Latest news with #WrestleMania37
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Jelly Roll Makes Surprising Admission About WWE SummerSlam 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. In a shocking and respectful gesture, country music superstar Jelly Roll has revealed that he personally pitched the idea to lose his debut match at this past weekend's SummerSlam. On a new podcast appearance, the musician explained his surprising reasoning, which was rooted in his deep respect for the wrestling business. The revelation provides a fascinating new insight into the finish of the celebrity tag team match on Night One of SummerSlam. The bout saw Jelly Roll and Randy Orton lose to Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul. "I Want To Lose" Speaking on What Do You Wanna Talk About With Cody Rhodes, Jelly Roll disclosed that he went directly to WWE's Chief Content Officer, Triple H, with his request. He explained that he wanted to break from the tradition of celebrities always winning in WWE. "I told, I told Triple H, I want to lose SummerSlam," Jelly Roll said. "Just because no celebrity's ever got took a L, yeah, always put them over, yeah. And if you don't put me over, I always have a reason. Yeah, there's always just something lingering here. I can pop up anytime." A Last-Minute Change Explained Jelly Roll's comments now explain a previous report from Fightful Select. That report, which came out just before SummerSlam, stated that a last-minute change had been made to the match's finish and that the original plan was for Randy Orton and Jelly Roll to win. It is now clear that this change was made at the request of the celebrity competitor himself. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 02: Randy Orton and Jelly Roll make their entrance before a tag team match against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on... EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 02: Randy Orton and Jelly Roll make their entrance before a tag team match against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 02, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. More This is a rare, if not unprecedented, move. It shows a deep, insider-level understanding of wrestling culture and the importance of "putting over" full-time talent. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match Respecting The Business For decades, the unwritten rule in WWE has been that the visiting celebrity wins their match. This booking trope is designed to generate positive mainstream press and protect the celebrity's brand. From Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI to Bad Bunny at WrestleMania 37, the celebrity almost always gets their hand raised. Jelly Roll's selfless decision to take the pinfall loss to United States Champion Logan Paul is a massive sign of his respect for the industry. It follows months of reports about his intensive training at the WWE Performance Center and his incredible physical transformation, all of which have earned him high praise from WWE officials and his fellow superstars. His request to lose further solidifies his reputation as a celebrity who is "doing it the right way." By losing, he also created a perfect storyline reason for a future return, as he now has a score to settle with Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Reportedly Changed Winner Of Major SummerSlam Match
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The outcome of the massive celebrity tag team match at SummerSlam Night One was reportedly not the original plan. According to a new report, WWE made a last-minute change to the finish of the bout. The match saw Drew McIntyre and United States Champion Logan Paul team up to defeat the duo of Randy Orton and country music superstar Jelly Roll. The result was a surprise to many, as the original plan was for the babyface team to get the victory. A Last-Minute WWE SummerSlam Change A new report from Fightful Select ahead of SummerSlam stated that the planned finish "throughout much of the week" was for Randy Orton and Jelly Roll to win the match. However, at some point before bell time, the decision was made to have the heel team of McIntyre and Paul go over instead. The actual finish of the match saw Logan Paul hit his signature frog splash on Jelly Roll to score the pinfall victory. It is not known exactly when or why the creative decision was changed. The result was surprising to many fans due to WWE's long history of booking celebrities to win their debut matches. It is a long-standing creative trope to give the visiting celebrity a feel-good victory to generate positive mainstream press. This has been the case for stars like Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI and, more recently, Bad Bunny at WrestleMania 37, both of whom were victorious in their first outing. NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: General atmosphere at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: General atmosphere at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. The decision to have Jelly Roll take the pinfall loss is a significant break from that tradition. However, it also served to further establish Logan Paul, a celebrity in his own right, as a legitimate and credible WWE champion. A WWE Feud Built On Disrespect The entire feud was built around McIntyre and Paul's condescending attitude towards "outsiders" like Jelly Roll. They positioned themselves as protectors of the business against a celebrity who they felt had not earned his spot. The victory for the heel duo ultimately proved their point in the storyline. Despite the loss, Jelly Roll has been highly praised for his performance and his dedication. Previous reports have noted his intensive training at the WWE Performance Center and his incredible physical transformation. It has been reported that WWE is hopeful to have him back for more matches in 2026, so his story in a WWE ring is likely not over.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE star Charlotte Flair reacts to mean public reactions on her physical appearance
