Games

The less significant premium live events hosted by WWE often serve as interim shows, as they don’t typically feature major plot developments that are usually saved for the grand events such as the WWE Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. The last time the WWE Championship switched hands on a non-grand event was when Brock Lesnar defeated Big E in a four-way match at WWE Day 1 in January 2022. Major surprises like returns or face/heel turns usually occur during grand events, such as CM Punk’s return at Survivor Series 2023 and Dominik Mysterio teaming up with Liv Morgan at this year’s SummerSlam.

Professional wrestling rhymes. Over the near century that the scripted sport has existed within pop culture, promotions from across the industry have found themselves mirroring each others’ storylines. Decades after the New World Order ran roughshod on WCW, New Japan Pro Wrestling introduced its own group of black-and-white clad outsiders called Bullet Club. AJ Lee’s romantic interests on WWE TV were once called out by AJ Styles on a TNA iMPACT! broadcast, as he was involved in a similar angle at the time. Speaking of Styles, he channeled his inner Mark Henry with a fake-out retirement on a recent WWE SmackDown in an effort to gain a WWE Championship match.

Berserk and Sailor Moon could not be more different. While both see their stars taking on monsters in their daily routines, Usagi’s story is far more uplifting than the dire circumstances that have befallen Guts and the Band of the Hawk. On top of this, the Sailor Scouts recently returned with two anime films that recently made their way onto Netflix in Sailor Moon Cosmos Parts 1 and 2, as Berserk’s anime continues to be “missing in action”. One cosplayer has decided to fuse the two unlikely worlds together by imagining what Guts might have looked like had the Black Swordsman been born a Sailor Scout.

This past year saw the arrival of the profound tale of Frieren, the eternal elf, in the anime world. Pursuing understanding of humanity while encountering unexpected battles, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End captured the hearts of many anime enthusiasts due to its thought-provoking narrative and stunning visuals from Studio Madhouse. To commemorate the anniversary of the anime adaptation, Studio Madhouse has shared a fresh poster featuring Frieren with her companions, both young and old, who played instrumental roles in her journey.

Supporters of “The Fall Guy” can now relish the high-octane movie in their own homes… as long as they are subscribed to Peacock. Debuting this year, “The Fall Guy” boasts Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in the leading roles; Gosling assumes the role of the main character, ‘The Fall Guy’, which is a nod to the 80s TV series of the same name. With an impressive box office haul of over $175 million globally, “The Fall Guy” has garnered some favorable reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Previously available for purchase or rental on demand digitally, “The Fall Guy” is now moving to Peacock to join other Universal Pictures films.

As a devoted fan, I can’t hide my excitement as Kevin Owens prepares to take on Cody Rhodes for the prestigious WWE Championship at “WWE Bash in Berlin.” This is his first opportunity to fight for a world championship since the epic clash at the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble. Despite being one of WWE’s most consistent main event players for the past eight years, Owens has only managed to claim a single world title, his stint as the Universal Champion from September 2016 to February 2017. Since tasting the thrill of a world title seven years ago, he’s put everything on the line nine times in pursuit of a brand’s ultimate honor, but unfortunately, each attempt ended in defeat.