AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita and Taya Valkyrie are set to make their debut in CMLL as they have been announced for future CMLL events at Arena Mexico.

CMLL recently dropped video clip on social media on Wednesday night and announced that Konosuke Takeshita is scheduled for future appearance at an Arena Mexico show. CMLL’s weekly show takes place every Friday night in the iconic arena. However, the promotion didn’t reveal any dates for the Japanese star’s debut.

On the other hand, Taya Valkyrie will also be making an appearance for CMLL for the first time soon. In another video clip on social media, Taya Valkyrie, who is a former AAA regular, announced that she will make her CMLL debut on the Friday, March 7th show. She will be going up against Lady Frost in a World Women’s Tag Team title qualifying match.

Valkyrie is replacing Red Velvet in the match after the latter announced that she was unable to compete due to injury.

‘The Alpha’ will be putting his AEW International Championship on the line against Orange Cassidy on February 26 edition of AEW Dynamite. The winner of that match will defend the title against Kenny Omega at the AEW Revolution pay-per-view on March 9th.

The AEW International title picture has gotten interesting. On this week’s AEW Dynamite, Orange Cassidy defeated The Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong in an International Championship Series Match to earn a shot at Konosuke Takeshita’s title next week. The series was announced over the weekend as Kenny Omega challenged Takeshita to a match at AEW Revolution. Next week’s outcome of the title match will determine which superstar Omega is going to face.

Giulia captured the WWE NXT Women’s Championship on last night’s NXT: New Year’s Evil which emanated from the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California. She dethroned Roxanne Perez to win the NXT Women’s title and she has made it clear that she is just getting started.

Following the show, the Japanese sensation took to her social media and commented on her win. She stated that this championship was just the beginning.

The highly-anticipated title match kicked off the show and it featured some exciting spots. The final moments of the match saw Perez hitting a Pop Rox for a near fall. Giulia went to hit a knee strike before performing a Northern Lights Bomb for the win.

Giulia has put an end to Roxanne Perez’s title reign of 276 days. At NXT No Mercy Perez successfully defended her title against Jaida Parker and she was confronted by ‘The Beautiful Madness,’ who made her debut.

The pair battled for the gold on the premiere episode of NXT on the CW Network where Perez retained her title following an interference from returning Cora Jade. Giulia had her sights set on the title and she earned the title match after defeating Sol Ruca, Wren Sinclair, Zaria, and Stephanie Vaquer to become the Women’s Iron Survivor at NXT Deadline last month. After capturing the title, she now sits at the top of the women’s division.

Former NXT Champion Ethan Page recently shared his thoughts on The Rock following their brief interaction at last night’s NXT New Year’s Evil.

In a backstage segment, The Rock came across Ethan Page, who was speaking with NXT General Manager Ava. The Rock interrupted Page, who was complaining and talked to him about breaking Je’Von Evans’ jaw. ‘The Final Boss’ also warned Page that “payback’s gonna be a b***h.”

The Rock further made it clear that Ava is the real boss in NXT and said if Page wants to stay on The Great One’s good books, he needs to respect Ava. He then said that he hoped he’d see him on the main roster and then smacked Page’s backside, telling him to get his “sweet ass on out of here.”

Ethan Page took to social media and responded to The Rock’s comments. In a video clip, he said:

“You know, Shawn Michaels? Not a fan. Triple H, not a fan. Nick Khan, I’m assuming [he’s] not a fan. The Final Boss seems to get what I got going on. Hell, he even said I had a sweet ass. I guess we could say that The Final Boss smells what Ethan Page is cooking.”

Later, The Rock came out to the ring to deliver a promo and even mentioned the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, referencing his recent gesture toward him during WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix.

New Japan Pro Wrestling star Gabe Kidd could soon become a free agent and depart the promotion.

NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd’s contract is expiring soon, according to Fightful. However, the exact timeline has not been shared. It is unclear whether the negotiation process has started between the two parties. However, the outlet reported that Kidd is expected to be retained by NJPW.

Kidd is set to face Kenny Omega at AEW Wrestle Dynasty following his return at AEW Worlds End pay-per-view. The pair got into a backstage altercation back in November after Omega announced his return after a year-long battle with diverticulitis.

During NJPW Power Struggle, Kenny Omega opened up on his recovery from diverticulitis and stated that he’d love to make an in-ring comeback at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th. He had also expressed his desire to square off against one of the young talents from NJPW at the event.

However, chaos ensued when Omega got backstage as he came across Gabe Kidd. The reigning NJPW Strong Openweight Champion took some shots at him and a massive brawl broke out between the two.

