Top Wrestling Moments That Defined 2025 So Far – 2025 wrestling already gave us some all-time memorable moments in recent times. From shocking heel turns to tear-filled goodbyes, shocking championship upsets to new all-stars rising, it’s been one wild ride—and we’re not even at year’s end.
Below is a closer examination at those wrestling moments that have really mattered in 2025 to this point.
John Cena’s Shocking Heel Turn at Elimination Chamber
Yes, it’s true. John Cena—the man we all recognize as the embodiment of hustle, loyalty, and respect—had actually turned heel. And not in a nudge-nudge, provocative kind of manner. This was an unabashed betrayal. It came at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, and attendees didn’t know if they should believe it.
When Cody Rhodes made it out of the chamber and retained his title, Cena came to the ring, claiming to congratulate him. He gave him a low-blow instead and aligned himself with no one other than The Rock and yes, even Travis Scott (who’s been testing out some WWE cameo roles). The moment Cena took down Rhodes and stood proudly alongside Rock, the internet erupted. Fans were all, “Is this really happening?!”—and it was.
R-Truth’s WWE Release Leaves Us Heartbroken
The WWE is familiar with sporadic talent shakes, but everyone, including Killings, least of all, had to expect being released in early June. Ron Killings, an audience favorite due to his sidesplitting segments and unusual sense of humor, had spent close to 20 years in the company.
The flood of affection from fans and stars alike was tremendous. John Cena even went so far as to post an emotional tribute proclaiming R-Truth “one of the most real people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.” And really, that is all you can say. R-Truth was always our dude who could always get us to chuckle regardless of what was transpiring in the ring. It might be putting himself down for the count, getting in the incorrect match, or that memorable 24/7 title run, but every second was fun.
His exit is like the end of an era, and while we wish him to appear again somewhere, WWE will not be the same again.
Jacy Jayne Wins the NXT Women’s Title — And Fans Are Split
Let’s turn to NXT, where Jacy Jayne made one of the year’s largest upsets to win the NXT Women’s Championship during a typical Tuesday night show. She took down Stephanie Vaquer, who had been on a tear ever since she made the transfer to NXT via NJPW.
It was not only the victory that made waves but the aftermath. The locker room erupted in the ring in an epic brawl, and Twitter (or X, if you will) went haywire with fans either loving it or loathing it. There are those who state Jacy’s been snubbed for far too long and had well-deserved time in the limelight. There are those who believe she wasn’t ready for number one.
Mercedes Moné Loses NJPW Strong Women’s Title
As holder of the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship for an astonishing 313 days, Mercedes Moné finally lost the belt at NJPW Resurgence in Los Angeles. The twist? She didn’t even get pinned.
In a triple-threat match against AZM and Mina Shirakawa, it was AZM who scored the pinfall over Mina—leaving Mercedes visibly shaken after the match. It was a surprising and slightly controversial end to what had been a dominant reign. But it also underscored how unpredictable NJPW Strong’s women’s division has become. Titles can change hands anytime, anywhere, and even top-tier stars like Mercedes aren’t safe.
Following the bout, Mercedes took to Twitter to post a message thanking fans and hinting that she’s “not done yet.” Whether she takes aim at AEW again or seeks out a rematch in NJPW, one thing’s certain—her story’s not done.
Jey Uso Becomes the Men’s Royal Rumble Winner
If you called this one, you should get one of those championship belts for yourself—and probably a pretty nice payday, to boot.
Jey Uso, once the dependable tag team man in The Bloodline narrative, only gained widespread prominence through Men’s Royal Rumble. And not wrestling it, but taking out John Cena as the final man. The crowd went ballistic, the announcers were in shock, and Jey stood in the ring frozen like a man who just discovered his own power.
His win didn’t just shock WWE storylines, it made a massive splash in the world of sports betting. Heading into the event, Jey wasn’t even in the top five to win it according to top betting sites. A handful of sharp-eyed fans who bet on long-shots came in big time, and once all was said and done, the odds makers dug in to rebalance expectations leading up to WrestleMania season.
Now, heading towards WrestleMania 41, everyone’s asking: does Jey get the definitive payoff at last? Will this be the year that he takes down Roman? Or will an outsider interrupt? Whatever, Jey’s Rumble win counts among the strongest “at last” moments we’ve had in years—and one that made a few fans wealthier.
Looking Ahead…
If this is how wild 2025 has been already, just imagine what’s coming next. With WrestleMania 41, Evolution, Forbidden Door, and SummerSlam still on the calendar, we’re bound to see even more unforgettable twists and turns. Keep watching.
