Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson may be headed to the National Football League. The former WWE Developmental prospect was quietly released from his contract last month after his wrestling career failed to launch. 

Steveson recently met with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and even had a tryout for the team, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He’s expected to meet with several other NFL teams in the weeks and months ahead. 

This crossover to the gridiron is especially notable because Gable didn’t even play high school football. However, he wouldn’t be alone there, as never even played high school football. WWE has been scouting collegiate athletes through its Next In Line series program, but now we’re seeing NFL teams recruiting players with little-to-no prior experience as well 

Gable Steveson’s WWE Journey

Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future ahead of him in WWE. To support his development, the company even established a remote training facility, allowing him to hone his skills while completing his studies at the University of Minnesota.

He was given a few big-time spots during WWE premium live events, including WrestleMania 38, but fans didn’t latch onto him as expected. Instead, they seemed to push back against the Olympian’s forced push.

In 2022, an ablation was performed on his heart to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White, and Gable took time off to recover, but he soon got back to training. He was given all the tools to succeed, but they couldn’t put things together and make them work.

As WWE’s first-ever NIL signing, Steveson’s struggle to succeed in the company underscores the unique and demanding skill set required to thrive in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash highlighted this challenge, as the crowd’s chants of “You’re Not Angle” referenced the frequent comparisons made between Steveson and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. These chants served as a reminder of the high expectations and distinct abilities needed to excel in the wrestling world.

We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his future NFL ventures, or wherever his path takes him.

Becky Lynch has used several nicknames throughout her WWE career, including The Man, which she used during her meteoric rise to the top of WWE. More recently, she’s been going by Big Time Becks, a moniker that takes the confidence of ‘The Man’ and turns the dial up a bit father into the realm of cockiness. Her on-screen character has evolved seamlessly, but ‘Big Time Becks’ may be getting phased out due to WWE’s inability to secure a trademark for the IP.

WWE filed to trademark “Big Time Becks” in September 2021, but this application faced opposition from someone else who felt the name infringed on a mark they had the rights to. Legal proceedings have been ongoing, and the trademark remains listed as “pending” due to these unresolved issues.

‘Big Time’ Roadblock

Here’s a timeline of events that led to WWE’s current legal predicament:

• In September 2021, WWE filed to trademark “Big Time Becks,” Becky Lynch’s nickname during her heel run.
• The trademark faced opposition nine days after the filing, with ongoing legal proceedings as recent as April 1, according to public records. A discovery conference was ordered in March.
• The board recommended using the Accelerated Case Resolution process. Initial disclosures were due May 3, with the process potentially extending to August 2025.
• According to the motion document, WWE was aware of the Opposer’s “Bigtime” trademark since 2006, when they received a cease and desist.
• In September 2021, WWE filed the “Big Time Becks” mark. Opposer communicated opposition within nine days.
• WWE was aware of the opposition and engaged in settlement discussions but did not follow up after March 2022.
• Opposer filed two Letters of Protest and initiated Opposition Proceedings in November 2023 and WWE missed the deadline for filing an answer to the opposition.
• WWE claimed the Christmas Day deadline caused the delay, but Opposer argues this is implausible given WWE’s resources and prior notifications.
• The trademark remains listed as “pending” due to the ongoing legal proceedings.

Previous Nickname Controversies

This isn’t the first time Lynch’s nicknames have faced opposition. Ric Flair previously laid claim to “The Man,” expressing issues with WWE using that moniker for Lynch.

Ric Flair and Becky Lynch’s conflict began in late 2021. Flair accused Lynch of using the nickname “The Man” without his permission. Lynch dismissed the accusation, calling Flair “sad” at one point. This feud was intense but never became a WWE storyline. The behind-the-scenes drama was as engaging as the on-screen action.

Both sides have since reconciled. Becky Lynch and Ric Flair are now on cordial speaking terms. They eventually resolved the matter, and Lynch continues to use “The Man” nickname. You can read all about this settled beef right here:

All Elite Wrestling is now promoting a “Triple Main Event” for this month’s AEW Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view. The three bouts, each getting equal billing on the Las Vegas marquee, include:

1. In the first main event, Willow Nightingale defends the TBS Championship against the debuting Mercedes Mone. Match order aside, this will mark the first time a women’s match has headlined an AEW PPV. 

