Latest news with #WWEBacklash
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE SmackDown results: JC Mateo beats R-Truth with relative ease
WWE SmackDown results: JC Mateo defeated R-Truth in a short but competitive match on the latest episode of WWE SmackDown. After the match, Jimmy Uso rushed to the ring to save the veteran from a beatdown at the hands of the former Jeff Cobb and Solo Sikoa. JC Mateo defeats R-Truth with relative ease R-Truth, who lost to John Cena at Saturday Night's Main Event, confronted JC Mateo and Solo Sikoa backstage on SmackDown. After this, he asked the blue brand's general manager Nick Aldis, to grant him a match with the former NJPW star. The match itself proved to be a one-sided affair as JC Mateo dominated the vast majority of it. Truth, to his credit, got in some offence and even hit Mateo with a 5-knuckle shuffle. R Truth dice que nunca antes habia visto a JC Mateo y le pregunta a Solo Sikoa si es su hijo xd However, JC Mateo eventually overpowered the 53-year-old and hit him with a 'Tour of the Islands' and got the pin. Thereafter, the former Jeff Cobb and Solo Sikoa assaulted Truth. Following this, Jimmy Uso came out to make the save. JC Mateo soon attacked him and sent a message to the tag team specialist. About JC Mateo JC Mateo made his debut at WWE Backlash earlier this month and helped Jacob Fatu retain the US title. He then beat LA Knight in his debut match, impressing the audience. His win over Truth was his second singles win since joining the blue brand. Stay ahead of the game with the latest updates, match highlights, and insider stories from IPL, cricket, WWE, and more! Click here.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pat McAfee's Cryptic Message Following WWE Backlash Loss Has Me Wondering What's Next
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: WWE As CinemaBlend guessed in our WWE Backlash predictions, Pat McAfee could not best Gunther in a one-on-one singles match. The outcome is hardly surprising, but the follow-up reaction from the commentator certainly threw me for a loop. While I expected him to take some time off following the loss, it sounds like it could be longer than anticipated. Advertisement I'm now under the impression that I shouldn't expect to see Pat McAfee appear when I stream Monday Night Raw with a Netflix subscription. At least, that's what I'm gathering from his latest post on X. The commentator made a cryptic statement on the platform, as he talked about his path forward. It almost sounds as if he's aiming to step away from the WWE for good: Life's a book, each day being a page leading to the next, phases of life come and go like chapters. Not every character/job/idea has to appear in every chapter. Some things are perfect for the story when it's needed and then disappear as just a fond memory. A pivotal influence to get from one era to the next. Don't be scared to end a chapter and start anew. You're gonna have to do it eventually anyways. And always remember to check with the mirror every once in a while and make sure your book is one that makes you happy. And if it's not, change direction.. I think that you're allowed to do that. We have NO IDEA when the final page is being written.. with no sequels. 'Tis our only chance at this thing here. Appreciate you all so much for everything. I'm living the dumbest book of all time.. trying to figure it all aht as I go..#UpToSomethingSZN Pat McAfee is one of the biggest names in sports entertainment, with his flagship show on ESPN frequently dropping some of the biggest sports stories and interviews weekly. It should also be mentioned that he's a fixture on College GameDay as well. From the start, McAfee has been adamant about not working with WWE regularly while performing his duties will the Disney-owned network. We're still many months out from the start of college football season, though, so why does it sound like McAfee may be taking a leave of absence from the WWE? More On The WWE Penta walking to the ring in the WWE WWE's Big E Shouted Out The Awesome Penta Meme During Backlash, And I Really Hope The Viral Trend Sparks One Change Advertisement This could be because McAfee has some sort of announcement coming and, considering his post seems to extinguish the idea of him being in WWE, he may be stepping into a bigger role at ESPN. Perhaps we'll learn that he's going to be doing some special coverage of NFL games, seeing as he was a former punter for the Indianapolis Colts. Such a move would make sense, especially since McAfee's eponymous show garners a lot of buzz. The good news is the WWE has no shortage of talented commentators waiting in the wings. Corey Graves would likely be eager to return to Monday Night Raw if given the chance. Also, while Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett feel at home on SmackDown at the moment, but it wouldn't be unheard for anyone on the team to pull double duty. Hell, they could even pull Byron Saxton out from behind the scenes and put him back at the table! The point is that the WWE has had many commentators over the years, and, if this is the end of Pat McAfee's run in the wrestling organization, it's been a good. I wouldn't be surprised if the door is open for him to return. Should he find time between breaking stories and interviewing LeBron James about Stephen A. Smith, I would hope that McAfee would pop back in to cut it up with Michael Cole. Monday Night Raw is on Netflix on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. We've already heard from McAfee, but what's next for Gunther now that he's shut up one of his largest critics?