Gabe Kidd’s future with NJPW might be up in the air but doesn’t mean he will be heading to AEW. Kidd previously made it clear that he was not interested in joining Tony Khan’s promotion. Kidd had expressed his frustration over AEW in an interview where he said he not only doesn’t plan to join AEW. He further said that he’s not happy with the relationship between NJPW and AEW.

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash recently shared his thoughts on The Kliq and explained why it wasn’t an on-screen faction.

The Kliq remains to be one of the most infamous backstage groups in wrestling history. Back in the 90s, Triple H, Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman formed the group and were known for allegedly using their backstage influence to succeed in WWE. However, the group never competed inside the ring. Nash and Hall became a successful tag team, while Michaels and Triple H also tasted success. However, they did not wrestle as a stable.

Speaking on his Kliq This podcast, Kevin Nash was asked whether he would consider The Kliq a faction. Here is what he explained:

“We never wrestled together. It was a backstage political group. I’d say we were a bunch of cutthroat mother****ers that held a lot of people back. See, I said that with a straight face, and people will buy that. ‘He even said it.’

No, it was five guys that loved the business and had very like psychology, and if you didn’t, we’d beat it into you.”

In November last year, Kevin Nash canceled a couple of Meet & Greet appearances for MCW Pro Wrestling. The Maryland-based indie wrestling promotion shared a message from Nash on social media. Nash had revealed that he was dealing with herniated discs in his back. He further said that he had been in therapy and working with doctors.

AJ Francis, formerly known as Top Dolla in WWE, recently made a bold claim involving WWE legend John Cena.

The former WWE star has claimed to be the best wrestler-rapper after dropping his “World Championship Diss” track. The TNA Wrestling star took to Twitter to settle the debate with a fan.

The former Hit Row member, AJ Francis is brimming with confidence following his success in TNA Wrestling. Speaking with Sportskeeda, he also recalled meeting John Cena and receiving words of wisdom from the legend. He said:

“Meeting John Cena and having a conversation with Cena in his dressing room, and Cena was like, ‘Man, you’re the best rapper on Earth.’ He was like, ‘You gotta show them out there when you get the opportunity.’ Sad thing is I never really got the opportunity, so it’s a double-edged sword. You can only do as much as you’re given.”

AJ Francis made his music debut in 2017. On March 6, last year, Hit Row partially reunited as part of a music video ‘Price Went Up’ by artist Monteasy. It featured AJ Francis, Swerve Strickland and B-Fab. A few months later, the three members of Hit Row by the names of B-Fab, Francis and Ashante “Thee” Adonis dropped a freestyle single by the name of ‘Barbie Barz.’

WWE released the former Top Dolla in September 2023. Following that, he competed in the independent circuit. He is currently signed to TNA Wrestling, where he is a former one-time TNA Digital Media Champion. AJ Francis ended this week’s TNA iMPACT! standing over Nic Nemeth and posing with the TNA World Title. He is now all set to challenge Nemeth for the World title at TNA Final Resolution on December 13th and it will emanate from the Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.

Drew McIntyre recently lashed out at the social media critics in an epic mic drop moment which stunned everyone.

During his recent appearance on the Busted Open Holiday Party live stream, McIntyre said that he realized he missed some crucial moments with his family as he was focusing on his wrestling career. However, he made it clear that he is taking everything back. He said:

“I gave and gave and gave, but as far as wrestling on TV is concerned, I’m going to take and take and take.”

He added:

“The lack of contact and the look on my family’s face, realizing everything that I’ve missed—that’s why I’m just going to take from now on.”

‘The Scottish Warrior’ also believes that fans forget the superstars who retire and they move on. He feels the same will happen to him. He said that he doesn’t care about the opinions of the fans on social media. He then stormed off the set and dropped the mic in a dramatic fashion. He said:

“When I leave this industry, I won’t be one of those guys chasing that last paycheck, chasing that last shot of glory. Please remember me? No. When I leave and retire, I will have accomplished everything. It doesn’t matter if you’re Mark Henry, Bully Ray, Tommy Dreamer, Drew McIntyre, or Stone Cold Steve Austin—when you’re gone, they move on. They forget. It sucks, but it’s true. So, As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to the internet, I don’t give a f*** about your opinion.”

Drew McIntyre also took to social media and dropped the footage of the incident with a profane caption.

Following his recent return from hiatus, Drew McIntyre attacked Jey Uso and Sami Zayn, believing the duo sold out to help Roman Reigns at Survivor Series: WarGames 2024. Zayn challenged McIntyre to a match and the former WWE Champion will face him at this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

• Spoiler: Multiple Legends Booked For Saturday Night’s Main Event

AEW TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone has stated that she has massive plans involving Beyonce at next year’s AEW All In: Texas.

