Tag: Asuka

WrestleMania 39 card update: Only 3 matches official, but several more rounding into shape

Here’s how the WrestleMania 39 card is shaping up with just over five weeks to go until L.A.

As we speed toward the final month before WrestleMania 39, Elimination Chamber is now in the books. That means no more premium live events between here and Los Angeles, which in turn means the rounding out of the WrestleMania Goes Hollywood card will take place on the next few weeks of Raw and SmackDown.

Elimination Chamber settled one big question about Mania, which is whether WWE would call an audible and work Sami Zayn into the main event mix — either by defeating Roman Reigns in Montreal, or because seeds were sown that he’d be added into a triple threat situation. That almost certainly won’t be the case now, as Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes is the advertised main event (presumably for night 2), while Zayn will likely work his way toward teaming with Kevin Owens to face The Usos.

Another piece of the WrestleMania puzzle slid into place when Asuka, as expected, won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match and the right to challenge Bianca Belair for her Raw Women’s Championship. Both women’s title matches are now set.

There’s still plenty left to materialize, as last year’s show had 16 total matches (seven on the first night, nine on the second). Here’s how things stand 38 days away from SoFi Stadium.

WrestleMania 39 confirmed matches

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match
  • Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship match
  • Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka – WWE Raw Women’s Championship match

WrestleMania 39 expected matches

  • The Usos (c) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens – Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match
    • While KO rebuffed Sami’s pleas to work together to take down the Bloodline, it would be surprising if they didn’t end up banding together, even grudgingly, to challenge for the gold. Zayn’s accidental shot to Jey Uso on Raw was a sign their roller coaster ride of a story isn’t done yet either.
  • Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
    • Paul ruined Rollins’ chances at a clear path to WrestleMania, something fans know Seth’s character hates from previous years. This feels like a matchup that will be made official soon.
  • Austin Theory vs. John Cena
    • We’ve yet to see these two interact on WWE TV, but that’s because Cena simply hasn’t been around much. The March 6 episode of Raw, for which Cena has been advertised and is in his hometown of Boston, will go a long way toward cementing this program.

WrestleMania 39 rumored matches

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
    • While MVP’s challenge to Lesnar this week set off the swerve radar of many fans, reliable outlets claim this is indeed the plan for now. It’s certainly a cap in Omos’ feather if WWE stays on this course, but will he get the rub considering how little the company has pushed him the last few months?
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Bray Wyatt
    • Since Lesnar vs. Lashley doesn’t appear to be in the cards, this is the other half of their equation. Lashley has floated back and forth between heel and face a bunch, but he’d certainly be the heel, and just hope that his straightforward super athlete presentation works with whatever Wyatt has planned.
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
    • There’s been little movement toward this as both men have been involved in other subplots, but Dominik suggested he’d visit SmackDown this week with Ripley to say hi to his dad, so that could put this father-son clash back on track.
  • Edge vs. Finn Balor
    • Edge declared his quest to topple The Judgment Day behind him, but Balor came out and beat him down at the end of Raw … which means they very well could have one more match, possibly with a stipulation of some sort.

Biggest questions left for WrestleMania 39 card

  • Becky Lynch, Lita, Bayley, Damage CTRL … and maybe Trish Stratus?
    • A “creative change” reportedly scuttled Stratus’ appearance on Raw in Ottawa, and now Lynch and Lita are facing Damage CTRL for their tag team titles next week. Unless Dakota Kai is too injured to compete, it would make sense for all six women to be in a match at WrestleMania, but at the very least, Lynch and Bayley are two big names that can’t be left off the card.
  • Gunther, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus
    • Gunther absolutely deserves a big match at Mania considering the run he’s on as Intercontinental Champion. McIntyre and Sheamus have been focused on other things as of late, including a beef with the Viking Raiders, but fans would be delighted if this turned into a triple threat match — and WrestleMania almost always has one of them.

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WWE Raw results: Edge learns The Judgment Day isn’t done with him yet

Get full WWE Raw results for Feb. 20, 2023 in Ottawa, with Edge looking to take the United States Championship from Austin Theory.

The old adage about try, try again will be in full effect tonight on WWE Raw in Ottawa.

As you may have heard, Sami Zayn did not write the storybook ending to his personal saga at Elimination Chamber in front of his hometown fans in Montreal this weekend. But it’s possible that a Canadian could still end up sporting some gold before WWE heads back to the U.S.

That’s because Edge has answered the open challenge of Austin Theory for the United States Championship. Both men should feel pretty good coming off big victories on Saturday night. But Theory has a way of coming out on top even when things go against him, and Edge can’t be sure he’s left The Judgment Day completely behind him. That makes it look like uphill sledding for the Rated R Superstar.

