Latest news with #RaquelRodriguez
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Former WWE Women's Champion Asuka set to return after more than year of absence
असुका WWE 's women's division is going to get a massive facelift as Asuka is all set to make her return on next week's WWE RAW. It has been ages since WWE has seen Asuka in the ring, owing to a drastic injury. She was on the sidelines since suffering a knee injury back in 2024 that needed surgery to heal and intense rehab to follow. Following her surgery last year, she said that her knees were in pain and she would get into rehab. However, she stayed extremely tight-lipped about when she would come back. WWE announced Asuka's return for next week The return of Asuka was announced in a graphic that was aired during Raw, confirming her participation in a first-round Queen of the Ring match with the message, 'Next Monday. Queen of the Ring. The Empress returns.' Later in a video posted on social media by WWE, there was a full-blown clip of Asuka's in-ring exploits with the caption, 'Will they be READY for the RETURN of ASUKA?!' As reported by Cory Hays of BodySlam, and advertised in the video by WWE, The Empress of Tomorrow will be a part of a fatal-four way match-up where she would be locking horns against former WWE NXT Women's Champion, Stephanie Vaquer, one half of Women's Tag Team champion, Raquel Rodriguez and Ivy Nile. The winner of this battle will go on to face the winner of WWE SmackDown's four-way battle between Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Chelsea Green, and Candice LeRae. The tournament's finals will be held at the Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place later this month. Asuka's last match-up for WWE was alongside Kairi Sane back in May 2024, where they dropped the tag-team titles to Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo Asuka's tale in the WWE ring has been one of inspiration and dreams coming true. She started her career as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist before she came to WWE in 2015. Debuting in NXT in 2015, she was quick to establish her dominance and also win the NXT championship shortly thereafter. It was in 2017 that Asuka got her promotion to the main roster, and the world witnessed her hard-hitting brand of wrestling brilliance. Asuka's triumph in the maiden edition of the women's Royal Rumble was followed by her success in the SmackDown Women's Championship, WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, and Raw Women's Championship. Asuka has always been well-known for her agility in the ring, and now her return can serve as a massive booster for the WWE women's roster. The Women's roster has already been sparkling with the likes of Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, and so many other superstars. Asuka's comeback might just be another feather in what is already a glistening chapter. Also read: 5 WWE Nikki Bella matches after return announced for RAW
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Major WWE Change Has Been Delayed: Report
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. Recent information suggests that WWE Friday Night SmackDown might keep its three-hour show time on the USA Network. This potential extension could run into the first part of June 2025. This news is quite interesting for WWE fans and regular viewers of the popular blue brand. The original plan for the show's length this summer was reportedly different, with a shorter format expected soon. When SmackDown first moved its broadcast home to the USA Network and grew from two to three hours earlier this year, 2025, it was widely thought that this change would only be temporary. The main expectation within the wrestling community and among WWE fans was that the show would go back to its usual two-hour slot by about June 6th. However, a new report from has now brought up some questions regarding this previously understood plan. The report says that internal schedules currently being used at the USA Network still list Friday Night SmackDown as a three-hour program for those early weeks in the month of June. It is certainly possible that these internal network listings are simply old information. They might not have been updated yet to show the planned change back to a two-hour show, which can sometimes happen with television schedules planned far ahead. Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Naomi, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Tiffany Stratton, and Rhea Ripley all think they will win the Royal Rumble during SmackDown at Moody Center on January 24, 202,5 in Austin,... Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Naomi, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Tiffany Stratton, and Rhea Ripley all think they will win the Royal Rumble during SmackDown at Moody Center on January 24, 202,5 in Austin, this current situation also makes it seem possible that WWE and its broadcast partner, the USA Network, are now thinking about keeping SmackDown as a three-hour show for a longer time than first announced. This would be a clear change from what many people, including WWE fans, were originally led to expect for the summer schedule. If Friday Night SmackDown does indeed stay as a three-hour show each week, it would mean more wrestling action for viewers. It would also allow for more story development for the various WWE Superstars. This extended time could also give more television exposure to the many talented performers on the Raw and SmackDown rosters. On the other hand, a longer weekly show can sometimes feel a bit stretched out to some viewers or might be a bigger time commitment for people watching at home. WWE fans have had different opinions about the three-hour format for SmackDown since it first started on the USA Network. Some viewers have said they enjoy the extra content and the possibility of longer matches that a three-hour show can offer. Other fans have mentioned that they prefer the usually faster pace and tighter storytelling that often comes with a two-hour wrestling broadcast. The final decision to keep SmackDown at three hours or to return it to its traditional two-hour length will likely depend on many different factors. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation This could include things like television ratings for the longer show, what the USA Network prefers for its Friday night schedule, and WWE's own creative plans for how they want to present SmackDown going forward. These elements will all play a part in the final outcome. For now, the exact length of Friday Night SmackDown on the USA Network in early June remains a bit of a question mark for everyone. WWE or the USA Network will likely give an official word on the schedule as those June dates get closer. This official confirmation will then let WWE fans know for sure what they can expect from their Friday night wrestling viewing experience. Until that time, the wrestling world will keep an eye out for any further updates or news on this particular scheduling situation for the popular show. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tag Team Gauntlet Will Decide Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez's Challengers At WrestleMania 41
Image Credit: WWE Next week on WWE SmackDown, a women's tag team gauntlet match will be held to determine who will face off for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 41. The match was confirmed during Friday's episode of WWE SmackDown. The winner will then move on to challenge Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the belts at WrestleMania. Advertisement According to WWE, the teams in the gauntlet will include Katana Chance and Kayden Carter, WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria and Bayley, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, B-Fab and Michin, Alba Fyre and Piper Niven, and Natalya and Maxxine Dupri. Elsewhere for SmackDown, Cody Rhodes will make his return to the show. Ray Fenix will also be in action, going up against Berto, and Damian Priest will go face-to-face against Drew McIntyre. Conspicuous by her absence is Alexa Bliss, who many believed would challenge Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez at WrestleMania 41 after what went down at Elimination Chamber. READ MORE: WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For April 4 What do you make of the news? Are you excited about the gauntlet match? Who do you think should win and move on to WrestleMania 41? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below. The post Tag Team Gauntlet Will Decide Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez's Challengers At WrestleMania 41 appeared first on Wrestlezone.
