WWE has been securing its talent with new contracts as existing deals come to an end. They really don’t want to lose a lot of top Superstars in 2024, and they’re prepared to offer big money to secure them.

Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio’s New WWE Contracts

The latest developments in contract news revolve around the Mysterio Family, with both Rey and Dominik Mysterio recently signing new deals. While there is more information on Dominik’s reported five-year deal with WWE, Rey Mysterio’s contract duration was initially undisclosed.

Haus of Wrestling has now reported that Dominik Mysterio’s new WWE contract is a bit longer than his father’s. While Dirty Dominik is believed to be locked into a five-year deal, Rey Mysterio is actually only with WWE on a three-year commitment. 

Haus of Wrestling has confirmed that Rey has signed a new three-year deal with WWE.

Haus of Wrestling has not been able to confirm the length of Dominik’s deal. However, Dominik’s is believed to be a little longer, five years. Haus of Wrestling has also confirmed that, despite the injuries he has accrued, Rey plans to continue wrestling throughout his new contract.

What’s Next For Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio is currently recovering from a knee injury, one that was created in-storyline by Santos Escobar when he turned on the LWO leader. Now, it appears we will have a group vs group dynamic whenever Rey Mysterio is able to make his return to the ring.

This dual contract renewal for Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysrterio solidifies the company’s commitment and happiness with what they are doing on television. Dominik Mysterio became one of the hottest heels in the company, working all three brands as NXT North American Champion for 66 days.

Rey Mysterio’s three-year commitment represents a significant investment by both the wrestler and the company. As a Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio’s continued presence contributes depth to the roster, and it’s his upcoming return will hopefully put him in line for a featured match on the WrestleMania 40 card.

WWE has changed in a lot of different ways over the past few years. While some of these changes are pretty evident, there are others that are more subtle. One such change that is not talked about as much is in the characters of broadcast personalities.

At a time, the role of show hosts or backstage interviewers was limited to asking questions. In the past few years, however, we’ve seen the broadcasters showing more personality and even getting involved in storylines every now and then.

Kyla Braxton is one such name who has made her mark among other broadcasting talents. Though it’s not something that came naturally to her when she joined the company in 2016. She has had to work hard to get the reorganization from fans. One of the things that has helped Kyla make this transition is her on-screen interactions with Paul Heyman on SmackDown and other shows.

Braxton recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast. She discussed her work with Heyman and gave the Special Counsel a lot of credit for her growth:

“Paul Heyman. I give a lot of credit to Paul. I had so much fun doing all that back and forth with him with the Bloodline. Paul and I were doing Talking Smack together and we didn’t really know each other at the time.

We didn’t really interact a lot and getting to know him on that panel and getting to go back and forth and realising we’re both kind of spitfires helped immensely. Then he got me on camera to do those bits with him on SmackDown with the Bloodline. Now I am the sassy backstage interviewer.”

When asked how the segments with Paul came about, Kyla Braxton revealed that she has no idea how it happened. According to her, Heyman wanted to help her and so he made it happen:

“I don’t even know. I think he just really wanted to help me. He does that with a lot…I see him with talent, other interviewers. He just really wants to see what our strengths are. Then I don’t know he just makes it happen. I honestly don’t know how he made it happen. But he did.”

Kyla Braxton Is Not Intimidated By Paul Heyman

One of the recurring segments featuring the two that fans love is Kyla jump-scaring Heyman backstage for an interview. Speaking about the origin of the running gag, the WWE personality claimed that it wasn’t pre-planned:

“I don’t even remember how the first one happened. A lot of times like Paul and I would just go. There’s not really talking about beforehand. We just [said] whatever happens, happens. I think that his freakout happened on one and it just hit big. So we just kind of kept doing it. [It] got a good reaction, fans loved it.”

Due to his decades of experience in the business and his impressive clientele, Paul Heyman can prove to be an intimidating personality for a rookie talent. Though Kyla Braxton said that it’s not the case with her:

“He can be but not to me. We have great rapport. We have a great relationship. He’s always so helpful. Even if it’s a segment that he’s not a part of he wants to give feedback and give notes. I really appreciate it because everyone’s so busy on those days. There’s not a lot of time to stop and show that you care enough to give feedback. So it’s definitely helped me become a better broadcaster.”

More originals from SEScoops:

• Dominik Mysterio Is Prepared For Elimination Chamber: I Already Bailed Out of Prison
• Mick Foley Reveals Pick For 2024 Royal Rumble Winner
• Seth Rollins Has Not Watched Becky Lynch’s Jeopardy Appearance: ‘She Won’t Allow Me’
• Ethan Page Praises Matt Hardy For His Unselfish Nature
• Randy Orton Reflects On Being A ‘D**K’ Early In His Career

If you use any quotes from the article please credit Insight With Chris Van Vliet with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

JD McDonagh is ready to fight for his place back in the Judgment Day and has enlisted the help of a WWE NXT Superstar. 

On this week’s Raw, McDonagh faced R-Truth, who continues to believe that he is an official member of the faction. Ahead of their ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ Fight, it was decided that this match would see the loser be kicked out of the Judgment Day. While the faction hoped that this would be the last time they’d have to deal with Truth, the former 24/7 Champion won the match after putting McDonagh through a table. This was an especially tough loss for McDonagh who had spent months trying to earn an official spot in the faction. 

JD McDonagh’s Appeal

McDonagh may be out of the Judgment Day, but he’s not going to be kicked out without a fight. On Twitter, NXT Superstar Luca Crisfino Esq. shared an official appeal from his legal offices. Crusifino will be representing McDonagh and tagged WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce in the tweet. 

The litigation refers to Truth’s hand being under McDonagh’s shoulder when the pinfall was made. This should, according to Crusifino, should result in the pinfall being declared null and void. Pearce has seven days to respond to this litigation. 

cc: @ScrapDaddyAP @jd_mcdonagh pic.twitter.com/F0WPpPHll7

— Luca Crusifino, Esq. (@LucaCrusifino) December 20, 2023

Crusifino joined WWE earlier this year and has showcased his lawyer character as part of the WWE NXT brand. On this week’s episode of the gold brand, Crusifino competed in the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament. He would lose to Taivon Heights who advanced to the next round where he will face Oba Femi. 