Speaking of uphill sledding, Mustafa Ali has been doing plenty of that in recent weeks. While he’s more than willing to do whatever it takes to earn more opportunities, he’s about had it with Dolph Ziggler for … well, not having the same attitude, basically. They’ll try to settle their differences in the ring in Ottawa.

And a late addition to tonight’s card should also have plenty of WrestleMania implications as Seth Rollins battles The Miz. Rollins saw his Elimination Chamber moment ruined by Logan Paul, who also has quite a history with the A-Lister. It will be interesting to see if and how that might come into play tonight.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • The show kicks off with a highlight package from the main event at Elimination Chamber.
  • Sami Zayn says his story is entering the final chapter, but it also involves Kevin Owens … only KO can’t let some of the recent past slide
  • Right before side by side commercials, Baron Corbin comes rushing down the ramp and attacks Zayn from behind
  • As Zayn gets help after taking a beating through the whole break, Corbin continues to berate Sami, but Adam Pearce tells Zayn he can head back to the ring, and we’ve got ourselves a match
  • Sami Zayn def. Baron Corbin by pinfall
  • Rhea Ripley sits down with Byron Saxton to look forward, not back
  • Austin Theory says he’s banged up after Elimination Chamber, but he’s still there, still the champ and he’s upset that John Cena’s return is getting more publicity than he is; he’s also ready to beat Edge in “crappy Canada”
  • Mustafa Ali def. Dolph Ziggler by pinfall
  • The Miz and Maryse exchange anniversary pleasantries, with Miz saving whatever news his wife just gave him for next week, and he happily takes credit for the rise of Logan Paul
  • Cody Rhodes gets another visit (virtually) from Paul Heyman, but shrugs off some reverse psychology and remains determined to “finish the story”
  • The Seth Rollins-Becky Lynch Joker trailer for WrestleMania is shown again
  • Asuka def. Nikki Cross by submission
  • Carmella hasn’t thought up a new path to WrestleMania yet but is ready to give a receipt to Asuka, and Seth Rollins stops laughing long enough to address Logan Paul
  • MVP calls Brock Lesnar a coward for getting DQed on purpose at Elimination Chamber, and Omos wants to challenge Lesnar to a match at WrestleMania
  • Seth Rollins def. The Miz by referee stoppage
  • Pearce tells Carmella she can have her match with Asuka before getting another irate call from Chelsea Green, and Bronson Reed mocks Chad Gable for his match preparation
  • Bayley‘s Ding Dong Hello! ends somewhat badly for Damage CTRL after they end up with a title defense against Becky Lynch … and Lita
  • Candice LeRae tries to find out why Cross is following her and it seems like it’s just because Nikki is lonely
  • Bronson Reed def. Chad Gable by pinfall
  • Elias asks who wants to walk with him, and … maybe didn’t want Bobby Lashley to answer that question considering how painful it is; Lashley goes on to brag about the Hurt Lock and says he’ll put down anyone who disrespects him
  • Edge says he’s happy to have put The Judgment Day behind him and is anxious to see if Theory understands that everything can be taken away in an instant
  • Austin Theory def. Edge by pinfall to retain the WWE United States Championship thanks to some interference by Finn Balor, who also attacks Edge after the match

Scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

WWE Survivor Series WarGames preview: When and where it’s going down, what to expect

Get ready for WWE Survivor Series WarGames with our full preview, including the start time, card and predictions for every match.

Let’s face it: For one of the traditional big WWE events, Survivor Series needed a refresh. Triple H and company have given it exactly that by folding in a fan favorite match from NXT — but whose roots go back much further to when it was originally invented by Dusty Rhodes during his Jim Crockett Promotions days — to create the first ever Survivor Series WarGames.

For those who have never seen the namesake match, it involves two teams doing battle within a steel cage large enough to contain two wrestling rings side by side. While one competitor from each team starts out the match, another enters every few minutes. That means the team that sends someone in first will always have an edge for a bit (two-on-one, three-on-two, etc.), which is why that advantage is valuable enough to compete for in matches leading up to the event.

The match doesn’t even officially get underway until everyone on both teams has entered, so the goal is to simply do as much damage as possible before that. To that end, all weapons are legal, and the only way to win this WWE version of WarGames is by pinfall or submission.

It’s a logical fit for Survivor Series, which has long been the domain of team vs. team matches, though traditionally they have been elimination affairs. Still, if there was any gimmick match that contained some of the event’s historical DNA, this is it.