AEW All In took place at the iconic Wembley Stadium for two consecutive years and the show is now headed to Texas in 2025 AEW All In: Texas is set to take place on Saturday, July 12th at the Globe Life Field. Mercedes Mone is planning a spectacular entrance for her and wants Beyonce to be featured. Speaking on TikTok, Mone said:

“It’s still a little early, but you definitely know I want a big, grand, amazing, incredible entrance. I’m going to see if Beyonce is available that day. If not, who else is big from Texas? We gotta see.”

Beyonce’s latest album Cowboy Carter dives deep into the Black country music genre, and revisits her own country roots in Houston, Texas.

The former Sasha Banks is quite familiar with making entrances with music superstars. During WrestleMania 32, she even walked out with her cousin Snoop Dogg rapping for her.

Meanwhile, at AEW Full Gear on November 23rd, Mercedes Mone successfully defended her TBS Championship against Kris Statlander. The match was widely praised and some even called Mone’s best match since arriving in AEW. She is now gearing up to defend her AEW TBS Championship against Anna Jay on the December 18th edition of AEW Dynamite.

On the December 4th edition of AEW Dynamite, Anna Jay had emerged victorious over Penelope Ford. Following the match, Jay called out Mercedes Mone to issue a challenge for the TBS Championship and the match was made official.

Also announced for the Holiday Bash special, Will Ospreay will face Darby Allin in the Gold League of the AEW Continental Classic. On the other hand, this Wednesday’s December 11th Winter Is Coming special of AEW Dynamite will feature Jon Moxley and PAC taking on Jay White and Orange Cassidy, while Mariah May will put her AEW Women’s World Championship on the line against Mina Shirakawa.

While Mercedes Mone is making huge plans for next year’s event, AEW veteran Dustin Rhodes has also set some goals for the show.

WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley recently addressed the possibility of stepping foot inside the squared circle for one more match.

During an appearance on The Wrestling Life podcast, D-Von Dudley revealed whether he wanted to make an in-ring return. The ECW legend said that fans continue to demand ‘one more match’ from him when he does one match. He highlighted the fact that the fans would want him to compete for a long time.

However, D-Von Dudley said that he is not ruling out the idea of returning but didn’t want to say “never.” He also dropped hints about some future opportunities in the United States or abroad in Japan. He said:

“Here’s what I’m gonna tell you: every time you do one match, you say ‘one more match,’ and then the fans are going ‘one more match’ after that. Listen, they’re not gonna stop until you’re in the grave. You know, but I don’t know, I’m not gonna say never. There are some talks about things happening, whether it’s here in the states or even abroad in Japan. So, nothing, it’s just talks, that’s it. Nothing is being set in stone or anything like that. I’m saying that there were rumblings and talks about it.”

D-Von Dudley’s return could take place soon but no plans have been locked in yet. He had competed at the Impact 1000 show last year and his last match took place at IWC Superstar Showdown V back in April this year.

D-Von Dudley also recently made an appearance on NXT 2300 which was held on November 6th at the famous 2300 Arena and the night featured return of several ECW originals. He reunited with Dudley Boyz teammate Bubba Ray Dudley, who had teamed up with Trick Williams to face Ridge Holland and “All Ego” Ethan Page. Following the match, Ridge and Ethan attacked Trick, but Bubba helped fight them off. The duo then hit some classic Dudley Boyz moves with D-Von Dudley returning with a table.

The holiday season is upon us and AEW are back with a heartwarming gesture for children in need. The promotion held a kick-off event in Arlington, Texas, for tickets going on sale for AEW All In: Texas, set for next July. AEW President Tony Khan decided to give back to the children of Arlington.

On social media, Khan announced that in association with Jazwares, AEW was donating over 15,000 AEW wrestling toys to Mission Arlington to support families of Arlington, Texas, during the holiday season. He also wished the Arlington citizens a Merry Christmas, on behalf of both AEW and Jazwares.

Tony Khan’s promotion is spreading happiness over the holiday season is becoming a yearly tradition. Last year, the promotion partnered with Toys For Tots and over $1 million worth of toys was given to the kids during the holiday season. More than a whopping 50,000 AEW toys were donated to the Toys For Tots charity program.

Tony Khan had thanked the company’s partners at TBS and Jazwares, who manufacture AEW’s action figures, for making the donation possible. Khan also boasted that it was “the biggest toy giveaway” in the history of professional wrestling.

Meanwhile, AEW is heading to Kansas City for this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming. The event will take place on December 11th at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, airing live on TBS.

NXT Champion Trick Williams recently talked about his backstage relationship with CM Punk.

‘The Second City Saint’ has been a controversial figure when it comes to backstage presence. His infamous real-life backstage scuffles during his AEW tenure had led to his departure from the promotion. However, the two-time NXT Champion has shared his thoughts on Punk’s backstage behavior.

