Randy Orton

BY SACNILK

Jacob Fatu has opened up about the advice Randy Orton gave him shortly before his WWE debut, recalling how surreal it was to see one of his childhood wrestling heroes backstage on the biggest day of his career. During his appearance on What’s Your Story with Steph McMahon, Fatu discussed his first experiences inside WWE and the support he received from several established stars. Fatu recalled being backstage shortly before his debut when he saw Orton standing in Gorilla position. “So right before my debut, we're walking out. It's the biggest day of my life. And Randy's right there in gorilla,” Fatu said. Despite being on the verge of making his own WWE debut, Fatu admitted that he was still a fan when he saw Orton. “I don't really know Randy like that,” Fatu recalled. “But I'm like, dude, he's hella big. This is Randy Orton, man.” Fatu explained that he has always been a fan of professional wrestling and believes that genuine passion for the business is important. “I'm a fan at the end of the day,” Fatu said. “And if you not a fan of what you love to do, this ain't your job. You're doing the wrong thing.” Fatu then revealed the advice Orton gave him as he prepared to begin his WWE career. According to Fatu, Orton wanted to help him adjust to life inside WWE and gave him some straightforward advice about handling his finances. “Randy told me this, like, hey, man, because I love your Uncle Umaga so much, in order for me to help y'all to tap back in, I'm gonna tell you right now, save your money and pay your taxes.” The advice came at an important point in Fatu's life. After a difficult journey to WWE, he was finally getting the opportunity he had dreamed about, and he was entering a locker room filled with experienced performers. Fatu has previously spoken about the support he received after joining WWE, particularly from members of his family and established stars. He said the experience had been filled with “love and respect” since he arrived.

BY SACNILK

Friday, August 14, 2026, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix, WWE SmackDown emanated from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a major night for championships, with three titles changing hands. Jacy Jayne defeated Tiffany Stratton to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion, while Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga captured the WWE Tag Team Championship alongside Haku. Elsewhere, Baron Corbin successfully defended the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes, CM Punk and Kevin Owens had a heated confrontation ahead of their Undisputed WWE Championship match, and Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton erupted into a wild brawl. Chelsea Green Forced to Relinquish Interim Women’s Championship The show opened with Nick Aldis informing Chelsea Green that he could not allow her to compete with a broken orbital bone. Aldis asked Green to relinquish the Interim Women’s Championship, but she refused, insisting that she had worked too hard to give it up. Aldis eventually gave Green 30 days to get medically cleared and return to action. The segment later turned physical when GUNTHER confronted Green, leading to Matt Cardona coming out to defend his wife. GUNTHER def. Matt Cardona GUNTHER dominated Matt Cardona after Cardona attacked him during the earlier confrontation. Despite Cardona using a low blow and hitting Radio Silence, GUNTHER kicked out and eventually put him in a Boston Crab, forcing Cardona to tap out. Afterward, Nia Jax demanded an Interim Women's Championship opportunity from Green, while Tiffany Stratton came out to help Green before Jax attacked her. Baron Corbin def. Carmelo Hayes to Retain the United States Championship Carmelo Hayes attempted to regain the United States Championship from Baron Corbin, but the champion survived Hayes' offense and finished him with End of Days. Corbin retained the title, although his celebration was cut short when Trick Williams and Lil Yachty attacked him after the match. CM Punk and Kevin Owens Come Face-to-Face CM Punk and Kevin Owens had a tense confrontation ahead of their Undisputed WWE Championship match next week. Owens brought up their history dating back 20 years and accused Punk of being a phony, while Punk fired back by questioning Owens' work ethic. Owens eventually told Punk that he would punch him in the face next week and beat him for the championship. MFT def. Damian Priest & R-Truth and The War Raiders to Win WWE Tag Team Championship Damian Priest and R-Truth defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against The War Raiders and Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. The chaotic three-way match ended when MFT hit Brother's Keeper on R-Truth, giving Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga the victory and making them the new WWE Tag Team Champions. Haku accompanied the brothers to ringside. Jacy Jayne def. Tiffany Stratton to Win Women's United States Championship Tiffany Stratton put her Women's United States Championship on the line against Jacy Jayne. With assistance from Fatal Influence members Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley, Jayne survived Stratton's biggest attacks and caught her with Rolling Encore to score the victory. Jayne became the new Women's United States Champion. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton Brawl Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton's ongoing issues exploded into another violent confrontation. Orton attacked Rhodes from behind before their scheduled match with Sami Zayn could begin. The two eventually brawled through the crowd and around ringside, with both men using weapons and the environment around them. Officials struggled to separate them as SmackDown went off the air.

