For Lash Legend, competing at WrestleMania 42 only months after officially joining WWE’s main roster was already a surreal experience. But being able to honor one of wrestling’s legendary tag teams made the moment even more special.
During a recent appearance on Bodyslam.net’s Wrestleholics podcast, Legend reflected on competing at WrestleMania and coming out in tribute gear inspired by the iconic Demolition duo.
“I mean, those are like dream moments and essentially what we trained for all year. Everybody wants a WrestleMania match and the fact that I got it, what, six months in on the main roster is just incredible.”
Legend admitted that paying tribute to Demolition during the event became one of the highlights of the entire WrestleMania week for her.
“And, you know, being able to honor the Demolition Brothers, that was so, so cool. And the gear, man, that came out so sick. I didn’t know what to envision completely, but shout out to our gear makers. They did that.”
According to Legend, the experience became even more meaningful after getting the opportunity to spend time with the legendary tag team prior to the match.
“And it was really cool that we got to have that moment with the Demolition Brothers prior to the match, get some pictures. So just that whole moment, that whole week, everything was just, it’s just a dream, honestly.”
Legend also reflected on her standout showing in this year’s Royal Rumble match, where she scored five eliminations — the highest total in the match.
“So obviously WrestleMania, like you mentioned, Royal Rumble had an amazing showing. Got to eliminate Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers. And I had the most this year, which was five. So that was really, really cool.”
While discussing her rapid rise on the main roster, Legend also credited Nia Jax as one of the biggest influences on her recent development, both inside and outside the ring.
Legend explained that working with Jax during her final run in NXT pushed her physically in ways she had not experienced before.
“At NXT, towards my end run there, she asked to come down and work against me and I was all for it. Obviously I hadn’t worked anybody of that caliber and that dominant in the ring. I’m being the bully to everyone, so to get a taste of being bullied back, I’m like, hold up, wait a minute.”
She added that Jax has continued helping guide her transition to WWE’s main roster, something Legend says has made the adjustment far smoother than she expected.
“She’s testing me the most and I think she’s also helped me grow the most and make this transition from NXT to the main roster just seamless. I don’t got to worry about nothing because I got Nia on my side just there for me, vouching for me. Like it’s been amazing.”
Legend also hyped up her growing alliance with Jax, revealing that the duo is officially known as “The Irresistible Forces.”
“Well, if you didn’t know, Nia Jax and myself, Lash Legend, the one and only Bougie Bully — we are called The Irresistible Forces. We are literally the biggest girls in the entire WWE across all brands and we’re the most dominant.”
With momentum continuing to build around Lash Legend on WWE television, it’s clear the former NXT standout sees herself as only getting started.
(Please credit Bodyslam.net and the Wrestleholics when using the quotes and news above.)
You can watch the entire interview with Lash Legend on Bodyslam’s Wrestleholics Podcast below.
The opinions shared in this article belong to its author and do not reflect the consensus of the BodySlam staff.
Try these shoes on: You’re a performer, with a huge stage to apply your craft. People cheer for you. They wear clothes designed in your image. There are signs they hold up and merchandise of you that they carry. You feel good, flattered, if you’re not used to it. Alternatively, you’re almost numb to it by now, but you’re still appreciative, because these people are the reason you get to live this life. And then it happens. They cross a boundary. Swarming their golden gods, they shove photos, merchandise, and toys, demanding talents sign them. Phones are pulled out for selfies and candid photos. For professional wrestling talents, this is an encounter they face all too often across their travels.
Recently, during WrestleMania 42 weekend, that was the case. In Las Vegas, fans overwhelmed the talents. Booker T had fans follow him into the bathroom, according to his Reality of Wrestling podcast. Bayley and AJ Lee tried to share a quiet, emotional moment, likely before parting ways; Lee had an emotional title loss at the Showcase of the Immortals. CM Punk had to step in, confronting the fan and slapping the phone out of his hands.
https://x.com/TMZ/status/2046219652762567025?s=20
It’s a tale as old as time. Wrestlers post about it all the time, asking fans not to cross boundaries so they can simply go about their day. The show is over; there’s no meet-and-greet or convention. All there is is moving from one place to another or ordering something for the road. Sure, they’re happy to see viewers admire their work. A lot goes into it. For every botch, there’s a move that was executed to surgical precision. Promos are delivered in the hopes that their charisma will funnel into the fans’ subconscious, as wrestling psychologically does.
