AEW has given a great platform to the stars on their roster. Tony Khan does his fair share of media rounds, but he doesn’t plan on taking any spot on his own roster.
Tony Khan Speaks On Booking Himself In AEW Storyline
Pro wrestling bookers have gotten involved in storylines in the past. Vince McMahon invented the Mr. McMahon character so he could mix it up on television and assert his authority.
AEW is operated by Tony Khan, but he doesn’t really appear on television unless he’s making a major announcement. That being said, fans have often wondered if TK will ever book himself into an angle.
On the latest episode of Levack and Goz podcast, Tony Khan was asked about the idea of getting involved in an on-screen storyline. He said that fans don’t want to see that happen, so he is going to keep his participation with AEW backstage.
“I don’t think anybody really wants to see that, Not anytime soon. That’s not anything I think we’re going to do. I do think AEW has a great roster, the best wrestlers in the world. I would rather try to put the best matches and we have exciting rivalries building in AEW right now.”
What’s Next
We will have to see if Tony Khan goes back on that idea of staying out of his company’s television stories. It appears that he is more than happy to continue hyping the stars he currently has on his roster.
SE Scoops will continue monitoring this story, just in case Tony Khan decides to book himself in a story.
Posted February 12th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Tony Khan.
The allegations against Vince McMahon in Janel Grant’s lawsuit led to his resignation from the company. The pro wrestling world’s bubble busted open as mainstream outlets picked up this troubling story. That being said, Matt Riddle was not surprised.
Riddle Speaks on McMahon
Matt Riddle was released from WWE in September 2023 after his own slew of controversies. He simply burned every chance he had with management after his inebriated show at JFK Airport when he was heading home from WWE’s house show in India. He obviously saw the headlines about Mr. McMahon, and he had a lot to say about it.
While speaking on Sunday Night’s Main Event, the Original Bro stated that Vince McMahon is “a maniac.” He was not surprised by the allegations in Grant’s lawsuit, either.
”Well, people say that (they were surprised), and granted I had no idea of anything going on. I don’t even politic my own matches. I show up and do my job. Honestly, if you watch any of his work from in-ring performances, the things he said and did, logic would tell you alone. Especially, me, personally, all the good wrestlers that play good characters, that’s them. It might be turned up by ten or 100, but that’s them. When I see Vince do all the things he’s done from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s, I was not surprised.’‘
”Some of it, a little, but yeah, the guy is a billionaire that owns a company. He’s done it all, seen it all, and wants to do more and see more. I don’t know, I’m not a billionaire. I wasn’t the dude (alleged in the lawsuit). Brock was the dude he was talking to. It wasn’t me. I really have no comment, other than that. I’m not surprised. I hear people say they’re surprised. I’m not surprised. The guy was a maniac,”
WWE has taken active efforts to erase Vince McMahon from the public. He, along with Brock Lesnar, are no longer people that the company wants to associate themselves with. It is notable that Lesnar has zero creative plans for him, but he is still apparently under contract.
The withdrawal of advertisers and sponsors can trigger a domino effect, prompting WWE to act swiftly to contain the situation. Vince McMahon’s resignation was deemed necessary under the circumstances and was widely regarded as justified. Questions have arisen regarding the validity of the initial investigation into the hush money scandal that led to McMahon’s first retirement, especially since Janel Grant claims she was never questioned. Grant’s lawsuit also highlights her intention to speak out for those who may not be able to. The possibility of more stories emerging about Mr. McMahon is deeply concerning.
‘Ms. Grant is filing this lawsuit not just to address her own suffering, but also to act for those who are afraid to speak out. Plaintiff Janel Grant is a former employee of WWE who was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.’
WWE has many traditions, and their Money in the Bank gimmick is one long-standing idea that hasn’t gone away. If anything, when someone like Damien Priest holds the guaranteed contract for a title match, you never know what can happen.
Damian Priest Talks Cashing In Money in the Bank Contract
During last year’s Money In The Bank event, Damian Priest emerged victorious, claiming the Señor Money In The Bank title. Despite holding the contract, he has refrained from cashing it in.
Priest has recently hinted at the prospect of cashing in at WrestleMania 40. Since winning the briefcase, speculation has been rife regarding the timing of Priest’s cash-in. With more than seven months elapsed since his victory, significant developments have unfolded on WWE RAW, but he is still carrying his briefcase alongside Judgment Day.
While speaking on Sony Liv’s WWE Super Dhamaal, Damian Priest opened up about the possibilities ahead of him right now. He could cash in his Money in the Bank contract at any time, and there are some interesting options.
At this point, Priest seems very excited about the possibility of ruining someone’s night with that cash-in.
“Umm, yeah, like I said, there’s no rush, but knowing what’s coming up, WrestleMania, you got Cody, who knows what champion he’s going to face. You have [The] Rock getting involved. Obviously, Roman’s gonna be there, [and] Seth coming in as World [Heavyweight] Champion. He should be cleared by then. I could ruin a lot of people’s days. So it’s an exciting time. I don’t know exactly when or exactly who, but the options are very good.”
