WRESTLEMANIA WEEK SCOOPS: Trump, Natalya, Rusev, Media Day, Smackdown
Added 2025-04-18 20:03:57 +0000 UTCSources we spoke to in WWE said that they were impressed with Natalya at Bloodsport, and that Natalya was extremely happy and felt vindicated after the performance.
Natalya is expected to face Kenzie Paige in NWA at Crockett Cup next month after their post-match fight.
There were a number of higher ups from WWE at Bloodsport with all of the talent there.
WWE is heavily scouting the indies this week in Las Vegas.
Buddy Matthews and Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World) were at the talent hotel. Unfortunately they were not hanging out together, so no Buddy Meets World yet.
Regarding the possibility of Donald Trump appearing at WrestleMania after the heavy WWE endorsements this week, creative has not been told that it is happening, and we've not been told of anyone who has been informed to prepare for it. There are also additional security and planning measures that would need to be in place.
As of the day Kevin Owens announced he was hurt, Rusev was not planned to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania. If he does end up facing Orton, it will have came together since then.
WWE had added deals with Comcast XFinity, Morgan & Morgan, and extended with Cricket Wireless this week.
Smackdown
Some early Smackdown notes -- as of this afternoon, Seth Rollins was set to open Smackdown.
Cody Rhodes and John Cena were listed as closing the show, with a producer attached. Producer inclusion usually indicates physicality.
WrestleMania Media Day with Joel Pearl
GUNTHER said maybe one day he'd like to return to Bloodsport, but it's not a mature approach right now considering his goal is to continue as world champion.
Dakota Kai spoke about the NXT Halloween Battle Royal and said it was fun to do things that she never thought she would get to do, because it wasn't on TV. She also enjoyed her first scotch egg.
We spoke to Lyra Valkyria. She and Bayley haven't named their team and have had terrible suggestions. She doesn't think she's getting a special entrance, but she's excited for her gear. Evanescence or Nightwing would play her out if she could pick. She also said she wants Meiko Satomura's last match if she could get it.
Carlito says the talent have accepted him as an elder statesman and it's a role he's embraced. He said you can't hold on to your prime forever. He admitted being a part of Judgment Day is random, but he feel that they have good chemistry and he fits in anywhere. He called Dominik the Great Mysterio, and Rey a bum. He's very happy that John Cena is retiring on his own terms and thinks he deserves a 17th title. He would also be open to doing stuff with the Colons in TNA.
Comments
NWA gonna be watchable again?
Matthew Brownlee
2025-04-19 02:40:30 +0000 UTCWWE is so gross
Andrew Bates
2025-04-19 00:45:15 +0000 UTCHe needs to stay at the White House, I am sick of my taxes paying for his trips!
Jeremy Thompson
2025-04-18 23:20:35 +0000 UTCAppreciate it!
Shannon Willis
2025-04-18 21:40:52 +0000 UTCDefinitely Lyra
Brandon
2025-04-18 21:36:02 +0000 UTCI really hope he doesn’t show up. Please don’t divide the crowd like that
Brandon
2025-04-18 21:35:31 +0000 UTC"She" as in Lyra or Bayley? Just for quick context.
Shannon Willis
2025-04-18 21:31:36 +0000 UTCFair, but Roman was pretty thorough as to why he liked Trump being our President/leader and those reasons were why he voted for him. I wish I didn’t know that these were Roman’s bone-headed beliefs because now I can never ‘ unsee’ them. Kind of like Nia Jax’s unnecessary rants on COVID vaccinations. 🙄
AW
2025-04-18 21:19:16 +0000 UTCIt also disgusts me. I'm pretty sure that I'm done with WWE after this weekend and I'm sure I'm not making it through Mania if Trump shows up
LostRhino
2025-04-18 20:41:36 +0000 UTCSo either McAfee was lying crazy or a lot of people working security are going to have a very annoying weekend
GarretRan
2025-04-18 20:37:41 +0000 UTCRoman said he voted for him despite being a Democrat, triple h said he was good at getting heat, Roman seemed a little more put together and said there were things he liked and didn’t like, but to me triple h’s felt like typical commonplace triple h tone deafness
Justmask
2025-04-18 20:37:28 +0000 UTCAt least Reigns and HHH have said that they voted for and are fans of his in media over the last couple of days.
ES
2025-04-18 20:33:52 +0000 UTCCan someone fill me in on the WWE Trump endorsements this week? That makes me very uncomfortable.
Keith Robinson
2025-04-18 20:19:09 +0000 UTCThank you for the Buddy Matthews and Rider Strong update. This collab could be big, people.
John Horton
2025-04-18 20:16:43 +0000 UTCWish Nat got one last big push. Seems weird that they’re always impressed with her and her work but it’s never really rewarded.
thaddperkins
2025-04-18 20:14:56 +0000 UTCI love how it was just Buddy Matthews staying at the hotel with Shawn hunter. But no mention of Rhea. Like I assume they are sharing a room
Abby Branch
2025-04-18 20:11:42 +0000 UTCSo no Nick Aldis v Orton? Darn. I kinda suspected that it wouldn't happen when Randy brought it up himself on TV. If it's Malakai and he gets his NXT Theme and entrance that would be so dope! If they give him a Def Rebel theme, I will be disappointed..
Vain Valor
2025-04-18 20:08:46 +0000 UTC