Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Sunday, March 17. This was quite a 24-hour period for pro wrestling news. So, let’s not waste any more time and get right into things!

Days until WrestleMania 40: 20

Before we get started, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This is a special time for a lot of people, so please be safe and have a ton of fun today!

WWE

The Rock caused a bit of a stir backstage when his profanity got a little wild. WWE recently sent out a memo to remind talent that they need to tone the language down online. This edict obviously didn’t apply to The Rock.

– SEScoops just dropped an interview with Zelina Vega, where she discusses her WrestleMania dream matches. It’s a good read, and you may check that out here.

– The Rock’s segment on SmackDown this week went way over time, but that didn’t shock anyone backstage considering who we’re talking about here.

– It was also reported that one match on SmackDown was cut big time to save minutes after The Rock went long.

– Apparently, Seth Rollins had no clue that NSFW photo of himself and Becky Lynch would be in her new book.

– Speaking of Becky Lynch, The Man is going to The White House for St. Patrick’s Day.

– Ja Morant had a reply to The Rock dragging him on SmackDown for that gun controversy. Obviously, he didn’t see that shot coming, no pun intended.

AEW:

– AEW was able to snag Will Ospreay, but there are some WWE Superstars who are unhappy that Triple H let him go to Tony Khan. They have their reasons to be a bit disappointed as well.

– The Infantry advanced to the next round in the AEW tag team championship tournament on Collision.

– Adam Copeland pulled a very dangerous weapon out during AEW Collision, he called it “Spike.” He intends to use that as Copeland vs Christian Cage is set to go down on the 3/20 episode of Dynamite.

'Rated R Superstar' Adam Copeland introduces the world to 'Spike'.

Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@RatedRCope pic.twitter.com/uwNrI9DNUX

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 17, 2024

– Parker Boudreaux made his big debut at a AAA event on March 16th by launching an assault on Octagon Jr. and Mecha Wolf. The attack was eventually stopped by El Mesías. This marks Parker’s first time in a ring on television since 3/3/23.

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C4mhG_BtuXZ

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

Cody Rhodes is a man of the people, and that sometimes calls for him to answer strange requests from fans. He recently demonstrated this fact in a big way.

It seems that one fan really wanted Rhea Ripley’s gum as a souvenir. Thankfully, they asked Cody Rhodes for that little keepsake, and the American Nightmare obliged.

Cody Rhodes Fulfills Fan’s Strange Request

This week’s Friday Night SmackDown was live from Memphis, Tennessee. During the show, they laid important groundwork for WrestleMania 40. However, one peculiar incident involving Cody Rhodes and a fan went down after the show.

Following the conclusion of WWE SmackDown this week, two dark matches took place, with Rhea Ripley and Cody Rhodes participating separately.

This is what opened the door for a fan who shared videos and a photo on Twitter, revealing that he requested Cody Rhodes retrieve the piece of gum Rhea Ripley threw into the ring. Rhodes obliged and handed him the chewed-out gum.

The fan posted, “I’m gonna be judged hard for this but oh well . Last night @RheaRipley_WWE spat her gum out & it landed in the ring. Then later on @CodyRhodes was making his way around ringside for pics/autographs. I asked him if I could have Rhea’s gum & yep… (No I did not chew it).”

I'm gonna be judged hard for this but oh well ?. Last night @RheaRipley_WWE spat her gum out & it landed in the ring. Then later on @CodyRhodes was making his way around ringside for pics/autographs. I asked him if I could have Rhea's gum & yep… ??? (No I did not chew it) pic.twitter.com/psWHT9vFfk

— Bubba (@_big_bad_bubba_) March 16, 2024

Cody’s Road to WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes is well aware of the fact that he is a massive babyface on the road to WrestleMania 40. He will team up with Seth Rollins to take on The Rock and Roman Reigns during the first night of WrestleMania 40. Then, on night two he will battle Roman Reigns with the WWE Undisputed Universal Title on the line.

The Rock originally had a much different plan for Mania. Cody was going to sit out, thanks to a kayfabed injury, and the Great One vs Roman Reigns was going to headline the show of shows. That was not the plan, and you can check out all the drama around that change here.

Fans have flocked to Rhodes, and those fans earned the nickname of Cody Crybabies from The Rock. Only time will tell if The Great One accepts Cody’s one-on-one challenge, but the Grandson of a Plumber will keep doing everything he can for fans in the meantime.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more from all around the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back for more updates as additional information is made known on the road to WrestleMania. 

The Rock gets to do a lot of things that normal WWE Superstars aren’t allowed to do. This includes going over time, and he certainly took full advantage of his position this week on SmackDown.

We previously reported that The Rock’s musical promo ran over time this week on the March 15th episode of SmackDown. Now, we know one match that was cut down from two segments to just 11 minutes, which is a good indication that this is where WWE trimmed the show for The Rock’s overrun. Angel Garza and Humberto’s match was initially slated for two segments, but it ultimately lasted for a total of 11 minutes, including both their entrances and the post-match segment.

WWE Made Edit to Match

The Rock had quite a time on SmackDown this week. His freedom is evident, and as a member of the TKO board of directors, there isn’t much that is off limits. He obviously doesn’t have to wrap things up when they tell him he’s run out of time.

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo’s match was actually slated to go longer, but that wasn’t what happened when the show went live.

Angel Garza & Humberto’s match was scheduled for two segments. It ended up getting 11 minutes with entrances and post match.

The Rock’s Latest Controversy

I exclusively reported that a recent memo emphasized the need for talent to follow PG guidelines on TV and social media. Despite this, The Rock’s use of profanity, like in a recent promo, raised questions among talent about double standards. They wondered why he was allowed to curse while others weren’t.

I learned that The Rock’s viral promos, where he frequently curses, including opening his recent social media promo with “are you f*cking kidding me?” about Cody, has made some talent raise questions. There’s a sense of a double standard at play, especially considering it’s Dwayne Johnson we’re discussing.

It appears that The Rock has the freedom to use profanity liberally on social media, while the rest of the roster is expected to adhere to PG guidelines. Additionally, there’s questioning among talent about why The Rock receives special treatment.

The sentiment among some is that, “even if he is the big movie star, shouldn’t everyone play by the same rules? So he can curse and use that to get over, but everyone else is handcuffed?”