What’s Next
WWE has not let a Money in the Bank holder carry their briefcase until the next year’s event yet. They are certainly getting closer to that happening this time around, but Priest seems excited to cash in.
WWE released a lot of talent during the pandemic, and some of them were already brought back by Triple H. Matt Cardona has not returned to WWE yet since Zack Ryder’s release, but his wife, Chelsea Green, is waiting for it.
Chelsea Green on Matt Cardona’s Possible Return
Cardona and Green have a very happy life at home, but she probably misses having him on the road. Although they keep different schedules, it appears that she isn’t losing hope on both of them operating under a WWE schedule again someday.
While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Chelsea was asked about Cardona’s potential WWE return. This is something that she is also patiently waiting on.
“I would also love to know that, I’m waiting. I am patiently waiting. Because not that I want to be partnered up with him in WWE. That would be great. I think we could have an amazing mixed match, tag team division, whatever it is. But I don’t know. I don’t know why, I would love to know why I would love to be a fly on the wall of kind of like the meetings of the top guys in WWE. But I do feel like in my heart of hearts, it’s only a matter of time, it feels crazy that he wouldn’t be.”
Matt Cardona Reinvented Himself on the Indies
Chelsea Green also addressed how Matt Cardona was able to reinvent himself after his WWE release. She saw the evolution into indie death match wrestling God, and she seems to be all for it, although she called it insane to witness.
“Oh my gosh. He’s doing amazing and I know that he always says I knew that this is what I had in me. I didn’t know because I didn’t care about him in wrestling when we got together. So for me to see the evolution of Zack to Matt has been insane. I just had no idea that he had that in him to totally change and evolve and, and become this entirely new persona.”
“But let me tell you a little story about that. Because when he first was released from WWE, and this, I get so angry with him, because guess the whole world is like, Oh, I’m Matt Cardona. He’s the only person to walk through the forbidden f*cking door and all he does all these amazing things. Let me tell you something. Okay. When he got released, you know what I told him to do? I said, I don’t think you should sign anywhere Matt, I think that you should contact every single company. I have all their information, I’ve been on the Indies for, seven years. And I think you should do all of them. And you should do them all sporadically. So that each week people don’t know where you’re going to be. It paints a picture of you are literally everywhere and you’re unstoppable. And guess what? He laughed at me. He laughed at me and he was like, No, I don’t think so. And he pursued one thing, and it was like, one thing. And then he ended up doing what I said to him a year later, and it and it’s amazing. That why he is the indie Wrestler of the Year or whatever, because he’s everywhere. So you’re welcome. [Did Matt give you credit?] No, he never does. So that’s why I’m giving myself credit. And like, we should clip that and then make him retweet it.”
What’s Next
Triple H decided to bring back a number of Superstars that Vince McMahon released. As of this writing, Matt Cardona hasn’t had his name called, but he is also very busy on the indies as he continues to carve out a place for himself outside WWE.
AEW only had Cardona in for a handful of appearance, thanks to Cody Rhodes. He hasn’t been back to the land of All Elite since their Daily’s Place era. Only time will tell where Cardona appears next, but WWE may have a ready-made storyline with Chelsea Green waiting on him.
SE Scoops will have more coverage of this story, just in case Matt Cardona’s path finds him back in WWE.
Will Ospreay is on his way to AEW, and it was revealed during Full Gear that he was Tony Khan’s big signing. His deal with NJPW still had some time left on it, but now Ospreay is bidding farewell.
Will Ospreay’s Goodbye to NJPW
Ospreay made a lot of memories in NJPW, and he performed on some of the biggest stages the company could give him. All great things must come to an end, and that includes his time in the company.
While taking to Twitter/X, Will Ospreay thanked everyone at NJPW who had a hand in making him who he is today. He said that the roster is like family, and his door is always open for them.
Thank you to all the lads of UE. When the fans didn’t have a voice we were the shot in the arse that NJPW needed. You all are like my brothers and if you ever needed me, my door will always be open to you all.
Thank you for getting in that cage with me & making history
Thank you to all the lads of UE.
When the fans didn’t have a voice we were the shot in the arse that NJPW needed. You all are like my brothers and if you ever needed me, my door will always be open to you all.
Will Ospreay inked a deal with AEW, but Tony Khan’s company is also going to allow him to wrestle for NJPW on occasion. Ospreay will not be the regular face in NJPW that he once was, but it’s very possible that he will be able to still be a part of the company’s major events.
SE Scoops will have more coverage of this story, and so many more, as Will Ospreay makes his way to AEW as a full-time wrestler. He will be doing a lot of traveling between the UK and America, but that will also come with a brand-new opportunity to show fans why he is considered one of the best active pro wrestlers today.
AEW has a locker room full of stars who are champing at the bit for their big break. Queen Aminata is becoming a regular on AEW programming, and fans may see a lot more from her soon enough.
