WWE champ Naomi talks Hulk Hogan's impact on pro wrestling after icon's death
The 71-year-old died after he suffered a possible cardiac arrest at his Florida home and was transferred to a hospital. Hogan's legacy was remembered throughout the weekend as WWE paid tribute to him with a video montage and a 10-bell salute before "Friday Night SmackDown."
WWE's women's world champion Naomi weighed in on Hogan's death in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
"It's very unfortunate and very sad," she said. "I think death is something that's always hard to process and through. Hulk, as a performer, he just made such a profound impact on this business and opened up so many opportunities for us to do what we're doing now, to put on shows like we are this weekend.
"My heart goes out to his family for their mourning and for their grief. May he rest in peace."
Naomi, whose real name is Trinity Fatu, became a three-time champion when she cashed in her Money in the Bank contract during a match at Evolution between Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley. She pinned Sky in one of the top matches of the year.
Now, Naomi will be thrust into a triple-threat match at SummerSlam to defend her championship. She will square off against Ripley and Sky.
SummerSlam will be a two-night event for the first time in WWE history. The premium live event takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday and Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
35 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Fan-Favorite WWE Star Teases Return Of Supernatural Character
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. Just one day after winning the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam, Alexa Bliss is already teasing a potential return to her dark, supernatural roots. In a new interview, she also hinted at a sinister plan for her new tag team partner, Charlotte Flair. Bliss and Flair, the "Allies of Convenience," captured the titles on Night One of SummerSlam, defeating Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. Now, Bliss's comments suggest their championship reign could be headed down a very strange and twisted path. A Return To The Dark Side For Alexa Bliss? Speaking to Sports Illustrated ahead of SummerSlam, Bliss was asked about revisiting the supernatural character she portrayed while aligned with "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt. She confirmed she is completely open to it. "A hundred percent," Bliss said. "One thing I've always said about my character is that it's always evolving." A Sinister Plan For Charlotte Flair The most intriguing part of her comments came when she discussed her current partnership with Flair. She hinted that she may have found a replacement for her demonic doll, Lilly. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More "Who knows, maybe Charlotte will become the next Lilly," Bliss stated. This is an ominous comment given the history between the two superstars. It suggests that Bliss may be looking to corrupt her new partner and draw her into the darkness. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match A History Of Destruction From Alexa Bliss The original Lilly doll was a central part of Alexa Bliss's supernatural persona from 2020 to 2021. Bliss claimed the doll was the source of her power. Their bond came to a dramatic end at the Extreme Rules event in September 2021. After defeating Bliss in a championship match, Charlotte Flair brutally and methodically ripped the Lilly doll to shreds in the middle of the ring, leaving a distraught Bliss wailing over the remains. This moment was the storyline reason for Bliss's character being "reset" and losing her supernatural abilities. Her new comment makes it clear she has not forgotten what Flair did, adding a deeply personal and sinister layer to their current tag team. While Bliss is having "a lot of fun tagging with Charlotte," her underlying motives are now in question. She also noted that a future interaction with the Wyatt Sicks will "probably" happen, keeping fans guessing about her ultimate allegiance. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nikki Garcia Reveals Breast Implant Got Pushed Down to Her Rib
Originally appeared on E! Online Nikki Garcia had a deflating experience during Monday Night Raw. The WWE star suffered a health scare after an eight-person wrestling match July 28 during which one of her breast implants shifted inside her, leaving her in "a little bit of pain." After sister Brie Garcia asked how she was doing during the August 1 episode of their podcast The Nikki & Brie Show and pointed out that Nikki's implant is "stuck in your ribs," she shared some insight into her injury. "I had to go to the doctor yesterday to get my tit looked at," the 41-year-old said. "I was just telling Brie, I'm having conversations with my shirt off and I'm thinking in my head, like, 'I didn't think I'd be here today on my day off in New York City getting my boobs looked at knowing that my implant has moved.'" Nikki—who shares 4-year-old son Matteo with ex-husband Artem Chigvintsev—added that "it's been hard to laugh and cough" since she sustained the injury after an elbow drop from competitor Piper Niven, but she isn't too worried about it. More from E! Online Kate