Gaming
WWE superstars to enter Clash of Clans through April
MUMBAI: WWE and Supercell’s Clash of Clans are throwing down the gauntlet, announcing a partnership that’s set to turn April into a digital wrestling ring. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, The Undertaker, Bianca Belair, and a posse of other WWE heavyweights are leaping into the Clash of Clans arena, reimagined as iconic in-game characters.
This isn’t just a fleeting cameo; it’s a full-blown invasion. Clash of Clans is getting a WWE makeover, complete with themed environments, gameplay events, cosmetics, and Easter Eggs that pay homage to WWE’s rich legacy. And leading the charge is Rhodes, a self-confessed Clash of Clans aficionado, who’s being reborn as the Barbarian King.
Rhodes, under his OverlordRhodes player handle, isn’t just a digital character; he’s a digital despot. He stars in the live-action launch video, showcasing a gameplay style built on villainous destruction and a healthy dose of digital domination.
The WWE Superstar roster getting the Clash of Clans treatment includes:
* Rhea Ripley as Archer Queen
* The Undertaker as Grand Warden
* Bianca Belair as Royal Champion
* Rey Mysterio as Minion Prince
* Kane as P.E.K.K.A
* Becky Lynch as Valkyrie
* Jey Uso as Thrower
“I’ve spent years building my legacy in WWE, but it’s time for fans to know where I’ve landed most of my victories, in Clash of Clans,” Rhodes declared. “As OverlordRhodes, I don’t defend, I conquer. Villages will fall, and any opposition will be crushed under my command. This isn’t about playing fair in the ring, it’s about ruling the battlefield. Just like at WrestleMania 41, I’m stepping in with one goal – absolute victory. I’ve waited a long time for this moment, and now that I’ve arrived, there’s no stopping me.”
Supercell head of live game Sara Bach revealed, “When the game team found out Cody Rhodes and other Superstars were long-time Clash of Clans fans, they didn’t hesitate to reach out to WWE. This partnership in Clash of Clans is on a scale we’ve never created before – from the in-game event reaching tens of millions of players, to WrestleMania 41 and our Clash of Clans match as a first-of-its-kind event on the biggest stage.”
In essence, WWE and Clash of Clans are teaming up for a digital rumble that’s set to shake up both worlds. It’s a cross-promotional knockout, promising a month of mayhem and a WrestleMania 41 showdown that’s sure to be a digital spectacle.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