AEW’s Plan For Queen Aminata
Queen Aminata is breaking out in the AEW fan base as a prominent figure for Tony Khan’s women’s division. She has worked hard to make it to the land of All Elite, but she hasn’t picked up her first big win just yet.
Throughout her matches, Aminata has faced notable opponents like Hikaru Shida, Thunder Rosa, and Serena Deeb. Although she has not won yet, she consistently gives those top opponents a decent fight.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned the ongoing storyline surrounding Queen Aminata. The narrative suggests that there is a deliberate buildup, with Aminata getting closer to a big victory.
”The whole thing with Queen Aminata is that they’re building up to where she’s gonna get a big one. The whole story is that she comes close to beating everyone, she’s in there with the top people and she comes close to beating them all the time, it’s like they’re building her. So the story is, she has to look good in all these matches.”
What’s Next For Queen Aminata
It was reported by Fightful Select a while ago that it is believed that Queen Aminata inked a deal with AEW. It is not known whether she signed a part-time per appearance deal or an actual contract. At this time, it appears her consistent appearances could lead her to a lot more time on screen for Khan’s company.
SE Scoops will have more coverage of Queen Aminata’s time in AEW, along with so much more. Keep checking back for more updates.
WrestleMania 40 is coming to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6 and 7, 2024. The showcase of the immortals is coming together, and now they have a new trailer to share with fans.
A new trailer dropped to hype WrestleMania 40. The short video featured The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The video certainly seemed as if a tag team match was being teased now.
Triple H hyped the trailer, as he quote posted the video along with a message. He plans to take things to a new level for WrestleMania 40, and he also included the legendary that he is known to ask fans.
“We’re taking WrestleMania XL to a whole new level. Are you ready?”
During the WrestleMania 40 press conference in the T-Mobile Arena, many fans thought that The Rock and Roman Reigns would be the WrestleMania 40 main event. Then Cody Rhodes showed up to make his choice known.
In the end, Cody Rhodes got his match against Roman Reigns. The Rock wasn’t happy about that, and he slapped The American Nightmare.
After The Rock and Roman Reigns left together, rumors started to spread about what the next plan is. Now, Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story.
Kazuchika Okada is wrapping up his career in Japan, and it appears that he is about to be All Elite. All signs point to him picking AEW’s deal over WWE’s offer, and now it appears fans won’t have to wait long.
Okada Has Made A Decision
Okada is one of the best pro wrestlers on the planet, and he has been for a number of years. Pending any unforeseen setbacks, it appears he is going to land in AEW soon.
According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, Kazuchika Okada is set to join All Elite Wrestling following his departure from NJPW. Although the deal has been effectively agreed upon in recent weeks, the finalization is yet to be confirmed. AEW has expressed confidence in securing his services for several weeks, extending back to mid-January.
Specific plans regarding Kazuchika Okada’s AEW debut remain unconfirmed. However, it is anticipated to occur after he fulfills his obligations with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Creative concepts for Okada were already being discussed as of January, with discussions in Las Vegas suggesting significant developments for the company in the first half of March.
WWE was in the game for Okada as well. It was further noted that WWE sources confirmed that there was a discussion between Okada and WWE. However, AEW is getting the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
WWE sources that we spoke to in Las Vegas did confirm that there were talks between Okada and WWE. We’ve heard from WWE talent who noted Okada was weighing the pros and cons of heading to WWE compared to AEW. In the end, we’re told that AEW was very confident in their offer to Okada.
Okada’s Discussion With WWE
For what it’s worth, I asked around about Okada’s situation with WWE and was told that discussions were taking place. That being said, nothing was far along enough for creative to even be involved.
The general thinking was that AEW offered Okada more money than WWE did. At this point, WWE isn’t hard-up for talent, and it appears that the Rainmaker signed with Tony Khan.
Interesting to see Okada going to AEW.
For what it's worth, the WWE creative team never had any plan for him, and nothing was even shared regarding cooking up booking ideas. They only start coming up with ideas when there is a reason for them to, ie a signing takes place.…
We will have to see how Tony Khan books this situation. He has two big incoming talent acquisitions, with Mercedes Mone expected to debut during the March 13th Big Business episode of AEW Dynamite. Now with Okada coming in, he could generate a ton of momentum for his company.
Kazuchika Okada could have a ton of great matches in AEW, but it’s all a matter of how he is used. Hopefully, Tony Khan will strive to give him better treatment than he received during his TNA Wrestling days, which was his last notable tenure in the United States.
Vince McMahon’s time in WWE saw him bring the company into a global sports entertainment superpower. In recent memory, allegations about McMahon have tainted his legacy in a huge way. One former Superstar is not afraid to speak out, because he has famously not been a fan of Vince’s for years.
Nailz Accuses Vince McMahon Of Squashing Talent
Nailz joined WWE in 1992, presenting a tough and intimidating persona as an unhinged criminal. His character was a convict seeking revenge against The Big Boss Man. He accused Boss Man of mistreating him during his time in prison. This storyline fueled a rivalry between the two, leading to a showdown at Survivor Series 1992.
