BY SACNILK

WWE fans eager for the return of the "Celtic Warrior" Sheamus will have to wait a little longer. While a recent Raw video package hyped his comeback, sources suggest it might not happen until after the upcoming WWE Draft. ## Sheamus' absence since August 2023 due to a shoulder injury has seen significant changes. His Brawling Brutes stable dissolved, with Pete Dunne (now back to his original name) teaming with Tyler Bate as "New Catch Republic," and Ridge Holland venturing to NXT with a developing storyline.## The Draft, scheduled for SmackDown on April 26th and Raw on April 29th, could be a defining moment for Sheamus. Fightful Select reports that his return might coincide with the Draft, potentially landing him on a new brand altogether.## Sheamus' last WWE appearance was a losing effort against Edge on SmackDown in August 2023. Edge has since left for AEW, leaving a void in the upper card that Sheamus' return could help fill.## With the Draft looming and Sheamus ready to unleash his Celtic rage, the WWE landscape is primed for a shakeup.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

WrestleMania 40, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia over April 6th and 7th, has cemented its place in WWE history as the company's most successful event ever.## The two-night extravaganza shattered numerous records, including attendance, viewership, merchandise sales, and social media engagement. ## WrestleMania XL boasted a staggering 145,298 fans over the two nights, a 78% increase over the previous record set at WrestleMania 39. This massive crowd included attendees from all 50 states and 64 countries worldwide. ## Viewership for WrestleMania XL surged by 41% compared to the record-setting audience of WrestleMania 39. In collaboration with Fanatics, WrestleMania XL merchandise sales skyrocketed by over 20% compared to the previous record set at WrestleMania 39. ## WrestleMania XL became the most social WrestleMania ever, generating a whopping 660 million views across the two days. WWE's YouTube channel witnessed its most successful day ever on WrestleMania Sunday, garnering over 67 million views within 24 hours.## WWE World at WrestleMania, organized in partnership with Fanatics Events, became the company's highest-grossing and most-attended fan event ever. Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw, held at Wells Fargo Center before WrestleMania, drew record-breaking gates, marking the largest attendances in their respective histories. ## NXT Stand & Deliver, held alongside WrestleMania weekend, also witnessed its biggest crowd ever, with 16,545 fans attending the event at the Wells Fargo Center. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The echoes of WrestleMania 40 have barely faded, but a new storm is brewing on the horizon of WWE. On the latest episode of Monday Night Raw, The Rock made a shocking return, not to celebrate Cody Rhodes' victory as the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but to challenge him. ## Many believe that The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes is on the horizon somewhere along the line. However, there is no certainty on when it will happen. Per the latest from Dave Meltzer, the planned singles match between The Rock and Cody Rhodes will take place at 'next year's WrestleMania'. Their history goes back to Rhodes' independent wrestling days, where The Rock, already a megastar, crossed paths with a young and hungry Rhodes. The Rock, ever the showman, dismissed Rhodes, a moment that fueled the latter's determination. ## Fast forward to the present, and Rhodes, the underdog who clawed his way to the top, stands on the pinnacle. The Rock, a legend with a Hollywood career, clearly hasn't forgotten their past. His backhanded congratulations and subtle jabs, all delivered with his signature charisma, were a declaration of war. ## The Rock claims to have "made Rhodes bleed" and promises to "whoop him like a dog." This isn't just about competition; it's about personal redemption. The Rock wants to prove that despite his Hollywood hiatus, he's still The Great One, and Rhodes is just another stepping stone. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

CM Punk closes out a tremendous WrestleMania Week by addressing the people of Philadelphia after Raw goes off the air. Below check out the full transcription; ## "I used to live in Philadelphia. When I lived in Philadelphia, I worked at a little place called the Murphy Rec Center. When I signed with the WWE in 2005, I spent a year in developmental in Louisville, Kentucky. And then when I debuted on television, my first pay per view was right here in Philadelphia. I don't know, 16,000, 18,000 people. I say I don't know because I know for a fact that tonight there's over 20,000 of you maniacs filling this arena right now. ## You know what I like to see? I like to see that small set cuz I like to see all these people here behind it. And it's a testament to people like Main Event Jey Uso putting all these asses in all these seats. Now we can't do this in a city if it doesn't love professional wrestling the way Philadelphia does. ## The Wise Man can't have a Hall of Fame ceremony in a city that doesn't love extreme like Philadelphia does. And hey, I might have been born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, but the city of brotherly love