The Rock returned to jump on the road to WrestleMania 40, but when will he be back. It appears that he is leaving irons in the fire, but his Hollywood career keeps going despite the fact that he has settled back into his old WWE persona.

It is not very likely that The Rock will be able to make a trip to Saudi Arabia for the WWE event in May. He is starting a new movie, and that schedule might make SummerSlam very difficult as well.

The Rock’s Move After WrestleMania 40

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that The Rock’s next film, The Smashing Machine, will start filming on May 1st. That being said, he won’t be able to make WWE’s next Saudi Arabian event.

The report also noted that SummerSlam will be tough as well, especially depending on The Rock’s schedule. He is slated to perform at WrestleMania 40, but we may be looking at another situation where Dwayne Johnson has to wait until WrestleMania 41.

Johnson starts filming “The Smashing Machine on 5/1. This rules him out of the May Saudi Arabia show and makes SummerSlam tough depending on the schedule. It could mean the earliest he could do another match would be the second Saudi Arabia show. And I could see him waiting for WrestleMania

What’s Next for The Rock

The Rock is back for a WrestleMania match, but his career in Hollywood certainly needs attention as well. That being said, there isn’t a lot of time for The Rock to do both. So, he will likely head back to his Hollywood commitments as soon as his road to WrestleMania is over.

You never know if The Rock will take Cody Rhodes up on his offer for a one-on-one match. He also wants a battle with Roman Reigns in his future. Only time will tell what The Rock decides to do, but it appears that The Smashing Machine is going to get his full attention on May 1st.

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Friday, March 15. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, including Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut at Big Business.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 22

First off, Scott Hall’s name trended on social media all day yesterday. He passed away two years ago on 3/14. He will never be forgotten, and you may check out a tribute post here.

WWE:

– Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE. He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. After a report of a “movement” within WWE to bring him back, I asked around and was told that there is no movement to bring Brock Lesnar back within WWE. I was told that “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.”

Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE than he was when they yanked him from the road to WrestleMania 40.

He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. No stories. No pitches. His name is not being brought up.

After the report of a "movement" within WWE… pic.twitter.com/xH9KqENgSQ

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 14, 2024

– Booker T says he and CM Punk almost got into an argument at the last NXT taping.

– It was also noted that CM Punk kept a low profile at the tapings.

– Damian Priest admitted that he got boos going for Dominik Mysterio at his wedding reception, because he’s just that good of a friend.

WWE SmackDown Match Card 3/15/24:

• Rey Mysterio Returns
• Bayley vs. Dakota Kai

AEW:

– AEW Dynamite’s Big Business episode on March 12 brought in 801,000 viewers and captured a rating of 0.27 in the coveted 18-49 demographic.

– Chris Jericho issued a challenged for the 3/20 AEW Dynmaite.

– Mercedes Mone’s first AEW merch pays tribute to her cousin, Snoop Dogg.

– Kyle O’Reilly will wrestle for the first time since his injury. He will take on Bryan Keith on Collision.

– Swerve Strickland explained the logic behind breaking into Hangman Page’s home during that angle.

– AEW saw another stable disbanded as the Bang Bang Scissor Gang are no more.

AEW Rampage Lineup 3/15/24:

• Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett vs. Top Flight and Action Andretti
• Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Evil Uno & John Silver
• Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. TBA
• Bracket revealed for AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament

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.

Brock Lesnar was going to be at WrestleMania 40. He was also going to be in the 2024 Royal Rumble match and singles competition at Elimination Chamber. Those plans changed abruptly when he was pulled from WWE programming. A recent rumor about a wave of support within WWE needs to be addressed.

It was recently reported that there is a “movement” in WWE to bring Lesnar back to the fold. I can now report that this is not the case at all.

Brock Lesnar’s Current WWE Status (Exclusive)

Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE. He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. He was pulled from the company’s creative plan, where he was going to wrestle Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber and then GUNTHER at WrestleMania 40.

After a report of a “movement” within WWE to bring him back, I asked around and was told that there is no movement to bring Brock Lesnar back within WWE. In fact, this is a legal situation, so nobody’s touching it.

I was outright told that “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.”

Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE than he was when they yanked him from the road to WrestleMania 40.

He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. No stories. No pitches. His name is not being brought up.

After the report of a "movement" within WWE… pic.twitter.com/xH9KqENgSQ

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 14, 2024

Further Brock Lesnar Removal

Brock Lesnar was taken off the WWE intro package. He’s also been absent from promotional material and vignettes since the controversy.

WWE 2K24, while they did remove him as a playable character, does still include Lesnar in the game’s code. He was also replaced by John Cena on the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover.

Reason For Brock Lesnar’s Removal

Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed Janel Grant to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign. The lawsuit did not identify the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline of 2021, it’s relatively straightforward to narrow down those options, although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned.

According to the lawsuit, McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who expressed approval, stating, “he likes what he sees.”

In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit alleges that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, referring to her as ‘b*tch.’ A meetup was planned, but they never followed through with it due to travel issues.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for the headlines and stories that you need to be well-informed.

Dominik Mysterio is known for getting a negative reaction from the WWE fan base whenever he has the microphone. He recently celebrated his wedding day, and he received a similar reaction during his own reception.

Video surfaced of Dominik Mysterio getting booed at his wedding. Little did anyone realize, but it was Damian Priest who had a big hand in getting that reaction from the crowd.

Damian Priest Tells All

While speaking to Steve Fall, Damian Priest opened up a bit about Dominik Mysterio’s wedding. He was there, along with other people from the pro wrestling world, to help Dirty Dom celebrate his big day.

Priest also knew that Dominik Mysterio felt more at home in a sea of boos, which he graciously facilitated for Mysterio’s wedding reception.

“It was beautiful, man. I was honored to be a part of the wedding, to just attend the wedding and we had such a good time. Then obviously, you know, busting his chops and there was a moment when they did say he’s gonna say a few words. I remember I just turned to my table and I was like, ‘We got to do it. We’re doing it. right’, and I just turned back around and I did it. Then my table followed in and I was like, Okay, that was nice. Then he went to speak again and the entire wedding party, like, everybody did it, and then I really laughed and he just gave me a look. That was a good one. But man, the whole thing was, what a good day for him and his wife. So that was a special night. Like I said, I was just honored to be there.”

What’s Next For Judgment Day

The Judgment Day are still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, and they are looking strong on the road to WrestleMania. Only time will tell if they will carry those titles out of the show of shows, but they are certainly making the most of things at this point.

Dominik Mysterio hasn’t brought his recent wedding up in the storyline, because it wouldn’t fit his heel persona. After all, he got booed at his wedding already.

SEScoops will have more on this story if there are any updates. Keep checking back for more of the headlines you need.

WWE never booked The Undertaker vs Sting, although they very well could have. Sting recently stated that he could have retired on that match, and it seems that Taker might have considered coming out of retirement to face The Icon.

