Connect with us

Recaps

WWE Wrestlepalooza: Brock Lesnar Decimates John Cena, Punk and Lee Victorious in Mixed Tag, Stephanie Vaquer is New Women’s World Champion

By Michael Fairman

Published

12 months ago

on

Photos: WWE

WWE’s first premium live event in its new streaming home ESPN gave new viewers a taste of just what makes professional wrestling, sports entertainment. Wrestlepalooza delivered a safe card with some enjoyable moments but without many surprises for longtime wrestling aficionados that they have become accustomed to as the WWE continues its growth globally and domestically.

Emanating from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Pacers, the show kicked-off with a well-donsegment of how ESPN and then WWWF were the upstart companies back in the late 70’s and early 80s and illustrated why they are the perfect partners, with ESPN legitimatizing pro wrestling as something pure sports fans also will want to know and talk about it.

The opening match was the highly-anticipated bout between John Cena, on the last leg of his retirement tour, facing off with his longtime rival, “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar. When Lesnar made his entrance at 48-years old, he looked more massive than ever, stunning the audience.

Photo: WWE

When Cena arrived, he didn’t come alone! This was the first time that he came from the entrance ramp with a gaggle of small children, all Cena fans and all excited to be there with their favorite hero.  However, those happy faces would soon turn to sad ones.

LESNAR LEAVES KIDS IN AN OCEAN OF TEARS

First, Paul Heyman, Lesnar’s former manager showed up at ringside, to announce Lesnar before the match, signifying either a one-time walk down memory lane or perhaps something greater! Could Heyman be revealed to be back with Lesnar for this current run as well as running “The Vision” with Seth Rollins? Stay tuned.

Photo: WWE

Now the match: Other than a few moments where it looked like Cena would turn the tables, this was a beatdown in the biggest way possible by Lesnar. He delivered six straight F5s to the GOAT after he countered the Cena “Five Knuckle Shuffle.” Even Cena’s patented “Attitude Adjustment” had little to no effect ultimately on Lesnar.  All of this was too much for the 17-time champion and Lesnar’s onslaught ended when he pinned Cena, much to the shock, dismay, and heartbreak of the children and even Pacers star, Tyrese Halliburton who was stunned in the audience.

Photo: WWE

With this major setback for John Cena’s retirement tour and only five dates/appearances left before he says farewell, will he ultimately slay the ‘beast in return match?

MY WIFE IS BETTER THAN YOURS

All eyes were on AJ Lee making her triumphant return to the WWE and in-ring action in over ten years. At least for her first match back, she was doing it alongside hubby, CM Punk in a mixed tag-team match against arch enemies, Seth “Freakin” Rollins and his wife “The Man” Becky Lynch.

Photo: WWE

It was apparent Lee had some ring rust, which was to be expected, especially with her slaps that looked a bit awkward, but she still had the moves, and she along with Punk, Rollins and Lynch made this such a fun match and extremely entertaining. There were plenty of clever mash-ups of how sometimes the man and the woman would be at each other or get the other in a hold, while not making it to astray from how a mixed tags work where the men go against each other and the women wrestle each other.

Photo: WWE

If anyone was the scene-stealer in this (and each did great in-ring work) we have to give it to Becky Lynch, playing the heel to perfection. But, it was Lee as was fitting, who got the win, when she actually countered Lynch’s Manhandle Slam with her Black Widow Submission to hold and Lynch tapped out. Now on Sunday, Becky is denying ever taping out!

LA PRIMERA

The match of the night belonged to the women – when Iyo Sky battled Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant WWE Women’s World Championship belt, previously held by Naomi. As the WWE Universe knows, Naomi had to relinquish the title after she became pregnant setting the stage for this high-flying pivotal match-up.

Photo: WWE

In the end, Vaquer was able to capitalize on Sky’s injured knee, delivering a picture-perfect Spinal Tag corkscrew from the top rope for the win. Stephanie’s victory was the emotional moment of the night. This would be Vaquer’s, who is of Chilean descent, first major title in the WWE and to punctuate the moment, her father was present in the audience all the way from Chile.

