{"id":215401,"date":"2026-04-23T11:37:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=215401"},"modified":"2026-04-23T11:37:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:37:33","slug":"wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-reigns-reigns-mcafee-meltdown-raw-has-a-new-ruler-samis-slow-turn-the-second-coming-of-paige-codys-american-nightmare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/04\/23\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-reigns-reigns-mcafee-meltdown-raw-has-a-new-ruler-samis-slow-turn-the-second-coming-of-paige-codys-american-nightmare\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Reigns Reigns, McAfee Meltdown, Raw Has a New Ruler, Sami\u2019s Slow Turn, The Second Coming of Paige, Cody\u2019s (American) Nightmare"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2636043552\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Another WrestleMania has come and gone. Fans have been on an emotional roller coaster: weeks of building anticipation, the disappointment of Night 1, and the joy of Night 2. We can\u2019t help but feel let down afterwards. And then comes the crash.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the story doesn\u2019t end here. The Raw and Smackdown following \u2018Mania quickly turn the page \u2014 introducing new stars, establishing novel storylines, and promising fresh matchups.<\/p>\n<p>Even as fans struggle with wrestling burnout, we can\u2019t help but wonder about these possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>As with every April, we ask ourselves the same questions: Who\u2019s about to break out\u2014and who just peaked?<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Rising Star of the Week: Roman Reigns<\/h3>\n<p>Practice makes perfect, and Reigns\u2019s 14th WrestleMania outing was damn near flawless. The OTC carried CM Punk to his best match since his return, and one of the top WrestleMania main events in recent memory.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of attempting to cover up Punk\u2019s limited conditioning, the two incorporated it the story. Reigns didn\u2019t come off as a more skilled wrestler than Punk, he simply outlasted the veteran.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Punk\u2019s tenacious refusal to give in and willingness to break the rules to gain an advantage, in the end Roman put him down clean, center ring, no excuses.<\/p>\n<p>I watched WrestleMania with a friend, a non-fan watching for the first in in decades. Out of everyone on the card, Reigns stood out to him the most: \u201cthat guy looks like a real badass.\u201d<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1989299972\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Reigns isn\u2019t just a star\u2014he\u2019s the star, still operating at a level above everyone else.<\/p>\n<p>His reunion with Jimmy and Jey and confrontation with Jacob Fatu promise a sequel to the beloved Bloodline storyline. Sequels are rarely as good as the original, but we love them just the same.<\/p>\n<p>Another reign by Roman isn\u2019t just nostalgia, its necessity.<\/p>\n<p>Raw needs Roman.<\/p>\n<h3>Runner-up: Oba Femi<\/h3>\n<p>No one left WrestleMania with more momentum than Oba Femi.<\/p>\n<p>Femi\u2019s WrestleMania bout with Brock Lesnar, and the build that preceded it, couldn\u2019t possibly have put over The Ruler any stronger. Femi handily bested Lesnar in every encounter, and left him laying at the end, handing him a string of defeats as no wrestler has done before.<\/p>\n<p>Lesnar put Femi over even after the match ended by leaving his boots in the ring. Not subtle. Not ambiguous. A legend was finished\u2014and Femi was the reason.<\/p>\n<p>Soaking up the adulation of the Raw audience was a simple, effective way to emphasize his greatest victory. Femi is instantly catapulted to the main event level.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1163470123\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Barring injury, it\u2019s not a question of if Femi headlines SummerSlam\u2014it\u2019s who\u2019s unlucky enough to stand across from him.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Runner-up: Paige<\/h3>\n<p>The \u201csurprise return wins the match\u201d trope is beyond tired. WWE goes back to it constantly, and more often than not, it kills suspense instead of creating it.<\/p>\n<p>But sometimes the reaction justifies the decision\u2014and Paige was one of those times.<\/p>\n<p>Four years removed from WWE, the response wasn\u2019t polite\u2014it was explosive. Fans didn\u2019t just welcome her back, they erupted.<\/p>\n<p>Paige has a shot at a true career resurgence. She seems to be in great physical condition and has the wrestling ability and experience to create magic in the ring.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is my house!\u201d For the first time in years, it actually feels true.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome home.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Raw: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/wwe-raw-post-show-4-20-keller-cadet-talk-raw-after-mania-punk-hotel-incident-reigns-jacob-fatu-cody-punk-ethan-page-street-profits--71512552\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WWE RAW POST-SHOW (4\/20): Keller &amp; Cadet talk Raw After Mania, Punk-Hotel incident, Reigns-Jacob Fatu, Cody-Punk, Ethan Page, Street Profits\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=71512552&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Fading Star of the Week: Pat McAfee<\/h3>\n<p>McAfee\u2019s contributions to WWE have been a mixed bag. His celebrity cache added greatly to his credibility, earning him opportunities beyond what his abilities would warrant.