SEScoops will keep a close eye on this story for additional updates. You never know what will break next, especially on the road to WrestleMania 40.

Becky Lynch has done a lot in WWE, and so has her husband, Seth Rollins. It seems that when they were champions at the same time, the WWE power couple took a photo in the buff, with only their titles covering them. It was a big shock when that photo ended up in The Man’s new book.

A photo of Rollins and Lynch clad only in their titles is in her new book. It turns out that Seth Rollins had no clue that photo was going to see the light of day.

The Infamous Photo

Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins are both important figures in WWE history, each having achieved multiple world title reigns. Recently, there has been a surprising revelation concerning Lynch’s upcoming book, “Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Girl.” During a period of time when the couple was covered in gold, they took full advantage of that opportunity and snapped a winner of a photo.

HELLO to this pic of becky and seth in her book?!? ? pic.twitter.com/1X6kNSQhGF

— #1 becky/bianca fan (@milfbeckylynch) March 11, 2024

Scheduled for release on March 26th, Lynch’s book has garnered attention ahead of its launch due to leaked pages circulating online. One particular page features a NSFW photo of Lynch and Rollins, both rocking only their WWE Championships. The photo was captured after WrestleMania 35 when their relationship started.

In an interview with The New York Post, Lynch disclosed that Rollins was taken aback by the inclusion of the NSFW photo in the book, as she had neglected to inform him beforehand.

“I could have sworn that I told him. Turns out, I must have had the conversation with myself and thought that I had it with him. Apparently I didn’t ask him about putting the picture in the book. But he just laughed, he thought it was funny. Thank God. That could have gone horribly wrong.”

Becky Lynch’s New Book

Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl is available on Amazon for pre-order now. You can pick up your copy by clicking on this link.

We will have to see how many copies of her book Becky Lynch sells. The fact that this photo made the book is a very good indication that some people will buy it just to have a memento like that around.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. Please keep checking back for more updates.

WWE has a solid plan whenever they enter into a live television broadcast. It turns out that one segment wasn’t on the run sheet for some reason.

LA Knight came out to cut a promo on AJ Styles this week on SmackDown. That all ended with a WrestleMania challenge. It turns out that Knight’s segment was a surprise for some.

LA Knight’s Situation on SmackDown

Kayla Braxton introduced LA Knight, and the Memphis fans popped for him big time. He had a lot to say about AJ Styles costing him the Elimination Chamber match.

In the end, Knight laid down a WrestleMania challenge, and Styles was quick to accept it. The Phenomenal One did this by attacking his future opponent with a steel chair.

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that it seem LA Knight’s segment wasn’t even on the rundown in the first place. This left some very surprised that he showed up, because it was not in the early spoilers for the show.

LA Knight’s interview wasn’t listed on internal rundowns.

LA Knight’s Road to WrestleMania 40

LA Knight gained popularity among fans during the Elimination Chamber, despite not emerging victorious. However, his hopes were dashed when AJ Styles blindsided him during the match, making his victory prospects slim. This week on SmackDown, LA Knight addressed the incident, leading to a WrestleMania 40 challenge.

After traveling to Australia for the Elimination Chamber event, LA Knight was a favorite to win the match and secure a World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth Rollins. Suddenly, without any notice, AJ Styles jumped in the ring and took out LA Knight.

Styles wasn’t even booked for Elimination Chamber, so he was brought around the planet just to disrupt Knight’s plan and set up their WrestleMania 40 encounter.

We will have to see how WWE books the rest of WrestleMania 40. At this point, the show of shows if coming together. You can check out the updated card (so far) below.

WrestleMania 40 Card:

• Night 1: The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
• Night 2: Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
• Night 2: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
• Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton – Triple threat match for WWE United Stated Title
• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
• Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) vs. Four teams TBD in a Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
• AJ Styles vs. LA Knight in a Singles match
• Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso in a Singles match

The Rock took over SmackDown this week with a twenty-minute concert/promo. That being said, the company didn’t initially have that much time blocked off for him.

It is now reported that The Rock’s concert on the March 15th episode of WWE SmackDown actually ran long. That being said, this also wasn’t a huge surprise.

The Rock Runs Over Time

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that The Rock’s segment on SmackDown this week went way over time. Then again, this didn’t really surprise anyone, because we’re talking about Dwayne Johnson.

It was reported that, although The Rock’s musical segment went long, it was honestly expected to go longer than planned.

The Rock’s concert was only scheduled for one segment, but those backstage told us “of course” they knew it would go longer.

Triple H was also wise to book The Rock’s segment as the first in the two-hour show. This gave him a lot more room to be creative when it came to trimming the rest of the show to make room for The Great One.

Double Standard With The Rock

I exclusively reported that a recent memo from Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, and Dan Ventrille emphasized the importance of following PG guidelines on both television and social media platforms.

Despite this directive, The Rock has been observed using profanity, including opening a recent social media promo with “are you fucking kidding me?” in reference to Cody. This has led some talent to question why The Rock appears to receive special treatment, allowing him to curse while others are expected to strictly adhere to the guidelines.

There’s a sentiment among some talent that if The Rock, despite his status as a big movie star, can use profanity to connect with the audience, then everyone should have the same freedom to do so.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available. For additional headlines and stories, please keep checking back with us throughout the day!

The Rock is back in WWE, and having a great time as a heel. It also seems that the rules don’t apply to him.

I can exclusively report that a recent memo emphasized the need for talent to follow PG guidelines on TV and social media. Despite this, The Rock’s use of profanity, like in a recent promo, has raised questions among talent about double standards. They wonder why he’s allowed to curse while others aren’t.

A message from The People’s Champ @wwe @tkogrp pic.twitter.com/s2yy6gYTTz

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 1, 2024

WWE’s PG Memo (Exclusive)

I am told that Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, Dan Ventrelle sent out a memo “the other week” about how talent needs to adhere to PG guidelines on TV and also on social media. The Rock, like most things in his life at this point, is getting a bit of special treatment.

WWE is under the TKO banner, and a publicly traded company. They also need to adhere to TV-PG guidelines. That being said, there seems to be an exception that is getting under some talent’s skin.