Williams admitted that he didn’t get an opportunity to meet CM Punk until after there were “rumors about his character.” During the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Trick Williams revealed that Punk is very genuine. Williams said:

“I didn’t meet CM Punk until after the rumors about his character were brought about from other places. I didn’t know what to expect when I met him, but all I’m gonna say is that dude, Punk, man, good dude, like, solid. You can just tell when some people are just genuine, and he’s very genuine.

Trick Williams added that the former WWE Champion mentors the younger talents and shares valuable advice. Williams made it clear that CM Punk has been helpful for them. He said:

“He takes pride in helping us, the next generation, to become the superstars that we need to be. He gives us real advice, too. He talks about how to handle yourself, in the ring, outside the ring, with everything it takes to become a superstar. Even closer to today’s time when we are dealing with different stuff, like social media and how to handle everything that comes with being a superstar in 2024 that other other superstars didn’t really have to deal with all the way. He’s been very helpful for a lot of us.”

In October, Trick Williams captured the NXT Championship for the second time and he celebrated his title win with some pizzas courtesy of CM Punk.

Trick Williams is set to defend his NXT Championship at this Saturday’s NXT: Deadline premium live event against Ridge Holland.

• Carmelo Hayes References CM Punk’s History of Backstage Fights

Former WWE Superstar Commander Azeez (also known as Babatunde), made his debut for Major League Wrestling at Thursday’s MLW One Shot event from NYC.

Now going by the name Babathunder, he battled Mads Krugger at the event before joining forces with him. The clash of the powerhouses concluded with Babathunder passing out to a rear naked choke. Afterwrds, Krugger gave the Babathunder an ultimatum to leave in a body bag or join CONTRA Unit as a mercenary. Babathunder responded “Hail CONTRA” which indicated that is now a part of the faction.

Babatunde had joined WWE back in April 2016 and was part of NXT until 2020. Following that, he made WWE his Raw debut as part of the Raw Underground brand where he was known as Dabba-Kato. He also went by the name of Commander Azeez when he was associated with Apollo Crews during the latter’s WWE Intercontinental Championship reign. However, Babatunde was later released last year.

During an interview with Developmentally Speaking, the former Dabba-Kato had reflected on his WWE release.He was asked whether he was surprised but he said that his contract was expiring anyway. He said:

“I think I kind of sensed it. My contract was coming to an end anyway. We already had conversations long before it was close to that. Now, we came pretty close, I started pushing stuff and I could feel there was nothing great planned for me. You get that feeling and I had that feeling the day was going to come. I lived through so many cuts. It happened to so many guys before me. You can prepare yourself a little bit for it. You can prepare yourself financially and mentally, which I didn’t think would be as hard as it was.”

Since his release, he has mostly competed in the independent scene. Prior to his debut in MLW, he had challenged DCCW Heavyweight Champion Hobo Hank at DCCW No Way Around but he was unsuccessful.

Zilla Fatu, who is the son of late WWE star Umaga, has gained recognition in recent years due to his incredible display of strength and athleticism in the independent scene. He has been endorsed to join top pro wrestling promotions and recently TNA Wrestling star Moose has advocated that the promotion should sign the Samoan wrestler.

Zilla Fatu recently made an appearance on the Busted Open Radio and pro wrestling legend Tommy Dreamer revealed that Moose has been pushing for Zilla to be signed in TNA Wrestling. Dreamer said that people have been talking about Zilla Fatu not because pro wrestling runs in his family but due to his talent.

“I’ve seen a lot of people talk about you. Not just because of your father, but because ‘this guy has the talent, by the way, he’s Umaga’s son.’ That’s the family part of the industry, which I now understand that you are understanding that love.

Beyond the fans, we talk about a brotherhood. Your father was a brother to a lot of men and women. He was awesome. Your attitude is great and I feel, and most of us feel in the industry, you will have success.”

Tommy Dreamer to Zilla Fatu

Moose Pushing for TNA Wrestling to sign Zilla Fatu

Dreamer then spoke about Moose endorsing Fatu as the former TNA World Champion was impressed and saw potential in the 25-year-old wrestler.

“I have Moose pushing for you all the time. I’m like, ‘I know who he is. You don’t need to push for him. If there is a position or spot.’ Moose didn’t know you, but he was like, ‘This guy is really good.’ Then, when he said your name, I was like, ‘Yeah, I know who he is.’ This is how we get into the industry. It has nothing to do with nepotism, it all has to do with talent. It’s so natural for you because, your father was so gifted and talented.

Jacob (Fatu) is up there as well, but for your dad’s size and what he could do, was next level. I wrestled him at least 30 times. You have a whole bunch of people pushing for you because you’re you.”