The AEW tenure of QT Marshall has already come to an end, despite some time remaining on his contract with the All-Elite promotion. 

In November, Marshall announced that he was going to resign from AEW and that his time with the company would run through the end of this year.  Marshall had worked both on-screen as part of the QTV faction in addition to working behind the scenes. Marshall had reportedly felt frustrated within AEW, and felt like he wasn’t being used on screen effectively nor was he being positioned to be a wrestling store. Those in AEW told SEScoops that people understand his decision to move on and appreciate his contributions. 

QT Marshall is Already Finished

Sources within AEW have confirmed to Fightful Select that Marshall has effectively finished his time with the company already. Marshall has not been at AEW shows in weeks after giving his notice months ago. Marshall had signed a short-term extension through the end of the year. 

What’s Next for QT Marshall? 

Marshall is gone from AEW, but it may not be long before we see him back in the ring. MLW has had its eye on Marshall, who they feel would be greatly beneficial to the company’s future. Marshall would likely factor into plans for a complete overhaul of the promotion’s ‘front office.’ 

Marshall, alongside Cody Rhodes, recently filed a trademark for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, the promotion founded by Dusty Rhodes. While it is unclear if the duo plans to resurrect the promotion, Marshall has been adamant that he wants to perform in-ring while he was in his prime. 

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan feels Randy Orton fits quite well in the current WWE roster. 

WWE roster is stacked with a plethora of talented wrestlers. Several wrestlers have come and gone but ‘The Viper’ is going strong with the younger generation. This has certainly impressed ‘The Hulkster,’ who shares a deep history with the Orton family. 

The wrestling icon battled Orton in his final WWE match, which took place at SummerSlam in 2006 and ‘The Apex Predator’ has gone on to mature and become one of the all time greats.

Randy Orton recently returned to WWE following an 18-month absence as he dealt with nagging back injuries. Orton looks to be in great shape and at 43, his wrestling style and approach have changed.

Hulk Hogan talks about Randy Orton’s comeback

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Hulk Hogan opened up on how ‘The Viper’ has changed his wrestling style over the years and has managed to coordinate well with the younger talents.

“Watching Randy now, he fits perfectly. Not only does he adjust to the styles of the young guys, but watch his matches. He slows guys down and teaches them in the match. On the spot, he calls audibles and shows them how to do it. Open my hand, here’s the diamond. He’s transitioned from old school to this hybrid.”

‘The Hulkster’ isn’t in a good shape to make a comeback to the squared circle but he knows who he would wrestle if he ever return. He said:

“If I wasn’t all beat to hell, I’d love to get in the ring with Randy. We could still tear it down in the main event. Randy could call it in the ring, and he could adjust to my style to make sure it worked perfectly. He’s just so good. He can work with veterans and the newer guys, too. He knows how to pivot both ways in the ring. He understands wrestling in a way very few do. That’s why he is making masterpieces in the ring.”

Randy Orton recently competed in the Men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. The multi-time World Champion helped his team comprising Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn to score the win over The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre. Orton is currently aiming retribution on The Bloodline.

Nick Hogan, the son of two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, has pleaded not guilty to the recent speeding arrest. 

At an arraignment this week, Hogan, real name Nick Bollea, pleaded not guilty to the DUI misdemeanor. There will be a pre-trial hearing on January 17, 2024. Nick was arrested on the morning of November 18 in Clearwater, Florida. He reportedly refused to enter a breathalyzer test when taken into custody. 

Nick never followed his father by becoming a wrestler, but has appeared on TV several times. Nick was often seen on the Hogan Knows Best reality series that ran for multiple seasons on VH-1 as well as on WWE programming from time to time.

Nick Hogan has had previous issues with the law. In August 2007, Hogan was involved in a car crash in which he crashed into a tree while driving under the influence. This crash came just 16 days after Hogan’s fourth speeding ticket within 11 months. The passenger in the vehicle, John Graziano, suffered massive brain damage due to the crash.

Tammy Sytch Update

Last month, Tammy ‘Sunny Sytch was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison, plus another eight years on probation. Sytch was convicted of DUI Manslaughter for her role in the death of Julian Lasseter in early 2022. This week, Sytch was transferred from Volusia County Corrections to a prison facility in Ocala, Florida. 

The disgraced WWE Hall of Famer is still facing a lawsuit filed by the estate of Julian Lasseter. Sytch laughed and sobbed in court as she was handed her 17-year sentence. If the time is served in full, Sytch will be 68 years old by the time she leaves prison. 

A strange lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon and WWE is expected to be dismissed after a recommendation by a United States District Court. 

In August, Dana Wiley filed a lawsuit against WWE over an alleged meet-up with Alexa Bliss. The suit alleges that WWE failed to reimburse a $5,500 “down payment for a meet-up arranged via email correspondence, to personally meet World Wrestling Entertainment employee Alexa Bliss” on June 30.

The handwritten lawsuit also alleges that Vince McMahon breached an agreement with Wiley in which he would become a WWE employee. Wiley, who is currently incarcerated due to an attempted homicide, claims that McMahon had agreed to pay him $70,000 a month. 

Recommended for Dismissal

In a filing this month, United States Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge stated that Wiley’s lawsuit was “incredible and improbably.” Judge Dodge adds that the suggestion that Wiley would be paid a total of $840,000 a year is “far-fetched at best” especially given his incarceration. 

The statement adds that much of the terms of Wiley’s alleged contract with WWE are “indecipherable.” Judge Dodge ends by stating that the plaintiff’s complaint should be dismissed. 

Wiley’s Previous Lawsuit

This is hardly the first time Wiley has filed litigation against WWE. He has previously sued Vince McMahon, members of D-Generation X, and the NWO, claiming that he had signed a fair use contract for those groups’ trademarks which McMahon and the others did not acknowledge.

Wiley claimed he signed the contract on the steps of a New Castle, Pennsylvania, courthouse after being sentenced “in an unrelated criminal case.” He also claimed that he signed this contract in 1995, a year before the NWO debuted in WCW and two years before Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Rick Rude & Chyna would form DX. The lawsuit was later dismissed. 

This Saturday, AEW will be in San Antonio, Texas for Collision. They are coming off of shows in Dallas, Arlington, and Garland (the latter also hosted ROH Final Battle on December 15). 