2. The second main event match is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, defending the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage, who will be accompanied by Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne. The Patriarch certainly raised the stakes this week by busting Swerve open by using a glass picture frame of his family.

3. The third main event is an Anarchy in the Arena match. The Elite, consisting of Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson, will face Team AEW, which includes Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin. The daredevil AEW star made his return to television this week, having taken some time off due to injury.

AEW Double or Nothing 2024 

Six matches have been announced for the upcoming PPV, scheduled for Sunday, May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada:

• Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mone – Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship
• Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay – Singles match for the AEW International Championship
• “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb – Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
• Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) – Singles match for the AEW World Championship
• The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin) – Anarchy in the Arena match
• Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black – Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the AEW TNT Championship

Actor Paul Walter Hauser is excited at the prospect of playing Mick Foley and is ‘literally talking to him right now’ about turning this dream into reality. 

Hauser is no stranger pro wrestling himself. He’s graced the squared circle on several occasions and boasts a record of 3-0. Many of his matches are hardcore in nature, involving weapons and violent stunts. During an interview with Mike Roe for The Wrap, Hauser reveals that he’s trying to secure a role that is near and dear to his heart.

“I’m literally talking to Mick Foley right now about the potential of playing him in a movie or limited series,” Hauser tells The Wrap.

“I don’t know which and I don’t know how, but he and I have become friendly, and I think he knows that that could be a really great stroke of genius in casting me to play him.”

Hauser shares that he’s received offers to play wrestlers before. While he’s excited to work on a Mick Foley project, he won’t just sign on to play a wrestler because he likes the sport. He takes his work very seriously and takes pride in selecting roles that truly resonate with him and stories that he wants to share.

“If TNA or AEW or MLW wanted to sign me, I would literally take that into consideration to be part of a contracted role somewhere,” Paul Walter Hauser to The Wrap.

Hauser says that Mick Foley doesn’t look like the typical ‘bodybuilder wrestler, which works in his favor. He joked that his own body type is more similar to stockier wrestlers like Foley and the late Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart.

In an industry overflowing with larger-than-life personalities, Mick Foley’s life story remains among the most captivating. There’s a reason his life story is a New York Times best-seller, which would make getting a project like this greenlit a lot easier.

Hauser keeps a busy career in Hollywood, but he always makes time for wrestling and tries to blend those worlds whenever he can. Earlier this year, he brought pro wrestling to the Emmy Awards by name dropping the nWo, the Dudley Boyz and more during his acceptance speech.

Paul Walter Hauser returns to the ring when he competes in the 40-person MLW Battle Riot event on Saturday, June 1 from Atlanta, GA.

Society has changed a lot over the years, but two constants that have remained cultural favorites for decades are Discovery’s ‘Shark Week’ and a certain jorts-wearing WWE Superstar with a penchant for dad jokes. This year, those worlds are colliding.

Discovery has announced Shark Week 2024 kicks off Sunday, July 7 and will be hosted by John Cena. Last year’s week was hosted by Hollywood star Jason Mamoa, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson serving as Master of Ceremonies.

? Lighting up your summer since ’88! ?#SharkWeek, hosted by @JohnCena, is back July 7 on @Discovery. pic.twitter.com/W2R8WBDHGW

— Shark Week (@SharkWeek) May 15, 2024

This is notable due to Discovery’s connection to Warner Bros. Discovery and, by extension, AEW. It is likely that Cena will appear in promotional campaigns airing during All Elite Wrestling’s shows on TBS and TNT, similar to what we’ve seen with his obstacle course show Wipeout.

The 16-time WWE Champion is currently on another hiatus from the company, thanks to his demanding Hollywood schedule. He was last seen during WrestleMania 40 weekend, where he had a cameo spot in Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns’ main event Bloodline rules match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He then wrestled an impromptu match on WWE Raw the following night.

What is Shark Week?

The annual, week-long television block on the Discovery Channel featuring shark-based programming originally premiered on July 17, 1988, and it kept returning thanks to strong turnout in the ratings.

Over the years, Shark Week has only grown in popularity, becoming a major hit on the Discovery Channel. Since 2010, it has held the record as the longest-running cable television programming event in history. 

NXT is moving to The CW, but fans won’t have to worry about changing which night of the week the show is on.

