Shounak Chakrabarti is a WWE writer at EssentiallySports who brings a wealth of knowledge and a keen eye for detail to his analysis of professional wrestling. With a deep passion for the sport that dates back to his childhood, Shounak has immersed himself in every aspect of the industry, from the career trajectories of WWE superstars to their personal lives and beyond. 

As a journalism graduate, Shounak is a firm believer in the power of digital journalism to provide fans with a unique perspective on pro wrestling. One of his proudest moments came when he wrote a feature on Dwayne Johnson, offering readers an in-depth look at the superstar's workout plan and diet.

Alongside his love for wrestling, Shounak is also a passionate soccer fan, following popular teams like Real Madrid and Arsenal. When he's not writing, he can be found diving into the pages of a Haruki Murakami novel or battling it out on FIFA.

Hi, I'm Donna, the editor for WWE at EssentiallySports. I help our writers dot their i's, cross their t's, and ensure they get all their facts straight. I am particularly invested in the world of wrestling since it's unlike any other sport currently televised. The thought put behind orchestrating wacky storylines and building hype for months on end is incredible and something that I enjoy keeping track of. Particularly, I like the shenanigans Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio get up to as part of The Judgment Day, as well as watching what up-and-coming talents have to offer over at NXT.

During my time at ES, I have been doing live coverage of WWE SmackDown which currently hosts our ?Head of the Table? Roman Reigns. Prior to this, I worked as a reporter for a national newspaper, covering investigative stories on education, space, science, and tech. While these might seem worlds apart, I still enjoy getting into the nitty gritty of stories here at ES, picking apart details and finding out facts about wrestlers that most would overlook. In my spare time, I enjoy delving into my hobbies: writing, drawing, or just goofing off with my cat.

WWE is set to prepare itself for WrestleMania 40 as management has started to make major decisions related to the event. One of the important attractions for the event is the musical performance as we have received a major update on the same. One of the top musicians will reportedly not be involved with WWE as the ties are severed after years of involvement. WWE SEVERS TIES WITH THE WEEKND TO APPOINT THEM IN A NEW ROLE The Wrestling Blog tweeted an update on WrestleMania 40 on December 4th. As per the tweet, popular Musician The Weeknd may not be a part of the official music for the upcoming WrestleMania. He made the official music for WrestleMania 36, allowing the use of Blinding Lights from his album After Hours, released in 2020. Since then, The Weeknd has provided the official music for WrestleMania 37 (Save Your Tears from the album After Hours), WrestleMania 38 (Sacrifice from the album Dawn FM), and WrestleMania 39 (Less Than Zero from the album Dawn FM). As per the update, they will be performing live at the arena. WrestleMania 40 will take place at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th. 

WWE ends ties with a popular musical group after years of involvement in WrestleMania just months prior to WrestleMania 40.

Himangshu Sinha is a WWE reporter at EssentiallySports who is a beast at keeping up with the latest in the wrestling world.

He enjoys covering the lives of wrestlers, often poring over interviews, podcasts, and overlooked details to back his writing. While he maintains a respect for Gunther, LA Knight, and The Tribal Chief, in his mind, no one can beat one of AEW’s Best Friends, Orange Cassidy. When it comes to the latest speculations or whose podcast you need to listen to to get the hottest gossip, Himangshu is the trustworthy hand. When he’s not writing, Himangshu is also an avid badminton, cricket, and carrom player, and is also a piano virtuoso.

Himangshu Sinha

Himangshu Sinha is a WWE reporter at EssentiallySports who is a beast at keeping up with the latest in the wrestling world. He enjoys covering the lives of wrestlers, often poring over interviews, podcasts, and overlooked details to back his writing.

