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Roman Reigns has been tearing it up in WWE for over a decade now, and what a ride it’s been! Since bursting onto the scene in 2012, he’s been at the heart of countless storylines — from epic tag-team battles to jaw-dropping main event clashes. Time and time again, he’s helped bring fans back to the edge of their seats. But after years of playing a role in others’ narratives, Roman decided it was time to flip the script. No more supporting cast — this was his show now. And just like that, the Tribal Chief era was born, with Reigns front and center, running the yard like never before.

It was around mid-2021 when Roman Reigns, The Usos, and others came together to form ‘The Bloodline’, and since then, the WWE universe has been electrified by the saga of The Bloodline, a clique that has dominated the industry and...

Roman Reigns continues to be a rollicking force in the echelons of WWE. His transition from the silent muscle of The Shield to the Otc has been nothing short of inspirational. He has lived through several gimmicks, most of which have centered around muscle and beatdowns.

Reigns, hailing from the iconic Anoa’i family in wrestling which has knitted together a legacy of supremes over the years. From the Reverend Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi to The Rock, the family has gifted absolute wrecking balls to the history of pro-wrestling. Carrying the legacy forward, Roman Reigns has carved a name for him so epic that it will go down in history in the same vein of legend as the rest of his family members.

Roman Reigns as the WWE champion / Credit – WWE

Like the way he continues to impress in the ring, a major part of his storytelling has been his appearance. From...

Brock Lesnar could be making his return at WrestleMania 41 as Paul Heyman is in a very crucial situation, and for a long-time friend, Brock could be there to help him. In a recent segment of Raw, Seth Rollins was messing with Paul Heyman on his loyalty to the tribal chief and his friendship with Cm Punk all at the same time while they both faced each other in a triple-threat match.

The recent events have questioned the loyalty of Paul Heyman towards the tribal chief, and his swinging sites could be something that creates a major shift in the storyline of the triple-threat match in WrestleMania.

During the contract signing day for the triple threat match, Roman Reigns asked Cm Punk to acknowledge him, and in the background, Paul nodded his head to decline the acknowledgment. It is very confusing for the Wiseman to decide on which side he would...

Paul Heyman, the Wiseman to the tribal chief and the dear friend to Cm Punk, has been in a tough situation after the triple threat match at WrestleMania 41. However, if Brock Lesnar makes his WWE return to WrestleMania, things would go from bad to worse for the wise man.

In the early 2000s, Paul walked by the side of the beast, Brock Lesnar, and they both developed a special bond. After this, in the 2010s, Heyman appeared alongside Cm Punk. In this period, Punk had an impeccable 413-day WWE title reign. However, in 2020, Paul shook hands with the tribal chief, Roman Reigns, and has been on his side till now, but his loyalty swings.

Paul Heyman could do a major heel turn post-WrestleMania 41. (Image Credit: WWE)

In a recent segment of Raw, he appeared in front of the audience to clear up any misconceptions about him. He swore his loyalty...

WWE is only a few weeks away from invading the state of Las Vegas, Nevada, with its biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 41. The Showcase of the Immortals will take place on April 19 and 20 at the Allegiant Stadium and has already announced a stacked match card for both nights.

However, there are still top stars on the roster who find themselves without a spot at WrestleMania. One prime example is Randy Orton. The Viper was originally booked for a showdown against Kevin Owens. However, Ko announced his neck surgery last week on SmackDown and Gm Nick Aldis cancelled the match and also ate an Rko from Orton.

Multi-time WWE Champion Randy Orton/ Credit: X/@randyorton

Much like Randy Orton, there are still other top players who are booked for The Show of Shows yet. Here are four top WWE stars without a WrestleMania 41 match so far:

4. Lyra Valkyria Lyra Valkyria...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Rey Fenix def. Nathan Frazer The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The high-flying Rey Fenix, brother of Penta, used the M.M.B (Mexican Muscle Buster) to score his SmackDown debut victory against one-half of the Nxt Tag Team Champion, Axiom, Nathan Frazer.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5 Match #2: LA Knight def. Tama Tonga The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Despite interference from Solo Sikoa, United States Champion LA Knight seized the win from Tama Tonga with the B.F.T.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #3: Motor City Machine Guns def. #DIY The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After Tommaso Ciampa got caught trying to steal the victory with his feet on the ropes, he accidently ran...

As the WWE universe is gearing up for WrestleMania 41, the storylines are escalating into the red hot zone. Talking points have emerged around every major developing storyline in the WWE. Fans have centered their focus around clashes like the one between Cody Rhodes and heel John Cena and a triple threat match among Roman Reigns, Cm Punk, and Seth Rollins.