Photo: WWE

The father/daughter hugged it out and cried tears of joy. This was the right move by WWE creative to let Vaquer have the chance to be the one all the women in the locker room will be chasing, even though Iyo Sky remains, in our opinion, the best female wrestler in the world right now. However, Vaquer certainly made a statement. She has arrived!

Taking to X after the match, Vaquer shared, “They call us dreamers, but we’re the ones who don’t sleep” I dreamed of this my whole life. Today I become the WWE World Champion, the first Latin American woman to achieve it. Thank you to everyone who has believed in me.”

OTHER MATCH-UPS

Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntye – the main event for the WWE Undisputed Championship. While it’s great to see Drew and Cody do their thing, it really only seemed to be on the card to remind everyone that Rhodes is QB1, ad the final image you see on ESPN, is a victorious Cody with the belt before the show went off the air. Surprisingly, there were no last minute runs-in or surprises to stop Cody’s celebration. However, during the post-show, Cody was interrupted by Seth Rollins and the two had a stare down each trying to one up the other, while holding their title belts in the air. Coming up, Rhodes vs Rollins is slated for Crown Jewel in Australia in October.

Courtesy/WWE

The Usos vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed – Reuniting for the first time in a tag match in over two years, Jey and Jimmy looked to be the potential feel-good favorite, especially after “Yeeting” with the crowd for an extended period of time.

Photo: WWE

However, The Brons ultimately took them down when the match had to end early. Special referee L.A. Knight had to call an audible, after Jey Uso split his own head open after he delivered a chair shot to Breakker and the chair bounced and hit him in the head. On Sunday, Jey reports he is fine, even though he was rumored to be in concussion protocol.

NOTEWORTHY MOMENT

The Undertaker arrived inside the arena on a motorcycle, and sat next to a bejeweled (that necklace!) Stephanie McMahon at her seat near ringside. Once there he surprised her by revealing that she had been selected as the first person that will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

OVERALL GRADE: B – 

For the first out of the gate premium live event in its new streaming home, this one seemed lackluster with a few bright spots sprinkled in along the way.

Most Shocking: Cena’s beatdown by Lesar after entering the match surrounded by children.

Most Fun: AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch

Most Disappointing: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntrye

Most Emotional: Stephanie Vaquer and her dad

So, what did you think of WWE Wrestlepalooza? Did you enjoy the first premium live event on ESPN? What did you think of Brock’s beatdown of Cena? Vaqueer being the new Women’s champ? How do you feel AJ Lee performed in her first match in over 10 years? Comment below, but first check out the highlight video with moments from the matche

Related Topics:
Click to comment

0 Comments
oldest
newest

Recaps

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’

Published

10 hours ago

on

September 12, 2026

By

Steffy and Carter

After taking a second pregnancy test on the Friday, September 12 episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) freaks out ever more when it come back positive, too. Leading her to shriek, multiple times over, “Oh my God! Oh my God! I’m pregnant!”

As previously reported, CBS and The Bold and the Beautiful have already confirmed that in the story, the baby Steffy is carrying is Carter’s (Lawrence Saint-Victor) which kicks-off their 40th season of storytelling. However, could there be a twist down the line that it’s really Finn’s (Tanner Novlan)?

On Friday’s episode, Carter gets a text from his wife, Daphne (Murielle Hilaire) telling him she wants to talk more about surrogacy later, since she cannot carry Carter’s child, and the couple was exploring ways for them to have a baby. Suddenly, Carter flashes back to waking up next to Steffy on the couch in the office after they had sex the night before in their drunken stupor.

Carter

Courtesy/CBS

CARTER DEVISES A PLAN

Then, Steffy comes whirling into the office demanding to talk to Carter right away. Steffy is informing Carter that she has to tell Finn about their night together more than ever! A confused Carter asked her what changed, when they agreed to keep their one night together a secret? Carter tells her if she reveals what happened between them, it will tear about all of their lives.

