‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin is swapping stunners for sand dunes after being announced as the grand marshal for the 2025 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400. Austin will kick off race week in style, leading the Mint 400 parade on Wednesday, March 5, at 3 p.m. Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli couldn’t hide his excitement about having the wrestling legend on board.

“We are thrilled to have Steve leading all the main Mint 400 festivities as grand marshal, including the Mint 400 Parade, The Mint 400 kick-off party, Mint 400 Off-Road Festival, and of course, he will be dropping the green flag at the start of the race on Saturday.”

Austin won’t be just a bystander after kicking off the race, however, as he will also race his Kawasaki KRX UTV on Saturday. In typical Austin fashion, the Bionic Redneck shared that competing in the race has been a long-time dream.

“It has been a goal of mine to race The Mint since I first got introduced to off-road racing. ‘The Great American Off-Road Race’ is going to be very special – and ‘that’s the bottom line, cause Stone Cold said so!’”

The action kicks off Wednesday, March 5, with the 12th Annual Mint 400 Vehicle Procession, followed by the Mint 400 Off-Road Festival on Thursday, March 6, on Las Vegas’ Fremont Street East. With over 150 off-road vendors, the festival is free to the public and promises a wild time. The real horsepower takes over on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, with racing action roaring out of Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino in Primm, NV.

Austin has already seen success in the world of off-road racing, and plans to add another accolade to his legendary life next month. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Stone Cold, both in and out of the ring.

Tessa Blanchard’s first match on TNA iMPACT since her controversial return proved to be a successful one, with another match set for the Diamond. On last week’s iMPACT, Blanchard refused to face her assigned opponent, claiming she wasn’t cleared. Furious at her attitude, Santino Marella would then declare that Tessa would have to wrestle her next match, and if she didn’t, she’d be fired.

On this week’s show, Blanchard was in action to face Kelsey Heather, with Blanchard getting the win. This was the former World Champion’s first match for a TNA TV show since the April 5, 2020 edition of iMPACT, where she and Eddie Edwards battled Ethan Page & Josh Alexander.

Fans won’t have to wait another five years to see Blanchard next in the ring. In a backstage segment on iMPACT, Blanchard and Lei Ying Lee got into a backstage confrontation. That was broken up by Santino who declared that the pair will battle at TNA Sacrifice.

Tesaa Blanchard’s Sacrifice Entrance

Blanchard not only plans on beating Lee at TNA Sacrifice, but plans to arrive in Style, OnInstagram, Krystall Poppin shared that she will be performing Blanchard’s theme song at Sacrifice, which is scheduled to take place on March 14^th.

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A post shared by Krystall Poppin ? (@krystallpoppin)

TNA remains committed to Blanchard, despite the issue many fans have taken with her return, and she’ll certainly have the spotlight at Sacrifice with her match and special entrance.

Malakai Black’s return to WWE isn’t a question of if, but when, according to some fans, especially after a post by the Dutch wrestler on Instagram. On his Instagram Stories, Black shared a fan-created video, highlighting some of his best matches and moments from his tenure as a WWE Superstar.

Black’s post is the latest that fans have seen from the Dutch wrestler that has seemingly hinted at an impending WWE return. Ahead of the 2025 Royal Rumble PLE, Black shared footage of himself watching a previous Royal Rumble, leading fans to speculate on an appearance at this year’s event. On social media, many have predicted a Black return to WWE sooner than later, both before, and after this post on Instagram.

Black parted ways with AEW earlier this year, alongside Miro and Ricky Saints, the latter of whom has since joined WWE NXT. With Black’s wife Zelina Vega a part of WWE, a return would allow the couple to spend more time together. Black fared much better in WWE under Triple H’s leadership in NXT, and with the Game now running all of WWE’s creative, a return certainly seems plausible.

Tyrese Haliburton would’ve loved the chance to compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, but it wasn’t meant to be thanks to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, the Indiana Pacers star shared that he had hoped to be in the 30-Man contest with a World Title opportunity at WrestleMania 41 on the line.

“Me and Triple H talked about it. He was like, ‘A lot of people are asking if you’re going to be in the Rumble. I just laughed in their face.’ ‘What the f**k?’”

