WWE has several interesting contract situations going on right now. Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins and others have to deal with signing a new contract or seeking other opportunities. Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract is approaching its end as well, and we have more information.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE Contract Situation

It was previously reported that McIntyre’s WWE contract is running out, but there is a hope that he will be around. The Scottish Warrior is being promoted for events in May, and he’s also thrown several jabs at CM Punk, who won’t be back until later this year due to injury.

Leading up to last year’s WWE WrestleMania, it was indicated that Drew McIntyre’s contract would expire before WrestleMania 40. McIntyre himself was considering the possibility that 2023 might mark his final WrestleMania appearance. However, recent developments suggest otherwise. Sources within WWE have confirmed that McIntyre is indeed slated to participate in WrestleMania.

A brand-new report from Sean Ross Sapp at Fightful Select said that McIntyre’s contract has been extended beyond WrestleMania. It appears that additional time was negotiated due to injury and periods of inactivity.

Fightful Select has confirmed that McIntyre’s deal now extends past WrestleMania, and that some injury and inactivity time was added to the deal in order to get it there.

What’s Next For Drew McIntyre in WWE

Sources close to Drew McIntyre have reportedly said that discussions between him and WWE management regarding a new contract are ongoing. While there is a mutual interest in reaching an agreement, it’s important to note that a deal has not been finalized.

It was also emphasized that McIntyre is highly regarded within the company, both among fellow talent and staff. His dedication to his craft, as well as his involvement in media and community events, has earned him widespread respect.

Scott D’Amore was removed from his position with TNA Wrestling, and he wanted to make it very clear that it wasn’t his choice. Now, the talent who really care about him are expressing just how they feel to management.

Scott D’Amore’s TNA Wrestling Exit

The decision to move Scott D’Amore out of his job with TNA apparently came before the re-branding. Then, D’Amore offered to buy the company, but those efforts were rebuffed by Anthem. 

D’Amore emphasized that both parties refrained from labeling his departure as his own decision or a mutual agreement. Some talent asserted they were informed that D’Amore resigned, but this wasn’t accurate. Moreover, Ontario, where Anthem is headquartered, has stringent employment regulations, making it advantageous for D’Amore to ensure the departure wasn’t perceived as mutual for his future prospects.

TNA Talent Protest Over Scott D’Amore’s Firing

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that multiple TNA talents have endorsed a letter addressed to Anthem, expressing discontent over Scott D’Amore’s departure from TNA. They also released this letter, which you can read below.

Len and Scott, 

TNA/ Impact is not just our employer and the company for which we work. It is a family. A family that each of us has grown to love and cherish and trust with our bodies and our careers. A family for which we feel deeply and that desire, above all else, to protect. We are deeply saddened by the decision to remove Scott D’Amore from the TNA/Impact family. Scott is a brilliant wrestling mind that has guided this company and has it positioned to take the next step upward in our industry. Scott is also so much more than this. He is a trusted friend, confidant, teacher, advisor, brother, and mentor to so many within the TNA/Impact family. Scott has been the heart of the TNA/Impact family for over two decades. Len and Anthem have been instrumental in supporting and building this company back from the ground up.

The contributions of Len and Anthem have never gone unnoticed by anyone in the company, and we want to make sure Len knows this. TNA, simply put, would not have survived without Len and Anthem. Not just financially, but with the undying faith in Scott and us to revive the company that was on the brink of death. Len and Anthem are the foundation that TNA has been able to build upon. We would not have made it back to this point without BOTH of you. The fans know this, and the TNA family knows this. We come to you to voice our concern for TNA/Impact, our family, and its future and direction. We, like you, wish to safeguard what we have all worked and sweat and bled for to build.

We want TNA/ Impact to continue grow and to continue to be an enviable place for all professional wrestlers to work. We understand and appreciate that professional wrestling, at its core, is a business, and that the company must provide a fiscally responsible, financially viable product. At the same time, professional wrestling is uniquely situated. The business of professional wrestling is so much more than balance sheets, downloads, and ratings. The wrestling business is and must be its people, its characters, and its storylines.

That is to say, there is no wrestling business without the wrestling creative vision and the right people bringing the creative vision to life. To thrive, a wrestling company must have both an eye toward business decisions, and its fingers on the pulse of creative decisions and the ever-changing appetite of our fans. It is in light of this concern and our desire to uphold the high standards of TNA/Impact that we offer this letter. It is our desire to have a dialogue with you and with the company in an effort to protect the present and the future of TNA/Impact for you, for Anthem, for the fans, and for professional wrestlers.

We feel strongly that a “wrestling person” needs to be intimately involved at a high level to ensure that the amazing company we have all built and product we have provided to our fans continues to grow and flourish. It is our opinion that the best possible person for that role was, is, and will be Scott. We recognize that we do not necessarily know all the facts or details around the decision to remove Scott. In life there is always the rumors, the opinions, and, somewhere in between, the truth. We rarely get to know which is which. It remains our hope and desire that everyone can set aside the past few days and any hurt feelings or unkind words that may have been exchanged, and meet to discuss a path forward that preserves the TNA/Impact family we all hold so dearly.

We remain steadfast and hopeful that this letter can be a first step to opening, and keeping open, productive lines of communication to ensure the TNA/Impact family continues to be a wonderful, unique place to work for years to come. We ask and implore you both to come together and create a resolution that will reunite this family once again. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing this dialogue.

The report from Fightful Select also noted, “Those that we’ve spoken to have actually spoke well of Anthony Cicione as a person, but there are concerns about his lack of experience connected to wrestling. We’re told the closes he has to wrestling knowledge was helping WWE with The Score when he ran that channel.”

What’s Next

This is a very interesting situation. More information is coming for this still-developing story, because you never know what will happen in pro wrestling at this point. Scott D’Amore certainly seems to have some major pull to reinstate him in his previous role with TNA Wrestling. 

WWE recently settled a significant lawsuit with Panini after the latter sought to terminate their trading card company partnership prematurely. WWE struck up an agreement with Fanatics, but their deal with Panini prevented them from commencing it early. Now, Panini and WWE have a new venture in the NFT space.