welcomed me with open arms when I lived and worked here. It's a place I love coming back to, and we have just completed the single greatest weekend of WrestleMania in history. ## Over 201,000 tickets sold. So thank you, Philadelphia, for accepting this kid from Chicago into your hearts and always chanting my name. Can I speak for everybody today, Jey? Yeet. I speak for everybody in back, everybody in front of the camera, and everybody who makes this place tick, from driving trucks to working sound, to taking pictures, to holding cameras. To making sure we're safe inside and outside of hotels, and everybody in between, and all their families at home that miss us when we leave. I mean it when I say this, we love you. Thank you, Philadelphia." ## If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit Sacnilk.com and link to this page. ## ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Seth Rollins, one of WWE's top stars, will be taking time off to heal an injured knee, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. ## The exact timeline for Rollins' return is unknown, but Meltzer did report that the injury is related to his previously reported torn MCL and partially torn meniscus, which he suffered in a match against Jinder Mahal in January. ## While Rollins was able to return for the WrestleMania season after pushing through the initial injury, it appears further rest is now necessary.## This news comes after Rollins competed in two high-profile matches at WrestleMania 40. He teamed with Cody Rhodes on the first night and then defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre on the second night. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The night after WrestleMania XL delivered a jam-packed show, filled with championship celebrations, surprise returns, brutal brawls, and a shocking main event twist. While it might not have reached the epic heights of WrestleMania itself, Raw provided a solid foundation for the upcoming storylines and left fans with plenty to discuss. ## Here are the top 5 moments from the night: ## 1. A New Era Dawns with Cody Rhodes (and The Rock Appears): ## The show kicked off with a heartwarming celebration for the new Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. Triple H introduced Rhodes, who received an ovation from the Philadelphia crowd. A touching video package chronicled Rhodes' journey to the top, culminating in his emotional victory over Roman Reigns.## However, the celebration took a surprising turn with the arrival of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The crowd's initial excitement quickly turned to boos as The Rock acknowledged Rhodes' victory but then challenged him for the title, hinting at a future showdown between the two legends. While the segment went on for nearly 45 minutes, it effectively planted the seeds for a potential blockbuster match and added intrigue to Rhodes' reign. ## 2. John Cena Makes a Surprise Return: ## One of the biggest pops of the night came when John Cena's music hit during a six-man tag team match. R-Truth, in a hilarious moment, claimed Cena as his invisible partner to even the odds against Judgment Day. The surprise return of the legendary Cena added a layer of excitement to the match and his signature moves alongside Truth and Miz resulted in a feel-good victory for the makeshift trio. This unexpected appearance not only added star power to the show but also left fans wondering if a more permanent return for Cena might be in the cards. ## 3. NXT Makes its Presence Felt: ## The night showcased the future of WWE with call-ups from NXT. Ilja Dragunov, the new NXT Champion, opened the show with an impressive victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. This dominant performance served as a strong introduction to the hard-hitting European wrestler. Additionally, Roxanne Perez, the newly crowned NXT Women's Champion, defeated Indi Hartwell. These victories not only established the dominance of NXT champions but also hinted at a potential future crossover and integration with the main roster. ## 4. Sami Zayn's Intercontinental Title Win and its Aftermath: ## Sami Zayn's emotional victory over Gunther to win the Intercontinental Championship was a feel-good moment for the underdog. His heartfelt speech acknowledging his supporters and even thanking Kevin Owens resonated with the audience. However, the celebration was short-lived as Imperium's Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser confronted Zayn. The tension escalated with the arrival of Chad Gable, setting the stage for a potential tag team partnership between Zayn and Gable. Later, Zayn announced a title defense against Gable next week on Raw in Montreal, adding another layer of intrigue to the burgeoning Intercontinental Championship storyline.## 5. CM Punk's Shocking Interference in the No. 1 Contender's Match: ## The main event of the night, a Fatal Four-Way match to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, delivered a chaotic and entertaining encounter. Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Bronson Reed, and Jey Uso battled it out, showcasing their athleticism and signature moves. The closing moments saw Jey Uso emerge victorious, setting him up for a title shot against Damian Priest. However, the biggest story came after the match.