Texas has seen some big moments in AEW’s young history. San Antonio was the site for the first ever women’s steel cage match between Thunder Rosa (who’s adopted the city as her own) and Britt Baker. Rosa won to become the AEW Women’s Champion. 

At Fyter Fest 2021, Lance Archer defeated Jon Moxley in a Texas Deathmatch to become the IWGP United States Champion. “Winter is Coming” 2022 saw MJF defeat Ricky Starks to retain the Dynamite Diamond Ring. 

Texas loves wrestling

On February 3, 2024, AEW will make its debut in Edinburg, Texas. Collision will be live from the Bert Ogden Arena. Daniel Garcia spoke with Valley Central about wrestling in front of strong Latino fanbases.

“I feel like every time we’re in a place like in South Texas, somebody that has that strong Latino fan base, it’s so dope to wrestle in front of them. They’re always loud. They’re always rowdy. In my opinion, Texas is the best crowds that we perform in front of.”

Garcia will wrestle this Saturday against Brody King in the Continental Classic. He has been mathematically eliminated, but could still pick up his first tournament win. 

Could WWE’s MVP be ready to take the Marvel Cinematic Universe by storm as the villainous Kang the Conqueror? The former champion is open to the idea. 

This week, Marvel fired actor Jonathan Majors, who had portrayed Kang in Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania and was set to reprise the role in future projects. Kang, a time traveler with many ‘variants’ bent on conquering all universes, was set to be the next big villain of the MCU following the destruction of Thanos in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. 

Majors was fired after being found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend and Marvel has cut ties with him. With the future of Kang uncertain, fans have been left wondering who will step into the significant role should Marvel continue with its plans. On Twitter, MVP made it clear he’s open to the role. 

https://twitter.com/The305MVP/status/1737518773437972978

WWE & Marvel

While MVP is unlikely to be picked for the role, the worlds of WWE and Marvel have collided in the past. Batista’s role as Drax the Destroyer helped propel his profile in Hollywood though the Animal has said he hopes to portray DC Comics villain Bane one day. 

Seth Rollins will portray a villainous role in Captain America: Brave New World, which is set for a 2025 release. Becky Lynch filmed a post-credits scene for 2020’s Eternals but the scene was reportedly cut for being too depressing. 

MVP Outside of the Ring

While MVP is best known for his time in the ring, the former WWE U.S. Champion does have an acting credit to his name. MVP played Vernon Freedom in 2010’s MacGruber, a comedy starring Will Forte and Kristen Wiig which also featured Chris Jericho, The Great Khali, Big Show, Mark Henry, and Kane. 

MVP has also performed music in the past and released his first hip-hop song titled “Holla to da World” featuring Dwayne Swayze in June 2011. On March 18, 2013, he released his second song entitled “Tokyo” while “Return of the Ronin”, which became MVP’s TNA theme, was released in January 2014. 

The WWE Universe will be able to have its say about the very best of WWE NXT 2023 with the annual Year-End Awards of the gold brand. 

2023 has been quite the formative year for NXT, as the brand continues to find its footing after the run as WWE NXT 2.0. What WWE NXT is doing is working as the brand was able to secure a massive deal with the CW Network which will host the gold brand from October of next year. 

WWE NXT Year-End Awards

On WWE.com, the fans will be able to vote on the following categories: 

WWE NXT Match of the Year

• Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge – NXT Deadline
• Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov – No Mercy
• Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak – Battleground
• Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton – No Mercy
• Axiom vs. Tyler Bate – Global Heritage Invitational
• Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller
• Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
• Roxanne Perez vs. Blair Davenport
• JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee
• Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James – Halloween Havoc
• Eddy Thorpe vs. Damon Kemp – NXT Underground Match

WWE NXT Moment of the Year

• Roxanne Perez collapses after defeating Meiko Satomura
• Bron Breakker smashes Von Wagner with steel steps
• Fallon Henley dresses up like Tiffany Stratton
• The #FreeTonyD movement
• Trick Williams gets attacked by a mystery assailant
• Lash Legend slams Otis
• Dominik Mysterio ends Wes Lee’s historic North American Title reign
• Jacy Jayne kicks Gigi Dolin through a door
• Bron Breakker spears Carmelo Hayes through a wall
• The Undertaker comes to NXT
• Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin crash through Shawn Michaels’ office wall

WWE NXT Male Superstar of the Year

• Ilja Dragunov
• Carmelo Hayes
• Trick Williams
• Bron Breakker
• Wes Lee
• Dijak
• Dragon Lee
• Baron Corbin
• Nathan Frazer
• Axiom

WWE NXT Female Superstar of the Year

• Roxanne Perez
• Tiffany Stratton
• Thea Hail
• Kiana James
• Lyra Valkyria
• Gigi Dolin
• Jacy Jayne
• Fallon Henley
• Ivy Nile
• Kelani Jordan

WWE NXT Tag Team of the Year

• The Creed Brothers
• Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
• Gallus
• Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen
• Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
• Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
• Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

It may have been decades since the release of the popular WCW/nWo Revenge video game, but this week, a hidden feature has been discovered. 

WCW/nWo Revenge was released on the Nintendo 64 in late 1998 and as the name suggests, leaned heavily into the popularity of the New World Order at the time. The game featured one of the most up-to-date rosters as well as several arenas. 

A New Feature

As one of the most popular wrestling games around, WCW/nWo Revenge still has a legion of loyal players. This week, one player learned of a hidden feature in the game, which allows for running grapples. Rather than a running strike as is the norm, these moves allowed players to perform sequences while in motion, in what was a revolutionary concept for the time. 

#AKIDidYouKnow I've just discovered this in the last 10 minutes … but looks like some characters in WCW/nWo Revenge have Running Grapples (front and rear) in their movesets (although it also looks like everyone has them disabled by default via their Parameters): pic.twitter.com/iEeQ31VudT

— Melonbread (@Melonbread1979) December 19, 2023

This reveal even got the attention of Diamond Dallas Page, who was a playable character in the game, and took to Twitter to share his reaction. 