Haliburton speculated that Triple H was “a little scared” about letting him get physical, especialy in the middle of the NBA season. The NBA star referenced Jalen Brunson’s appearance in 2024 with a broken hand, to which “Triple H kind of had a heart attack.” While Haliburton didn’t compete this year, the Rumble did see celebrity involvement from IShowSpeed, who had a brief, painful, and viral interaction with Bron Breakker.

Though Haliburton didn’t appear in the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble, his WWE standing can’t be denied. The Indiana Pacer has already appeared for WWE NXT and WWE SmackDown, meaning fans can’t count out a future role at a WWE PLE. With plans already in place for the 2026 Royal Rumble, a show IShowSpeed is already preparing for, perhaps Haliburton will get his spot in the iconic match stipulation next year.

Since arriving in WWE NXT, Myles Borne has been making a name for himself and is currently part of the impressive No Quarter Catch Crew faction. With his ring-attire, physique, and looks, many have compared Borne to one of WWE’s biggest stars of all time, Randy Orton.

On X (formerly known as Twitter,) Borne found the comparrison amusing, and pointed out one key difference between himself and the 14-time WWE World Champion.

Borne’s tweet is alluding to the fact that he is partially deaf, and at this junction is the only partially deaf wrestler employed bt WWE. The NXT standout was born with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, a treatable condition but one of the major side effects of the treatment is hearing loss. Despite this, Borne has perservered and proven himself a talent on the rise as part of the No Quarter Catch Crew and WWE NXT.

Being compared to one of WWE’s biggest success stories of all time is hardly a bad look for Borne, who appears regularly in NXT alongside Charlie Dempsey, Tavion Heights, and Wren Sinclair. On the February 25, edition of WWE NXT, Borne and Heights battled the returning Hardy Boyz, and commentary quipped that even Borne could hear the massive pop Matt and Jeff received. During the match, Borne delivered a slam straight out of Orton’s playbook.

Borne and Heights came up short in the match, and the NQCC were later found to have been ambushed by NXT’s mysterious new faction. Nevertheless, Borne remains determined to become a top name in WWE, just like the man so many fans compare him to.

Mercedes Moné isn’t just playing the role of CEO on AEW TV, but the TBS Champion plans on making it a reality. Speaking with Katee Sackhoff, Moné shared her desire to build her legacy in wrestling outside of the ring.

“I definitely want to help own a wrestling company one day and be the woman of change and voice of change over there for any wrestling company that wants to have me.”

Moné, who joined AEW less than a year ago, added that she has always wanted to serve as a shareholder and “be a part of helping and creating” in wrestling.

Should Moné found her own promotion, she’d join a long list of talents to make the move from competitor to promotor. In 2002, Jeff Jarrett co-founded TNA Wrestling, aware that WWE would not want to rehire him after his controversial exit in 1999. Years later, Cody Rhodes and the Elite would found AEW, the promotion Mone works for to this day.

It remains to be seen if Moné creates her own company, but in the meantime, she continues to excel in the ring as the AEW TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. Next month will mark one year since her AEW debut. With her one-year anniversary looming, Mone certainly has big plans, both in and out of the ring.

Fans in England and Italy will have their chance to see Roman Reigns live as part of the European road to WrestleMania 41. On February 27, WWE confirmed that the OTC will be live at SmackDown from Bologna, Italy on Friday, March 21. Reigns will also be live at the following week’s edition of SmackDown from London, England.

WWE’s Road to WrestleMania 41 will travel through Europe with several tapings planned across the continent. The full tour is as follows:

Reigns’ role at WrestleMania 41 remains unclear, though there have been rumors of a triple-threat showdown with CM Punk and Seth Rollins. However, with Punk and Rollins both being Monday Night Raw talents, it remains to be seen how Reigns’ SmackDown fits into plans.

Whatever the case, fans in Europe will have their chance to acknowledge Reigns live and in person in March 2025.

Lex Luger has refuted the notion that he ‘killed’ Miss Elizabeth, but acknowledged that his actions did play a role in her death on May 1, 2003. Luger was the one to call 9-1-1 to report that Elizabeth was not breathing, with her cause of death being ruled as an overdose.