Along with both men’s and women’s WarGames matches, there have been a handful of other matches announced, including two title bouts. While more could still be added, the WarGames matches figure to both go pretty long, so don’t expect this to end up with a dozen matches on the card when it’s all said and done.

WWE Survivor Series WarGames

  • When: Saturday, November 26
  • Where: TD Garden, Boston
  • Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., or on WWE Network internationally
  • Matches announced: 5

Keep scrolling for our complete WWE Survivor Series WarGames preview, including the stories behind every match and what to expect.

Opening Bell: Survivor Series WarGames beckons, AEW finds a contender for MJF

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, November 21, MVP Arena, Albany, NY

Before you dig into your turkey and stuffing or other foods of choice this week, there’s business to take care of on Raw. The women’s WarGames teams are set for Survivor Series, but which side will have the advantage is up for grabs on Monday in Albany.

To settle that important question, Asuka will take on Rhea Ripley. The winner will get a numerical advantage every few minutes during WarGames, so both Team Bianca Belair and Team Damage CTRL will be watching anxiously (and perhaps even intervening) to see who comes out on top.

And that’s all WWE has officially revealed for this week’s show so far. Considering Survivor Series WarGames only has four matches announced and the women’s match still has one participant yet to be revealed, smart money suggests we’ll get some answers on Monday night.

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, November 23, Wintrust Arena, Chicago

AEW is headed back to one of its homes away from home, the Windy City, for the pre-Thanksgiving episode of Dynamite. The biggest thing on the card is determining a No. 1 contender for MJF, who you may have heard is now the AEW World Champion following Full Gear. Ethan Page and Ricky Starks will wrestle for that honor in the final of a tournament that’s been going for a few weeks.

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But the show is pretty loaded beyond that. The Elite and Death Triangle tore it down at Full Gear, where it was revealed they’re going to do it again … and again and again, in a best-of-7 series for the AEW World Trios Championship. Match two takes place Wednesday on Dynamite.

Chris Jericho is still The Ocho, but he’ll get a formidable challenge for his ROH World Championship from Tomohiro Ishii of NJPW. And Orange Cassidy, who’s been putting his All-Atlantic Championship on the line regularly, will face perhaps his physically biggest test as champ in the form of Jake Hager (and his purple bucket hat).

A good night of wrestling before turkey? It sounds like it.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, November 25, Wintrust Arena, Chicago (recorded on November 23)

We still don’t know much about what AEW has planned for Rampage this holiday week, but we do know one thing: It’s not going to be on at 10 p.m. ET like usual.

Nope, Rampage is moving earlier, much earlier, for this pre-taped show from the Chi. It will air at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on TNT. So … just be thankful for some afternoon wrestling, we suppose.

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, November 25, Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI

We’re bummed this venue is no longer the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, even though we’re sure the folks at Amica Mutual are lovely. It’s unusual to know much more about the SmackDown card than the Raw card on a Monday, but that’s exactly the case here for this big show on the night before Survivor Series.

The men’s WarGames advantage will be up for grabs in a tag team match between the undisputed champs, The Usos, and the brothers from another mother, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. It would certainly help the Brawling Brutes and company if they can gain an edge over the Bloodline.

Speaking of the Brutes, another one of their own, Butch, is still alive in the SmackDown World Cup, and will take on Santos Escobar Friday in one semifinal. The other semifinal will also take place in Providence, when Ricochet goes up against Braun Strowman.

Last but certainly not least, Shotzi and Ronda Rousey continue to circle each other ahead of their title match at Survivor Series WarGames. They’ll meet in a tag team match Friday, with Shotzi teaming with Raquel Rodriguez while Rousey calls upon her BFF, Shayna Baszler.

You’ll be all shopped out by Black Friday night anyway, so this is the best possible way to end Thanksgiving week.

WWE Clash at the Castle: Everything you need to know

Prepare for WWE Clash at the Castle with our complete preview, including predictions for each match, start time, and how to watch.

UK, you’re getting the stadium show you’ve been waiting three decades to see.

When Principality Stadium in Wales hosts WWE Clash in the Castle on Saturday, Sept. 3, it will be the first time since SummerSlam way back in 1992 that WWE is holding an event at a large, outdoor stadium in the UK. That alone makes it a big deal.

But the probable main event ratchets things up another notch, because while Drew McIntyre isn’t from Wales, he is from the UK. Clash at the Castle will be the closest thing to a home WrestleMania the Scottish Warrior is likely to ever experience, and WWE has done an excellent job making it appear he has a real chance to topple Roman Reigns as undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

There are other matches on the card with semi-local interest as well, none bigger than the Intercontinental Championship match between Austrian champ Gunther and Irish challenger Sheamus. Also, that contest should just be one heck of a professional wrestling match, with both men bringing tremendous physicality, as one of WWE’s most legendary announcers of the past might say.