Himangshu Sinha | WWE Writer at EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports

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Himangshu Sinha is a WWE reporter at EssentiallySports who is a beast at keeping up with the latest in the wrestling world. He enjoys covering the lives of wrestlers, often poring over interviews, podcasts, and overlooked details to back his writing. While he maintains a respect for Gunther, LA Knight, and The Tribal Chief, in his mind, no one can beat one of AEW’s Best Friends, Orange Cassidy. When it comes to the latest speculations or whose podcast you need to listen to to get the hottest gossip, Himangshu is the trustworthy hand. When he’s not writing, Himangshu is also an avid badminton, cricket, and carrom player, and is also a piano virtuoso.

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Have you ever tried imitating the gestures and catchphrases of your favorite pro
wrestlers? Those people eh? Well, I am those people! Hi, I am Himangshu Sinha, a
WWE writer at EssentiallySports who is realizing his dream of writing about his
favorite pro wrestlers. As a WWE fan, I acknowledge my Tribal Chief the most. I
admire Gunther and LA Knight. Outside of WWE, I like the freshly squeezed juicy
performance of AEW star Orange Cassidy. I have been lucky enough to cover nearly
all of my favorities during my time here at ES. I have worked on a number of
interesting stories ranging from why Cody Rhodes is called ?The American
Nightmare? and speculating when will Jade Cargill make her in-ring debut for
WWE. Diving into the other side of my art, I love to play the piano and have
been doing it for the last 10 years. You can reach out to me on my LinkedIn
https://in.linkedin.com/in/himangshu-sinha-375b37198?trk=public_profile_samename_profile_profile-result-card_result-gadfly-click&original_referer=httpswww.google.com
and X profile https://twitter.com/himangshu931

- EssentiallySports

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WWE Higher-Ups Possibly Cancelling $300M Musician Involvement Prior to
WrestleMania 40

Siyari Debbarma is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With over 700 articles under her belt, Siyari is an expert in providing in-depth analysis and coverage of the game. Her throwback article on Dennis Rodman's plea for help garnered more than 3.5 million page views, a testament to her skill as a writer and journalist.

Siyari's expertise also extends to game coverage and lifestyle reporting on NBA players and their families. She brings a unique perspective to her articles, providing readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal lives of their favorite players. Her passion for basketball began when she started hooping in her senior year of school, and she has been a devoted fan of the game ever since.

Although Siyari admires players irrespective of their teams, the Golden State Warriors hold a special place in her heart. She is a huge fan of iconic names such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan, but her personal preferences have never swayed her from delivering detailed and impartial content to her readers.

When she's not covering the latest NBA stories, Siyari indulges in her love of reading, with a particular fondness for books on history and culture. She also spends time with her adorable cats and dogs, who keep her company when she's away from the court.

Caroline Joseph is a Primary Editor for the NBA division at EssentiallySports, who covers the post-retirement lives of basketball legends such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and many more. From publishing companies to e-learning agencies and animation studios, she has worked with a plethora of content creation and curation groups over the span of a decade.  

Her fascination with these NBA icons began at the tender age of ten when she was entranced by the classic movie “Space Jam”. Her hobbies include a passion for writing science fiction and singing live on stage. Through her editorial lens, Caroline uses a meticulous approach to fact-checking and mentoring writers to achieve standard journalism practices.

Here's the reason why Shaquille O'Neal and Leonard Armato broke strong ties, despite the blockbuster Lakers trade.

Why Did Shaquille O’Neal and Leonard Armato Severe 10YO Ties Despite Blockbuster Lakers Trade?

Why Did Shaquille O’Neal and Leonard Armato Severe 10YO Ties Despite Blockbuster Lakers Trade? - EssentiallySports

Pritha is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. After reporting on the luxurious lifestyle of celebrities for a year, she used that experience to cover the glamor side of the basketball world. She has expertly covered Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan's complicated love story and the lavish vacations of NBA superstars, among other off-court scoops. One of her articles on NBA icon Magic Johnson’s Italian vacation had very high ratios of fan engagement. Away from work, Pritha is an avid reader and loves to explore the world of art..

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Pritha Debroy

Saumya is the Lead Editor for the NBA Active division at EssentiallySports. With almost a decade of writing experience, Saumya embraced the editorial front with open arms at the ES NewsDesk. She monitors and covers NBA Trade Deadlines closely, supervising live coverage of games, and analyzes the speculations that go beyond the players’ on-court lives. 