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The August 13 WWE Summer Tour stop at SNHU Arena delivered two major comebacks in one night, with both stars stepping back between the ropes for the first time in months. Alexa Bliss teamed with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton in a six-woman tag match against Fatal Influence's Lainey Reid, Jacy Jayne, and Fallon Henley — and came away with the win. Bliss wrestled with a visible wrap still on her arm, but she'd been medically cleared to compete, marking her first match in over a month. Her previous in-ring appearance came on the July 10 episode of SmackDown, where a brutal attack by Jade Cargill left her with an arm injury and sidelined her from action. Bliss had already reappeared on WWE television the Friday before this event, aiding Flair against Cargill and welcoming newcomer Tatum Paxley to the brand, but August 13 represented her true return to competition. The night's main event saw Randy Orton collide with Cody Rhodes in a street fight, snapping an even longer layoff. Orton hadn't wrestled since falling to Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. He'd since resurfaced during WWE SummerSlam, inserting himself into Rhodes' title picture by costing him the Undisputed WWE Championship — a moment that set the stage for their rivalry to boil back over. The August 13 street fight marked Orton's first match since WrestleMania, putting him right back in the ring with the man he'd targeted since his return. Between Bliss working through a still-healing arm and Orton finally getting back into the ring after months on the shelf, WWE's August 13 stop in Manchester ended up delivering two significant in-ring returns on the same night, giving fans at SNHU Arena a show stacked with fresh storyline momentum heading into the fall.

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Here are the complete results from WWE's live Summer Tour event, held on August 13, 2026, at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. The show features Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Oba Femi, Gunther, Finn Bálor, and many more. WWE Live Event In Manchester Results 8/13/26 WWE Tag Team Championship Match: R-Truth & Damian Priest def. MFT's and the War Raiders. Kevin Owens def. The Miz via pinfall Gunther def. Finn Balor via pinfall World Tag Team Championship Match: Akira Tozawa & Oba Femi def. The Vision via DQ. WWE Women's United States Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton def. Jacy Jayne via DQ Tiffany Stratton, Alexa Bliss, & Charlotte Flair def. Fatal Influence via pinfall WWE United States Championship Match: Baron Corbin def. Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, and Ricky Saints Street Fight: Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton via pinfall This is how Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in a street fight in the main event at #WWEManchester pic.twitter.com/KSOvsEduQG— Still Real To Us (@stillreal2us) August 14, 2026 Oba Femi and Bron Breakker finally clashed tonight at #WWEManchester pic.twitter.com/oZa445BsDn— Still Real To Us (@stillreal2us) August 14, 2026 Kevin Owens hit Danhausen with the Stunner to send a message to CM Punk at #WWEManchester pic.twitter.com/9LLfHBy3ba— Still Real To Us (@stillreal2us) August 14, 2026