WWE’s New NFT Project

WWE Superstars are now part of Panini Blockchain through the launch of Blockchain Donruss Elite WWE. The press release that they sent out to announce this partnership noted that Panini’s digital cards will feature WWE Superstars such as John Cena, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Lyra Valkyria.

The platform provides a secure space to purchase and virtually open digital packs of Panini’s distinct brands. Collectors can also engage in collection challenges to acquire cards not found in packs and participate in digital crafting events, converting common cards into numbered exclusive cards.

The initial Donruss Elite release features over 100 WWE Superstars, including special inserts like Star Status, Spellbound, and Title Waves.

Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations, stated, “For the past three years, our focus has been on delivering a premier Blockchain product to our collectors. Adding a renowned brand like WWE to our lineup, with its passionate audience and rich history, aligns with the expectations of our community.”

More Blockchain WWE releases are slated to follow, featuring other exciting brands such as Panini’s flagship brand, Prizm. If you want to check this out for yourself, you can click here. The NFTs aren’t extremely expensive, with one of the highest priced Roman Reigns cards going for $150. 

It is also interesting to note that the term “NFT” doesn’t appear one time in the entire press release. Yet, the Panini Blockchain is most certainly an NFT project. Their website is nft.paniniamerica.net.

Sidenote On That Fanatics Deal

Interestingly enough, when WWE and Fanatics announced plans to launch various offerings, it included encompassing e-commerce, licensed merchandise, physical and digital trading cards, and NFTs. Now, Panini America has unveiled a substantial digital collaboration with WWE. 

We will have to see how this project pans out, but even John Cena admitted that WWE’s first attempt in the NFT space was a disaster. 

WWE has seen some notable departures already this year, but it’s the action outside their roster that has really gained attention. Now, Jennifer Pepperman, a Senior Writer and Producer for WWE, has decided to leave the company.

Jennifer Pepperman’s WWE Departure

PW Insider verified the news of Pepperman’s exit. It was further clarified that she departed by her own choice, rather than being released by WWE. Pepperman’s departure marks the conclusion of her tenure with the organization.

Upon hearing about the news of Pepperman’s exit, WWE producer Adam Pearce posted on Twitter/X to express how much she meant to the company. Her contributions were immense throughout the organization.

Shout out to @JenPepperman . I have always appreciated your creativity, passion, and the countless time you’ve given to help me and others backstage over the years. I’ll miss your energy, but I know you’ll be great wherever you may roam. My gratitude forever!!!

Shout out to @JenPepperman. I have always appreciated your creativity, passion, and the countless time you’ve given to help me and others backstage over the years. I’ll miss your energy, but I know you’ll be great wherever you may roam. My gratitude forever!!! ???

— Adam Pearce (@ScrapDaddyAP) February 15, 2024

Exclusive Note on Jennifer Pepperman’s WWE Departure

I was told that Pepperman’s departure from WWE was “totally unexpected” to those on the creative team and for everyone else backstage as well. That being said, there is a belief and rumor going around that she already has a job lined up elsewhere.

I was told that Jennifer Pepperman's departure from WWE was "totally unexpected" to those backstage. She will be missed too.

There is a belief that she already has a job lined up elsewhere.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 15, 2024

Jenn Pepperman Before WWE

Pepperman joined WWE in April 2017, bringing extensive experience from television production. Prior to her tenure with WWE, she worked as a Producer and Director for several acclaimed soap operas, including shows like One Life To Live and As the World Turns.

What’s Next

Jennifer Pepperman will no doubt find something else to do in the entertainment world. She was also the Director of Season 3 of After Forever on Amazon Prime, and that project is still ongoing.

Everyone at SE Scoops would like to wish Jennifer Pepperman the best success in her future endeavors.

AEW opened their door several years ago, and they promised a new presentation for pro wrestling fans. That came with plenty of swear words, but it seems that is in the past.

AEW Nixing Cussing

Warner Bros Discovery put up with a lot of profanity in AEW, and a lot of fans were surprised to see it start. There was once a time when the S-Bomb was dropped in every other segment. Now, it appears that WBD had enough of it.

The word “horsesh*t” was spoken on AEW Dynamite this week by Hangman Page, but it was bleeped. This is a far cry from their previous stance of letting those profanities fly. Especially when he would get fans in a rousing chant of “Cowboy Sh*t” on a weekly basis.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed AEW’s swearing issue. He started that they are seemingly not permitted to drop those bombs anymore, as they were bleeped, and that seems to be the new rule of thumb.

“There was a lot of bleeping on this show. The days of saying horsesh*t and swearing on TBS and TNT look over.”

What’s Next For AEW

WBD might want AEW to tone down on the dirty words, but they are not opposed to blood. The main event of this week’s AEW Dynamite more than proved that, as Orange Cassidy and Matt Taven had a bloody main event Texas Death Match for the International Title.

This no swearing idea could be a great time to write Danhausen into a major angle. After all, “no swearing” has been his gimmick for years. 

Tony Khan didn’t want to restrict performers by telling them that they can’t swear. It appears that they may still be permitted to let the vulgarities fly, but only fans in the arena will hear those words that are not safe for television.

Bron Breakker replaced Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He got all of Lesnar’s spots, even destroying JD McDonagh after his elimination. That being said, his recent big win in NXT has cast doubt on his main roster placement. 

Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up

I previously reported that the 2024 Royal Rumble marked Bron Breakker’s main roster call-up. He will finish up his time in NXT, but he is now a part of main roster angles. The first one is determining where he will call his new brand home,

After Breakker made his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble, it became evident that he still had unresolved matters in NXT. Despite winning the NXT Tag Team Championship this week, that has not derailed his main roster plans.

During this week’s episode of NXT, Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker picked up the NXT Tag Team Titles, marking a significant milestone for both Superstar. Corbin celebrated his first championship victory in years, coinciding with Breakker’s impending move to the main roster. 