She has a keen eye for the nuances that make basketball more than just a sport. Saumya ensures to weave the right words to capture the essence of each slam dunk, every strategic play, and the relentless pursuit of greatness by athletes who defy gravity. Her commitment to bring a fresh perspective &amp; shedding light on the untold narratives is her USP. 

When not at her desk, she’s busy lounging with her dog or whipping up new recipes. Join her in her journey as she explores the captivating world of the NBA.

Shaquille O'Neal's former agent reveals the insane background behind the NBA legend's commentary on Nikola Jokic.

Exclusive: Real Motive Behind Shaquille O'Neal's Attack on Nikola Jokić Revealed by Insider

Exclusive: Real Motive Behind Shaquille O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s Attack on Nikola Jokić Revealed by Insider

Exclusive: Real Motive Behind Shaquille O'Neal's Attack on Nikola Jokić Revealed by Insider - EssentiallySports

Caroline John is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. She holds a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from a reputed university. With 8 years of experience in content writing and after judiciously covering the life of Shaquille O’Neal, she earned an exclusive interview with the CEO of Shaq’s Big Chicken franchise, Josh Halpern. Initially, it was the philanthropic versions of NBA icons LeBron James and O’Neal that drew her to start following the sport. And today, she has become a trustworthy voice covering the same names. Caroline never goes unnoticed! An article on Shaq, AKA DJ Diesel, and rapper GAWNE even caught the eye of the 4x NBA champion as he shared it on Instagram. When away from ES Desk, Carloline can be found immersed in books.

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Caroline John

Shriya Rajachandra is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. She earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism, Psychology, and Communicative English. Shriya previously interned at The New Indian Express, but her favorite journalist, Marcus Thompson motivated her to start writing about basketball. Her favorite team is the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry is her favorite player. She has a puppy named Dobby who is her emotional support bag during intense games.

According to former agent Leonard Armato, Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley will stay strong even if NBC lands the NBA.

Exclusive: TNT’s Shaq and Charles Barkley Could Head to NBC if Adam Silver Demands, as Per Ex-Agent

Exclusive: TNT’s Shaq and Charles Barkley Could Head to NBC if Adam Silver Demands, as Per Ex-Agent - EssentiallySports

Anuj Talwalkar is a Senior NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, who is marching towards touching 3000 articles. As a writer who specializes in game analysis, post-game pressers, thrilling perspective on players and their performances, he loves merging his passion for writing with the complex human-dramas that unfold everyone on-court. At ES, he is known for his quick coverage of breaking news, an expertise that is now inspiring the junior writers. His love for the sport blossomed a decade back after he started following match highlights. He holds a deep admiration for players like Russell Westbrook and Kobe Bryant, who gave their all in the arena, each time they stepped on court. When Anuj isn't playing some kind of ball outdoors, he likes to read about Sports Management and spend quality time with his family.

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Anuj Talwalkar

Was Tiffany Stratton Punished for “Black B**ch” Comment on Jade Cargill? Truth
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<h2 style="text-align: center">WrestleMania</h2>
One of WWE’s Big Five, WrestleMania is arguably the largest pro wrestling event in the world. Its first iteration featured the likes of Andre the Giant, Mr T, and Hulk Hogan, and a total attendance of just shy of 20,000 people. With WWE increasing the stakes each year, its latest iteration, WrestleMania XL, is set to feature over 25 of the promotion’s biggest wrestlers, including Dwayne Johnson, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Rhea Ripley.
<h2 style="text-align: center">WrestleMania Origins</h2>
WrestleMania was conceptualized as a rival to NWA’s Starrcade, which began in 1983 and was initially organized by Jim Crockett Promotions. The two promotions were in a fierce battle to come out on top in the 80s, with NWA’s popularity waning as the then-WWF expanded nationwide, with a hope to go global. Former WWE head honcho Vince McMahon was credited with creating the concept of WrestleMania. The PPV’s name originated from WWF’s lead ring announcer Howard Finkel, as a play on the Beatlemania of the 60s.