WWE has announced new television deals, clarifying upcoming changes for NXT. Starting in October, NXT will move to the CW network but will continue to air on Tuesday nights. This ensures that fans will not need to adjust their viewing habits.

The CW has announced NXT will remain on Tuesday nights (8-10pm EST) when it premieres this fall pic.twitter.com/4TIxuLbhPc

— SEScoops (@sescoops) May 16, 2024

Previously, it was confirmed that WWE SmackDown will remain on Fridays when it transitions to The USA Network in mid-September. RAW will also stay on the USA Network until the end of the year, after which it leaves linear cable entirely and finds a new home at Netflix. 

WWE’s New Television Deals

NXT has signed a five-year media rights agreement with The CW, valued between $20 million and $25 million per year, reflecting a 70% increase from its previous contract with NBCUniversal’s USA Network.

Friday Night SmackDown will begin airing on the USA Network starting September 13, 2024. NBC has secured the U.S. broadcasting rights for SmackDown, agreeing to pay $287 million annually, totaling over $1.4 billion for a five-year deal.

WWE RAW will move to Netflix in January 2025 but will continue airing on the USA Network until the end of 2024, despite the current deal expiring in October. For these additional three months, WWE will receive $25 million from the USA Network, preceding their new $500 million annual deal with Netflix, which will last for 10 years.

Morgan faced legal trouble in Florida last December, leading to charges of marijuana and possible synthetic drug possession. Although the charges in the past, the police bodycam from the night of her arrest is now going viral.

Morgan was arrested in Florida last December for ‘possession of marijuana (not more than 20 grams)’ and ‘possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoid.’ Prosecutors in Sumter County ultimately decided to drop the charge.

According to the arrest report, Morgan admitted the bag of marijuana was hers but denied ownership of the vape pen containing the allegedly synthetic substance, stating that she “transports a lot of people in her vehicle.”

The Bodycam footage of Liv Morgan's arrest was released today.

The fact that the officer was reading her journal or going through her wrestling gear…while laughing is weird and disgusting. There was no need for this.

Props to Liv for being extremely respectful. pic.twitter.com/4rKxcsXMkL

— EliteRockerz ? (@EliteClubS0B) May 15, 2024

The body camera footage showed police going through the WWE Superstar’s journals, and reading them. Fans have given Morgan a ton of credit for keeping her cool throughout the situation.

The police officer acted like he had never heard of her. He ran across proof of her “wrestling work” while digging through Morgan’s belongings. The officer can also be heard wondering if she ever made it to WWE, solidifying the idea that he had no idea who he pulled over. 

Wrestle Ops tweeted out to say, “In reference to new bodycam footage of Liv Morgan’s arrest for possession of Marijuana: Complaining/questioning the cop for revealing Liv’s personal diary/journal but then also spreading the clip in the same post is definitively not an abnormal choice to make.”

Morgan is a beloved WWE Superstar, so fans are naturally flocking to stand by her now, as they did at the time of her arrest. Hanatas Wish tweeted out to say, “That Liv Morgan bodycam footage actually made me sick dawg. Genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve met in all my 24 years and I believe some of that footage shouldn’t of had been made to the public for not only her sake, for the cops involved too. Just felt too intrusive.”

This was a very popular opinion, as nobody has taken the side of the officers involved in the search of Morgan’s vehicle. In the end, her charges were dropped, but she still had to go through this ordeal over some marijuana and a cart.

The bodycam footage of liv Morgan’s arrest was released today.

Officer going through her journal is weird to me but… props to Liv pic.twitter.com/ISsJYNJhLQ

— NotGuru (@NotGuru__) May 15, 2024

Morgan spent virtually no time in detainment before her release. She will also not see any additional time behind bars for this infraction on Florida’s state law.

Liv Morgan ran into no trouble with WWE over this arrest. She was out of action due to injury at the time, but she returned during the 2024 Royal Rumble right on schedule. She is currently a top heel on the RAW brand, as her revenge tour continues.

CM Punk may have left AEW in the midst of a mountain of controversy, but he doesn’t have the entire roster against him. Ricky Starks recently defended Punk from his detractors during an interview with WhatCulture. Starks praised Punk’s influence on his presentation on AEW Collision, a show that was initially built around his ill-fated final return to the company.