While Breakker has hinted at deciding between RAW and SmackDown, no definitive choice has been made in the storyline. I was told after his call-up that creative was leaning toward placing him on the RAW brand.

PW Insider reported that Bron Breakker is still scheduled to participate in Friday’s double SmackDown tapings in Salt Lake City. He will be around for the blue brand’s show this week, as they are taping two shows due to the fact that the Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Yes, the Royal Rumble did mark Bron Breakker's call-up.

His brand is not determined because it happened so fast. He was a replacement for Lesnar in the match.

The thinking is that he will be on RAW, but the decision will be made this weekend.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 28, 2024

What’s Next

Bron Breakker is a second generation Superstar with a ton of potential. He did practically everything there is to do in NXT, even picking up a tag team titles. Breakker isn’t the only Superstar who was called up to the main roster with stories to wrap up in NXT. Only time will tell how long his reign with Corbin as champions lasts, but he will soon have a full-time home on the main roster.

Welcome to a new feature for SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place. 

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can catch up and the wrestling news you need.

WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 51 days days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 15, 2024:

WWE News

– The Rock and Roman Reigns are advertised for tomorrow’s WWE SmackDown from Salt Lake City, Utah. (Tickets)

– WWE released Matt Camp from his contract sometime last week. This news broke on February 14th, and it was also a big shock for many. Camp never missed an episode of The Bump, and his departure was not mentioned on this week’s show, either.’  We’ve updated our WWE Releases tracker to reflect this departure.

– Jade Cargill was removed from her planned spot in the Elimination Chamber match. Cargill made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble and was slated to be part of the upcoming Chamber match from Australia, based on a graphic that leaked on WWE.com showing the participants. This would have been another chance to feature Cargill in a multi-person match that would have protected her, but it seems those plans have been scrapped.

– Shotzi Blackheart was legit injured during the NXT television taping this week. She seriously hurt her knee, and reports later confirmed that she left the NXT Arena on crutches. We’re still awaiting word on her condition.

– The new WWE Experience exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia opens tomorrow. WWE-themed events center will be located at Boulevard City.  (Tickets)

“Dive into the world of WWE, where fans walk in the footsteps of legends, immersing in sights, sounds, and epic stories of global stars. Every guest will enjoy a front-row seat, unparalleled access to exciting opportunities, and moments exclusive to WWE.”

AEW News

– During AEW Dynamite this week, they finally announced Sting’s final match. The Icon will team with Darby Allin to take on The Young Bucks in an AEW World Tag Team Title match at AEW Revolution on March 9th.

– Jeff Hardy was possibly injured during the AEW Rampage taping this week. Sammy Guevara went for a shooting star press, and it appeared that his knee struck Hardy in the head. The match was then called off. We do not have any more updates at this time.

this is NOT the first time Sammy Guevara has injured Jeff Hardy with his amateur hour bullshit

HE IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER pic.twitter.com/Hm4EOwzU0z

— Degenerate George (@DGen_Media) February 15, 2024

– QT Marshall is returning to AEW. He will not be wrestling, but he will work with the company in a backstage capacity. Marshall left the company at the end of 2023, but came to terms on a revised role. 

Marshall’s ‘new’ promotion Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling is expected to continue. TCW held its return event last week at the Nightmare Factory training facility, where they crowned inaugural champions.

– Rob Van Dam returns next week in an all-star 6-man tag match on AEW Dynamite. The ECW legend will team with Hook and Hangman Page against Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage.

What’s Next

– WWE Elimination Chamber takes place next weekend, Saturday, February 24 from Perth, Australia. This will be the final stop on the road to WrestleMania 40.

– The following weekend, All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Revolution 2024 live on pay-per-view from the historic Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The event will feature Sting’s retirement match and Samoa Joe defending the AEW World championship against Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland.

Check back tomorrow for the next installment of the Daily Drop wrestling news report and make sure to Follow SEScoops on Google News, Facebook and Twitter.

Jeff Hardy recently made headlines when he expressed apparent disappointment about how the Hardys are booked on AEW television. He wrestled on Rampage this week, but that match sadly ended with an apparent injury.

Jeff Hardy was knocked out by sammy Guevara #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/Q5Tr3TMEvx

— REKTS (@Hyperdude54) February 15, 2024

Jeff Hardy Possibly Injured

After the February 14th episode of AEW Dynamite, the company recorded the upcoming Rampage episode airing on February 19th. That match featured Hardy taking Sammy Guevara in singles action.

At the H.E.B. Center in Cedar Park, Texas, where the taping took place, fans captured footage of Sammy Guevara striking Jeff Hardy directly in the face with a knee. This went down as Guevara nailed a top rope move on the Charismatic Enigma.

The match was promptly ended to provide Hardy with immediate medical attention, as he was visibly bleeding from the mouth and appeared disoriented when trying to stand. Fans in attendance also noted that Hardy appeared to be out of it, and Guevara is taking some blame online.

this is NOT the first time Sammy Guevara has injured Jeff Hardy with his amateur hour bullshit

HE IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER pic.twitter.com/Hm4EOwzU0z

— Degenerate George (@DGen_Media) February 15, 2024

What’s Next

Because of NBA All-Star weekend, Rampage will air this week on February 16th at 7 PM EST. The episode will also feature Anna Jay against Queen Aminata.

The entire staff of SE Scoops is sending our best to Jeff Hardy during this time. Hopefully, he isn’t injured and won’t miss any time.

AEW is preparing for Sting’s final match, marking the end of his iconic career. The Stinger has done a lot in his career, and now we know who he will wrestle at the big AEW pay-per-view.

Sunday, March 3#AEWRevolution LIVE on PPV!
Greensboro, NC#AEW World Tag Team Titles
Sting & Darby Allin (c) vs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson @youngbucks

It's Sting's LAST MATCH as he & @DarbyAllin seek revenge and defend the titles against Matthew & Nicholas Jackson. pic.twitter.com/peEUbUtnfm

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

Sting’s Final Match

Sting & Darby Allin will defend the AEW World tag team titles against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution on March 3, 2024, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

This event will mark AEW’s inaugural Pay-Per-View in North Carolina. It was revealed a while ago that Sting will wrestle for the last time at the event.

