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Remembering WrestleMania I and XII 💔, Raw Preview from London 🇬🇧, Gunther and Punk Sing 🎤
Monday, March 31st, 2025
Good morning. Today we have a look back at two WrestleManias, a preview for Raw today airing live from London 🇬🇧 at 3pm EST, Gunther and CM Punk signing, and Dax Hardwood’s harsh temper. Plus Bret Hart getting the HoF 3 times, looking at a crazy fan sign for Rhea, and much more. But before we get going I had a quick question about the email subject lines, like the one above, Remembering WrestleMania I and XII 💔, Raw Preview from London 🇬🇧, Gunther and Punk Sing 🎤…
What do you think of the email subject line with 3 headlines and an emoji for each? |
Ok, now lets dig in!
🗓️ On This Day - 1985 & 1998
The Very First WrestleMania Makes History
40 years ago today, the inaugural WrestleMania took place at Madison Square Garden and is widely considered the event that launched modern professional wrestling as we know it. With mainstream celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Cyndi Lauper, Liberace, and Mr. T involved, the spectacle blurred the lines between sports and entertainment. The main event saw WWF Champion Hulk Hogan team with Mr. T to defeat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff in a star-studded tag match, solidifying Hogan’s place as the face of the company. Over 1 million viewers watched via closed-circuit television, helping WWE (then WWF) take its first major step into the pop culture spotlight.
Iron Man Main Event Caps Off a Transition Era WrestleMania
29 years ago today, WrestleMania XII was held in Anaheim, California, and was headlined by the legendary 60-minute Iron Man Match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. The match ended 0-0 in regulation before Shawn won in sudden death overtime to capture his first WWF Championship. The card also featured the Hollywood Backlot Brawl between Goldust and Roddy Piper, The Undertaker vs. Diesel, and the return of Ultimate Warrior. This event marked both the debut and farewell of several iconic superstars, further symbolizing a major changing of the guard in WWE history.
❄️ Winter Madness 🏆
The Sweet Sixteen Seventeen
Welcome to Winter Madness, where we’re on a mission to crown the most popular WWE star across Morning Dirt Sheet! Every day, two legends step into the spotlight, but only one can advance.
Yesterday history didn’t repeat itself. (5) CM Punk couldn’t capture the same magic he found at Money in the Bank 2011 as he fell short to (1) John Cena!
Today we have (6) Kurt Angle (You Suck!) taking on Drax (7) Batista!
⬇️ Vote for the wrestler you want to see advance! |
🔮 WWE Raw Preview - MM DD, 2025
Live from London 🇬🇧, 3pm EST on Netflix
John Cena and Cody Rhodes face-to-face
Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley vs IYO SKY (Bianca Belair as special guest referee)
Gunther vs. Jimmy Uso
Bron Breakker & Penta vs. “The Judgement Day” Finn Bálor & Dominik Mysterio
“The New Day” vs. A Mystery Team
WWE News, Rumors & Updates
WWE's naming of WrestleMania's main events has been a historical point of contention, with fans often left confused by WWE's inconsistent definitions of a "main event." This year, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins are set to headline the Show of Shows, while John Cena and Cody Rhodes vie for the Undisputed Title. Yet, the exact line-up for the two-night spectacle remains unclear. This article discusses the messy precedent set since 1993 when the Royal Rumble winner started challenging for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. It argues that "the true main event of WrestleMania is whatever draws your interest, no matter what WWE promotes."
WWE World Champion Gunther and CM Punk pleasantly surprised fans in Vienna, Austria. Post their cage match, Punk, in a rare break of character, praised Gunther and the Austrian fans, stating, "This man is a champion for a reason. He represents championship-caliber people—hardworking, blue-collar, salt-of-the-earth Vienna pride. Congratulations, champ." An unforgettable moment was when Gunther, in response, sang a Vienna folk song, sending the fans home on a high note. Despite Punk's attempt to add the World Heavyweight Championship to his WrestleMania main event, Gunther prevailed, keeping his title and his 'Mania date with Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso intact.
Rhea Ripley, real name Demi Bennett, has experienced a remarkable transformation since her early days in Riot City Wrestling to her current status as WWE's "Mami." Her journey, which began on the independent scene in Australia, has seen her conquer both the WWE NXT and the main roster, earning the admiration of fans and fellow wrestlers alike. Ripley's evolution in WWE is a testament to her resilience and talent, and at just 28, she has already secured her place in wrestling history. Despite the pair's on-screen breakup, Ripley remains 'Mami' to the masses.
Despite being snubbed from WrestleMania 41, WWE Superstar The Miz remains undeterred. His anticipated storyline with The Wyatt Sicks was cut short due to Bo Dallas's injury, leaving him without a match at the prestigious event. In a recent interview with Metro, The Miz expressed his ambition to continue competing at the top level: "No! No, it’s not easy! You kidding me? As a WWE superstar, if your goal is not to main event WrestleMania and be the WWE or [World Heavyweight] Champion, then you shouldn’t be here... And I do feel I can produce at that level still to this day. It’s just, you know, sometimes the cards don’t fall where they may."
WWE President Nick Khan revealed a plan to hold a major event in India by 2027. Whether it’s a Raw, SmackDown, or full PLE, the move aligns with WWE’s global strategy and Netflix partnership. “We’re penciling out 2026 and 2027 now,” Khan said, identifying India as a key market for WWE’s future.
❤️ Adam Sandler and Pro Wrestling
Think professional wrestling is entirely staged? Sam Palmer's piece for Wrestling Inc tackles the behind-the-scenes realities of the wrestling industry. From the grueling physicality of the athletes and the rigidity of the ring, to genuine storylines and improvised promos, Palmer dispels the "fake" perceptions. He also discusses fan interactions, the very real blood and injuries, and the toll this demanding entertainment industry takes on the human body. As Palmer aptly concludes, "wrestling is more real than most people would like to admit."
AEW News and Rumors & Updates
Former WWE and AEW star, Saraya, has shed light on the grueling journey of penning her debut book, "Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives." In a recent appearance on 'Busted Open,' she shared, "It was a tough write...I'm not a person to be open about my feelings very often." She revealed it took two years to complete, with the first year spent narrating her story to a ghostwriter, only to rewrite it herself. The book outlines her wrestling journey, with no negative stories about WWE or AEW, and details her victory at AEW All In 2023.
Dax Harwood's fiery temper could land him in hot water with AEW after a recent incident on Collision. The altercation occurred post-match with Wheeler Yuta, leading to Harwood clashing with the referee and fellow wrestler, Cash Wheeler. "Harwood has a mess to clean up. He needs to repair his relationship with Wheeler very quickly," says the report, noting how the upcoming match at Dynasty could be impacted. Harwood's future now hangs in the balance, as similar actions have seen others suspended by the AEW disciplinary committee.
Top Reddit Threads
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🎬 Whats with Netflix/WWE adding "This is awesome" chants into random matches, that just didn't happen?
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