He mentioned a frequently shared video clip featuring dramatic pyro effects, which was entirely Punk’s idea. Punk aimed to help certain people and foster collaboration. Starks recalled a conversation with Punk, where Punk emphasized, “It’s really up to you to sink or swim.”

This motivated Starks to consistently exceed his previous performances, feeling a strong responsibility to live up to Punk’s support. Punk played a crucial role in advocating for Starks and suggesting new approaches for his character, showing a unique understanding of Starks’ potential.

“I have no issues with Punk, I don’t give a f*ck what anybody tries to tell me, I don’t care. He has never done me wrong and you can have your opinions on him, but you shouldn’t vilify someone for thinking differently than you.”

Ricky Starks’ AEW Status

At the AEW Revolution post-show media scrum on March 3, 2024, AEW President Tony Khan addressed questions about Starks’ whereabouts. He acknowledged that he hadn’t heard any rumors circulating about the former AEW World tag team champion, but emphasized his’ importance to the AEW roster.

Starks was involved in Sting’s first AEW match at the 2021 Revolution, where Sting and Darby Allin faced Starks and Brian Cage in a street fight. More recently, on the February 7, 2024, edition of Dynamite, Starks and Big Bill wrestled Sting and Allin, losing to the AEW World Tag Team Champions in a Tornado Tag match. He hasn’t competed since the loss to Sting and Allin and did not wrestle at Revolution this past weekend. However, it may be only a matter of time before he resurfaces.

Many are under the belief that Starks will eventually end up in WWE. Not only is Cody Rhodes a very close friend, but he was also spotted with the American Nightmare before the 2023 Royal Rumble event. 

Last month, we broke the news that Starks’ former Team Taz partner HOOK is planning to let his AEW contract expire so he can explore free agency and possibly join WWE. Don’t be surprised if Starks isn’t far behind, or even gets there first.

Jordynne Grace takes her health and fitness seriously. A new snack that she invented to help her with gains also stirred up a viral reaction.

The former Knockouts Champion tweeted out a photo of what appears to be a bunch of ground beef between two Pop Tarts. She gave fans the idea that this is her new food of choice when trying to bulk up.

“Been seeing crazy gains incorporating this into my post-workout meal,” she posted as a caption for her fans. Little did she expect a wave of responses to flood her notifications.

Been seeing crazy gains incorporating this into my post-workout meal pic.twitter.com/siNwXitcOg

— Jordynne Grace (@JordynneGrace) May 15, 2024

Consuming raw meat is somewhat of a trend, but many fans were taken aback by this post. They were not on board to try it for themselves. Still, she did have some who were rooting for her.

WWE RAW General Manager Adam Pearce saw this post, and he reacted as he shared some LOL emojis. Others didn’t have the same response, as one fan said the image made them want to throw up.

“Please don’t eat that,” one fan posted. Another fan thought that seeking police intervention may stop Big Mama Pump from eating that raw meat on a Pop Tart.

Some didn’t see it as a big thing, because eating raw meat like that is commonplace in other cultures. Still, it seems that Jordynne Grace has a long way to go when it comes to winning over fans for her new snack.

Common thing in germany. Nothing controversial pic.twitter.com/OoLW1iovnf

— Thomas Busse (@mereelskirata) May 15, 2024

Grace later commented on her own post to say, “Didn’t realize my pop tartare was gonna be so controversial.”

Didn’t realize my pop tartare was gonna be so controversial https://t.co/p5UDAiQmn8

— Jordynne Grace (@JordynneGrace) May 15, 2024

Grace is known for participant in bodybuilding competitions, so she knows how to sculpt herself. She has also become a millionaire outside of pro wrestling via her exclusive content site.

She was also in the 2024 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match, so you never know where she will pop up next. In 2023, Grace inked a two-year extension with TNA Wrestling.

Warner Bros Discovery’s upfronts gives the network a chance to show off their upcoming programming to advertisers. This may also be a big day for AEW, because Tony Khan’s company is very much involved in the situation. Although AEW didn’t get a focus during the upfronts, a new show was announced adjacent to the ceremony that may pique pro wrestling fans’ interest. 

It was previously reported that there is a pilot show in development for an AEW-related program, which could be announced later this week. This new show will not be a reality series, but further details are not available.