Despite the initial hype surrounding Nailz’s debut, his stint in WWE was brief and turbulent. Following Survivor Series, reports emerged of a confrontation between Nailz and Vince McMahon. Allegedly, Nailz confronted McMahon about unpaid wages, resulting in a heated exchange that turned physical. Nailz reportedly assaulted McMahon, and then allegedly claimed that McMahon grabbed his junk, leading to his abrupt release from the company.
“I just wanted to discuss the contract and the different monetary…basically the aspect that he owed me money and I wanted to get paid for the work,” Nailz explained to Chris Featherstone. “I wanted to get paid for the services rendered. He promised me that I’d make a lot of money in WWF and I believe that I fulfilled my part. I played the character well. I put people in the seats and he didn’t fulfill his part and that was what we discussed.”
The Former WWE Superstar then accused McMahon of squashing careers of various WWE Superstars, ruining their livelihoods in the process.
“You have to stand up for yourself. You’re not a man if you let some other person step on you and treat you like a bug and squash you like a cockroach. He owed me money. I believe if people don’t stand up for themselves, there’s nobody gonna do it. You have to do it for yourself. That’s the type of person I am. I stand up for myself and if I don’t believe in something, I’ll let you know. I’ll air my grievances. With him, people were afraid to talk to him. There were many many people that just wouldn’t go in and talk to him. He would run through them. He squashed a lot of people’s careers. He squashed a lot of people’s livelihoods and people just didn’t say what was on their mind. They were afraid to talk to him. He ran into the wrong guy.”
Vince McMahon’s Accusations
Vince McMahon resigned from WWE after Janel Grant’s blockbuster lawsuit accused him of several terrible things, including sex trafficking, abuse, and other heinous acts. The six-part Bill Simmons docuseries about Vince McMahon on Netflix promises to not pull any punches, either.
Nailz’s controversial exit marked the end of his time in WWE, leaving behind a short-lived but memorable chapter in the wrestling world’s history. He also remembers McMahon in a way that a lot of people are coming to realize has always been a part of WWE’s culture now.
John Cena does what he wants at this point in his career, and he recently had a ton of fun with an appearance on the baseball diamond. This was a huge surprise, and a very unconventional time at the plate, but Cena also proved that he can’t see strikes.
Baseball Is Not Cena’s Next Venture
The Savannah Banana proclaim on their Twitter/X account that, “We Make Baseball Fun. Fans First. Entertain Always.” Cena is all about that, and he also follows their account. Obviously, he got a hold of someone at the organization.
In a huge surprise at Bananaland, John Cena showed up in a uniform. He posed for the crowd, and even had a championship belt on hand. This entrance was very unconventional for baseball, and even included some smoke effects and his WWE music played as well.
NEW VIDEO: John Cena gets an at bat at the Savannah Bananas game in Tampa. ???? pic.twitter.com/qWDt3Pp2No
John Cena struck out looking, but that may have been on purpose. This appearance wasn’t about knocking a home run, because that came with his performance. Cena may have actually not been able to swing.
The reality is that injuries can come at any time, and John Cena’s muscles aren’t used to the motion of swinging a baseball bat. This could have been a consideration when booking his at-bat. That, and Cena probably wanted to avoid an embarrassing whiffing situation, because that meme would have lived on forever.
No matter what the situation may have been during this incredible appearance. It’s not likely that MLB will be calling him any time soon. That being said, Hollywood needs more baseball movies. John Cena is a major movie star. So, his love of the game may see him land a spot swinging some bats later on.
The Savannah Bananas certainly know how to put on a baseball game. For more information, you can click here.
Posted February 10th, 2024 in News. Tagged: John Cena.
The Young Bucks are now a heel team in AEW, and they made that statement very clear. Now, Nick and Matt Jackson have new music, but they’re not the only people who looked toward the same inspiration.
The Young Bucks’ New Song
Roman Reigns’ theme song is known throughout the WWE Universe, as he makes his way to the ring with strength and authority. It appears that the Young Bucks wanted to borrow some of that magic.
The Jackson Brothers debuted a new piece of music for their entrance this week on Rampage, departing from their usual Superkick Party song. It appears that the pair drew inspiration from the same song that is responsible for Roman Reigns’ entrance.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that the Young Bucks looked toward Succession’s intro theme for their new music. That is a very popular source of inspiration as well.
There was a lot of speculation on Twitter that Young Bucks’ theme was inspired by Succession’s theme song, which is accurate. Roman Reigns’ theme is also inspired by the show.
What’s Next
Roman Reigns is on his way to WrestleMania 40. At this time, his only opponent is Cody Rhodes. Only time will tell what WWE does to deal with the fact that The Rock is around now.
The Young Bucks are a top heel team in AEW, and they may just face Sting and Darby Allin. That match may go down at AEW Revolution on March 3rd, which will be the Icon’s final match.
AJ Styles took a hiatus from WWE after the Bloodline attacked him. This was done so they could move LA Knight into Styles’ spot as John Cena’s tag team partner. Then, when Styles finally returned, a lot of things changed for him.