While WWE is eyeing the climax of almost every major storyline, the bad blood that Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu have brought is lurking around a monotonous storyline. Along with the WWE universe, Vince Russo also feels that the tussle between these superstars is going in circles.

Solo Sikoa created a new Bloodline from scratch. (Image Credit: WWE) Vince Russo is growing tired of the same storyline between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu

The Bloodline saga has been going on in the WWE as one of the primary storylines for some time now.

Cody Rhodes is the new face of WWE. He was rightfully chosen after proving everyone wrong. Rhodes is popular with the kids and the adults; he goes to every show and performs his best and most importantly, is a character people can look up to. When he returned in 2022, there were many doubts about whether he would succeed or not. He over-exceeded all the expectations anyone had of him. That’s why he moved up the pecking order in WWE.

One has to “sacrifice” a few people to move up that order. WWE did it as well. After all, someone has to be put down so that someone can be put over. These are some of the future Hall of Famers “sacrificed” by Triple H to ensure Cody Rhodes stays at the top

Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins was Cody’s first feud coming back in 2022. Rhodes was Rollins’ mystery opponent...

If there has been one wrestler living out his life to the fullest, it has to be Cm Punk. The Second City Saint did everything one could, wreaked havoc on WWE, captured the championship, lost it to The Rock and delivered a promo that would forever remain as one of the most iconic in the history of pro-wrestling. He then left WWE, fought in UFC, suffered a defeat, teased appearances in pro-wrestling and finally made a return to Aew.

Just when the fans weren’t expecting to listen to the ‘Cult of Personality’ anymore on the WWE titantron, they were stunned and startled as Punk came down the pike once more, announcing his return to WWE at the 2023 Survivor Series. However, like the way his arrival made the fans holler at the top of their lungs, the emotions weren’t echoed in the squared circle.

Cm Punk & The Rock on...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Damian Priest & Jimmy Uso def. Drew McIntyre & Shinsuke Nakamura The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In the final moments of an explosive tag team showdown, Jimmy Uso took out Drew McIntyre outside the ring, only to be taken out himself by Shinsuke Nakamura. Priest capitalized on the chaos by hitting Nakamura with South of Heaven for the victory. Moments after the bell, McIntyre attacked Priest from behind and unleashed a vicious attack that ended with the Claymore Kick.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Braun Strowman def. Jacob Fatu (Dq) The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

During a nasty collision between Braun Strowman and Jacob Fatu, The Monster of All Monsters was attacked by Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga,...

WrestleMania 41 is just around the corner and fans of the wrestling world cannot wait for what’s to come. The two-night event will not only feature John Cena’s last WrestleMania match but also Cm Punk’s first since WrestleMania 29 which took place all the way back in 2013. Needless to say, this is going to be a pretty big deal for the influential wrestler with the seventh-longest championship reign in history.

Road to Wrestlemania 41, Nottingham | Credits: WWE

Before we can get to the main course, though, WWE is currently on its Road to WrestleMania 41 tour and recently stopped at Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, England. The event was full of crazy matches but one obviously stood out from the rest – Cm Punk’s team-up with his long-time friend and comrade, Cody Rhodes. Not only did they win, but Cm Punk being reduced to tears won the fans’ hearts as well.

Cm Punk...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: LA Knight, Braun Strowman & Jimmy Uso def. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In an explosive Six-Man Tag Team Match, Braun Strowman hit all three of his opponents with the Strowman Express. Then, after LA Knight and Jimmy Uso followed up with Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu at ringside, The Monster of All Monsters picked up the win on Tama Tonga with the Running Powerslam.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Charlotte Flair def. B-Fab The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After making B-Fab tap out to the Figure-Eight Legock, Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair refused to release the excruciating maneuver. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton rushed to the ring to save...

After Samantha Irvin departed from WWE Raw, Lilian Garcia took on her role on the October 21, 2024 episode of WWE Raw. However, after a few months of working with the company, Garcia switched brands with Alicia Taylor, who had been the SmackDown ring announcer. So, Garcia took on the role of WWE SmackDown ring announcer during the January 3 episode.

Lilian Garcia at Royal Rumble | image: Instagram/@liliangarcia

But surprisingly, after switching two brands in a span of five months, WWE legend Lilian Garcia recently announced her retirement from WWE SmackDown. On March 14, after a legendary night in Spain, Garcia dropped the heartbreaking announcement leaving fans wondering about what’s to come for the WWE ring announcer in the future.

