In a blistering diatribe on X (formerly known as Twitter), “The Nature Boy” took a scorched Earth approach to the seemingly unanswerable question of “Who killed WCW?” and specifically named several former high-ranking WCW officials – Jim Herd, Eric Bischoff, and Vince Russo – who he referred to as “A Three-Headed Monster:”

Flair, who "retired" from wrestling in 2022, had beef with all three men named in the above quote throughout different portions of his run in WCW during much of the promotion’s existence. It didn’t stop when WCW was purchased by WWE (known as WWF at the time) in March 2001. In fact, it looks like these grudges won’t be coming to an end anytime soon.

Jim Herd and Flair butted heads throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s when the former was named Executive Vice President of WCW. Herd famously stripped Flair of his WCW World Heavyweight Championship and fired the NWA mainstay in July 1991, which led to Flair showing up on WWF programming with the “Big Gold” belt and ultimately winning the WWF Championship at the 1992 Royal Rumble.

Flair pointing out Herd felt a little random, especially since the executive wasn’t part of the company when it took its death spiral just after the turn of the 21st century. Still, hos comments about Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo are pretty standard among wrestlers and wrestling fans, as both men have been the scapegoats for the company’s shuttering in 2001. I previously wrote that while it makes sense for Bischoff and Russo to be blamed for WCW’s downfall, the AOL Time Warner merger did just as much damage to the company, if not more.

If you want to know more about World Championship Wrestling and everything that led to its downfall, check out Who Killed WCW? Tuesday nights on Vice TV, one of the most exciting and enlightening wrestling shows on the 2024 TV calendar.

Ricochet is, from a workrate, moveset and talent perspective, one of the best in-ring performers WWE has. He’s able to do things no one else in the company can, which is why he’s had some big moments and big pushes. He won The United States Championship and The Intercontinental Championship. He also won The Smackdown World Cup, the inaugural WWE Speed Tournament and had one of WWE’s most viral moments ever alongside Logan Paul. Most performers can only dream about having a career with that many highs, but in between those really solid upper mid-card moments, the Human Highlight Reel has also had a lot of periods in which he’s repeatedly taken losses and/ or been shunted to the side.

Yes, he was The Intercontinental Champion in 2022, but despite holding the belt, he didn’t get a match at WrestleMania. He defended his title in a triple threat match on the SmackDown before ‘Mania. Yes, he defeated Samoa Joe for The United States Championship, but he didn’t even hold the title for a month before dropping it to AJ Styles. Yes, he won the first WWE Speed Tournament, but he’s done nothing but take Ls on TV since. In fact, look at this tweet he liked mere days before PW Insider reported he’s leaving the company…

That’s far from the only tweet that shows a level of dissatisfaction either. Over the last several weeks, he’s hammered the like button on a bunch of messages calling out WWE for how he’s being used. A few discussed the perception that he’s bad on the microphone with one saying if WWE doesn’t wanna let him talk, they should bring in a manager to talk for him. Another, which is the most recently liked tweet on his account, argued WWE should give him a chance to talk for himself. You can check that one out below…

Most fans think it’s pretty likely when Ricochet finishes his contract up, he’ll head to main rival AEW. The upstart promotion has built its reputation on stellar in-ring work, and several of the performers over there, most notably Will Ospreay, have said publicly that they think WWE should be utilizing Ricochet more. It’s easy to imagine him having some absolute classics over there, especially since AEW has also shown a willingness to allow performers to try riskier moves that WWE discourages its performers from using. 

Whether or not WWE will regret not utilizing Ricochet to its full potential is unclear. He’s certainly capable of giving more and really showed out when given opportunities, but there’s also a limited amount of TV time and space to push performers to the top. I think Ricochet is a bit better on the mic than WWE gave him credit for, but for better or worse, the company is always going to push to tell stories before delivering in-ring action. 

Triple H has definitely prioritized the actual wrestling more than McMahon did, but even so, the fastest way to get pushed in high profile storylines will always be to get over with the fans and do something compelling on the microphone. After six years, it was clear WWE didn’t feel they could get that from Ricochet; so, now it’s time to see him pull off some incredible moves elsewhere.

At this point, there’s no reason to suspect Ricochet’s heavily rumored departure will have any affect on his fiancée Samantha Irvin, who is WWE’s primary ring announcer. Unlike her future husband, she’s been loudly pushed as a cornerstone of WWE’s supporting talent. It would be tremendous blow to see her walk out the door too, but despite some fan rumblings on Twitter, there’s no reason to think that’s going to happen. The wrestling business is filled with significant others who work in different companies.

Ricochet is currently involved in a program with Bron Breakker and Ilya Dragunov. Outlets are claiming he’ll be written off television shortly, but I really hope WWE gives us a premium live event triple threat match with these guys on his way out the door. They could really put on a banger, and given all he’s given to the company over the years, it would be nice to see them give him the chance to deliver one more highlight. 

MJF recently returned to AEW, officially laying to rest any speculation that he'd leave the company for WWE when his contract was up in 2024. While the wrestler doesn't want to appear at any upcoming WWE events anytime soon, he did show some respect for a rostered wrestler when the AEW merchandising team incorrectly referred to him as the "Lone Wolf:"

I feel that MJF shows a tremendous amount of respect here to be the top guy in AEW and correctly attribute a nickname to a WWE talent. And let's be honest, Baron Corbin has been pushed down the WWE ladder despite opinions in the fandom that he should have a major title run. MJF could've easily used this moment to further kick the talent while he's making moves back at NXT, but he went the other direction. Corbin seemed to appreciate the gesture, and returned the kindness it with another one: 

Merch sales talk in the pro wrestling world, so good on Baron Corbin for hyping the T-shirt even though he doesn't benefit from doing so at all. With that said, longtime wrestling fans who follow both on social media might know MJF and Corbin have had this kind of back-and-forth going on for years. They even met up on the red carpet for the premiere of the well-reviewed The Iron Claw, which MJF had a small role in. 