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WWE, AEW power rankings: Logan Paul, Hangman Page headline big shakeup as Money In The Bank nears
The wrestling gods were smiling down upon us this weekend, as AEW delivered an all-time classic pay-per-view and WWE pulled off two successful events as part of its Tampa takeover. The non-stop action may have had us on the edge of our seats at the time, but did it leave a lasting impact on our power rankings list? Here's how things stand as we start to the countdown until Money In The Bank. MEN'S POWER RANKINGS 10. Gunther (Prev: NR) After dropping the World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania 41, a break away from the spotlight looked like the most likely option for Gunther. Instead 'The Ring General' wasted no time in stamping his authority over the WWE landscape, knocking 10 bells out of Pat McAfee at WWE Backlash and earning himself an upcoming championship rematch for the June 9 episode of 'WWE Raw.' Advertisement 9. Logan Paul (Prev: NR) The ever-divisive influencer returned to the top of the card at this weekend's Saturday Night's Main Event, forming a new alliance with John Cena in an attempt to steal the World Heavyweight Championship. Now 'The Social Media Megastar' will team with Cena at June's Money in the Bank (MITB) against Jey Uso and a returning Cody Rhodes, thus injecting himself right into the center of the biggest feud in professional wrestling. 8. CM Punk (Prev: 5) As a rule of thumb, you know you're doing something right when the crowds are belting out your theme song a cappella style — as was the case for CM Punk on last week's 'Raw.' Just over 18 months since his sensational return to WWE, 'The Second City Saint' has lost none of his momentum with the live crowds. Whether he gets his much-deserved title shot against John Cena is the pertinent question right now. Advertisement 7. Dominik Mysterio (Prev: 9) As if winning the Intercontinental title in a four way at WrestleMania weren't enough, WWE's turboheel-turned-sort-of-babyface went on to eliminate any doubts as to his championship credentials at WWE Backlash, executing a successful defense against the ever-impressive Penta. With WWE hinting at a bust-up with Finn Balor before long, it could be a busy summer for Mr. Mysterio Junior. 6. Bron Breakker (Prev: 6) The former Intercontinental champion got the mother of all boosts after WrestleMania, being unveiled as the enforcer of the new Paul Heyman alliance and the right-hand man to Seth Rollins. As expected, the verified 'Badass' has looked absolutely ferocious since, picking up a big win at Saturday Night's Main Event. Heyman had big praise for his new pupil afterward, calling him a future WrestleMania main-eventer on this week's 'Raw.' Bron Breakker's alliance with Seth Rollins is already making waves. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 5. Jey Uso (Prev: 3) He's the world heavyweight champion, but for how much longer? WWE's merch-seller extraordinaire may have enjoyed a coronation for the ages at WrestleMania, but now finds himself in the sights of both Seth Rollins and Gunther (not to mention Logan Paul). With 'The Visionary' set to compete in Money in the Bank, you'd better hope 'Main Event Jey' is sleeping with one eye open right now. Advertisement 4. Hangman Adam Page (Prev: NR) While the triumph of the 'Anxious Millennial Cowboy' in this year's Owen Hart Cup was a big surprise, it's impossible to begrudge Hangman his moment — not least given his pivotal role in building AEW in the first place. The former champion now has to be the firm favorite to defeat Jon Moxley at this year's All In event, earning his place in AEW history as the man to liberate the AEW World Championship from the iron grip of the Death Riders. 3. Seth Rollins (Prev: 2) One month after pulling off another heist at WrestleMania, 'The Visionary' stands tall over his kingdom on 'Monday Night Raw' as the head of the most powerful alliance to step foot in a WWE ring in years. Having both Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed at his beck and call renders Rollins effectively invincible for now, but it also begs the obvious question: Just what will he do with all that power? Advertisement 2. Cody Rhodes (Prev: 9) When he raced out to protect Jey Uso at the end of this weekend's Saturday Night's Main Event, Cody Rhodes didn't just save his friend's world championship, but also his place in this power list. Until then, 'The