Latest news with #WrestleMania32
Time of India
12 hours ago
- 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.
