Latest news with #MondayNightRAW
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
CM Punk Faces Backlash Over Pushing Away Child In Saudi Arabia
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. CM Punk is facing criticism online only hours after landing in Saudi Arabia for WWE Night of Champions. A video has circulated showing him in a tense moment with a young fan. While meeting with some fans and celebrities in Riyadh, another clip showed a different interaction. In that video, Punk is seen walking with Randy Orton and security personnel. The Viral Incident With CM Punk A small child approached CM Punk, apparently to take a selfie. In the clip, Punk is seen pushing the child away. Security also stepped in to ensure the child could not get closer to the wrestlers. This interaction has led to backlash on social media. Some users have criticized Punk for the action. Others have turned the moment into a meme, comparing it to other famous comedic instances of adults pushing children. CM Punk proving he's still a gigantic asshole Pushing a little kid out of the way as a babyface is so nasty — Andrew (@bigtimeEST) June 26, 2025 that's so nasty of him to do — LivsHart💗 (@oblivionscore) June 26, 2025 Something very satisfying about a miserable looking CM Punk arriving in Saudi Arabia and the first thing he does is push a child away — Wrestling_Mark (@WrestlingMark16) June 26, 2025 Heard the kid said, "Real Glass. Cry me a river." — Joe Tonaus (@Itsa_MeJoeyT) June 26, 2025 The comments 👇 defending his behaviour is just so ridiculous and apparently i'm the bad guy or trying to portray him as a bad guy 🤦🏻♂️ — AEWBlog (@AEW_Blog) June 26, 2025 More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Hypocrisy Accusations This incident comes as Punk is already facing accusations of hypocrisy for competing in Saudi Arabia. He is scheduled to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions. The criticism stems from Punk's past comments about the country. In a 2020 social media post directed at The Miz, Punk made a vulgar comment referencing "blood money" in Saudi Arabia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. WWE/Getty Images That post has since been deleted. Reports have indicated that Punk had the option to turn down performing at the event but did not voice any objections. Punk apologized to Saudi Arabia fans today at the Night of Champions Kickoff Event. Un pibe random le pide a gritos a CM Punk que se disculpe por su tuit de 2019. "Era un tuit de meme a The Miz. Me disculpo a The Miz. ¿Te llamas Mohamed? Me disculpo de forma sincera". Qué ha sido esto jdsjdsjdsjfdsjfd 😭😭😭 #WWENOC — LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) June 27, 2025 "This guy wants me to apologize for a mean tweet I wrote six years ago. Hey, listen, legitimately had nothing to do with Saudi Arabia," Punk responded. "I woke up and I was crabby and I wrote a mean tweet to The Miz. And I apologized to The Miz. And sir, what's your name? Mohammed? Mohammed, I sincerely apologize to you. And I love Saudi Arabia." "I am not perfect by any means," Punk said at today's kickoff event. "Sometimes as human beings, we screw up. The beautiful thing is, everything is a lesson learned. And now here I am and you have invited me to your country and I am grateful to be here. Thank you very much." More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former WWE Champion Teases In-Ring Return Ahead of Evolution 2
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. Former WWE superstar Beth Phoenix has teased a potential return to the ring. The tease comes just weeks before the Evolution 2 Premium Live Event. Phoenix, a WWE Hall of Famer, parted ways with the company last year after her contract expired. She has not competed in a match since early 2023. Phoenix Teases In-Ring Return On her Instagram account, Phoenix recently uploaded photos of herself inside a wrestling ring. The post, which shows her training, has fueled speculation about a comeback. The timing of the post is notable. The all-women's Evolution 2 event is set to take place on July 13, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her post received reactions from current WWE superstars, including her former tag team partner Natalya, as well as Ivy Nile. This has led many fans to believe she could be preparing for the event. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. A Potential Return At Evolution 2 Beth Phoenix last competed at the 2023 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. She teamed with her husband, Adam Copeland, to defeat Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley. It is not known if Phoenix is in discussions with WWE for a return. However, her social media activity has opened the door for speculation. Fans have expressed their excitement online about the possibility of seeing "The Glamazon" compete at the historic event. Phoenix was a powerhouse in WWE's women's division, blending strength with technical wrestling ability. A four-time champion overall, she held the WWE Women's Championship three times and the Divas Championship once, cementing her status as a dominant force of her era. In 2010, she made history as only the second woman to compete in the men's Royal Rumble match, where she famously eliminated The Great Khali. After retiring from full-time competition, Phoenix was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017. She later transitioned into a successful role as a color commentator for NXT and has made several in-ring returns for high-profile matches, proving her legacy as an all-time great across multiple eras of WWE. Some fans have thought that Beth may join her husband, Adam Copeland, in AEW, but that has yet to happen. There have also been no reports that she would be interested in doing that as well. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why Goldberg retiring as World Champion could be a major mistake at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Image via WWE Goldberg has been waiting a whole year to step back inside the squared circle for one last time. However, his retirement match will have high-stakes implications. The WCW Icon will battle Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. The match will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, Goldberg's hometown. Despite it being his last match and happening in his home field, WWE could be making a huge mistake if they let Goldberg walk out of the match as the new World Heavyweight Champion. Goldberg vs Gunther will be a hard-hitting match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Goldberg made an appearance at the 2024 WWE Bad Blood PLE and had an altercation with Gunther when he insulted his family and him in front of the audience. A while later, the WCW legend announced that he would have his retirement match in 2025. The match was supposed to happen earlier, but it got delayed due to Goldberg recovering from a stem cell procedure. However, on the June 16th edition of Monday Night RAW, he finally made his return to WWE and confronted Gunther, who had won back the World Heavyweight Championship from Jey Uso a week before. Following some heated words and not forgetting the disrespect Gunther showed him at Bad Blood PLE, Goldberg announced that he will be challenging him for the World title at the upcoming edition of WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo While Goldberg has the home crowd advantage and can ride off into the sunset in a big way, making him lose to Gunther could be a huge blunder on WWE's part. The Ring General suffered a huge setback when he tapped out to Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41 and lost the World title. He regained momentum just weeks ago, and a loss to Goldberg could once again push him to the sidelines. On the other hand, Goldberg will be gone, while it will be Gunther who will represent WWE as a full-time competitor for the future. So, having him drop the belt to the WWE Hall of Famer would impact his push significantly. With the event rapidly approaching, it remains to be seen which direction WWE will eventually pursue regarding the Goldberg vs Gunther match. Also read: History in the Making: Legendary star can set new WWE SummerSlam milestone Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Raw Superstar Sidelined With An Injury: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A segment on Monday Night Raw was reportedly done to write Chad Gable off of WWE television. The angle was used to cover for a legitimate injury. According to a report from Gable is suffering from an undisclosed injury. The report states the injury is serious enough to alter creative plans for him. The On-Screen Angle Involving Chad Gable On the June 23rd episode of Raw, Gable was attacked by Penta El Zero Miedo. This storyline attack will serve as the reason for his on-screen absence. WWE will use the angle to either remove Gable from television completely or reduce his schedule. This will give him time to recover from the injury. There are currently no details on the specific nature of the injury. It is also unclear how long Gable will be out of action. It is not known if he will work a limited schedule or stay away from the show entirely while he heals. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Ricochet jumps off the top rope as JD McDonagh lays on the ground during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Ricochet jumps off the top rope as JD McDonagh lays on the ground during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex BierensChad Gable's Impact On Raw Storylines The timing of the injury affects a key storyline on Raw. Gable has been a consistent presence on the show in recent weeks. He has fully embraced a heel role as the "coach" of The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile. He has also been feuding with top stars like Sami Zayn. Gable's absence will impact the momentum of his faction. It is uncertain how WWE will handle the storyline for his group in the coming weeks. Gable signed with WWE in 2013 and quickly made a name for himself in NXT. He formed the popular tag team American Alpha with Jason Jordan, capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship with their impressive technical skill. The duo was called up to the main roster in 2016 and won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation After the team split, Gable became a tag team specialist, winning the Raw Tag Team Championship with both Bobby Roode and later, Otis. After a poorly received run as "Shorty G," he reinvented himself as the charismatic master of the Alpha Academy, creating the popular "Shoosh!" catchphrase. In recent years, Gable received a significant singles push with a series of acclaimed Intercontinental Title matches against GUNTHER. This led to his current role as a demanding, villainous coach, a central part of Monday Night Raw storylines. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Popular WWE Faction Officially Breaks Up
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. WWE has officially confirmed the end of the Damage CTRL faction. The group's split was acknowledged on the June 23rd edition of Monday Night Raw. Damage CTRL, formed at SummerSlam 2022, was a dominant force in WWE's women's division. The original trio of Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai immediately targeted the top stars, with Kai and SKY capturing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship twice. The faction expanded in late 2023, adding Asuka and Kairi Sane (The Kabuki Warriors), who also won the tag team titles. The group's most significant storyline saw them turn on their leader, Bayley, after she won the 2024 Royal Rumble. This led to a marquee match at WrestleMania 40, where Bayley defeated IYO SKY to win the WWE Women's Championship. Following WrestleMania, the group slowly dissolved due to injuries and Dakota Kai's release from WWE. This confirmation follows recent reports that the group had been quietly disbanded. The faction had been together for nearly three years. Several factors contributed to the group's end. Asuka was out of action with an injury for over a year, and Kai was released from her WWE contract during that time. Triple H starts the show during Monday Night RAW at Intuit Dome on January 6, 2025 in Inglewood, California. Triple H starts the show during Monday Night RAW at Intuit Dome on January 6, 2025 in Inglewood, California. WWE/Getty Images Asuka has recently returned to WWE television. She has won two consecutive matches to advance to the finals of the Queen of the Ring tournament. WWE's On-Screen Acknowledgement During a backstage segment on Raw, Women's World Champion IYO SKY approached Asuka. She congratulated her former partner on her recent success. SKY noted that if Asuka wins the tournament, they could face each other at SummerSlam. This was something they had discussed while in Damage CTRL. Asuka's response was blunt and confirmed the group's status. She reminded SKY that they are no longer in Damage CTRL. This dialogue was the first time WWE has acknowledged the faction's end on television. It signals a new direction for the former members. Other Damage CTRL Members Move On Another former member of the group was also in action on Raw. Bayley unsuccessfully challenged Becky Lynch for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship. Asuka is now focused on the Queen of the Ring tournament finals at Night of Champions. A victory would earn her a world title match at SummerSlam in August in New Jersey. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
