something that can stand on its own. "A company where people want to stay, not just pass through. "We want OVW to be the best indie promotion in the world – and we want it to feel like home." Mr Edwards also sees OVW as part of a broader vision for MSM, which aims to build a portfolio of five to seven clubs across different sports.
Pink Villa
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
John Cena vs Randy Orton: The Final Chapter in a Legendary Rivalry
WWE brought a historic chapter to a close as John Cena put the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line against Randy Orton at Backlash 2025, in Orton's hometown of St. Louis. With more than two decades of their careers intertwined, this match of significance was the last between two of the greatest figures in company history. The next chapter of this legendary rivalry started just a day after Cena wrote history at WrestleMania 41, outlasting Cody Rhodes to win a record-breaking 17th World Title. The next night on RAW, Orton stunned everyone by attacking Cena, reigniting their age-old feud. By week's end, the Backlash title match was officially announced, which streamed live in May 2025. Cena and Orton's histories have been entwined from their initial days training with one another in Ohio Valley Wrestling. Through the 2000s and 2010s, they were stalwart adversaries in WWE, feuding in 21 singles bouts, including several brutal battles. Cena presently boasts a 13-8-1 record against Orton, i.e, 13 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw. The 17-time world champion revealed that his 25-year-old rivalry with Randy has ended forever. Cena confirmed that the two will never square off again. He said, "On the WWE side, we're just taking them one at a time. We did our last one in St. Louis. I had my last match with Randy Orton, and that was pretty cool to call, kinda put a close on that 25-year rivalry. So, it's, you know, as every chapter happens, it's a different feeling for everyone." John Cena exits as champion after pulling off a victory in Backlash 2025, which signifies the conclusion of an era, one of respect, intense competition, and wrestling superiority. WWE Backlash streamed live on Peacock in the U.S. and Netflix internationally.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Cena vs. Randy Orton: The brutal, iconic history of WWE Backlash's decades-long rivalry
The minute WWE announced 2025's Backlash PLE would be taking place in St. Louis, most of us figured we knew where this was going. And here we are: Just one sleep away from WWE running back one of its greatest 21st century feuds, John Cena vs. Randy Orton, under the portentous banner of "one last time." The word "generational" gets used so often in wrestling commentary that it sometimes feels more like an annoying catchphrase than a genuine accolade. But is there any better way to describe the contribution these two have made to the modern WWE product? At the very least they're amongst the top three stars of the early Millennium era. Advertisement But what about when they come together? Is Orton the ultimate opponent for Cena? When I debated the question with the other Uncrowned regulars ahead of Saturday's weekend, we all agreed that Cena vs. Orton was somewhere in our top five Cena feuds. What's clear, though, is that this is perhaps the best placed of Cena's legendary feuds (if not neck-and-neck with CM Punk) for a modern-day revival. By this point, most people know the backstory: How Orton and Cena emerged in tandem from the golden days of Ohio Valley Wrestling — then serving as WWE's developmental partner — around the late 1990s, before bursting onto the main scene to help finally turn the page on the Attitude era. Advertisement Once both men had established themselves as main-carders, the scene was set for their feud to begin. At the time, Cena was firmly in place as the WWE's golden boy, defending his title with a predictability that had begun to grate on some of the more cynical fans. A string of triumphs over The Great Khali in 2007 had practically confirmed Cena's invincibility. After hitting the champ with a surprise RKO on "WWE Raw," Randy Orton threw down his glove as Cena's next competitor. And while he might not have quite punctured that invincibility, he did succeed in getting under the champion's skin — not least of which with a brutal punt kick to John Cena Sr. (Cena's real-life father) that left the all-American hero desperate for revenge. Looking back, surely even Cena himself (Junior, that is) would concede that it was exactly what was needed. All of a sudden, the all-American babyface had a rawness and rage to his character — a development that led to Orton getting the better of him (at least psychologically) at 2007's Unforgiven event. Advertisement When a legitimate injury forced Cena to vacate the title, the feud fell dormant, only to spring back into action with the former champ's shock return at the 2008 Royal Rumble. Given that his rival had won the WWE championship just an hour earlier, the stars were perfectly aligned for the old hostilities to resume. If the smart fans had resented Cena's protected status as babyface champion, the next chapter went to great lengths to subvert their expectations — as the conniving Orton used every trick in the book to hang onto his gold and deprive the good guy of his prize. The legendary finish to their match at 2008's No Way Out — in which Orton assaulted the referee to