As WWF’s inaugural PPV, the first-ever WrestleMania took place in 1985 at Madison Square Garden. Though WrestleMania 1 didn’t manage to outshine the 1985 edition of Starrcade, which had a combined attendance of 30,000 people, it still managed to beat Starrcade’s debut attendance of 15,000, with over 19,000 people attending WrestleMania 1 in person, setting the stage for a PPV that would go on to become a household name.
<h2 style="text-align: center">Evolution of WrestleMania</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania I-IV: The Foundation</b></h3>
Even with its debut, WrestleMania’s core tenet was “go big or go home”. WWF went all out, with a match card featuring wrestling greats like The Iron Sheikh, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Ricky Steamboat, David and Bruno Sammartino, and The Fabulous Moolah. In keeping with what would later become tradition, the flagship marquee event also featured several big names from the era, including boxing legend Muhammed Ali, pianist Liberace, pop sensation Cyndi Lauper, and New York Yankees manager Billy Martin.

The all-round success of WrestleMania 1 saw WWF overtake NWA and AWA (American Wrestling Association). The event was critical to the '80s wrestling boom, which saw a sharp increase in the demand for professional wrestling.

Shortly after, WrestleMania II took the show to another level, simultaneously taking place in three different venues across the country - New York, Chicago, and California. While initially received poorly, as the logistics of organizing a major wrestling event across three venues overtook the promotion, it set the stage yet again for WWF one-upping itself with each edition.

In comparison, WrestleMania III managed to outshine its previous iterations, having broken the record for the largest recorded attendance at an indoor live event in North America with a purported attendance of over 93,000 people, only broken by WrestleMania 32 in 2016. It was also iconic for its matches, with Ricky Steamboat vs Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant going down in history as two of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history. While not as iconic as its predecessor, WrestleMania IV featured the first appearance of Donald Trump at a Mania, marking the start of the relationship between the promotion and the Trump Organization.
<h3 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania V-X: The Golden Era</b></h3>
WrestleMania during the Golden Era was truly something to behold. The promotion’s fame had skyrocketed, effectively cementing itself as a stalwart player in the pro wrestling industry. With the success of WrestleMania came the introduction of pay-per-views like SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, meaning that the Golden Era had more to offer throughout the year.

However, WrestleMania’s popularity never waned with the addition of the new PPVs, as it continued to remain the biggest wrestling event in the country. WrestleMania saw some of the most legendary moments in WWE history in the early ‘90s. Major feuds between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, and Shawn Michaels, aka Mr. WrestleMania, and Razor Ramon managed to outsell competitors in popularity.

The Golden Era of WWE served as a platform to cement the legacies of several WWE legends who have remained a household name till today, including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior. WrestleMania VII also saw the beginning of The Undertaker’s Mania streak that would continue well into the 2010s.
<h3 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania XI-XX: Attitude Era Impact</b></h3>
WrestleMania during the Attitude Era saw the culmination of several iconic storylines coming to a head at the Grandest Stage of Them All. The PPV reached its peak during this period, with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin beating Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV for the WWF Championship title, marking the first of six title reigns.

This also marked the beginning of the legendary rivalry between Austin and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, the epitome of the Attitude Era. WrestleMania XV saw the first fight between the two pro wrestling stalwarts, where Stone Cold beat The Rock during the main event to win back the WWF Championship belt.

The beginning of the new Millennium also saw the introduction of the first-ever Triangle Ladder match, with the iconic tag teams The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, and Edge and Christian going against each other for the WWF Tag Team Championship. This era also saw the first-ever WrestleMania under the WWE at WrestleMania XIX, which also marked the end of Steve Austin’s feud with The Rock.
<h3 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania XXI-XXX: New Millennium Milestones</b></h3>
In keeping up with becoming bigger and better, WWE introduced the concept of the Money In The Back ladder match at WrestleMania 21, which would become a main fixture in the PLE. This period of WrestleMania managed to rival the Attitude Era, giving us iconic matches with The Undertaker vs Batista at WrestleMania 23 and Ric Flair’s retirement match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV.