## As McIntyre appeared poised to challenge Punk for his actions at WrestleMania, Punk shockingly emerged from under the ring and tripped McIntyre, allowing Jey Uso to secure the win. This devious act by Punk left fans with a major cliffhanger and hinted at a potentially brutal rivalry between him and McIntyre in the coming weeks. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Fresh off a major title change at WrestleMania 40, the Intercontinental Championship picture is heating up. Sami Zayn's victory over Gunther ended the longest reign in the title's history, and now several superstars are jockeying for position as his first challenger. ## One such competitor is Ricochet, who took to social media to stake his claim. Bronson Reed had previously pointed out his recent victories over Zayn, but Ricochet fired back with a pointed tweet: "I beat him FOR the IC title. " ## This isn't the first time Ricochet has held the Intercontinental Championship. He defeated Sami Zayn for the title in March 2022, but his reign was cut short when Gunther dethroned him just a few months later. Zayn's WrestleMania win marked the end of Gunther's 666-day reign.## Adding fuel to the fire, Ricochet responded to a fan who argued he beat a "different" Sami Zayn. "Tbh I'm a completely different Ricochet," he replied, hinting at his own growth and development as a wrestler.## While Ricochet didn't qualify for the WrestleMania title shot, eliminated earlier in a Gauntlet match, he clearly has his eyes on the prize. With Sami Zayn as champion, the Intercontinental title scene promises to be an exciting battleground in the coming weeks. ## I beat him FOR the IC title. 👀 https://t.co/DPXTD6yalV— Ricochet (@KingRicochet) April 7, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Vince McMahon is continuing to sell off his stake in TKO, the merged entity of WWE and UFC. A new SEC filing reveals two separate stock transactions.## Firstly, McMahon is selling 1,642,970 shares to Endeavor, TKO's parent company, for $146.2 million. Secondly, he's selling 1,853,724 shares directly to TKO for $165.0 million. These sales will leave McMahon with approximately 8 million shares remaining.## The filing provides details on the agreements. Endeavor agreed to purchase the shares at $89.01 each, with a closing date expected around April 9th. TKO, on the other hand, will repurchase its own shares at the same price, with a closing date anticipated around April 10th. TKO plans to retire these repurchased shares.## This marks the latest in a series of stock sales by McMahon since November 2023. The reasons behind these divestitures remain unclear. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

New details emerged about a scrapped segment planned for WrestleMania 40 Night Two, which would have featured WWE Hall of Famers Trish Stratus and Lita. ## While WrestleMania weekend saw plenty of wrestling legends on WWE shows, it appears a segment featuring two fan favorites didn't make the final cut. According to Fightful Select, plans for Trish Stratus and Lita to appear during the Hall of Fame segment on Night Two were dropped. ## This year's Hall of Fame ceremony put Paul Heyman in the spotlight. Heyman also accompanied Roman Reigns to the ring for his Undisputed Universal Title defense against Cody Rhodes on Night Two. ## The main event saw a historic upset, with Cody Rhodes defeating Roman Reigns to end his lengthy championship reign. The match wasn't without its twists, as several stars got involved. ## Jey Uso and Seth Rollins seemingly took out members of Reigns' Bloodline faction. Then, surprise appearances by John Cena and The Undertaker helped even the odds for Cody Rhodes. ## Cena took down Solo Sikoa but was later stopped by The Rock. Following that, The Undertaker made a dramatic entrance to the ring and took out Reigns, allowing Rhodes to secure the victory. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Tonga Time might be ticking towards WWE. After a recent departure from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Tama Tonga has fueled speculation about his next destination with a cryptic social media post.## Tonga, a 14-year veteran of NJPW, was a founding member of the iconic Bullet Club faction alongside stars who now grace WWE rings – Finn Balor (AJ Styles), Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson. Following WrestleMania 40, the wrestling world set its sights on Tonga's next move, with rumors swirling about a WWE signing.## Adding fuel to the fire, Tonga updated his Twitter profile picture to a graphic image of a rotary phone. This seemingly innocuous change has wrestling fans buzzing with theories. Could the rotary phone be a hint at a pretaped "call" from WWE management, signifying his arrival?## With his deep ties to the Anoa'i family through his father, Haku, some predict Tonga's potential integration into the dominant Bloodline storyline. The Bloodline's WrestleMania 40 was a rollercoaster ride, with Jey Uso defeating Jimmy Uso and Roman Reigns & The Rock emerging victorious over Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins on Night One. However, Night Two saw a major shakeup as Roman Reigns shockingly lost his Undisputed Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes. ## #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/VqcMVUZItl— Tama Tonga (@TamaTonga01) April 8, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