Sting and Darby Allin won the AEW Tag Team Titles from Big Bill and Ricky Starks, giving them their first title run in AEW. They will now defend those titles at AEW Revolution, and they have a big match planned.

Nick and Matt Jackson turned heel in a big way, making themselves known to Sting and Darby Allin. This week on AEW Dynamite, they made their upcoming match official.

The Young Bucks confirmed during AEW Dynamite that they will wrestle Sting and Darby Allin at AEW Revolution. That match will be for the AEW Tag Team Titles. The Jackson Brothers seemed very confident about their chances.

What’s Next

Sting impressed many people with performances in AEW. Few saw a flying Stinger in his later years, but he certainly gave his all for Tony Khan’s company. Now, he is set for this one final match, and odds are he will make it an iconic performance.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else involving AEW Revolution, as more information is made available. 

QT Marshall was one of the names that left AEW last year. His departure was due to differences that he had with the job he was given to do. He lost a lot of pull backstage since Cody Rhodes’ departure, and many expected him to seek out another home for his talents. Now, he is back in AEW.

QT Marshall’s AEW Return

According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, QT Marshall is set to return to All Elite Wrestling, albeit in a different role. 

It’s been reported that Marshall and AEW have resolved their previous issues, and he will be resuming his former position as vice president. However, there are no plans for him to return to the ring as a wrestler.

Sources familiar with the matter have also reportedly confirmed that an agreement was reached a couple of weeks ago, although Marshall has not yet officially rejoined the company. He is also able to take bookings outside Tony Khan’s company.

We’re told that Marshall is free to wrestle outside of AEW, with the exception of WWE. The 38-year old Marshall hadn’t wrestled since his AEW deal officially ended on December 31 until this past week’s TCW show, but has shown off his physical transformation on Twitter.

What’s Next

In collaboration with Teil Rhodes, Marshall has joined efforts to revive Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, originally founded by Dusty Rhodes. Their inaugural show took place on February 8 in McDonough, GA, featuring former WWE Superstar Matt Cardona, Scotty Riggs, Glacier, Aaron Solo, and others.

We will have to see if AEW provides any assistance to Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling in the time to come.

Velveteen Dream was released from WWE in 2021, and he hasn’t made any noise for another pro wrestling company since. That being said, headlines about the former NXT North American Champion were not hard to come by as arrests and other allegations followed him. Now, he is onto his next venture, and he’s advocating to preserve rural America. 

Velveteen Dream’s Next Phase

According to Star Exponent, Patrick Clark frequently visits Culpeper to reunite with family and appreciates its rural ambiance. Recently settling in the county for three months, he is introduced as the cousin of Don Haight, a Stevensburg farmer advocating for local farmer programs and the preservation of the county’s rural essence.

Although Clark originally hailed from Washington D.C, he has seemingly found a new home in Culpepper, and he loves the vibe there. During the February 6th Culpeper County Board of Supervisors meeting, he urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of implementing large-scale solar power. 

While expressing apprehension about technological and political changes, he cautioned against external influences jeopardizing Culpeper’s distinct identity.

“I’m afraid that there is a technological and a political gentrification that may occur if we allow outside forces to corrupt Culpeper.”

“Culpeper has this sweet nature to it, sweet as black garlic if you will. It’s got this nature that I’m afraid is going to be corrupted if you all let personal interest affect the decisions that affect the citizens of Culpeper.”

Clark also noted the backing the board receives from residents on this issue, drawing a parallel to his own encounter with dwindling support.

“I lost my job because I took for granted the support that was given to me by the people who paid good money to see me perform.”

In May 2017, Clark debuted a new Prince-inspired persona on NXT named Velveteen Dream. He gained traction and clinched the NXT North American Championship once. However, after a lengthy hiatus due to WWE’s investigation into allegations of Clark’s misconduct involving children, he was released from WWE in May 2021.

Allegations Against Patrick Clark

Patrick Clark was making reference to the allegations that surrounded his WWE departure. In April 2020, there were allegations of misconduct involving minors against Clark. He denied these allegations, and the WWE conducted an investigation, which found no evidence supporting the claims. He was never formally charged.

Allegations of drug use and setting up a camera in a bathroom to snap photos of male Superstars without consent were also made. His name has been ripe with controversy, and he has addressed these accusations in the past.

WWE tried to use Velveteen Dream on television after that, with Triple H even saying that they determined that nothing out of line happened after concluding an investiation. Still, #FireVelveteenDream popped up and trended on Twitter every time he made an appearance on television.

WWE has made some surprising moves this year, and they’ve already seen some notable exits. Now, the company has fired another long-time employee in a rather surprising manner.

Matt Camp Was Released By WWE

PW Insider reports that WWE made a decision to release one of their key on-air personalities. Matt Camp, who had been with the company for years, serving as the host of WWE’s The Bump and other roles, was reportedly released last week.

Camp joined WWE in 2019, and he never missed an episode of The Bump during his tenure with the show. Despite his consistent presence, there was no mention of his departure on last week’s episode. 

Prior to his time with WWE, Camp had worked on various WWE shows, including Raw Talk and Smackdown Lowdown. His most recent appearance was on the WWE NXT Vengeance Day Kickoff.

Reaction To Matt Camp’s Release

The reaction to Camp’s release has reportedly been a shock to several people within WWE. As of right now, there is no explanation provided by the company for his release, and there have been no internal statements made regarding the matter.

Before joining WWE, Matt Camp had worked as the lead announcer for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion and served as the lead Fantasy Football Analyst for Bleacher Report. Odds are, he will land on his feet, and we are wishing him the best in his future moves.

WWE signed Jade Cargill away from AEW after Tony Khan offered her more money than she asked for to stay. Her 2024 Royal Rumble in-ring debut brought here a lot of attention, and WWE certainly noticed that huge pop for her in Tropicana Field. She was expected for the Elimination Chamber, but now that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Jade Cargill’s Elimination Chamber Plans Change

According to PW Insider, as of yesterday, Jade Cargill is no longer slated for the Women’s Elimination Chamber on February 24th in Perth. 