The Rock Getting A Pass (Exclusive)

I was told that The Rock’s viral promos, where he keeps cursing, including opening up his social media promo this week with “are you f*cking kidding me?” about Cody, has rubbed some people the wrong way. There seems to be a feeling that we are seeing a double standard, because we’re talking about Dwayne Johnson here.

A message from the hottest heel pro wrestling has seen since the 80’s.

Mama Rhodes, you’re now in the Rock’s crosshairs.

Your son’s blood will be on the Rock’s belt, that I will personally deliver to you at WrestleMania.

I’m gonna put a whuppin’ on that boy, in front of his… pic.twitter.com/DdgaxYrLXa

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 15, 2024

It seems that The Rock is able to get away with dropping every flowery profanity he wants to on social media, while the rest of the roster are wearing PG handcuffs. I was additionally told that talent are asking why The Rock is getting a pass.

I was told that the thinking is that “even if he is the big movie star, shouldn’t everyone play by the same rules? So he can curse and use that to get over, but everyone else is handcuffed?”

WWE higher-ups sent out a memo a few weeks ago to talent, reminding them that they need to stick to PG language, even on social media.

Then The Rock gets to drop as many F bombs as he wants to online, even on live television. Now, there is a problem.

I am told that a lot of…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 16, 2024

The Rock Internal Pull In WWE & Beyond

The Rock will wrestle alongside Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 in a tag team match, but that was not the match he wanted. He wanted a singles match against Roman, but now he will face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in tag team action. Dwayne Johnson’s original plan had to shift, and I exclusively covered that story as it unfolded.

Lia Maivia, the grandmother of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next month. While WWE has yet to announce the news, this would make Maivia the final inductee in the Class of 2024, and The Rock had a huge hand in making that happen.

Dwayne Johnson is also on the TKO board of directors. This is something that a lot of people have brought into his storyline, and it might be more of a shoot than some fans realize. He is obviously afforded certain privileges, but he also isn’t back for the long-term at all.

The Rock will remain on the TKO board of directors. His seat also came with $30 million in company stock, and a WrestleMania match. He may come back for another match, but he will have to work it into his Hollywood schedule.

The Rock’s next movie, The Smashing Machine, will start shooting on May 1st. That doesn’t give him a lot of time after WrestleMania to get prepared fro his next project. SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as additional information is made available. 

TNA Wrestling is going through a few changes, and we have extensively covered that transition. It also called for Scott D’Amore’s removal from the picture, and now it appears that another longtime member of the locker room may also be gone.

Bully Ray was recently removed from the TNA Wrestling roster page. This alteration was noticed by fans. At this time, we have received no official announcement from the company.

TNA Removes Bully Ray

Bully Ray’s absence from the TNA roster page has sparked intrigue among wrestling fans. Then again, he hasn’t been seen around the company since before they transitioned from Impact Wrestling to TNA Wrestling.

His last recorded match with Impact Wrestling took place on October 22, 2023, where he teamed up with Jordynne Grace to defeat KiLynn King and Steve Maclin. This event occurred during Impact Wrestling #1008, held at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois, USA.

Bully ray has been removed from the TNA roster page

Before After pic.twitter.com/zysqIeElT3

— ??yellowbone?? (@The_yellowbone) March 16, 2024

What’s Next For Bully Ray

The removal of Bully Ray from the roster list signifies a potential departure from TNA Wrestling. Despite this change, fans can still catch him on Busted Open Radio, where he continues to engage with the wrestling community and share his insights.

We will have to see what Bully Ray does next. He still has a ton to offer the pro wrestling world. We can only imagine what the future holds, but it appears that his time with TNA Wrestling has come to an end.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, just in case there are any updates. Please keep checking back for the headlines and stories that you need.

WWE Superstars are able to perform incredible feats in the ring, but you only get one take for live television. This week’s SmackDown saw Austin Theory’s timing off a bit, and fans let him have it.

The March 15th episode of SmackDown got fans talking for many reasons. During WWE Smackdown on March 15th, 2024, Kevin Owens delivered a stunner to Austin Theory, who then received an RKO in mid-air. The spot received criticism online for its timing issues, and Austin Theory had to chime in.

https://twitter.com/MrBurnerCFB/status/1768807632427507769

Theory Explains Himself

Austin Theory understands the business, and he also knows how to use social media. He explained this botch after his appearance on SmackDown this week, as he said he was dizzy.

It seems that Austin Theory thought he could jump over Owens and Orton to avoid any further damage, but he was wrong. An RKO came outta nowhere for Theory, and he took both finishers. So, he wasn’t late on selling the stunner at all, apparently.

Theory explained this in a video on social media, one that he shared on social media along with #SmackDown. Obviously, he realized that fans were dunking on his timing a bit, so he had to explain himself.

#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/PeHRINGv80

— Austin Theory (@_Theory1) March 16, 2024

Austin Theory’s Place in WWE

Austin Theory doesn’t have a match at WrestleMania 40 just yet, but only time will tell where he ends up on the card. He’s stepping up in a big way, proving himself to be a real asset to Triple H, and that’s exactly why he has the spot he does in WWE.

Theory was also groomed for greatness as one of EVOLVE’s biggest talents years ago. He ended up in NXT, where he had a couple stints, but now he is one of the most hated heels on the WWE main roster, exactly where he should be. Hopefully, fans will let that hesitation on selling the stunner pass, because Austin Theory has plenty of memories to make in the future.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, just in case there are any updates on this story. Keep checking back for more of the headlines that you need.

CM Punk is out of action with a triceps injury that he sustained during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. Even though he’s out of action, Drew McIntyre is keeping things going in a big way, and he’s not letting go of his disdain for the Second City Savior.

Drew McIntyre recently made it clear that he wants a match against CM Punk. He’s just worried that Punk is made of glass, and he’ll break again before the match can happen.

McIntyre Speaks on Punk

Drew McIntyre’s journey in WWE since his debut on Raw has been marked by remarkable consistency and impressive performances. Despite facing initial setbacks, such as his loss to Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, McIntyre has since rebounded with determination and resilience.

In the Men’s Royal Rumble match, McIntyre showcased his endurance and skill, making it to the Top 3 contenders. However, a clash with CM Punk resulted in McIntyre’s elimination, albeit with a consequential injury to Punk. As Punk focuses on his recovery, McIntyre has continued to fuel their rivalry, hinting at future storylines and expressing his eagerness for a showdown at SummerSlam.