Tommy Dreamer to Zilla Fatu

TNA Wrestling could be a great stepping stone for Zilla Fatu at this stage in his career. Especially with TNA’s working relationship with NXT, it could be an interesting entry point for him as he makes a name for himself outside of the Bloodline universe.

Zilla Fatu trained at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school and made his pro-wrestling debut at ROW Summer Of Champions IX in July last year. He is the reigning ROW Heavyweight Champion. He has also competed for GCW and HOG in the past.

Fatu had previously won the HOG Crown Jewel Title during the promotion’s event on July 26th. Zilla is part of the Samoan bloodline and several members of the family have made their way into WWE. Zilla could follow suit as well. A few months back, the rumor mill churned about Fatu possibly making a move to WWE when he was spotted at WWE SummerSlam PLE.

Zilla Fatu will certainly be an impactful addition whichever promotion manages to bag the signing. Recently, Zilla Fatu expressed his desire to face John Cena during the latter’s WWE farewell tour. He has also picked a side in the Bloodline Civil War.

Wrestling icon Taz, famously known as “The Human Suplex Machine,” is making impressive strides in his recovery following total knee replacement surgery. The veteran took to social media on December 4 to update fans about his progress, highlighting his dedication to physical therapy and the rapid improvement in his knee.

Taz’s journey to recovery began after stepping away from his role as an announcer for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) earlier this year. His last AEW appearance coincided with his son, Hook, retiring the FTW Championship at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam. Shortly after, Taz announced his plans for surgery, which took place on October 8.

Reflecting on the procedure, Taz shared that the operation was successful but emphasized that the real work lay ahead. He also humorously noted his disappointment at not being assigned room 13, a number he considers significant.

The wrestling legend has faced significant physical challenges throughout his career, including the need to replace both knees and both shoulders. However, Taz clarified that his injuries stemmed from years of intense weight training rather than in-ring action. Despite these challenges, he previously attempted regenerative treatments and worked through the pain before opting for surgery.

As Taz continues his recovery, fans and colleagues are eager to see him return to action in some capacity. SEScoops extends its best wishes to Taz for a swift and successful recovery.

Lucha Brothers member Rey Fenix has been announced for a House of Glory event.

The New York-based wrestling school and promotion has announced that Rey Fenix will make an appearance at their HOG Live For The Moment event on December 20th, where he will be doing a special Meet & Greet.

Rey Fenix is currently signed to AEW. However, his last appearance for the promotion took place on the July 20th edition of AEW Collision. The last time he competed inside the squared circle was at a CMLL event on July 26th. Amid his absence, Fenix and his brother Penta El Zero Miedo have been heavily linked with WWE for several months. However, the potential move has seen setbacks.

Earlier this year, reports suggested that Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo would become free agents after their contracts expire by the end of the year. Their move to WWE seemed imminent, but in September, reports emerged that AEW was trying to add injury time to Rey Fenix’s contract in order to keep him in the company. Further updates confirmed his deal runs well into 2025.

Rey Fenix Breaks His Silence on His Future

Taking to social media, Fenix recently addressed the speculation regarding his future. He said:

“There are many things that are not known, but that also should not be talked about. We must wait. Professionalism first and foremost, folks. We must not be the same as all those podcasts that go around spitting out what should not be spit out. Never diminish our work. There are things that should always be respected, and many are forgetting everything that wrestling has given them.”

Fenix is not the only one AEW is trying to keep in the promotion. AEW has taken a similar route with Ricky Starks as well. The company has opted to keep him signed until summer 2025. However, Starks has remained on the sidelines and was recently pulled from a GCW event, as well as all future events for the promotion. Nevertheless, he is set to make his debut for House of Glory next year.

Ricky Starks Set for HOG Wrestling Debut Amid AEW and GCW Withdrawal

Shinsuke Nakamura embraces Japanese culture in his gimmick and it is quite evident from his style. He recently donned a spectacular Kabuto mask at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames PLE.

On social media, artist Jason Baker revealed details behind the creation. In a post on social media, Baker revealed that he, Brian McGuire, and Ambria Pierson were responsible for creating the incredible-looking mask.

Baker, an accomplished special effects artist with nearly 20 years of experience, has created masks for several WWE superstars including Bray Wyatt’s The Fiend, Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 skull mask and Rhea Ripley’s horror-themed mask also worn at Survivor Series this past weekend.

Follow Jason Baker on Instagram to see more of his work.

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A post shared by Rhea Ripley (@rhearipley_wwe)

Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura recently returned to WWE television and has embraced his darker side. He was immediately in pursuit of the WWE United States Championship. At Survivor Series: WarGames, he challenged LA Knight for the title and emerged victorious. With the title win, he joined a very elite club. Nakamura became the fourth wrestler to win the United States Title in both the United States and Canada.