Add in Bayley and her new “Damage CTRL” teammates in a six-woman tag match, Liv Morgan trying to fend off another tough challenger for her SmackDown Women’s Championship in Shayna Baszler, and the man with the newly restored first name, Matt Riddle, throwing down with Seth Rollins in a feud that has become very personal, and you’ve got the makings of a very big night (or afternoon/morning, in the US) of wrestling indeed.

Keep scrolling to get fully up to speed before watching Clash at the Castle, wherever you might be watching it.

WWE Clash at the Castle

  • When: Saturday, Sept. 3
  • Where: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
  • Start time: 6 p.m. BST/1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., or on WWE Network internationally
  • Matches announced: 6

10 WWE stars you probably forgot were in their 40s

A number of WWE stars continue to shine even though they’re in their 40s. Here are 10 you may have forgotten are in that age range.

When Finn Balor interrupted Dolph Ziggler during his backstage interview on the Aug. 22, 2022 episode of Raw, it touched off an interaction that included Balor calling Ziggler “Kid.” That was funny for two reasons; the first, as Ziggler pointed out immediately after, is that both wrestlers are almost the same age.

The other reason Balor’s wording was humorous is that neither man is a kid at this point. When they faced off in the ring a while later, you might be surprised to know that they did it at a combined age of 83.

Ziggler and Balor are still amazing in-ring performers, of course, but they’re only part of a large contingent of WWE stars who are getting it done in their 40s. It’s actually so common for veterans to be around longer than you think that we’ve rounded up 10 wrestlers who you may not have realized are 40+.

Note that this list doesn’t even include some of the more obvious superstars in that age range who are still active, including Edge, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton and John Cena. In alphabetical order, here are our 10 WWE wrestlers who are aging gracefully in the ring right in front of our eyes.

Opening Bell: Huge AEW title match, WWE Toronto homecoming

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, Aug. 22, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto

It’s a big homecoming episode of Raw in front of what’s being reported as a legitimate sellout crowd in Toronto. Edge has vowed to kill what he created in The Judgment Day, but Damian Priest isn’t about to let him accomplish that goal easily. Priest says he’ll take on the hometown guy by himself, but it’s hard to imagine there won’t be some kind of hijinks from the heel stable.

Trish Stratus is another legendary local product of the Toronto area, and she’s making a return to Raw this week as well. WWE hasn’t teased much about what she’s doing except to say that she’s appearing, but even if she’s just there to say hi and thank the fans, you know she’ll get a warm welcome.

The Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament continues this week as well. Alexa Bliss and Asuka have to be among the favorites, but Dakota Kai and IYO SKY are getting a nice push. On top of that, reports say another change to the bracket is in the works, so this could be where it takes place.

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, Aug. 24, Wolstein Center, Cleveland

Thought you’d have to wait until All Out to see CM Punk and Jon Moxley unify the AEW World Championship? So did we, and then last week happened. Now the two men will meet to determine who is the “real” champ going forward, with all kinds of possibilities for All Out depending on who emerges with the gold.

Also on the slate for this Wednesday:

  • The World Trios Championship tournament continues with Death Triangle facing NJPW’s Will Ospreay and Aussie Open.
  • Dax Harwood takes on Jay Lethal.
  • Dr. Britt Baker steps in against KiLynn King.
  • Billy Gunn does some tough parenting by facing Colten Gunn.
  • Ricky Starks speaks.

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, Aug. 26, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Though there are bound to be more big matches added and announced on Raw, what WWE has already revealed for Detroit looks sweet. The second Women’s Tag Team Tournament semifinal will go down between Toxic Attraction and the face duo of Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah, but again, there are reports that a change will need to be made that could affect this matchup.

Neither Ricochet nor Happy Corbin advanced from the Fatal 5-Way last week to challenge Gunther at Clash at the Castle, so they’ll be looking to right the ship against each other this Friday night on SmackDown.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, Aug. 26, Wolstein Center, Cleveland (taped on Aug. 24)

Last in the week but certainly trying not to be least, Rampage will undoubtedly be dealing with some of the fallout from Dynamite. But we also know of two matches already announced, including a title bout as Claudio Castagnoli defends his ROH World Championship against Dustin Rhodes.

The trios title tourney will continue as well, with House of Black in action against Dark Order. Can Hangman Adam Page inspire his friends to what most would consider an upset victory? We’ll find out Friday.

WWE Money in the Bank live results: Who will claim the briefcases in Vegas?