Image via WWE Charlotte Flair has been receiving mean public reactions for some time now. These reactions were directed towards the change in her appearance. Throughout her career, the wrestler underwent cosmetic surgery quite a few times While some fans have appreciated it, others have reacted in a nasty way. In a recent write-up, Charlotte reflected on these comments. The write-up went live on The Player's Tribune. Charlotte Flair reflects on fans calling her body fake Charlotte Flair made her wrestling debut in 2012. Since then, she has undergone major changes in her appearance. The 14-time world champion has even faced verbal attacks from the fans because of this. Flair did not let these comments slip by. She responded to them in her way. Supporters of the wrestler have appreciated the wrestler's boldness. In a recent write-up on The Player's Tribune, Charlotte opened up on her feelings about these nasty plastic surgery comments. — MsCharlotteWWE (@MsCharlotteWWE) Flair felt positive about the changes in her body. She lost 25 pounds and got leaner and more toned. The wrestler felt proud of her achievement. She had put in a lot of effort. However, Flair faced some mean comments following her appearance at Raw after WrestleMania 37. Fans commented that her body was fake. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Public Speaking Course for Children Planet Spark Book Now Undo The comments revolved around queries like 'OK. What the f*** happened to Charlotte Flair?!' and 'She looks like her DAD in a WIG. ' The WWE star reflected on these comments in a rather positive way. She stated, 'I've dealt with stuff like that my whole career … but I try not to take it personally. On some level, I get it: I'm (relatively) famous, and I make a very good living from work that involves showing off my body. I get that certain things just come with that territory. And I'd never expect anyone to put 'feeling sorry for Charlotte Flair' high on their priority list. ' She further continued, 'People are getting smarter and smarter when it comes to understanding the wrestling business. Everyone 'knows everything' now, not just about what's on-screen but what's off-screen as well. And yet, the smarter that people get about wrestling?? The easier they seem to forget the basic concepts.' Charlotte Flair is one of the most confident wrestlers of all time. She has pulled off looks that most others wouldn't have dared. With her recent comments on the mean public reactions, she once again proved how comfortable she feels with all these changes in appearance. Charlotte Flair reveals one of the favorite matches of her career In the same write-up, Charlotte Flair made another revelation. She talked about one of her favorite matches. It is the Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair WrestleMania 39 SmackDown Women's Title match. Flair lost the title to Rhea. But Flair has a positive take on the match. She wrote, 'Something special happened in that ring. One, I think we put on the best women's match in WrestleMania history. (Fight me.) And two, I think our match was a 'torch-passing' in a way that actually felt meaningful. And I like to think that a big reason why it felt so meaningful, is that it wasn't just anyone in that ring telling Rhea, 'You want this torch??? Come f***ing take it.' It was Charlotte Flair.' Despite the loss, Flair was caught smiling by the cameras later on. The two big reasons for the smile have now been revealed. Charlotte Flair is now scheduled to compete for the Women's Tag Team Championship at Evolution 2. Flair has been tagged with Alexa Bliss for the event. Also Read: Dwayne Johnson's daughter Ava reveals NXT representatives for Evolution 2 battle royal Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan continues to ignore the real reason WWE fans are booing him
Hulk Hogan's return to "WWE Raw" for its Netflix debut in January was billed as a nostalgic celebration — a hero's welcome for one of the most iconic figures in the history of professional wrestling. However, instead of an expected roaring ovation, the crowd at Los Angeles' Intuit Dome met Hogan that night with a torrent of well-deserved boos. In an interview Monday on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show," Hogan was asked about the crowd's reaction to his return, and he seemed to deflect any responsibility for it. Hogan speculated that the boos were due to his previous role as the villainous "Hollywood Hogan," and even attempted to tie the boos to his support for U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement "They're still nipping at my heels," Hogan said, referring to his critics. "I can go out there and get booed in LA. I was Hollywood Hogan with the black beard and doing the bad guy thing. Or The Rock can get booed in LA or John Cena gets booed in LA, but when I get booed, there's a whole different reaction, media-wise." This response is telling in its avoidance of the real issue. The boos weren't about Hogan's "bad guy" persona or his political leanings at all. In fact, this wasn't the first time Hogan faced public backlash. He was heavily booed when introducing Titus O'Neil at WrestleMania 37 in 2021, signaling that many fans hadn't forgotten his past remarks. Both reactions were about something much more serious: The fact that Hogan has failed to properly address the deeply hurtful and racist remarks he made back in 2015. In July 2015, a leaked recording from a 2007 sex tape revealed Hogan making intensely offensive remarks. In the tape, Hogan expressed disgust over the possibility of his daughter dating a Black man and infamously admitted, "I am a racist, to a point," all while repeatedly and freely using the n-word. Advertisement Hogan spoke to ABC News about the incident later that year. 