I think the most hilarious part of MJF and Baron Corbin's frequent X interactions is that both wrestlers remain in character when they talk, so it's like they're kayfabe best friends. 

If we see MJF eventually make his way to the WWE one day, I'd love to see them become a tag team and Corbin get the respect on the main roster he's worked toward since being called up from NXT in 2016. Revisit his win in the Andre The Giant Battle Royale with a Peacock Premium subscription, and you'll see a guy whose character has shifted drastically over the years from where he started. 

Of course, any chance of MJF coming to WWE would rely on AEW ceasing to exist, as it doesn't seem like the company will part with its top star. He's the best thing to happen to AEW and pro wrestling in general, and the company was forced to suffer without him for months due to injury. We'll see where he goes from here, but ultimately I'm glad to see him back in the mix overall. 

Catch AEW: Dynamite on the 2024 TV schedule on TBS every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET. With MJF back, I'm sure there will be ample reason to tune in, even for those who spend most of their time watching the WWE. 

That being said, we’ve decided to put together a breakdown of every championship in WWE, the current champions, how and where they won the gold, and who might be the wrestler lucky enough to defeat them in the future. Below, you’ll find both the short answer (a table with all the key information) and the long answer providing a greater context and additional commentary. 

With so many upcoming WWE events on the way, make sure to keep checking back for all the changes.

The Short Answer

In need of a quick reference guide for all the champions on the WWE roster? If so, check out the handy table we put together that's easy-to-read and has all the key information on how the likes of Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, and Logan Paul won their respective titles. 

The Long Answer

The table found above has all the key information about how the various champions in WWE started their current reigns, but it lacks a lot of the context of how those championships came to be. Let’s spend some time getting to know each of the champions, how they won their respective championships, and who we think is most likely to defeat them for all the gold in the near future.

Undisputed WWE Championship

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes finally finished his story and captured the championship that had long alluded him when he ended Roman Reigns’ historic title run at WrestleMania XL in April 2024. Arguably the most ridiculous main event of all time, this star-studded affair had it all, but did leave some unfinished business between Rhodes and The Rock.

That being said, there’s a very good chance that The Rock returns from Hollywood once more and defeats Rhodes at either SummerSlam or closer to WrestleMania 41 in 2025.

World Heavyweight Championship

Damian Priest went from El Senor Money in the Bank to El Camperon when he cashed in his briefcase and took advantage of an exhausted World Heavyweight Champion Drew McIntyre (who won the belt five minutes earlier) at Night Two of WrestleMania XL. The Judgment Day member has had a great run since then and has put on some great matches against the likes of Jey Uso, further elevating the WHC.

With Gunther winning the King of the Ring tournament and a shot at the title at SummerSlam in August 2024, there’s a good chance we see the Ring General become a world champion by defeating Priest in what could be one hell of a match.

Women's World Championship

Liv Morgan is holding down the Women’s World Championship after defeating Becky Lynch in the opening match at the King and Queen of the Ring PLE held in Saudi Arabia in May 2024. The two-time champion had been on a great run ever since returning from injury at the Royal Rumble and was on a collision course with Rhea Ripley before the Judgment Day member was taken out of action.

Morgan has been toying with Dominik Mysterio, Ripley’s on-screen boyfriend, for a while now, and it seems like it’s all going to lead to the two former tag partners squaring off when Ripley eventually returns and takes the strap off her waist.

WWE Women's Championship

Bayley completed her incredible face-turn at WrestleMania XL when she defeated her former Damage CTRL stablemate Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Champion in convincing fashion. The fan-favorite then went on to defend her championship in a triple threat against Naomi and Tiffany Stratton at Backlash France.

However, there’s reason to believe that Bayley’s run will soon be coming to an end when she defends the belt against Queen of the Ring tournament winner Nia Jax, who has been on a killer run since returning to WWE.

Intercontinental Championship

Sami Zayn shocked the world when he brought an end to Gunther’s 650-plus-day Intercontinental Championship reign at WrestleMania XL, and no surprise, he’s been putting on outstanding matches ever since. The wrestler formerly known as El Generico could be the champ for a long time if one particular heel doesn’t get in the way.

Of course, we’re talking about Chad Gable, who turned on Zayn shortly after Mania. He’s had his eyes set on the IC Title ever since and will stop at nothing to add it to his trophy case. 

United States Championship

Logan Paul is the longest-reigning current champion in WWE, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Only a few matches into his wrestling career, the YouTuber defeated hall of famer Rey Mysterio at Crown Jewel in November 2023, and he hasn’t lost it since.

Paul will certainly be in one of the marquee matches at SummerSlam in August 2024 considering the event is taking place just miles from his hometown. It hasn’t been announced as of June 2024, but it seems like he’s on a collision course with LA Knight, who could very well give the “Maverick” a loss.

World Tag Team Championship

Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) have been the World Tag Team Champions ever since grabbing one of the two sets of titles up for grabs in the Six-Pack Ladder Match at WrestleMania XL. Though it seems like the tag straps are getting lost in the shuffle these days, that could soon change.