For years, many have blamed Luger for Miss Elizabeth’s passing, as the pair had a toxic relationship, including a reported domestic dispute weeks before her passing. On the Insight podcast, Luger reflected on the notion that his lifestyle of drink and drugs killed the ‘First Lady of Wrestling.’

“People go, ‘Well, he killed Elizabeth.’ Well, I didn’t kill her. But was I a contributing factor to the lifestyle I was living and her being around me all the time and she overdosed? Absolutely.”

When asked if he takes responsibility, Luger confessed that this is the case.

“Absolutely. Sure, there’s always collateral damage to lifestyles like that, and she was part of it. So absolutely. Sadly.”

Though many would see Elizabeth’s passing as Luger’s rock bottom, that is far from the case. As Lex explained, the death of Miss Elizabeth would only speed up his spiralling into depression.

“I felt completely unlovable… I hate to admit it, who I was back then, Instead of being so grieving over the loss of Liz, I was grieving over what this would do to me and my career.”

Miss Elizabeth, real name Elizabeth Ann Hulette, was buried with a simple headstone in her hometown of Frankfort, Kentucky. Sadly, fans will never know what would have become of ‘Liz’ had the destructive nature of substance abuse sadly common in pro wrestling had not claimed her as a victim.

Booker T was one of the first six Superstars to compete inside the Elimination Chamber, a match that the Hall of Famer was not looking forward to. Speaking on WWE’s YouTube channel, Booker recalled his reaction to seeing the Chamber for the first time.

“I was sitting there with Hunter. I’m looking at the structure, and the first thing I say is, somebody’s gonna get f***** up tonight, really bad… I was looking at the structure and I was frightened. I was scared.”

Booker was “timid” throughout the match’s debut at Survivor Series 2002, as he was afraid to fall on the steel grating surrounding the ring. Booker was wisely wary that the Chamber could prove to be just as dangerous as the five other Superstars in the match.

“If you hit an elbow, it’s split open. You drop a knee on it [the steel floor.] you’re going to be busted open. You’re going to be cut up.”

Despite the combined decades of in-ring experience between Booker and his opponents, Kane, Rob Van Dam, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Triple H, nothing could prepare the six for the first Elimination Chamber. In Booker’s words “We’re all pretty much flying by the seat of our pants on this thing.”

Booker’s days in the Elimination Chamber are long behind him, but his protege Roxanne Perez will take her first steps inside the structure at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 from Toronto this Saturday, March 1.

With WrestleMania 41 and a promise Perez made to her younger self looming, the NXT star will hope to do what her mentor couldn’t and win an Elimination Chamber match.

Bianca Belair and Naomi are ready to get their hands on ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio after losing the Women’s Tag Team Championships on the February 24, edition of WWE Raw. In the show’s main event, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez kicked-off their record-breaking third reign with the titles by defeating Naomi and Belair, thanks in part to Dominik’s interference.

Now, Belair and Naomi have payback in mind. When a fan shared their hope that the former champions will teach ‘Dirty Dom’ a painful lesson, Belair made clear she wants a match with Mysterio.

Naomi is also ready to face Dominik Mysterio. Not only does she want to throw down with the Judgment Day member, but is eager to give him a painful makeover.

It remains to be seen if either the Glow or the EST will face Mysterio, but such matches will be possible in WWE 2K25. The upcoming game will mark the return of intergender matches as a playable feature, in a sharp turn from WWE’s usual stance on male vs. female contests. With over 300 playable characters, WWE 2K25 will be the literally biggest wrestling game ever, giving fans plenty of opportunities for intergender matches and more.

Belair and Naomi will be a part of the Women’s Elimination Chamber match on March 1, a match that will also feature Morgan. While the Chamber should in theory keep Dominik at bay, Belair and Naomi know to not count out cheating from Liv and her ‘Daddy Dom.’

Buddy Matthews has confirmed that he suffered an injury at AEW Grand Slam: Australia by sharing that he is now using a protective walking boot. On his Instagram Stories, Matthews tried to see the funny side of his situation, suggesting that the boot made him feel like Marvel’s Iron Man.

Talk of Matthews suffering an injury at Grand Slam sprang shortly after his entrance for his match with AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada. Coming down from the ropes, Matthews landed awkwardly on his ankle and was seen limping after his loss in his home country.