In that is a catharsis. But that line between performer and spectator is sacred, unless otherwise invited in.
Nobody wants to be made anxious about such a predicament. Going outside shouldn’t necessitate a horde of people frothing at the mouth for an interaction. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way. Having a life outside of home and the squared circle is mostly a risk, one that talents might not be fully equipped to handle.
This follows everyone. Most often, though, it happens to women.
I don’t think I need to explain how women are often overcrowded, regardless of their following. Even if they’re not trying to present themselves as someone to gaze at, it still happens, regardless of the gender assigned to the fans that follow them, mostly male. Provided the societal treatment of women since the dawn of time, this doesn’t stop at signing things or taking selfies.
Women wrestlers are often the prime targets. No matter what percentage of skin is showing, they have a line that fans should not cross. It happens anyway. They could dress modestly, outside of their gear, in ways that heavily mute the features that are subject to such ogling. It still happens anyway. Not having the autonomy to dress however one wants without worrying about the intrusive hands of unwanted hands, it’s a scary existence.
CM Punk shouldn’t have had to step in for AJ Lee and Bayley. The man who invaded the house of Daria Rae (formerly WWE’s Sonya DeVille) in Summer 2020 shouldn’t have happened. Rhea Ripley shouldn’t need to take to X and ask fans to breach her orbit to sign their stuff, or for people not to send things to her personal home address. Asuka has also reported that she’s afraid of being around fans because of the same treatment and those trying to romantically engage with her.
I recognize that many of these wrestlers are incredibly successful, and that there is a litany of other bad things happening in the world. Poverty, evil billionaires, bigotry, and global warming. That said, entertainers should not have to beg for people to recognize them as people, not idols to be worshipped.
Women in general should not have to live their lives with their heads on a swivel. Why else do would they hope to have a partner or friend in their life, so that they can turn their brain off in public? What other reason are they afraid to go out alone at night? Only then will they not need to answer “man or bear” with the latter.
And now I move onto the recent topic of Elayna Black (formerly Cora Jade of WWE), that same WrestleMania 42 weekend at WrestleCon. A man groped her without consent and attempted to walk off. She took out her phone, recorded a video of his face as she confronted him. Largely, she received support for standing up for herself.
Yet others were jumping to defend her harasser. Chief among these responses were people decrying her OnlyFans career, as though that justified his actions. She, as a wrestler, is free to handle her own branding just as her male peers are.
Under no circumstances, and I mean in no uncertain terms, is it okay to touch anyone or make any comment that would make them uncomfortable. That includes performers and people in our daily lives. But it also extends to NSFW content creators, adult film stars, and dancers at strip clubs. Everyone should be free from inappropriate handling. Everyone. Yes, even you. Without enthusiastic consent, this is disgusting behavior. People, decent people, should never act like this.
In terms of sex workers or anything adjacent, once they stop performing for the screen or on a stage, that’s where it ends. The nature of their profession is not an invitation to treat them however anyone pleases. What consenting adults do with partners or people they share intimacy or desires with is their business. It’s no different from anyone who doesn’t have that career. I might add that if it weren’t for men lusting after and treating women as sexual objects in the first place, this career might not exist in the first place. Supply and demand.
If it bothers a fan so much, my advice is this: stay away from it. Turn that phone off. Block it from personal social media. But do not condone this. Otherwise, it’s all men until women can feel safe and secure around men.
This also applies to male victims and victims outside of the gender binary. No one should be made to fear their surroundings.
But I expect people to continue vehemently defending harassing and assaulting people. These are the types of people who women will cross the street just to avoid.
Returning to the message at hand, there’s a parasocial nature to interactions that creates, nurtures, and perpetuates the interactions that leave wrestlers exhausted, or worse, afraid.
All of those stories about wrestlers, actors, and musicians acting grumpily, at times angrily, at fans can be attributed to the lack of space and respect. Nobody should have to see John Cena calmly, yet visibly irritatedly ask fans to respect his privacy and boundaries. Chappel Roan’s enforcement of her line between her time away from music to be mired with constant interactions with strangers should not warrant controversy.
Existing abroad in the public eye is not permission. If any celebrity, be they online, in wrestling, or in pop culture, welcomes an interaction, leave it at what they are willing to allow. Then leave it at that. If they don’t offer it, leave them alone. The interaction between performer and fan starts and stops at that moment, unless both parties agree to continue it.
