logo
John Cena shocks fans with heel turn at Elimination Chamber in Toronto

John Cena shocks fans with heel turn at Elimination Chamber in Toronto

Express Tribune02-03-2025

John Cena delivered a career-defining twist at WWE's Elimination Chamber in Toronto on Saturday, turning heel after decades in the wrestling industry.
Cena won the high-stakes match by forcing CM Punk to submit with his signature STFU finisher.
The celebrations were short-lived as Cody Rhodes entered the ring, calling out the Rock, who appeared alongside rapper Travis Scott.
The Rock offered Rhodes a chance to "sell his soul" and join him, but Rhodes refused. Moments later, Cena embraced Rhodes in a show of respect before blindsiding him with a sudden attack, leaving him devastated in the ring.
Cena's shocking betrayal marked the first villainous turn of his storied career, aligning him with the Rock and Scott as they exited the ring together.
The unexpected twist has left the WWE universe in disbelief, reshaping the narrative on the road to WrestleMania.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Let's put these vets and new threats to test – The Challenge season 41 cast unveiled
Let's put these vets and new threats to test – The Challenge season 41 cast unveiled

Express Tribune

time4 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Let's put these vets and new threats to test – The Challenge season 41 cast unveiled

MTV's long-running reality competition series The Challenge returns this summer with its 41st season, titled Vets and New Threats. The new season will premiere on Wednesday, July 30 at 8 p.m. ET, and will be available globally in over 165 countries in the months following, according to MTV. The upcoming installment promises a shake-up in the competition format, launching what the network describes as a 'new era' marked by heightened unpredictability and strategic uncertainty. This season's cast includes eight returning champions—Cara Maria Sorbello, Derrick Kosinski, Aviv Melmed, Ashley Mitchell, Rogan O'Connor, CT Tamburello, Johnny 'Bananas' Devenanzio, and Turbo—who will face off against a new roster of reality TV alumni. Dubbed the 'New Threats,' the group includes contestants from a wide array of shows including Big Brother, Survivor, Love Island, Too Hot to Handle, Are You the One?, The Amazing Race, Married at First Sight UK, Canada's Ultimate Challenge, and Cheer. Among the notable additions are a professional boxer and a former WWE superstar, adding even more diversity to the competition. According to the official logline, the season will explore the collapse of long-established alliances and the difficulty of relying on past experience. Players—both veterans and newcomers—must navigate an ever-evolving landscape of shifting loyalties, betrayals, and strategic uncertainty. To introduce the cast, The Challenge: Vets and New Threats: Day Zero, a launch special, will air on July 23 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV and will also be available via VOD platforms, and the show's official YouTube channel. A companion podcast will also return, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. The season is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, with Julie Pizzi, Justin Booth, and Jacob Lane as executive producers.

Brian Wilson, beach boys co-founder and frontman, passes away at 82
Brian Wilson, beach boys co-founder and frontman, passes away at 82

Express Tribune

time11-06-2025

  • Express Tribune

Brian Wilson, beach boys co-founder and frontman, passes away at 82

Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder and frontman of the iconic American rock band The Beach Boys, has passed away at 82. His family confirmed the news on June 11 through an Instagram post, sharing their grief with the world. A photo of the smiling musician on a bench accompanied the statement: "We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. Love & Mercy." Wilson, born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, was the eldest of three siblings, with brothers Dennis and Carl Wilson. He was known for his exceptional musical talent from a young age, which led to the formation of The Beach Boys in 1961. Initially named the Pendletones, Wilson and his brothers, along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, began their musical journey with hits like "Surfin' U.S.A." and "Surfin' Safari." Wilson was the primary songwriter, co-lead vocalist, and bass guitarist for the band. He helped define the "California sound," with hits like 'Good Vibrations' and the 1966 album Pet Sounds. His visionary approach to music marked a departure from the band's surf-centric themes, establishing his influence on modern pop and rock. Despite his musical success, Wilson struggled with mental health issues, including depression and the pressures of fame. He faced personal challenges, including a difficult relationship with his father, which later led to hearing loss in his right ear. In the 1970s, he retreated from public life, battling drugs, alcohol, and emotional distress. Wilson's comeback began in the 1980s with therapy and a revitalization of his career. He released several solo albums, including Brian Wilson Presents Smile in 2004, a project he had initially abandoned with The Beach Boys in the 1960s. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including Grammy nominations, two wins for his solo work, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Wilson leaves behind a legacy that shaped the landscape of American music. He is survived by his children from two marriages and his extended family.