Check out the latest WWE Money in the Bank live results from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

There aren’t too many sure wagers in Las Vegas, but some of the best bets for WWE gold await the competitors in the namesake matches at Money in the Bank tonight. As WWE itself has repeatedly pointed out, the contracts in the briefcases have nearly guaranteed the winners they will be champions sometime in the next year: Men’s winners have an 85% cash-in success rate, while the women’s winners have been perfect so far.

That could be bad news for Roman Reigns, who has looked untouchable while holding the WWE Championship and Universal Championship. With a Last Man Standing Match against Brock Lesnar later this month at SummerSlam, the men’s briefcase winner will be licking their chops for a chance to catch him (or Brock) after a grueling affair. Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Omos, Riddle, Sami Zayn and Madcap Moss will all like their chances much better if they can climb the ladder and grab the case to make that a reality.

In the women’s division, the Ladder Match winner may have a different choice of cash-in options by the end of the night, with both Ronda Rousey and Bianca Belair putting their titles on the line. Becky Lynch will attempt to keep writing her own big comeback story, but Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Lacey Evans, Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi will all have their say in how this chapter plays out.

With just four championship matches and the two Ladder Matches, Money in the Bank should be a tightly paced affair. If you’re not in attendance at MGM Grand Garden Arena or watching live on Peacock or WWE Network (maybe because you’re watching UFC 276, also taking place in Sin City tonight), bookmark this page and return throughout the night for the latest WWE Money in the Bank live results as they go down.

WWE Money in the Bank: Everything you need to know

Get ready for WWE Money in the Bank with our preview, including predictions for each match, start time, how to watch and more.

As gimmick matches go, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match has reached the point where it has stood the test of time. It’s long since graduated from a bout at other events to headlining status in its own right, and the latest Money in the Bank premium live event is set for Fourth of July weekend in Las Vegas.

WWE initially had thoughts of holding the show in Allegiant Stadium, the football venue where the Las Vegas Raiders play, hoping it would prove attractive enough to sell 30,000+ tickets. But several factors, including UFC holding a pay-per-view card on the same night in Vegas, caused the company to reconsider, moving it to the smaller MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Does that mean the event itself is less significant? That depends on one’s point of view. On one hand, Roman Reigns, the man with the two most important men’s titles, is not on the card. Nor is Cody Rhodes, probably the hottest performer in WWE the last few months, as he is out long term recovering from surgery.

The counter-argument is that Money in the Bank has no filler; its six matches include four title bouts and the namesake ladder matches for the men and women. The undisputed tag team titles are on the line, as are both women’s singles titles, and the United States Championship. Most other significant, healthy superstars are vying for one of the briefcases.

So while WWE might be saving some of its best stuff this summer for SummerSlam, Money in the Bank is shaping up to be a night that could definitely be a pleasant upside surprise. Scroll down to get details on everything you need to know before watching this holiday weekend.

WWE Money in the Bank 2022

  • When: Saturday, July 2
  • Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., or on WWE Network internationally
  • Matches announced: 6

WWE Raw live results: Walk with Elias one more time

Check out live WWE Raw results from Lincoln, Nebraska, as Becky Lynch and Asuka face off and Elias has a concert. No, really.

Surely, the WWE Universe hasn’t forgotten how to walk with Elias, right? We’ll find out tonight on Raw from

That hasn’t been relevant for a while now, as the guitar-playing Superstar has been absent from WWE programming for some time while his, ahem, younger brother Ezekiel has been making name for himself … and an enemy out of Kevin Owens.

But Zeke has promised that Elias is showing up tonight to deliver a concert as he has so many times before. So either K.O. will be proven right, or the much more likely outcome will be he gets driven madder than ever before. Considering how amazing Owens has already been during this program, that’s a very entertaining thought indeed.

In the women’s division, there are still several spots to fill in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, and one will be settled during a qualifying match on Raw between eternal rivals Becky Lynch and Asuka. It’s been several weeks since Big Time Becks announced that she was determined to make a big time comeback, but things haven’t quite gone as she’d like to far.

A victory over Asuka could help make her feel better, plus it would give her a shot at the contract that could finally put a championship back in her sights. Expect her to pull out all the stops to make that happen.

Finally, Riddle got his shot at Roman Reigns last week on SmackDown, and while he was more than game, he couldn’t unseat the Head of the Table. It would be weird if we didn’t hear from the King of Bros tonight to see how he’s feeling physically and mentally.

Can’t watch Raw tonight? No worries, just bookmark this page and we’ll keep you up to speed with live results as they take place from Lincoln, Nebraksa.