In a perfect world, educating people on etiquette, on treating others respectfully, would alleviate so much of this. Unfortunately, we don’t live in such a world. Empathy is but a foreign concept for people who don’t step out of their own shoes.
Circling back to WrestleMania 42 and the flood of fans that left wrestlers with a negative experience, the last and most crucial aspect to consider is security.
Throughout that weekend, it was noted that the local security at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand wasn’t equipped for the influx of fans. When Fightful Select released their report on WWE and hotel security, they painted a dismal picture that highlights the unsafe environment of simply staying at a place to unwind and rest.
Factoring in that Vegas hotel security already has far more to deal with, it would make sense that a multi-billion-dollar corporation like TKO, and by extension WWE, would heighten security for the people who make their product work in the first place.
There’s a lot to weigh in on how fans treat talent. Many are socially unaware (either by lack of education, social conditioning, or lacking socially cognitive skills), while others are predatory. From the lustful fans to the ones who would exploit their own children to get something signed, it’s disturbing that these people operate in such a way. Additionally, some of these fans are trying to take shortcuts to meet and get things signed due to WWE’s current business model already overprices almost everything from merch to tickets to meet-and-greets.
But the company should be held responsible for the fans’ handling of talents in public. Surely, with WrestleManias and Royal Rumbles being held in Saudi Arabia from the pocket of royalty, WWE could afford this. Surely, with the high costs of being a fan, WWE could afford this. Surely, from cutting talent, WWE could feasibly afford to ensure the safety of its most essential contributors.
With the wealth the company touts, it begs the question: at what length would the company go to ensure the proper satisfaction of fans and talent alike?
Considering how they value their bottom dollar, I think I know the answer.
This past weekend, the WWE inducted the late Bad News Brown into their Legacy Wing for the Hall of Fame.
In a post made on the social media of the widow of the late Bad News Brown, Helen Coage spoke about the fans reaction to a speech not being made due to the Legacy Wing reasonings that WWE has made over the last couple of decades. However, that didn’t stop Coage from thanking the fans and allowing them to read what would have been her speech if she was able to give one at the WWE Hall of Fame.
“I know many of you are unhappy about our family not being granted the opportunity to speak at the WWE induction of Bad New into the Legacy Hall of Fame. But from past inductees we all knew that was not going to happen, please don’t be bitter, please just be happy that he was given this honor. I am happy.
“Had we been given the opportunity the speech would have been short… something like this
Good evening, on behalf of our family, I want to thank WWE for this incredible honor. To see my husband inducted into the Legacy Hall of Fame is something we will cherish forever.
“I also want to take a moment to thank Benjamin Brown and Holly Von Holtz for taking such good care of us through all of this. Your kindness and support have meant more than you know, and we are truly grateful.
“To the fans—he loved you more than you may have realized. Now, he may have called you “beer-bellied sharecroppers” and “spineless cockroaches”… but that was the character. That was the show. Because outside that ring, he was the exact opposite—a devoted husband, a proud father, and a man with a big heart.
“He gave everything he had to entertain, to connect, and to leave an impression that people would never forget.
“His gimmick has been copied more than a few times by those who came after him… and in this business, that’s one of the highest forms of respect. It means what he created mattered. It meant something. And it lasted.
“He truly left his mark—helping shape an era and even giving Hulk Hogan the name “Hollywood Hogan,” a name that became legendary in its own right.
“Though he’s been gone for many years, his voice still echoes. In every cheer, every memory, every moment like this—he’s still here. And tonight, I know he would be so proud… not just of this honor, but of the family, the fans, and the legacy he leaves behind.
“Thank you for remembering him. Thank you for honoring him. And from the bottom of my heart—thank you for never letting him be forgotten.”
Alongside, Sycho Sid, Bad News was added to the WWE”s Legacy Wing where he will be immortalized forever.
You can see Helen Coage’s Facebook post about Bad New Brown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony below.
Ric Flair reveals that Rodzilla wanted the Nature Boy to be the one to induct the multi-time NBA Champion into the WWE Hall of Fame.
This past weekend, the WWE Hall of Fame inducted a large variety of names who made an impact on the business throughout the years. Whether it was a couple of appearances or their whole career, the names involved included AJ Styles, Stephanie McMahon, Demolition, Sycho Sid, Bad News Brown, and Dennis Rodman.
