WWE announces top veteran superstars for new championship opportunity
WWE kicked off the new year with the crowning of new champions on RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. The company will make wrestling history once again next week as they crown the inaugural Women's Intercontinental Champion. Officials are keeping with the championship theme of 2025 as a new opportunity has been announced with several multi-time champions.
Dragon Lee's WWE Speed Championship reign is now passing the 50-day mark. The masked superstar dethroned Andrade in November, ending his reign at 159 days. The former AEW star took the title from Ricochet in June ahead of his WWE departure. Lee began his eight-man tournament with a win over Tavion Heights, then received a bye after Sheamus and Bron Breakker were eliminated due to a time-limit draw. He then defeated Akira Tozawa to secure the title match.
World Wrestling Entertainment has announced the next men's division Speed tournament for next week, featuring just four superstars. As of this week, there have been three eight-man Speed tournaments and four four-man competitions. Both of the women's division Speed tournaments have had eight competitors each.
Next Wednesday's WWE Speed episode will feature Charlie Dempsey vs. Chad Gable in a first-round bout. Chris Sabin vs. Grayson Waller will take place on January 22, with the semi-finals on January 29.
The Boy Wonder's next title defense will likely go down on February 7. Every confirmed and potential bout in this tournament is a first-time-ever singles match, except for Gable vs. Lee as the LWO member defeated the American Made leader at the recent Saudi Arabia RAW.
WWE Speed features first-time-ever bouts
Candice LeRae has made her first successful defense of the WWE Women's Speed Championship. She retained over Natalya on today's episode in a first-time-ever singles bout.
LeRae vs. Natalya ended in a five-minute time-limit draw, which led to the champion issuing a bold statement backstage. This was the first-ever time-limit draw in the Speed women's division. The first such draw in the men's division saw Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes work a semi-final match to a three-minute draw, which eliminated them both as this was not a championship bout.
The Poison Pixie became the inaugural Women's Speed Champion by defeating IYO SKY in the tournament final in October. She defeated Piper Niven in the first round, then beat Kairi Sane in the semi-finals to earn her final spot against SKY.