force a DQ — remains one of the most famous heel moves in history. Within months, Cena and Orton were being booked as blood rivals, in a similar vein to Austin and The Rock a decade earlier. The marquee treatment led to their best matches yet: A grueling "I Quit" showdown in 2009 that tested Cena's signature tenacity to its limits, and a similarly brutal 60-minute Iron Man match at Bragging Rights. Both remain modern classics to this day. With Cena's destiny soon intertwined with that of the returning Rock, the Orton feud had to take a back seat for a few years. But that all changed in 2013, when a rug pull ending to SummerSlam saw Randy Orton returned to the top of WWE hierarchy — at the expense of the fans' beloved Daniel Bryan. Advertisement Having screwed over the biggest babyface in all of pro-wrestling, "The Viper" was once again perfectly placed for another collision with his old nemesis. The fact that the two men were each holding the two biggest prizes in WWE pointed to an obvious landing point: A unification match to crown the one true champion. It may have seemed the most predictable path. But who would have guessed back then in the blazing heat of a Los Angeles summer that the vendetta would culminate in a hardcore spectacle — a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match — just 10 days before Christmas? A very different prospect, to put it lightly, than the usual one-on-one stadium match at WrestleMania. The match itself was an instant classic, with a series of inventive spots that drew as much on the deep psychological history of the Cena-Orton rivalry as they did on the TLC gimmick. There's a reason that WWE have been running so many video packages of it ahead of Saturday's reunion match. If you haven't seen them, go back and drink them in. Given that the highlights have been shown on the weekly shows in the build to Saturday, should we expect some callbacks at Backlash? Some handcuffs perhaps? After the shallow and contrived end to Cena's last match at WrestleMania, it would certainly restore some authenticity to the main card. Advertisement Acknowledging history is one thing, but it still leaves the obvious question: Can Saturday's match ever do justice to such a great rivalry? In all honesty, I wouldn't want to guess — but the fact that the 45-year-old Orton has lost none of the pace and appetite of his 'Legend Killer' days surely bodes well for what happens in the ring. Throughout their interlocking careers, the two rivals have consistently shown their ability to exceed expectations and bring the best out of each other. Given the growing questions over the wisdom of the whole Cena heel turn, their pairing couldn't come at a better time — especially given Orton's well-earned status as a fan favorite. Whatever else happens, there's a fitting symmetry to the whole thing. Just as the devious Orton helped round out Cena's babyface persona into something three-dimensional all those years ago, he now faces a parallel task some two decades later: To bring some much-needed authenticity to Cena's uneven run as the bad guy. And if he can rise to that challenge, 'The Viper' might just go down in history as Cena's greatest rival after all.
Newsweek
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Officially Announces John Cena vs Randy Orton for Final Time
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. John Cena has officially won the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41, meaning he is a record-breaking 17th time world champion. While the victory was in controversial fashion, it marks a major point in his retirement tour, potentially setting up multiple matches with up-and-coming stars. More Pro Wrestling: Released WWE Superstar Breaks Silence On Departure But before that, Cena will have to deal with an old friend from his past. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 20: John Cena is introduced before his match against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 20: John Cena is introduced before his match against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, this past Monday Night Raw, Cena explained to the audience why and how he planned to ruin professional wrestling. What he didn't expect was a surprise RKO from longtime rival Randy Orton. On Friday Night SmackDown, the two met in the ring again, this time to hash things out verbally. Orton explained that he couldn't let Cena ruin professional wrestling, something he has loved his entire life. This promo eventually led to Cena officially accepting Orton's challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship, meaning that they would face off against each other, likely for the last time, on May 10, 2025, at Backlash in St. Louis: Orton's hometown. More Pro Wrestling: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match Cena and Orton have a long history as rivals, dating back to when they were in WWE's former developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2001. This match will mark the 22nd world title match these two have engaged in, including matches with other wrestlers. Of the 21 previous matches, Cena has won nine of the matches while Orton has won 10. The dynamic for this final title match will be particularly interesting because the alignments have been reversed. More Pro Wrestling: Charlotte Flair Wanted A Different WWE Ring Name Cena has long been one of the most beloved heroes of WWE while Orton served as his arch villain, doing things like blowing up Cena with fireworks and punting his father in the head. John Cena to Randy Orton at Backlash: — Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) April 26, 2025 Now, Cena has lived long enough to see himself become the villain while Orton is seen as a beloved figure and family man who isn't afraid to get the job done in the ring. For WWE fans who grew up during the 2000s, this will be a match made in heaven. More Pro Wrestling: Bayley May Be Leaving WWE: Report AJ Styles Was Not Happy With WWE WrestleMania Match For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
