Latest news with #WCW
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
GUNTHER May Not Be Goldberg's Final WWE Opponent
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. Goldberg's son, Gage, believes his father's upcoming match against GUNTHER may not be his last. He thinks the bout could reignite Goldberg's passion for wrestling. The WWE Hall of Famer is scheduled to face the World Heavyweight Champion at Saturday Night's Main Event. The match will take place on August 12th in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Gage Goldberg On His Father's Future In an interview with Bill Apter for Sportskeeda, Gage was asked what would happen if his father won the title. He said that regardless of the outcome, the match itself could inspire his father to continue competing. "Win or lose, he's going to be, he's going to get the feel, he's going to get the itch again that he wants to stay in the ring," Gage stated. Gage, a 19-year-old football player, also shared the advice he gave his father. He told him to prepare as hard as he can and get ready to "kick some ass." PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 18: Actor/ Former WCW/WWE wrestler Bill Goldberg attends Wizard World's Philadelphia Comic Con 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 18, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 18: Actor/ Former WCW/WWE wrestler Bill Goldberg attends Wizard World's Philadelphia Comic Con 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 18, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images Gage To Play A Role In The Match During the interview, Gage confirmed he will be present for his father's match. He is also expected to have a significant role in the event. As previously reported, Goldberg has revealed that Gage will be leading him to the ring for the bout. This will add another layer to what is being billed as Goldberg's final match. Goldberg's career is defined by explosive intensity and one of the most dominant runs in wrestling history. He rocketed to superstardom in WCW with his legendary 173-0 undefeated streak, a feat that captivated mainstream audiences. During this period, he became a double champion, holding both the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, establishing himself as the face of the promotion. After WCW closed, Goldberg had his first run in WWE from 2003 to 2004, where he continued his main event status and captured the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation He made a shocking return in 2016, proving his drawing power once again. In this second phase of his career, he became a two-time WWE Universal Champion, defeating both Kevin Owens and "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt for the title. These reigns cemented his legacy as a special attraction capable of winning a world title at any time. In recognition of his monumental impact on the industry, Goldberg was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as the headliner of the Class of 2018, solidifying his status as an icon of wrestling's modern era. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: CM Punk to turn heel, beat John Cena for the Undisputed Championship at Night of Champions?
John Cena is set to defend the Undisputed Championship against CM Punk at Night of Champions this Saturday (June 28). The match, which is expected to headline the Premium Live Event, promises to be a slobberknocker as the two had a memorable feud over a decade ago. Things, however, are a bit different this time as 'The GOAT' is the heel and Punk is a face (good guy) heading into the show in Saudi Arabia. A veteran writer recently weighed in on the possible outcome of the match and said that 'The Second City Saint' should not only win the title but also embrace the dark side. Vince Russo wants CM Punk to win at Night of Champions Vince Russo is a popular name in the pro-wrestling business. The writer has been associated with companies such as WWE and WCW. In an interaction with Indiatimes, Russo said that he would love for Punk to turn heel on Cena at Night of Champions and walk away with the title. He added this will help WWE redeem themselves after 'they buried' Punk last week on SmackDown. 'If it were me---I'm turning Punk heel on Cena and putting the belt on him. I wouldn't have any other choice after they buried Punk on Smackdown by making him sell that table spot for 20 minutes,' he told Indiatimes. In case you did not know, Cena assaulted Punk on SmackDown last week and put him through a table. After this, he delivered a fiery promo in which he spewed venom on 'The Best in the World' and called him a hypocrite. The segment was similar to the 'pipebomb' Punk had delivered many years ago. About Cena's heel turn John Cena turned heel on Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber 2025. He then defeated him at WrestleMania 41 (with help from Travis Scott) to capture the Undisputed Championmship. He then defended it successfully against Randy Orton at Backlash 2025. Cena also beat Ron Killings/R-Truth at Saturday Night's Main Event. He, however, suffered a defeat at Money in the Bank where he and Logan Paul lost to Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.