Sting recently retired at AEW Revolution, and that was a big moment that is still fresh in our minds. During a recent edition of his podcast, The Undertaker quipped that since Sting is retired, he doesn’t have a reason to wrestle again.

Taker Speaks Candidly

The Undertaker retired from wrestling in 2020 after his final match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. However, he recently shared that he had considered a return to the ring if Sting hadn’t also retired recently.

The potential matchup between The Undertaker and Sting is a dream for many wrestling fans, but it has only existed in speculation and imagination.

Although they briefly appeared together in WWE in 2015, they never faced off in a match. This is something that WWE had a window to make happen, but Vince McMahon never booked the match

During a recent Q&A session on his Patreon platform, Undertaker quipped that if Sting hadn’t retired, then he could have another match.

“Well, I mean, if Sting hadn’t retired, maybe. He ruined the whole thing. I got new knees and he went and had to go and retire… Oh my gosh, we’re going to get so much heat for that.”

Of course, Sting retired under the AEW banner with a contract to Tony Khan. So, the idea of Taker wrestling Sting was even more off the table. It’s still nice to know that Taker still thinks of what might have been.

The Undertaker is still Struggling

We previously covered how The Undertaker expressed that he’s still struggling with the decision to retire. Recently, he mentioned to his wife that he was considering a comeback, but he ultimately convinced himself otherwise.

He clarified that there won’t be another match. He explained that after returning from Australia and feeling tired, he briefly entertained the idea, but he wants to make it clear that fans shouldn’t expect it to happen.

SEScoops will have more coverage of The Undertaker, and whatever else he has up next in the pipeline. Keep checking back for more headlines and the coverage you need.

The pro wrestling world lost a legend when Scott Hall tragically passed away two years ago on March 14, 2022. Hall remains a beloved figure to this day for countless reasons, including his iconic Razor Ramon persona and the groundbreaking New World Order storyline that changed wrestling forever.

The pro wrestling world is remembering The Bad Guy on the anniversary of his passing. Hall’s name trended on social media as his friends and fans across the world shared memories of the two-time WWE Hall of Famer’s remarkable career. 

Sean Waltman shared this of Hall wearing one of his t-shirts at the height of the nWo’s popularity.

We miss you. ?? pic.twitter.com/5QoR1mNxA2

— Sean Waltman (@TheRealXPac) March 14, 2024

Diamond Dallas Page shared a video of his longtime friend, along with a touching message. The master of the Diamond Cutter doesn’t want anyone to forget about the incredible man we lost too soon.

Today is the anniversary of the late great Scott Hall's passing, and I have so many unbelievable memories to share. Keep checking back here and my fb as we celebrate all the Good Times from the Badd Guy?? pic.twitter.com/nEdTuTBIOH

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) March 14, 2024

Jim Ross re-tweeted this clip from Scott Hall’s memorable 2014 WWE Hall of Fame speech:

Remembering Scott Hall who passed away on this day two years ago today ???

pic.twitter.com/Qch6DDTc0C

— Wrestling from 80s/90s (@Wrestling80s90s) March 14, 2024

Memories of Scott Hall continue to surface, even years after his passing. His daughter recently shared an unseen piece of pro wrestling video history, one that showed Triple H and The Outsiders mingling at home during the Monday Night Wars era.

Scott Hall is remembered for so many reasons, and all of them are entertaining. He gave his body for the enjoyment of fans for decades, and he made a ton of memories along the way. On March 14th, fans wanted to make sure that nobody forgot about him.

2 years ago today, Scott Hall passed away.

Here’s one of the coldest entrances ever pic.twitter.com/pWfJwUigU0

— ????? ????????? ? (@AdamGoldberg28) March 14, 2024

Scott Hall’s Passing

Scott Hall’s health deteriorated drastically in March 2022 after he suffered a fall and broke his hip, necessitating hospitalization. He remained immobile on the floor for several days until his friend Diamond Dallas Page found him during a wellness check. Hall underwent hip replacement surgery, but complications arose when a blood clot dislodged, leading to three heart attacks on March 12, 2022. He was placed on life support at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia.

https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1768326176500527440

With his family gathered at the hospital on March 14, 2022, the difficult decision was made to remove the WWE Hall of Famer from life support. He passed away approximately 4 to 6 hours later at the age of 63. WWE announced his death and paid tribute to him with a video during that day’s episode of RAW. While he will be deeply missed, his legacy will endure indefinitely.

SEScoops would like to preserve the legacy of Scott Hall however we can. His life had a huge spotlight on him, and he was taken from us far took soon. RIP Razor, and thanks for everything.

Remembering Scott Hall

Here are some WWE videos and playlists looking back on the life of Scott Hall:

WWE decided to make roster cuts in September 2023. Some notable names were on that list, and not all of them were happy about their run with the company.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, Tenille Dashwood was rather candid about the fact that she wasn’t happy about her last WWE run. It ended suddenly, and she didn’t get to do nearly as much.

Tenille Dashwood Speaks on her WWE Exit

On September 21, 2023, WWE made the decision to release several talents from their roster, among them Tenille Dashwood, also known as Emma, and her husband Mike Rallis, who wrestled under the name Riddick Moss. Despite being featured as an on-screen couple, their appearances on television were limited, with a notable exception being a brief storyline involving a feud with Karrion Kross and Scarlett.

Interestingly, the day of their release coincided with WWE’s announcement of the Elimination Chamber event in Australia, a development that Dashwood had eagerly anticipated and was actively promoting. However, her excitement quickly turned to dismay when she discovered just hours later that she had been let go by the company.

While thinking back on the emotions of that sad day, Dashwood shared that she was actually disappointed by the way that latest run with WWE turned out. She recounted how the news of the upcoming event in her home country had been a long-held aspiration during her time with WWE, and she had persistently inquired about the possibility of participating in tours there.

Despite facing challenges due to travel restrictions in previous years, Dashwood remained hopeful for the opportunity to wrestle in Australia. The sudden announcement on social media caught her off guard, as she had not received any prior indication from WWE about her involvement. As the day progressed and reports of releases circulated, Dashwood and her husband found themselves anticipating the inevitable, ultimately receiving the news they had feared.

“I will say, I was a little disappointed with that last run, and a little upset with how things went. I do think I have a lot more to contribute and I had very high hopes when I returned, it just didn’t turn out the way that I would have liked. In saying that, we did see it as a positive, we just weren’t being used, so it was, ‘Okay, let’s go do the things we want.’ That has been very exciting. At this point, we’re focusing on that. We do have a tour in Australia that we’ve committed to. Some autograph signings and a match. Past that, we’re focusing on other things right now. I can’t imagine ever fully stepping away from wrestling. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl and it’s the only thing I really wanted to do. I’m so glad I’ve gone after it and had the career that I’ve had. It would be hard for me to say, ‘I’m done with wrestling.’ In that same instance, I’m not actively pursuing anything or don’t have a plan moving forward at this point.”

What’s Next for Tenille Dashwood

Dashwood was released from WWE the first time in 2017, but then she was brought back in 2022. Sadly, that last run wasn’t as long.