So my buddy @Melonbread1979 broke open the code for WCW nWo Revenge and found the rumored fourth Diamond Cutter. A running attack. So wild to see…hidden since 1998. Pretty dope to find something after 25 years. Had to share??DDP https://t.co/9UgFmxCNSF

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) December 20, 2023

The Reception of WCW/nWo Revenge

WCW/nWo Revenge received overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and critics. Within a month, the game became the top-selling third-party Nintendo game ever. The game was praised for its improved graphics on its predecessor WCW Vs. nWo: World Tour, as well as new features including a Championship Mode. The game would eventually sell 1.88 million copies in the US, making it one of the best-selling N64 games of all time. It would also outsell the also-popular WWF No Mercy game, which would be released two years later. 

The wrestling business seemingly has many talents, reaching new deals or preparing to explore free agency. Recently, it was reported by Fightful Select that Charlotte Flair signed an extension with WWE that would make her the highest-paid female talent in the company’s history. 

While free agency is looking for lucrative deals, it seems that former WWE talent Mercedes Moné (FKA Sasha Banks) has her number for what it would take for someone to sign her. 

 Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp shared on Twitter that the talk within the wrestling industry is that Moné’s asking price is higher than the deal that Flair received from WWE. It’s worth noting that the asking price would be negotiated and isn’t definitive of what she could get to sign. However, if true, it does share what  Moné values herself in the wrestling business. 

The former New Japan Pro Wrestling superstar is looking to make her in-ring return next year after recovering from an ankle injury. Moné suffered the injury in a match against Willow Nightingale at NJPW Resurgence on May 21. At one point, it was speculated that she could’ve made a return this year, but that isn’t the case. In November, she let her fans know that she is working towards making a comeback in 2024. 

Regarding her contract status, it was reported that she isn’t in a deal with NJPW and could sign anywhere. All Elite Wrestling was believed to be her destination, but that may no longer be the case. 

Could WWE Bring Mercedes Moné(Sasha Banks) Back To The Company 

While AEW could strike a deal with Moné, it seems that WWE is also a candidate. Heading into 2024, WWE has been looking to re-sign talent and is also interested in signing stars who are free agents. 

Moné could be on WWE’s radar as they look at their options to strengthen their already impressive roster. SEScoops’ own Aaron Varble shared exclusively on December 11 with sources within WWE that there have been no contract talks between the company and Moné in the last 30 days. However, that could change as the WWE has begun locking down talent with new deals and looking forward to 2024. 

It’s unclear if Moné will ultimately return to WWE, but it seems she is looking for an incredible deal for whoever is interested. 

Becky Lynch has never been one to hold her opinion back, and that is one of the qualities that helped establish her as The Man. Lynch has big goals in WWE, and she just staked her claim with a big WrestleMania match for herself against Rhea Ripley.

While speaking to Strutting From Gorilla, Becky Lynch was asked about her next targets in WWE. She made it very clear that Nia Jax is a match that she wants to happen. Then she is off to take down Rhea Ripley and strip her of that WWE Women’s World Title.

The way Becky Lynch sees things, she doesn’t appreciate how Rhea Ripley has been representing that women’s title, or lack thereof. With WrestleMania season coming up, Becky Lynch sees a big match in her future. 

“I think there’s so many talented up and comers. One match we haven’t gotten to is I’ve got to shut up Nia Jax first. It’s strange to think that Nia Jax haven’t gone one on one in a WWE ring yet, but it’s true.”

“Then there’s the next stop, and that’s taking that title off Rhea Ripley. Because that title, when I hold that title is the main event of every show. Now, her title has been seen in many main events, but not because she’s been defending it, but because she’s been the accompaniment to the main event, and I can’t have that. I’m sick of that. I can’t have that and I am going to take that title off of her, preferably at WrestleMania.”

What’s Next For Becky Lynch In WWE

Becky Lynch will get a chance to cross that Nia Jax match off her list soon enough. WWE officially booked Becky Lynch vs Nia Jax in a first-time ever match during that January 1st episode of the Day One RAW. 

Rhea Ripley is still holding the WWE Women’s World Title, no matter what Becky Lynch thinks of things. It would be interesting to see The Man come around to challenge The Nightmare, and WrestleMania 40 may be a great landing pad for that match to go down.

Becky Lynch’s’ WWE contract is running up in 2024. The next few months are going to be crucial for her, and it could also include a huge WrestleMania moment. 

LA Knight was known as Shaun Ricker during his pre-WWE days, and there are a number of people who remember him from before he was known throughout the world. Now, Knight is slated to receive an honor close to his heart in Hagerstown, MD. 

LA Knight is set to be bestowed with the key to the City of Hagerstown, MD, as officially announced by the city on a Wednesday.

Where LA Knight Came From

Before adopting the moniker LA Knight and establishing himself as a prominent figure in the contemporary professional wrestling landscape, Shaun Ricker had roots in Hagerstown, Maryland. 

After graduating from North Hagerstown High School in 2000, where LA Knight actively participated in the school’s band and track activities, the future WWE Superstar couldn’t shake his real dream. His childhood aspirations always revolved around becoming a professional wrestler. This is a dream that he obviously stuck with for the long haul.

After making his way around the pro wrestling world, where he competed as Eli Drake in TNA Wrestling and the NWA for years, LA Knight finally found himself in WWE. He was known as Max Dupri during a short stint on the WWE main roster as well, but Triple H soon fixed that Vince McMahon booking decision, and the rest is history.

LA Knight recently competed for the WWE Universal Championship in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in his career. He did not win that match against Roman Reigns, but he certainly had quite a moment in the spotlight. 

LA Knight’s Ceremony Date

LA Knight is scheduled for recognition on December 23rd at noon at University Plaza, the City of Hagerstown aims to honor one of its own, where he will receive the key to the city, a real honor. This has to be a great moment for LA Knight, a real full-circle moment where he can really appreciate where he came from.

The ceremony will be open to the public, providing an opportunity for LA Knight to address the audience, a moment eagerly anticipated by fans and wrestling fans alike.

There are some early-on talks being made about the possibility of Warner Bros. Discovery merging with Paramount Global.

Axios learned from multiple sources that CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakis on December 19 about the idea of merging the two television powerhouses.

WBD plays host to TNT, TBS and HBO while Paramount controls CBS, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central so together the duo could really pack a punch for continuing and prospective customers. However, where does it all leave AEW and WWE?