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.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'WWE Raw' Preview: 2 Semifinal Matches Before 'Night of Champions 2025'
'WWE Raw' Preview: 2 Semifinal Matches Before 'Night of Champions 2025' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The go-home episode of "WWE Raw" prior to "Night of Champions 2025" features a slew of key matches with big implications for Saturday's PLE. Advertisement Fans will witness the last semifinal matches in the King and Queen of the Ring. Cody Rhodes battles his friend Jey Uso for a spot in the King of the Ring finals. Awaiting the winner of Monday's semifinals will be Randy Orton, who advanced thanks to a victory over Sami Zayn on "SmackDown" this past Friday. Jade Cargill and Roxanne Perez collide for a Queen of the Ring finals match against Asuka, who defeated Alexa Bliss to earn her spot at "Night of Champions." There will also be championship gold at stake, as WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch looks to make her first successful title defense. Her challenger is Bayley, who is looking for revenge after "The Man" prevented her from performing at "WrestleMania 41" thanks to an ambush backstage. The Paul Heyman-led faction of Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed will also be featured on "Raw." Rollins is expected to have some words on the show, while Breakker will meet Penta in singles action. Advertisement Goldberg will also be featured on the show in some capacity. "Raw" general manager Adam Pearce said the WCW legend will be sitting down to talk about his World Heavyweight Championship match against Gunther. That match has been booked for "Saturday Night's Main Event" on July 12. Pearce also revealed that he will be back on the show after "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis filled in for him last week. Related: 'WWE SmackDown' Star Shares Devastating Personal News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How the New York Order changed pro-wrestling forever
In 2002, Mark Raimondi was waiting for his breakfast in a restaurant in Tokyo. As he waited, the local man serving the food spotted the black hoodie he was wearing, adorned with the logo of the New World Order (nWo), the 1990s movement that revolutionized pro-wrestling, and simply smiled at him. 'He didn't speak English and I can't speak any Japanese, but we were able to connect through memories that meant something to both of us,' he recalls. 9 Pro-wrestlers Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan became household names as part of pro-wrestling's New World Order, which became a '90s pop-culture phenomena whose influence transcended far outside the competition ring. WWE via Getty Images In 'Say Hello to the Bad Guys — How Pro-wrestling's New World Order Changed America' (Simon & Schuster), ESPN journalist and former Post writer Raimondi investigates just how the rebel New World Order not only changed the face of professional wrestling but also manage to tap into the national psyche unlike anything before. Advertisement 'The kids, teens, and young adults who grew up watching the nWo from 1996 to 1999 — and there were millions — are now leaders of industry, politicians, writers, producers, entertainers, musicians, and professional athletes, all of whom are helping to shape American culture right now,' he writes 9 Hulk Hogan, arguably the best-known of the New World Order-members. Getty Images In the late 1990s the fierce competition between rival pro-wrestling organizations the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE) and World Championship Wresting reached its zenith, as their events went head-to-head on live television and each tried to outdo the other with increasingly spectacular stunts and controversial storylines. Advertisement The resulting surge in popularity and unprecedented mainstream attention was largely down to the emergence of an outrageous new faction in the WCW — the New World Order. Conceived by WCW senior vice president Eric Bischoff, it featured former WWF wrestlers Scott Hall and Kevin Nash and a mysterious 'third man,' later revealed to be another ex-WWF wrestler, the legendary Hulk Hogan. Rebellious and edgier than their counterparts, the New World Order were portrayed as outsiders, a band of unsanctioned invaders intent on taking over the WCW with the key storyline being Hogan 'turning heel' and switching from good guy to one of the baddies. 9 The New World Order singlehandedly reinvigorated professional wrestling and helping to turn it into the multi-billion dollar entertainment machine it is today. Advertisement 'That's where the nWo was born, at the intersection of genuine and phony. Lines became blurred. The antiheroes became the main characters,' says Raimondi. 'And pro wrestling was never the same again.' Nothing was off limits for the nWo. They even used storylines based on Hall's chaotic private life. Advertisement A self-destructive character, he often drove drunk and had totaled eight Cadillacs in just a few years and now it was all part of the act. 'He started stumbling to the ring holding a cocktail cup, acting like he was drunk on television,' adds Raimondi. 