WrestleMania 40 has WWE fans buzzing with excitement as Cody Rhodes is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. Former WWE manager Dutch Mantel recently shared his perspective on Cody’s potential title run during an appearance on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Smack Talk show.
Mantel suggested that Cody Rhodes’ championship reign should take a different direction than Roman Reigns’ storyline to maintain intrigue. Expressing a preference for a heel champion, Mantel questioned the longevity of Cody’s reign and speculated on the narrative possibilities. He emphasized the challenge of surpassing the captivating dynamics involving Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Paul Heyman.
Dutch Mantel also touched upon The Bloodline, acknowledging WWE’s successful resurgence in booking the faction. Recalling a time when The Bloodline faced uncertainties, Mantel commended WWE for revitalizing their storyline and strengthening the faction’s impact.
Rumors swirl about a potential WrestleMania 40 showdown between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. However, with The Rock’s return adding another layer of excitement, the storyline’s direction remains uncertain. WWE’s future booking decisions for Cody Rhodes will undoubtedly contribute to the unfolding drama, keeping fans eagerly awaiting the spectacle that WrestleMania 40 promises to be.
WWE recently organized a Supershow live event in Montgomery on January 20, featuring Superstars from both Raw and SmackDown. Notably, the injured Seth Rollins did not participate, and the main event showcased Cody Rhodes facing off against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Despite hosting a total of 8 matches, what stood out was the absence of any championship matches. While champions like Damian Priest and Io Sky were in action, they did not compete in title matches. Surprisingly, prominent figures such as Roman Reigns, LA Knight, and Randy Orton, involved in ongoing feuds, did not take part in any matches.
AJ Styles was the only participant who faced Bloodline’s Solo Sequoia. Additionally, Indian legend Jinder Mahal made a return to the live event scene, securing a resounding victory. Let’s delve into the results of the WWE Supershow (January 20):
1. **AJ Styles vs Solo Sequoia (Singles Match):** AJ Styles secured a decisive victory against Roman Reigns’ brother.
2. **Jinder Mahal vs Ricochet:** The Indian legend won this match, marking his first WWE victory since January 10, 2023, where he defeated Julius Creed at NXT Year’s Evil.
3. **Julius and Brutus Creed vs Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser (Tag Team Match):** The Creed Brothers emerged victorious against The Imperium.
4. **Nia Jax vs Ivy Nile (Singles Match):** Nia Jax defeated Ivy Nile in this singles match.
5. **Jay Uso vs Damian Priest (Street Fight Match):** In the ‘Main Event,’ Jay Uso triumphed over the current tag team champion, Damian Priest.
6. **Omos vs Akira Tozawa:** Former tag team champion Omos emerged victorious in this match.
7. **Becky Lynch, Shotzi, and Meecheen vs Damage Control (Six Women Tag Team Match):** Becky, Meechin, and Shotzi defeated Iyo Sky, Oska, and Kairi Sane in this tag team match.
8. **Cody Rhodes vs Shinsuke Nakamura (Bullrope Match – Main Event):** American Nightmare Cody Rhodes secured victory in this bullrope match.
In WWE Royal Rumble 2024, excitement is building for the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, featuring renowned participants like Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch. Former NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has shared her prediction for the Women’s Rumble match, suggesting Bayley as a potential winner due to challenging circumstances on SmackDown.
A circulating video on social media captures a young fan asking Tiffany about the top contender to win the Women’s Royal Rumble, to which she suggests Bayley:
“Maybe Bayley can do it. I’m not making any promises, but circumstances have not been good for Bayley on SmackDown.”
Tiffany, a three-year WWE veteran yet to make her main roster debut officially, previously held the NXT Women’s Championship, losing it to Becky Lynch. Her entry into the Women’s Rumble match wouldn’t be surprising.
In a noteworthy revelation on the Cafe de Rene podcast, Mase and Mansoor disclosed that Tiffany Stratton was initially considered to replace Maxine Dupree in the Maximum Male Models faction formed by LA Knight, Mase, and Mansoor in 2022. Ultimately, Maxine Dupree joined the group, leading to interesting backstage dynamics.
WWE’s Monday Night Raw hosted a spectacular episode last time, and fans are hoping for another thrilling installment this week. The buzz is around the anticipated return of CM Punk and an upcoming title match.
But that’s not all; there’s also a big showdown scheduled involving **Cody Rhodes**. Expectations are high for some surprising twists during this week’s Raw. Here, we discuss five shocking elements that might unfold on this week’s WWE Raw:
5 – Possible Appearance of Jinder Mahal in WWE Raw
Jinder Mahal made a comeback to Raw last week, engaging in a segment alongside The Rock. His heel performance during this segment was well-received by fans, setting a memorable tone for The Rock’s return. Speculations suggest WWE might reward Mahal with a match this week, and fans are curious about his potential opponent.
