Latest news with #WrestleMania32
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Legendary Tag Team Open To Final WWE Match Under Three Conditions
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. The Dudley Boyz are open to a WWE return, but it must be under the right conditions. Bubba Ray Dudley recently spoke about the possibility with TVInsider. The iconic tag team has not competed together in a WWE ring since 2016. Their last match was a loss to Sami Zayn and Neville on the SummerSlam Kick Off show. Bubba Ray Dudley did make a more recent appearance in late 2024. He teamed with Trick Williams in a losing effort against Ethan Page and Ridge Holland on an episode of NXT. Despite the time away, Bubba Ray confirmed that he and D-Von Dudley are willing to reunite for one more match. WWE Conditions For A Final Dudley Boyz Match Bubba Ray explained that he believes WWE fans would love to see them one last time. However, the circumstances must be perfect for their return. "Of course," he stated. "If it would be up to me and D-Von, it would be yes, we would love to do it one last time." The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as... The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as executive chairman and its board of directors following allegations of sexual assault made public in a lawsuit in Connecticut. A former employee Janel Grant accused McMahon, 78, of sexual assault and sexually trafficking her. MoreHe stressed that the match would need to have a big-fight feel. It cannot be just a simple nostalgia appearance. "It has to be with the right team standing across from us," Bubba Ray said. "It has to be at the right venue, city and right event." The Dream Scenario For Dudley Boyz Return More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation When asked about a specific location, Bubba Ray named a grand stage. He wants their final moment to be at a stadium show. This would ensure the largest possible crowd for their farewell. It would be a fitting end for the legendary team. "Hell, I 'd love to do it at AT&T Stadium, Texas stadium with 101,000 people screaming one last time, 'D-Von, get the tables,'" he said. This makes it clear that any potential return for The Dudley Boyz would need to be a featured part of a major WWE event. WWE has a significant history at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, having hosted its flagship event, WrestleMania, at the venue on two separate occasions. The first event was WrestleMania 32 on April 3, 2016. This show set a WWE attendance record, with the company announcing a crowd of 101,763. The main event saw Roman Reigns defeat Triple H to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. WWE returned to the stadium for WrestleMania 38, which was a two-night event on April 2 and April 3, 2022. Night one was headlined by the memorable in-ring return of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who defeated Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match. The main event of night two featured Roman Reigns defeating Brock Lesnar to unify the WWE and Universal Championships. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Matt Cardona? The former WWE star who just called out John Cena
Image via WWE Former WWE Superstar Matt Cardona, better known to longtime fans as Zack Ryder, is back in the spotlight after being name-dropped by none other than John Cena during a fiery promo on SmackDown. Cena, in a throwback to CM Punk's infamous 2011 'pipebomb,' directly mentioned Cardona alongside Claudio Castagnoli and Nic Nemeth, sparking speculation and excitement across the wrestling world. Cardona didn't take long to respond. The current NWA World Champion posted a cheeky 'Hey @JohnCena' message on X (formerly Twitter), making it clear he heard Cena loud and clear. While the moment caught many fans off-guard, it's hardly surprising for those who've been following Cardona's remarkable journey since his WWE release in 2020. — TheMattCardona (@TheMattCardona) How Zack Ryder won over the WWE universe Matt Cardona began his wrestling journey in New York Wrestling Connection before joining WWE's developmental system in the mid-2000s. He rose to mainstream attention as Zack Ryder, forming part of the tag team 'La Familia' alongside Curt Hawkins and Edge. But it was his solo run, particularly his YouTube series 'Z! True Long Island Story' - that truly set him apart. At a time when fan voices were just starting to influence creative decisions, Ryder's videos turned him from a mid-card talent into a cult favorite. That push culminated in a United States Championship win in 2011, followed by a memorable (and chaotic) storyline involving John Cena and Eve Torres. 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 Health Wellness Journal Watch More Undo Zack Ryder's most memorable moments: WWE Playlist Despite a loyal fanbase, Ryder was pushed back down the card in later years. A surprise Intercontinental Title win at WrestleMania 32 offered a brief resurgence, but soon after, he was back in tag team action with Curt Hawkins. WWE released him in 2020 as part of pandemic-era budget cuts. Far from slowing down, Cardona used his WWE exit as fuel. He rebranded himself under his real name and made a mark across the independent wrestling scene. He won titles in GCW, Impact Wrestling, and NWA, building a reputation as a tough, unpredictable performer willing to take risks. Cardona has often teased a return to WWE, but on his terms. 'I would only come back as Matt Cardona,' he said in a previous interview, ruling out a full-time return to his Zack Ryder persona. Now, with Cena's reference reigniting buzz, fans are once again speculating: Could Matt Cardona be WWE-bound? For now, the former Internet Champion seems happy to play spoiler - and maybe stir the pot one more time. Also Read: Top 5 best John Cena promos that shook the WWE universe Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shaquille O'Neal turns heads with cryptic birthday post for underground wrestling star