It’s not all sad news for Tenille and Mike. On March 8, Dashwood and Rallis tied the knot in Hawaii. Their wedding was a very happy day, and they owe their relationship to WWE, because they met while with the company.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, if more updates are available. Keep checking back for more headlines on the stories you need.

WWE has plenty of options when it comes to their booking, but certain Superstars will always stand apart from the rest. Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin are quite a pair, and they’re not finished dominating yet.

The conversation can be had for years about who is the greatest tag team. If you ask Baron Corbin, he believes his tandem with Breakker is the greatest pairing in the business right now.

Baron Corbin’s Bold Claim

Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin swiftly ascended in NXT’s tag team ranks. Their partnership began during the 2024 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, culminating in victory at NXT Vengeance Day. Following their triumph, they secured the NXT Tag Team Championship by defeating Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on the February 13 episode of NXT.

In a conversation on WWE’s The Bump, Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin reflected on their achievements. Breakker asserted their dominance, proclaiming themselves as the premier tag team globally.

Bron Breakker expressed his firm belief that they stand as the foremost team globally. He emphasized the depth of their partnership, highlighting its uniqueness. Drawing attention to their shared NFL background, he underscored the rarity of their collaboration in WWE. According to Breakker, their current performance and entertainment level surpasses expectations, showcasing their seamless synergy and maximum effort.

Baron Corbin Explains His Statement 

Corbin echoed Breakker’s sentiments, emphasizing their ability to switch gears in competition—a quality few possess. He expressed confidence in their capability to challenge any opponent, including the reigning Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, The Judgment Day.

He mentioned a recent statement made on television. Corbin highlighted their seamless transition from backstage camaraderie to intense competition when the bell rings. According to him, this ability to switch gears sets them apart, enabling them to escalate the intensity of their performances. Their dynamic encourages friendly competition, pushing each other to excel in every aspect of their matches. Despite the allure of competing on Raw and SmackDown, they remain focused on their current position as NXT Tag Team Champions.

We should get a shot at those. That should be something we can get. We can go and we can cut whoever in half that we need to Saturday morning at NXT, and then we can go on to WrestleMania, and I think we can take those titles off of Judgment Day.

I think we can handle anybody in the ring. He says best in the world, and that includes all those teams in WWE that are thinking that they’re on our level. We got eight weeks in the bank together, and we’re already tag champs. That speaks volumes to what we can accomplish.”

What’s Next For Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin

Bron Breakker was officially called up to the WWE main roster during the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He was a last-minute replacement for Brock Lesnar, who was pulled from the match when his name was connected to Janel Grant’s bombshell of a lawsuit.

Although Breakker’s call-up was official, and he later joined the SmackDown brand, he still had things to wrap up in NXT. Obviously, that called for an NXT Tag Team Title run, and he’s having a great time with Baron Corbin.

Only time will tell if that team transcends to the main roster, but they’re having quite a time in NXT.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as more information is known. As always, keep checking back for the updates and headlines that you need.

AEW has featured a few big angles to hype fans for pay-per-view confrontations. Adam “Hangman” Page and Swerve Strickland’s war may be over for now, but there were plenty of reasons to do battle.

Strickland recently opened up about the meaning behind breaking into Hangman Page’s house during his feud going into Full Gear, where the two tore each other apart in a Texas Death Match.

Swerve Speaks on Hangman’s House

Swerve Strickland reflected on his ongoing feud with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. Over the past few months, Strickland and Page have been embroiled in a heated rivalry that has captivated the wrestling world.

In an interview with Fightful, Strickland discussed various aspects of his feud with Page, including its origins and development. He explained, “I honestly didn’t know where we were going to start, what was the baseline. Will Washington came up with the idea of, ‘Hey, we don’t know where you’re going following Wembley, but I have an idea of what I want to do with Swerve. I think you two right now, we need to get Hangman back in them singles—’ ‘Cause he was doing trios.” Strickland described Page as the main character of AEW and expressed his intention to challenge and disrupt Page’s purity.

Regarding his approach to the feud, Strickland likened it to adding iodine to pure water, gradually altering the character dynamics and storyline themes. He emphasized the importance of these elements in defining characters and shaping the narrative tone. Strickland also touched on the symbolism behind his entrance music, which he described as luring fans into a false sense of security before revealing darker undertones.

In particular, Strickland highlighted a symbolic reference to “Hangman’s house” in his actions, indicating a deliberate intrusion into Page’s personal and psychological space. Reflecting on his recent actions, Strickland acknowledged a period of introspection and contemplation about the consequences of his character’s evil deeds.

“It’s like a candy coated painting of things. Hangman is the elements of ‘I’m dragging you down to hell, we’ll see who comes out at the end of it.’ It seems like we both came out, but somebody came out differently. So I came out of it, ‘Oh, man. I think this evil, this resentment I’m holding inside of me is holding me back from achieving my goals.’ ‘Cause if you noticed, when I started doing that, the International title? I had it, lost it. The Continental Classic? I had it, I lost it. The TNT title opportunity. I had it and I lost it. The AEW World Title? I had it and I lost it. I was like, ‘Is this evil worth it?’ So now I’m kind of understanding, which goes back to the promo I cut this past week on TV. Am I supposed to play this role of the guy that gets close enough, but can’t get it done? Or maybe this is karma from all the bad I was doing. Maybe it’s what got me to there, but something more is gonna have to get me over the hump.”

Swerve & the AEW World Title

With two singles victories already under his belt, Strickland faced Page for the third time on the February 7 edition of Dynamite, resulting in a draw. Additionally, the duo, along with Samoa Joe, competed in a three-way match for the AEW World Championship at Revolution, which Joe emerged as World Champion once again.

We will have to see what Swerve Strickland is able to do in AEW. It stands to reason that he may be a future World Champion. If anything, you know that Tony Khan is booking him in a position where he has a ton of trust and attention.

SEScoops will have more on Swerve Strickland’s journey in AEW, and whatever happens next. Keep checking back for more updates and headlines that you need! 

AEW has a few stables going, but they don’t have as many as they used to. Now, after their Big Business Dynamite, it is apparent that they have one less faction on their roster, but the war is not over.

The Bang Bang Scissor Gang joined up as Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Billy Gunn joined Bullet Club Gold. Now, they are no longer together after Jay White betrayed the former AEW Trios Champions.

Bang Bang Scissor Gang Breakup

AEW recently disbanded the Bang Bang Scissor Gang, a stable that hadn’t been around for long, to set up a feud between its former members. The dissolution of the group was evident on the March 13 episode of AEW Dynamite when Jay White won a singles match against Darby Allin. 

Following the match, White attempted to inflict more damage on Allin, prompting The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn to rush to the ring to intervene. This did not set too well with Switchblade. 

Initially, White appeared to back off, allowing Caster and Bowens to assist Allin out of the ring. However, when Caster and Bowens left the ring, White suddenly attacked Billy Gunn with a chair, surprising the Boston fans in a big way. 