Whenever a wrestling fan hears the term “merger” it could cause cold sweats because of the infamous AOL-Time Warner fusion that ultimately ended WCW. That changed the landscape of the business solely WWE. However, in this case, the move may bode well for perhaps both promotions.

It was believed that WWE would soon sign its Raw television rights over to WBD, but nothing has happened as of yet. It appears by past actions Zaslav has an appreciation for pro wrestling and if WBD were to mergr with Paramount, they’re the primary bread winner between the brands. WBD earnings are valued around $29 billion while Paramount is around $10 million. That’s likely an indicator that Zaslav would at least want to sign one promotion. 

However, in the same turn,  the fact that there may still be interest in AEW could allow Paramount to host AEW programming while Raw airs every Monday could be on TNT. In that regard, AEW’s brand identity doesn’t get diminished or discarded.

Tape up your knuckles because next week WWE NXT is going “underground.”

In a promo for his upcoming fight against Dijak next week, Eddie Thorpe says that ropes can’t contain the two’s intensity and he wants to do it in a ring without one. He wants to settle the score in a concept that used to be briefly popular on WWE Raw: the two will go mono-a-mono in an Underground match.

LET'S GO!!!@EddyThorpe_WWE has challenged @DijakWWE to an #NXTUnderground Match!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/XAwdlxKfXt

— WWE (@WWE) December 20, 2023

NXT Underground Returns

From a storyline standpoint, the “Underground” concept was brought in by Shane McMahon and was brought to WWE television during the global pandemic. “Underground” never took place in a WWE arena or the “ThunderDome,” but rather went down in an open warehouse, giving everything the intended “Fight Club” feel of it all. There were also no pins and had more of a MMA execution to it rather than your conventional wrestling match.

Shane  originally introduced “Underground” on the August 3, 2020 episode of Raw and the concept only lasted eight weeks until Vince McMahon decided to scrap it. However, some battles did take place that involved names like Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Titus O’Neil, Riddick Moss and even Dolph Ziggler. 

Ziggler had a memorable run with Underground as he faced Lashley and several others where the impending free agent got to utilize his impressive collegiate wrestling background.

During the pandemic, NXT did happen to do a bout that could be considered somewhat similar to Underground as Matt Riddle took on Timothy Thatcher. Like Underground, the match didn’t have ropes, but instead of open space there was a cage around the ring. Kurt Angle happened to be the special guest referee for the contest.

WWE United States Champion Logan Paul finds himself the subject of satire in the latest Paramount+ special, “South Park (Not Suitable For Children).” He will not be providing the voice of his character, but in true South Park fashion, that doesn’t matter.

South Park (Not Suitable For Children) Plot

The new South Park special takes a jab at Paul and his PRIME energy drink, featuring a plot line where an influencer named Logan promotes a hydration drink to the children of the town, despite its explicit unsuitability for kids. The narrative unfolds as the kids, captivated by their “Cred,” eventually realize they are being manipulated. 

Eric Cartman, Butters, and others confront the Logan Paul character, seeking to unveil the mastermind behind the scheme before facing a grim fate—Logan is shot through the head by those who paid him to influence the children. It’s worth noting that there are no explicit WWE references in this South Park special.

In “South Park (Not Suitable For Children),” the storyline unfolds as Randy takes a closer look at the darker side of online influencers after discovering a teacher at South Park Elementary with an OnlyFans page.

How To Watch South Park (Not Suitable For Children)

Paramount+ officially announced the availability of the exclusive South Park event, “South Park (Not Suitable For Children),” for streaming in the U.S. and Canada on December 20th, 2023. International audiences can access the special on December 21st in the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy on December 23rd, with other markets to follow. 

The special joins Paramount+’s roster of exclusive South Park events, including “South Park: Post COVID,” “South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID,” “South Park: The Streaming Wars,” “South Park: The Streaming Wars Part 2,” and the recently released “South Park: Joining the Panderverse,” which set records on social platforms as the most engaging, watched, and talked-about event to date.

South Park’s Legendary History

Although some Gen Zers are just discovering South Park on TikTok, Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s creation has been lampooning culture since the dial-up internet days. They have secured an amazing streaming deal at this point, and have the luxury to still produce content while keeping a lighter schedule. 

Looking back, the South Park series marked its 25th anniversary on August 13th, 2022, since its debut on Comedy Central. Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with executive producers Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II, have been steering the show since its inception. 

The series has been renewed on Comedy Central through 2027, securing its place as cable’s longest-running scripted series, and paving the way for an unprecedented 30th season.

Ilja Dragunov was stretchered out during the NXT episode on December 19th, but no worries, because it’s just part of the story. Although some fans initially jumped to conclusions that Ridge Holland injured another Superstar, it seems that WWE is turning that into an angle instead. 

The scene was filmed the previous week, taking inspiration from Ridge Holland’s involvement in Big E’s injury two years ago. He also recently caused Elton Prince’s injury, costing Pretty Deadly valuable time away from the ring. While some in WWE found the idea a bit controversial, they decided to go ahead with it. 

Corey Brennan of Fightful reported last week that the incident was planned, and now there’s more information.

Fightful Select further noted that, according to NXT sources, everyone involved was happy with the performance and camera work, and producers were pleased with how the crowd reacted to the angle. 

WWE producers knew most attendees understood it was scripted, as they quickly announced the start of the next show. Cameras even followed Dragunov to the ambulance as it drove off.

The December 19th, 2023 episode of WWE NXT drew a viewership of 641,000. The P18-49 rating for the episode stood at 0.17. That wasn’t much of a drop for a pre-taped episode, so close to Christmas. 

It will be interesting to see how WWE NXT plays the rest of this angle with Ilja Dragunov and Ridge Holland. It certainly garnered a bit of attention, and a positive reception backstage.

MJF was recently honored with an induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason Solomon was on hand and spoke with the reigning AEW World Champion. 

During their interview, MJF addressed his transition to a babyface persona, admitting he initially hesitated to embrace the transformation due to concerns about rejection from the audience. The Solomonster brought up Tony Khan’s labeling AEW as a “challenger brand” (to WWE) which opened up the idea of so many wrestling fans rooting against AEW online.

MJF has seen a lot of the negativity levied at AEW on social media. AEW has been required to chart a unique path in the wrestling landscape, and MJF sees some similarities to his Jewish faith.

Why do some fans hate AEW?