There was no mention of a new AEW television show during the WBD Upfronts, but a new show for TBS’ YouTube channel was revealed. 

AEW and TBS have announced a new show called “Meal & A Match,” set to air on the TBS YouTube channel every Friday at 2 pm EST. The show will feature RJ City and Renee Paquette as hosts, with Eddie Kingston as the first guest. Paquette, who has long wanted to be involved in a food-related program, sees this as her entry point into the genre.

Pull up a seat as we break bread and break tables!

Meal and a Match W/ @ReneePaquette & @RJCity1 Friday @ 2/1c on The TBS You Tube Channel

Subscribe and set a reminder: https://t.co/SpnLhubWgY pic.twitter.com/jECORj4Kk8

— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) May 15, 2024

AEW: Figure Fighters

AEW and TNT Sports have launched a new mobile game titled AEW: Figure Fighters. This game is free-to-play and features AEW’s roster. The game uses an autobattler format, allowing users to collect and level up their wrestlers.

AEW: Figure Fighters is now available in the United States. It can be downloaded on both the App Store and Google Play.

AEW’s Future With WBD

Reports indicate if WBD has lost the rights to the NBA to NBC, then they will want to reinvest that liquidity elsewhere by bolstering other avenues of programming. Warner Bros Discovery might reinvest its funds into AEW to maintain a strong position in cable rankings.

AEW’s new deal with WBD is expected to remain confidential until this summer or early fall when all details will be made public. The exact end date of the current exclusivity media rights deal between AEW and WBD is unknown.

WBD is also interested in airing all AEW pay-per-view events on its MAX streaming service, a shift from its previous stance. They have had their eye on this prospect for a while, and talks have been ongoing to make that happen.

In the end, WBD knows that MAX is a huge cash cow for them. So, every decision they make will have MAX involved in the situation, which could also include AEW.

The WBD Upfronts are currently ongoing. So far, there has been no mention of a new AEW TV deal.

In a surprising change of pace, GUNTHER momentarily broke character during his face-off with Jey Uso after WWE RAW this week. Despite his fierce reputation and focus on winning the King of the Ring tournament, the Imperium leader shared a brief light-hearted moment with Uso before swiftly returning to his serious demeanor and delivering a punishing attack.

GUNTHER, known for his no-nonsense approach, had a remarkable run as Intercontinental Champion with a 666-day reign. Currently, he is focused on winning the King of the Ring tournament, with his next opponent being Jey Uso.

Uce advanced in the tournament by defeating Ilja Dragunov, who was recently called up from NXT. Following WWE RAW this week, GUNTHER and Uso had an opportunity to face off. During their encounter, GUNTHER momentarily broke character, sharing a brief light-hearted moment with Jey.

However, GUNTHER quickly returned to his serious demeanor and proceeded to deliver a punishing attack on the former Bloodline member. The Ring General remains determined as he continues his pursuit of the King of the Ring title.

Gunther breaking character and then getting back into character after RAW went off the air ?? pic.twitter.com/cyoRI1XbI6

— Wrestlelamia.com (@wrestlelamia) May 14, 2024

More Of What Happened After 5/14 WWE RAW

After Raw went off the air, Jey Uso attempted to make GUNTHER join in on the “yeet.” Even the referee and ring announcer Samantha Irvin participated in the celebration, and it seemed as if GUNTHER might give in.

However, GUNTHER chose to attack his future opponent instead. Despite this, Jey managed to gain the upper hand with a spear and celebrated with the crowd as GUNTHER retreated.

After #WWERaw  went off the air.

Jey had @SamanthaTheBomb hit the yeet?

Gunther almost did pic.twitter.com/QsbTN05lMf

— #WeWantCody (@WeWantCody_) May 14, 2024

This week’s NXT saw Tony D’Angelo claim the Heritage Cup from Charlie Dempsey. Despite facing a hefty fine from General Manager Ava for past disruptions, D’Angelo triumphed in the main event, emerging as the new Heritage Cup Champion.

Charlie Dempsey entered NXT this week as the Heritage Cup Champion, but his reign came to an end. Tony D’Angelo defeated him, claiming the trophy for himself. To make matters worse for Dempsey, his No Quarter Catch Crew allies, Damon Kemp and Miles Bourne, were not present to support him.