Lilian Garcia announced her retirement from WWE SmackDown

While the SmackDown event in Spain was carrying on as a thrilling spectacle, it soon turned disheartening for some fans, after legendary ring announcer Lilian Garcia announced her retirement.

WWE SmackDown is different this time! And it’s not off to a great start. The March 14 episode of Smackdown kicks off WWE’s pre-WrestleMania 41 tour of Europe and the United Kingdom. The episode saw matches held at the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain. Among the events promoted for the episode were United States champion LA Knight opening the show and the singles match between Charlotte Flair and B-Fab.

WWE SmackDown

LA Knight started the episode with a promo but was cut off by Jimmy Uso, who wanted a spot in the WrestleMania card. Later, Bloodline entered the ring, and Flair defeated B-Fab in her first singles match in fifteen months. However, Tiffany Stratton entered the ring and got into a brawl with Flair. Both events saw some major botches from the wrestlers.

1. Tiffany Stratton twice failed to hurt Charlotte Flair Tiffany Stratton in WWE SmackDown | Credits: WWE

On the SmackDown episode on Friday,...

Cody Rhodes’s story has been one of the most captivating narratives in WWE history. He went from being a mid-card talent to becoming the Undisputed face of the company after returning to WWE in 2022.

Cody Rhodes became the Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 40/ Credit: WWE

However, Rhodes has been a part of WWE’s premier event, WrestleMania, for a long time. The American Nightmare has wrestled at eight Manias with an equal win-loss record at the event and competing against the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Big Show. Here are the six top matches of Cody Rhodes at The Grandest Stage of Them All:

5. Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes vs Ted Dibiase Multi-time WWE Champion Randy Orton/ Credit: X/@randyorton

Cody Rhodes was a part of Randy Orton’s faction, Legacy, alongside Ted Dibiase. The trio represented their family lineages, with Orton leading the charge for then-rising stars in Rhodes and Dibiase.

The first episode of WWE Raw on Netflix on Jan. 6 was, in the words of a top executive at the company, perhaps the most important episode of the show’s 32-year history. The WWE inked a 10-year, $5 billion deal with the global streaming giant last year, and the episode was meant to be a grand introduction to the platform, with Netflix stars and executives in the crowd, and an opening monologue from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

For the very first WWE match on Netflix, the company delivered a payoff for fans, and a storyline that it hoped would introduce the stakes at play to the new Netflix audience. Roman Reigns, the six-time former WWE champion and founder of the “Bloodline,” had been banished from the faction he founded, with his rival Solo Sikoa assuming control.

Their rivalry had been boiling over for months. Normally, it would culminate in a main event at a WWE flagship,...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Tiffany Stratton def. Piper Niven The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

It was Tiffy Time in Philadelphia as WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton picked up another win, this time over Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green’s Secret Her-vice, Piper Niven. Niven gave the champion a strong fight, but a Prettiest Moonsault Ever gave Stratton a win. However, Charlotte Flair attacked Stratton after the match and locked her in the Figure 8.

My Score: 2 out of 5 Match #2: Pretty Deadly def. Motor City Machine Guns, and Los Garza The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Yes Boy! Pretty Deadly are officially the No. 1 Contender to the WWE Tag Team Title as they knocked off Motor City Machine Guns and...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Tiffany Stratton def. Chelsea Green (Dq) The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In the height of WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton’s matchup against Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae emerged to attack and Trish Stratus and ringside to bring an early end to the contest by disqualification. After the bell, however, Stratus and Tiffy turned the tables to sent their Elimination Chamber opponents from the ring with great Stratusfaction.

My Score: 2 out of 5 Match #2: Jacob Fatu def. Andrade The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The monstrous Jacob Fatu overcame Andrade with an earth-shattering Double Bonce Moonsault to advance to the United States Championship No.1 Contender’s Triple Triple Threat Match later on SmackDown.

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Jimmy Uso def. Drew McIntyre The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Jimmy Uso stunned Drew McIntyre after The Scottish Psychopath spent too much time trying to embarrass him. McIntyre berated Uso in the corner only for Uso to counter the Alabama Slam into a winning pinfall. After the match, McIntyre destroyed Uso with a brutal beatdown.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Carmelo Hayes & The Miz def. LA Knight & R-Truth The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Carmelo Hayes and The Miz picked up a tag team victory, albeit thanks to an assist from United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. LA Knight and R-Truth were in a strong position, but Nakamura emerged and took out Knight, leaving Truth to fall...