It wouldn’t be all that surprising if The Creed Brothers, who have been rumored to be aligning with Chad Gable for a while now, challenged and defeated Awesome Truth down the road. If that and an IC Title victory for Gable both pan out, we could have a great heel stable in our midst.

WWE Tag Team Championship

WWE Tag Team Champions A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller have been one of the hottest duos in the company throughout 2024, and there’s no reason to break them up just yet. But, when that does eventually happen, there’s a team more than deserving of dethroning them: The Street Profits.

Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford have been exciting to watch ever since first teaming up in 2016, and another championship reign is inevitable at this point. These two teams, who have great chemistry together, could put on a classic.

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship

After months of fans wondering why Jade Cargill wasn’t wrestling, the former AEW wrestler formed a team with Bianca Belair heading into WrestleMania XL. The two would go on to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship at Backlash France a month later by defeating the Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane and Asuka) and haven’t looked back.

This is another reign that won’t end for a while, but when it does (and Cargill and Belair start feuding), it’ll most likely be because of the Kabuki Warriors taking advantage of the pair’s inevitable rivalry.

WWE Speed Championship

Ricochet is the inaugural WWE Speed Champion after defeating Johnny Gargano in the final match of a tournament found exclusively on X. With a new tournament underway, it won’t be long before Ricochet defends his title in another three-minute match.

Chances are, it’ll be Tommaso Ciampa who wins the number one contender’s tournament and challenges Ricochet for the gold. Who knows, maybe it’ll lead to another great heel turn by the “Sicilian Psychopath” down the road. 

When these titles do change hands at some point in the future, you’ll be able to see it all go down with a Peacock subscription. 

You know who has had a bad few weeks? The Rock. The popular actor, wrestler and entrepreneur has been the subject of several recent negative articles and plenty of social media chatter about his alleged behavior while filming, as well as his alleged ego. If the stories are to be believed, he routinely shows up hours late to set, pees in water bottles without going to his trailer and has an inflated sense of his own importance. Oh, and also, he lies about his height, which is now being cited as evidence by some that all the other allegations must be true.

Well, I can’t speak to where he pees or what time he shows up, but as a hardcore wrestling fan, I can speak to the height situation and confirm that is not his fault. WWE typically bills him as being 6’5”, but there have certainly been plenty of reports that he’s likely a few inches shorter. He admitted in a Q&A that he's actually 6'4", though some claim he's more like 6'2". Maybe, but if he is, that’s not really on him. Almost everyone in the history of the wrestling business claims to be a height a few inches taller. You wanna know a terrible, deep dark secret? Andre The Giant was not 7’4”. He was absolutely gigantic but almost certainly more like 7’ gigantic, as you can see in this picture with Wilt Chamberlain and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Those extra four inches were just part of making his character seem larger than life. 

If you start Googling any professional wrestler and look hard enough, you’ll almost certainly find a listed height they wrestled under and an actual height they were in real life. WWE bills The Undertaker’s brother Kane as being 7’ tall. He’s so massive he even steps over the top ropes when he’s entering the ring, but one time he took a picture with 7’1” Shaq and well, he’s a lot more than an inch shorter. And you could just keep going down the list. It’s so ingrained in the industry and has been for so long that even if you wanted to go by your real height, WWE and the other promotions probably wouldn’t let you because it would only expose everyone else. 

Now, to be clear, as a wrestling fan, I’m not bothered by this. The whole point is to present a show filled with larger than life characters. It’s why some performers are billed as hailing from “Parts Unknown.” I’m sure they’re getting paid. I’m sure there’s an address listed on their tax forms, but for the purposes of the show, acts like the classic 1980s tag team Demolition are billed as being from “Parts Unknown,” which helps add to the aura of mystery surrounding them.

I’m not here to tell you not to criticize The Rock or that all the charges against him about his behavior are wrong, but I am here to tell you that lying about his height should not be taken as a sign of egomania, specifically because he’s a professional wrestler. Performers have been lying about it for as long as professional wrestler has existed, and they’ll continue to lie about it for as long as it exists in the future.

As for The Rock, he’s currently back in Hollywood shooting his new movie The Smashing Machine. He finished up his recent very successful WWE run after WrestleMania and is widely expected to return to the squared circle later this year. When he does, it’ll be to great fanfare and huge crowd reactions, no matter what his height is announced as.

After Cody Rhodes received a 5-star rating for his main event match against AJ Styles at Backlash France in May 2024, his second since returning to WWE, I started wondering how many other matches were given a stellar rating by Meltzer over the years. Though he often gives a match, like the wild WrestleMania 40 main event, too low of a rating, the legendary wrestling historian has made the right call for some of the company’s most iconic matches. 

Below is a breakdown of those matches, split up into decades, and how to watch them with a Peacock subscription, whether you’re revisiting a classic from your childhood or just now getting into wrestling. Let’s take a trip down memory lane…

WWE 5-Star Matches From The 1990s

Dave Meltzer didn’t give any WWE matches a 5-star (or better) rating in the 1980s, though Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and “Macho Man” Randy Savage deserved one for their game-changing WrestleMania III classic. It was a different story in the 1990s, as Meltzer, according to ProFightDB, considered five matches from the decade 5-star affairs, including some of the most iconic matches of all time.