Despite Caster and Bowens’ attempts to intervene, they were overpowered by Colten and Austin Gunn. This caused a beatdown for the babyfaces.

Bullet Club Gold is showing their true colors tonight!

Watch #AEWDynamite #AEWBigBusiness LIVE on TBS!@JayWhiteNZ | @theaustingunn | @coltengunn | @RealBillyGunn | @Bowens_Official | @PlatinumMax pic.twitter.com/UrtBzF468C

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 14, 2024

What’s Next

The dramatic turn of events marked the end of the Bang Bang Scissor Gang’s run. The trio had joined forces on the January 20 episode of Collision. Currently, The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn still hold the AEW World Trios Championship, while Jay White & The Gunns retain the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team titles.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are made available. Odds are, fans have not heard the last of this story at all. The Acclaimed will not likely go after the Bullet Club Gold stable to turned on them.

John Cena has taken on some daring roles in Hollywood so far, stretching his comfort level to flex his acting muscles. The 96th annual Academy Awards certainly included a side of Cena that some fans never expected to see.

Cena did a streaking skit at the Oscar Awards this year alongside Jimmy Kimmel. Cena was the only nude one, and The Rock had a very good view of the whole spectacle. He also made it clear why he didn’t want to make Cena’s night any worse. The Rock is also loving his role as a heel on WWE television, and he couldn’t wait to open up about that, either. 

The Rock Reacts to John Cena Stunt

The Rock crossed paths with his fellow WWE Superstar, John Cena, backstage at the 96th Oscars ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. However, Cena appeared in an unusual attire, donning a toga instead of his typical formal wear, which he changed into after his nude stunt.

Cena’s unique appearance garnered significant attention from fans, with his act receiving widespread applause. While reflecting on his interaction with Cena the day before, The Rock shared his perspective during an appearance on Monday night’s edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

During the interview, Kimmel humorously suggested that The Rock missed an opportunity to confront Cena, to which The Rock responded with laughter, implying that a half-naked Cena wasn’t a suitable target for him. When asked if he would consider confronting Cena if he were “fully naked,” The Rock humorously replied that he would need Cena to be completely unclothed before considering such an action, clarifying that it was a playful remark.

“Right, a half-naked John Cena isn’t the guy who I want to attack [laughs],” The Rock said.

When Kimmel asked him if he would attack Cena if he was “fully naked?” To this, The Rock replied, “I need him fully naked before I attack him. That was his joke, by the way.”

The Rock and John Cena shook hands backstage at the Oscars, but Kimmel still joked that he felt a WrestleMania moment coming on. No steel chairs were busted out in that meeting, but you never know what else The Rock is capable of during this heel run.

The Rock on his Heel Turn

The Rock also had a chance to speak about his heel role in the road to WrestleMania. Kimmel played a clip of Dwayne Johnson in Phoenix berating the “Crackhead Karens,” and that line received a great response from the crowd.

He also explained how great it is to come back and really cut loose during this run of his career.

It is the best to go back to WWE in this Rock 10.0 version, where I can become a heel and say the things that people wanna say.

Road to WrestleMania 40

The Rock is back in WWE on the road to WrestleMania 40. He will team up with Roman Reigns during the first night of WrestleMania to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

John Cena has not been officially booked for WrestleMania 40 yet. As I exclusively reported in a recent edition of SEScoops’ Daily Drop, WWE is still working on making that happen for the 16x World Champion.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. So, keep checking back for more updates, because you never know what can happen on the road to WrestleMania.

Will Ospreay is All Elite, and he’s set to have some epic matches for Tony Khan’s company. WWE was in the game to bring Ospreay in, but that didn’t happen. In the end, AEW snagged him, and Triple H missed out.

There is now apparently a feeling within WWE that Triple H kind of dropped the ball with Will Ospreay. Dave Meltzer stated that it is believed that Triple H undervalued what Ospreay could bring to the table.

Will Ospreay in AEW

Will Ospreay made headlines last year at AEW Full Gear, officially joining the AEW roster and shifting gears to a full-time role. Despite potential interest from WWE, Ospreay opted for AEW, a decision that garnered attention from WWE personnel who felt Triple H may have underestimated Ospreay’s worth.

During AEW Full Gear, Ospreay declared his intention to join AEW full-time after fulfilling his commitments with NJPW. This move solidified his status as one of wrestling’s top free agents, culminating in his decision to sign with AEW after weighing options from various companies.

Ospreay’s contributions extend beyond his in-ring performances, as evidenced by his display of personality on AEW television, notably during the recent AEW Dynamite: Big Business episode. 

Dave Meltzer spoke about this on Wrestling Observer Radio, where he shed light on WWE’s perspective, indicating that Ospreay’s promo abilities were overlooked by Triple H during negotiations.

“He’s had two matches on this run and he’s getting this kind of a reaction, so yeah. I think that they, I mean I know people in WWE when this was going down and it was becoming very clear that he was going to AEW instead of WWE. They offered a lot less money, and I know people there who were saying that [Triple H] didn’t realize, he just thought it was one of these great workers, but this guy [Ospreay] has more, as far as complete package, there are very few people when it comes to complete total package.”

What’s Next For Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay joined the Don Callis Family, and that was quite a way to book him in the Land of All Elite. Tony Khan will likely have years to book Ospreay from this point on, so he is only getting started.

Only time will tell if Will Ospreay will ever end up in WWE. At 30 years old, he still has plenty of time to make a decision about his career down the line.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as new developments arise. Keep checking back for more updates and headlines that you need.

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Thursday, March 14. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, including Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut at Big Business.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 23

WWE:

– Minneapolis officially put in a bid to host WrestleMania 41. They have already been rumored to host the show of shows next year at the Vikings US Bank Stadium.

– Thunderbolt Patterson was announced as an inductee for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.

– WWE is thinking about switching up their start times for premium live events going forward.

– Bayley, Naomi, and Tamina Snuka were at AEW Big Business last night to see Mercedes Mone’s debut for Tony Khan’s company.

#ceo @itsBayleyWWE @MercedesVarnado @TaminaSnuka #MercedesMone pic.twitter.com/dfZfwcXlRl

— Trinity (@TheTrinity_Fatu) March 14, 2024

– Ex WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth joined the cast of Busted Open Radio.

AEW:

– Some have called out Mercedes Mone’s AEW theme song for ripping off GUNTHER’S old WWE theme. He even apparently commented on the drama, because there was quite a bit of it.

I love how AEW brought out Mercedes Mone out at the beginning like they did CM Punk. No need to make the fans wait all night #AEWBigBusiness #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/pUyDxJBteZ

— Public Enemies Podcast (@PublicEnemiesHQ) March 14, 2024

Wait ….I just noticed …. https://t.co/kQIHJvqDAF pic.twitter.com/nFNISuDhp6

— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) March 14, 2024

So much drama. pic.twitter.com/gCcsXYEX8s

— GUNTHER (@Gunther_AUT) March 14, 2024

– Tony Khan spoke about how much trust he puts into Darby Allin to be safe while performing his incredibly dangerous stunts.