After Dwayne Johnson had teased his surprise return to WWE SmackDown via X, on February 20, fans were thrilled to see him return to the ring ahead of WrestleMania 41. Although his return might have forced WWE to make a few changes to the lineup of matches that were set to happen on Friday’s episode, viewers were simply stoked to see The Rock.

The Rock in a match at WrestleMania 40 | image: WWE

So, adding to the excitement, here are a few of the important highlights that happened, following Dwayne Johnson’s surprise appearance. We have skimmed through the episode to make a list of 5 significant incidents that caught people’s attention during WWE SmackDown on February 21, 2025.

5. WrestleMania 40 had nothing on The Rock and Cody Rhodes’ friendship

While everyone was stunned when The Rock teased his possible return to the ring during this week’s SmackDown episode, his ultimate appearance left people baffled with few confessions.

The Rock is one of the biggest and most influential celebrities in the world. His career took off after his remarkable tenure as a WWE superstar, and he further transitioned to Hollywood to become a leading man under its bright lights.

The People’s Champion became an integral part of WWE last year by joining its parent company, Tko, as a member of the Board of Directors. He even wrestled a match at WrestleMania 40, which led to speculations that The Rock would come back this year for an in-ring showdown.

However, multiple reports leading up to the event stated that The Rock won’t wrestle this year. However, The Final Boss made a shocking announcement that he would be appearing on the upcoming February 21st edition of SmackDown.

Dwayne Johnson during WWE Monday Night Raw | Credits: Netflix

This led to huge speculations that The Great One might finally have agreed...

WWE has been the sports entertainment juggernaut for over four decades in the business. The promotion started as a traditional wrestling business in its own territory under the regime of Vince McMahon Sr., who built top stars like Hulk Hogan during his time.

However, when his son, Vince McMahon Jr., bought the company from his father, he was set to change its image as a sports entertainment giant and become the sole dominator of the wrestling landscape. He began introducing elements of entertainment and storytelling with celebrities and characters on WWE TV.

Vince McMahon has no ties with WWE going forward/Credit: WWE

For many years, characters, storylines, presentation, and then in-ring action have all been key factors in the success of WWE as a global brand. While one section of the fanbase sees it as a wrestling entity, another sees it as an entertainment company. Veteran commentator Michael Cole...

The new era of WWE dawned last year before WrestleMania 40. WWE Cco Paul “Triple H” Levesque and WWE CEO Nick Khan have been leading the company and taking it to unprecedented heights that they have never seen in the last four decades.

Triple H has been at the forefront of creative direction, storylines, and development of WWE superstars. Under his regime, WWE has seen the rise of superstars like Jey Uso, Bron Breakker, Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, and many other names, who are the cornerstones of this new era.

Triple H kicking off the Netflix era of WWE with a Raw event | Credits: Netflix

However, there were other prospects for Triple H, for whom he had envisioned huge things in the future. But they have failed to make any significant impact on the fans so far. Moreover, out of many of those names, The Game has seemingly given up on four of those WWE superstars.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been in charge of the WWE regime since 2024 as the Chief Content Officer alongside CEO Nick Khan. The duo has taken the sports entertainment juggernaut to greater heights than before and is building some of the newest talents into top-tier WWE superstars.

A major prospect that has emerged in recent memory is Jacob Fatu. The man known as the Samoan Werewolf and coming from the lineage of the Anoa’i Family made a name for himself outside WWE and then made his debut for the company on SmackDown last year.

Samoan wrestling star, Jacob Fatu. Credits: WWE

Jacob Fatu was positioned as the personal Enforcer of the then-Tribal Chief of the New Bloodline, Solo Sikoa. However, ever since Solo lost the moniker, Jacob Fatu has been pushed as a singles star on the blue brand and no longer the wall of protection for Sikoa, with...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Elimination Chamber Match Qualifier – Naomi def. Chelsea Green The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Naomi made Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green feel the glow with a decisive split-legged moonsault to secure a place inside the Elimination Chamber and an opportunity to headline WrestleMania.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Motor City Machine Guns def. Los Garza The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin overcame Angel and Berto in a hard-fought showdown with Skull and Bones.

My Score: 2 out of 5 Match #3: LA Knight def. Miz The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

LA Knight hit a Bft before delivering an elbow drop off the top rope to get the three-count on The Miz.

Roman Reigns didn’t consider Cm Punk as a bigger star than John Cena or Dwayne Johnson. The two sure seemed to have issues between them before they joined forces in the Survivor Series last year. Reigns first appeared as part of The Shield at the Survivor Series 2012, where it was revealed that Punk hired the Shield trio to help him win the WWE Championship.