Razor Ramon Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania X)

Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels both claimed to be the Intercontinental Champion heading in WrestleMania X in March 1994 and so WWE decided to settle this dispute with a ladder match. These two rivals pulled out all the stops to be the undisputed champion, creating a historic contest that ended with “The Bad Guy” standing atop a ladder with two belts held above his head.

Stream WrestleMania X on Peacock.

Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart (SummerSlam '94)

In the highly anticipated rematch to their “Brother vs. Brother” match at WrestleMania X earlier that year, Bret Hart and Owen Hart competed in an even better SummerSlam ‘94 match that has become the stuff of legend. “The Hitman” not only got his win back in the brutal steel cage match, he also received one of the highest ratings of his career.

Stream SummerSlam ‘94 on Peacock.

Bret Hart Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)

A contest that saw one of the greatest heel turns ever in professional wrestling, the no-disqualification submission match between Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 in March 1997 is one that helped usher in one of biggest boom periods in the sport’s history. These two rivals didn’t main event (they should have), but they did get a 5-star rating from Meltzer and legendary status for their efforts.

Stream WrestleMania 13 on Peacock.

Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker (In Your House 18: Badd Blood)

In Your House 18: Badd Blood saw the first Hell in a Cell match, the debut of Kane, and one of the greatest fights in WWE history when Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker squared off. All these years later, this match is still a banger.

Stream In Your House 18: Badd Blood on Peacock.

WWE 5-Star Matches From The 2010s

Dave Meltzer didn’t give any WWE match a 5-star rating in the 2000s, which is crazy, considering Steve Austin vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X-7 and Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 both took place that decade. Anyway, Meltzer changed his tune in the 2010s, especially in the final few years of the decade when he sang the praises of NXT’s up-and-comers.

CM Punk Vs. John Cena (Money In The Bank '11)

Though the Summer of Punk went out with a whimper, the months-long program did give us one of the best WWE matches of all time: CM Punk vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship. The main event of 2011’s Money in the Bank PPV took place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, and you can tell by the raucous crowd. Seriously, in terms of atmosphere, it doesn’t get much better than this.

 Stream Money in the Bank ‘11 on Peacock. 

Andrade "Cien" Almas Vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia)

Andrade "Cien" Almas, who lost his last name after WWE went crazy in the mid-to-late 2010s, put on a killer match against Johnny Gargano to defend his NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in January 2018. A grueling back-and-forth affair with some killer hope spots, this is one of the black-and-gold brand’s best showings.

 Stream NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia on Peacock. 

Adam Cole Vs. EC3 Vs. Killian Dain Vs. Lars Sullivan Vs. Ricochet Vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT TakeOver: New Orleans)

Arguably the peak of the classic version of the brand, NXT TakeOver: New Orleans was the first event in WWE history to have two 5-star match ratings. The ladder match for the inaugural NXT North American Championship is one of the best in the gimmick’s history and one that every wrestling fan should watch.

 Stream NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on Peacock.

Johnny Gargano Vs. Tommaso Ciampa (NXT TakeOver: New Orleans)

Though the WrestleMania 34 main event the following night was nothing to write home about, it’s a different story for the final match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Former DIY tag team partners Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa concluded their year-long feud in one of the most emotional and hard-hitting contests in NXT history in this unsanctioned match. 

 Stream NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on Peacock. 

Moustache Mountain Vs. The Undisputed Era (NXT)

NXT tag teams Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate and Trent Seven) and The Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly) proved that you don’t have to wait for a TakeOver event to put on a 5-star match in July 2018. During an episode of NXT’s weekly show, these four wrestlers put on an instant classic in a physical and emotional fight.

 Stream the July 11, 2018 episode of NXT on Peacock.  

Adam Cole Vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: New York)

Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano, who had history going back to their time in PWG, put on the highest-rated match in WWE history (5.5 stars) with their phenomenal two-out-of-three-falls contest for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: New York in April 2019.

 Stream NXT TakeOver: New York on Peacock. 

Johnny Gargano Vs. Adam Cole (NXT TakeOver: XXV)

Gargano and Cole would meet again at NXT TakeOver: XXV in a highly anticipated rematch that was right up there with their previous fight. Though it only received 5.25 stars, it’s still one of the best NXT and WWE matches of all time.

 Stream NXT TakeOver: XXV on Peacock.

Walter Vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK: TakeOver: Cardiff)

Walter, the man who would be renamed Gunther, put on some outstanding fights in NXT UK before being called up to the main roster, including his August 2019 main event match against Tyler Bate. With a 5.25-star rating, it's one of the highest-rated in WWE history.

 Stream NXT UK: TakeOver: Cardiff on Peacock. 

WWE 5-Star Matches From The 2020s

We are currently living through one of professional wrestling’s boom periods, and it seems like WWE is not only getting more popular but also getting much better from an in-ring standpoint. We’re not even halfway through the decade, and Dave Meltzer has already given out nearly as many 5-star ratings as in the 2010s. Let’s take a look at those decorated matches, even those not involving King of the Ring Gunther.

Walter Vs. Ilja Dragunov (NXT UK)

Who would have thought that a random episode of NXT UK would produce one of the best matches of the past five years, but that’s what happened on October 29, 2020, when Walter and Ilja Dragunov put on an outstanding fight. But this wouldn’t be the only time…

 Stream the October 29, 2020 episode of NXT UK on Peacock. 

Ilja Dragunov Vs. Walter (NXT TakeOver 36)

NXT TakeOver 36, the final installment in the PLE series, saw Walter earn another 5.25-star rating when he unsuccessfully defended his NXT United Kingdom Championship against Ilja Dragunov. Taking what made their previous bout so damn good and expanding upon it, these two created a legendary match for the ages.