– The show kept going with Mercedes Mone after AEW Big Business was over last night. You can check out that footage here.

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.

AEW Big Business went down at the TD Garden in Boston, and there was considerable excitement from the crowd all night. Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut dominated discussions prior to the event, and she had a very close friend who was there for the big night.

The Big Business show brought a lot of attention and fans in Boston. It seems that Bayley also made the show, and she was spotted during the event.

Bayley at Big Business

During the March 13 episode of AEW Dynamite, Mercedes Mone entered the scene, confirming her All Elite status. While her debut had been widely anticipated, her appearance comes as no surprise to many amidst swirling rumors.

Ahead of the event, rumors circulate about Bayley and Naomi attending to show support for their friend. We’re not sure about Trinity, but Bayley was spotted in the Garden

WWE Superstar Bayley was indeed spotted at TD Garden, surprising fans all over, but they shouldn’t be too shocked considering their past. While Naomi’s presence remains unconfirmed, considering their past support for Mone, it wouldn’t be unexpected is she was there too.

Bayley made Big Business pic.twitter.com/CeImlNTY1A

— A Varble (@VarbleHere) March 14, 2024

#ceo @itsBayleyWWE @MercedesVarnado @TaminaSnuka #MercedesMone pic.twitter.com/dfZfwcXlRl

— Trinity (@TheTrinity_Fatu) March 14, 2024

It appears that Trinity, Tamina, and Bayley were all there at Big Business. The video from Naomi on Twitter/X was a pretty funny hint that they made the show.

Connection Between Mercedes Mone & Bayley

Bayley has said in the past that she begs Mercedes Mone all the time to come back to WWE. That didn’t happen this time around, but you never know what the future holds. At this point, Mone has a multi-year contract with AEW to deal with.

Mone and Bayley were also at Trinity’s Hard to Kill match in Impact Wrestling. They are known to support each other, even if they aren’t in the same company.

SEScoops will have a lot more on this story, and so much more, so please keep checking back for future updates.

WrestleMania brings a ton of money to the event every single year. Now, it appears that we know where the grandest stage of them all will be set up in 2025.

WrestleMania 41 may have a venue announcement soon enough. Minneapolis has reportedly submitted their bid to host the 41st annual show of shows.

Minneapolis Looking for WrestleMania 41

Minnesota officially submitted its bid to host WrestleMania 41, as reported by The Star Tribune. The proposed venue for the event would be U.S. Bank Stadium. MNSE’s president and CEO, Wendy Blackshaw, expresses optimism, stating, “We are hopeful, and I hope we get it. It would be amazing.”

It was first reported by Sean Ross Sapp in July 2023 that Minneapolis has been heavily discussed within WWE as a potential location for WrestleMania 41 in 2025. The city planners of Minneapolis had leaked this information to local media, but WWE officials confirmed that Minneapolis was just one of several cities expressing interest.

Expected WrestleMania 41 Venue

U.S. Bank Stadium is favored as the venue due to its capacity and climate-controlled dome, unlike Target Field, which may face weather-related challenges. Despite previous leaks jeopardizing Minneapolis’ chance to host WrestleMania in the past, WWE views U.S. Bank Stadium as a top-tier venue for such events.

Last week, it was also strongly hinted at during a committee hearing that Minnesota may land WrestleMania. The show of shows was not revealed, but it was said that the event in question is second-biggest only to the Super Bowl.

SEScoops will have plenty of updates on this story as additional information is made known. The road to WrestleMania is always exciting, and that may include announcing the destination for next year’s showcase of the immortals.

Mercedes Mone made her debut for AEW at Big Business in Boston on March 13. This debut was expected, but there is a lot more to it.

A lot of things went into Mercedes Mone’s debut for AEW. It was quite a road, but now she is All Elite, but how long has this deal been underway? It appears that she was associated with AEW for months prior to her debut.

Mone is All Elite

Mercedes Mone made her official debut as a member of the All Elite Wrestling roster at Big Business on March 13, but reports suggest she’s been associated with AEW for over two months prior. According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, negotiations began well before her debut, with some indicating that discussions began as early as December when Mercedes secured several trademarks related to her name. Although details about the contract remain unconfirmed, it’s believed to be a multi-year agreement.

Furthermore, it’s been suggested that New Japan Pro Wrestling played a role in the negotiations, expecting to continue working with Mercedes extensively. However, it’s understood that AEW will be her primary focus. Mercedes endured a severe injury in May, which required two surgeries and a lengthy recovery period, preventing her from immediate in-ring action.

In the lead-up to her debut, there were initial talks between Mercedes and AEW, but they didn’t come to fruition. At one point, she explored options with WWE, but discussions stalled, leading to her eventual departure. Despite speculation about her potential appearances elsewhere, it became evident that AEW was the likely destination.

As discussions resumed in January, there were considerations for Mercedes’ debut, with dates in early January initially discussed. However, her physical clearance delayed these plans. Ultimately, AEW orchestrated her debut at the Big Business event in Boston without formal announcement, setting the stage for her introduction to the AEW audience.

Mercedes Mone’s Dealings With Other Companies

Amid rumors about a potential match with Giulia at NJPW Battle In The Valley, sources within NJPW reportedly refuted these claims, clarifying that no plans were made for her participation. 

By the time of the WWE Royal Rumble, expectations were reportedly high for Mercedes’ AEW debut, with many within the wrestling community anticipating her arrival. The buildup to her debut at the Boston TD Garden show solidified her transition to the AEW roster, confirming her departure from WWE and setting the stage for her future endeavors in AEW.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. Mercedes Mone is All Elite, and this is an exciting time for fans.

AEW brought an exciting Big Business edition of Dynamite to fans in Boston this week. The debut of Mercedes Mone was expected, and fans were not disappointed.

After a lot of speculation and many reports that she is coming to the Land of All Elite, Mercedes Mone made her debut for AEW at Big Business on March 13th. 

Mercedes Mone’s AEW Debut

AEW Dynamite opened up this week with Renee Paquette doing a talk-up backstage to hype tonight’s show. Then, a Maybach pulled up behind her, but they didn’t show who got out of the car at that time.

?

Watch #AEWDynamite #AEWBigBusiness LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/f0lLQ6slas

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 14, 2024

Then the show opened up with a new star’s music, and CEO showed on the big screen. That morphed into Mercedes Mone, and she made her way out to a big ovation from the Boston crowd.

She said that she is home, and then she thanked fans for sticking by her. She said that they will create magic in AEW, and she said that they are the reason that she is there.

BIGGGG BUSINESSS NIGGAAAAAAAAAA!! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!! #AEWBigBusiness pic.twitter.com/W1D091lS9k

— V. ??? (@HaangEmHiigh) March 14, 2024

Mercedes then said that she is in AEW to make a big impression. She can’t wait to mix it up with the women in the roster and have some incredible matches. She brought up unfinished business she has with Willow, but she said that the biggest business she had to said that she is All Elite.

