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Roman Reigns Retirement 🎬, WrestleMania Main Events Crossword 📝, Rusev Return 🇧🇬
Friday, April 18th, 2025
Good morning. Today we look back at WWE Backlash 2004, where Chris Benoit retained his title in front of a hometown crowd and Randy Orton took a brutal step toward superstardom. In the news, Randy Orton’s WrestleMania mystery opponent still hasn’t been revealed, Seth Rollins shared strong words about Hulk Hogan, Big E confirmed Rusev’s WWE return, and Jon Moxley challenged Samoa Joe for another crack at the AEW title. Reddit is buzzing over CM Punk’s WrestleMania entrance, RAW’s Netflix ratings dip, and a wild photo of Penta above the Vegas Strip. But before we dig in…
It’s time to play The Friday Crossword!
From Hulkamania to the Bloodline, these are the biggest matches in WWE history, the main events! Each year, WrestleMania delivers a spectacle — and at the heart of it all is the main event. This week’s crossword challenges you to name the stars who’ve headlined the biggest stage of them all. From championship clashes to iconic rivalries, how many can you remember?
Play the WrestleMania Main Event Crossword here!
🗓️ On This Day - 2004
Benoit Triumphs Again in a Brutal Triple Threat Rematch
21 years ago today, WWE presented Backlash from the sold-out Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. The show served as a direct follow-up to WrestleMania XX and featured Chris Benoit defending the World Heavyweight Championship in his hometown. In the main event, Benoit submitted Shawn Michaels with the Sharpshooter to retain the title in a rematch of the iconic WrestleMania triple threat also involving Triple H.
The undercard delivered as well. Randy Orton and Cactus Jack clashed in a violent No Holds Barred match that saw Orton take a bump into thumbtacks, then finish Foley off with an RKO onto a barbed wire bat to retain the Intercontinental Championship. Elsewhere, Edge returned to action after a 14-month absence due to neck surgery, defeating Kane, while Chris Jericho overcame Christian and Trish Stratus in a 2-on-1 handicap match.
🔮 WWE SmackDown Go-Home WrestleMania Preview
Live Tonight, 8pm EST on USA
John Cena Returns to SmackDown
6-Woman Tag Team Match: Katana Chance, Kayden Carter & Zelina Vega vs. Piper Niven, Alba Fyre & Chelsea Green
Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns
WWE News, Rumors & Updates
Despite Kevin Owens' sidelining injury, Randy Orton is adamant about securing his 20th WrestleMania match. Amid speculation about Orton's opponent, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter dispels rumors about incoming WWE talent Jeff Cobb, confirming, "he is not Randy Orton’s opponent at WrestleMania." While Orton's rival remains a mystery, Solo Sikoa and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis are potential contenders. Orton is expected to reveal his adversary during the April 18th SmackDown.
Big E and Tyler Breeze stumbled upon a Rusev autographed card during a Fanatics Live Signing, sparking excitement. Big E shared, "Someone who has just been announced to return. I actually reached out to him and he confirmed that the news is indeed true. I don't know when he'll be back. A blast from the past and now very topical because he just announced he is returning to the squared circle in World Wrestling Entertainment." After a hiatus, Rusev's WWE return is officially on the cards. His return date remains under wraps.
Seth Rollins has once again expressed his disappointment over Hulk Hogan's downfall in an interview on 'Outta Pocket with RGIII'. Rollins suggests that Hogan, though a great influence on his career, has let his own ego alienate fans and peers alike. 'But you put those two things together, you kind of have dug your own grave, man. If you don’t feel like you want to make that progress in your life with the people around you, then that’s just not the kind of person I want to associate with.' Rollins laments Hogan's failure to make amends for past racial slurs and calls for a change of mindset.
Longtime WWE mainstay Roman Reigns reveals a potential retirement timeline in a recent Vanity Fair interview. Reigns, real name Joe Anoa’i, indicates his WWE contract expires post-WrestleMania 42 in 2026, and he foresees a maximum of a year or two more in the ring. 'After I finish the contract that I’m in, we probably got another year or two max,' Reigns states, hinting at a future in less physical forms of entertainment, possibly following in The Rock's footsteps into Hollywood.
AEW News and Rumors & Updates
From instant classics to controversial moments, the latest episode of AEW Dynamite was a mixed bag. Athena and Mercedes Mone's bout was hailed as an 'instant classic', while MJF's attempt to join The Hurt Syndicate was both loved for its entertainment value and slammed for being 'tone deaf and corny'. The surprise victory of The Opps over The Death Riders also garnered mixed reviews, with critics arguing that two star-studded matches deserved the spotlight instead…can’t say I agree with their take on the Will Ospreay match though!
After a surprising title loss on AEW Dynamite, Jon Moxley isn't taking it lying down. He kicked off AEW Collision with a bang, venting frustrations and then laying down a challenge to Samoa Joe. 'Moxley proceeded to challenge Samoa Joe to a future match, noting that he would be willing to put the AEW World Championship on the line.' Stay tuned for updates on this brewing rivalry and potential championship clash.
AEW's much-awaited Forbidden Door announcement had to be put on hold due to a WWE event. The O2 Arena had a contract with WWE that prevented other wrestling promotions from announcing events 15 days post a WWE show. 'The contract specified that no other wrestling promotion could announce a date in the building until 15 days after the WWE show takes place,' reported Dave Meltzer. AEW's Forbidden Door is now officially set to take place on August 24 at the O2 Arena.
Former AEW Women's Champion, Mariah May, has dropped cryptic hints of an AEW exit and possible WWE entry. 'You can't make the wrong decision because every decision leads you to where you're supposed to be,' she posted on Instagram. Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer suggests her future looks WWE-bound as AEW's Tony Khan typically benches departing talent. May's contract is rumored to be expiring this summer, but nothing is confirmed yet.
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