Stream NXT TakeOver 36 on Peacock.

Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth "Freakin" Rollins (Hell In A Cell '22)

Cody Rhodes had a series of stellar matches against Seth “Freakin” Rollins upon his April 2022 return to WWE, including the iconic Hell in a Cell match that June. Wrestling with a torn pectoral muscle, which took him out of action for seven months, Rhodes put on a clinic with his rival, and they were rewarded with a 5-star match rating from Meltzer.

 Stream Hell in a Cell ‘22 on Peacock. 

Gunther Vs. Sheamus (Clash At The Castle '22)

Gunther and Sheamus didn’t main event Clash at the Castle in September 2022, but these two meat-slamming brawlers did put on what could be one of the best WWE matches of the past decade. Slaps, chops, kicks to the head, and old-fashioned ass-kicking were all on full display.

 Stream Clash at the Castle ‘22 on Peacock.

Kevin Owens And Sami Zayn Vs. The Usos (WrestleMania 39)

One of the best matches of WrestleMania 39, the Night 1 main event featuring Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn challenging The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship is one of those matches that checks all the boxes. Story, wrestling, emotion, and pure energy make this a 5-star showing we all can agree on.

 Stream WrestleMania 39 Night 1 on Peacock.  

Gunther Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Sheamus (WrestleMania 39)

Gunther, Drew McIntyre, and Sheamus weren’t the main attractions at WrestleMania 39 Night 2, but they did tell one hell of a story in the ring that night. This triple-threat match for the Intercontinental Championship was all killer and no filler from start to finish. Everyone came out looking better than they did going in, especially the “Ring General.”

 Stream WrestleMania 39 Night 2 on Peacock. 

Cody Rhodes Vs. AJ Styles (Backlash France)

Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles, wrestling one another for the first time, put on one hell of a match in front of a lively crowd at Backlash France in May 2024. The former Bullet Club members tore the house down with their Undisputed WWE Championship match that saw both competitors pull out some hellacious offense.

 Stream Backlash France on Peacock. 

With so many promising upcoming WWE events on the horizon, there will surely be more 5-star ratings in the coming months. When that happens, we’ll make sure to keep this list updated with all the pertinent information. 

Just like a lot of my colleagues, I thought The Iron Claw was one of 2023’s best movies and a film that got unfairly snubbed at the Oscars. Even before I saw Sean Durkin’s gut-wrenching biographical drama about the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, one known equally for its successes and tragedies, I had a feeling this movie was going to put me through the wringer, and it did. 

So, when The Iron Claw made its streaming debut, I made sure to revisit this instant classic with my Max subscription as soon as humanly possible. And, after watching the Zac Efron-led wrestling biopic for a second time, I can’t stop thinking about a short yet powerful scene, one that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the story. Allow me to explain… 

The Von Erich Brothers Getting Burgers And Tubing On Their Day Off Perfectly Sets Up The Rest Of The Iron Claw

About 14 minutes into The Iron Claw, Kevin (Zac Efron) and David (Harris Dickinson) pick up Mike (Stanley Simons) from band practice before going off for a day spent tubing on their day off. Though it’s a short scene that’s no longer than a couple of minutes, the sequence is incredibly powerful and perfectly sets up everything that happens in the subsequent two hours. 

In a few short minutes, the unbreakable bond and connection shared by the three Von Erich brothers is illustrated masterfully, with nothing more than a few lines about burgers. 

From David telling Mike “I’ll eat a burger with you, little brother” after Kevin says they have food in the cooler to the quick cut to all three brothers eating burgers while listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to the shot of the three lazily floating down some East Texas river, the whole series of events is beautiful, poignant, and emotional. This is especially true when you know what’s waiting just around the bend.

For These Few Short Minutes, The Von Erichs Are Brothers Above Anything Else, Including Wrestlers

On the surface, The Iron Claw is a movie about wrestling and one of the most important families the sport has ever seen. However, deep down, Sean Durkin’s emotional sports biopic is really about the bond shared by four brothers (Jeremy Allen White’s Kerry Von Erich hasn’t been introduced at this point in the film) and how their relationship was impacted by their successes and obstacles both in and out of the ring. There are some great brotherly moments throughout the rest of the movie, but the burger/tubing scene best illustrates that connection.

For these few short minutes, the Von Erichs aren’t the central figures of their father’s World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, but instead, three brothers who don’t want to be anywhere but where they are at that moment. Watching this scene, I was flooded with emotions and memories of spending lazy summer afternoons with my two brothers and how I took those cherished moments for granted all those years.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers' 'Don't Do Me Like That' Perfectly Sets The Tone

The Iron Claw has a lot going for it with its story, cast, production value, and just about everything else, including its fantastic soundtrack. Filled with classics like Rush’s “Tom Petty,” John Denver's “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” and Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” the soundtrack just hits. This is especially true for “Don’t Do Me Like That,” from the 1979 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album, Damn the Torpedoes, the track playing throughout this scene.

I love it when movies have a track playing over a radio as part of a scene before transitioning in as part of the soundtrack, and it’s done masterfully here. This transition puts us in the scene with the Von Erich brothers and they take part in a day they won’t soon forget.

Yeah, the song’s lyrics discuss the breakdown and fallout of a failed relationship, but lines like “Love doesn’t last that long,” also fit into the story of a family that is a few short years away from tragedy.