In a recent interview with the Gorilla Position, McIntyre emphasized his desire for the match while also expressing concern for Punk’s well-being, given his injury-prone history. Reflecting on their past encounter at the Royal Rumble, McIntyre highlighted his dominance in the ring, underscoring his physical prowess and the impact of his performance on Punk.

“Yeah, I just hope he’s careful. Just worried he’s going to injure something else during rehab. Man’s made of glass. I want that match. I really want that match.“

“I’m just concerned for him, especially wrestling someone like me. I’m a freaking monster in there…I got my hands on him. You saw what I did to him at ‘Rumble. I tore him to pieces. I chopped him to bits…[CM] Punk was black and blue. I ended up hurting him in there.”

Drew McIntyre’s Road to WrestleMania and Beyond

As McIntyre prepares for his upcoming title challenge against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania, he isn’t losing focus of Punk. The Scottish Warrior’s current contract situation is also interesting.

McIntyre has not re-signed with WWE. The last report we heard said that is being advertised well past his contract expiration date, but a new deal hasn’t been signed.

With the potential for the World Heavyweight Championship to be involved in McIntyre’s future stories, things are even more interesting. This is especially true if CM Punk may be in McIntyre’s future. After all, CM Punk vs Seth Rollins was the plan for WrestleMania before Punk’s injury got in the way. 

WWE is on fire right now when it comes to their live attendance. The road to WrestleMania usually generates added interest, but this year certainly feels special. Triple H is close to raking up a nice achievement in the process.

The upcoming WWE Monday Night RAW event scheduled for March 18, 2024, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC, currently has 947 tickets available out of a total setup of 12,770 seats, with 11,823 tickets already distributed. With just five days until the show and considering the strong ticket sales trend, this event has the potential to mark the 9th consecutive TV sellout if the streak continues.

WWE’s Big Business 

WWE’s touring business is thriving, showing no signs of slowing down as it approaches a significant milestone. Over the past eighteen months WWE has seen notable improvements across various aspects, including morale, booking, live attendance, and other key metrics.

In recent weeks, WWE has experienced a remarkable consecutive sellout streak and appears poised to reach a new achievement. Monday’s episode of Raw on March 18 marks the potential ninth consecutive sellout, with only 947 tickets remaining to be sold following the sale of 11,823 tickets at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC, as reported by WrestleTix on their Patreon.

If this show achieves a sellout, WWE will then go for the tenth consecutive TV sellout with SmackDown next Friday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI. The event is nearing a sellout already, with the latest update two days ago indicating only 90 tickets were available after selling 10,718 tickets.

What’s Next For WWE

The boost in WWE’s popularity does coincide with Triple H assuming control of main roster creative from Vince McMahon after the 2022 summer hush money scandal. Mr. McMahon did return, and there was a period where he made remote changes, but he is now totally out of the picture.

Only time will tell if WWE sees their business slow down. With WrestleMania 40 coming up in a matter of weeks, odds are that won’t happen any time soon.

SEScoops will have more on this story and so much more. Please keep checking back for constant updates for the stories you need.

AEW pulled Will Ospreay in after making a big deal to secure his services. It seems that WWE was also in the running to get him, but AEW simply tried a lot harder, and now he is All Elite. This move might not have left a ton of happiness within in WWE.

Triple H is believed to have not realized Will Ospreay’s potential, and he didn’t lock him down with a contract. According to Dave Meltzer, there are some unhappy WWE Superstars due to the fact that The Game let Ospreay go to AEW.

The Set-Up For Controversy

Now that Will Ospreay has begun to gain attention in AEW shortly after officially joining the promotion, there is a prevailing sentiment that WWE overlooked an opportunity in not signing him when they expressed interest.

There are apparently individuals within WWE who believe that Triple H presented Ospreay with a less-than-ideal contract offer during their negotiations prior to Ospreay’s decision to sign with All Elite Wrestling last November. We previously reported that there are those who believe that he didn’t appreciate Ospreay’s abilities.

During a discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer highlighted the perspective held by some within WWE that Ospreay could have been comparable to a younger version of AJ Styles when Styles initially joined the company in 2016. Consequently, there were feelings of disappointment among certain individuals within WWE regarding their failure to secure Ospreay’s services, given the high regard in which they held him.

Meltzer further elaborated on the perception of Ospreay within WWE, suggesting that while some saw him as potentially akin to AJ Styles in terms of talent upon his arrival, there was recognition that Ospreay possessed distinct attributes that set him apart, including a notably stronger charisma.

“AJ when he first came in there, and still now he’s a super talented guy, but the thing with Ospreay, it’s I know people in that company who are very, very high on him, and that were very upset. I don’t say very upset, but upset surely they didn’t get him because they knew he was this good. And they just thought that he’s a guy who can be like a real major player here.”

AEW’s Money Situation

WWE also didn’t jump on getting Mercedes Mone when they were in talks with her. The company did offer her a substantial contract, but it wasn’t enough to beat out Tony Khan.

Tony Khan’s substantial wealth isn’t solely derived from his role as a wrestling promoter. In addition to overseeing a wrestling promotion, he juggles various other endeavors, like his ownership of the Fulham Football Club in London and the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s worth noting that Tony’s father, Shahid Khan, boasts a net worth of 12.2 billion USD.

AEW has a lot of money, because TK has incredibly deep pockets. Only time will tell when he hits his salary cap, or if that day will ever come for the Land of All Elite. Either way, Will Ospreay is now a heel in AEW, and he’s getting some great exposure with a new audience who may not have followed him for years as others have who know him from NJPW.

SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of this story, and so much more. Keep checking back for the latest updates and headlines that you need.

There are a lot of plans in place for NJPW, but they can’t predict everything. Sadly, David Finlay is unable to wrestle as planned, and the company was forced to figure things out.

NJPW announced today that David Finlay will not compete tonight in Nagoya due to illness. He is currently undergoing evaluation at a local hospital. Hirooki Goto will advance to the semifinals via forfeit.

David Finlay is Out

In a recent announcement by NJPW, it was revealed that David Finlay would be absent from the event in Nagoya due to an unexpected illness. This was a bit of a surprise, because fans were expecting to see him.