At this time, details remain scarce about the specifics of Matthews’ injury and how long he will need off to recover. His absence comes amid major changes in his on-screen direction. With Malakai Black no longer with AEW, the group formerly known as the House of Black are now the Hounds of Hell, but Brody King and Julia Hart will be without Matthews for the time being.

Matthews’ situation proves that injuries in wrestling can come at any time, not just when wrestlers are battling it out in or out of the ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Buddy Matthews and his recovery.

Dave Bautista has transitioned from WWE to become an acting heavyweight in Hollywood, and now he will have a role to play at the Oscars. Executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan announced this week that Bautista will be a presenter at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2.

Bautista will be joined by some Hollwyood headliners, including Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Zoe Saldaña and Rachel Zegler. The Oscars will take place at the the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The show will be televised live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu.

Bautista is one of the biggest success stories when it comes to wrestlers-turned actors, and is up there with the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and John Cena. After a series of smaller projects, Bautista’s breakout role came as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2014.) He has since appeared in blockbuster franchises including Blade Runner, Knives Out, and James Bond, while also taking on roles in more low-key projects.

Bautista has shared his interest in becoming a director, though WWE’s Animal has yet to make his debut in the role. Nevertheless, Bautista’s role at the Oscars alongside some top names in acting only continues to demonstrate the Hollywood success of the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Nia Jax has been with WWE for a long time and can often be found getting in the face of children in the crowd. While speaking to Ring the Belle, Jax was asked about her apparent disdain for the younger members of the WWE Universe.

“Listen, these kids—you think they’re all innocent and sweet, but they come at me. They’re so rude! I’m out there doing them a favor, and they yell and shout things at me. ‘You suck, kid!’”

Jax’s feud with children has led to some interesting situations on TV. During the May 17, 2024, edition of WWE SmackDown, Jax took things a step further by going after Jade Cargill’s daughter, who was sitting in the front row. The former WWE Women’s Champion later shared that the exchange was therapeutic for her.

Nia Jax will be in action at WWE Elimination Chamber: Toronto on March 1, where she and Candice LeRae will battle Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus. Despite having the Women’s Champion and a Hall of Famer to deal with, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Jax takes a break from the action to target the younger members of the WWE Universe at ringside.

Roxanne Perez will compete inside the Women’s Elimination Chamber match on March 1, a bout with WrestleMania implications. The victor will challenge either Rhea Ripley or IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s World Championship this April in Las Vegas.

Taking to X (fka Twitter,) Perez shared that she promised herself ten years ago that she would compete at WrestleMania. With the opportunity to do just that getting closer, the Prodigy doesn’t plan on letting the chance “slip through my fingers,” and dedicated her match in Toronto to her past self.

Whether she wins or loses at Elimination Chamber: Toronto, WrestleMania certainly appears to be in Perez’ future. Since arriving in WWE in 2021, The Prodigy has established herself as a major name in the women’s division, with two reigns as NXT Women’s Champion to her name. With plenty of success already and at the tender age of 23, Perez competing at WrestleMania doesn’t appear to be a question of if, but when.

Perez will face some stiff competion in this weekend’s Elimination Chamber, with former Chamber winners Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair being a part of the match. Nevertheless, Roxanne has WrestleMania-sized dreams and is ready to fulfill the promise she made to her younger self.

Could more WWE programming be heading to Netflix in the future? Don’t count it out according to Nick Khan. Speaking on the TKO 2024 earnings call, the WWE President addressed the partnership between WWE and the streaming juggernaut so far.

“They’ve been phenomenal to deal with. They’ve promoted us in a way we hoped we would be promoted, even more so than we had hoped.”

Khan shared that Netflix has shown “an apetite for more WWE.” With plans already in motion, fans can expect much more WWE content on the platform.

“The appetite by Netflix to have additional ancillary programming, we announced a few weeks ago, we’re doing a WWE behind the scenes show with Netflix, which will come out later this year. Assume there is more cooking in the pipeline.”

Netflix currently hosts Monday Night Raw, while fans outside the U.S. also receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. PLEs from WWE’s past are also available, as are some (though by no means all) TV broadcasts from WWE history.

