Cody Rhodes winning the WWE Championship on SmackDown has sparked discussion among fans and analysts, including WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray. The title change saw Rhodes defeat Drew McIntyre to regain the championship, and while Ray supported the creative decision, he also pointed out a concern about how the match was structured.

The match featured several intense moments, including action that spilled outside the ring and a spot where Rhodes was put through a table. While Ray said he enjoyed the overall presentation of the match, he questioned why such a physical contest did not include a formal stipulation.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Ray explained that his issue had nothing to do with the performers themselves.

“I was happy with that television world championship match and I was unhappy with that television world championship match. The unhappy does not have anything to do with Cody or Drew. It has to do with the rules, the regulations, and the lack of stipulations.”

According to Ray, the level of physicality in the bout made the absence of clear match rules feel inconsistent with what viewers were seeing in the ring.

“I have the same problem with Cody and Drew’s match, the stipulations on that match, that I had with Kenny Omega and Okada at Wrestle Kingdom. But as far as a television main event is concerned, mission accomplished.”

Despite raising those concerns, Ray strongly supported WWE’s decision to have Rhodes win the title. Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE Championship on SmackDown marked a major turning point in the storyline and the road to WrestleMania 42.

“I have zero problems with this creative decision. I have zero problems with this change of direction. None. I think it was a great idea. Forget about great idea, I think it was a smart idea. I think it was a ‘best for business’ idea. And at the end of the day, it makes for a considerably better story.”

Rhodes’ win marks his third world championship reign in WWE and moves him into a major match at WrestleMania. He is currently scheduled to defend the title against Randy Orton, who earned the opportunity after winning the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

Ray also noted that he is interested in seeing how WWE builds the rivalry between Rhodes and Orton on television in the coming weeks. He compared the potential face-to-face moment between the two stars to the excitement generated by the recent confrontation between CM Punk and Roman Reigns on WWE RAW.

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Jamie Hayter Says Women’s Wrestling Still Has Work to Do – Jamie Hayter believes women’s wrestling has improved significantly in recent years, but she says there is still more progress to be made.

While speaking in a recent interview with Soundsphere Magazine, Hayter discussed the growth of the women’s division and explained why she feels the industry has not yet reached its full potential.

The Jamie Hayter women’s wrestling comments come as many promotions have increased the spotlight on their women’s divisions. Over the past several years, major companies have added more television time, championship opportunities, and high-profile matches for female wrestlers.

Despite those improvements, Hayter said she cannot describe the current state of women’s wrestling as perfect. She acknowledged the positive changes that have taken place while emphasizing that the work toward equality and representation is ongoing.

“There’s been a lot of changes for the better, but I can’t sit here and be like, ‘It’s so great now!’ because there’s just so much more work that can be done. But I can’t say that there haven’t been changes, because there have – and all the women have worked so hard for them. But there’s still stuff to be done.”

Hayter’s Jamie Hayter women’s wrestling comments also focused on how female performers are often judged differently than their male counterparts. According to her, women in wrestling face more scrutiny, especially when it comes to in-ring performance and appearance.

She explained that a single poor performance can lead to stronger criticism for women compared to men in the same situation.

“I feel like as a woman, we are probably under the microscope a lot more than men are. If you have a bad match, then it’s like ‘Oh my god, you’re the worst wrestler ever’. Whereas a guy could have a bad match and it’s like, ‘Oh well’, or if you don’t look a certain way, then they don’t like that either.”

Hayter’s perspective reflects a broader conversation within the wrestling industry about fairness and expectations placed on female talent. While promotions continue to expand opportunities for women, many performers believe there is still progress to be made when it comes to equal treatment and evaluation.

As the wrestling landscape continues to evolve, the Jamie Hayter women’s wrestling comments highlight the ongoing discussion about improving the environment for women in the sport.

Jamie Hayter Says Women’s Wrestling Still Has Work to Do

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NXT Stand & Deliver will stream live on WWE YouTube channels this year, marking a significant change in how the event will be distributed. The show is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, and will take place at The Factory in St. Louis.

The announcement signals another shift in WWE’s broadcast strategy for its Premium Live Events. In recent years, NXT Premium Live Events have primarily aired on streaming platforms connected to WWE’s major distribution deals.

Since 2021, NXT Premium Live Events had been streaming on Peacock after WWE moved the WWE Network service to the platform in the United States. That arrangement remained in place even after WWE made further changes to its streaming agreements.

In September 2025, WWE moved its main Premium Live Events from Peacock to ESPN Unlimited. Despite that move, NXT shows continued to air on Peacock. That situation remained unchanged until recently.

NXT Vengeance Day, which aired on March 7, became the final NXT Premium Live Event to stream on Peacock under that arrangement. With NXT Stand & Deliver now set for YouTube, the upcoming show will represent a new direction for how WWE distributes NXT’s major events.

Another notable change is the event’s placement on the calendar. In past years, NXT Stand & Deliver was typically held during WrestleMania weekend as part of the larger WrestleMania festivities. This year’s edition will take place separately from WrestleMania weekend, making it a standalone event on the NXT schedule.

The venue for the show will be The Factory in St. Louis, which has hosted several wrestling events and entertainment productions in recent years. The location adds a new setting for the annual NXT showcase.

At this time, WWE has not announced any matches for the show. However, more details about the card are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks as storylines continue to develop on NXT television.

With the show approaching in early April, fans will be watching closely to see how WWE promotes NXT Stand & Deliver on Youtube and what matches are announced for the card.

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