With Finlay unable to compete, NJPW announced that Hirooki Goto would advance to the semifinals of the tournament by default. While Goto’s advancement was a result of Finlay’s unfortunate circumstance, it provided him with an opportunity to progress in the tournament that he didn’t pass up.

BREAKING

David Finlay will not compete tonight in Nagoya due to illness. He is currently undergoing evaluation at a local hospital. Hirooki Goto will advance to the semifinals via forfeit.

LIVE, English: https://t.co/qjGRy4IgTM#njpw #njcup

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) March 16, 2024

Who is David Finlay

With a rich wrestling lineage as a fourth-generation wrestler, David debuted in NJPW during the 2015 Best of the Super Jr. tournament. He then joined the New Japan Dojo. His road in NJPW included a tag team run with Juice Robinson, but now he is on his own.

After assuming leadership of Bullet Club, Finlay declared that the group was now exclusively for ‘savages,’ as he kicked out El Phantasmo and recruited Clark Connors. He then challenged for the NEVER Openweight Championship, winning over Tama Tonga in a brutal encounter.

Although Finlay lost the title to Tama later that October, he made a significant impact at Power Struggle in Osaka by attacking Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley after their US(UK) Heavyweight Championship match, destroying both belts.

In the aftermath, a new IWGP Global Championship was established, and Finlay claimed the inaugural title at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Now, he is still going strong in NJPW, despite his recent health setback.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. You never know what will happen next, but we can’t wait to bring you all the headlines you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q-Ar6_mKIw

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Saturday, March 16. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, including Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut at Big Business.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 21

First off, it’s 3:16 day, so celebrate by giving someone the Stunner, flipping them the bird, and downing a Steveweiser. Oh, HELL YEAH!

WWE:

– Candice LeRae dissing Maxxine Dupri’s dead brother wasn’t just received poorly by fans. I was told that this was not received well by anyone backstage. Here’s hoping it didn’t do too much damage to anyone involved.

I was also told that "it wasn't received well by anyone." So, to clarify, IDK who TF actually thought it was a good idea to put that creative idea on television this week. https://t.co/Iitr2BOI1T

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 15, 2024

– The report about CM Punk and Booker T having a tiff backstage at NXT was not accurate. Booker T was just being himself and hyping things up, but there was nothing there. So, bets are still on if you have money on how long it will be until CM Punk starts a controversy in WWE this time around.

– Rey Mysterio returned during SmackDown this week. He got right back to business, as he challenged Santos Escobar to a match on the blue brand’s show next week.

– The Rock’s next movie starts shooting in May. Take that for what it’s worth, but it may give us a clue about his availability after WrestleMania 40.

– The Rock also had an epic musical segment on SmackDown in Memphis this week.

– WWE made a ton of additions to the WrestleMania 40 card during SmackDown this week. You may check out the updated card below.

WrestleMania 40 Card:

• Night 1: The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
• Night 2: Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
• Night 2: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
• Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton – Triple threat match for WWE United Stated Title
• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
• Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) vs. Four teams TBD in a Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
• AJ Styles vs. LA Knight in a Singles match
• Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso in a Singles match

AEW:

– Some people within the company were pretty upset about Mercedes Mone saying that she will go back to WWE eventually. She’s just getting started in AEW, but to be fair, she said that before her “unannounced” debut for the company.

– Darby Allin won’t be climbing Mount Everest after all, because he broke his foot. He was still going to climb the dangerous mountain after cutting his back to ribbons at AEW Revolution.

– AEW Collision will not air on March 23. They are being preempted by NCAA March Madness.

– Mercedes Mone said that she felt like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin during her AEW Dynamite debut at Big Business.

– Kyle O’Reilly would have been okay with retirement after his last injury.

AEW Collision Card for 3/16:

• AEW TBS Championship Open House Match: Julia Hart vs. Trish Adora
• Kyle O’Reilly vs. Bryan Keith
• Bryan Danielson vs. Katsuyori Shibata
• Komander vs. PAC
• AEW World Tag Team Tournament kicks off

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE SummerSlam is taking over Cleveland’s Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3rd.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Logan Paul is a fine WWE US Champion, and he’s a natural heel as well. He will defend his title at WrestleMania 40, but he’s not happy about the match.

During WWE SmackDown this week, LP had something to say to Nick Aldis. He dissed the SmackDown General Manager for not giving him a WrestleMania match. That changed this week as it was announced that Logan will defend his title against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton in a triple threat match.

WrestleMania 40 Set-Up

This week on SmackDown, Randy Orton and Grayson Waller threw down in singles action. Logan Paul was on commentary, and then things took a turn after the match.

Orton was getting ganged up on, and it looked like the Apex Predator was going to be the prey this week. Then Kevin Owens’ music hit. 

Logan Paul knew he was in trouble, and KO helped RKO out. The heels fled, and then Nick Aldis showed up to flex his GM muscle a bit. He booked a Mania triple threat for the US Title where Logan will defend against both Owens and Orton.

Needless to say, Logan Paul wasn’t happy about this. We will have to see if he is able to carry that title out of Philly. 

? TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE #USTITLE AT #WRESTLEMANIA! ?#SmackDown GM @RealNickAldis just announced that @LoganPaul will defend his US Title against @RandyOrton and @FightOwensFight on The Grandest Stage of Them All! ??#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/2ruXbYLRF2

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2024

WrestleMania 40 Card:

• Night 1: The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
• Night 2: Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
• Night 2: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
• Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton – Triple threat match for WWE United Stated Title
• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
• Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) vs. Four teams TBD in a Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
• AJ Styles vs. LA Knight in a Singles match
• Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso in a Singles match

We are 22 days away from WrestleMania 40, and things are coming together. Now, LA Knight has called his shot for the show of shows, and the challenge was accepted.

LA Knight was a fan favorite in the Elimination Chamber, but he didn’t win the match. AJ Styles jumped him and made it very difficult for him to win the match after assaulting him out of nowhere. This week on SmackDown, LA Knight finally had a chance to talk about it. This resulted in a WrestleMania 40 challenge.

LA Knight Calls His WrestleMania 40 Match

Kayla Braxton introduced LA Knight for an interview during SmackDown this week, and he had a lot to say. He was very over with the Memphis fans as everyone said his catchphrases with him.