The Scene Is Also Light And Casual, Which Can't Be Said About Most Of The Movie

I also can’t stop thinking about how light, carefree, and joyful this scene is, compared to the vast majority of The Iron Claw. Sure, there are some light party scenes and some great wrestling sequences that perfectly capture the beauty and spirit of the Von Erichs’ wrestling abilities, but this movie is heavy. As noted by multiple critics ahead of the film’s December 2023 release, The Iron Claw is a heartbreaking exploration of family, fame, grief, and curses, as well as how all of that impacts our lives.

But this scene, with its burgers, brotherly bonds, Tom Petty, and tubing away your troubles on an East Texas afternoon, is a rare moment of levity that goes a long way, despite being only a few minutes long. Since the movie landed on Max, I’ve found myself watching this scene over and over again, allowing me to remember the good times, especially after taking in the emotional Iron Claw ending. 

I Cried My Eyes Out When The Deceased Von Erich Brothers Returned To The River In The Afterlife

The joy and lighthearted nature of the burgers and river scene early in The Iron Claw make the film’s final scene all the more emotional and fulfilling. Of course, I’m talking about the aftermath of Kerry Von Erich’s suicide where Kevin (the only surviving member of the family) imagines his brothers reuniting in the afterlife. Instead of a ring or the family home, their spirits reconnect on the dock of a river, just like the one they floated down all those years ago.

Kerry, David, and Mike share a warm embrace along the banks just before meeting their oldest brother, Jack Jr., who tragically drowned at the age of six, and walk into the afterlife together. These two scenes, which are on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, are made better because of each other and really help drive home the point of the film: the bond shared by the brothers.

It’s safe to say that The Iron Claw is one of my favorite movies of the past few years, and the river scene is one of the main reasons for that. It’s the perfect balance to the film’s tragic story, which had to leave out another Von Erich death because it was just too much tragedy, and a scene I won’t soon forget.

But, you know what? A funny thing happened. Because even though this past Wrestlemania had one of the craziest main events ever, I realized that after watching a few Raw and Smackdowns, that I still don’t like WWE, and actually prefer AEW, warts and all.

Well, lucky me since the only wrestler who could reinvigorate my passion for AEW, MJF (who I once called the best thing to happen to pro-wrestling) has finally returned after a long hiatus. While I really have no place in booking anything, here’s how I think AEW should use MJF now that he’s back.  

Go Back To Having Him Wrestle Only Every So Often 

One complaint I frequently heard about MJF was that he barely wrestled. Sure, he could cut one hell of a promo, but the chances of seeing him wrestle in an event that wasn’t on Pay-Per-View was often quite slim. He even addressed this at times, boasting about how he didn’t need to wrestle every week since he was, ahem, better than you, and you knew it.

That said, once MJF turned face, we saw him much more often inside the ring, trading blows with the likes of the Bullet Club, and other heels at the time. This was certainly appreciated, but I definitely think that Tony Khan should consider keeping the athlete out of combat as often as possible. 

I feel this way for multiple reasons. For one thing, MJF reportedly had a legitimate shoulder injury, and the last thing we need is for him to be sidelined again for an extended period of time.

But, more importantly, there’s so much more mystique to him when he doesn’t wrestle. You know, for a time, I thought that CM Punk was the biggest thing to happen to AEW (and, after watching that cringey backstage footage, it’s come to my attention that he may have also been the worst thing to happen to AEW). However, Punk was always more interesting when he wasn’t in matches, as his real strength, ever since he came out of retirement, is cutting promos.

I feel the same way about MJF. Yes, he’s amazing in the ring, But, I also feel like he’s so much more of an asset if he’s just talking smack and creating storylines rather than actually wrestling. So, try to keep his matches to a minimum. It will only make his actual in-ring appearances all the more magical. 

Put Him In Another Feud With Wardlow 

Okay, I know I just said not to have him wrestle too often, but once he does wrestle, I want to see him in another program with Wardlow. Because woe is the big man in AEW, as they’re constantly taking lumps from much smaller wrestlers like Orange Cassidy, and Darby Allin, which is fine. I love that AEW has always felt like a counterpoint to WWE, which loves its big men, as the smaller wrestler is king in AEW. 

That said, Wardlow is criminally underused, and I think he was at his best when he was pitted against MJF. Honestly, I think Wardlow has been floundering in the mid card for way too long now, as he, and Powerhouse Hobbs (who himself is out of commission), are two big men who both deserve to be utilized on a weekly basis. 

Plus, I don’t think anybody has had real chemistry with Wardlow besides MJF. Usually, I don’t like repeat feuds, but I’m actually clamoring for this one. So please, get this one moving, Tony Khan! 

Keep MJF A Heel 

I want to circle back to Punk, because besides MJF, he was probably AEW’s biggest draw. Before his first firing, I was super pumped to see him turn heel.

Well, we never got that storyline of a heel Punk, but one thing we did get was a face MJF. It was interesting for the most part, but I have to tell you. If there has been any wrestler who is more deserving of staying a heel, it’s MJF. He just works so much better as a scumbag. 

Sure, he wasn’t a bad face when he teamed up with Adam Cole, but he definitely lost something when he was giving hugs and doing that whole friendship story arc. MJF is the kind of jerk who would throw water in a little kid’s face. While I don’t think he should do something like that again, I do think that he should definitely stay a heel this time, and never turn back. He’s just so much more interesting as a prick. 

