WWE Raw 25: Kaitlyn Divas Champ, Naomi Reflects, Ryback Nexus, Scholarship

With WWE celebrating the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw on Jan. 22 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Manhattan Center in New York City, I spoke with WWE talent (past and present) about the unbelievable success of Raw. There have been so many exciting moments, including one not seen live on Raw, a recent $25,000 scholarship presentation.

With Raw 25 just around the corner, I spoke with WWE alums Kaitlyn and Ryback and current WWE Superstar Naomi about Raw. I also attended a surprise scholarship ceremony for a Full Sail University student in honor of Raw 25 at the WWE Performance Center.

Celeste Bonin, who is WWE alum Kaitlyn, will return to the wrestling ring for the first time in four years at a Coastal Championship Wrestling indie show on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at the Coral Springs Charter School Gym in South Florida.

Celeste is training at the Main Event Training Center, under the direction of President/Head Coach Pablo Marquez, in Fort Lauderdale.

A businesswoman based in Boca Raton, this former fitness competitor runs her own women’s fitness apparel company, Celestial Bodiez. It was a rough 2017 for her, dealing with a divorce and a drug issue which she has been open about on Instagram and her podcast. Since then, she has turned her life around.

A WWE Divas champ, Celeste discusses Monday Night Raw celebrating 25 years and a special moment for her during one of the Raw shows. She also talks about the progression of women’s wrestling, her social media and sushi.

WWE Superstar Naomi is one of the women helping lead the evolution of a revolution of women’s wrestling. A former two-time SmackDown women’s champ, she will bring the glow as she will be part of history, competing in the inaugural WWE Women’s Royal Rumble on Sunday, Jan. 28 live on WWE Network from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Ryback, the Big Guy, wrestled in (South Florida) Coral Springs for a Fighting Evolution Wrestling indie show.  Feed Me More, he discussed the exciting debut of Nexus on Monday Night Raw at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.

Raw 25 also inspired WWE to incorporate its philanthropic efforts.

Jason Ferrer received a $25,000 scholarship from WWE to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw.

Ferrer, a Media Communications student at Full Sail University who works behind the scenes with WWE (mostly NXT shows), was awarded the check during a surprise ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

Making the presentation were WWE Executive Vice President of Special Events John Saboor, Full Sail University President Garry Jones, WWE Assistant Head Coach/Producer Sara Amato, NXT Women’s Champ Ember Moon and NXT Superstar Johnny Gargano.

WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul Triple H Levesque made the announcement via recorded video.

Ferrer was selected for exhibiting exceptional professionalism, creative talent and maintaining good academic standing, while shadowing professional WWE staff and crew during the production and presentation of NXT events at Full Sail Live at Full Sail University in Winter Park, near Orlando.

Since 2012, WWE has granted nearly $400,000 in scholarships — to 37 Full Sail University students — which are applied toward their study within the university. Ticket sales for NXT shows at Full Sail Live, home to most of its TV tapings for WWE Network, go directly to a scholarship fund.

Next: Ranking The Top 20 WWE Matches Of 2017

The 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw is 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on Jan. 22 live on USA Network from Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Manhattan Center in New York City.