Knight brought up how AJ Styles traveled all the way to Australia to screw him out of the Elimination Chamber match. This irritated Knight in a big way, and he carried on with his promo toward the Phenomenal One.

LA Knight said that AJ Styles made a comment about how he walks around like he owns the place. Knight made it clear that he may not do that, but he will own Styles’ ass at WrestleMania.

Suddenly, in the middle of Knight’s catchphrase, Styles attacked him with a steel chair. AJ Styles accepted his WrestleMania challenge after that.

IT'S GOING DOWN! YEAH! ?@RealLAKnight is tired of the talkin' and challenged @AJStylesOrg to a one-on-one match at #WrestleMania! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Zg2nYI3xrh

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2024

We will have to see how WWE books the rest of WrestleMania 40. At this point, the show of shows if coming together. You can check out the updated card (so far) below.

WrestleMania 40 Card:

• Night 1: The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
• Night 2: Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
• Night 2: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
• Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton – Triple threat match for WWE United Stated Title
• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
• Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) vs. Four teams TBD in a Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
• AJ Styles vs. LA Knight in a Singles match
• Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso in a Singles match

WWE fans have seen a lot more of The Rock since he returned for his WrestleMania 40 program. This week on the blue brand, Dwayne Johnson showed off his musical side.

The Rock dropped his heel persona in Memphis for SmackDown this week. He opened up the show, without The Bloodline, to sing a few songs on the road to WrestleMania 40.

https://twitter.com/Vick_8122/status/1768794831155794222

The Rock’s Musical Segment

The Rock started out by saying that he normally torches every city he’s in, but Memphis is different. That being said, he just couldn’t be mean to the fans, and they cheered him in a big way for it.

He dropped the heel gimmick, and he spoke about starting his career in Memphis. Then he said “Finally, The Rock has come … home.”

The Rock suggested that he sing a little song for the Memphis fans about what is going to happen to Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. That song included lyrics that said Rollins is a clown, and Rock may just beat his opponents with his fanny pack.

This song goes out to @CodyRhodes and @WWERollins courtesy of @TheRock! ??#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/9WloQroeop

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2024

He brought up Cody Rhodes’ mother in the lyrics as well, and he mentioned how Cody was born. The Rock claimed that the story is historically accurate. During the verse, Rock showed a photo of Stardust on the screen as he said that Dusty Rhodes knew his son was weird.

The Rock also threw some shade at Seth Rollins, because his wife, Becky Lynch, is more popular than he is. This was followed by a verse about the Cody Crybabies.

"Here's a little story about how @CodyRhodes was born…" @TheRock is being an absolute savage tonight! ???#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/0EYgTvhdH6

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2024

Then, Dwayne Johnson brought Cody Rhodes’ promo from RAW into thing, and he directed his attention on Cody’s mother. He promised to make Cody bleed at WrestleMania, and when he hands Cody’s mother his bloody weight belt, he will say, “What can I say, except you’re welcome,” as he sang his line from Moana.

Don't worry @WWERollins, @TheRock wrote a verse for you too!

???#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/mW81iJ4KWS

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2024

What’s Next On The Road to WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be on SmackDown this week to answer The Rock’s WrestleMania challenge. A tag team match with Rock and Roman Reigns versus Cody and Seth is in the pipeline, with night two ramifications in play.

If the Bloodline wins that Mania tag match on night one, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for Cody vs Roman in the main event of night two. If Cody and Seth win, then the Bloodline will be barred from the event.

SEScoops will have complete coverage of WWE SmackDown this week. Keep checking back for more updates.

AEW has a lot of people on their roster with incredible stories, but few are as dramatic as Katsuyori Shibata. He nearly died in 2017 from a brain injury after wrestling Kazuchika Okada. Shibata collapsed after that match and was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma. Now, he is gearing up for his return.

Although Shibata was signed to AEW, he hasn’t been around in recent memory. It seems that he had another hurdle to get over this time around. Now, he is gearing up for his return despite having visa issues.

TOMORROW, Sat 3/16
Ottawa, ON
Saturday Night #AEWCollision
TNT 8pm ET/7pm CT

An Impossible Dream@K_Shibata2022 vs @bryandanielson

Before his #AEWDynasty Dream Match vs @WillOspreay,
Bryan collides vs Shibata, who aims for payback vs BCC in his own personal Dream Match TOMORROW pic.twitter.com/49Js17QsCn

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 15, 2024

Shibata’s Recent Issues

In a new development, Fightful Select has reported that Katsuyori Shibata is slated to clash with Bryan Danielson in a high-stakes showdown set for AEW Collision. That being said, there was a tough road for Shibata at the end of 2023.

Sources close to the situation have revealed that Shibata faced an unexpected hurdle in November, compelling him to return to Japan due to pressing visa issues. This turn of events led to him relinquishing the ROH Pure Title to Wheeler YUTA. 

What’s Next For Shibata in AEW

Despite these setbacks, it was made clear that AEW President Tony Khan harbored substantial hope for Shibata’s future within the company. Additionally, insiders indicated that Shibata harbored contentment with his tenure in AEW.

Recent developments have seen Shibata’s visa woes resolved. This encouraged the powers-that-be in AEW to seize the opportunity and thrust him into a marquee matchup against Bryan Danielson on the next Collision episode.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back for more stories and updates that you need.

Psicosis entertained fans for a long time, giving himself in the process. Now, he is in a less than favorable situation. Thankfully, there are those in his life who care and want to help him out.

A new crowdfunding account has been opened on GoFundMe for Psicosis. It is said that he suffered a fall in mid-February, and he had surgery. Now, he needs fans to help him get back on his feet.

Psicosis’ Situation

Ruben Zamora from Masked Republic is reaching out to raise funds for his friend, the original Psicosis. He started a GoFundMe, which you may visit at this link. As of this writing, they have raised about $700 of a $20k goal. 

On Thursday, February 15th, 2024, Psicosis experienced a fall while working, the severity of which was initially unknown. It wasn’t until a few days later that fellow luchador Damian persuaded him to seek medical attention, a decision that would later prove critical.

Upon arriving at the hospital, scans revealed that Psicosis had suffered a broken hip, necessitating immediate surgery and a prolonged period of observation and recovery.