WrestleMania 41 main event match was 20 years in the making for Paul Heyman, CM Punk
WrestleMania 41 main event match was 20 years in the making for Paul Heyman, CM Punk Show Caption Hide Caption John Cena, Cody Rhodes headline Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas Jordan Mendoza breaks down all the exciting matches to expect from Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas. In 2005, Paul Heyman became the head writer for Ohio Valley Wrestling, then one of WWE's developmental brands. The goal was for him to develop the right people to eventually promote to the main roster on Raw and SmackDown. Not long after Heyman took over OVW, an up-and-coming star was sent to the promotion. The order given to Heyman was to fire him. But Heyman wouldn't do it. Since he didn't handle hiring people, he wasn't going to be the one to fire them. Plus, Heyman saw something in this young wrestler, something that could end up making them a box-office attraction. That star ended up being CM Punk. 'He was not supposed to make it. That's for real,' Heyman told USA TODAY Sports. Now, 20 years later, Punk will fulfill Heyman's vision by participating in the main event of WrestleMania 41 night one, taking on Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a triple threat match between enormous figures in the business. For Punk, Saturday night in Allegiant Stadium will be the culmination of a career-long journey to headline WWE's top event. He was denied it several times, and it played a role in his departure from the company in 2014. He swore he wouldn't come back to the business. But he couldn't ignore the desire to be a main-event star. He returned to the profession with All Elite Wrestling in 2021, and after a tumultuous end with the company, he made his shocking return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. After a triceps injury forced him to miss WrestleMania 40 last year, Punk is now healthy and ready for his WrestleMania moment. It was a long and winding road, but it resulted in Punk finally achieving his dream. 'One would suggest that this is a most improbable circumstance that came to be, for both professional and personal reasons,' Heyman said. One part of the storyline for the match involves Heyman's relationships with Punk and Reigns. The WWE Hall of Famer has produced some of his best work since he became 'The Wiseman' for Reigns in 2020. Since then, Heyman has been there as Reigns reached the pinnacle of WWE. But way before that, Heyman was aligned with Punk. Beside working in OVW two decades ago, Heyman was the on-screen advocate for Punk in 2012 and 2013. They've had such a close bond, and that's why when Reigns and the OG Bloodline needed someone to help at Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 in November, Heyman went to Punk. Despite the differences with Reigns, Punk agreed to help and it paid off with a victory. The only thing Punk asked for in return was a secret favor he'd eventually cash in — having Heyman in his corner at WrestleMania 41, putting Heyman at a crossroads. While it has added an extra layer to an increasingly-hot feud ahead of WrestleMania 41, this favor was actually a promise, and it came long before Punk aided Reigns last year. After Heyman left WWE in December 2006, he was in former WWE star Big Show's bus with him and Rob Van Dam when Punk walked in. He was in shambles, fearing for his career after Heyman left the company. Punk believed he would be fired. Heyman rebuffed the notion. 'I said, 'They can't fire you. You're too damn good at what you do,'' Heyman recalled. Then he made a bold claim. 'I said, 'But when you main event WrestleMania, bring me back to be in your corner, we'll enjoy that first WrestleMania main event of yours together, and will force them to deal with us,'' Heyman added. Punk was barely in his first year of being on-screen in WWE and hadn't even competed in his first WrestleMania match yet. But Heyman knew the moment would come. Despite being a wrestling icon, Heyman didn't walk down the ramp at WrestleMania until 2013. The person he did it with was Punk. Now, he'll be able to accompany him again in a WrestleMania main event. 'Life takes a lot of crazy turns, and these turns have been especially crazy for the both of us. So when you look at our trajectories or our journeys, they are pretty wild,' Heyman said. Heyman knows this has been Punk's dream. It was something they discussed 'in great detail' when they first met in 2005, and Heyman made the promise to be in Punk's corner in 2006 when it did happen. That's why it was an emotional moment for Heyman on March 28 when he got to tell Punk the match would close out the show. Twenty years after first talking about it, Heyman and Punk will get to live out the dream together. 'I couldn't imagine anybody else giving him the news,' Heyman said.
