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- Ray Fenix Debuts Tonight 💥, AEW Injury Updates 🚑, Cena Ice Cream Deal 🍦
Ray Fenix Debuts Tonight 💥, AEW Injury Updates 🚑, Cena Ice Cream Deal 🍦
Friday, April 4th, 2025
Good morning. Today we look back to The Rock and John Cena announcing a WrestleMania main event a full year in advance, plus a preview of SmackDown tonight. We’ve also got injury updates on Orange Cassidy and Jay White, a look at how WrestleMania 41 is shaping up, news on Cena’s summer-long Drumstick campaign, and rumors swirling around Sting, Samoa Joe, and much more. But before we dig in…
It’s time to play the game the Friday crossword!
For the next few weeks on the road to WrestleMania, each Friday crossword will be WrestleMania-themed.
Some of the most unforgettable WrestleMania moments didn’t close the show — they stole it halfway through. This week’s Friday crossword features 20 of the most iconic non-main event matches in WrestleMania history. From ladder matches and career-ending showdowns to emotional retirements and dream bouts, see how many of these unforgettable classics you can recall in this WrestleMania themed crossword!
Part 2 drops next week with 21 more game-changing matches from the Grandest Stage of Them All.
🗓️ On This Day - 2011
The Once-in-a-Lifetime Main Event is Set
14 years ago today, the night after WrestleMania XXVII, WWE made history on Raw when The Rock and John Cena agreed to face each other in the main event of WrestleMania XXVIII—a full year in advance. This was the first (and so far only) time a WrestleMania main event was officially announced an entire year ahead of the event.
The announcement came after The Rock had cost Cena the WWE Championship the night before, leading to tension between the two. Standing in the ring in front of a red-hot post-Mania crowd, Rock and Cena shook hands and agreed to what was billed as a "Once in a Lifetime" match. While the two would ultimately wrestle again at WrestleMania 29, the hype surrounding their initial showdown in Miami made it one of the most heavily promoted matches in WWE history.
❄️ Winter Madness 🏆
The Elite Eight Ten
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 (5) Macho Man Randy Savage overcame (2) Ric Flair to move onto The Final Four and represent The Golden Era in the finals! OOH YA!
Today we have the final matchup in The Attitude Era as (1) Stone Cold Steve Austin takes on a Morning Dirt Sheet favorite, (6) Mankind!
⬇️ Vote for the wrestler you want to see advance! |
🔮 WWE SmackDown Preview - MM DD, 2025
Live Tonight, 8pm EST on USA
Rey Fenix debuts
CM Punk to confront Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins
Last Man Standing match: Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu
Naomi vs. B-Fab
WWE News, Rumors & Updates
The lineup for WWE WrestleMania 41 is slowly coming into view. The marquee showdown of CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns is set to headline the first night, while the WWE Title match between Cody Rhodes and John Cena will close out the second night. However, the decision has stirred controversy among fans, many of whom are disappointed that neither Royal Rumble winner nor a women's match will headline. According to a new report from Wrestle Votes, the Triple Threat Match and the World Heavyweight Title match featuring Gunther and Jey Uso will share the same night. The report also hints at the potential appearance of two WWE Hall of Famers.
John Cena has partnered with ice cream brand Drumstick as part of a WWE campaign for snack supremacy. The campaign begins at WrestleMania 41 and continues through SummerSlam, featuring social contests, exclusive content, and more. "It is such an honor to partner with Drumstick... I’m grateful to get to bring two things I love together under one roof,” said Cena. Expect plot twists, surprises, and giveaways all summer long as Drumstick strives to 'Snackdown' competitors and claim the title of Snackdown Champion.
Karrion Kross recently discussed his past feud with the Wyatt Sicks and potential plans for the future during an interview on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez. He fondly reflected on the multi-person tag team match in December 2024, where his faction, The Final Testament, came out victorious. Kross expressed his desire to revisit the storyline, hinting at unexplored potential. "I had tons of ideas with Windham that we wanted to do... They need a strong opposition... I want to be the villain they deserve," Kross said. Additionally, he revealed a scrapped idea of him donning the Fiend mask, symbolizing a struggle for Bray Wyatt to confront his darker side.