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WWE SmackDown's August 7 episode on USA Network drew 1.470 million viewers, up from 1.379 million the previous week, with the 18-49 demo rating also rising to 0.35 from 0.31, per Wrestlenomics. The bump lines up with a stacked post-SummerSlam show from the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The episode opened with a tribute to Dory Funk Jr. following his passing, before Cody Rhodes called out Randy Orton, only to be interrupted by CM Punk, who said he didn't know about Orton's return. Kevin Owens confronted Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk, setting up tension for the title picture, while Owens and Sami Zayn also had a heated backstage argument after Zayn expressed frustration that Owens' return had cost him a title opportunity. In the ring, Baron Corbin retained the United States Championship against Trick Williams in a SummerSlam rematch, and Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid of Fatal Influence retained the Women's Tag Team Championship in a champions-vs-champions match against Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton. The night's biggest surprise came in the main event, where returning star Alexa Bliss and debuting Tatum Paxley showed up to help Charlotte Flair defeat Jade Cargill. Backstage, Carmelo Hayes attacked Baron Corbin and challenged him for the U.S. Title next week. That mix of returns, title defenses, and championship-picture drama appears to have helped push the show's numbers up week-over-week.

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The Undertaker has revealed that Vince McMahon once admitted he was wrong about a major creative decision involving the first-ever Punjabi Prison Match. The Punjabi Prison Match made its WWE debut at The Great American Bash 2006, where The Undertaker was originally scheduled to face The Great Khali. However, Big Show replaced Khali in the match after an angle involving the two giants led to WWE changing the bout. Undertaker ultimately defeated Big Show after escaping the massive bamboo structure. Twenty years after the match, The Undertaker recalled the creative disagreement he had with McMahon while discussing the bout on his Six Feet Under podcast. According to the WWE Hall of Famer, McMahon had a specific idea for how Undertaker would escape the structure, while he believed there was a much better option. “It was originally supposed to be with Khali. Khali had something going on and they had to put Big Show in the match,” Undertaker explained. He then detailed the disagreement over the finish. “Vince had this idea about, he wanted us to go through the gate or something while we were fighting, and that's how I would get out of the cage,” Undertaker said. The Deadman had another idea in mind. Rather than escaping through one of the doors, he wanted to create a spectacular visual by jumping from the inner structure to the outer cage. “I had the idea that I wanted to jump from the inner cage to the outer cage and get out that way. I thought, man, that'll be such a cool visual. I said, ‘They won't expect it. It'll look amazing.’” However, McMahon ultimately rejected Undertaker's idea and insisted that the match be performed according to his original plan. Undertaker admitted that he eventually stopped arguing with McMahon, although he made his feelings about the decision very clear. “I don't want to hear anything else about it. This is the way we're gonna do it,” McMahon told him, according to Undertaker. “Fine. It's gonna suck, and when it sucks, it's gonna be on you,” Undertaker recalled telling McMahon. After the match took place, Undertaker felt the finish had failed to deliver the impact he had envisioned. He said the moment was essentially “whomp, whomp, whomp, whomp,” describing how flat he believed the spot had come across. But Undertaker didn't need to remind McMahon that he had disagreed with the decision. According to Undertaker, McMahon eventually acknowledged it himself. “I go back and I just looked at him. I didn't have to say a word,” Undertaker recalled. “He knew and he goes, almost under his breath, he goes, ‘Eh, yeah, I think you were right on that cage spot.’” Undertaker said McMahon immediately walked away after making the admission. For the WWE legend, the moment was particularly significant because of how rarely McMahon acknowledged being wrong. “But that was such a victory for me to actually have him admit that he was wrong on something. Didn't happen very often,” Undertaker said. The Undertaker also explained that the story was not an isolated example of creative disagreements between the two. Despite working together for roughly three decades, he said their visions for WWE's product and business were sometimes “polar opposites.” The Punjabi Prison Match itself became one of WWE's most unusual match concepts. The original structure featured two bamboo enclosures, with competitors required to escape both structures to win. The Undertaker ultimately became the first winner of the stipulation at The Great American Bash 2006. The match was later used twice more in WWE, with Batista facing The Great Khali in 2007 and Randy Orton facing Jinder Mahal in 2017. However, for Undertaker, the lasting memory of the original Punjabi Prison Match appears to be less about the unusual stipulation itself and more about the rare occasion when he finally heard Vince McMahon admit that his creative idea had been the better one.

