In every era of WWE, there are a handful of figures who carry more than just star power. These are the veterans who influence culture backstage, guiding the next generation, solving problems, and commanding a level of respect that goes beyond what fans see on television. Nobody in WWE history embodied that role more fully than The Undertaker.

For decades, The Deadman ruled not just in the ring, but in the locker room. Behind the scenes, he was the standard-bearer, a quiet enforcer of discipline, professionalism, and unity. Countless wrestlers have spoken about what it meant to earn The Undertaker’s respect, and many more looked to him as the unofficial leader when tensions ran high or when guidance was needed.

Since his retirement, all manner of fans and wrestlers have wondered about who could step into that role, as it’s not something WWE can just assign at random. A true locker room leader gradually earns it, over years of consistency, respect, and authenticity.

Now, according to Cody Rhodes, there is one man who has stepped into that space.

The Current Leader of the WWE Locker Room

Speaking during a recent episode of his podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About? with special guest Jelly Roll, Rhodes reflected on some of the names who carry real weight behind the scenes in a post-Undertaker WWE.

It was during this conversation that he revealed a new figurehead in the locker room, one who commands a level of influence reminiscent of The Phenom himself.

“If there was a real problem, probably gonna go to Randy or Seth. If there was somebody that I’d tell you, Little Brodie might come to TV with me sometimes, I’ll tell Little Brodie, ‘Hey, go say hi to Randy.’ That’s the number one. Same way, my brother, one time I came to a WWE show back in the day, said, ‘Hey, you wanna go meet Undertaker?’ Not just do you wanna meet him, it’s part of the experience. You’re in his locker room.”

This recognition adds another layer to Orton’s remarkable two-decade journey, a career defined not only by championship success and elite performances in the ring, but by the quiet authority he now carries behind the curtain.

Once known as a rebellious prodigy with limitless talent and limited patience, Orton has evolved into one of WWE’s most respected veterans, a presence others clearly look to for guidance and leadership.

Even though The Undertaker has retired from in-ring competition, his presence does linger in WWE through his work on NXT, offering wisdom and direction to the company’s freshest faces. But his exit from the main roster left a real leadership gap, a need for someone current Superstars could still look to on the road, in the locker room, and at the highest level of the business.

Image source: WWE

With stars like Seth Rollins also being trusted figures backstage, Orton’s longevity and experience make him uniquely positioned to fill the void left by The Undertaker. It’s not a lightly made comparison; Orton has clearly grown into one of the most respected leaders backstage.

The Apex Predator is now the apex figure when it comes to guiding WWE’s future stars, as well as the here and now.

Tottenham could have a problem brewing amid reports one of their players may have fallen down the shortlist of another club. Spurs are in the midst of a record-breaking transfer window that has seen them spend more than they ever have, with their spend totaling more than £230million so far.

The North London club will continue to spend, backing Roberto De Zerbi to put together a European qualification attempt next season, and they can afford to do it.

But that doesn’t mean sales are not necessary, with the books needing to be balanced, even if just partially, while De Zerbi will also want to avoid having an overcrowded squad next season. As part of that equation, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is effectively for sale, but there may be a problem.

Juventus pushing to sign Vicario alternative

According to Sky Italy, Juventus are now advancing their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen as the one name that was put ahead of Spurs stopper Vicario this summer.

According to the report, Juventus officials are meeting in Italy today, on Wednesday, to discuss a possible deal for Martinez, It’s reported the club officials will discuss whether a deal is possible and how much they are willing to pay to sign the World Cup keeper.

Crucially, it’s added that Vicario is seen as a secondary option, and that the Old Lady will ‘exhaust all options’ to sign Martinez first before moving on to the Spurs player.

Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali recently said: “Martinez is playing (at the World Cup) so we have to wait and see.

“He is a goalkeeper who interests us. However, I reiterate what I said earlier regarding Juventus: there could be many opportunities. We need to evaluate things carefully, especially right now, given that the valuations for some players are excessively high—unrealistic figures.”

Spurs relying on Vicario exit this summer

via Reuters

The problem for Tottenham is not only that they will miss out on a chance to land a transfer windfall this summer, with Vicario carrying an asking price of £20million, but Spurs also need to make room.

The North London club have snapped up Martin Dubravka to serve as the club’s new back-up, and they have given Antonin Kinsky a new contract, effectively making him a number one.

The reality is that Spurs no longer have a spot for Vicario, and they will be relying on a sale this summer. The keeper is said to want a move back to Italy this summer, and if Juventus are not interested, Vicario’s chances of finding a new club in Italy are likely to be drastically reduced. That could be a problem for the goalkeeper, and perhaps a bigger one for Spurs.

Egypt have filed a complaint and posted a stunning statement on social media following their dramatic defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.

The African nation looked as if they were going to pull off a shock when they led 2-0 with 15 minutes of the last 16 clash remaining. It wasn’t to be for The Pharaohs, though, as Argentina scored three late goals to break Egyptian hearts.

Hossam Hassan’s side were absolutely furious after Enzo Fernandez’s winner in the 93rd minute. They believed that Mohamed Salah was felled in the build-up to the goal and that it should not have counted.

They were also reeling that they had a goal disallowed earlier in the second half when Lisandro Martinez was adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up.

Egypt Make Complaint to FIFA

Paul Childs via Reuters

Speaking after the match, Egypt manager Hassan claimed that the game was ‘rigged’ to allow Argentina and Lionel Messi to stay in the competition.

He said: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing. If they wanted Argentina to win, why invite other teams to participate? This match was clearly rigged, and the whole world witnessed it.

“We were better than Argentina, and football is unfair. We had a clear penalty that the referee didn’t award, and Ziko’s goal at the start of the second half was disallowed, even though it was perfectly legitimate.”

Spanish publication AS have now reported that Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida has submitted a formal complaint against French referee François Letexier and his officiating team following the match.

Egypt are seeking an explanation and have called for an investigation into what they describe as controversial decisions. The federation has also officially called for the French officiating team to be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

Egypt Post Statement

REUTERS/Marco Bello

The Egyptian FA have now posted an extraordinary statement on social media. It started: “The Egyptian Football Association extends its sincere gratitude to the Egyptian people everywhere for their unwavering support, loyalty, and belief in the national team throughout our FIFA World Cup journey.

“The exceptional support shown by millions of Egyptians, both at home and around the world, was a source of immense pride and motivation for our players and delegation. The national team represented Egypt with honor, determination, and courage, delivering performances that reflected the spirit and character of our nation.

“A number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, have highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match. This underlines the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in match officiating, particularly in a competition of the stature and significance of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

They continued: “Egyptian football has always respected the principles of fair play, sporting integrity, and respect for the game. These same principles require that all teams compete on equal terms and receive equal treatment. What occurred during the match has understandably generated widespread frustration among our players, staff, and supporters, who expected the highest standards of officiating on football’s biggest stage.

“Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary. It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination. Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game.”