Roman Reigns with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre (The Shield) in Survivor Series 2012 | Credits: WWE

Punk later revealed that The Shield was his idea but Reigns at the top of it was something Vince McMahon suggested. Punk shared that he was asked to make Reigns look stronger, which earned the latter a significant amount of hatred from fans. It was probably the beginning of their unpleasant feud over the years.

Roman Reigns shared that Cm Punk’s stardom was nothing compared to John Cena or...

There is a willing suspension of disbelief that fans come with to WWE, as is true for any sort of entertainment. The fact that these matches are scripted has little bearing on the overall enjoyment of the spectacular matches that are put on screen.

Jey Uso || Credit: WWE

However, there are more than a few botches that have found their way into the scripted event, as was the case with a match between Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa. While fans do overlook the occasional, obvious, scripted bits in favor of the larger immersion that the storylines offer, sometimes, it just becomes too difficult.

One particular Jey Uso-Solo Sikoa fight has fans a little miffed Solo Sikoa || Credit: WWE

Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa had a particular match, where Sikoa had Uso tangled in the ropes. However, Uso’s clear effort to get tangled in the ropes might not have sat very well with fans,...

Intergender wrestling has been an aspect that the WWE has had a cautious approach to over the years. We have rarely seen male and female competitors face each other in direct competition in the WWE. It could be because of any number of reasons, from concerns about advertiser reactions to the company’s family-friendly image.

WWE 2K25 already looks like a big upgrade. | Image Credit: Visual Concepts/2K

In a surprising move though, this will change with the upcoming release of WWE 2K25 which is reintroducing intergender matches. Coming out on March 14, the game features the biggest roster ever in a WWE game, and with intergender matches, it is set to push the franchise into new territory. One that WWE itself has hesitated to explore in its televised side of operations.

WWE 2K25 will feature intergender matches You can pit your favorite male and female wrestlers vs each other! | Image...

The build-up was great. WWE Raw on Mondays would move from the USA Network to Netflix at the beginning of 2025, and viewership would greatly increase. The streamer had a greater global reach than did USA, and this would bring in new fans as well as those existing ones who had a Netflix subscription.

The first show happened on January 6 and was huge. It needed to be. Some big stars were brought in to help increase viewership. Hulk Hogan made an appearance, and so did Dwayne Johnson, also known as, of course, The Rock. There were also some huge matches that included Roman Reigns versus Solo Sikoa and Cm Punk versus Seth Rollins.

Of course, the first episode in the new Netflix series was set up to be a massive success, and it was. The show brought in 5.9 million viewers, according to Netflix's Tudum. The likelihood was that the second show...

In professional wrestling, it's easy to spot who WWE thinks the next "top guy" is. They may have a specific look, style, move set - something that sets them apart from the rest of the pack and establishes them as the next in line for a major push to the top of the card. Every so often, an anomaly occurs and changes the trajectory of a performer who may not have previously been seen as "the guy" to lead, and the performer finds the string and keeps pulling until he finds himself at the top of the mountain.

Such is the case of "Main Event" Jey Uso, one of the most prolific and decorated tag team wrestlers of his generation with his brother, Jimmy, and a Superstar who broke free from the shadows of his family, defied expectations, and found the top of the mountain. A former Intercontinental Champion, Jey...

Warning: The following copy has Spoilers for WWE SmackDown

The action was underway started from the very start of this week's SmackDown in San Diego, as Rey Mysterio opened the show in his hometown to hype this year's WWE Royal Rumble. Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes added more intrigue to their journey to the Rumble, and Solo Sikoa returned for the first time since his Tribal Combat defeat to Roman Reigns. There was more Bloodline action on SmackDown as Jimmy Uso took on Carmelo Hayes.

After her recent title win, Tiffany Stratton defended her WWE Championship for the first time against Bayley. The Motor City Machine Guns vs Los Garza will go along way to finding the next contenders for DIY's Tag Team Championships, and Women's Tag Team Champions Naomi and Bianca Belair vs Nia Jax and Candice LeRae were also in action.

WWE SmackDown Results - Jan 17, 2025 Rey Mysterio Jnr.

Warning: The following copy has Spoilers for WWE SmackDown

WWE continued its hot streak in Portland, Or, as WWE SmackDown continued its road to the 2025 Royal Rumble. Paul Heyman and Cody Rhodes opened the show with an intense discussion about one of the biggest events on WWE's calendar. Chelsea Green defended her women's United States Championship against Michin, and SmackDown's impressive Tag division continued to gather momentum with Los Garza vs Pretty Deadly, and Motor City Machine Guns vs A-Town Down Under, making the path to DIY's Tag Team Championship a little clearer.