It's official: @MercedesVarnado is ALL ELITE!

Welcome to @AEW, Mercedes Moné!#AEWDynamite on @TBSNetwork#AEWBigBusiness pic.twitter.com/Jf1XQ7J8PE

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 14, 2024

Mercedes Mone & WWE

WWE and Mercedes Mone were talking about her coming back to the company. Then they hit a financial roadblock.

It was later reported that Mone wasn’t asking for more than the top female makes on the WWE roster. That being said, AEW was obviously able to offer her more, and now she is All Elite.

We will have to see if her road ever takes her back to WWE. At this point, she is just getting started in AEW.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of Mercedes Mone’ run in AEW. You never know what can happen next at this point.

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Wednesday, March 13. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, so let’s take a look.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 24

Tonight is AEW Dynamite Big Business, and AEW fans are expecting Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company. That being said, expect updates as we get closer to the big Boston show, and afterward.

WWE:

– John Cena is not locked in for WrestleMania 40 yet. I was told that they are still working on him. For what it’s worth, James Gunn said that Peacemaker season 2 is slated for the summer, so that probably won’t affect Mania. We will have to see what they can work out.

John Cena's WrestleMania 40 appearance is "still being worked on."

Nothing concrete. Nothing to announce yet.

I also asked if there was any internal reaction to his Oscars streaking stunt, and was told that there wasn't a reaction because they're "too busy. It's WrestleMania…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 12, 2024

– WWE confirmed that SummerSlam 2024 is coming to Cleveland on August 3rd at the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

– The March 11th episode of Monday Night RAW attracted 1.751 million viewers, showing growth from the previous week’s viewership of 1,649,000. Additionally, this week’s show achieved a 0.56 rating in the highly coveted 18-49 demographic, up from last week’s rating of 0.54.

– While making the big SummerSlam announcement, Logan Paul also said that Dave Chappelle, and so many more, will be at the biggest party of the summer in Cleveland. 

– Trick Williams seemingly confirmed his relationship with Lash Legend during WWE NXT this week in a very public way.

TRICK WILLIAMS YOU LEGEND!!!@_trickwilliams #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/gS2vaf1vg0

— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2024

– KSI strangely called himself the Next Shane McMahon. So, take that for what it’s worth.

– Odds are, Gigi Dolin’s character on WWE NXT is about to go through a bit of a change.

– John Cena said he is retiring from in-ring competition at 50-years-old.

WWE NXT 2024 Stand & Deliver Card (So Far):

• Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo – Singles match for the NXT Championship
• Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners – Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
• Carmelo Hayes vs Trick Williams

AEW:

– As expected, Mercedes Mone has arrived in Boston ahead of AEW Dynamite this week.

– Shelton Benjamin reacted to the reports that he’s talking to AEW. He didn’t say no, but he also didn’t 100% confirm it. Odds are, the former Hurt Business member will find his way to the Land of All Elite.

– CJ Perry said that social media has really been getting her down since the Miro split.

– AEW star Buddy Matthews was shown during WWE RAW alongside Rhea Ripley at UFC 299. They did not name him, but Pat McAfee did ask who Ripley was with. Michael Cole just carried on with the show instead of addressing the former WWE Superstar in the photo.

– During SXSW, Bryan Danielson made it clear that he doesn’t want to win the AEW World Title. He said, ”I’ve had some people ask me or say things to me like, ‘Oh Bryan, you should be champion or you should’ve been champion’ or you should’ve this or you should’ve that and the reality is to me, no, the champions that we’ve had have been great. Hangman (Adam Page) was a great champion, MJF was a great champion and it elevated these younger people to where now these people are stars and you put Hangman on TV now and he draws a rating. You put MJF on TV, he draws a rating. It would be easy to just take stars of the past and make them your champion and make them your top guy. That’s the easy way. It’s much harder to take somebody like MJF who hadn’t been on national television and turn him into a star that draws ratings… That was my bigger goal is to transfer stardom from one generation to another.”

– Sting’s first post-AEW retirement appearance will go down at Galaxy Con on March 16th,

AEW Dynamite Big Business 3/13 Card:

• AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardlow
• The New Elite vs. Pac, Penta, and Eddie Kingston
• Darby Allin vs. Jay White
• Chris Jericho and Hook vs Gates of Agony
• Willow Nightingale vs. Riho, marking
• Mercedes Mone’s Expected AEW Debut in Boston

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
• 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.

Trick Williams took the ring to close out the March 12 episode of WWE NXT. He got a lot of things accomplished in the process.

Williams and Carmelo Hayes’ feud has come to a head. Things are physical now, and there will be a brutal match at Stand & Deliver. Before the big event, Williams also had to take care of a personal matter.

WWE NXT’s Closing Segment This Week

Noam Dar and the Meta Four came out and interrupted Trick in the middle of his promo, where he challenged Hayes to a match at Stand & Deliver. Dar said that he and Williams have something in common, because they both lost something close to them at Roadblock.

While Dar lost his Heritage Cup, Williams lost Carmelo Hayes. Then things took a turn when the Meta Four got on the apron.

Trick Williams made a comment about being the hottest talent in NXT, and then made a point to say that Lash Legend was giving him the eyes. Suddenly, the Meta Four took to the ring, and Williams got to work.

After dispatching of Noam Dar and Oro Mensah, William grabbed Lash Legend, and then he held her in his arms. They locked eyes, and then they locked lips in a very sensual way.

TRICK WILLIAMS YOU LEGEND!!!@_trickwilliams #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/gS2vaf1vg0

— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2024

This action was likely confirming their real-life relationship. The two NXT Superstars have been spotted in public together for the past few months. Many fans were under the impression that they coupled up.

It appears that Trick Williams was able to confirm this rumor about his personal life while booking a match against Carmelo Hayes for NXT Stand & Deliver.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1f79H3uY9W

What’s Next For Trick Williams

Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes will do battle at NXT Stand & Deliver. It appears that Williams may face Noam Dar on NXT next week, but his eyes will still be set for WrestleMania weekend.

SEScoops will have more on the stories you need on the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for more updates and headlines.

WWE NXT 2024 Stand & Deliver Card (So Far):

• Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo – Singles match for the NXT Championship
• Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners – Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
• Carmelo Hayes vs Trick Williams

This week’s WWE NXT saw a few segments that will help set the stage for Stand & Deliver. The 2024 NXT Stand & Deliver event is scheduled to go down on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We might have a totally different Gigi Dolin by then.

Gigi Dolin and Arianna Grace set a wager in their match last week during NXT. The two squared off this week, and if Grace won, then Dolin was under her guidance. After a DQ finish, Dolin will now have to take beauty tips from Grace.

What Happened on WWE NXT

This week’s NXT featured Dolin vs Grace, and it ended with two low blows. You don’t see those typically happen in women’s matches, but Gigi vs Arianna saw two of them. Sadly for Dolin, the referee only saw her cheap shot.

