Latest news with #Smackdown
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix's WWE Unreal shows scenes never aired before including move banned for decade
Netflix docuseries reveals some of the WWE's recent secrets during a title match New Netflix docuseries WWE Unreal has revealed scenes that were not originally aired during the original live broadcast of one its wrestling events. This included the use of a move which has been banned for a decade. A new docuseries debuting on the streamer today, titled Unreal gives fans a rare insight into what really goes on behind the scenes, to make a show for the WWE. This includes a first ever peek behind the door of the writer's room where former superstars including Paul Levesque, formerly Triple H in the ring and now Head of Content for the company make the big decisions. Previously, Levesque has explained that WWE often thinks of its storylines in seasons, with its biggest often utilised during the Road to Wrestlemania. Earlier this year, the Wrestling giant made its debut on Netflix after a bumper deal was agreed between the companies. In the five-part series, the second episode shows just how creative they can be. This included how they portrayed the rivalry between then undisputed champion Cody Rhodes and his new rival Kevin Owens. They put together a scene between the wrestlers out of the ring and away from their own television cameras ahead of the show. Cody explains: "Triple H had this idea for Kevin to beat me up outside my tour bus off camera. We're gonna hope fans capture it and, of course, the did." This was a trick that the creative team seemingly repeated. After a Smackdown Saturday main event in December last year, when the cameras had apparently stopped rolling for the live broadcast, the show actually kept going. Included in this moment, was Kevin Owens, using a move that is generally banned and has been for more than a decade in the industry because of how dangerous it is - the piledriver. Bruce Prichard, WWE Executive Director explains: "The piledriver for so long was just a move that internally we had banned from using just because of the danger it does present." Cody Rhodes adds: "Pulling out a piledriver is something that has been so taboo and not done in WWE for a decade. It was a very good call." One reason explained in the writer's room for doing this is to keep fans talking about the show after it has finished airing on TV and leading all the way up to the next episode. It is no surprise that this was done shortly before WWE's Netflix debut and while it was still being broadcast on NBC in America. Following the conclusion of that match during Smackdown, the team had Cody Rhodes celebrating his win, with the commentary team thanking the audience for tuning in. However, Triple H then sends word for Kevin to 'knock him on his ass and then just piledrive him'. Owens does just that, as many fans film the moment on their fans and post it on social media. To add to the drama, Owens stands on Cody Rhodes as he is stretchered off then Triple H appears himself to confront Owens, after being the one to deliver all his instructions. Owens and Triple H then reconcile backstage and congratulate each other on their performances.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Fan-Favorite WWE Superstar Confirms Brutal Injury
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. Injured WWE Raw superstar Chad Gable has provided the first specific update on his condition since being written off television last month. While attending a Minnesota Twins baseball game on Sunday, Gable confirmed he is recovering from a rotator cuff injury. Gable has been out of action since June after a storyline attack from Penta El Zero Miedo. He appeared at the baseball game with his arm in a sling but was in good spirits. We've got WWE Superstar Chad Gable in the house today! — (@twinstv) July 27, 2025 Finding The "Silver Lining" During an interview with the at the game, Gable was asked about his recovery. He confirmed the nature of his injury and maintained a positive attitude about his time away from the ring. "I'm looking at the silver lining here. I have a little injury to my rotator cuff," Gable said. "But what it did do was buy me some time off the road to be home with my family and do stuff like this, go to a baseball game on a Sunday which I never get to do. So find the bright side, right?" Gable was in the middle of a major run as the leader of the "American Made" faction on Raw before the injury. He was written out of storylines on the June 23rd episode of Raw after a backstage attack from his rival, Penta El Zero Miedo. It was reported that Gable underwent successful shoulder surgery in early July to repair the damage. There is currently no official timeline for his return to the ring. A rotator cuff injury is significant and could see him sidelined for several more months. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Nia Jax and Bianca Belair in action during Smackdown at Pechanga Arena on January 17, 2025 in San Diego, California. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Nia Jax and Bianca Belair in action during Smackdown at Pechanga Arena on January 17, 2025 in San Diego, California. WWE/Getty Images More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match WWE Star Emerges In Gable's absence, a new and intriguing storyline has begun to unfold on Monday Night Raw. The masked persona of "El Grande Americano," under which Gable is the reigning WWE Speed Champion, has been stolen. Ludwig Kaiser has been appearing in the costume, seemingly impersonating the champion. This development sets up a natural comeback feud for Gable when he is eventually cleared to return. He will be looking to reclaim not only his spot on the roster but also his stolen identity. Chad Gable is one of WWE's most decorated tag team wrestlers, having won the tag team titles on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. His recent run as a serious, demanding heel has been praised by fans and critics alike, and the wrestling world wishes him a full and speedy recovery. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