In a rematch of their Survivor Series encounter, Shinsuke Nakamura and LA Knight battled for the United States Championship. Tiffany Stratton celebrated her WWE Women's Championship victory, but not everybody was happy for the new champion. Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso joined forces to take on The Bloodline in the night's Main Event.

Paul Heyman opened SmackDown,...

It may finally be time for WWE to deliver a delayed WrestleMania dream match. One year ago, it seemed as if the stage was set for Roman Reigns to go toe-to-toe with The Rock on the Grandest Stage of Them All. However, the vitriol of the WWE Universe vehemently against Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes being passed over forced WWE to pivot into Rhodes vs. Reigns II.

One year later, WWE seems to be planting the seeds again for Roman Reigns vs. The Rock at WrestleMania, but this time, they may actually follow through based on an emphasis on their Samoan titles. Monday Night Raw's premiere on Netflix saw Reigns defeat Solo Sikoa to become the undisputed Tribal Chief, but not without the blessing of The Rock presenting Reigns with the Ula Fala.

What's most significant about their post-match interaction is that, prior, The Rock continually emphasized that he...

WWE made its long-awaited transition to Netflix, and it was three hours of soapy wrestling goodness if that’s something you’re into.

While it was light on the actual wrestling, it was heavy on the nostalgia and even heavier on the fun. It decided to forgo the typical Raw product and deliver something more on par with a lower-level pay-per-view event than a weekly program.

How you felt about that may depend on your fandom. Either way, the inaugural Netflix Raw was a success by all accounts, but can it continue to live up to the hype?

(Courtesy of Netflix)

WWE Raw was a staple on the USA network for a long time, but with audiences changing viewing habits, it was only a matter of time before wrestling started to branch out beyond broadcast and network television.

You’re seeing it more and more with professional sports.

Where in the past,...

WWE Raw showed some muscle in its Netflix debut on Monday night.

The WWE franchise’s first Netflix outing generated 4.9 million “Live+1” (watched within 24 hours) views globally, WWE reports. (Netflix defines “views” as total view hours for the program divided by the runtime.)

More from TVLineRatings: Shifting Gears Sharply Improves Time Slot, Nearly Ties Chicago Med for Wednesday's Best AudienceRed One, Carry-On Dominate Nielsen Streaming Top 10; Black Doves Tops OriginalsRatings: WWE Nxt Hits 5-Year Audience High, Will Trent Returns to Largest Audience Ever

On USA Network, Raw would deliver around 2 million viewers weekly, though that was just among the U.

The inaugural episode of WWE “Raw” on Netflix brought in 4.6 million global views in live plus one day ratings, securing a strong start for the pro wrestling league’s shift to streaming.

That’s not all. The first match of the year averaged 2.6 million households in the U.S., according to VideoAmp, a 116% increase from the average U.S. audience “Raw” saw in 2024 (1.2 million households). Monday’s match also had a higher viewership than any other Monday night “Raw” broadcast in the past five years and doubled its audience in the 18-to-46 demographic compared to 2024.

This first episode also saw returns on social media. On X, #WWERaw was the No. 1 trending topic in the U.S., Brazil, Australia and the U.K. In the U.K., it trended as No. 1 for 14 hours straight, and it occupied six of the top seven trending topics in the U.S. Additionally, WWE generated...

The first episode of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” to stream live on Netflix pulled in 4.9 million views globally.

That is according to Live+1 data provided by Netflix, with a view defined as total hours viewed for the program divided by its runtime. The 4.9 million views came from countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America, but did not include 92 countries/territories where Netflix doesn’t yet distribute WWE, including France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.

The Netflix debut of “Raw” was also viewed by 2.6 million households in the U.S. according to VideoAmp, compared to the 1.2 million households “Raw” was averaging in 2024.

“Raw” previously aired on the NBCUniversal-owned linear cable channel USA Network, with the last episode airing on that network on Dec. 30.

It is difficult to make a direct comparison between the Netflix and USA Network viewership for “Raw,” as...

The results are in, and while Netflix’s premiere of Monday Night Raw was up over the spectacle’s average audience on USA Network, it’s probably too soon to call it a heavyweight champ.

Monday’s episode averaged 2.6M households live + same-day in the U.S., according to data from VideoAmp.

Per the streamer, that’s up from Raw‘s 2024 average of 1.2M households per episode and higher than any other Raw broadcast in the last five years. However, that requires a bit of a disclaimer, since USA Network (and parent company NBCUniversal) report viewership via Nielsen. it’s not possible to make a direct comparison between those two audiences because VideoAmp and Nielsen have different measurement processes.