AJ Styles Goes Through Character Shift
AJ Styles, The Good Brothers and Michin were the OC, but things have been much different since Styles’ return to the picture. He has been a bit withdrawn from his faction, and now that separation is complete. Sadly, they didn’t get a lot of focus for a disbanding.
Last night’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown unveiled a notable development as AJ Styles, the leader of a prominent WWE faction, was formally declared to have severed ties with the group.
During the broadcast, Wade Barrett announced that AJ Styles is no longer associated with The OC, which includes Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Michin. While hints of this departure had been dropped over the past few weeks since AJ’s return to the ring, this marked the first direct confirmation.
The apparent rift between Styles and The OC has been apparent for months, signifying a significant shift in the storyline dynamics. Fans saw this coming, as AJ has exhibited a new demeanor since his return, but to split them without an actual angle is a bit confusing.
What’s Next
Looking forward into the future, The OC appears set to continue operating, but they are down AJ Styles at this point.
Despite their absence from television since August, WWE creative seems to have laid out plans for their future. The trio, comprising Styles, Gallows, and Anderson, last teamed up in December during house shows, where they faced off against opponents such as Pretty Deadly and Grayson Waller, as well as The Street Profits. Now, they are going their separate ways, with AJ doing his own thing, with Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and Michin as the new incarnation of The OC stable.
Rita Chatterton claimed that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her in his limousine in July 1986. She departed from WWE that year amid conflicting narratives, with WWE’s attorney at the time stating that she was “terminated for cause.” Bret Hart has something to say about Chatterton now, since so much has gone down.
Bret Hart Speaks on Vince McMahon’s Victim
Recent weeks have seen disturbing revelations about Vince McMahon’s conduct during his tenure as head of WWE. The allegations surfaced following reports by former WWE employee Janel Grant and the resurfacing of claims made by Ashley Massaro before her death in 2019. Massaro alleged that McMahon encouraged her to remain silent about a sexual assault she endured at a WWE event in Kuwait in 2006, among other grievances.
“I always had a respect for him,” Hart admitted in an interview with Slate. “Now it’s tainted. I’m embarrassed that I thought so highly of him.”
The conversation also revisited the 1992 allegations by former WWE referee Rita Chatterton accusing McMahon of rape. Hart expressed disbelief at first, given the potential harm it could cause the company. However, as more information emerged, his perspective shifted. Hart apologized to Chatterton, acknowledging his previous skepticism and expressing sincere regret.
While reflecting on McMahon’s recent controversies, Hart expressed deep disappointment, stating, “I think, despite all of the issues I ever had with Vince, I know, deep down, I always respected him, but now, knowing what kind of a weirdo he became, I have absolutely zero respect for him.”
Vince McMahon and Bret Hart
Bret Hart and Vince McMahon share a long and complex history. Their relationship took a sour turn at the 1997 WWE Survivor Series in Montreal, where McMahon controversially orchestrated Hart’s loss of the WWE World Championship to Shawn Michaels before his departure to WCW. This resulted in the infamous Montreal Screw Job. Despite that terrible exit, Hart returned to WWE in 2006 when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and reignited his feud with McMahon.
Former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes left his days in the ring behind. Now, his name is attracting attention for a totally different reason, and it is very grim. He has been arrested in connection with an incident involving the shooting of his wife, Janette Becraft.
Billy Jack Haynes’ Murder Allegation
The incident with Haynes and Janette Becraft allegedly occurred in the Lents neighborhood of Portland, prompting a shelter-in-place order as police responded to the fatal shooting at 6000 SE 100th Avenue.
Upon arrival, law enforcement encountered a non-cooperative individual believed to be armed inside the residence. Following negotiations, a tactical team successfully persuaded the individual to surrender, leading to his apprehension.
Tragically, Janette Becraft was discovered deceased within the home, initiating a thorough police investigation.
Investigation Into The Murder
The Medical Examiner has confirmed Becraft’s cause of death as homicide due to gunshot wound. According to statements made to PW Insider by Sgt. Kevin Allen, Billy Jack Haynes remains in custody and is anticipated to face charges for his wife’s murder.
“I can confirm that the individual we detained last night remains in police custody this morning. He has not yet been booked into jail or charged with a crime, so we are refraining from releasing his name at this time. I am in communication with detectives, and we will update the news release as soon as there is a development to report.”
One neighbor of Haynes, while speaking to local Portland FOX affiliate KPTV, expressed profound sadness over the situation, particularly given their close relationship with the couple.
“It’s a tragedy all around. I’ve been helping take care of them as my dad and I live nearby. Recently, I was just looking after his wife, who was battling ongoing dementia. I was quite close to both of them and loved them dearly.”
The community has been left in shock by this incident, with neighbors sharing their interactions with the involved individual and reminiscing about his wrestling career. This incident is undoubtedly heartbreaking, and our heartfelt condolences go out to everyone affected by this devastating tragedy.
SE Scoops will have more information on this story as it is made known.