'Or maybe he actually was drunk. At that point, it hardly mattered.' The fans lapped it up. 9 Donald Trump raising the hand of Bobby Lashley in victory at Wrestlemania in 2007. Getty Images 'The idea of the antihero being the protagonist wasn't an especially new one in the entertainment industry,' says Raimondi. 'But the nWo hit in such a formative time and was consumed by millions of people every week.' Being in the nWo gave Hulk Hogan's career a much-needed boost, too. When he first left the WWF in 1993, the wrestler's popularity had plummeted, not least because he had admitted to taking steroids. Now though, he was once again in the good graces of the nation's wrestling fans. 'The boos and indifference toward Hulkamania were gone. It was running wild again,' says Raimondi. Advertisement 'All it took was Hogan to be a dastardly son of a bitch for several years before fans wanted to see the old him again.' With their distinctive black and white branding and anti-establishment personas, the impact of then nWo's arrival was so significant that soon the WWF would follow suit. They launched their own Attitude Era, where they enlisted box office names like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H to push the boundaries still further with edgier storylines, profanity and even sexualized content. 9 Former pro-wrestler Dwayne Johnson with daughter Simone Johnson, who is also a well-known wrestler. Getty Images For author Raimondi, the burgeoning popularity of wrestling at the time was part of a wider cultural shift in the late '90s, when a wave of pseudo-reality shows like The Jerry Springer Show and The Real World pushed the limit of credulity to great success. Advertisement 'Like wrestling, few really believed everything happening on Springer or Real World was completely on the up-and-up,' he writes. 'Yet, people watched anyway — at a high rate — and bought in, to an extent, to their staged realities. 'Almost everyone has been aware for decades that pro wrestling isn't a legitimate sports competition, but Robert Downey Jr. isn't actually Iron Man, either.' 9 Rapper Kendrick Lamar has reference the New World Order in lyrics to songs related to his 'beef' with Drake. AP Wrestling's surge also came at a crucial moment for network television as the expansion of cable meant an increased demand for entertaining and low-cost programming. 'Talk-show guests and reality television contestants came much cheaper than actors,' adds Raimondi. Advertisement 'So did pro wrestlers.' Today, the success of the New World Order and the transformative effect it had on the fortunes of both pro-wrestling organizations continues to permeate all aspects of modern life. President Trump, for instance, hosted an episode of Wrestlemania and once shaved the WWE owner Vince McMahon's head in the ring. More recently, Trump even appointed McMahon's wife Linda, a former CEO of WWE, as the secretary of education. 9 Pres. Trump with Linda McMahon, now US Secretary of Education. REUTERS Advertisement Dwayne Johnson, a former wrestler whose daughter is now in WWE, is now the highest-paid actor in the world and one of most recognizable people on the planet. In music you would be hard pressed to find a hip-hop artist who has never rapped a lyric about pro-wrestling. Kendrick Lamar, for instance, used the line 'sweet chin music,' in his definitive Drake diss track 'Not Like Us,' a reference to the finishing move of WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels. In 2017, meanwhile, influencer Kendall Jenner even rocked an oversized nWo logo shirt at a Michael Kors show during New York fashion week. 'To understand pro wrestling is to understand America itself,' writes Raimondi. 'It's capitalism, it's materialism. It's bombast. A wrestling program is like a TikTok algorithm come to life.' Almost inevitably, the success of nWo and the WCW meant that WWF — the bigger of the two operations — began to eye its competitor and in March 2001 bought out its rival, acquiring all of the organization's assets for $4.2 million. Now, the nWo was living on borrowed time. While Hogan, Hall and Nash briefly rehashed their act in WWF — and new members of the faction came and went — Vince McMahon announced that the New World Order had been disbanded on July 15, 2002, during an episode of 'Raw.' While the nWo was no more, the founders could at least take comfort from the impact they had, both in the wrestling ring and outside it. 'The nWo was more than just a wrestling faction; it was a cultural phenomenon that redefined the landscape of professional wrestling,' adds Raimondi. 9 Author and former ESPN journalist Marc Raimondi. And while Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan are still here to tell their story, the other founding member, Scott Hall, passed away in March 2022, after he suffered three heart attacks as a result of a blood clot that developed after a hip operation. He was 63. Prior to his death, when Hall was first inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, he gave a speech explaining what being a member of the New World Order had meant to him. 'Hard work pays off — dreams come true,' he said. 'Bad times don't last. But Bad Guys do.'