Following a successful surgery, Psicosis was discharged from the hospital but faces a lengthy recovery process. He is currently unable to sit up, move, or walk, and is confined to bed rest for several weeks due to severe pain, making it difficult for him to sleep.

Efforts to Help Psicosis

Zamora is spearheading this fundraising effort out of gratitude for Psicosis’ support and loyalty to Masked Republic. Throughout their friendship, Nicho has always been quick to assist Zamora whenever needed, whether it be for bookings, interviews, or promotional activities, never once asking for compensation in return.

These expenses for Psicosis include surgery costs, physical therapy, and future medical bills, as he will be unable to work for the foreseeable future.

Zamora also urged anyone able to contribute to do so, emphasizing that every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in supporting Psicosis during this challenging time.

We’re sending out our best to Psicosis, and we’re hoping that he is able to get back on his feet very soon. Keep checking back with us here at SEScoops for more on this story and so much more in the pro wrestling world.

The Rock is back in WWE, and he is a heel on the road to WrestleMania. He’s not afraid to throw anyone under the bus, and now Cody Rhodes’ own mother is taking shots from Dwayne Johnson.

Since he returned to WWE, The Rock has been on fire with his social media promos. After all, nobody is going to tell him to wrap it up on a social media video. He can go as long as he wants. This time around, he decided to pay special attention to Cody’s mother.

The Rock’s Latest Promo

The Rock’s latest social media promo targets Cody’s recent actions. Ahead of Friday’s WWE SmackDown, he addresses Cody’s slap from last Friday and his emotional moment on Monday’s WWE Raw.

While acknowledging Cody’s slap, The Rock expressed pride in Cody for his bold move, even smiling at the pain it caused. The whole time, he played with a weight belt, like the one Cody wears to the ring.

The Rock then referenced Cody’s tearful moment on Raw, where Cody spoke about giving the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to his mother after winning it.

In his promo, The Rock ridicules Cody’s display of emotion and threatens to use his weight belt to make Cody bleed. He also promised to hand the bloody weight belt to Cody’s mother after Cody’s defeat to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. It was quite a vivid picture as Dwayne Johnson kept painting in his heel master brush strokes.

The caption he picked really summed everything up as well, just in case you don’t have nine minutes to watch the whole thing.

A message from the hottest heel pro wrestling has seen since the 80’s. Mama Rhodes, you’re now in the Rock’s crosshairs. Your son’s blood will be on the Rock’s belt, that I will personally deliver to you at WrestleMania. I’m gonna put a whuppin’ on that boy, in front of his…

A message from the hottest heel pro wrestling has seen since the 80’s.

Mama Rhodes, you’re now in the Rock’s crosshairs.

Your son’s blood will be on the Rock’s belt, that I will personally deliver to you at WrestleMania.

I’m gonna put a whuppin’ on that boy, in front of his… pic.twitter.com/DdgaxYrLXa

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 15, 2024

Road to WrestleMania 40

The Rock and Roman Reigns will team up to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 during the first night of the show of shows. That big tag team match will be important, because if the heels win the match, then it will be Bloodline rules for the Undisputed Universal Title match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes during the second night.

Only time will tell if the Bloodline rules match becomes a bloody occasion. Cody Rhodes is not opposed to bleeding in a big match situation, as he’s worn a crimson mask many times in the past. It seems that The Rock has some bold WrestleMania plans for the American Nightmare.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as we approach WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back for more updates and the headlines you need!

AEW fans can’t wait to see what Tony Khan books for the company in the months and years to come. Collision gives the company a prime-time spot on Saturday night, but next week’s show will not air.

The March 23 episode of AEW Collision will be preempted. They are not airing the show next week due to the NCAA Match Madness coverage.

AEW Collision Preempted

The upcoming Men’s NCAA basketball tournament will prompt changes to AEW’s programming schedule next week, with Collision being notably absent.

The Wednesday, March 20th edition of AEW Dynamite, originating from Toronto, Canada, will be followed by a live Rampage episode on Friday due to NCAA coverage. Both shows are slated to air on TBS.

AEW’s official schedule confirmed reports indicate that there will be no Collision airing on Saturday, March 23rd due to the tournament schedule. Things appear to be back to normal for the March 30 episode.

AEW’s Current Canadian Tour

Beginning this Saturday, AEW embarks on a four-show Canadian tour, spanning Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City, and London, Ontario, over the following two weeks.

Collision’s absence marks a departure from their usual schedule, with the last preempted episode occurring last month during NBA All-Star Weekend. Previous preemptions occurred for Saturday pay-per-views like Full Gear in November and Worlds End in December.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more around the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back for more of the stories you need.

CM Punk is back in WWE, and he hasn’t been in any big controversial situations yet. Then again, he’s just getting started, and it seems that something happened with Booker T.

The Harlem Heat member is now on the NXT commentary team. CM Punk was also around NXT this week, although he wasn’t seen on television. He did appear in front of the live crowd. It was reported that Punk and Booker T had a little tiff backstage, and now we have more details.

What Happened with CM Punk and Booker T

CM Punk made a backstage appearance at this week’s NXT, and he adopted a more subdued approach compared to his previous visits to the developmental brand. Earlier in the week, Booker T recounted a story on his Hall Of Fame podcast, alleging a backstage confrontation between himself and Punk during the taping.

However, Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that sources within NXT expressed skepticism regarding Booker’s remarks. These sources were unaware of any confrontation before Booker’s podcast episode. One insider highlighted that Punk has had no backstage issues since his WWE return last year and found it surprising that Booker would make such a claim without providing additional context.

Additionally, security was not alerted to any altercation, nor was there any discussion of such an incident. One would think that security would be notified if there was an incident.

CM Punk’s Backstage Attitude This Time Around

Furthermore, it was reported that Punk has been cooperative and willing to assist whenever he’s backstage at NXT. He’s there to help and soak in the atmosphere, so Punk isn’t being a problem or confrontational.

During the taping, Punk reportedly maintained a positive demeanor and mostly kept to himself, engaging in conversations with Shawn Michaels, Matt Bloom, and a few NXT roster members. One talent flatly refuted the alleged incident, citing Booker’s past claims of friction between him and Corey Graves, which were later proven false.