I was able to confirm that Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, and Jade Cargill were originally slated for the Women’s Elimnation Chamber match. Now, it appears those plans for Cargill have changed.

As of this writing, I am still awaiting confirmation on Cargill’s Chamber status, and what might have happened to faciliate this change.

WWE has reportedly scrapped plans for Jade Cargill to be involved in the Elimination Chamber match to determine Rhea Ripley's WrestleMania opponent. The original plan would have reportedly seen her win the last chance battle royal on SmackDown.

Read more.? pic.twitter.com/kBrDmmeFOg

— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) February 14, 2024

Elimination Chamber Date, Location, and Start Time

The 2024 Elimination Chamber event is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. This marks WWE’s return to Australia since Super Show-Down in October 2018 and is the sole WWE event in the Asia–Pacific region for 2024. 

The event will start at 4:30 AM for fans in the Eastern Time Zone. It will certainly be an interesting time for a premium live event, but anything can happen on the road to WrestleMania.

WWE fans are paying attention to Tony D’Angelo new associate, Adriana Rizzo. Her name trended like wildfire after her appearance during the February 13th episode of WWE NXT.

Fans Want Rizzo

After Rizzo’s match with Jaida Parker on NXT this week, fans wanted to know more about her. Her name was a breakout topics on Google’s search engine, and this is a very good thing for her.

LFG… @AdrianaRizzoWWE trending big for WWE after last night’s #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/ZeYtb5Th9p

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 14, 2024

WWE pays attention to search trends, and it was pretty impossible to miss the fact that fans wanted to know more about Adriana Rizzo. Odds are, this extra attention will also be great for The Family, even if Tony D’Angelo and Stacks lost the NXT Tag Team Titles to Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin this week as well.

Who Is Adriana Rizzo

Anna Keefer, now known as Adriana Rizzo in WWE, took an unexpected path to signing with a pro wrestling company. As a high school graduate in 2017, she excelled in track and field, securing four individual state outdoor titles. During her time at the University of North Carolina, she achieved first-team All-America honors in the indoor long jump in 2022 and second-team All-America recognition in the 200m event.

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:ChIM_D1thBD

Following the conclusion of her collegiate track and field career, Rizzo had aspirations of pursuing a professional athletic career. However, she decided on a whim to attend a WWE SummerSlam Tryout in Nashville. After that tryout, she was offered a contract to join the WWE Performance Center Fall 2022 Rookie Class. Now, she is a regular on NXT television on a consistent basis.

WWE’s NXT brand pre-taped next week’s episode already, and that included a packed night of action for fans. Sadly, one match did not turn out as anyone would have liked, as Shotzi battled Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Women’s Title. 

LYRA VS. SHOTZI FOR THE NXT WOMEN'S TITLE NEXT WEEK ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Tq1j6fawpu

— s e t h (@futurafreesky) February 14, 2024

Shotzi Injured 

Shotzi sustained a knee injury while attempting her apron DDT during tonight’s taping for next week’s WWE NXT Championship match. She will undergo evaluation to confirm the severity of the injury.

Fightful’s Corey Brennan reported that the NXT Women’s Title match needed to be stopped midway through the contest.

Shotzi and Lyra Valkyria’s NXT Women’s Title match during tonight’s second #WWENXT taping was stopped due to a serious knee injury suffered by Shotzi.

Shotzi and Lyra Valkyria's NXT Women's Title match during tonight's second #WWENXT taping was stopped due to a serious knee injury suffered by Shotzi.

She was helped to the back and is being checked out now. pic.twitter.com/PyOkDZtH1A

— Corey Brennan Of Fightful.com (@CoreyBrennanFF) February 14, 2024

Shotzi had been slated to compete against Tiffany Stratton in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match on this week’s WWE SmackDown, but the status of the match is now uncertain. For what it’s worth, I was able to confirm that Tiffany Stratton is in the Chamber match, so Shotzi was likely losing her qualifying match anyway.  

Fightful Select later noted that this is not a work. Shotzi was in a ton of pain backstage, and she wasn’t able to place any weight on her leg.

After speaking to several sources in NXT, Corey Brennan was able to confirm that Shotzi was not able to place weight on her injured knee and was forced to hop to the back with assistance from WWE’s medical team. It was apparent when Shotzi arrived backstage that she was in a large amount of pain. Officials backstage were said to be very concerned for Shotzi and she was immediately taken for medical evaluation. 

SE Scoops will provide more updates as information is made available. 

Next Week’s WWE NXT

Next week’s episode of NXT promises to be a good episode. Apart from the NXT Women’s Title match, former WWE NXT Women’s champion Roxanne Perez will take on Wren Sinclair.

On the men’s side, NXT will feature a singles bout between Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, which may finally close the book on their story. Additionally, following their face-to-face confrontation on tonight’s episode, Lexis King will challenge NXT North American champion Oba Femi for his title.

Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin were an unlikely team, but the two have proved that they are quite a pair. Now, they are NXT Tag Team Champions to top it all off.

New NXT Tag Team Champions

The Family, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks, were NXT Tag Team Champions. Then their match against the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners was set for this week’s episode.

OH. MY. GOD.

This is chaos!!!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/ZPPgz8WNii

— WWE (@WWE) February 14, 2024

Breakker and Corbin battled D’Angelo and Stacks in the main event of this week’s show. Fans in the NXT Arena were also pulling for a title change. That finally went down as Breakker scored the pinfall after a spear.

BEST SPEAR IN THE GAME HOLY SHIT ??

THE WOLF DOGS ARE THE NEW NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPS ????#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/lOGIukWdM0

— s e t h (@futurafreesky) February 14, 2024

This was a hard-fought match, as The Family was able to create some devastating offense to really slow down their opponents. Breakker also took a table break right before the finish went down, but he was able to make his way to the ring.