Arianna Grace, who is also daughter of Santino Marella, has a beaty pageant gimmick. This week’s episode of NXT saw her win the big match, albeit it by DQ, but that will take Gigi Dolin in a brand-new direction.

We will have to see what happens in the weeks to come, but Gigi Dolin may get a bit of a character reboot. If Grace can transform Gigi into a beauty pageant princess, for only a short time, it will certainly give the former Toxic Attraction member something to do.

Not like this!@gigidolin_wwe just got disqualified and now has to get a makeover from @AriannaGraceWWE… ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/ClkHaelGYF

— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2024

What’s Next For Gigi Dolin

Since Toxic Attraction’s breakup, Gigi Dolin has been doing her thing. Jacy Jayne ended up in an angle with Chase U, but Dolin has remained on her own. Now, it appears that she will be aligned with Grace in this storyline, with a likely match to get her out of the verbal contract down the line.

SEScoops will have more coverage of this story, and many more. Please keep checking back for the headlines and coverage you need.

The 2024 NXT Stand & Deliver event is set for Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This will be the fourth annual Stand & Deliver event. However, there’s a twist as the NXT Champion was just abducted weeks before the event.

Tony D’Angelo and his Sopranos gimmick has been known to borrow from the pages of classic mob tactics. During this week’s NXT, they ran an old-school abduction play.

The Set-Up

During the March 12 episode of WWE NXT, they showed Tony D’Angelo and his Family out to dinner. They were very pleased about his upcoming NXT Title match at Stand & Deliver.

Then Ilja Dragunov showed up with his NXT Title around his shoulder. The Don motioned for his cohorts to depart, and they left the table.

Ilja Dragunov then congratulated Tony for all that he’s accomplished. He’s a titan of industry and has his hands in many things. However, Ilja said that the NXT Title is all that he has, and he will make sure that after NXT Stand & Deliver, the title will stay with him.

“Is that so?” D’Angelo asked. “I’m afraid it is,” Ilja Dragunov replied.

Then Tony D said that he likes Ilja Dragunov, and “whatever happens here” … suddenly, Tony’s associates plucked Ilja Dragunov up and carried him off.

Tony D’Angelo finished his wine, and stood up from the table. After thanking the owner of the establishment for the meal, he left.

The next shot showed Stacks closing the lid to the trunk of their car. It is supposed that they’re running a kidnapping angle now, with Ilja Dragunov in the trunk. Then they drove off into the night with no sight of the NXT Champion.

I'm not too sure that was a smart idea.. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/fjhnnVUkiZ

— V. ?? (@HaangEmHiigh) March 13, 2024

What Happened Next

Later on, they showed Ilja Dragunov and Tony D’Angelo on a bridge. This was apparently the place where they wanted to have a conversation.

Tony threatened to throw Ilja off the bridge without really saying anything. Then, he told Dragunov to “have a nice walk back.” Ilja Dragunov then said that “one thing you’ll find about me is I always find a way.”

This was quite an intense angle, and it certainly added a lot to this story as they get closer to Stand & Deliver.

"I can end everything with the snap of my fingers"@TonyDangeloWWE is sending a clear warning to @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR. This is a road the champ has never been down before ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/QkfGpZO4Gz

— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2024

What’s Next

We will have to see how things progress from this point. If Ilja Dragunov can’t get out of the mob’s clutches, then he may not make it to Stand & Deliver.

SEScoops will keep our eye on this story for more updates. There will certainly be more stories to tell on the road to NXT Stand & Deliver.

WWE NXT 2024 Stand & Deliver Card (So Far):

• Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo – Singles match for the NXT Championship
• Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners – Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
• Carmelo Hayes vs Trick Williams

The 2024 NXT Stand & Deliver event is scheduled to go down on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marks the fourth annual Stand & Deliver event, and Shawn Michaels’ crew is putting a lot of work into the show. That show will likely see Roxanne Perez in a heel role.

Roxanne Perez turned heel last week in a surprising attack on Lyra Valkyria. On this week’s episode, she got to explain her actions.

Roxanne Perez Explains Herself

During this week’s NXT, they kicked off the show with a match that will determine the challengers for Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin’s NXT Tag Team Titles. After the LWO won that match, Roxanne Perez had a chance to cut a promo.

On last week’s WWE NXT, Roxanne Perez turned heel during the Roadblock special. This week, she got to explain herself.

She addressed collapsing in the ring at Roadblock 2023 after beating Meiko Satomura. She said she collapsed after carrying the women’s division on her shoulders for four months. Roxanne Perez was rewarded by having her title taken from her, “and no one cared.”

Perez said that she’s waited a year, while busting her ass the whole time, but she was never awarded a title match. Instead, Tiffany Stratton or Becky Lynch got the spotlight. Then she really turned her focus on The Man.

"Thanks to The Prodigy, you all have witnessed the rise and fall of Lyra Valkyria"

This isn't you, @roxanne_wwe ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/eGSg2uiGB3

— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2024

Roxanne said that she was face-to-face with Becky Lynch in the middle of an NXT ring and, “you guys acted like I didn’t even exist.” She then continued to blame the fans for going home crying that night, because of how everyone made her feel.

“Screw you guys for booing me and making me feel like I was worthless,” she continued, before saying she doesn’t care what fans think. Perez went on to say she’s the most decorated woman in NXT history, “I have won everything.”

That is when she turned her focus to Lyra Valkyria, because she never got a title shot with Lyra. When Roxanne went after the WWE Tag Team Titles at Roadblock, that is when she decided to do something about it.

.@roxanne_wwe has SNAPPED!

She just took out the #WWENXT Women's Champion, @Real_Valkyria ?#NXTRoadblock pic.twitter.com/yqx8cQVGrf

— WWE (@WWE) March 6, 2024

Roxanne Perez’s Heel Turn

During the Roadblock edition of NXT, NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria was attacked by Roxanne Perez, who has turned heel. Perez injured Valkyria’s arm after Valkyria and Tatum Paxley failed to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships from The Kabuki Warriors. Following the attack, Valkyria was taken from the arena in an ambulance.

Hate to see this.

Get well soon, @Real_Valkyria ?#NXTRoadblock pic.twitter.com/TzIJJOs9vI

— WWE (@WWE) March 6, 2024

WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph speculated that Valkyria may have a broken arm, as Valkyria believed her arm was dislocated. Valkyria expressed concern about her arm to medical staff inside the ring.

This incident suggests a potential match between Perez and Valkyria at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6, just before WrestleMania 40 begins. While the match has not been officially announced, it could be in the coming weeks leading up to the event.

WWE released Shelton Benjamin, along with a lot more, in September 2023. Although some have shown up in another company’s ring, Benjamin has been biding his time, and it appears he has a suitor.

Shelton Benjamin didn’t shut down the idea of going to AEW while speaking to the Monopoly Events YouTube channel. After all, there are a lot of great opponents for him to face in the Land of All Elite.

