WWE: Backstage Details Over Vince McMahon Changing Original Plans for Hell in a Cell Match Finish at WrestleMania 39, Hikuleo WWE Status & Lack of Plans for Debut Update, More News

Backstage Details Over Vince McMahon Changing Original Plans for Edge vs. Finn Balor Hell in a Cell Match Finish at WrestleMania 39

WWE’s WrestleMania 39 event in April of 2023 in Inglewood, California featured Edge defeating Demon Finn Balor in a Hell in a Cell match.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that one of the changes former WWE and TKO Group Executive Chairman Vince McMahon made to the original plans for WrestleMania 39 involved the planned finish to the Hell in a Cell match.

Sapp reported that Balor was originally scheduled to defeat Edge in the match but McMahon wanted Edge to win despite Edge pushing to put over Balor.

Sapp also reported that it is currently not known if Edge or Balor were told of the original plan nor its change due to match finish plans usually gets related the day of the show in WWE.

In regards to the rumors of McMahon being responsible for the call to have Roman Reigns defeat Cody Rhodes at the event, Sapp reported that while McMahon was in favor of this decision, this was something that had been the plan pretty much the whole way through.

In regards to the sweeping changes McMahon made to the original plans for the RAW After Mania show the next night, one source spoken to compared McMahon to the Tazmanian Devil “running in, eating up the script, ruining the show and leaving.”

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Update on Hikuleo’s WWE Status & Lack of Plans for Official Debut

As noted before, former New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Hikuleo has been signed to a contract with WWE since this past July. Hikuleo has been listed on WWE’s internal roster but WWE officials still do not have any creative plans for his official debut.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Hikuleo is still under contract and has been training at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

In regards to the reason for the lack of an official debut, Meltzer reported that those spoken to stated that WWE officials simply have decided to not use Hikuleo for their NXT brand at this time.

Meltzer reported that WWE officials had a similar mentality years ago with Braun Strowman where he was not featured much in their NXT brand in order to make his official debut on the main roster be more impactful.

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WWE News & Notes

Chelsea Green recently reached 100 days as the current WWE Women’s United States Champion as of Sunday. Green won the title on the December 14, 2024 episode of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event to be crowned the inaugural champion.

As noted before, Sami Zayn has been out of action for WWE since their Elimination Chamber 2025 event earlier this month due to suffering “neck injury, nerve issues, and spinal issues” from his Unsanctioned match against Kevin Owens. Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported in a recent Q&A article that his sources stated that the reason for Zayn’s current absence is not due to anything related to Zayn currently observing the holy month of Ramadan. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Zayn had requested and was granted some time off from the company.

WWE announced that they have recently opened a new WWE x UFC store in London, England that features the largest collection of WWE and UFC merchandise available to purchase. It was also announced that this store will be open until March 31st.

As noted before, Game Changer Wrestling owner Brett Lauderdale denied a recent from the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer about WWE’s current rules and process when it comes to WWE ID talent being booked for indie events. Meltzer issued a correction at the time stating that his report was not meant to be published since it was not complete at the time and clarified some details from his unfinished report. Meltzer provided an update in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter reporting that once WWE establishes their new WWE ID Championships for the indies, they would have full control of scripting the title matches and rights to use the footage for those matches. One indie promoter spoken to reportedly confirmed that there is currently no restrictions for the finishes to matches involving WWE ID talents nor who WWE ID talents can work for but WWE will not promote those matches that they have no control over.

WWE recently revealed the next match in their on-going countdown of their Top 50 matches in WrestleMania history. The 25th spot was the WWE Intercontinental Championship match of Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Roddy Piper (c) from WrestleMania VIII.

WWE also recently released two new videos to their WWE Vault channel on YouTube. The first new video was the full WCW Uncensored 2000 event. The second new video was the full November 16, 1985 episode of NWA World Championship Wrestling.

WWE also recently released two new videos to their WWE Vault channel on YouTube. The first new video was the WWE Championship match of Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (c) from WrestleMania XI. The second new video is a livestream of the full WrestleMania III event.

In a recent interview with WWE Die Woche, Jordynne Grace gave her thoughts about her choice for a dream match opponent in WWE. Grace stated “I feel like I have to say that (Rhea Ripley). Bianca is a very, very close second, though. She’s so insanely athletic and I just picture myself catching her out of the air mid-flip and just slamming her. I feel like, I know, right? That’s something I could do. But NXT right now, my dream match is Stephanie and Giulia.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)