WWE’s partnership with Netflix has been a runaway success thus far with the alliance exceeding Khan’s expectations. Now, fans can expect much more content to come in the pipeline.

H/T – Fightful

WWE 2K25 is set to hit shelves in March 2025 with the latest video game instalment boasting the largest roster in wrestling game history. Here is every playable character ranking confirmed for the game so far:

Male Superstars

• AJ Styles: 85
• Braun Strowman: 81
• Brutus Creed: 77
• Carmelo Hayes: 81
• Cody Rhodes: 96
• Damian Priest: 91
• Dominik Mysterio: 84
• Dragon Lee: 78
• Erik: 79
• Ivar: 81
• Jacob Fatu: 87
• Julius Creed: 78
• Kofi Kingston: 81
• LA Knight: 88
• Logan Paul: 90
• The Miz: 81
• R-Truth: 71
• Rey Mysterio: 86
• Roman Reigns: 96
• Xavier Woods: 80

Female Superstars

• Alexa Bliss: 83
• Bayley: 87
• Bianca Belair: 95
• Candice LeRae: 71
• Chelsea Green: 80
• Dakota Kai: 82
• Iyo Sky: 89
• Liv Morgan: 91
• Lyra Valkyria: 83
• Naomi: 85
• Raquel Rodriguez: 86
• Roxanne Perez: 83

These rankings give fans a glimpse as to how WWE pursues its talent and their standing on the proverbial totem pole. While Roman Reigns is sitting pretty at 96, the number is hardly what the one and only Tribal Chief had in mind.

WWE 2K25 is set to release on March 14, with the Deadman and Bloodline Editions of the game set to release one week early for eager gamers. With expectations sky high for the upcoming video game, fans won’t have to wait much longer to play the literal biggest wrestling video game of all time.

TNA X-Divison Champion Moose has was part of the February 25, edition of WWE NXT, where he retained his championship against Lexis King. After the match, it was confirmed that Moose will challenge NXT Champion Oba Femi at the March 11, NXT Roadblock event.

In a WWE NXT Digital Exclusive, Moose discussed his “awesome experience” with WWE NXT so far and how his journey to the brand has been a long time coming.

“Every weight I’ve ever lifted, every flight I’ve ever boarded on, every country I’ve ever went to, every championship I’ve ever won prepared me for this moment.”

Moose admitted to being surprised by the fans cheering him in WWE NXT, as he’s used to being booed by TNA crowds. The leader of The System, Moose admitted that he’s been waiting to face Oba Femi for a “very long time.”

“I have a ton of respect for Oba. He’s done a lot of great things in the last two years. But let’s be honest, without me, there wouldn’t be no Oba. At Roadblock, I’m gonna prove that to him.”

Moose’s arrival in NXT, as well as Femi’s recent role in TNA, comes thanks to a multi-year partnership between WWE and TNA Wrestling. This partnership has also seen the women of both brands get involved, with Cora Jade set to challenge for the TNA Knockouts Title at Sacrifice.

With everything to gain, Moose hopes to do what Joe Hendry failed to do last October and become the WWE NXT Champion. While The Ruler of NXT won’t make things easy, Moose intends to prove why everyone should “trust the System” on March 11.

H/T – Fightful

On the February 25, edition of WWE NXT, Ricky Saints made his in-ring debut by teaming with Je’Von Evans to defeat Wes Lee and Ethan Page. Speaking in an NXT Digital Exclusive, Saints reflected on his journey to the NXT roster.

“Wild, absolutely wild. My story isn’t that not-told, as they say. It’s pretty well known at this point, and I think I overcame a lot of things just to make it in this moment.”

Saints shared that in his past two appearances for WWE NXT, he didn’t know what to expect, but that things felt “different” once he was in the ring. Saints added that his tag-team victory felt like a fever dream “that I don’t want to ever wake up from.”

An emotional Saints then looked back at signing with WWE NXT and declaring that he plans on winning titles and headline every NXT PLE. After a succesful in-ring debut, Saints is confident that he’s on the right track.

“If this wasn’t a start, I don’t know what was. I am very honored to be here standing with you, I’m very honored to be standing in front of this camera, in front of NXT.”