“Yeah, well, here’s why. I’m actually going to relate this to Judaism, because I’m very good at my job. When you think about why people hate us and why we constantly get attacked, it’s because we’re different and being different makes people uncomfortable.

I genuinely feel the reason that a lot of the time you’ll find a lot of.. and don’t get me wrong, there was most certainly constructive criticism online, genuinely.. but you’ll find a lot of non-constructive criticism online. Just wild irredeemably messed up sh*t that people are saying that is either untrue Or just mean, you know? And I think the reason that’s happening is Monday Night Raw is the longest reigning episodic television show of all time. We have only been around for what, four and a half years? That’s new, that’s different, and what’s different.. different scares people.

So I actually do agree for once with Tony Khan’s assessment [AEW being the ‘challenger brand’ to WWE] and I think that’s the issue. I think the issue is that we’re fresh. We’re new. We feel dangerous to people – and I kind of get off on that, because I get to be the World Champion of that danger and that change, just like I get to be a champion of the Jewish people.”

AEW has a legion of die-hard fans who will defend the company’s decisions, but a vocal portion of the fan base does not make it easy for Tony Khan’s company to thrive in this setting. No matter how the fans feel, MJF appears to be in AEW’s corner 100% as their longest-reigning champion with the most title defenses under his belt as well.

MJF on Meeting John Cena

The Solomonster also asked MJF about his recent meeting with John Cena earlier this month at the movie premiere for The Iron Claw. 

MJF has had bad things to say about virtually everybody,  but not John Cena. MJF told Cena to his face that he’s an inspiration and raved about Cena’s work ethic to people everywhere:

What’s Next For MJF In AEW

MJF asserts that he hasn’t committed to a renewed contract with AEW, leaving the potential for the Bidding War of 2024 to become a reality. While this is the narrative he presents, there’s a prevailing belief within WWE that MJF inked a new deal over a year ago, preceding his return at All Out in 2022.

Currently, as AEW World Champion title, MJF has transitioned into a babyface character, a shift not without its concerns. He is a complex character, but he is also not one to give up when he hits an obstacle in his way.

MJF is currently scheduled to defend the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at Worlds End on December 30th. This is a tricky situation, because MJF will enter the match with a nagging injury. Either way, he is going to fulfill is obligations with Tony Khan’s company.

Hulk Hogan is a pop culture icon at this stage of his career, for a multitude of reasons. At 70-years-old, The Hulkster is still running wild, but he will do so while having a closer relationship to a higher power.

Hulk Hogan’s Spiritual Awakening

Hulk Hogan recently shared a profound moment in his life, undergoing baptism alongside his wife, Sky Daily Hogan. This spiritual experience marked a significant chapter for Hogan, as he expressed his complete surrender and dedication to Jesus.

The two-time WWE Hall of Famer described the event as the greatest day of his life, emphasizing a message centered on love, free from worries, hate, or judgment.

While reflecting on his spiritual journey, Hulk Hogan disclosed in April that he had accepted Christ as his savior at the age of 14. Throughout his life, he attributed his sustained well-being to a combination of training, prayers, and vitamins.

I accepted Christ as my savior at 14yrs old, and the training, prayers and vitamins kept me in the game but now that I am one with God,the main event theme of surrender,service and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Savior and so it is,even now brother,AMEN!

I accepted Christ as my savior at 14yrs old, and the training, prayers and vitamins kept me in the game but now that I am one with God,the main event theme of surrender,service and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord… pic.twitter.com/SxcOJJwtRL

— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) April 9, 2023

Today, Hulk Hogan revealed footage of himself, along with his wife, getting baptized. He mentioned that this was the best day of his life, as his sins were resolved.

Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!

Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love! pic.twitter.com/gB43hTcLU6

— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) December 20, 2023

Hulk Hogan’s Troublesome Past

Hulk Hogan embarks on this new spiritual chapter, it’s crucial to acknowledge the controversies that have marked his past. One notable legal battle involved a sex tape trial with GAWKER, where Hogan sued the media company for invasion of privacy. The trial brought to light personal aspects of Hogan’s life, leading to discussions on the boundaries between public figures and media scrutiny.

Aside from the GAWKER lawsuit, Hulk Hogan has faced a microscope he never wanted on him for his involvement in a racist scandal and allegations related to a steroids controversy. That doesn’t even include the countless lies he’s been caught in over the years. Despite these challenges, he carried on, and it doesn’t appear that there is any sign of stopping.

In recent Hulk Hogan-adjacent news, his son, Nick Hogan, was recently arrested for DUI, a charge to which he pleaded not guilty. He was arrested in November 2023 when he was on his way home after judging and DJing a bikini contest at Hogan’s Hangout.

Hulk Hogan seems focused on turning over a new leaf as he continues to run Hogan’s Beach Hangout in Clearwater, Florida. While acknowledging his past, Hogan appears committed to navigating this new chapter with a renewed sense of spirituality and dedication to a life centered on love and faith. We’re pulling for him as he enters this fresh chapter, brother.

Hogan’s Hangout is always running events, and they have a nice website as well, if you wanted to visit his online home. 

On tonight’s All Elite Wrestling Dynamite episode, WWE Hall of Famer and AEW Commentator Jim Ross will return. The news of his comeback was announced by AEW Commentator Tony Schiavone on the AEW Control Center, previewing tonight’s episode. Ross has been away dealing with health issues, notably healing a wound following radiation treatment for skin cancer. 

The December 20 episode of AEW Dynamite will occur at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is notable as fans will know that Ross is a proud Oklahoma native and could be part of why he is returning to the show. It’s unclear if he will be a part of the commentary team for the entire show, but it seems likely to be possible.

Regarding health issues, Ross shared on the December 7 episode of his podcast Grilling JR that he made positive changes during his break. He noted that he has stopped drinking, and he has seen weight loss due to the adjustment. 

When speaking about the decision to quit drinking, he admitted that it was a needed change to get healthier. 

SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo transcribed the following quotes.

“My goal is to get healthy, and drinking was not working well with my meds, my diabetes medication … it was a conflict of interest, so to speak, because I want to get healthier and these meds gotta work and I was diluting their strength by drinking so I hung it up.”