Shelton Benjamin Reacts

Ongoing talks have been happening between Shelton Benjamin and AEW, considering his potential appearances for the company. Details about a potential contract or full-time deal are still uncertain, but these discussions started about a month ago.

In a recent interview on the Monopoly Events YouTube channel, Jamal Niaz talked with Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin expressed interest in wrestling Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada. He also mentioned that he’s open to appearing in AEW.Shelton Benjamin expressed his interest in potentially working with Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay, highlighting their exceptional talents and expressing admiration for their athleticism.

While acknowledging the allure of these matchups, he emphasized his enjoyment and versatility in working with various opponents. Benjamin kept the possibility of joining AEW open, stating that he hasn’t ruled out any opportunities at this time.

”I think it could be a lot of fun. So, those names are at the top of my list, but obviously, I enjoy what I do, I love what I do, and I can pretty much mesh with anybody. So, it’s just a matter of what they think but, as far as AEW goes, that door’s open — my door is open. I haven’t eliminated any possibilities as of yet.”

Shelton Benjamin as a Free Agent

Shelton Benjamin hasn’t shown up in another company since his WWE release. Only time will tell when he gets the deal he’s looking for.

We will have to see if Shelton Benjamin is another name that Tony Khan decides to sign. With AEW Big Business coming up on March 13th, you never know who will arrive in AEW next.

SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of AEW Big Business, and everything else involving the company’s upcoming events. Keep checking back for constant updates!

Some consider Dave Chappelle the greatest living comedian today, but he is also controversial for others for a variety of reasons. Either way, he is apparently going to be at the biggest party of the summer in Cleveland, if Logan Paul has anything to say about it.

SummerSlam 2024 is coming to Cleveland on August 3rd, and Logan Paul is hyped about it. In reaction to the strong rumors before the big announcement, The Maverick listed off a ton of people who will be at SummerSlam, and Chappelle was one of those names.

Logan Paul’s Reaction to SummerSlam Announcement

SummerSlam is one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. So, naturally, they will bring in some big names. A lot of people either sleep on Cleveland, or they use the city as a punchline, one that has long-lost its topical punch. The truth is that a lot of big names have come out of the city, and Logan Paul wants his Cleveland connection to turn out for SummerSlam.

“I wanna bring my brother Jake [Paul], I want MGK to be there, I want the Kelce brothers to be there, I want it to be one of the biggest events Cleveland has ever seen & hopefully I can get an opponent who I can bring the house down with — oh Dave Chappelle will absolutely be… pic.twitter.com/j0I7vhNcwO

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) March 12, 2024

During his Impaulsive podcast, Logan Paul made his excitment about SummerSlam 2024’s location very clear. He wants his brother there, along with Machine Gun Kelly. He also named the Kelce Brothers, but the cherry on top was the Half Baked star himself, Dave Chappelle.

“I wanna bring my brother Jake [Paul], I want MGK to be there, I want the Kelce brothers to be there, I want it to be one of the biggest events Cleveland has ever seen & hopefully I can get an opponent who I can bring the house down with — oh Dave Chappelle will absolutely be there.”

Logan Paul also called out LeBron James to step up in Cleveland for SummerSlam. e’ll have to see if King James takes The Maverick up on that.

As strange as it may be to have Chappelle at SummerSlam, Triple H is a fan. He has attended one of Chappelle’s stand-up shows in recent memory. Vince McMahon also went along, but it would obviously be The Game making the call to bring Chappelle in for SummerSlam nowadays.

SummerSlam 2024 Hype

As of this writing, no matches have been announced for SummerSlam 2024. The company has a date and location locked in. Now, they will make their way to Cleveland in August.

SummerSlam brought a ton of revenue and fans to Detroit last year, so Cleveland has an excellent reason to be excited about SummerSlam coming in. There will be a lot of fans tuning in to see what surprises WWE has in store for them, and Cleveland will likely be represented in full-force throughout the show.

SEScoops will have full coverage of the road to SummerSlam, and beyond. Keep checking back for constant updates and headlines for the stories that you need.

SummerSlam is one of WWE’s big 4 premium live events, and now we know which city will host the event that has become an extravaganza. The company is leaning toward booking stadiums for their massive shows, and they did it again in Cleveland. 

WWE, along with Haslam Sports Group and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, have announced that WWE SummerSlam is coming to Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday, August 3, 2024.

The event will be preceded by a series of activities spread across the week, including Friday Night SmackDown at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on August 2, along with various fan and community engagements leading up to and following SummerSlam.

Opened in 1999, Cleveland Browns Stadium hosts the NFL team and has a max capacity of approximately 67,000 people. 

Ohio’s WWE Connection

This year marks SummerSlam’s return to Cleveland for the first time since August 1996. The city has hosted plenty of amazing shows for decades. Now, WWE is coming to the famous NFL venue where the Browns play on the gridiron. 

Several active WWE Superstars hail from Cleveland and the state of Ohio, including Logan Paul, The Miz, Johnny Gargano. Alexa Bliss and the Creed Brothers.

Jon Moxley, Nic and Ryan Nemeth, Abyss, Madison Rayne and Shark Boy all hail from the Buckeye State, as did the late great ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage. 

The Maverick Brings The Hype

Logan Paul United States champion first broke the news of SummerSlam coming to Cleveland on the March 12 episode ofd his Impaulsive podcast.

WWE’s reigning United States champion goes ‘big’ with everything he does, so he didn’t just reveal one of WWE’s biggest premium live events is coming to his home city. Logan Paul called out NBA kingpin LeBron James and rattled off several other celebrities who may be there, including comedian Dave Chappelle:

Cleveland SummerSlam Reactions

Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Chief Content Officer, expressed excitement about the collaboration:

“The city of Cleveland and WWE have a longstanding history. We are eager to bring SummerSlam, SmackDown, and a range of events to the town in collaboration with Haslam Sports Group and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.”

David Jenkins, Chief Operating Officer of Haslam Sports Group, added:

“We’re delighted to host WWE’s SummerSlam at Cleveland Browns Stadium this August and showcase the city’s offerings to the WWE Universe. Hosting such a prestigious event at our stadium will generate substantial economic benefits for the region and spotlight Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Browns Stadium as ideal destinations for major events.”

David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, echoed this sentiment:

“We are thrilled to welcome WWE this August, bolstering Cleveland’s reputation as a prime location for major U.S. events. SummerSlam 2024 is poised to be Ohio’s largest WWE event, providing a significant economic boost to our community while spotlighting Cleveland’s vibrant downtown, authentic experiences, and exciting attractions.”

SummerSlam 2023 Success

This announcement follows last year’s record-setting SummerSlam at Ford Field in Detroit, which established a new gate record for any non-WrestleMania event with $8.5 million until the 2024 Royal Rumble surpassed it. Additionally, it became the most-viewed SummerSlam in WWE history.

Cities are climbing over each other to host WWE events for a reason. Now, Cleveland will get one of the big 4 premium live events, and all the economic boost that will come with it.