John Cena has been a part of several notable projects, and fans have turned out in the box office. Now, it appears that an upcoming film has been forcibly shelved by Warner Bros Discovery, and they aren’t letting it get out there.
The Saga of Coyote vs Acme
Last fall, Warner Bros. Discovery appeared open to the idea of allowing another studio to release director Dave Green’s Coyote vs. Acme after initially announcing intentions to “Batgirl” (i.e., cancel to claim tax write-offs) the nearly finished film in early November. Sadly, according to a new report, the studio turned down multiple offers that could have potentially brought the embattled project to fruition, with final decisions made by executives who had not seen the completed movie.
TheWrap reported that Amazon, Netflix, and Paramount expressed strong interest in acquiring the rights to debut Coyote vs. Acme after Warner Bros. reversed its stance and allowed the filmmakers to shop it around. Despite each studio submitting substantial offers for the rights to release the film, including Paramount’s proposal for a theatrical release, none of them met Warner Bros. Discovery’s $75 million asking price for the film, so it will remain unreleased.
WBD Rejected Counter-Offers
Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly outright rejected any counteroffers. Although the interested buyers’ offers were influenced by positive internal screenings of Coyote vs. Acme, none of the top Warner Bros. Discovery executives, including CEO/president David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation president Bill Damaschke actually saw the film. However, they all had a hand in rejecting the offers to sell it.
While this is a deliberate choice the company seems committed to, it may not inspire confidence among filmmakers still collaborating with the studio. Now, there is a fear that the studio may decide to take a movie and simply shelve it forever instead of releasing it, just so they can secure a tax write-off.
SE Scoops will have more updates on this story. Hopefully, Coyote vs Acme eventually sees the light of day.
Brock Lesnar was not explicitly named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion was mentioned, and a WWE contract was under discussion. It was alleged that this wrestler asked Grant for a pee video and then wanted to hook-up as part of his contract renewal. Now, TKO Group Holdings is taking action.
WWE Erasing Brock Lesnar
WWE has now decided to erase Brock Lesnar from the company’s opening intro video. This is a move that goes to solidify the fact that he is not coming back any time soon, if ever.
The company also has zero creative for Lesnar at the moment. He was previously set to take on Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber in Australia and GUNTHER at WrestleMania 40 prior to those earth-shattering allegations dropping from Janel Grant’s lawsuit.
TKO stated that they would take action on this matter, and the fact is that Endeavor is a much different company from WWE. They may have found enough to warrant a full distancing from Lesnar, but at this time we have not heard about any release situation.
WWE also took Lesnar out of 2K’s SuperCard game. It remains to be seen how much 2K will be able to take Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar out of the game. They may be able to totally erase them from the files, and it appears that could be the case.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WWE’s sage with Brock Lesnar. There are some under the belief that he may never be back at this point.
WWE has a few people on the NXT brand who are out of action for one reason or another. This week, at a house show in Florida, the brand welcomed back one star who hasn’t been able to wrestle since mid-2023.
Sol Ruca’s Injury
In May 2023, Sol Ruca suffered an ACL injury, prompting her absence from action. She was incorporated into the storyline leading up to Blair Davenport’s NXT debut as the masked attacker who targeted Ruca.
Following the injury, Sol Ruca underwent surgery to address the ACL issue. While she aims to return to the ring soon, the path to recovery is expected to be challenging.
Sol Ruca made her long-awaited return to the ring this week during a live event at Crystal River Armory in Crystal River, Florida on February 9th. This was a big surprise to see her, and she walked out of that return match with a feather in her cap, because she made a return from injury.
In the match, Chase U, comprising Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail, emerged victorious over the duo of Brinley Reece and Sol Ruca.
The storyline behind Sol Ruca’s injury was that Blair Davenport took her out, along with many more women in the NXT locker room. A string of injuries to the roster were blamed on Davenport, as they carried on as a hooded figure for a while.
We will have to see if Sol Ruca seeks out revenge against Blair Davenport. Odds are, NXT won’t want to wait long before making the most of Ruca’s in-ring clearance.
SE Scoops will have more updates on this story and many more as they break. Keep checking back for more updates on this story and so much more.
The Rock and Roman Reigns may be determined to have their match, but Triple H put his foot down on the matter. The Las Vegas event in the T-Mobile Arena was quite a sight. This week’s SmackDown included some big shots at The Great One, and he will be around next week to continue this drama.
The Rock’s Next WWE SmackDown Appearance
During WWE SmackDown this week, Triple H and Bron Breakker had a backstage segment where Breakker asked The Game if he could pick his brain about the big decision he has to make between RAW and SmackDown. Then, Paul Heyman stepped into the frame.
Heyman tried to speak to Triple H about what happened during the WrestleMania kickoff show conference, but The Game didn’t seem happy about Heyman’s presence. That stopped Heyman from proceeding with the WWE COO.
Instead, Paul Heyman stated that he will be back next week to further this discussion. He will not be alone, because Roman Reigns is coming with him. Also, The Rock will be there.