'No, I'm not. I'm not a racist," he said. "I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I'm embarrassed by it. But a lot of people need to realize that you inherit things from your environment." Despite that explanation, the incident resulted in Hogan's firing from WWE and his removal from the Hall of Fame. If, for some reason, you believe his use of the n-word was an isolated incident, a simple Google search will show you that Hogan's racist remarks span long before the 2015 leaked footage. In 2011, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T spoke on an interaction where Hogan used the n-word in front of him in response to a now-infamous Harlem Heat promo where Booker T mistakenly used the term after saying he was coming for Hogan. 'I thought I was going to be totally blackballed from that. And Hulk Hogan actually came to me and told me not to feel bad about it, but said, 'You know what? I'm a good n-word,'' Booker T said. Advertisement This interview led to Hogan in 2012 questioning on a radio spot why Booker T could use the word and he could not. 'Well, Booker T used to do that to me, and every time I pull up YouTube there's that famous thing with Booker T and his brother is there and they're all talking trash, and Booker T says, 'I'm coming for ya Hogan, you ni-er' — and not 'ni-a,' he goes 'ni-r,'' Hogan said. Hulk Hogan sat down for an interview with "Good Morning America" in 2015 to explain his racist remarks. (Heidi Gutman/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Heidi Gutman via Getty Images) While Hogan was eventually reinstated by WWE in 2018 after issuing an apology to the company's talent locker room, many wrestlers publicly criticized the apology as insincere. Mark Henry, Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston were among those who voiced their discontent, with Benjamin recently tweeting: Message to Hulk Hogan: You lost me forever with your 'don't get caught' …or as you would call it 'apology' speech. Beyond racial controversy, Hogan's reputation as a self-serving figure in the locker room further clouds his legacy. As more wrestlers from his generation speak openly over the years about their experiences, many have accused him of refusing to put younger talent over, leveraging his backstage influence to stay on top, and prioritizing his own brand over the industry he claimed to love. These actions paint the picture of a man more interested in protecting his image than in supporting the wrestling community. Advertisement This week's appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show" was yet another missed opportunity for meaningful self-reflection and growth. Instead of addressing the pain caused by his words, Hogan focused on superficial metrics, such as boasting about the "3.2 billion impressions" his WWE return garnered. He still seems to value publicity and numbers over a sincere reckoning with the gravity of his past mistakes. Until Hogan takes full responsibility for his past actions and offers a heartfelt, unambiguous apology to the Black community, the boos and criticism will likely continue. His failure to confront the consequences of his words speaks volumes about his character — or rather, his lack of character. The time for Hogan to be held accountable is long overdue. Redemption, after all, is not a right — it's earned. And in Hogan's case, he has done nothing to deserve it.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bad Bunny May Be Returning To WWE: 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. Whispers are circulating within the professional wrestling world, suggesting a potential return for the globally renowned music artist Bad Bunny to the WWE ring. Recent reports and social media activity have fueled this speculation, hinting at a high-profile tag team encounter that could see the "King of Latin Trap" back in action. Earlier this week, it was reported that WWE is considering a potential tag team match featuring the current WWE Champion, John Cena, and Travis Scott. The initial theory posited that Cody Rhodes, given his storyline developments culminating at WrestleMania 41, would likely stand as one of their opponents. This potential matchup immediately sparked considerable interest among fans, envisioning a unique blend of music and wrestling stardom colliding in the ring. Adding further fuel to this speculation is a report from Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer stated, "There have already been reports of Scott & Cena doing a tag team match. The theory was that Bunny would be on the other side." Meltzer noted that while Cody Rhodes is a strong babyface, his partner for this potential clash remains unconfirmed. However, the report mentioned that should the plan to include Bunny move forward, WWE would necessitate "a wrestler of the level of Cena on the face side" to ensure a balanced and compelling contest. Rhodes would certainly fit that bill. Bad Bunny enters the ring during the WWE Backlash at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on May 06, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny enters the ring during the WWE Backlash at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on May 06, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Gladys Vega/ Getty Images More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Adding an intriguing layer to these reports, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE's head of creative, took to the social media platform X earlier this month. His post served both as a congratulatory message to Bunny on releasing his latest album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," and as a significant foreshadowing of a potential WWE return. Bunny's previous time with WWE have already established his genuine passion for the sport and his ability to deliver compelling in-ring performances. His WWE journey began in 2021, ending in his official in-ring debut at WrestleMania 37, where he teamed with Damian Priest. He even briefly held the WWE 24/7 Championship. His participation in key matches at major events such as the 2022 Royal Rumble and the highly acclaimed San Juan Street Fight against Damian Priest at Backlash 2023 in his native Puerto Rico solidified his credibility as more than just a celebrity guest. Bunny has previously stated that he genuinely felt like a professional wrestler during his WWE stints. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