Shaquille O'Neal turns heads with cryptic birthday post for underground wrestling star (Image Source: Instagram Story) NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal took to his Instagram story to post a lighthearted and unexpected birthday shoutout. It wasn't to a fellow athlete or celebrity from the basketball world - but to someone from the wrestling ring. Shaquille O'Neal reposted a funny birthday story for ZTheTallNomad, also known as Painful Paul, a performer known in the independent wrestling scene. Let's take a closer look at the birthday post and what made fans react. Shaquille O'Neal Celebrates The Undertaker-Inspired Wrestler On Tuesday morning, Shaquille O'Neal, who is known not just for his NBA career but also his love for professional wrestling, shared a birthday post for ZTheTallNomad on his Instagram story. The story was originally posted by the official page of Juggalo Championship Wrestling (IG: @juggalochampionshipwrestling). View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) The post featured a playful birthday message: 'Happy birthday Painful Paul... the man whose choke slams are so devastating, even the cake tapped out.' Shaquille O'Neal reposted the message showing love and humor toward Painful Paul, who goes by @zthetallnomad on Instagram. Despite being considered a modern version of The Undertaker by many fans, Paul has established himself as an essentially independent indie wrestler. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Shaquille O'Neal turns heads with cryptic birthday post for underground wrestling star Shaquille O'Neal's gesture was not just amusing; it also brought viewers back to Shaquille O'Neal's decades-long friendship with the wrestling industry. Years have seen him at WWE events; in 2016, he even faced The Big Show at WrestleMania 32. Shaquille O'Neal's Unexpected Shoutout Sparks Reactions Shaquille O'Neal, who is now more known for his TV work and humor, surprised fans by shouting out a relatively underground wrestler like ZTheTallNomad. This post made many wrestling fans happy and a few confused. One user commented, 'Shaq shouting out Painful Paul?! That's wild but awesome.' Another user posted, 'Never thought I'd see Shaq and Juggalo Wrestling on the same screen.' Sports blogs quickly picked up the story. Some rival media platforms debated whether it was a random post or a hint at a future collab between Shaq and the independent wrestling world. Nevertheless, for many, it was simply the classic Shaq - unexpected, humorous, and full of character. Shaquille O'Neal's involvement in pop culture has been unexpected, even in ways no one sees coming. Also Read: NBA star enters WWE 2K25 ring as part of Dunk & Destruction pack
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
AJ Styles Was Not Happy With WWE WrestleMania 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. AJ Styles' WrestleMania 40 encounter with LA Knight on Night Two of the event was a highly anticipated matchup between two significant stars in WWE. However, according to Styles himself, the match didn't quite reach its full potential in terms of length. During a recent live signing event for Fanatics, Styles offered his perspective on the WrestleMania 40 match against LA Knight. While acknowledging the significance of the moment and his respect for his opponent, Styles expressed a slight disappointment with the duration of the contest. "That match wasn't as long as I would've liked it to be. It was kind of a blur," Styles admitted. Despite the brevity, Styles made sure to highlight his admiration for LA Knight's journey and his rapid ascent in WWE. "I have a lot of respect for LA Knight because I feel like he did exactly what I did to get to WWE. When they finally gave him a chance to be LA Knight, he blew up overnight. I can't say enough good things about his career." Notably, the match between Styles and Knight clocked in as the third shortest match on WrestleMania Sunday that year. Styles' extensive WrestleMania career spans nine events as of WrestleMania 41. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation His journey on WWE's grandest stage began at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 with a loss to Chris Jericho, marking his debut after a celebrated career outside of WWE. The following year at WrestleMania 33, Styles secured a victory against Shane McMahon in a surprisingly well-received match. LYON, FRANCE - MAY 04: AJ Styles makes his entrance during Backlash France at LDLC Arena on May 4, 2024 in Lyon, France. LYON, FRANCE - MAY 04: AJ Styles makes his entrance during Backlash France at LDLC Arena on May 4, 2024 in Lyon, France. WWE/Getty Images WrestleMania 34 saw him lose a WWE Championship match to Shinsuke Nakamura, a bout that many fans felt didn't live up to expectations. At WrestleMania 35, Styles was defeated by Randy Orton, in a match often considered less memorable. WrestleMania 36 in 2020 presented a unique challenge as Styles lost a cinematic Boneyard Match to The Undertaker, marking the latter's final match. Styles found himself in a tag team match at WrestleMania 37 in 2021, winning the Raw Tag Team Championship with Omos against The New Day. A singles match against Edge at WrestleMania 38 in 2022 resulted in a loss for Styles. Returning to singles competition at WrestleMania 41 in 2025, Styles was defeated by the rising star Logan Paul, in a match Styles wished had been longer. Overall, Styles' WrestleMania record stands at two wins and seven losses. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