WWE SmackDown is hitting the Delta Center in Salt Lake Center, Utah on Friday, February 16, 2024. It appears that The Rock will be in the house as well.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this evolving situation. The Rock is still in the WrestleMania mix, even if Cody Rhodes got his match against Roman Reigns as well.
Seth Rollins does not have an opponent at WrestleMania 40, but WWE has a plan to determine who will face him next. After all, Cody Rhodes will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, whether The Rock likes it or not.
Then Nick Aldis made it clear that Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania will be determined at the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia. We will have to see who gets in the match, but qualifying matches are already underway.
Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, AJ Styles, The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Dominik Mysterio and LA Knight will battle in qualifying matches.
2024 WWE Elimination Chamber Location and Start Time
The Elimination Chamber event, named Elimination Chamber: Perth, is set to happen on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions will participate. The event kicks off at 5am.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, including the Elimination Chamber build.
WWE held quite an event in Las Vegas on Thursday. At the end of the day, Cody Rhodes picked Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent, and The Rock wasn’t happy. After Triple H was told to “fix this” by The Rock, he appeared on SmackDown this week to address the matter.
Triple H Sets The Record Straight
Triple H opened up SmackDown this week to address this WrestleMania situation. Of course, he was greeted with an amazing ovation. Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were also in the ring waiting on the WWE COO.
After saying that it feels like we’re on the road to WrestleMania, Triple H addressed last night’s conference in Las Vegas. Triple H wanted to clear up one thing, but then “Rocky sucks” chants interrupted him.
Triple H said that he felt that there was some confusion in the air, because they don’t know their role, and they tried to assert their authority when they didn’t have anyone. He then said he doesn’t care where anyone sits, because Triple H is the one who makes all the creative shots in the company.
"The answers come from one place and one place only and right now, you are looking at him." ??@TripleH makes it very clear who's making the decisions around here and what our #WrestleMania XL main event will be… #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/jEG6No5zPK
Then, Triple H confirmed that Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. He said that some people may not like that decision, but “it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that decision.”
It seemed that Triple H took a lot of shots at The Rock with that promo as he welcomed everyone to the road to WrestleMania once again.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of whatever happens next on the road to WrestleMania.
Teddy Hart once had the world ahead of him, and he was representing a famous pro wrestling family in the process. Sadly, his recent years have been filled with legal issues, and now he has an arrest warrant for out on his name.
Arrest Warrant for Teddy Hart
PW Insider reports that a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Teddy Hart after he failed to appear in court on February 8. This adds to his string of problems with the law in recent years.
Hart was arrested in July 2023 on charges of possession of MDMA and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, both of which are third-degree felonies in Florida.
The court date was scheduled as a mandatory appearance for “Early Resolution,” but the hearing was postponed multiple times. Additionally, the court has revoked Hart’s $2,000 bond.
More Information On Teddy Hart’s Arrest
The arrest occurred on July 14, 2023, when Officer Eduardo Gonzales observed Hart’s vehicle speeding and running a red light. Upon pulling him over, Gonzales detected the smell of burnt marijuana and found loose leaf marijuana in the vehicle. Further searches uncovered MDMA pills and powder, as well as anabolic steroids, leading to Hart’s arrest on the mentioned charges.
Following his arrest, Hart wrestled his first match in three years in Florida on the same evening. However, he has not competed since then.
Teddy Hart’s Controversial History
Hart’s troubled history was depicted in the Peacock reality series Dangerous Breed, which drew attention to his tumultuous personal life.
The show demonstrated his problematic behavior towards former partners, including allegations of abandonment, abuse, extortion, drug use, and passport confiscation. That troubling track record led to a few arrests over the years, and he’s been blackballed by many pro wrestling companies since then.
The Rock’s return to WWE caused shockwaves all over. Fans spoke out with a lot of unhappiness, because they didn’t like the idea of the Great One taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Now, we are looking at what is next, and Seth Rollins saw the whole thing unfold.
During Thursday’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event, Cody Rhodes announced his challenge to Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40.
Seth Rollins Speaks On The Rock
There was anticipation that WWE would unveil The Rock vs. Reigns instead, a plan that remains intact, while Rhodes was initially expected to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
The plan for Rock vs. Reigns had been kept under wraps last month following Dwayne Johnson’s appointment to the TKO Board of Directors. This arrangement was part of a deal that Johnson strongly advocated for, despite Rhodes expressing his desire to conclude his ongoing storyline.
While speaking with FOX News, Seth Rollins said that The Rock’s entire return to take a WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns felt gross, but now it appears that Cody Rhodes is going to get what he wants.
“It’s just what happens when powerful people exert their power. They just think they do whatever they want and get away with it, and that sucks. It just sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it. I guess it (resulted) in Cody getting what he wanted. We’ll figure out what’s next for the World Heavyweight title. But Cody said it best. It’s bullsh*t. It feels pretty gross to me.”
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, “The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania.”
It is also important to note that three days ago, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “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.”
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…
Triple H is set to be on SmackDown this week to address the current WrestleMania situation. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, because it’s anyone’s guess what they book at this point.