While some have dubbed it the "Paul Levesque Era," the WWE Chief Content Officer himself is hesitant to define this current period in the company's history. Levesque acknowledges a transition is underway, but emphasizes a more organic approach to letting the era find its own identity, much like the iconic "Attitude Era" that wasn't labelled as such during its run.## Levesque's influence is undeniable. His rise to a leadership position has coincided with a renewed focus on in-ring storytelling and a potential shift away from the more rigidly scripted approach of recent years. Wrestlers seem to have more creative freedom, and NXT, the developmental brand Levesque previously oversaw, is seen as a breeding ground for exciting new talent.## There's a sense of optimism. Levesque, a legend himself, is a strong advocate for building new stars. During WrestleMania XL Sunday Press Conference, Triple H spoke about WWE having "no ceiling," and fans are eager to see what the future holds.## "I keep hearing it. Paul Heyman, while he didn't start it, I suppose, but Paul Heyman made a big deal out of it on Friday night. The new era, you know, talked about being 'my era,' all that 'some era, tar era.' When I say 'our,' I mean everybody in WWE—the people that endured, the people that hung in there, the people that trusted, the people that over the last year, whatever it's been, gave their sweat and tears to get to where we are, because somewhere along the way, they trusted a process that led them to remembering how much fun this is, how much of a privilege it is for us to be able to do it, how great this can be.## We all started kind of in a similar place where we just thought this was the greatest form of entertainment in the world, and we wanted to do it and work our asses off at it and make fans all around the world or make a product that they could all enjoy, and that they could love again. And so it's what people are throwing my name at the top of it. It's their era, every bit as much as mine. I can't do this without all of them. I need them to do it. And two of the people at the very tippity top of that—one is new here but has just been, no pun intended, a game changer. ## Lee Fitting from a production standpoint, from what we're doing, from the look, the feel. All of it, you see changes happening every week on TV, and there's going to be more of them, but you see them and I see people excited by them and just loving the changes that are made. But I'm telling you there's so much more to come like we made a conscious decision together to sort of lean Nick and myself to slowly roll out some of those changes. Over time. ## There's a lot more coming. But when I tell you Lee Fitting that I love working with him, he has a passion for this just like we do. Might be new here but and he's all in and for me. He's the kind of guy that I want to go to work for, I want to, I want to, I want to do stuff to make his job easier and I want to collaborate with him and I want to make things better with him. So I can't say enough good stuff about him. ## A lot of the change that you see and a lot of this success that you're seeing comes from Lee Fitting and then Nick Khan, I can't even begin to describe the change that he's made here. And as if you wanted to boil it all down to a spear tip. It should be, he should be mentioned in the top of that it's his era too because there's nobody right now. I don't even know how to say it. It's it's such an amazing partnership with a guy that I have so much respect for, manages clicks and he's the biggest difference-maker I've ever seen. And together, I can promise people with everything else I just mentioned with Lee but Nick at the top of it...there's no ceiling on this. We're gonna take you places it's never been before. So I just want to thank those guys and say when they say whatever era they want to call it, know that's for you just as much as it is for me." ## If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the source with a h/t and link back to Sacnilk for the transcription. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

CM Punk isn’t sorry about his involvement in Drew McIntyre losing the World Heavyweight Championship. ## At WWE WrestleMania, CM Punk apprently cost Drew McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship. At the event Drew McIntyre defeated Seth “Freakin” Rollins to win the World Heavyweight Title. ## Dejected, Rollins left the ring, muttering a seeming acceptance to the champion. Meanwhile, a triumphant McIntyre taunted Punk at commentary, even mimicking DX's crotch chop. Punk, enraged, tripped McIntyre and blasted him with his brace. ## Priest sprinted to the ring, cashed in his briefcase on a vulnerable McIntyre, and secured the win with South of Heaven. The new champion, Priest, celebrated with Judgment Day on the stage. ## During a WrestleMania XL Sunday exclusive video, Punk stated the following; ## "The Money in the Bank briefcase is always gonna be connected to CM Punk. Just like WWE is always gonna be connected to CM Punk.## If I have any bit of advice for Drew McIntyre, to quote a great man: Never throw rocks at a man with a machine gun."## ## If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the source with a h/t and link back to Sacnilk for the transcription. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...