VideoAmp’s data tends to be a bit inflated compared to Nielsen, so it’s likely that Nielsen would have measured a lower audience for Monday night’s premiere, as it...

The WWE just had its Raw on Netflix debut and it was noteworthy for many reasons. Its groundbreaking presentation, incredible cinematography, and riveting storylines marked a huge step forward for the promotion. The organization made a statement - not just on a historical level, but on an entertainment and pop culture one as well.

With appearances by The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, and other legends - as well as the showdown between Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa - the inaugural episode was loaded with twists, turns, and surprises. But perhaps the most anticipated moment of the night was the main event battle between Seth Rollins and Cm Punk.

It was a war of words that led up to this point. Rollins portrays himself as a wrestler who stayed with WWE through thick and thin, while Punk fled the company for years. The two men have a long history together in pro wrestling,...

Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly – the first episode of Raw to air on the show’s new home, Netflix!

Match #1: Tribal Combat – Roman Reigns def. Solo Sikoa The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The Ula Fala is headed back to The Island of Relevancy as Roman Reigns defeated his former enforcer Solo Sikoa to reassert himself as The Tribal Chief. Sikoa thrived early with the Tribal Combat rules, thrashing his cousin with a Spinning Solo on the announce table before cracking him with the steel steps. Reigns found himself in even more trouble when Sikoa wrapped a steel chair around his head, but The Otc preserved himself and wailed on the new leader of The Bloodline. The battle led to the two Superstars meeting in the corner, with Sikoa emotionally berating Reigns about his lack of empathy,...

Netflix and absolutely no chill. The WWE’s franchise show “Monday Night Raw” made its debut on the streaming platform last night, and major stars came out, championships and bragging rights were earned, and hip-hop beefs were addressed.

Only in the WWE can you see Travis Scott don a championship belt, Kendrick Lamar get dissed in his hometown, and Hulk Hogan get booed in one show. Yet that’s par for the course at something like the “Raw” event, which broadcasted live from the new multi-billion dollar Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, home of the LA Clippers.

The evening began with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shedding his badass “heel” persona (that’s wrestling for bad guy) and talking sincerely, thanking the WWE Universe and even giving gratitude to rival Cody Rhodes, the Universal Champion that he bloodied and pinned in the ring last year.

The Rock also gave props to his real-life cousin Roman Reigns,...

Bollywood Mascot: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stunned fans with a surprise return to the WWE ring during the highly anticipated Netflix premiere of WWE Raw. The historic event took place at the newly opened Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking WWE’s groundbreaking partnership with the streaming giant.

Johnson’s iconic entrance was met with thunderous applause, rekindling memories of his legendary wrestling career. The Rock didn’t disappoint as he engaged the audience with his signature charisma, delivering his famous catchphrases and energizing the crowd.

The event also featured appearances by several other wrestling greats, including John Cena, whose farewell tour is set to conclude later this year. The star-studded evening kicked off WWE’s new chapter on Netflix with high energy and unforgettable moments.

Held at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the event showcased WWE’s commitment to blending entertainment with cutting-edge production. The venue’s...

For years, The Rock and Roman Reigns have been intrinsically linked together in the WWE. They've been directly paired together dating back to the 2015 Royal Rumble match when The Rock came to The Big Dog's aid to ensure the latter's victory. Since then, WWE has made sure to mention at every turn that the two Samoans are family members.

That connection was further amplified following the WWE's Netflix premiere of Monday Night Raw, where The Rock anointed Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief. That being said, kayfabe and reality are often blurred so it's hard to distinguish them. After all, The Undertaker and Kane were never really brothers, nor were Edge and Christian, so why should fans believe Roman and Rocky are also related?

Readers can rest assured that while the exact nature of their union is complicated and deserves a deeper dive, The Rock and Roman Reigns are,...

The WWE’s new streaming partnership begins with year, with the premiere of “Monday Night Raw” on Jan. 6.

The event marks the debut of live weekly programming happening each week for a year, and the first time in the show’s 31-year history that WWE “Raw” is available to stream.

So, here’s what you need to know about Monday night’s premiere.

What time does ‘Monday Night Raw’ start?

“Monday Night Raw” kicks off at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et on January 6.

Where is it streaming?

You can stream it live on Netflix, as the platform is the WWE’s exclusive streaming partner in 2025.

Who’s competing?