Have MJF Do Interviews Aplenty 

I’ve talked before about why fans might have reasons to worry about AEW’s future, and one of those reasons was because viewership was getting staggeringly low. There has also been a dropoff in ticket sales, and the product really seems to be struggling. Honestly, this is one of the reasons why I kind of started watching WWE, since seeing all of those shots of empty seats had me kind of worried and depressed. 

The last thing I wanted to see was AEW go the way of WCW, which is often a comparison that I see online. It really is quite dismal, and I genuinely hate to see it. 

But, they have a trump card, and that’s MJF. Like I said earlier, the man can talk, and Khan should make it his mission to get him in front of as many cameras as often as possible. I’m talking about talk shows, podcasts, and any manner of publicity. 

Yes, he hasn’t been shy in the past and would often put himself out there. But, there would also be times where he would disappear completely, and fans would wonder what his true status was, or even if he was departing for WWE.

However, I think MJF needs to be even more visible now. I don’t think it’s controversial to say that he is the face of the company, and it would be great to see him everywhere. The beauty of it is that with him, you never know what you’re going to get. 

The man perfectly blurs the line of kayfabe, and we can never quite tell whether he is being serious, or just staying in character. That’s the MJF we need to see, as I’m pretty sure ticket sales and viewership would go up again once he gets in front of multiple cameras outside of AEW. The dude is a freaking heat magnet. 

Put Him On Dynamite Every Week, Collision Only Sometimes, And Rampage Never 

Long ago, I wondered if AEW even needed to launch Collision, and now that it’s been on for a while, I feel like it was a mistake. For one thing, viewership isn’t all that great, and the Saturday time slot was always a gamble. 

That said, now that it’s here and a permanent fixture, they really should make the best of it, and having MJF on it every so often definitely couldn’t hurt, especially if he’s embroiled in a red hot storyline on Dynamite.

Oh, and speaking of which, he should be on Dynamite EVERY SINGLE WEEK. For a time, we were getting that, and it was glorious. But MJF should definitely be the main draw every Wednesday, and that could spill into Saturday, but not all the time. The idea of will he/won’t he appear on Collision would make it worthy of actually watching again.

However, don’t even bother with putting him on Rampage. That show should honestly just be dropped entirely, and MJF shouldn’t be wasted by putting him on a show that so few people even bother to watch. It would be a waste of all of our time.

The WWE is famous for keeping fans on their toes but, occasionally, some information can reach the public before the company wants it to. Such is the case for a SmackDown planned after Clash at the Castle, which has some wondering if it spoiled how everything will go down between Priest and McIntyre. Let's dive in and talk out the situation as well as what it means ahead of the event becoming streamable with a Peacock subscription: 

Madison Square Garden Announced A Heavyweight Title Match For A SmackDown After Clash At The Castle

Historically, the WWE has had special plans for the shows it hosts in New York City's Madison Square Garden, even if they aren't quite as big as a PLE. The massive venue has served as the location for many memorable matches over the years and, yes, that will be the case again with SmackDown on June 28th. As fans will see, however, the main event for the big night seems to be a spoiler for what's to come, as Damian Priest is set to go against Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship: 

Assuming this is accurate, Drew McIntyre will once again fail to win a title in front of the UK crowd at Clash at the Castle, and Damian Priest will retain the World Heavyweight Championship. This (theoretically) means another crushing loss for Drew -- and in front of a home crowd at that. I'm sure that's a development that many wouldn't see coming, given the injuries to Judgment Day. But is this really a leak, and should WWE be concerned about the venue ruining a match result of a PLE for fans? 

Does This Mean Clash At The Castle's Main Event Is Spoiled? 

There have been instances in the past where the WWE social media team has mistakenly dropped a poster celebrating a match result before it happened or something else of that nature. Nevertheless, this latest promotion from Madison Square Garden for SmackDown can go either way. Damian Priest may go on to retain at Clash at the Castle, especially if CM Punk is well enough -- after his arm injury at the Royal Rumble -- to interfere again. 

At the same time, the WWE has long contended that all of the match cards it promotes ahead of events are subject to change. While it might've been a smarter idea just to announce that Jey Uso would be challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship, Damian Priest is the current champion. Should that change, Madison Square Garden would merely re-announce the main event, with Drew McIntyre in possession of the title and the new opponent of Uso. 

It also goes without saying that if this was a leak the WWE didn't intend, there could be a pivot of sorts, even if Damian Priest was originally booked to win. As we've pointed out in our list of opponents who can beat Cody Rhodes, the pro-wrestling company never has a shortage of directions it can take stories using its superstars. So perhaps it's wrong to assume the poster proves anything. We'll just have to wait and see!

One thing I will say is those looking for predictions on WWE PLEs would do well to stick with CinemaBlend. Our own Mack Rawden has a solid track record, and those in doubt should check out his King and Queen of the Ring predictions as evidence. 

Let’s back up real quick and talk about how we got here. Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley have been dating on-screen for years, much to the annoyance of fans. Ripley, the leader of Judgment Day in all but name, mostly orders Dom around, and even though she’s dating him, she seems to view Damian Priest as more of an equal than her boyfriend, who she mostly gives menial tasks to. Following her WrestleMania victory over Becky Lynch, she seemed poised to enter a feud with former tag team partner and longtime nemesis Liv Morgan. Unfortunately, she was hurt for real during a backstage segment with Morgan and had to forfeit her title.