Damage CTRL started out with Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO Sky. That SummerSlam 2022 surprise marked one of Triple H’s first big flexes in creative, as he created the stable by bringing Kai back from free agency and convincing IYO to stick around WWE instead of going back to Japan. Now, the stable is much different.
Changes for Damage CTRL
Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the stable much later, after Kai was taken out of action with a knee injury. She has remained on television consistently, but she hasn’t been wrestling. Bayley soon found herself losing control of the stable’s direction.
In recent memory, Bayley won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match. This gave her the chance to call her shot at WrestleMania. She picked IYO Sky as her opponent for the WWE Women’s Title, and then she was promptly kicked out of the stable.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that it is very interesting to note that Damage CTRL filmed graphics for WrestleMania with only IYO Sky, Asuka, and Kairi Sane, with no Dakota Kai in sight.
Damage Ctrl filmed WrestleMania graphics without Kai for what it’s worth.
It was also noted that, “Kai should be returning relatively soon.” It will be interesting to see how WWE re-inserts her into the situation.
What’s Next For Bayley
Bayley is now a babyface, and she may need an ally. Dakota Kai siding with her may add an intriguing aspect to this WrestleMania program.
On a related note, CM Punk spoke out in a big way about how he believes Bayley deserves far more respect on her name. She won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble, and she wasn’t included in promotional material, and she wasn’t featured in the WrestleMania kickoff press conference event at the T-Mobile Arena in Last Vegas this week.
SE Scoops will have more coverage on this story as additional information is made available.
AEW has been through a few peaks and valleys since opening their doors several years ago. As Tony Khan leads his roster through 2024, it appears that he has spirits up at this time.
Backstage Morale In AEW
AEW is still going, and they have a lot of things in the pipeline. Although Kazuchika Okada’s signing is still up in the air, all appearances are that Mercedes Mone is coming into the company.
It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone has actually been on the AEW payroll since last month. For whatever reason, morale seems to be up within the company.
Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 805,000 viewers on TBS. It was down 1.6 percent from the previous week and marked the lowest audience total for the show since January 10.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that morale has significantly improved within AEW. This is in spite of the low viewership rating this week.
A couple of people have noted that the morale has really picked up and is the best in some time, even if the rating this week was universally disappointing for such a loaded show that was promoted as the biggest Dynamite of the year, with a match to determine the Revolution main event, a title match involving Sting where the expectation was he would win, and a Tony Khan big announcement. I did get that from a big announcement standpoint, people weren’t impressed with the idea of a show and if Okada or Mone were announced that would have been considered like a big announcement
What’s Next For AEW
AEW has a lot of plans in the pipeline, including their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston on March 13th. That is expected to be Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company, as Bean Town is her home, and AEW also included “BO$$TON” on the graphic for the upcoming show.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of AEW Dynamite and whatever else Tony Khan has planned.
WWE fans were left shocked by the press conference in Las Vegas. Although there are a lot of questions left to answer, we now have an idea how the WrestleMania main event matches are taking shape.
WWE’s Expected WrestleMania 40 Main Event Picture
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that The Rock finalized a deal on January 3rd with Ari Emanuel and Nick Khan, not only securing a spot on the Board of Directors but also committing to headline WrestleMania this year. That match was presumably against Reigns.
Dwayne Johnson mentioned that the storyline had been in the works for years. The Bloodline storyline with Roman Reigns has been going on for that long as well.
Following a non-press conference at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Reigns vs. Rhodes for WrestleMania was announced, with no additional match announcements beyond teasing the Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch matchup. Ripley is set to face the winner of the Elimination Chamber match on February 24th in Australia.
Although it’s believed that Rollins will defend against the winner of the men’s Chamber match at the same event, no such match has been confirmed. The tease for Rhodes vs. Rollins suggested that an announcement will likely be made in the coming week, but we’re waiting on official confirmation on that.
It was also reported that the current idea is a potential tag team clash between Reigns and Rock versus Rhodes and Rollins, possibly scheduled for day one at WrestleMania, for a main event match. During the conference, Rock turned heel on Rhodes after a dispute about families, siding with Reigns and slapping Rhodes, while Rollins sided with Rhodes during the whole thing.
The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania. Rock ended up going heel on Rhodes, slapping him in the face after an argument about families, and siding with Reigns. Rollins was out there at the time and ended up backing up Rhodes.
The matchup between Reigns and Rock had been discussed before the pandemic as a one-time return match, initially considered for WrestleMania in Dallas in 2022. However, Dwayne Johnson aimed for Los Angeles in 2023, later withdrawing due to time constraints, but he left Philadelphia in 2024 as a possibility.
Rhodes was initially slated for the match against Roman Reigns due to The Rock pulling out last year, as Rhodes and Seth Rollins were reportedly set to create the second world title last year, which was delayed. Now, we find ourselves in a very interesting situation on the road to WrestleMania 40.
“And what is this match all about right here? WHO sits at the Head Of The Table? What does it matter when neither of you have been doing any of the cooking for TWO YEARS”