‘The King of Strong Style’ captured the title for the third time in his career. He put an end to The Megastar’s title run which began at WWE SummerSlam in August when he won against Logan Paul.

Pro Wrestling NOAH pushed Nakamura’s US title win ahead of his return to the promotion when he faces Ulka Sasaki at NOAH’s New Year’s event. The match will take place on January 1st, 2025 at Budokan Hall. With significant changes in Shinsuke Nakamura’s presentation and recent title win, it seems he is trying to reclaim his spot as a top star in WWE.

Wade Barrett recently shared his thoughts on the dynamic between heroic (babyface) and villainous (heel) characters in WWE.

Currently a commentator in WWE, Barrett enjoyed a successful career as a heel wrestler during his in-ring days. Under his ‘Bad News Barrett’ persona, he developed a unique connection with the WWE Universe, earning cheers despite being positioned as a villain.

In a recent interview with AceOdds, Barrett was asked about heel wrestlers who excite fans. The former Intercontinental Champion expressed that an “exciting heel” is a contradiction, as heels are intended to provoke negative reactions. Once they start receiving cheers, they cease to be heels. Here’s how he explained it:

“Exciting heel to me is an oxymoron. The problem with exciting heels is that people jump up on their feet and start cheering the second they walk out, at which point they’re no longer heels. They’re getting cheered. They’re the good guy now. They’re the babyface. We’ve seen that over the years with several people. We saw it with The Rock in the late nineties. I’m an old-school fan and remember sitting at home watching The Rock trying his best to come out and insult towns and audiences, do the most heinous things, and people would explode because they were so excited about seeing The Rock and being entertained by him.”

Barrett also pointed to WWE United States Champion LA Knight as an example of how heels can transition into babyfaces. He noted that Knight’s natural charisma and fan reactions led to his shift in alignment:

“I think more recently, if you look at an LA Knight, I think the original game plan was that LA Knight was going to be an antagonist. He was going to be mean to people, but again, he was so exciting and everyone got electrified and buzzed the second he was on the screen. Hey, you aren’t the heel anymore, pal. Those are two classic examples of the pitfalls of being an exciting heel, which they both turned into their benefit, of course. They sell a lot of T-shirts as a result. But yeah, exciting heels don’t last long. They become exciting babyfaces instead.”

It has been nearly a decade since Barrett last competed in the ring. Recently, the WWE Raw commentator revealed his interest in having one more match and even named Drew McIntyre as a potential opponent.

One-half of the Women’s tag team champions Bianca Belair recently came across Hollywood star Vanessa Hudgens.

Hudgens, who is an avid WWE fan, made her presence felt at the November 25th episode of WWE Raw, and she was on-camera. She whipped her hair like Belair, and even acknowledged Roman Reigns.

WWE dropped a video clip on social media which Hudgens met Bianca Belair in a backstage segment. Hudgens and Belair whipped their hair, and they hugged in a heartfelt moment. ‘The EST of WWE’ stated that she was excited that Hudgens was there and the latter also shared the same excitement.

Last night, Bianca Belair emerged victorious in the WarGames Advantage for her team, which found its fifth member. In the main event of the show, Belair squared off against WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax. They went back and forth, and Belair had her strength on display during the clash. In the final moments of the match, Bayley came out and tripped up Jax. ‘causing her to hit an exposed turnbuckle. ‘The EST’ took advantage of it and scored the win.

Belair and Bayley looked at each other and nodded following the match. It appears that Bayley will join Belair’s team for the Women’s WarGames Match at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames.

Belair’s team had been down a member as Jade Cargill was attacked backstage and taken out of the match. It is still unclear who attacked Cargill. At WWE Survivor Series: WarGames, Belair, Naomi, Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and now seemingly Bayley will team up to take on the team of Jax, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae.

Carmelo Hayes recently revealed that he received valuable advice from CM Punk.

During last night’s edition of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens had a fiery exchange of words during a promo segment as they almost brawled before WWE officials intervened to separate them.

Following that, Hayes came across Rhodes backstage as they had a staredown. Later that evening, Carmelo Hayes took to his social media and revealed CM Punk’s advice, about backstage fights on SmackDown.

Carmelo Hayes’ tongue-in-cheek tweet was a reference to CM Punk’s infamous real-life backstage scuffles during his AEW tenure which led to his departure from the promotion.

Carmelo Hayes is scheduled to face Cody Rhode on the upcoming edition of WWE SmackDown which was taped after this week’s show.

On the other hand, the Women’s United States Championship tournament will also continue next week with a triple threat quarterfinals matchup. A mystery competitor will face Piper Niven and Michin in a triple threat quarterfinals tournament match on next week’s WWE SmackDown. Jade Cargill was originally set for the match but she is seemingly written off after an injury angle last night as she was hit by a car backstage.