That’s when these little hints about something going on between Liv and Dom started to drop. On an almost weekly basis, we’d see the two walking out of the same room in the distant background of shots, or we’d see some kind of subtle reference to them spending time together. Fans, of course, picked up on all these hints and started obsessing about them on Twitter. It was widely assumed we’d get a few more months of this before Rhea came back and this alleged affair played into her inevitable feud with Morgan, but it now looks like it’s kicking off way sooner than expected. Morgan was wrestling against Becky Lynch for The Women’s World Championship, the same belt Rhea Ripley vacated, at Saturday’s King And Queen Of The Ring when Mysterio showed up mid-match. He slid a chair into the ring, seemingly to help Becky to defeat Liv, but Liv used it and won the match, leaving fans wondering whether he screwed up or did it on purpose. I think there are three possibilities. Let’s talk them out…

Possibility 1: Liv And Dom Are Having An Affair, And He Helped Her On Purpose

This is by far the most popular option on Twitter, and it’s the most straight ahead explanation for the clues we’ve been given. It’s not a stretch to think Dominik is sick of Rhea ordering him around, nor is it a stretch to think, with his Mami gone, he’s looking for another woman to take orders from. There have been too many shots of them seemingly spending time together for there to be an innocent explanation, and he had to know Becky wasn’t going to use the chair when he slid it into the ring. She’s playing too much of a white meat babyface right now to accept help from Dominik Mysterio.

You could also easily make the case that this is the highest upside story WWE could tell when Rhea gets back. We know she’s going to have a sustained feud with Liv when she returns. The women share too much history. Once you throw in the real life injury, there is way too much storyline there to ignore, but it’s also fair to say fans aren’t going to buy Liv having any chance in winning that feud. Ripley is a generational talent who could go down as the most popular performers in the history of women’s wrestling. She’s not just going to lose a straight match to Liv Morgan, unless there’s some kind of additional storyline element, which is where Dom would come in. She could certainly lose to Morgan if he betrayed her, and it’s easy to imagine a storyline divorce between Dom and Rhea that divides The Judgment Day being given 20 to 30 minute segments a week. That would be gold.

Chances This Is Happening: 65%

Possibility 2: Dominik And Liv Are Not Having An Affair. He’s Just Incompetent 

The Judgment Day has been the subject of break-up rumors since almost immediately after the stable formed. Rumors swirled that Edge wasn’t happy within the group or that maybe WWE didn’t think he was the best fit. We still don't entirely know. Eventually, he was kicked out and replaced by Finn Bálor. Later, they brought on JD McDonagh, who took months to be fully accepted by the group. Later, we got teased problems between Damian Priest and Bálor after the former won The Money In The Bank Briefcase and accidentally cost the latter a few matches against Seth Rollins.

They stuck it out through it all, however, and there’s a distinct chance that we are going to see the same thing here. Everyone obsesses over The Bloodline and rightfully so, but you could make a case that Judgment Day is one of the most successful stables in the history of WWE. Dom has more heat than any heel in the entire company, apart from at least The Rock. Whether she’s hurt or not, Rhea is the top woman in the entire division, and Damian Priest is World Heavyweight Champion. Throw in regular and relevant TV time and storylines for Finn and JD every week, and they really do run Monday Night Raw.

So, yeah, there’s a reasonable chance here that the plan is to keep Judgment Day together in the long run, and that likely means Dominik Mysterio, who is regularly depicted as incompetent, was trying to screw Liv Morgan over and messed up. Likewise, it’s possible every time he’s been shown in the background with Liv, it’s been to follow her around and torment her. Maybe he’s just really doing Judgment Day business, which in his mind is harassing her.

Chances This Is Happening: 25%

Possibility 3: Dominik Is Pretending To Befriend Liv On The Orders Of Rhea

Rhea Ripley has consistently been shown as the planner in Judgment Day. Prior to her injury, she was often speaking with Adam Pearce to arrange matches or talking to other wrestlers to forge alliances, like when Drew McIntyre joined Judgment Day for WarGames. Just because she’s out with an injury doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her pulse on what’s going on. My favorite theory is that she’s been telling Dominik Mysterio to get close to Liv. Maybe Rhea even wants Liv to have the title so when she returns, she can go after Liv and win her title back as part of the same program.

To believe Dom is cheating on Rhea, you have to believe Dom would willingly cross Rhea, and while we’ve occasionally seen little bits of tension, their relationship, while weird, has always seemed pretty stable. It’s hard to imagine he’d turn on her simply because she was away for awhile, and it’s hard to imagine she’d fall asleep at the wheel and let that happen.

This is the most unlikely of the three options, but it’s my favorite. It would keep Judgment Day together, while allowing the are-they-or-aren’t-they plotline to develop for awhile. 

Chances This Is Happening: 10%

To Sum Up

Yeah, we’re all excited about the New Bloodline vs Old Bloodline storyline that’s inevitably coming. That’s going to be great, but WWE is so hot right now because it has a bunch of other stories that are cooking too. The most obvious is, of course, the one Drew McIntyre and CM Punk have going, which Damian Priest is very tied into. Right behind that, however, you’d have to go with whatever is happening here. Dominik Mysterio gets booed like few performers in the history of the sport, and there’s always intrigue related to him and Rhea. Throw in a possible cheating scandal, and fans are going to be white hot for this whenever she comes back.

I think it’s most likely he is having an affair with Liv, but people on social media act like that’s a documented fact. He’s innocent until proven guilty, and with Triple H now in charge, you should never assume you know where a storyline is going until it fully plays out.