The news of Ross’s life changes and return on tonight’s AEW Dynamite is excellent news for fans who have wanted to see his presence on TV. The hope is that the positive lifestyle changes will help him stay healthy and more involved with AEW. 

Although it is unclear where his future lies with the company. 

Is Jim Ross Staying with AEW?

Ross shared in November that his contract with AEW is set to expire. As of now, it is unclear exactly when his deal will be done. However, he wants to re-sign with the company and AEW President Tony Khan wants to keep him. 

Ross is represented by wrestling agent Barry Bloom, who has helped current AEW superstars reach lucrative deals with the company. While Khan and Ross are both interested in “JR” staying in AEW, it’s unknown what the negotiation process and terms of the deal could look like. 

For now, Ross and the AEW fanbase will welcome his comeback and hope to see more of him heading into 2024. 

This year, All Elite Wrestling superstar Swerve Strickland has become one of the breakout talents on the roster. He’s been featured on AEW TV and involved in big matches, notably against his rival “Hangman” Adam Page. That said, Strickland is looking to have a better year in 2024. 

Strickland spoke with Jacksonville, Florida’s News Reporter Scott Johnson on Going Ringside about his plans for the new year. He shared that he’s looking to become an AEW World Champion and believes he could have been the champion if given the opportunity. 

“…I said middle of this year, if I would’ve gotten the opportunities that Hangman Page would’ve gotten my first year, I would have been the first African American AEW world champion. And I do believe that. I can still do that. That is the only thing on my mind right now,” said Strickland.

While some fans may take Strickland’s confidence lightly, he has quickly become a superstar that AEW could decide to put the world title on. He’s coming off of the biggest rivalry of his career and won a highly praised Texas Deathmatch over Page at AEW Full Gear on November 18. 

Strickland’s recent success and presence could give the company a reason to make him a title challenger in 2024. Currently, he is participating in the round-robin Continental Classic tournament. The winner of the tourney will become the inaugural AEW Triple Crown Champion. He has nine points in the Gold League division of the tournament and is in an excellent position to make it to the semi-finals. However, he needs to win his next match. 

Preview Of Swerve Strickland vs. RUSH On AEW Dynamite 

In tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Strickland will take on RUSH in a Gold League matchup. RUSH has been eliminated from the tournament but likely wants to end the round with a big win. 

For Strickland, a win over RUSH advances him to the Continental Classic Semi-Finals on the December 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. If he was to lose, he would have to hope that White, who is tied with him, is defeated by Jon Moxley. The former AEW World Champion is the current leader in the Gold League with 12 points and already has a spot in the next round. 

Both matchups will occur on tonight, so fans will want to tune in to see who will advance. 

Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) received a huge honor on Monday as he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason ‘The Solomonster’ Solomon was on hand for the ceremony and conducted an exclusive interview with the AEW World Champion.

MJF’s 2023 was full of big wins and captivating storylines. Ahead of his big title defense against Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End later this month (12/30), we wanted to know about his recent meeting with childhood hero John Cena at the “The Iron Claw” premiere.

MJF spoke about what it was like to meet Cena, what sets the 16-time world champion apart from everybody else and Cena’s advice for him.

“He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.”
– MJF on John Cena

“You’re an Inspiration”

The ‘Salt of the Earth’ said it meant the world to him that John Cena approached him at the event and paid him a compliment he’ll never forget.

“I don’t think it’s unprofessional for me to discuss what we talked about. He didn’t have to do this, and it meant the world to me. [John Cena] walked over to me, and he said he’s a fan of my work, and he respected my professionalism.

MJF had another chance to talk with John Cena when they were spotted together on the red carpet. MJF reveals he told John Cena that he’s an inspiration and says Cena’s work ethic puts him lightyears ahead so many people in wrestling who ‘phone it in’ and don’t go the extra 10 miles that Cena goes. 

“Once we were on the red carpet, we talked some more and I told him straight up, I said, ‘You’re an inspiration’ because he is, you know?

There are a lot of people in my industry who phone it in. I cannot recall one time in the over a decade of John Cena’s career where he phoned it in even once. He’s incapable, just like I’m incapable.

He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.”

Cena was one of MJF’s wrestling heroes growing up, along with CM Punk. “… and for crying out loud, my two guys, I make no bones about it, everybody knows that one of my guys was CM Punk, but my other guy was John Cena. As I got older, it became Punk, you know, because I was trying to rebel a little bit, you know, I had a John Cena Fathead on my bedroom wall. You know, it’s John Cena! 

We also discussed transitioning from pro wrestling to acting. He’s just an incredible person and I don’t have one negative thing to say about him.”

What’s Next For MJF?

MJF recently confirmed that he has not signed a new deal with AEW. He also believes that WWE wouldn’t put him in a corner, or prohibit his creativity. The Bidding War of 2024 could still be on, and someone like John Cena may be able to help grease the wheels in a big way.

Although original plans for MJF in “The Iron Claw” were initially cut, that film still gave him a great platform. He is also listed as an Executive Producer on the film, thanks to the contributions he made.

Without “The Iron Claw” film, fans wouldn’t have seen that meeting between MJF and John Cena. It’s anyone’s guess if that meeting will just be the first of many down the line. 

Welcome to Weekly Primer, our early-in-the-week feature that lays out what’s on tap for the week ahead in the world of professional wrestling. Get caught-up on what’s trending and what to expect from the world’s top wrestling promotions.

Here are some of the top stories in wrestling we’re tracking as we start the week:

WWE/AEW Television Contract Maneuvering 

The biggest story right now in wrestling behind the scenes continues to be the future for WWE Monday Night Raw and AEW’s portfolio of shows. 

Last week, word came out that WWE has reportedly had some talks with Warner Bros. Discovery about moving Raw to TNT or TBS, the current home of AEW. Nobody is to be sure how much interest WBD has in paying out for WWE content, or the kind of ramifications this would have on AEW. From all indications, WBD has been very happy with AEW’s performance on the networks (typically finishing in the top five on cable television). 

Nobody outside of a handful of executives likely knows just how serious the WWE/WBD discussions really are. That being said, the latest episode of Top Rope Nation covered what is known right now, and you can view that show at this link over on the SEScoops YouTube channel. 