Saints’ in-ring debut was a “love letter” to those who have supported him, as well as a tease of the “future Ricky” fans can expect. With bold plans in the mind of the former AEW talent, Ricky Saints remains confident that he will be the next top star of WWE’s silver brand.

H/T – Fightful

Will Sasso is both a celebrity and a wrestling fan, but he doesn’t want to see individuals like himself picking up victories in the squared circle. On the Insight podcast, Sasso shared his concerns about celebs, including the likes of Logan Paul and IShowSpeed, overshadowing full-time talent.

“I don’t want to see celebrities getting a leg up on wrestlers; wrestling should always be on top.”

Though best known for his comedy, Sasso has had involvement in wrestling, including facing Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart during an episode of WCW Monday Nitro, a match Sasso would lose. Not just a name in WCW, Sasso appeared as a ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin impersonator during the Attitude Era and ate a stunner by the Texas Rattlesnake himself.

On the podcast, Sasso reflected on how his love for wrestling has influienced his impressions of legends including Ric Flair, Randy Savage, and Jesse Ventura.

“I love Jesse Ventura, so I will catch a story more often than not.”

Sasso’s love for wrestling extends to the modern day, as he expressed excitement with the current product as well as the returns of John Cena and The Rock. With Triple H at the creative helm, Sasso is excited to what’s to come in the industry he has seen evolve over decades.

The February 25 episode of WWE NXT in Cincinnati, Ohio marked the in-ring debut of Ricky Saints, in an exciting moment for the silver brand. Saints’ in-ring debut comes after he debuted two weeks ago and after after he confirmed his new name on the February 18, broadscast.

The main event of the February 25, edition of WWE NXT saw Ricky Saints team up with Je’Von Evans to take on Wes Lee and Ethan Page. The rivalry between Evans and Page has intensified in recent weeks, with both men harboring deep animosity toward each other.

Fans erupted in “We want Ricky” chants as Evans and Page battled in the ring. When Saints took the hot tag, he unleashed a flurry of offense to the delight of the crowd. As the chaos escalated, Evans and Page brawled into the crowd, leaving Saints one-on-one with Wes Lee. In the decisive moment, Saints countered Lee and delivered a Roshambo to secure the victory for his team.

Saints’ emphatic win in the main event of WWE NXT comes in stark contrast to his final year with AEW, when he was pulled from the company’s programming. It remains to be seen if WWE can keep the momentum Saints has garnered in a short time, but his debut match has put the AEW alum on a strong start.

The Rock is coming to Elimination Chamber: Toronto, and the Final Boss is ready to disrupt the status quo. On X, fka Twitter, The Rock promised “disruptive moves” coming soon.

Rock’s bold comment comes after he appeared on the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, where he confronted Cody Rhodes. Rather than come to blows with his nemesis, The Rock expressed his desire for Cody to be his champion. The Final Boss wants Cody’s ‘soul’ and is awaiting the Undisputed WWE Champion’s answer at Elimination Chamber: Toronto.

The return of the Brahma Bull in the midst of WrestleMania season has led to speculation of what role The Rock will play this April in Las Vegas. While Cody’s WrestleMania 41 challenger should be determined in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, fans can’t count out The Rock disrupting plans to fuel his own agenda. Whatever’s coming, The Rock is ready to make some serious waveson March 1, in Toronto.

Vince McMahon may have plans to launch a new entertainment production company, once his legal matters with Janel Grant are behind him. Now, new revelations have suggested that McMahon could be looking at stepping back in the ring with a new wrestling promotion. UPDATE –

On the 83 Weeks podcast with Eric Bischoff, Conrad Thompson shared that he’d heard rumors of McMahon rehiring former WWE execs as well as speaking with experienced wrestling camera operators. Bischoff shared that he’s heard similar rumblings.

Thompson explained that he’s heard that FOX may be “holding a spot” for McMahon and his hypotehtical wrestling promotion. He pointed out, however, that FOX and wrestling have a complicated relationship, with FOX execs reportedly unhappy with how SmackDown fared on the network from 2019 to 2024. Thompson cast doubt over the idea of McMahon re-enterinng the wrestling world, he wasn’t prepared to ignore “these whispers in the background.”