We will have to see what happens with CM Punk next, but it seems that there was no issue with him and Booker T. It’s very possible that Booker was just creating content for himself, but there was no Jack Perry moment with the Second City Savior.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world, as more information is made known. Keep checking back for more updates on the headlines you need.

AEW is Swerve’s House, but that title also goes to any venue that currently holds his greatness. The top performer for Tony Khan’s company is versatile, and he is about to flex on a totally different stage.

Swerve Strickland is booked for the 2024 Rolling Loud music festival in Los Angeles. The Dates of the show are March 14 through 17, and Swerve is going to be doing his thing on one of the stages.

2024 Rolling Loud Los Angeles is Swerve’s House

Swerve Strickland is set to showcase his talents beyond the squared circle at the upcoming Rolling Loud music festival in Los Angeles. Scheduled to perform alongside DJ Five Venoms and Friends from March 14-17, 2024, Swerve will bring his unique flair to the Rolling Loud LA music festival.

The festival boasts a star-studded lineup, with performances by Nicki Minaj slated for Friday and Post Malone taking the stage on Saturday. Side note: Posty was also the WWE 2K24 music curator, and he’s a playable character in the new game.

Performing at @RollingLoud in LA@swerveconfident with @DjFiveVenoms pic.twitter.com/sRsyzdJ5j5

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 15, 2024

More on Swerve Strickland’s Music & AEW

Despite his musical endeavors, Swerve Strickland remains focused on his wrestling career, particularly his pursuit of the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. He hasn’t stopped the musical grind, as he still releases music.

Only time will tell if Prince Nana will join Swerve at Rolling Loud, but we can only hope that he will be there. After all, Nana and Swerve have become a regular highlight of AEW television.

Following his loss at AEW Revolution, where Hangman Adam Page submitted to Samoa Joe, Strickland reignited his feud with Samoa Joe. So, he’s not done with the AEW Title chase yet.

Samoa Joe, who is now fresh off a successful title defense against Wardlow at AEW Big Business on March 13, was confronted by Swerve Strickland. This set the stage for a potential showdown between the two down the line. It may have to wait until Rolling Loud is over with at this point.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. Please keep checking back for more updates on the stories you need.

In late 2022 and again in late 2023, Varnado engaged in negotiations with WWE. On both occasions, she sought a higher compensation than what WWE was offering, with reports indicating she aimed for compensation comparable to Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch’s paydays. Since they hit a financial roadblock, she moved on. It seems that she still thinks she will return to WWE.

Mercedes Mone recently said on an interview that a WWE return is certainly in her future. This was before her “surprise” AEW debut, even though she wasn’t “officially” announced everyone knew she was going to be at Big Business, but Mone still worked the interview and said a WWE return is in the cards. This apparenlty upset quite a few people, and for good reason.

Mone Causes Controversy

While the specifics of Tony Khan’s offer remain undisclosed, it was noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that individuals familiar with the proposal described it as substantial, evidently surpassing WWE’s offer but falling notably short of the rumored $5 million per year figure circulating.

That being said, a controversy arose surrounding a Mercedes Mone interview on the Kick Rocks podcast. Although the interview did not acknowledge her move to AEW, as the intention was to keep it a secretm she did say that she will be back in WWE someday.

Mone remarked on the podcast, “I know I’m gonna be back there one day. Like I said, I have a lot of unfinished business in a lot of places.”

It was noted by Dave Meltzer in the WON that “Boy did this one rub a lot of people the wrong way. Time will tell, and quite frankly she should always have it in her mind the possibility of going to WWE, but saying so days before she’s about to start in AEW wouldn’t be the right time politically to say that.”

The timing of Mone’s comments, just days before her AEW debut, raised eyebrows, as it was deemed politically inappropriate to express intentions of returning to WWE at that juncture. While maintaining the possibility of returning to WWE is prudent, making such remarks before commencing work at AEW was seen as ill-advised.

Mone is Making Money

We previously reported that an unnamed female WWE Superstar said that there were indications the offered amount could potentially elevate Mercedes Mone to the status of the highest-paid female wrestler in the industry. They were also very happy with AEW’s offer and Varnado’s decision to accept it, as it was emphasized that there will be positive implications for top female talent in the wrestling market.

Mercedes Mone is making a ton in AEW, and she will probably be featured promimently on Tony Khan’s television shows for a long time to come. He needs to make his money back on the CEO, but she will also remain true to herself the entire time, so you never know what she’ll say on a live microphone.

SEScoops will have more on Mercedes Mone in AEW, and so much more. We will keep our eye on all of the news to continue providing you with the headlines and stories you need.

Mercedes Mone is now All Elite, and pro wrestling fans just got a taste of what she will do in Tony Khan’s company. It also cost him a lot to secure the CEO. 

Tony Khan has a lot of money to throw around. After inking a deal with Mercedes Mone, she is now apparently the highest-paid woman in pro wrestling.

Mercedes Mone’s AEW Money

It was reported that WWE and Mercedes Mone came to a financial roadblock when it came to bringing her in. It was noted that she didnt’ want to be paid more than everyone on the women’s roster, but she did want to be paid what top stars are making. Although WWE didn’t bite at that, AEW was certainly game to lay down that massive contract for her.

According to information shared with Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a female WWE star mentioned that they had heard the amount offered to their colleague was sufficient to establish her as the highest-paid woman in professional wrestling. They expressed gratitude towards AEW for extending the offer and were pleased that their colleague accepted it, seeing it as a positive development for the marketability of top female wrestlers. 

One WWE woman star noted to us that they were hearing that the number was enough to make her the highest paid woman in pro wrestling and that they were thrilled at AEW for making the offer and happy for her to have accepted it, 

The unnamed WWE Superstar also reportedly emphasized the importance of equitable pay for women in the industry, highlighting their significant contributions in drawing audiences and maintaining substantial social media followings. Additionally, they remarked that the deal represented a significant advancement for women in an industry where they typically earn less than their male counterparts.

What’s Next 

We will have to see what is next for Mercedes Mone in AEW. She got off to a good start at Big Business, as she bookended the show as well. Only time will tell if the money Tony Khan is giving the former Sasha Banks will turn into a financially solid decision.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is known. As always, we will have all the updates and headlines that you need to stay up to date on everything going on in the pro wrestling world.