Latest news with #NewWaveDLC
Metro
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'I'm a buff WWE wrestler but I've always struggled with body image'
WWE superstars are known for being larger than life, stepping in the ring with incredible physiques on display for millions of fans around the world. However, it's easy to forget that these massive characters have real insecurities and hang-ups like anyone else, especially in such an aesthetically-driven industry. Speaking exclusively to Metro from WWE 2K25's booth in Las Vegas, Raw star Ivy Nile admitted she 'never felt cool' growing up because of her body. 'It sounds like a weird problem to have. Growing up, I couldn't wear normal clothes my friends were wearing because I'm so buff,' she recalled. 'And then, you kind of think, 'boys aren't gonna like me because I'm bigger than them', which is funny.' Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. When it comes to stepping out in front of thousands of fans in an arena every week, the 33-year-old star admitted she has to put herself in a 'weird mentality'. 'Sometimes I just play a game with myself, it's all a simulation, it's not happening,' she laughed. Growing up as 'a fit kind with muscles', Ivy – who recently wrestled Stephania Carter, a rising star in WWE 2K25's New Wave DLC pack – revealed she 'never felt cool', but now being in the gym and the wrestling ring has helped her grow. 'That's what I had to learn, just getting more confident. I'm kinda in my element in the gym and in my gear,' she explained. 'I can be a Hulk and show my muscles. But right now I'm in a dress suit, and I feel kind of uncomfortable, but that's okay!' She has also taken inspiration from other athletes, name-dropping Olympic hero Simone Biles, 28, as someone to look up to. 'She's in my stature, she's shorter, she's stocky. That's how we're built. And we found beauty, we found strength through that in our sports. And I think we just embrace ourselves so much, even though we're different,' she smiled. 'Clothes fit weird, but that's okay. So it's cool how we embrace who we are, turn it into a strength, and we are both in amazing businesses.' Ivy is also helped by her partnership with Chad Gable and the Creed Brothers, with real-life siblings Julius and Brutus providing a solid rock on screen and behind the scenes. 'I've been with them for three years, I started with them in NXT in Diamond Mine, I started with them day one,' she reflected. 'They are a pain in my butt, but I love them. They got my back, and I love growing with them.' She hopes all three can 'get some gold this year', while Ivy also has some dream matches in mind for 2025, given the way fans have almost limitless possibilities in WWE 2K25. 'I already had one of mine with Rhea [Ripley], I would love to throw that back. I think I would grow so much, continuing to work with her,' she smiled. 'I've always wanted to work with Iyo [Sky], I haven't worked with Iyo. I have so many people on my list that I want to – Liv [Morgan]. Bianca [Belair], of course, we're from the same hometown.' More Trending Beyond video game dream matches and championship ambitions, Ivy has her sights set on a major WrestleMania goal to truly leave her mark. 'One day I want to have a bunch of fit kids, girls with muscles,' she said. 'I never felt cool – I always had muscles and stuff. So whenever it's my time, I'm gonna have a bunch of fit kids flexing with me up on stage.' View More » WWE 2K25 is available now. WWE returns to the UK and Europe this summer for the Road to Clash In Paris Tour. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: TV fans cry 'it's not fair' after beloved Prime Video show cancelled on cliff-hanger MORE: WWE WrestleMania 42 in New Orleans 'cancelled' as calendar gets major shake up MORE: Netflix viewers divided after watching first trailer for Grenfell: Uncovered
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
WWE 'dream match' fans are clamouring for was cancelled 14 years ago
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video WWE fans are desperate to see Motor City Machine Guns lock horns with The Hardy Boyz, and it almost happened. SmackDown stars Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin – who are now available as playable characters in WWE 2K25's New Wave DLC pack which launched today – have long been hailed as one of the best tag teams of the last 20 years, but a bout with icons Matt and Jeff Hardy has always eluded them. Speaking exclusively to Metro after the Hardys admitted they'd be up for it, Sabin quipped: 'Sounds like a dream match.' 'It was scheduled once,' his tag partner recalled, noting that it was on the cards around 14 years ago. He added: 'Maybe 2011, there was a UK tour TNA had booked that match on in particular. And I can't remember where it was gonna be. It was gonna be somewhere in England. 'And something happened, I can't remember exactly what, but it never came to fruition. So we've somehow managed to evade the Hardy Boys our entire career, and it's probably time that we get that match.' They're two of the greatest teams to never face each other, while there have constantly been comparisons due to their high energy wrestling style. There was echos just last week, when MCMG battled Street Profits and #DIY in an utterly wild Tables, Ladders and Chairs match reminiscent of the Hardys' TLC battles with the Dudley Boyz and Edge & Christian. 'As far as the people involved in that match, if you were to go back and analyse wrestling history, we by far have the most experience in these types of situations, and it's not even close,' Shelley pointed out. 'I dare say that we were brought up in part with said experience from Team 3D [the Dudleyz] who are the experts in these types of situations, no less.' High risk dives, bodies crashing through tables, and even a fan's prosthetic leg being used as a weapon – the match had it all. As much as everyone involved 'tried to calculate everything' they were doing, they're still feeling the effects. 'It is a match that you don't walk away from without any sort of scrapes or aches or bruises,' Shelley pointed out. 'You do give a bit of yourself when you go through those types of matches. 'But at the same time, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even if we lost, I wouldn't trade it for the world. We'll just win the next one. There's got to be [another] one, right? There's got to be.' In the meantime, fans can put the Motor City Machine Guns in whatever matches they want with the new WWE 2K25 DLC pack, which also features Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer and a to-be-announced celebrity guest. 'It's almost indescribable. It's really one of those bucket list type things,' Sabin said of being in a WWE video game. 'When you get into wrestling, you make it to WWE, you want to be on a trading card, you want to have an action figure, and you want to be in a video game.' The New Wave pack – which is available as part of the Season Pass or individual purchase – includes MyFACTION cards for each star, including MCMG, and a total of more than 40 moves and taunts. It's actually not the former TNA Wrestling champion's first foray with the franchise, as he previously 'did a lot of mocap' work around seven years ago, creating moves for other wrestlers. 'It was fun. I actually got to do my own entrance for the game,' he beamed. 'It wasn't named after me or anything like that, but my entrance was in the game before this, which is pretty cool.' This time, the process for the game was much simpler as they spent an hour before an episode of SmackDown getting their faces scanned and photos taken. 'I'm curious to know, actually, who mo-capped our moves,' Sabin admitted. Appearing in the game just months after their high profile debut is another pinch-me moment for the duo, but there was no greater surprise or honour than capturing the tag team titles in just their second week. 'It was pretty surprising. We didn't really have expectations that high coming in and winning the championship in our third match, second week here,' Sabin said. More Trending 'But that just shows the trust that they have in us, and the confidence that they have in us as performers. A lot of people put in good words for us, to just get us here and to be able to bypass NXT and go right to the main roster like that. 'That says something for what we've done, and the hard work we put in throughout the years. Hopefully we've made all the people who put in a word for us proud.' View More » The New Wave DLC pack for WWE 2K25 is available now , new MyFACTION content, including Demastered cards, plus the useable Urn for players with the Deadman Edition Bonus Pack, Deadman Edition or The Bloodline Edition. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