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This week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown will take place on Friday, August 14, 2026, live from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. WWE has stacked the show with three championship matches, putting the United States Championship, Women's United States Championship, and WWE Tag Team Championship on the line. The show is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET in the United States on USA Network, while international viewers in most regions can watch SmackDown live on Netflix. WWE's official schedule confirms the Boston date and 8:00 PM ET start time. Baron Corbin (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes — WWE United States Championship Baron Corbin will make his second defense of the WWE United States Championship when he puts the title on the line against Carmelo Hayes in Boston. Corbin captured the championship from Trick Williams at SummerSlam and then retained it against Williams on the August 7 episode of SmackDown. After Corbin's latest victory, WWE moved quickly to announce Hayes as his next challenger. The matchup also carries an interesting hometown dynamic, as Hayes is from the Boston area and will have the crowd firmly behind him. Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jacy Jayne — WWE Women's United States Championship Tiffany Stratton will defend the WWE Women's United States Championship against Jacy Jayne after the two became increasingly involved in a dispute surrounding the Women's Tag Team Championship. On the August 7 episode of SmackDown, Fatal Influence interrupted Chelsea Green's celebration and Jayne made it clear that she wanted Stratton's title. Stratton subsequently offered Jayne a championship opportunity, turning the confrontation into an official title match for Boston. R-Truth & Damian Priest (c) vs. War Raiders vs. The MFT — WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat R-Truth and Damian Priest will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship in a three-way battle against the War Raiders and The MFT. The match continues a storyline that began when Priest and Truth accepted a challenge from the War Raiders. The two teams previously competed in a champion-versus-champion situation involving the WWE and AAA Tag Team Championships, and the rivalry has now developed into a three-team title fight. The addition of The MFT makes this particularly dangerous for the champions because Truth and Priest do not have to be pinned for their reign to end. War Raiders bring a major size and power advantage, while The MFT adds another unpredictable element to the contest. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton Face Off — Predicted Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are both advertised for the Boston show, and another confrontation between the former friends looks highly likely. Orton shocked Rhodes at SummerSlam by interfering in his Undisputed WWE Championship match against CM Punk, costing Rhodes the opportunity to regain the championship. On the August 7 SmackDown, Rhodes confronted Orton, while Orton made it clear that his actions were deliberate and that he intends to prevent Rhodes from becoming champion again. WWE's official SmackDown highlights also featured the escalating Rhodes-Orton storyline. With both men advertised for Boston, WWE has an obvious opportunity to continue building the rivalry. A physical confrontation, a challenge for a future singles match, or an extended promo segment would all make sense. Given the history between the two former allies, this feud has the potential to become one of SmackDown's central stories following SummerSlam. CM Punk and Kevin Owens Continue Their Rivalry — Predicted CM Punk and Kevin Owens are also expected to remain at the center of SmackDown following their explosive confrontation in Philadelphia. Owens returned at SummerSlam and became the No. 1 contender to Punk's Undisputed WWE Championship. On the following SmackDown, the two exchanged heated words and nearly came to blows before officials intervened. Owens has already made it clear that he wants his championship opportunity, and the match has since been scheduled for the August 21 episode of SmackDown in Toronto. That makes Boston an important stop on the road to their championship match. WWE could use the episode for another face-to-face confrontation, a contract-signing segment, or a situation where one man attempts to gain a psychological advantage over the other. Since the actual title match is scheduled for the following week's SmackDown, the Boston show should be used to raise the stakes rather than give away the final physical confrontation too early. How To Watch WWE SmackDown, August 14, 2026 Fans in the United States can watch WWE SmackDown live on USA Network at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT on Friday, August 14. WWE's official viewing guide confirms that SmackDown remains on USA Network in the United States, while Netflix carries the weekly show live in most international markets. For viewers in India, SmackDown will begin at 5:30 AM IST on Saturday, August 15, with the show available on Netflix. The international broadcast schedule lists the August 14 Boston episode at 12:00 AM GMT, 2:00 AM CET, 5:30 AM IST and 10:00 AM AEST. UK viewers can watch at 1:00 AM BST on Saturday, while viewers in Central Europe can tune in at 2:00 AM CEST. Australian viewers will get the show at approximately 10:00 AM AEST on Saturday. In most of these international markets, SmackDown is available live through Netflix.