Earlier in the night, General Manager Ava took a firm stance against Tony D’Angelo and the D’Angelo Family for their disruptive behavior during the previous week’s show. Ava addressed the issue of last week’s episode ending in chaos directly.

Rather than canceling Tony D’Angelo’s Heritage Cup Championship match, Ava imposed a penalty of $20,000. Despite the fine, Tony D’Angelo remained unfazed and even offered to pay it in cash.

After a hard-fought battle in the main event of NXT, Tony D’Angelo walked out with the NXT Heritage Cup. After the match, Tony’s Family joined him in the ring to celebrate.

He's done it!@TonyDangeloWWE is the NEW #WWENXT Heritage Cup Champion!!! pic.twitter.com/hip1P4VFhe

— WWE (@WWE) May 15, 2024

Before WWE NXT went off the air this week, they booked several matches for next week’s show on May 21. You may find those below.

• Qualifying match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship: Thea Hail vs. Fallon Henley
• Qualifying match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship: Brinley Reece vs. Jaida Parker
• Triple-threat match to determine the next challenger for the NXT North American Championship: Josh Briggs vs. Ivar vs. Wes Lee
• Tag team match: Lola Vice and Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya and Karmen Petrovich

2K continues to roll out updates for WWE 2K24, and the latest 1.08 patch on May 14 introduces a variety of improvements and new features. This update aims to enhance the gaming experience and may entice fans to return to the game to explore the changes.

On May 14, WWE 2K24 launched a new update that brings several enhancements to the game. The general updates include stability improvements and new entrance and victory motions for various Superstars. Audio options have also been expanded, with the Ring Announcer selection now available in Universe match options. In terms of presentation, the timing of Super Finisher Visual Effects has been enhanced, and an issue where the user interface was obscured in ladder matches has been resolved.

They also added light tubes to the new patch update, just in time for the ECW DLC pack, which is available on May 15.

Light tubes are one of 3 new weapons added in Patch 1.08!#WWE2K24 pic.twitter.com/DTjax3ISxm

— SmackTalks (@Smacktalks) May 14, 2024

For the Create-A-Arena feature, custom arenas named RAW, SmackDown, or NXT will now appropriately brand the referee. Additionally, the SmackDown movie is now correctly named, and users can add customizations to parts with LED displays; the display will turn off temporarily and reactivate after customization. In the Create-A-Superstar feature, the colorless emboss setting now saves correctly, and logos no longer shrink when editing the first color. These updates aim to improve the overall gameplay experience and address various issues reported by users.

? Patch Notes | May 14

? New Entrance & Victory motions
? Added customizations to CAA, including video billboard and LED Displays
? Ring Announcer selection now available in Universe match options
? Additional stability improvements

Full Notes: https://t.co/YrX7P14dLq pic.twitter.com/ylrDS9KOtm

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) May 14, 2024

WWE 2K24 Patch 1.08

GENERAL

• Stability improvements
• New Entrance & Victory motions:
  • Wolfgang
  • Mark Coffey
  • Chelsea Green & Piper Niven (non-championship)
  • Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (non-championship)
  • Tony D’Angelo & Channing Stacks Lorenzo (non-championship)

AUDIO

• Ring Announcer selection now available in Universe match options

PRESENTATION

• Enhanced Super Finisher Visual Effects timing
• Resolved issue where the user interface was obscured in ladder matches
• Improved Blackout payback trigger timing

CREATE-A-ARENA (CAA)

• Custom arenas named RAW, SmackDown, or NXT will now brand the referee appropriately
• Correctly named SmackDown movie
• Fixed issue where the video billboard would lose customizations
• Users can now add customizations to parts with LED displays; the display will turn off temporarily and reactivate after customization

CREATE-A-SUPERSTAR (CAS)

• Colorless emboss setting now saves correctly
• Logos no longer shrink when editing the first color

And Much More to MYFACTION, MYRISE, and Online play.

WWE 2K24 Release & Reception

WWE 2K24 was released on March 8, 2024. The standard edition features Cody Rhodes on the cover, while the special edition, marking the first time female wrestlers have shared the cover, includes Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. The “40 Years of WrestleMania” special cover originally included Brock Lesnar, but he was later removed.

The game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have praised the game for its improvements and refinements over previous versions.