Gosselin Shares Update on Her Kids in Rare Video Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson Get Support From His Son Daniel Neeson Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall Shares Cryptic Message Amid And Just Like That's Final Season "It's OK," she proclaimed. "We're going to get it fixed one day. I told the doctor, I go, 'Newly divorced, so the minute the boots are hung up, I'm going to come back to you and we're going to make these girls look real good, because these girls are going to get some action in the future and that can't look like that.'" Bella also playfully pointed out that "there is a little bit of a physical difference now" between Nikki's breasts, but the Dancing With the Stars alum insisted that it's "not that bad of a difference." She continued, "They still look hot." After the reveal about Nikki's implant started to make headlines, the Total Bellas alum started to receive outreach from concerned family and friends. "I literally had told Brie all of this in private and when she said it live about my implant, I was like, 'Are you kidding me?'" she recalled on the August 4 episode of their podcast. "Then yesterday it was everywhere about my implant. I keep getting text messages, I was just backstage and everyone kept coming up, like, 'Is it okay?'" But after Bella insisted that "we're all wondering" if she'll be OK, Nikki shared that she's still waiting on an official answer. "I'll know later," she explained. "I don't know yet if it exploded or not. It still seems intact. It's swollen, it hurts, but I think it might be fine." Nikki added, "I can't believe I'm loudly talking about this, but hey, it's 2025, whatever. Send well wishes to my fake boob, thank you." Keep reading for more celebrity health scares... Lupita Nyong'o's Uterine FibroidsSuki Waterhouse's HerniaBrian Austin Green's Perforated AppendixAdam Devine's Long-Term Injury From Childhood AccidentJason Tartick's Back InjuryMatt Kirschenheiter's Heart AttackTracy Morgan's Medical EmergencyChristy Carlson Romano's Eye InjuryAmy Schumer's Cushing SyndromeCasey Fitzgerald's Neck Injury From Hockey Skate BladeHailey Bieber's Blood ClotJustin Bieber's Ramsay Hunt SyndromeJamie Foxx's Brain Bleed & StrokeEmilia Clarke's Brain AneurysmCori Broadus's StrokeShailene Woodley's Health BattleSolve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Top WWE Star Pushed For Shocking Brock Lesnar Return
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. Following Brock Lesnar's shocking and controversial return at SummerSlam, WWE's Chief Content Officer Triple H has addressed the decision to bring him back. At the post-show, Triple H heavily implied that the return was specifically requested by John Cena for his farewell tour. Lesnar made his stunning return after the main event of Night Two, brutally attacking John Cena after his loss to Cody Rhodes. It was Lesnar's first appearance in a WWE arena in nearly two years. At the media scrum following the event, Triple H was asked about the decision to bring Brock Lesnar back. He framed the move as being part of John Cena's "last chapter." "This is John Cena's wishlist, it's him writing the last chapter of his book," Triple H stated. "It's about John being able to go out the way he wants to go out, to write his chapter." These comments suggest that a final, violent feud with his legendary rival was something Cena personally wanted for his 2025 retirement tour. Nixed Brock Lesnar Plans Brock Lesnar's return is a highly controversial one. "The Beast Incarnate" had been absent from all WWE programming since January 2024. He was pulled from the Royal Rumble that year and a WrestleMania match with GUNTHER. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match That loyalty appears to extend to his on-screen rivals as well. He and Lesnar have a long and storied history in the ring. Brock Lesnar throws John Cena during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brock Lesnar throws John Cena during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A Legendary John Cena Rivalry Reignited The feud between the two icons has spanned multiple eras and has always delivered physicality and drama. The feud between John Cena and Brock Lesnar is one of the most violent and memorable of the modern era. It began with Lesnar's 2012 return to WWE, leading to a brutal classic at Extreme Rules. The most infamous chapter of their rivalry occurred at SummerSlam in 2014. By this point, Lesnar had conquered The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania and was an unstoppable "Beast Incarnate." He challenged the then-champion, John Cena, in what was expected to be a competitive main event. What transpired was one of the most one-sided and shocking demolitions in WWE history. Lesnar dominated Cena from bell to bell, delivering 16 German suplexes and leaving the seemingly invincible "Super Cena" utterly broken to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The match forever changed the perception of both men. While Cena would get a disqualification win in their rematch at Night of Champions, the damage had been done. This new program, set to be a major part of Cena's farewell tour, will serve as the epic final chapter to their historic feud. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