The announced lineup for the Friday, November 29 WWE SmackDown:

• Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes
• Tournament Quarterfinals for the Women’s United States Championship:
  Piper Niven vs. Michin vs. one more Superstar TBA

AEW star Paul Wight, under his ‘Captain Insano’ moniker recently made a surprise appearance at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards on Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Wight donned his Captain Insano attire from the 1998 Adam Sandler movie “The Waterboy” and turned up on stage during Bailey Zimmerman’s performance of “New to Country.” The 52-year-old star was part of the set as he stood near a beer pong table. Wight picked Zimmerman on his shoulders at the end of the song and the two walked around.

AEW had trademarked the name “Captain Insano” back in March 2021. Paul Wight has been eager to bring the character into AEW and made an appearance once in character in a backstage segment. A couple of years back, he also made a surprise appearance in a music video for The Acclaimed.

Wight was last competed in January as part of the Jericho Cruise and recently stated that he was hopeful to return to the ring “real soon” after recovering from partial knee replacement surgery. The veteran star has aimed to return at February’s AEW Grand Slam in Brisbane, Australia. However, he has revealed that his next run will be the last of his decorated career.

Before joining AEW in 2021 as a commentator, Paul Wight had a run in WCW followed by his lengthy career in WWE where he won multiple titles.

AEW veteran star Dustin Rhodes recently said that he wants to be a part of AEW All In Texas. AEW All In took place at the iconic Wembley Stadium for two consecutive years and the show is now headed to Texas in 2025, as the event will take place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, July 12th.

Speaking with WFFA 8, Dustin Rhodes stated that he wants to be a huge part of the show next year. Here is what he said:

“Yeah, I have some goals in mind. It’s a build to get there, I mean I’m gonna keep that kind of to myself, but I hope to be a huge part of All In Texas. This is our first US stadium show, which is gonna be huge.”

Dustin Rhodes recently celebrated 36 years of his debut and he has continued to be an integral part of AEW. He brings a lot of experience to the table, having been with the promotion since its inception. Dustin Rhodes doesn’t seem to slow down despite being in the latter stages of his career and he is trying to bring this energy to Texas next year.

AEW All In: Texas 2025 will mark the promotion’s first time hosting the event outside of London, England.

Tony Khan opens up on AEW All In Texas 2025

Recently, AEW President Tony Khan told Dallas Morning News that they have a chance to break the attendance record in Globe Life Field. He said:

“We think we have a chance to set the all-time attendance record. That would be pretty cool.”

Globe Life Field is currently the home of the Texas Rangers and opened its doors in 2020. Country artist Morgan Wallen holds the attendance record of the venue as 43,958 fans turned up to watch him live in 2022. Khan also revealed that he was excited about bringing the show to Arlington.

“AEW All In is such an important event in sports and it’s one of the most marquee nights in pro wrestling… The location is very special to us and Arlington, Texas. It’s a very special place.”

AEW have already held multiple shows in Arlington as episodes of AEW Collision and ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 were held in the Texan city.

AEW President Tony Khan recently opened up on the promotion’s stacked roster having several Black wrestlers.

Since the promotion’s inception in 2019, Khan has signed several top names in the business and his presentation of Black wrestlers in AEW have been widely praised. Swerve Strickland had become their first Black world champion of the promotion at AEW Dynasty.

Speaking with CHGO Sports, Tony Khan opened up on Black wrestlers being widely featured in the AEW Shows and some of the big names include Swerve Strickland, The Hurt Syndicate, and Ricochet. The AEW President was asked about whether elevating them to the top level was a conscious decision. Tony Khan explained:

“I think you just said it. I’m conscious of it, but I also think that these are some of the best wrestlers in AEW you just named. So we’re really lucky to have those great stars.

We’ve been fortunate to be able to build up some great stars and also have a lot of great free agents come in to where I think so many of the top wrestlers, some of the top Black wrestlers in the world are in AEW, and I really think most of the top Black wrestlers in the world are now in AEW. But I think that is a conscious thing, but I also think it’s great.”

Most recently, The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin) joined the promotion and they have already cemented their position as a top faction. ‘The All Mighty’ is also set to make his in-ring debut in AEW.

• Bobby Lashley’s AEW In-Ring Debut And More Set For AEW Full Gear

Former WWE star Gangrel recently opened up on his recovery following his recent surgeries.

Taking to social media, Gangrel revealed that he underwent surgery for a total hip replacement three months ago and surgery for a total knee replacement three weeks ago. He said that he had been “hanging low” due to the surgeries. However, he assured the fans that he’s on his way back up and feeling good.