WHAT A MOMENT ???#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/6AX0jkQFSF

— WWE (@WWE) February 14, 2024

What’s Next

Bron Breakker was called up to the WWE main roster as part of his 2024 Royal Rumble entry. He appears to be going to the RAW brand, as I was told, but his time in NXT is obviously not over yet.

WWE has let champions in NXT get their main roster call-ups, only to lose the belts later. Sometimes, a title is relinquished instead of actually dropping it. Either way, Corbin and Breakker are starting a new run as champions.

SE Scoops will have more on this story as more information is made available. 

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has told several stories in the ring during his time with WWE. Although it’s been a while since he laced up his boots, the Texas Rattlesnake isn’t shutting the door on having another match.

Steve Austin Speaks on a Return

Steve Austin competed in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens on February 4, 2022, at WrestleMania 38. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas played host to a historic performance, but it might not be his last. 

While speaking to ESPN, Steve Austin spoke on the possibility of having another match. He gave the classic “never say never” approach to things, but this could mean a lot coming from Austin.

“I said I’d never get in a ring again unless all the stars aligned. And for some reason, somehow, they all did. And at the age of 57, I headlined the first night of WrestleMania. I never thought I’d do that. If you’d have told me that when I retired in [2003], I’d have said, ‘You’re crazy.’ So I’m not gonna sit here and say no to anything, because you never say never in this crazy business of sports entertainment.”

Austin also mentioned that a potential match with CM Punk “would be a good one.”

“I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me — so, as long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner,” Austin said with a laugh. “I consider him a great friend, a great guy and a great wrestler who’s had a great career. We’ll see.”

Steve Austin in WWE 2K24

Austin will have a significant role in WWE 2K24’s latest game mode, “Showcase of the Immortals.” This mode lets players experience 21 historic WrestleMania matches, commemorating the 40th anniversary of WWE’s premier event. These matches include iconic showdowns like Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 and the memorable ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon from WrestleMania 10, as well as more recent bouts such as the first women’s WrestleMania main event featuring Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35.

In the game, players will be able to replay Steve Austin’s legendary match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 in 1997, a bout that propelled the “Stone Cold” character to new heights. Additionally, Austin’s WrestleMania 17 clash with The Rock in 2001 and his comeback match against Owens will also be available. 

What’s Next

The Rock’s recent return to WWE may have sparked interest in Austin to do the same. Only time will tell if he locks up in a WWE ring again, but his match at WrestleMania against Kevin Owens, which Austin won, was a well-produced 13-minute street fight that had fans on their feet the whole time. Odds are, Austin is in good enough shape to give the same performance, or even better, at 59-years-old. 

WWE is in a booming period in their history, and they are definitely in a position to offer big compensation if Austin does decide to return. If anything, his comeback will likely be much more well-received than The Rock’s was.

WWE 2K24 is coming, and there is a lot to unpack already. The new trailer dropped this morning, and a Showcase of the Immortals mode is anticipated to be a big hit.

WWE 2K24 Showcase of the Immortals Mode Information

The latest trailer for WWE 2K24’s 2K Showcase of the Immortals was unveiled today, offering fans a glimpse into five decades of WrestleMania, the pinnacle of sports entertainment. There are many memories to pull from, and 2k promises an exciting experience. 

Featuring a lineup of WWE Superstars and Legends such as Cody Rhodes, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Rhea Ripley, Eddie Guerrero, and many more, the new trailer showcases intense battles inside the squared circle. The trailer also transitions between the most realistic WWE 2K graphics to-date and real-life footage. In a press release from 2k, they touted that this effect was courtesy of cutting-edge Slingshot Technology.

The 2K Showcase of the Immortals experience allows players to relive 21 matches across five decades of WrestleMania history, with each match unlocked by completing the previous one. From iconic showdowns like Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant to modern classics like Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair, the game offers a comprehensive journey through WrestleMania’s storied past.

Some of the matches included in the WWE 2K24 Showcase of the Immortals mode were mentioned, but there are more to come. 

• Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat w/ George “The Animal” Steele vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth – WrestleMania III;
• Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan – WrestleMania III;
• “Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. Ultimate Warrior – WrestleMania V;;
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – WrestleMania VII;
• Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania X;
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13;
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock – WrestleMania X-Seven;
• Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle – WrestleMania XX;
• The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25;
• Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton – WrestleMania 31;
• Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 35;
• “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena in a Firefly Funhouse match – WrestleMania 36;
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens – WrestleMania 38;
• Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 39;
• Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 39;
• Bianca Belair vs. Asuka – WrestleMania 39;

Absence of Brock Lesnar

It is interesting that Brock Lesnar is not featured in any matches on this announcement. After all, the Beast Incarnate breaking The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania XX is a strange omission from those amazing matches. 

He was pulled from the cover of WWE 2K24’s Forty Years of WrestleMania edition after his connection to the allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. 

Brock Lesnar’s name did not appear in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. However, the mention of a former UFC Heavyweight Champion negotiating a new contract with WWE raised concerns for Lesnar. Now, he is being erased. 

It will be interesting to see if 2K will be able to take him out of the game completely. That may be hard to do this late in the game’s process. They certainly avoided including him in this announcement, if he is still featured at all.

2K has already removed Lesnar from their SuperCard mobile game, and it appears he will not be featured in WWE 2K24. It was also reported that they will make efforts to remove him from the game.

Brock Lesnar didn’t make his planned WWE return during the 2024 Royal Rumble event after Janel Grant’s lawsuit dropped. There is a belief that he may not be back.

WWE 2K24 Release Information

Three editions of WWE 2K24 will be available, including the Deluxe Edition, Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition, and Standard Edition, with release dates staggered worldwide in March 2024. Stay tuned for additional information on the game’s soundtrack, roster, Superstar ratings, and more.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WWE 2K24, and everything else in the pro wrestling world.

Triple H brought back a lot of Superstars that Vince McMahon decided to release during the pandemic. Bronson Reed is one talent that was re-signed by WWE, but it’s been a very slow start for him. Now, he’s about to snap.

Bronson Reed Is About To Snap

On WWE RAW this week, Reed faced Bobby Lashley in a qualifying match for the men’s Elimination Chamber match at the themed PLE, scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. That did not turn out the way he wanted it to for the big man.