AEW Continental Classic Continues To Dominate

AEW’s Continental Classic continues to be the highlight of television for Tony Khan’s promotion. Last week’s Dynamite and Collision episodes were must-see television for anyone who likes good pro wrestling, and that should continue with this week’s shows with another great slate of tournament matches (full list on the weekly schedule below).

We are getting down to the closing rounds of the tournament, with the semi-finals scheduled to take place next week before the finals occur at the Worlds End PPV event on December 30. 

AJ Styles Is Back

AJ Styles made his anticipated return to WWE on last Friday’s edition of SmackDown, and he has Roman Reigns in his sights. Styles saved Randy Orton and LA Knight from The Bloodline, then took out Knight himself and walked off, seemingly turning heel in the process.

This week on SmackDown, Styles will take on Solo Sikoa, but both Orton and Knight seem to be in the mix for a title shot at Reigns. Will we have a multi-man match against Reigns at the Royal Rumble in January, or will one of these match rise above the rest? We should find out soon. 

CM Punk’s First WWE Match Looms

CM Punk will finally step between the ropes in a match for WWE again very soon. Punk has been announced for two matches now, both against Dominik Mysterio. 

Punk will wrestle Mysterio at the WWE live event at Madison Square Garden next week, on December 26. He’ll follow that up with another match against Mysterio on December 30 in Los Angeles at another non-televised live event. 

SEScoops Live Shows This Week

The SEScoops Podcast, hosted by SEScoops Managing Editor Zack Heydorn and Tyler Sage, airs live Tuesday night on YouTube. Join the show live or catch it via your favorite podcasting platform afterward.

Top Rope Nation, hosted by SEScoops Site Manager Ryan Droste, Justin Joynt, and Jesse Velasquez airs most weeks on Thursday night at 9:30 pm Eastern on YouTube. This week’s show will be a Patreon special bonus show on Tuesday night. 

Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google News to stay up to date.

Monday Primer for December 11 – December 16

Monday (December 18)

WWE Raw: WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) defend against The Creed Brothers. WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Chelsea Green and Piper Niven defend against Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. WWE International Championship Match: Gunther defends against The Miz (if Miz loses, he will not be able to challenge for the title as long as Gunther is champion). Seth Rollins will address Drew McIntyre

Tuesday (December 19)

NXT: Fallon Henley vs. Tiffany Stratton. Men’s Breakout Tournament: Lexis King vs. Dion Lennox. Izzi Dame & Kiana James vs. Jacy Jayne & Thea Hail. NXT North American Championship: Dragon Lee vs. Charlie Dempsey and Joe Coffey. Men’s Breakout Tournament: Tavion Heights vs. Luca Crusifino. Nikkita Lyons vs. Tatum Paxley. Gallus (Wolfgang & Mark Coffey) vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger. Ridge Holland vs. Ilja Dragunov.

The SEScoops Podcast airs live on the SEScoops YouTube channel at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Top Rope Nation airs at a special time this week as it is their monthly Patreon ‘Classics’ bonus show. This month’s, they will review World Class Championship Wrestling Christmas Star Wars 1982 on their Patreon channel. They’ll return to the SEScoops YouTube channel next week. 

Wednesday (December 20)

AEW Dynamite (Holiday Bash): Jon Moxley vs. Jay White (Continental Classic, Gold League). Swerve Strickland vs. Rush (Continental Classic, Gold League). Jay Lethal vs. Mark Briscoe (Continental Classic, Gold League). Roderick Strong vs. Komander. Saraya vs. Riho. Samoa Joe and MJF will speak.

Thursday (December 21)

Impact Wrestling: The Best of Impact Wrestling 2023, Part 1. 

MLW Fusion: Airs on the MLW YouTube Channel.

Friday (December 22)

WWE SmackDown: Santos Escobar vs. Bobby Lashley (US Title Shot Tournament). Dragon Lee vs. Butch. AJ Styles promo. Bianca Belair, Zelina Vegas, Michin vs. Damage CTRL. Kevin Owens vs. Carmelo Hays (US Title Shot Tournament). AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa. 

AEW Rampage: Nothing announced as of press time.

Saturday (December 23)

AEW Collision: Andrade El Idolo vs. Eddie Kingston (Continental Classic, Blue League). Brody King vs. Daniel Garcia (Continental Classic, Blue League). Claudio Castagnoli vs. Bryan Danielson (Continental Classic, Blue League). AEW World Trios Championship: The Acclaimed defend against Top Flight and Action Andretti. Julia Hart and Skye Blue vs. Abadon and Thunder Rosa. 

Samoa Joe is gearing up for AEW Worlds End pay-per-view where he will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship. Ahead of AEW’s final pay-per-view, he has shed light on his inspiration which has helped him polish his mic skills for almost two decades.

‘The Samoan Submission Machine’ remains to be one of the most feared opponents in the pro wrestling industry. For a man of his size, the in-ring athleticism is remarkable and it has kept him the standout wrestler for years. 18 years have passed since Joe made a breakthrough as a pro wrestler and he has top promotions in his resume including TNA/Impact, NXT, WWE, ROH, and AEW. 

Not only his in-ring ability, but his promo skills are unparalleled. He has revealed that the inspiration for scathing promos comes from movies. 

Samoe Joe talks about his inspiration

In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, the two-time AEW TNT Champion revealed that he’s been enjoying the matches from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) from Mexico: 

“It’s great action, and they obviously have a lot of guys who are tremendously skilled,” he said. 

However, he has drawn inspiration for big talk from action movies.

“Most of my inspiration comes from outside the (wrestling) industry,” Joe said. “I watch a lot of drama, a lot of big action films, with great speakers plying their trade. I’ll see something that inspires me, recycle it, change it and make it my own.”

Samoa Joe believes he can defeat MJF at AEW Worlds End

Joe is gearing up for his shot at MJF’s World title and wants the champ to be at his best. Thereby, the veteran star is trying to protect him and even teamed up with him in the past. During the same interview, Joe said that MJF presents challenges for him and he’ll be merciless at Worlds End. He said:

“MJF presents some unique challenges for me. He’s got an abrasive tongue and wit. He’s duplicitous when he needs to be. But I plan to take a healthy MJF and beat him in due course. I’ll pummel him unmercifully when the time comes at Worlds End.”

We will have to wait and see if Samoe Joe manages to live up to his words at AEW Worlds End which takes place on Saturday, December 30 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York.