<\/p>\n<p>His love of wrestling was evident in his first run as an announcer on SmackDown, and more than compensated for his lack of discipline and his fixation on toilet humor. McAfee\u2019s stint as an announcer on Monday Night Raw was less successful. He seemed less excited to be a part of the show and less knowledgeable about the product in general. Like many, I was happy to see him depart the Raw broadcast booth early in June.<\/p>\n<p>McAfee\u2019s return to WWE as Randy Orton\u2019s mysterious partner has been a disaster.<\/p>\n<p>Universally reviled, his short stint as Orton\u2019s manager completely derailed what could have been a great WrestleMania feud with Cody Rhodes.<\/p>\n<p>It was a relief to see WWE change course, by minimizing his role in the main event, and having Orton ultimately dump him.<\/p>\n<p>Now comes the retirement announcement. No sadness, no disappointment \u2014 just relief.<\/p>\n<p>McAfee\u2019s tenure in WWE will forever be marred by this final run. Credit to the man, at least, for going out on his back.<\/p>\n<h3>First Runner-Up: Sami Zayn<\/h3>\n<p>Zayn has gone from beloved underdog to whiny irritant in a few short months. He had the misfortune of being thrust into a program where he as the babyface is pitted against an enormously popular miscast heel in Trick Williams.<\/p>\n<p>As audiences began to take Williams\u2019s side, Zayn whined about his lack of support and insisted that a portion of the fanbase remains loyal to him. They aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>However, that hasn\u2019t happened, and their WrestleMania bout did nothing to resolve the situation.<\/p>\n<p>Trick continued to wrestle as a heel, but Zayn began incorporating heelish tactics as well.<\/p>\n<p>A double turn feels inevitable\u2014but the longer it drags, the more heat the story loses.<\/p>\n<p>For a \u201cMaster Strategist,\u201d this could have been planned out far better.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Runner-Up: Cody Rhodes<\/h3>\n<p>Fans can\u2019t seem to decide how to feel about Cody Rhodes.<\/p>\n<p>When Orton turned heel after the Royal Rumble, there was increased interest in seeing the Viper return to his former glory. Fans increasingly sided with Orton, at least until he revealed his mysterious benefactor was Pat McAfee, who arrived on SmackDown to spout nonsense and ruin the narrative.<\/p>\n<p>During the ill-fated WrestleMania night one main event, McAfee was quickly written off, incapacitated by Rhodes and Jellyroll.<\/p>\n<p>Rhodes and Orton are expert storytellers, but neither is able to provide the movement, athleticism, or technical skills required to make for a great match in 2026. Both are better paired against an opponent who possesses these attributes. Together, their match was slow and plodding.<\/p>\n<p>A 22-minute main event never felt longer.<\/p>\n<p>With McAfee out of the picture and Rhodes displaying heelish tactics, many fans voiced support for Orton once again. Most were quiet, not knowing who to root for. It almost seemed as if a double turn was in the making.<\/p>\n<p>The finish saw Orton turn on a returning McAfee to the delight of the fans, and Rhodes taking advantage of Orton\u2019s distraction by putting him away. This cheap shot on the man who had just earned the fans\u2019 gratitude only further muddled the situation and muted any remaining enthusiasm for Rhodes\u2019 win.<\/p>\n<p>Orton\u2019s post-match beatdown didn\u2019t clarify anything\u2014it just highlighted how unclear Cody\u2019s role has become.<\/p>\n<p>If anyone could use a refresh, it\u2019s the American Nightmare. Right now, he\u2019s stuck in the middle\u2014the worst place a top star can be.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (4\/20) - WWE Raw w\/Keller &amp; Cadet\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rxR6svhbG-E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-312341168\"><div id=\"pwtor-3056262716\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Another WrestleMania has come and gone. Fans have been on an emotional roller coaster: weeks of building anticipation, the disappointment of Night 1, and the joy of Night 2. We can\u2019t help but feel let <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/04\/23\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-reigns-reigns-mcafee-meltdown-raw-has-a-new-ruler-samis-slow-turn-the-second-coming-of-paige-codys-american-nightmare\/\" title=\"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Reigns Reigns, McAfee Meltdown, Raw Has a New Ruler, Sami\u2019s Slow Turn, The Second Coming of Paige, Cody\u2019s (American) Nightmare\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,4309,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-215401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-11.36.14-AM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215403,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215401\/revisions\/215403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}