Lashley secured his spot alongside Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, LA Knight, and another star who must qualify in the bout. Needless to say, Bronson Reed, who is from Australia, was pretty torn up about not being in the match.

Reed, who has predominantly played a heel role since returning to WWE, hinted at a potential character shift. During an interview with WWE Digital after RAW, he expressed disappointment in feeling that he let down his family and friends from Australia.

“Super disappointed. This is what I’ve dreamed about my whole life: being able to be on a WWE PLE in my home country of Australia. I feel like I’ve let down my family, I’ve let down the fans, and I’ve let down all of Australia. I couldn’t get the job done tonight…..I don’t know where I go. I planned 2024 to be a big year for Big Bronson Reed, and it’s not going to plan. I’m just at my wits’ end, and eventually, I’m going to snap.”

EXCLUSIVE: After coming up short to qualify for #WWEChamber in Perth, @BRONSONISHERE doesn't take it well.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/9RJUxC01I1

— WWE (@WWE) February 13, 2024

What’s Next

WWE has a few more pieces to put together for the 2024 Elimination Chamber match. In previous years, they have arranged a last-chance match with losers of qualifying matches to determine the final spot. It would be very fitting for Reed to get that spot, especially since this loss added even more fuel to the fire that a change is needed to reach the top of WWE.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WWE’s Elimination Chamber build. It would be nice if Bronson Reed is able to get a spot in the big match, but only time will tell what WWE has in store for him. 

Matt Riddle was released in September 2023 after he simply burned too many chances with management. His firing was connected to dozens of backstage incidents, and controversies. The final straw came after he had an inebriated escapade at JFK airport that was impossible to ignore.

Riddle Speaking To TNA

Matt Riddle is a top free agent, but he hasn’t inked a deal anywhere yet. That being said, it wasn’t for lack of interest, because his name could draw fans from all over.

While speaking to Sunday Night’s Main Event, Matt Riddle mentioned his involvement with several promotions such as TNA, New Japan, and MLW, expressing a preference for pay-per-view events over live TV due to their challenges. While he acknowledged enjoying the pressure, Riddle welcomed a respite from the demanding schedule and frequent script alterations on shows like Monday Night RAW.

After departing from WWE, Matt Riddle expressed that the constant television work, coupled with the demanding travel schedule, became stressful. Despite the lucrative pay and valuable experience, he now desires a hiatus from television commitments. During and after the 90-day period following his departure, Riddle plans to arrange some upcoming dates.

”I talked to some places. I’ve talked to TNA, I’ve worked with New Japan and MLW. You do film for TV, but it’s not the same as Monday Night Raw, three hours live, anything can happen, people are changing the script. You have ten minutes for your match, now you have five minutes. It’s extremely stressful. I like the pressure, but at the same time, I kind of wanted a little break from all that. I’m choosing places more pay-per-view based where I don’t have to worry about going to commercial so we can get that Fritos advertisement.”

What’s Next For Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle is also slated to face RVD in an epic first-time ever encounter. On Saturday, March 9th, 2024, “The Reunion 3: Cavalcade of Legends” Super Show will take place in Chillicothe, Ohio, at the OU-Shoemaker Center, and those two icons of 420 inspired wrestling will clash for the first time.

Riddle is also scheduled to compete against Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NJPW World Television Championship at the upcoming New Beginning in Sapporo event on February 23rd. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the match.

Jamie Hayter is a former AEW Women’s Champion, but she is currently out of action. At this time, the AEW Women’s Division is concentrated on Toni Storm and Julia Hart as their champions, but Hayter is apparently nowhere close to a comeback.

Hayter’s Situation

Jamie Hayter held the AEW Women’s Champion title since securing the interim championship at Full Gear in 2022. However, she later relinquished the title last year. Fans are eagerly awaiting her comeback, but her return to the ring remains uncertain.

During AEW Double Or Nothing, Toni Storm defeated Jamie Hayter to claim the AEW Women’s World Champion title. Before the event, there were concerns about Hayter’s condition. It was also reported that Jamie Hayter would not make her ring comeback last year.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spoke on Hayter’s situation. He stated that there is no definite date for her return, but it expected to go down in the next 10 months.

“I have not been given a date on Jamie Hayter though. I just heard early this year, and we’re early in the year, so there you go. But I’ve heard nothing new, I would say, in a couple of months really.”

What’s Next

AEW is about to see the debut of Mercedes Mone for the company. That big moment is expected to go down at AEW’s Big Business episode of Dynamite. Tony Khan made a big reveal that Boston will host their March 13th edition of the show, and fans are expecting the former Sasha Banks.

Things may look very different in the AEW Women’s Division by the time Jamie Hayter is able to make her return to the ring. SE Scoops will have continued updates as more information is made available. 

WWE Superstars give their all for fans in the ring. Joe Gacy is an NXT Superstar with a ton of potential. Sadly, he has also experienced a great loss in recent memory, and he shared it with fans as well.

Joe Gacy Shares His Loss

Joe Gacy got on Twitter/X to announce that his beloved cat has died. He let everyone know with a post that included a photo of his feline friend.

The caption was very simple, as Joe just let everyone know the terrible situation he’s going through. He did not include any information about what happened, but it is clear that the former Schism leader is grieving.

We lost our boy today

Joe Gacy received a flood of responses after this sad post. Sympathy was coming in from fans and his coworkers in NXT as well. Obviously, they feel for him during this sad time of loss.

We lost our boy today pic.twitter.com/yoM7GcPPpq

— Joe 6acy (@JoeGacy) February 12, 2024

What’s Next For Joe Gacy

Joe Gacy’s character in NXT has been going through some changes after Schism broke up. He did some strange promos and is now getting involved in angles again on his own. Ava, the only remaining member of the stable, is now GM of the NXT brand.

Our thoughts are with Joe Gacy as he makes it through this terrible incident. For more updates from the pro wrestling world, please keep checking back with SE Scoops.