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In an interview, WWE's Nick Aldis reflected on the early days of his run as SmackDown General Manager, revealing how a pivotal on-screen exchange with Roman Reigns helped shape the tone of his character — and recounting the chaotic backstage story behind his first meeting with Vince McMahon. WWE Superstar Nick Aldis spoke to Chris Van Vliet and described a now-famous couch segment with Reigns as a genuinely significant moment for him professionally. He praised Reigns as meticulous and deeply thoughtful about every detail of his on-screen presence, crediting Paul Heyman's influence for helping shape that approach. Aldis said he felt real gratitude toward Reigns, noting that Reigns didn't have to extend him that level of trust in establishing the GM character, but chose to. The interview then turned to a story from very early in his tenure — by his own estimate, just a month or six weeks into the job — involving Randy Orton's arrival on SmackDown. Aldis explained that strict staging instructions were coming down at the time about where he and Heyman should stand during a live segment. Just before they went live, word came through again insisting he stay in the background while Heyman took the foreground. He recalled Heyman being amused by the directive, and Aldis feeling he had no real choice but to comply with seconds to air. The segment reportedly went off well, with Paul "Triple H" Levesque doing the opposite of what was expected in a way that sold the moment. That day, Aldis said, turned out to be the first time he ever met Vince McMahon in person — who was there watching. Aldis admitted he spent the moments afterward dreading the encounter, assuming McMahon would be furious they'd deviated from instructions. Instead, he said McMahon was gracious and complimentary about the segment, which left Aldis feeling conflicted given how much credit he felt Heyman deserved. Asked about Reigns couch segment, Aldis explained it emerged from an improvised back-and-forth where Reigns needled him about his feelings, prompting him to fire back, "but I'm an executive. I don't have feelings, you know." He said the line was meant to establish his character as a cold, businesslike executive, citing shows like Suits and Succession as influences on that steely persona — cool, cutthroat, and, in his own description, ultimately someone who's emotionally shut off. At WWE SummerSlam 2026 (Night 1, August 1, in Minneapolis), Nick Aldis wrestled in a match despite his in-ring absence of almost three years,, taking on Gunther. He came up short against Gunther, succumbing to Gunther's sleeper hold submission. Despite the loss, it was described as a dream match turned nightmare, with fans firmly behind him throughout. Following the loss, Aldis reportedly tried to resign as SmackDown General Manager, but Triple H (Paul Levesque) wouldn't allow it, telling Aldis he respected what he did at SummerSlam and wanted him to remain GM. On future plans, it is being suggested that Aldis could wrestle in WWE again, with sources in the company not believing he was "one and done." Aldis was said to have been banged up coming out of the match, and no timeline has been confirmed for when he'd wrestle next.