Earlier this year, Gangrel surprised fans with his appearance at AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view. He emerged from under the ring in a barbed wire steel cage match between Adam Copeland and Malakai Black. Copeland received help from Gangrel and managed to fend off Malakai, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews to secure the victory.

Following the match, Copeland and Gangrel celebrated on the entrance ramp and it marked the reunion of the popular WWE Attitude Era faction, The Brood. Prior to his appearance, ‘The Rated R Superstar’ had been dropping hints about reuniting with Gangrel during his promo on AEW shows.

Gangrel reveals how his AEW appearance came together

Gangrel had previously appeared on Busted Open Radio and revealed how his appearance came together.

“Adam is hard-headed. Once he has a story or something in his mind, he’s going to get it done one way or another. Eventually, it went over to AEW and he got it done. I’m appreciative for it. I’m 55 years old. I didn’t know if I could crawl up through the bottom of the ring being under there for a while. My biggest fear was, ‘Can I get up and move?’ My adrenaline kicked in. I was just blessed to be part of that moment.

“When I saw him do the interview, I already knew I was coming in. He just wanted to keep it quiet. When he did that interview, I was like, ‘He’s planting the seeds. He’s going to make sure they do remember.’ Smart man. They kept it hush-hush. I didn’t tell anybody. They had me come in last minute. I stayed in his locker room the whole time. When I went to the ring, (Chris) Jericho was like, ‘What are you doing here?’ They were able to keep it quiet as best they could and I was surprised by that. It’s really hard to do in wrestling nowadays. I didn’t get wheelchaired in and covered up or anything like that. Just came in early, went to the locker room and sat there all day. Right before the match, threw a black hoodie on, went out there with the ring crew, climbed under the deal, and that was that.”

Gangrel has been entertaining fans for years and all the bumps inside the ring have taken a toll on him. The 55-year-old doesn’t seem to stop anytime soon but needs to recuperate fully to compete again in the ring.

We at SEScoops wish him a speedy recovery.

AEW star Kenny Omega recently explained the reason behind his appearance in NJPW.

‘The Cleaner’ dropped hints about his comeback to the promotion during his appearance at NJPW Power Struggle. He had also stated that he wanted to compete in NJPW again.

Speaking with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Kenny Omega explained his decision to make his in-ring return in New Japan Pro Wrestling rather than AEW. He said that NJPW helped him become gain popularity internationally. The former AEW World Champion stated that he wanted the opportunity to compete in the Tokyo Dome as a way to repay them for helping him become the big name that he is today. He explained:

“A lot of people, not only in Japan but internationally, didn’t know who I was until New Japan. So I really do owe New Japan a gigantic thank you. I feel that there’s a debt I have to repay in some way, shape, or form. And if making my comeback at the Tokyo Dome is a way to repay that, if it can help their business in any way, then I’m more than happy to do that.”

During NJPW Power Struggle, Kenny Omega had also talked about his recovery from diverticulitis and stated that he’d love to make an in-ring comeback at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th. He added that he wishes to face one of the young talents from New Japan at the event.

However, things got heated when Omega got backstage. He came across Gabe Kidd. The reigning NJPW Strong Openweight Champion took some shots at him and it led to a massive brawl between the two.

This is the closest Kenny Omega has come to getting physical since December of last year. It was also the first time Omega has gotten physical at a wrestling event since he was assaulted by The Elite in May.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E) recently reunited for a segment where they revealed that they were not a fan of their attire which they donned during their debut in 2014.

On WWE’s official Instagram page, Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston recalled one of their old entrances. The popular trio has donned several iconic outfits over the years but they hated their original ring gear, which was light blue in color, having The New Day logo design pattern.

Big E said that all three members had a major dislike for their original ring gear, and it was the only outfit that was not designed by their long-time costume designer and friend, Jonathan Davenport. He said:

“This was our original gear, we don’t care for it, we do not hold up very well. This was our only set of gear that was not designed by the myth, the legend, Jonathan Davenport, our dear dear friend.”

Kofi Kingston said that it was an “awful set of gear”, while Xavier Woods agreed with them. The New Day member added:

“This is true. This is strategic, right? We did this on purpose. It was a very easy choice. Well, we had to pick between one and two things to either put it in the garbage or in the trash.”

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The New Day made their debut back in 2014. The faction has won WWE Tag Team title several times and they are regarded as one of the greatest tag teams in the company. However, things haven’t been quite amicable between them. Big E is currently sidelined for years since suffering a career-threatening neck injury.

On the other hand, tension has been building between Kingston and Woods for weeks but they are still teaming. There also have been rumors about their split. Amid the speculation, WWE Raw GM Adam Pearce recently announced that there will be a special edition of WWE Raw dedicated to The New Day for their 10-year anniversary since their debut.