WWE has a lot of couples on their roster, and they have historically done whatever they could to keep people on the same brand. In recent memory, WWE has made two big exceptions to this rule of thumb, and Tiffany Stratton isn’t loving the arrangement.

Tiffany Stratton Speaks on boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser

Tiffany Stratton was called up to the WWE main roster when she appeared in the #29 spot in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Now, she is on SmackDown, but there is an issue since her boyfriend is on RAW.

Stratton is dating Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser, and the two have been together for a while. They share an apartment together, but the couple only sees each other for a couple of days a week with this new arrangement.

The former NXT Women’s Champion dropped a video on TikTok as she got ready for SmackDown. She was in her hotel room before the show, and opened up about her current situation with Kaiser.

“As many of you know, my boyfriend is on RAW, and I’m on SmackDown, which means we have opposite schedules, which freaking sucks. Which means he has the complete opposite schedule, which means he comes in Tuesday morning, and I leave Thursday afternoon, so we only have like two days together, because he’s on the live shows like every single weekend.”

WWE Split Up Another Couple

Charlotte Flair is on SmackDown, but she went down with a knee injury. As soon as she was out, her husband Andrade returned to WWE. The company placed Andrade on RAW, and his wife is on the blue brand. 

The general thinking is that this split won’t affect them much, since Flair is not traveling on the road. Only time will tell if WWE places them back on the same brand once The Queen returns.

What’s Next

Tiffany Stratton mentioned that she and her boyfriend were planning to move apartments soon and were looking forward to renting their dream apartment. She expressed excitement about the prospect of having more space, especially since they currently live in a cramped one-bedroom apartment and have accumulated a lot of belongings. 

Tiffany emphasized the need for additional storage space for their clothes and other items, indicating a desire for a larger closet and an extra room. She may need more room soon enough, and those main roster checks will help them pay for it.

WWE has a lot of plans going down on the road to WrestleMania. This week on RAW, things really started heating up.

The American Nightmare has @TheRock on his mind…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/DOPw9Dp56A

— WWE (@WWE) February 13, 2024

WrestleMania Momentum on RAW

Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring on WWE RAW this week, and he had a lot to say, He addressed The Rock’s actions, and what he said to him at the WrestleMania kickoff event.

Rhodes also said that The Rock slapped him, but “you slapped me across the face, and what that means is I’m gonna hit you right back.”

Seth Rollins then entered the situation, where he addressed Cody directly. Rollins said that Cody needs to finish his story for everyone, including Dusty Rhodes. He also had something very important to say to the American Nightmare.

"@TheRock, you slapped me across the face and what that means is I'm going to hit you back!"@CodyRhodes did NOT hold back on the ? on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/ujmnvi4oRq

— WWE (@WWE) February 13, 2024

Rollins told Cody that he doesn’t have to fight The Rock alone. He is sick and tired of people like The Rock and Roman Reigns, who he called “pricks” doing whatever they want and getting away with it.

By all appearance, it looks like Roman Reigns and The Rock are going to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes in a tag team match. That being said, Cody vs Roman is still going to happen.

"When it comes to fighting @TheRock and @WWERomanReigns, there is only one man on earth who is uniquely suited to be your shield…"@WWERollins has @CodyRhodes' back!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/dOnaCj4tCw

— WWE (@WWE) February 13, 2024

WWE’s Changing WrestleMania Plans

I kept asking about The Rock’s WrestleMania plans possibly changing because the subject is certainly one of the hottest in pro wrestling right now.

A tenured member of the creative team told me last week before the Las Vegas WrestleMania kickoff event, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

In the end, it was all up to The Rock, who didn’t really care if he was booed or cheered at WrestleMania. WWE didn’t see those “Rocky Sucks” chants coming on RAW.

Thursday was interesting in Las Vegas. After the event, I was able to confirm that Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn’t the situation we had then. After all the negative reaction, The Rock then conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.

A tag team match at WrestleMania seemed to be the direction then, with Rock & Roman vs Cody & Seth. Either way, Cody vs Roman then main evented night two of Mania 40.

Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.

A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 12, 2024

The Rock returned to WWE under very interesting circumstances. He wanted a match against Roman Reigns that has been a long time coming, but fans wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish his story. Now, we have a much different picture for the WrestleMania main event than The Rock wanted to.

The Rock Embracing The Dark Side

It was reported that The Rock taking a seat on TKO’s Board of Directors came with a WrestleMania match attached. He got $30 million in company stock as a part of that deal.

Fans spoke out in massive fashion when Rock bumped Cody Rhodes out of his WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns. Trends started online and the story got picked up by major mainstream outlets. 

Wrestle Votes reported on Twitter/X that WWE sources have said that The Rock is prepared to “fully embrace” his heel gimmick. It was also noted that WWE is expected to drop official Cody crybabies merchandise. 

Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…

Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) February 12, 2024

Why WWE Changed The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)

I’ve been doing my best to stay up on this always-evolving storyline. As I originally reported, The Rock was the one who needed to make the call to change this match. That is what finally happened after a ton of fans speaking out.

I keep asking about #TheRock's #WrestleMania? plans possibly changing, because that's all fans want at this point.

Last night, a tenured member of the creative team told me straight up: "We have not been told of any change. That doesn't mean the plan hasn't changed. Or won't…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

A tenured source within WWE confirmed that The Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current situation we have with the show of shows was not what The Rock originally wanted to do, so this was not all part of an elaborate plan from the jump.

The Rock called his shot for a match against Roman Reigns on January 1st when he showed up during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Then, the match was agreed to shortly after that, with Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match after that, despite Triple H knowing that Rock vs Reigns was agreed to. 

Along with mainstream outlets picking up the story about fan outrage, The Rock’s daughter, Ava, was also caught in the crossfire. She received death threats and later deactivated her Twitter/X account. The Rock also spoke up about this incident involving his daughter.

After all the negative reaction, I am told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” Fan reaction, and mainstream attention on the matter, caused Rock to make a call to pivot. That being said, he will now apparently play up the heel gimmick on WWE television for the Cody crybabies.

Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.

A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 12, 2024