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SmackDown rolls into the Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight looking to answer some of the biggest questions SummerSlam left behind, and the blue brand isn't wasting any time getting to it. Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk sharing a ring with Kevin Owens for the first time since Owens shocked U.S. Bank Stadium by winning a Fatal Four-Way over Sami Zayn, Gunther and Finn Balor to become the new #1 contender. It's Owens' first appearance on WWE television since a neck injury nearly ended his career back in early 2025 — and it sets up a title chase that's been building in the background for over a year. Owens and Punk have real history dating back two decades to their days together in Ring of Honor, so tonight's face-to-face is expected to be the show's focal point. Charlotte Flair meets Jade Cargill in singles competition — a matchup a lot of people assumed WWE would save for a premium live event rather than burn on free TV. Both women came up empty in the SummerSlam ladder match, and neither has hidden how much bad blood has built up between them, so don't expect this one to stay clean. The newly crowned Interim WWE Women's Champion Chelsea Green will make her first-ever appearance since winning it in a chaotic five-way ladder match at SummerSlam. She's not defending tonight, but what she says matters more than it normally would — the picture around that championship shifted overnight. Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Gunther and Trick Williams are advertised for the show. Randy Orton — who cost Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship on night one of SummerSlam — is not currently listed and hasn't been addressed on WWE TV since, leaving that thread dangling heading into tonight. WWE SmackDown will take place on August 7, 2026, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET in the United States. Fans in the U.S. can watch the action live on USA Network, while international viewers can stream the event on Netflix.

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Here are the full results for this Friday's SmackDown which is scheduled to air live on March 14, 2025, at Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain. ## Friday Night SmackDown currently airs live every Friday on Fox from 8:00 ET–10:00 PM ET in the United States. ## SmackDown Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia## WWE SmackDown 3/14/2025 Promotion: WWE ## WWE SmackDown 3/14/2025 City: Barcelona, Spain ## WWE SmackDown 3/14/2025 Venue: Olimpic Arena ## WWE SmackDown 3/14/2025 Full Results ResultsMatch Type LA Knight, Jimmy Uso, Braun Strowman defeated Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga 6 Man Tag Team Match Charlotte Flair defeated B-Fab - Damian Priest defeated Shinsuke Nakamura - Randy Orton defeated Carmelo Hayes - GUNTHER defeated Axiom - The Street Profits defeated DIY WWE Tag Team Championship ## To stay updated with all the latest wrestling news, add Sacnilk.com to your Google News feeds and follow us on Twitter.

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Kevin Owens, a staple in WWE for a decade and a veteran wrestler for 24 years, has spoken about his remaining goals in the company.## In a recent interview with Busted Open Radio, Owens revealed his desire to face Finn Balor at WrestleMania, acknowledging his uncertain number of remaining appearances on the grandest stage. Another dream match for Owens? A singles encounter with Rey Mysterio.## "I've never had a singles match against Rey Mysterio," Owens said. "If I have another WrestleMania in me, I'd love to wrestle Finn Balor there. But as far as just goals, I think I've had it so good. I really can't ask for more."## Owens' WWE journey began in December 2014 at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution, where he debuted with a win over CJ Parker (Juice Robinson) before attacking Sami Zayn in a shocking heel turn. Two months later, Owens dethroned Zayn to capture the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Rival.## The Canadian grappler has since cemented his legacy as a WWE Grand Slam Champion, holding the Undisputed WWE Championship, the United States Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, and the Tag Team Championships. ## At WrestleMania 40, Owens' quest for another title fell short, as he and Randy Orton couldn't defeat Logan Paul for the United States Championship. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

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Logan Paul's WrestleMania 40 title defense against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton took an unexpected turn when YouTuber IShowSpeed emerged from the giant Prime mascot costume at ringside.## Speed, a popular streamer, filled in for KSI, who was originally featured in the storyline but took an RKO from Orton before the event. Speed's surprise appearance momentarily distracted Orton, allowing Paul to escape a potential finishing move.## However, the celebration was short-lived for Speed. In a turn of events, he ended up on the receiving end of Orton's signature RKO maneuver, delivered on the commentary desk.## Despite Speed's unfortunate debut, Logan Paul managed to retain his United States Championship with a pinfall victory over Kevin Owens after a Frog Splash. ## PRIME-MANIA!@LoganPaul & @ishowspeedsui keep the #USTitle in the Maverick's grasp at #WrestleMania XL! pic.twitter.com/HpWl7zkL4R— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...