Rodman, who was part of the main event for Bash At the Beach 1998 where he teamed up with Hulk Hogan to battle Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his fellow NWO brothers, Kevin Nash and X-Pac (Syxx), however, he originally wanted Ric Flair, but Nature Boy Flair never got a call back, he says.
Flair was a guest on The Ariel Helwani show, and talked about Rodman’s Hall of Fame induction.
“Dennis Rodman called me and said, ‘Will you induct me into the Hall of Fame?’ I sent it to the power that be, ‘Dennis wants (me to induct him).’ I never got a call back. I’m very happy for Kevin and Sean. I never got a call back.”
Rodman has not commented. He would impersonate Hogan during his speech and pay tribute to the New World Order as an honorary member for life.
You can see the entire Ariel Helwani show featuring “Nature Boy” Ric Flair below.
Joe Jonas sang the National Anthem at WrestleMania 42, but he was more nervous to meet the Greatest Of All Time.
This past weekend, the WWE did their first back-to-back WrestleMania in Las Vegas, Nevada where they had Joe Jonas sing the National Anthem on Sunday night before the matches went underway.
During his vlog that he filmed throughout the week and weekend for WrestleMania 42, Joe spoke about how nervous he was to shake the hand of and say hi to John Cena, the host of WrestleMania and now-retired 17-time WWE Champion.
“I was more nervous to say hi to John Cena than I was to sing the national anthem.”
Joe would go on to talk more about his love for professional wrestling, stating that he is one of the biggest fans of the legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin.
You can see the entire WrestleMania 42 vlog from Joe Jonas below.
Wrestlemania 42 is officially in the books and.. boy did it fly by! It came and it went. What a weekend. Welcome to the Wrestlemania Rundown: The Cody Edition. Where I give my thoughts and opinions and you either agree or disagree. Let’s get into it!
I want to get this out of the way. In my humble opinion, night 2 saved the weekend. Night 2 had the star power, the matches, and the build for these matches were better than half of the matches on night 1.
So let’s start from the top. John Cena comes out and welcomes everyone back for night 2 of Wrestlemania after a historic and incredible night 1. Now I don’t know what show Cena watched. But I don’t think we watched the same one. He hyped up Oba VS Lesnar and then walked away.
First up, was the match I have been looking forward to since it was announced, Oba VS Lesnar. Now I’ve seen a lot of people say that the match was way too short. Here’s the thing. For me it lived up to the expectations. This match was made to make Oba Femi look strong and it did just that. It gave Oba his mania moment. It was chaos, it was fun, and the people love Femi. The talk of the night was the ending. When the match was over, Lesnar stayed back and took his gloves and boots off and laid them in the ring. Heyman and Lesnar were very emotional to close it as he left the ring. So is he retired? I don’t think so. But we shall see. Rating: 8/10
Next up, the 6 man ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. The attires? On point. The match? Incredible, this match was everything I expected it to be and more. It had the athleticism, the crowd was in it, it had the spots, and the moments. It was a true Wrestlemania style ladder match. I truly didn’t expect Penta to win but to my surprise he did and I was very okay with it. Rating: 9.5/10
Up next, Trick Williams VS Sami Zayn for the United States Championship. This match was good. I wish I had more and Trick got showcased more than he did, this match seemed to of flew by. Trick is over and Vegas HATED Sami. Trick winning the title was the right call. WWE needs to continue pushing him to the moon. Rating: 7/10
Next was the return of the alter ego. The Demon. Dirty Dom Mysterio VS Finn Balor. Before I go into the match I just wanna say. These entrances were fantastic. The king of the luchadores entrance was great and the return of the demon was excellent. I said out loud during Finn’s entrance “he actually looks happy and looks like he’s having fun”. The match itself lived up to the story. It had everything. The addition of the street fight stipulation was a welcomed one and I feel like added a little more excitement. However I wish I had more. More outside of the ring moments and maybe even some in the crowd moments. But this match was great. I would say this was probably my 3rd favorite match of the night. 8.5/10
Next was the Woman’s Championship match. First things first. I hated that Rhea came out last with no special entrance. I get that they may of done that for a reason but I just didn’t enjoy it. This match was pretty good. Another match I think we needed more of. The addition of IYO got a huge pop and I was very happy with that. Rhea winning was okay. We knew it would happen. I was hoping for a swerve and they kept building Jade up and getting her better but I guess not. Let’s see what’s next for her. Rating: 7/10
The Danhausen segment was incredible. I loved everything about it and I love that they are going all in on Danhausen. He is incredible and very good for WWE.