When pondering if McMahon would like to return to the world of wrestling promotion, Bischoff believes McMahon’s answer would be an emphatic “F*** yeah!” While Bischoff believes that McMahon’s ideology to “conquer” whatever he wishes has never waned, he shared that this doesn’t necessarily mean the 79-year-old billionaire will try and launch a new promotion.

All plans for McMahon in the entertainment world could hinge on the Janel Grant lawsuit, which continues to loom over McMahon, WWE, and former Head of Talent John Laurinaitis. With McMahon’s past in business, one can’t count out a promotion by the former WWE chief, no matter how unlikely it may seem.

Mick Foley is known among fans as the Hardcore Legend, but the former WWE Champion has no problem with WWE’s modern-day, more safety-driven era. Speaking to SportingTalk, Foley shared why the introduction of PG, a gripe among countless fans, was necessary.

“Wrestling is always evolving and we have to for survival.”

Foley highlighted how WWE changed the wrestling world in the 1980s in a manner that upset “purists” at the time. Not only does Foley not have an issue with how the industry has changed since his days in the ring, but he believes things have improved since then.

 “I think the matches are better on a whole than they’ve ever been, and I see danger in a different way.”

Foley highlighted how the much quicker style of wrestling today can be just as dangerous for wrestlers, even without the use of hardcore weapons of gallons of blood being lost. Reflecting on the Attitude Era many fans hold dear to this day, Foley pointed out how the violent, risque nature of programming at the time created its own problems.

“I know how frustrated we were in the Attitude Era that our ratings were through the roof and we couldn’t get sponsors like nobody would touch us yes and so I definitely understand why WWE moved in the direction they did they.”

While many fans still hold the Attitude Era near to their hearts, wrestling’s constant evolution led to changes that have proved beneficial to WWE and its parent company TKO. While Foley’s days in the ring are over, the legend is pleased that the business is still going strong to this day.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson recently made a blockbuster return to WWE, but the Final Boss is now mourning the loss of his beloved pooch Hobbs. On Instragram, Johnson shared that Hobbs, named after his Fast & Furious franchise character, passed away this week. Though Johnson and his family have been left “numb over this loss,” they are grateful for the love Hobbs gave them and that “he didn’t suffer long” before passing away “quietly and bravely in the night.”

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A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)

Johnson’s comments reflect the deep connection he had with the dog and is sadly not the only name in wrestling to have loved a furry family member. In October 2024, Cora Jade shared that her dog Stitch had died after previously going missing. Mere months earlier, ‘Joe Gacy ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin shared that his cat Lefty had passed away, leaving Pancho, another pet, upset. Austin rectified this by adopting a kitten named Macho, with the moniker coming from fellow WWE Hall of Famer ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage.

The Rock will be a part of this weekend’s Elimination Chamber PLE in Toronto, where he hopes to get the ‘right answer’ from Cody Rhodes. During the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, The Rock confronted Rhodes, who he hopes will agree to be the Final Boss’ Champion.

We here at SEScoops would like to share our condolences to Johnson and his family over the passing of Hobbs.

On the February 24, edition of WWE Raw, Ludwig Kaiser handed Penta his first loss on the red brand by winning a triple-threat that included Pete Dunne. The finish of the match saw Kaiser push Penta out of the ring so that he could captalize and pin the Bruiserweight.

In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Cathy Kelley alluded to Kaiser ‘stealing’ the win from Penta, an accusation the German rejected.

“Penta has been stealing attention from Ludwig Kaiser since the day he walked into this company, isn’t that right? And you’re standing here talking to me like I was stealing anything, no. I wasn’t stealing anything.”

Not only did Kaiser reject the idea that he ‘stole the win,’ but he shared to Kelley what he actually has been doing throughout his singles run.

“What I’ve been doing is working hard, being humble, going out there, hitting every ball they’re throwing at me out the park, that’s what I’ve been doing, I have not been stealing anything.”

Amidst all he’s been doing, Kaiser “punished” Penta this week by taking what Ludwig believes Penta cares about most, the attention that has been on the masked star since his arrival. Kaiser concluded by vowing that 2025 will be his year and that Penta will soon be “no more.”