American Nightmare' was set to vanish from the top 10, having been invisible since WrestleMania. That all changed in a few minutes on Saturday evening, as the WWE fired the starting pistol on the next phase of the Rhodes/Cena saga. 1. John Cena (Prev: 1) Does John Cena deserve his fourth consecutive top spot? If we're being totally honest, it was a tough call. To state the obvious, the heel turn hasn't exactly been dynamite — although a spirited title defense against Randy Orton at Backlash did give some cause for optimism. For as long as Cena has the belt, though, it's hard not to see him as the biggest fixture in WWE. Let's see how much longer that holds up as we move into the second half of the retirement tour. Round two of John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes appears to be on the horizon. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) WOMEN'S POWER RANKINGS 10. Naomi (Prev: NR) With this year's Money in the Bank match looking deliciously unpredictable, there was plenty of competition for the lower half of the table. So why give the first spot to Naomi, a woman who hasn't even qualified for MITB yet? If nothing else, the former tag champion deserves credit for a successful heel rebrand, which has made her one of the most interesting stars on the women's roster. That makes her a solid candidate to leave with the briefcase next month. Advertisement 9. Jamie Hayter (Prev: NR) What a year it's been for the British star, following her surprise return at last year's AEW All In event. Showing no signs of slowness from that awful back injury, Jamie Hayter surged to the final of this year's Owen Hart Cup, chalking up a huge victory over Kris Statlander on the way. She may not have won the ultimate prize, but her interview with Uncrowned's Cameron Hawkins left little doubt as to the scale of her ambitions. Don't let that turtleneck fool you: She's as ruthless as they come. 8. Becky Lynch (Prev: 6) Getting the biggest return pop at WrestleMania 41 was a good sign for 'The Man,' who has since gone on to deliver one of the women's matches of the year against her real-life mentee Lyra Valkyria at Backlash. Given WWE has booked a rematch between the two for MITB, the powers that be were clearly happy with their efforts. But will they let Lynch take the belt this time around? Becky Lynch is getting another crack at Lyra Valkyria. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 7. Stephanie Vaquer (Prev: NR) Since arriving in Orlando last summer, 'The Primera' has successfully executed her quest to become the most dominant woman in NXT. That's no mean feat given the saturation of top-tier talent in Shawn Michaels' roster. After winning praise for her grudge match with Jordynne Grace at NXT Battleground, the Chilean star will now carry the WWE flag into Worlds Collide — the much-anticipated crossover PLE with lucha promotion AAA. Advertisement 6. Roxanne Perez (Prev: NR) After her scene-stealing performance at the 2025 Royal Rumble, the absence of Roxanne Perez from this year's WrestleMania 41 was borderline inexplicable. Fear not, though, as the 23-year-old talent has evidently lost none of her pre-WrestleMania momentum. Not only has she earned a spot in this year's MITB, she's also been booked with the likes of Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. As far as rookie years go, it's looking like one for the ages for 'The Prodigy.' 5. Rhea Ripley (Prev: 3) Two things can be true at once: 1) Rhea Ripley continues to be the single biggest draw in women's wrestling; and 2) WWE doesn't appear to have a plan as to what to do with her right now. Maybe that changes at MITB, where Ripley will compete in the eponymous match for the first time in her career. That's fun enough, I suppose, but what 'The Eradicator' really needs now is a serious rival. Bianca Belair perhaps? Advertisement 4. Mercedes Moné (Prev: 9) For all the eye-watering sums involved in signing her in the first place, the wrestler formerly known as Sasha Banks has never quite lived up to her explosive potential since arriving in AEW. Does that change now she's set to receive a world title shot at All In against Toni Storm? With Moné's unbeaten singles record on the line, the stakes finally feel suitably epic for this all-time great talent. Mercedes Mone Varnado wrestles Athena in the first match of AEW at MGM on April 16. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald via Getty Images) (MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images via Getty Images) 3. Toni Storm (Prev: 4) Following that 'Hollywood ending' with Mariah May was always going to be tough, so credit to Toni Storm — AEW's record-holding four-time women's champ — for keeping the momentum going with her appearances on 'Collision' and Double or Nothing. She continues to be one of the biggest creative brains on Tony Khan's roster, and a truly formidable champion to boot. Now she faces her biggest opponent ever, in the form of Mercedes Moné. Advertisement 2. Tiffany Stratton (Prev: 2) Having dispatched Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 41, we wondered what was next for WWE's longest-standing women's champ. While it's fair to say no one was crying out for a Nia Jax rematch, their unexpected main event on 'SmackDown' turned out to be one of the matches of the year. That alone is another reason to keep Tiffy in a podium place on this month's list. 1. Iyo Sky (Prev: 1) After vaulting to the top of our power rankings in the wake of WrestleMania 41, the Women's World Champion retains her slot for the second month running. It's true that 'The Genius of the Sky' wasn't booked for Backlash or Saturday Night's Main Event. On the other hand, she has been busy on 'WWE Raw,' butting heads with the NXT upstarts and even teaming with Rhea Ripley. And if there's one thing we like to see, it's a working champion.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event results: John Cena uses heel tactics to beat R-Truth
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event results: John Cena beat R-Truth in a singles match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event after resorting to unfair means. The contest, however, was not as one-sided as many had expected. R-Truth, in fact, got in plenty of offence and even took the Cenation Leader by surprise when he used his own moves against him. John Cena beats R-Truth R-Truth surprised the whole WWE Universe by surprise when he made his way to the ring dressed as John Cena, his 'childhood hero'. He even asked to be introduced as 'Ron Cena'. The match started off on a strong note with John Cena assaulting the 53-year-old. Truth soon turned the tables and even locked Cena in the STF. John Cena defeats R-Truth.#SNME Cena finally resorted to underhanded tactics as he tried to use the belt on Truth. However, the official stopped him and removed the title. Sadly for Truth, this gave Cena the chance to hit him with a low blow and an AA to get the win. Here's how the feud started? R-Truth, who considered Cena to be his idol, interfered in the soon-to-retire legend's match against Randy Orton at WWE Backlash and received an RKO for his actions. Cena later put Truth through a table, setting the stage for this match. This week on SmackDown, Truth vowed to beat some sense into 'The Franchise Player', adding a new layer to the rivalry. 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
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE SmackDown May 23: R-Truth says power corrupted John Cena, vows to destroy his ‘childhood hero'
WWE SmackDown May 23: R-Truth is set to take on the Undisputed Champion John Cena at Saturday Night's Main Event in a non-title match. Ahead of the showdown, the 53-year-old star sent out a strongly worded message to 'The Franchise Player' and promised to beat some sense back into him. R-Truth sends a chilling message to John Cena R-Truth addressed the WWE Universe on the latest episode of SmackDown and said that fame has corrupted John Cena, referring to the soon-to-retire star's recent heel turn. He pointed out that the current Undisputed Champion has been distant of late. 'I miss my hero, I can't deny it, so Saturday we say it again, if Cena wins we riot.'— R-Truth#SmackDown He also accused him of not replying to his messages properly. Truth went on to say that the man he faces at Saturday Night's Main Event is not 'childhood hero' but someone else. He then vowed to beat 'hustle, loyalty, and respect' back into Cena. How did Truth-Cena's feud start? R-Truth got involved in John Cena's match against Randy Orton at WWE Backlash earlier this month. He stopped 'The Viper' from nailing 'The Last Real Champion' with a pint kick. This gave Cena an opportunity to pin Orton after resorting to some unfair means. After the event, Cena put the veteran through a table and asked him to stay out of his business. Later, Truth challenged his hero to a match at Saturday Night's Main Event.