The main event. The match to end the weekend. Incredible, outstanding. I have so many words I could use but you would be reading this for a while. This match was everything. We knew that Roman would most likely be winning this one and at the end of the night. He ultimately did. I’m interested to see what they do with Punk now. How often is Roman going to show up? Is this ultimately leading to Riyadh for the rumored Rock VS Roman match? I guess we will wait and see. Rating: 9/10
That’s it! Mania is over and in the books. The build now begins for the next one. Obviously we still have the Raw after Mania which is normally a very big show as well as the Smackdown after Mania. What’s in store? Who knows! It’s post Wrestlemania season.. anything can happen! But for now I give Wrestlemania 42 an overall rating of 7/10.
Thank you for joining me on the Wrestlemania Rundown: The Cody Edition. Maybe this will become a thing for all PLE’s. Who knows! But until then remember to subscribe to Bodyslam.net and follow us for all things wrestling.
WrestleMania has faced growing criticism from fans due to the heavy presence of commercials and the overall match length across both Night 1 and Night 2.
The conversation intensified during the Night 2 main event, where the entrances for Roman Reigns and CM Punk lasted a combined 12 minutes and 26 seconds. Reigns’ entrance clocked in at 6:29, while Punk’s entrance lasted 5 minutes and 57 seconds.
Notably, a commercial break lasting nearly 8 minutes aired right before the main event, further adding to fan frustration regarding the show’s pacing.
When compared to match times across both nights, the entrances alone were longer than several bouts on the card:
Women’s Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match: 8 minutes
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee: 8 minutes
Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer: 7 minutes
The Usos & LA Knight vs. Vision/Speed: 7 minutes
United States Title Match: 7 minutes and 6 seconds
Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill: 10 minutes and 9 seconds
Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio (Street Fight): 10 minutes and 25 seconds
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar: 4 minutes and 48 seconds
The issue, however, is not necessarily presentation over substance, but rather the amount of time allocated to advertising. Many fans pointed out that commercials and non-wrestling segments significantly impacted how much in-ring action each match received.
With WrestleMania being WWE’s biggest annual event, the balance between commercial commitments and match quality has become a major point of discussion coming out of the weekend.
On April 19th, 2026 WWE aired the 2nd & final night of the 42nd annual WrestleMania live in Las Vegas Nevada inside Allegiant Stadium & can watch it on ESPN (United States) & Netflix (Everywhere else).
Oba Femi defeated Brock Lensar via Fall From Grace (4:48)(Recommend)
Intercontinental Title Fatal 6 Way Ladder Match Penta (c) defeated JD McDonagh, Rey Mysterio, Je Von Evans, Dragon Lee & Rusev (15:16)(STILL CHAMPION!!!!) (Recommend)
United States Title Match Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn (c) via Trick Shot (7:06)(NEW CHAMPION!!!!)
Street Fight Finn Balor defeated Dominik Mysterio via Coup De Grace (10:25)
Women’s Title Match Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill (c) via Riptide (10:09)(NEW CHAMPION!!!!)
World Heavyweight Title Match 2026 Royal Rumble Winner Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk (c) via Spear (33:57) (NEW CHAMPION!!!!) (Recommend)
World Wrestling Entertainment held Day 4 of WWE World At WrestleMania 42 on April 19th, 2026. The event took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and aired LIVE on the WWE YouTube Channel.
Day 4 of WWE World at WrestleMania 42 showcased two matches featuring WWE Main Roster and WWE NXT Superstars. You can see the full results from the event below.
Fallon Henley defeated Jaida Parker – (7:03)
Los Americanos (Bravo Americano & Rayo Americano) defeated Myles Borne & Shiloh Hill – (10:00)
The main event of WrestleMania 42 Night Two, and the final match of the entire weekend. CM Punk defends the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns. Big fight feel.
CM Punk and Roman Reigns had the crowd on their feet from the opening bell, and the action only got hotter as the match continued on, in what ended up being a consensus great match.
From brawling in the crowd, to Roman Reigns bloodying CM Punk up with a shot to the head with steel steps, these two brought it all. CM Punk hit Roman with a Superman punch, and stole the Ula Fala, while Roman Reigns Powerbombed him through the announcers table and had him in hell in the tree of woe.
After a hard-fought battle from both men; it was a spear that sealed the deal. Roman Reigns is the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion to end WrestleMania 42.