Carter thinks nothing will come of their “mistake” if they keep their mouth shut. Steffy responds, “You’re wrong.” She goes on to explain that she’s pregnant! That declaration stuns Carter and we fade to black.

However, it was the preview for the action next week on The Bold and the Beautiful, that aired at the end of Friday’s episode and is now all over B&B’s social media that is the real tell-tale sign of where this story is heading.

B&B SPOILERS

In a scene airing next week, Carter says to Steffy, “I have a way out of the situation for all of us!” This comes on the heels of Daphne telling Carter she wishes she knew someone who would be their surrogate. So, putting two and two together, it looks like Carter will come up with the idea to pass Steffy and his baby off as the surrogate child of Carter and Daphne.

Look no further than the official B&B spoilers for episodes airing Monday, September 14- Friday, September 18 and the teaser lines of the Steffy/Carter baby drama to back that up below.

Monday, September 14, Steffy’s news complicates things even more with Carter, while on Tuesday, September 15, 2026  Daphne is hopeful she and Carter will be able to find a surrogate and Carter rushes to stop Steffy. On Wednesday, September 16, Carter makes a passionate plea. and by Thursday, September 17, Daphne can’t believe Carter’s suggestion. Then come Cliffhanger Friday, September 18, Steffy is caught off guard.

So, what do you think how it look to be Carter who originated plan to keep the truth from ever coming out, that he and Steffy had sex, and the best way to do this is for Steffy to be the surrogate for Carter and Daphne’s child? How complicated will the cover-up eventually get? Will Steffy fall in love with the baby making this whole thing untenable for her? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section, but first check out B&B’s video teaser for next week’e episodes below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

Published

11 hours ago

on

September 12, 2026

By

Jason and Britt

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.

Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.

However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Britt

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON

Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.

He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.

Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”

So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.

Continue Reading

Recaps

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy is Shaken to the Core, ‘Oh My God! I’m Pregnant!’

Published

2 days ago

on

September 10, 2026

By

Steffy

On today’s Thursday, September 10 episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) discovers she’s pregnant, after taking a home pregnancy test, that will launch a new story arc that will remain front and center for the show in the months ahead.

The life-changing story kicks off the B&B’s 40th season which officially began on September 8. In it, Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) is the biological father of Steffy’s unborn child from their drunken night together when both endured turbulent times in their marriages.

Previously, Carter had trouble with Daphne (Murielle Hilaire), when she initially walked out on him, because she could not carrying his child. Meanwhile, Steffy broke up with Finn (Tanner Novlan) while in Monaco over Finn’s mother Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) showing up, who once tried to kill her.

Courtesy/CBS

Fast-forward, Carter and Steffy made a pact that no one will ever need to know about their drunken night together, but now with Steffy becoming pregnant it changes everything. Making matters all the worse, Daphne views Steffy as her best friend, in fact, Daphne and Carter have been talking about having a child via surrogacy. While Finn had showed the couple how to start the process of finding a surrogate, Daphne felt just choosing a random person to carry Carter’s child is so impersonal. She would rather have it be someone she knows.

It does not take a scientist to predict … that somehow Steffy will carry the baby pretending to be the surrogate, when she its biological mother, and along the way, the questions become, does she keep the whole thing somehow a secret to herself? Doe Carter find out at some point? Stay tuned to see how this story reveals itself.

At its root, this is a major storyline for Wood, who has already won three Daytime Emmy Lead Actress Awards in her 18 years with The Bold and the Beautiful. In that time, her character of Steffy has experienced multiple pregnancies, given birth to two children, Kelly with Liam (Scott Clifton) as the father, and Hayes with Finn as the father, and endured a miscarriage.

So, what did you think of Steffy getting confirmation she is pregnant and looking mortified when she found out? What will she do next? Will she tell Carter? Will Daphne come to Steffy to ask her to be her surrogate, which Steffy may think will be the answers to her prayers, only for the truth to come out later, or falling in love with the baby since its hers to be begin with? Share your thoughts and theories for this major story for Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, via the comment section.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x