WrestleMania XXX in particular was something to behold, as The Undertaker’s unbroken 22-year streak was finally broken by Brock Lesnar, rendering the WWE universe in awe. Other moments also include Daniel Bryan’s rise to the top after an initial win against Triple H and a win against Randy Orton and Batista for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
<h3 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania during the 2010s</b></h3>
The latter half of the 2010s saw increased interest in WrestleMania as WrestleMania 32 broke the attendance record previously set by WrestleMania III, with an attendance of over 101,000 people. With WWE itself moving towards organizing events in international venues, this expanded the reach WrestleMania had with fans outside of the States. WrestleMania 35 was the first since 2000 to not feature The Undertaker, but more importantly, was also the first WrestleMania to feature a woman’s main event, with a triple threat match between Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey.
<h3 style="text-align: center">WrestleMania in the 2020s</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania 36</b></h4>
WrestleMania 36 was a plethora of WrestleMania firsts, with the first-ever edition of the PLE to be held across two nights and the first to not have a live audience due to pandemic restrictions. Considering restrictions, the 2020 iteration of Mania was widely regarded a success, especially in the backdrop of no live audiences, as well as several last-minute changes to the roster to account for potential health risks. This was also heightened by WWE deciding to play with its format, with a Firefly Fun House match with Bray Wyatt taking down John Cena.
<h4 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania 37</b></h4>
While WrestleMania 36 was an example of WWE making do, WrestleMania 37 saw the promotion come back bigger and better. The 37th iteration of The Show of Shows took place in Tampa, Florida, where the reduction in COVID-19 protocols meant more freedom for WrestleMania to have a live audience, albeit limited capacity and with restrictions to the audience.

This also marked the first WWE event to be livestreamed solely on Peacock, a product of the WWE Network’s earlier merger with Peacock in March of that year.
<h4 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania 38</b></h4>
WrestleMania 38 marked the year when WWE returned the Showcase of the Immortals to its full capacity, with over 131,000 people attending over the course of two days. This also led to the evolution of WrestleMania Weekend, with WWE kickstarting the PLE with a special edition of Friday Night SmackDown featuring an Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The PLE also saw the surprise return of Cody Rhodes, as he took on Seth Rollins on Night 1, as well as Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar headlining the event on Night 2.
<h4 style="text-align: center"><b>WrestleMania 39</b></h4>
In its most recent iteration, WrestleMania continues to prove its worth as the biggest pro wrestling event in history, with Mania 39 grossing $21.6 million in ticket sales alone. The PLE saw the appearance of several modern WWE greats including John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, Charlotte Flair, Edge, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes.
<h2 style="text-align: center">WrestleMania XL Event Details</h2>
<b>Event Name Change:</b> WrestleMania Axxess has been rebranded as WWE World at WrestleMania.

<b>Venue:</b> This year's Mania will be hosted at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in partnership with Fanatics Events.

<b>Duration:</b> Scheduled to run from Thursday, April 4, to Monday, April 8.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Attractions of WrestleMania XL</h3>
<b>Interview Panels:</b> Attendees can participate in interactive panel sessions featuring WWE wrestlers.

<b>Gaming Tournament:</b> A WWE 2K24 gaming tournament will be held, allowing fans to compete against each other in virtual matches.

<b>Live Podcast Recordings:</b> Fans can witness live recordings of popular WWE-themed podcasts, offering exclusive content and discussions.

<b>Meet-and-Greets:</b> Opportunities for meet-and-greets with wrestlers will be available.

<b>Merchandise Store:</b> A large merchandise store will feature a wide range of memorabilia celebrating WrestleMania's 40-year history.

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WWE Higher-Ups Possibly Cancelling $300M Musician Involvement Prior to WrestleMania 40

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WWE severs ties with The Weeknd to appoint them in a new role

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