AEW News and Rumors & Updates
The Wrestling Inc. staff reviews the April 2, 2025 episode of AEW Dynamite, highlighting three loves and three hates. Will Ospreay's declaration of entering the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and the subsequent focus on this event was highly lauded, while the opening match between Willow Nightingale & Swerve Strickland vs. Marina Shafir & Jon Moxley was considered a mess. Harley Cameron's backstage segment was a bright spot, but the sequencing of The Hurt Syndicate, MJF, Bryan Keith, and Big Bill segments was criticized. Brody King's match against Lance Archer was appreciated for its simplicity, but Claudio Castagnoli's match with Cope was viewed as disappointing.
Former AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy is the latest casualty in AEW's injury list, joining 'Switchblade' Jay White. Fightful Select reports that Cassidy may have torn his pectoral muscle but the diagnosis is still unconfirmed. The injury's timing remains unclear, but speculation leans towards his last match in the AEW International Championship Eliminator Tournament on March 19. AEW sources confirm that Cassidy's injury is serious enough to keep him off TV indefinitely, though it's unclear whether surgery will be required.
AEW star Jay White, previously declared as an entrant in the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, has been removed due to an injury requiring surgery. On a recent Wrestling Observer Radio episode, Dave Meltzer reported, "So I heard Jay White [has a] broken hand, and [needs] surgery." Bryan Alvarez chimed in, "I heard that Jay White was injured, but I guess surgery... he's out, it's a legitimate injury." This marks the second consecutive year White has had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
Tony Khan, AEW CEO, has praised Jon Moxley's spine-chilling spiked bat stunt, calling it a risk that "really paid off". Despite some fans finding it too gruesome, Khan insists the stunt aligned with AEW's mission to offer an alternative to WWE. "It was a great Street Fight, Mox versus Cope. It was a big success for us." he said. Not only did it generate buzz, but the video has been watched millions of times across multiple platforms, contributing to the company's profitability. Moxley's victory over Cope solidified his place as AEW World Champion, and he's set to defend his title against Swerve Strickland at AEW Dynasty.
WWE's 2025 Hall of Fame induction is stirring up conversations as Lex Luger wishes to have his good friend Sting induct him. However, Sting's current contract with AEW raises the question of whether Tony Khan, AEW President, would permit this crossover. Khan, who was recently asked about it, expressed uncertainty. “I’m not sure. You know, I’m very focused on AEW Dynasty... Haven’t heard from him about that,” he shared. As the Hall of Fame ceremony approaches, fans are eager to see how this situation unravels.
Former AEW world champion, Samoa Joe, hints at impending retirement in a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. Despite his successful career spanning over two decades, Joe is contemplating hanging up his boots. "It’s probably coming sooner than later, which is fine… I will do this for a little longer, and then, yeah, I think the end is probably sooner than any new deal being signed," he said. Fans are curious whether Joe’s in-ring career will truly be over when his AEW contract expires, but for now, they can enjoy him at AEW Dynasty this Sunday.
Top Reddit Threads
😔 Samoa Joe on the Tyson Kidd accident: “To this day that probably remains the largest regret in my career that happened….But that doesn’t change things for Tyson...”
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🔥 Ok these Liv and Dom pics from India are fire. They are a good looking duo. (More in comments)
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💔 Charlotte on her divorce: “I felt like I was failing at my job. I felt like I was failing at my personal life... I have failed again.”
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🎤 I don't like how some people are claiming that Cena "held back" in his promo against Cody...
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👏 AJ v Shane had no right to be this good
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🏆 For the first time in over 10 years, neither Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar will compete in a world championship match at WrestleMania.
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🤔 Feel like this could actually be the favour
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