You’ll see a lot of familiar faces in the “Monday Night Raw” premiere, including John Cena, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Cm Punk, Bianca Belair, Logan Paul and. more. Travis Scott will also be on hand, as his...

Triple H brought all the big guns to the show when the Netflix era of WWE kickstarted with the Raw event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. WWE superstars The Rock, John Cena, and The Undertaker were part of the show and made grand entrances onto the central stage. However, fans noticed their first issue, more of a broken promise, during Day 1 of WWE on Netflix.

Dwayne Johnson in his appearance in DC’s Black Adam | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

The former WWE wrestler and the current Chief Content Officer of the company, Triple H, earlier shared that the Netflix version of the event will be uncensored, unlike the Fox version. However, The Rock’s entry on Day 1 saw some censoring as Netflix briefly cut his audio.

Did Netflix really cut The Rock’s audio during his opening promo for the new partnership? Dwayne Johnson during Monday night’s...

If you’re not up to date with WWE, you might miss out on a lot of things that’s been going on in the world of wrestling. From WWE Raw debuting on Netflix to John Cena beginning his retirement tour on January 6, 2025 things are taking a massive turn. But among all, the one aspect that blew people’s minds was Dwayne Johnson acknowledging Roman Reigns as the Original Tribal Chief.

Dwayne Johnson from within the wrestling ring | image: WWE

Yes, The Rock made a grand return to WWE Raw during the Netflix Premiere, where he congratulated Cody Rhodes, but acknowledged Roman Reigns as The Otc. Stepping in to hand over the Ula Fala back to Reigns, Dwayne Johnson’s move caught people by surprise.

Dwayne Johnson’s shocking move at the WWE premiere on Netflix

After the main event of WrestleMania Xl, although Dwayne Johnson went on a hiatus for several months,...

Hulk Hogan is one of the most iconic wrestlers in the 72-year history of the WWE, but upon his debut at Netflix’s “Monday Night Raw” on Jan. 6, his reception was less than welcoming.

Hogan, who was rumored to appear at the event, entered the arena about two and a half hours into the show to the tune of his classic walk-out song “Real American.” Joined by Jimmy Heart, Hogan was welcomed by a sea of boos from the crowd as he plugged his Real American Beer brand and congratulated the WWE on its collaboration with the streaming giant.

“In the past, I’ve had a whole bunch of partners down the line,” Hogan said. “I had incredible partners, like the Macho Man Randy Savage. I’ve had giant-sized partners like Andre the Giant. But the greatest partner the WWE has ever had, is the fact that tonight, we’re making history,...

Warning: The following copy has Spoilers for WWE Monday Night Raw

WWE presented arguably the biggest night in the history of Monday Night Raw, as the first live show of the Netflix era took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA. Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat to stand as WWE's Only Tribal Chief after run-ins from Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, The Bloodline and more. The Rock and Paul 'Triple H' Levesque opened the show, with the former putting the Ula Fala on Roman at the match's end. John Cena also declared himself for the 2025 Royal Rumble as he begins his year-long Farewell Tour.

Rhea Ripley is once again the WWE Women's Champion after defeating Liv Morgan, with The Undertaker joining her to celebrate. Travis Scott walked Jey Uso to the ring, before he stole a victory from Drew McIntyre. Hulk Hogan was loudly booed by...

WWE's Netflix Era has kicked off with a show billed as not only the biggest WWE Raw of all time, but also an event arguably more worthy of a Ple. Streamed live around the world from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and in front of a huge crowd, Raw brought together current superstars with John Cena and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for a packed episode.

And even with the message of change ringing around the arena, one thing remained the same. WWE's first Raw on Netfix opened with an awe-inspiring promo narrated by Triple H, before Johnson cut an opening promo celebrating the launch of the new partnership in front of a record-breaking crowd of more than 17,000. As The Rock walked to the ring, he paused to greet commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, and Netflix briefly cut the audio.

Why Netflix Censored The Rock On Raw

The...

Netflix is now the official home of WWE Raw, the weekly wrestling program.

The show first premiered back in 1993 and aired almost exclusively on USA for the last three decades. Netflix recently signed a 10-year deal with WWE to air the program and the deal has been reported to be worth $500 million per year.

The debut episode of Netflix’s Raw is airing live from Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome on Monday (January 6) at 8/7c.

So, who is appearing in the lineup? Let’s go over the schedule and how to watch!

Keep reading to find out more…

The program begins at 8pm Et / 5pm Pt on Monday night and Sports Illustrated reports that the show’s run time will be about three and a half hours, which is 30 minutes longer than the show normally would be on broadcast television.

“It will be flexible. It will be flexible in I don...