Reviews:

• IGN: 8 out of 10
• GameSpot: 8 out of 10
• Metacritic: 81%
• User Ratings: 3.7 (based on 316 reviews)
• Our Exclusive Review: 8.5 out of 10

The Rock is currently away from WWE, but he vowed to return and face Cody Rhodes. The Rock may be on a hiatus, but he continues to generate buzz from Hollywood to wrestling. The TKO Board Member recently released a new video showcasing his MMA training for the film “The Smashing Machine.”

Dwayne Johnson is training intensely for his next film, “The Smashing Machine.” In this role, he will portray MMA fighter Mark Kerr, requiring him to refine his skills. Johnson is dedicated to preparing for this challenging role. He recently posted a video of his training regimen, showing the effort he is putting in to get in shape for the part. As expected, the post garnered significant attention.

The Final Boss wrote on social media that his MMA training has been the hardest journey he’s ever been on, which is quite a statement considering everything that he’s accomplished.

Every day.

Working hard, learning, respecting and being a student of the game during this training camp.

I’m a hard worker, but this is the hardest journey I’ve ever been on.

Thank you for all your amazing support, it means the world to me.

Grateful to grow, humbled by this… pic.twitter.com/BJqbixPKEs

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 14, 2024

Fans reacted to The Rock’s post, and many of them were impressed. A fan named Dustin Burham gave Johnson his flowers as he said, “To be doing this at age 52 is insane and awesome.” Another fan commented to say, “Fire on the Rock man.”

Can’t wait to see the movie
MMA is definitely tough

— Amanda ???? (@AmandaJK_) May 14, 2024

One fan named Ramboo said, “Eat Clean and Train Good,” with a heart emoji attached, so fans are very much behind the Brahma Bull.

Japanese mascot Chiitan replied with a video of themselves on a treadmill with a caption reading: “One day, I’ll be able to run at 100 km/h..” Another fan named Calico Jack tweeted back to say, “Wrestling in your undies is wild.”

One day, I'll be able to run at 100 km/h.pic.twitter.com/sNHsbnxjj8

— ??????Chiitan (@chiitan7407) November 2, 2023

The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson’s upcoming film,”‘The Smashing Machine’ is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, an MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC. At the peak of his career, he faces challenges with addiction, winning, love, and friendship in the year 2000.”

The Rock has wanted to play Kerr for years, and this is a real passion project for him. He is making it happen, and then a return to WWE is always a possibility.

The film starring Dwayne Johnson is set to release in 2025. There is already a 2002 documentary about Kerr’s life called “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr,” directed by John Hyams.

The King & Queen of the Ring quarterfinals are ongoing, and now we have some names in the semifinals.

WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring tournaments are ongoing, with the brackets featured on the May 13 episode of WWE RAW. The finals will take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Shayna Baszler and IYO Sky threw down in the opening contest of WWE RAW this week. After a back-and-forth match, IYO Sky clinched the win with an Over The Moonsault to move onto the semifinals.

AMBUSH!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/oI1hto8Hsi

— WWE (@WWE) May 14, 2024

Kofi Kingston and GUNTHER faced off in a match filled with tension. Before the match officially began, Kofi targeted GUNTHER’s legs, aiming to weaken his opponent. Kofi continued to press the attack, but GUNTHER turned the tide by catching Kingston mid-dive. From that point on, GUNTHER dominated, delivering significant damage to Kingston. Although Kingston mounted a brief comeback, GUNTHER ultimately forced him to submit, advancing in the tournament.

We're off to a HOT start in this one!#WWERaw#WWEKingAndQueen pic.twitter.com/1dC1qGkuvO

— WWE (@WWE) May 14, 2024

Lyra Valkyria and Zoey Stark faced off in their quarterfinals match. It was a close contest, but Lyra secured the victory by countering Stark’s Z-360 into her own Nightwing finisher. The former NXT Women’s Champion will now take on IYO Sky in the next round.

Who will get one step closer towards the next round of the QUEEN OF THE RING tournament?#WWERaw#WWEKingAndQueen pic.twitter.com/NA49lEWqrn

— WWE (@WWE) May 14, 2024

Jey Uso and Ilja Dragunov threw down in the main event of RAW this week. This was a stiff match with several hard-hitting spots. In the end, Uso surprised the former NXT Champion with a spear and an Uso Spash to secure the win, and a match against GUNTHER in the semifinals on RAW next week.