WWE Friday Night Smackdown: UK start time and segments announce for July 25 2025
What is set to unfold on the first WWE Smackdown since the death of wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Jelly Roll, Randy Orton, Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre are scheduled for confront one another on tongiht's WWE Smackdown. Ahead of their WWE SummerSlam 2025 tag team match, what will Paul and McIntyre have in store for the unlikely duo? Plus - Cody Rhodes will comment on his actions against John Cena last week, a WWE Tag Team Title match will take place and Alexa Bliss will go one-on-one with The Judgment Day's Rozanne Perez Here's your WWE Smackdown preview, UK start time and current WWE SummerSlam 2025 card. It's set to be a sombre episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown this week, after the news that WWE Hall of Famer and polarizing pop culture icon Hulk Hogan died at the age of 71 from a cardiac arrest. The '80s superstar, real name Terry Bollea, was 'the' household name when it came to discussing wrestling with those who weren't familiar with the artform, with his name uttered in the same breaths as Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki or Big Daddy. Hogan transformed the WWE, under the guidance of Vincent K. McMahon, into a worldwide phenomena with his influence and legacy interwoven not just in wrestling culture, but the overarching pop culture fabric. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, as mentioned, he later would become a polarizing figure; from numerous stories over the decades about his backstage politics, his hesitance to unionize wrestling in the '80s and creative control in WCW leading to some very last-ditch booking decisions, through to his mainstream controversies including racist remarks while undertaking a 'tryst' with his best friend's wife and recent support of Donald J. Trump. Something that wrestling fans were very adamant to let him know they were not happy with. Alongside the matches that have been announced so far this evening, we would envision that a portion of tonight's WWE Smackdown will be dedicated to Hulk Hogan; for better or for worse, he did make wrestling what it is today - if we were to separate the character from the man himself. WWE Friday Night Smackdown preview - July 25 Jelly Roll and Logan Paul come face to face ahead of their tag team encounter at SummerSlam 2025 on this evening's episode of WWE Smackdown. | WWE Randy Orton & Jelly Roll Confront Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul Tensions are at an all-time high between these four men, and this week they will come face-to-face. With their SummerSlam tag team match looming, the confrontation between "The Viper" Randy Orton and music sensation Jelly Roll, and their formidable opponents Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul, is sure to be explosive. Given their previous physical altercations, expect sparks to fly and potentially another brawl as they look to gain the upper hand before their major Premium Live Event clash. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad WWE Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (c) v Andrade & Rey Fenix After winning a hard-fought #1 Contenders match last week, the high-flying duo of Andrade and Rey Fenix will get their shot at championship gold. They are set to challenge the current WWE Tag Team Champions, Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis of The Wyatt Sicks. Can Andrade and Rey Fenix pull off the upset and capture the titles, or will The Wyatt Sicks continue their dominant reign? All eyes will be on this pivotal championship encounter. Alexa Bliss v Roxanne Perez In singles competition, Alexa Bliss will go head-to-head with Roxanne Perez. Both women are fierce competitors, and this match promises to be an exciting showcase of their talents. With the Women's division constantly evolving, every victory counts, and both Superstars will be looking to make a statement ahead of their Women's Tag Team Championship match at SummerSlam next week. Cody Rhodes to Appear "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes is confirmed to make an appearance on SmackDown this week. This comes after last week's dramatic segment involving John Cena, where Rhodes took out the Cenation Leader. The WWE Universe will be eager to hear from Cody and see if there are any further developments following the intense build-up to their SummerSlam encounter. What time is WWE Friday Night Smackdown starting in the United Kingdom this evening? It's once again a late night for WWE fans - with this evening's episode of WWE Smackdown set to air on Netflix from 1am BST on July 26 2025, with on-demand repeats available shortly after broadcasting. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What matches have currently been confirmed ahead of WWE SummerSlam 2025? A few more matches have been added since we last looked at the 2025 WWE SummerSlam card - with the likes of AJ Styles, Dominik Mysterio and Roman Reigns all being added to the card; no news however what nights the matches are set to take place though as of writing WWE SummerSlam 2025 - current matches announced WWE Undisputed Championship - Street Fight: John Cena (c) v Cody Rhodes WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) v Jade Cargill Randy Orton and Jelly Roll v Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) v CM Punk Women's World Championship: Naomi (c) v Rhea Ripley v IYO SKY WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) v Lyra Valkyria (if Lynch retains, Valkyria can no longer challenge for the title as long as Lynch holds it) WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: The Judgement Day (Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez) (c) v Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss WWE United States Championship - Steel Cage Match: Solo Sikoa (c) v Jacob Fatu WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) v AJ Styles Roman Reigns and Jey Uso v Bron Brekker and Bronson Reed Looking for when the WWE are returning to the United Kingdom in 2025? Check out our guide to the company's upcoming Road to Clash in Paris events taking place across the country shortly.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
WWE Friday Night Smackdown: UK start time and segments announce for July 25 2025
What is set to unfold on the first WWE Smackdown since the death of wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan? Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Jelly Roll, Randy Orton, Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre are scheduled for confront one another on tongiht's WWE Smackdown. Ahead of their WWE SummerSlam 2025 tag team match, what will Paul and McIntyre have in store for the unlikely duo? Plus - Cody Rhodes will comment on his actions against John Cena last week, a WWE Tag Team Title match will take place and Alexa Bliss will go one-on-one with The Judgment Day's Rozanne Perez Here's your WWE Smackdown preview, UK start time and current WWE SummerSlam 2025 card. It's set to be a sombre episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown this week, after the news that WWE Hall of Famer and polarizing pop culture icon Hulk Hogan died at the age of 71 from a cardiac arrest. The '80s superstar, real name Terry Bollea, was 'the' household name when it came to discussing wrestling with those who weren't familiar with the artform, with his name uttered in the same breaths as Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki or Big Daddy. Hogan transformed the WWE, under the guidance of Vincent K. McMahon, into a worldwide phenomena with his influence and legacy interwoven not just in wrestling culture, but the overarching pop culture fabric. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, as mentioned, he later would become a polarizing figure; from numerous stories over the decades about his backstage politics, his hesitance to unionize wrestling in the '80s and creative control in WCW leading to some very last-ditch booking decisions, through to his mainstream controversies including racist remarks while undertaking a 'tryst' with his best friend's wife and recent support of Donald J. Trump. Something that wrestling fans were very adamant to let him know they were not happy with. Alongside the matches that have been announced so far this evening, we would envision that a portion of tonight's WWE Smackdown will be dedicated to Hulk Hogan; for better or for worse, he did make wrestling what it is today - if we were to separate the character from the man himself. WWE Friday Night Smackdown preview - July 25 Jelly Roll and Logan Paul come face to face ahead of their tag team encounter at SummerSlam 2025 on this evening's episode of WWE Smackdown. | WWE Randy Orton & Jelly Roll Confront Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul Tensions are at an all-time high between these four men, and this week they will come face-to-face. With their SummerSlam tag team match looming, the confrontation between "The Viper" Randy Orton and music sensation Jelly Roll, and their formidable opponents Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul, is sure to be explosive. Given their previous physical altercations, expect sparks to fly and potentially another brawl as they look to gain the upper hand before their major Premium Live Event clash. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad WWE Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (c) v Andrade & Rey Fenix After winning a hard-fought #1 Contenders match last week, the high-flying duo of Andrade and Rey Fenix will get their shot at championship gold. They are set to challenge the current WWE Tag Team Champions, Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis of The Wyatt Sicks. Can Andrade and Rey Fenix pull off the upset and capture the titles, or will The Wyatt Sicks continue their dominant reign? All eyes will be on this pivotal championship encounter. Alexa Bliss v Roxanne Perez In singles competition, Alexa Bliss will go head-to-head with Roxanne Perez. Both women are fierce competitors, and this match promises to be an exciting showcase of their talents. With the Women's division constantly evolving, every victory counts, and both Superstars will be looking to make a statement ahead of their Women's Tag Team Championship match at SummerSlam next week. Cody Rhodes to Appear "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes is confirmed to make an appearance on SmackDown this week. This comes after last week's dramatic segment involving John Cena, where Rhodes took out the Cenation Leader. The WWE Universe will be eager to hear from Cody and see if there are any further developments following the intense build-up to their SummerSlam encounter. What time is WWE Friday Night Smackdown starting in the United Kingdom this evening? It's once again a late night for WWE fans - with this evening's episode of WWE Smackdown set to air on Netflix from 1am BST on July 26 2025, with on-demand repeats available shortly after broadcasting. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What matches have currently been confirmed ahead of WWE SummerSlam 2025? A few more matches have been added since we last looked at the 2025 WWE SummerSlam card - with the likes of AJ Styles, Dominik Mysterio and Roman Reigns all being added to the card; no news however what nights the matches are set to take place though as of writing WWE SummerSlam 2025 - current matches announced WWE Undisputed Championship - Street Fight: John Cena (c) v Cody Rhodes WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) v Jade Cargill Randy Orton and Jelly Roll v Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) v CM Punk Women's World Championship: Naomi (c) v Rhea Ripley v IYO SKY WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) v Lyra Valkyria (if Lynch retains, Valkyria can no longer challenge for the title as long as Lynch holds it) WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: The Judgement Day (Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez) (c) v Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss WWE United States Championship - Steel Cage Match: Solo Sikoa (c) v Jacob Fatu WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) v AJ Styles Roman Reigns and Jey Uso v Bron Brekker and Bronson Reed
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Reportedly Interested In Former AEW Star
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. WWE is reportedly looking to add to its referee lineup and has shown interest in a surprising name for the role: former AEW wrestler Leyla Hirsch. According to a new report, the company has contacted the free agent about a potential tryout. Hirsch has been active on the independent circuit since her departure from All Elite Wrestling in February of this year. This new opportunity would present an unexpected path back to a major promotion. A Surprising Opportunity A new report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select states that WWE has reached out to Leyla Hirsch about a potential tryout with the company, specifically for a referee position. The communication reportedly took place in mid-June, though it is not yet known if Hirsch accepted the offer or if a tryout has already happened. "Sources within WWE tell Fightful that they reached out to Leyla Hirch about a potential tryout with the company as a referee," the report stated. "Legit" Leyla Hirsch: A True Competitor The news is surprising given Hirsch's background as a legitimate and accomplished in-ring competitor. Born in Moscow, she has a background in amateur wrestling. This credential, combined with her powerful, suplex-based offense, earned her the nickname "Legit" Leyla Hirsch. She was a promising, rising star in the AEW women's division before suffering a major ACL tear in 2022. While she eventually returned to the ring, she was never able to regain her previous momentum, which led to her departure from the company earlier this year. Hirsch's legitimate background and tough in-ring style make her an unusual candidate for a referee role. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Nia Jax and Bianca Belair in action during Smackdown at Pechanga Arena on January 17, 2025 in San Diego, California. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Nia Jax and Bianca Belair in action during Smackdown at Pechanga Arena on January 17, 2025 in San Diego, California. WWE/Getty Images More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match A "Foot In The Door" To WWE The Fightful report notes that taking a referee position could simply be a "foot in the door" for Hirsch to get into the WWE system. It is a path that other performers have taken in the past. Historically, "Dangerous" Danny Davis was a referee before becoming a notorious heel wrestler in the 1980s. More recently, WWE referee Jessika Carr, the first full-time female referee on the main roster, has begun competing as an in-ring talent on the WWE Evolve brand. For an independent talent, any role within the WWE system provides access to the Performance Center and its world-class coaches. This can often lead to other opportunities down the line. While fans may be surprised to see the "Legit" one in stripes, it could be a savvy career move for the talented free agent. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