Will 2025 be the 'Summer of Punk'?
Will 2025 be the 'Summer of Punk'?

Express Tribune

time10-06-2025

  • Express Tribune

Will 2025 be the 'Summer of Punk'?

Summer is here. And if the Karachi heat isn't enough to melt you, CM Punk's promos definitely will. On Monday Night Raw, The 'Best in the World' came face to face with WWE Champion John Cena and challenged him to a match for the title. Cena accepted the challenge and the two will face off at the Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on June 28. The two had a brief encounter at WWE Elimination Chamber earlier this year. But the story between the two goes way back. In 2011, Cena was the champ when Punk broke out as the greatest thing in pro-wrestling with his infamous 'pipe bomb', that led to one of the best stories in wrestling history. The summer of 2011 became known as the 'Summer of Punk'. But while it wasn't the first 'Summer of Punk' — the first happened in the Ring of Honor promotion in 2005 — it brought Punk a global recognition as being the outspoken, straightedge iconoclast that he is and eventually led to a record-breaking championship reign. Will 2025 see the third 'Summer of Punk'? It's doubtful but very much possible now that things are heating up since WWE Money in the Bank premium live event this past weekend. Wild card Seth Rollins became the new Mr Money in the Bank, 11 years after his first one, and with that, he can cash in on any world championship for up to a year. On Raw, he teased cashing in on Cena during the latter's face-off with Punk. With Rollins' deep hatred of Punk, it's possible that Punk defeats Cena and Rollins' cashes in on Punk, continuing their rivalry. No matter the outcome, Punk will either go on another championship reign or fight Rollins to the edge of the world until one of them falls over. In both cases, Punk is done playing nice and being a team player. He's coming for the title. It's also fascinating that from 2011 to 2014, whenever Punk and Cena faced off, Cena was the face and Punk the heel or a tweener. And yet Punk was widely cheered by the audience, and Cena booed most of the time, with only his pre-teen fan base rooting for him. On Monday, it was a similar soundscape with some role reversals. This time, Punk is a face and Cena a heel. And yet, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Most of the crowd favoured Punk, with intermittent chants of 'Let's go Cena' and 'Cena sucks' piping in. The only difference was the adult voices rooted for Cena and the kids against him. Right match, wrong show It's also confusing why WWE is choosing to have this match in Saudi Arabia when they could save it for the biggest show of the year, SummerSlam, in August. There is enough history between the two to continue this renewed rivalry for the next two months and give them a bigger spotlight at SummerSlam. It's very much possible that this match will end in shenanigans that will continue the rivalry or divert it from Punk and Cena to Punk and Rollins. With the involvement of Rollins, it's inevitable that Roman Reigns might play a part in it too. There's also a chance that Rollins cashes in on the new World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, who ended Jey Uso's short reign on Raw. Another factor is the eventual King of the Ring winner, who will be crowned at WWE Night of Champions and receive a guaranteed world title shot at SummerSlam. Sami Zayn has already qualified for the semi-finals but the returning former champ Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton or someone else could still win it all. Rest assured, the world title picture remains as unpredictable as Punk himself. As they say, all roads lead to WrestleMania. But the roads shall pass through the summer that's quickly heating up. Whether Punk sets the shows ablaze and goes on a rampage or someone else reigns supreme, it's bound to be a hell of a summer for WWE. Truth and Evolution Additionally, WWE righted the wrong and rehired R-Truth back after massive backlash from both fans and peers. Truth's new direction includes him reverting to his real name Ron Killings. Essentially the truth set Killings free on Monday as he cut his dreadlocks. What his road looks like remains to be seen. But he's done being a comedy act for now. The whole situation was a pity as Truth faced Cena recently and was released the week after. But thankfully, WWE listened to the negative reactions and brought him up. While Truth is one of the best comedy acts in WWE history, a serious Killings can also deliver big time as he has done it several times in his career. WWE is also ramping things up in the women's roster, with the Queen of the Ring tournament, similar to the men's version. They are also bringing back WWE Evolution, a premium show focusing only on women's matches, for the first time since 2018.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store