4 – Tomasso Ciampa vs. Finn Balor Could End in Disqualification
This week on WWE Raw, Tomasso Ciampa is set to face Judgment Day’s member, Finn Balor, in a singles match. There’s a significant stipulation tied to this bout. If Ciampa triumphs against Balor, he might earn a shot alongside Johnny Gargano to challenge Balor and Damian Priest for an undisputed tag team championship.
Ciampa’s superior performances might bring him close to defeating Balor. However, WWE might intervene, causing a disqualification to prevent Ciampa from securing the title opportunity.
3 – Cody Rhodes Could Overpower Shinsuke Nakamura on WWE Raw
Cody Rhodes has been embroiled in a long-standing feud with Shinsuke Nakamura. The personal animosity between them has intensified, with the American Nightmare increasingly incensed by the Japanese superstar. This indicates that Rhodes might aim to dominate Nakamura during their clash, possibly shocking fans with a straightforward victory.
However, Rhodes, being a top-tier superstar, might also surprise everyone by overpowering Nakamura in the match.
2 – Seth Rollins Might Encounter New Challenger for Royal Rumble on WWE Raw
Last week on Raw, Seth Rollins defended his World Heavyweight Title against Drew McIntyre. Though Rollins faced a tough fight from McIntyre, the latter’s match distraction by Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio allowed Rollins to secure the win.
It seems McIntyre is now out of the title picture, and Rollins may await a new challenger for his title at Royal Rumble 2024. This change could be unveiled as WWE kicks off the Red brand, creating a new rivalry for Rollins.
1 – Potential Showdown between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre Segment on WWE Raw
CM Punk is set to return via this week’s Raw, and his segment might entail discussions about the Royal Rumble match and The Rock’s comeback. A few weeks back, McIntyre confronted Punk backstage on Raw.
Considering McIntyre’s dissatisfaction with The Best in the World’s return, he might interrupt Punk’s segment, setting the stage for a verbal altercation. This could lead to McIntyre announcing his entry into the main event of Royal Rumble and marking Punk as his potential target. After the altercation, fans might witness both declaring their entries into the main Royal Rumble match.
In a recent WWE SmackDown episode, AJ Styles made a captivating entrance, delivering a passionate promo that showcased a newfound intensity different from his previous character. However, when he faced Solo Sikoa in the main event, the expected level of emotion was not as apparent, possibly due to injuries inflicted by Sikoa in a prior encounter.
During an episode of Smack Talk, wrestling legend Bill Apter shared his thoughts on AJ Styles’ performance. While Apter appreciated the change in Styles’ demeanor, he expressed disappointment in the way Styles sought retribution against Solo Sikoa, feeling that the anticipated intensity was lacking.
In a surprising turn of events, AJ Styles initiated a segment on WWE SmackDown, expressing his desire to challenge Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. This led to a confrontation involving Randy Orton and LA Knight, with all three vying for the opportunity to face the Tribal Chief first. The General Manager of SmackDown then made a significant announcement, revealing a triple threat match scheduled for the New Year’s Revolution special show on January 5. AJ Styles, LA Knight, and Randy Orton will clash, with the winner earning a shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.
The announcement generated immense excitement among fans, as Orton, Knight, and Styles each have a legitimate claim to challenge Reigns. The ongoing issues between Roman and the Bloodline faction and these three contenders add an intriguing layer to the storyline, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of the triple threat match and the subsequent clash with the Tribal Chief at the Royal Rumble.
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**”Championship Clash Set for Upcoming Wrestling Event”**
During a recent wrestling show, a challenger stepped up to the current titleholder, proposing a match for a major championship at an upcoming event. Despite the titleholder’s initial refusal, the match seems likely to happen. However, the challenger’s clash with an authority figure might complicate their chances.
The challenger’s actions led to a substantial fine, which was later doubled, hinting at possible consequences for the authority figure if they interfere.
This situation raises speculation about the authority figure’s role in the potential showdown. If they align with the titleholder, it could affect the challenger’s opportunity.
In a recent interview, the challenger expressed aspirations to surpass legendary championship reigns, adding excitement to their career trajectory.
Do you think this challenger will achieve their goal of capturing the title? Share your thoughts below!
After this week’s Monday Night RAW, Rhea Ripley shared a contradictory Christmas-themed message on social media despite her actions during the event. During the entrance of her Judgment Day stablemates – where Damian Priest and Finn Balor defended the Undisputed Tag Team Title against the Creed Brothers – Ripley kicked down a Christmas tree. Later, on Twitter, she wrote, “I hate Christmas.”
Ripley recently returned to WWE television after her tour of Australia and was seen alongside Dominik Mysterio promoting the upcoming Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event in Perth set for February 2024.
However, during RAW’s main event, Ripley tried to interfere in The Judgment Day’s match against the Creed Brothers but was thwarted by Ivy Nile, who executed a move on Ripley. Vince Russo criticized Ripley’s involvement, comparing it unfavorably to Chyna’s approach, highlighting what he perceived as a more serious demeanor from Chyna compared to Ripley’s more comedic style.
It was also revealed that Ripley is scheduled to defend the Women’s World Championship against Nile on Monday Night RAW: Day 1.