Who will advance in the King of the Ring tournament on #WWERaw? pic.twitter.com/XbHvpgoYvb

— WWE (@WWE) May 14, 2024

King of the Ring:

First Round Results:

• Gunther defeated Sheamus
• Ilja Dragunov defeated Ricochet
• Jey Uso defeated Finn Balor
• Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio
• Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles
• Tama Tonga defeated Angelo Dawkins
• Carmelo Hayes defeated Baron Corbin
• LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar

Quarterfinals Scheduled:

• Gunther defeated Kofi Kingston
• Jey Uso defeated Ilja Dragunov
• Tama Tonga vs LA Knight
• Carmelo Hayes vs Randy Orton

Semifinals Scheduled:

GUNTHER vs Jey Uso

Winner of Tama Tonga vs LA Knight against winner of Carmelo Hayes vs Randy Orton

Queen of the Ring:

First Round Results:

• Iyo Sky defeated Natalya
• Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai
• Zoey Stark defeated Ivy Nile
• Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri
• Bianca Belair defeated Candice LeRae
• Jade Cargill defeated Piper Niven
• Nia Jax defeated Naomi
• Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin

Quarterfinals Scheduled:

• Iyo Sky defeated Shayna Baszler
• Lyra Valkyria defeated Zoey Stark
• Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax
• Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton

Semifinals Scheduled:

IYO Sky vs Lyra Valkyria

Winner of Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton against winner of Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax

WWE King & Queen of the Ring Card:

• King of the Ring Tournament Final
  • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
• Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
  • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
• Women’s World Championship Match
  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (Singles match)
• WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
  • Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed (Triple threat match)
• Undisputed WWE Championship Match
  • Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (Singles match)

Lilian Garcia made a return to WWE television during the May 13 episode of RAW. She received an amazing homecoming from fans as she filled in for guest announcing duties. 

During Garcia’s appearance, she expressed her pride in Samantha Irvin, who had introduced her. Garcia then introduced Kofi Kingston for his match against GUNTHER in the quarterfinals of the 2024 King of the Ring tournament.

Prior to her appearance, Lilian released a backstage video of herself and Samantha. They were very happy to see each other as they prepared for the night’s show.

pic.twitter.com/hfkL7Vitz4

— The Cabinet (@TheCabinet2004) May 13, 2024

This was a fitting appearance for Garcia, as it took place on the day after Mother’s Day. Samantha Irvin posted a photo posing with the legendary WWE ring announcer, proclaiming that this counts as her photo to celebrate the Mother’s Day.

Forgot to post my Mothers’ Day photo yesterday ? @liliangarcia pic.twitter.com/SZIoDYysC9

— Samantha (The Bomb) (@SamanthaTheBomb) May 13, 2024

Lilian Garcia’s WWE Departure

In 2016, during her second tenure with WWE, Garcia’s father was battling cancer. This situation led her to leave her full-time role as a WWE ring announcer to spend more time with her ailing father.

After leaving WWE, Lilian Garcia started hosting two podcasts, “Making Their Way to the Ring” and the Spanish-language “Luchando Con Lilian Garcia,” both distributed by Maria Menounos’ AfterBuzz TV network. On July 31, 2017, Garcia launched her new podcast, “Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia.”

Despite her nearly ten-year absence from WWE, Garcia remains beloved within the company. 

WWE is not stopping with their mysterious QR codes. Many believe that these are signs that Bo Dallas’ new stable is on the way, and the signs are hard to ignore at this point.

During the IYO SKY vs. Shayna Baszler Queen of the Ring quarterfinal match on WWE RAW this week, a QR code appeared on the screen. For the first time, the code was acknowledged by the commentary team of Pat McAfee and Michael Cole. The seasoned announcer made a mention to the strange code after it flashed on the screen, which could be a sign that we are getting closer to the big reveal.

The qr code on raw leads you to a bunch of pictures #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/SmBtsJyrR5

— Plank???? (@TonyPlank3) May 14, 2024

The code directs fans to a series of picture files, including a photo of a floppy disk labeled ‘5.16.24 4pm + WITCH.’

this is one of the pictures from the QR code this week on raw. i think we need to pay attention to this date and time for two reasons the first one is may 16th which is this thursday, second reason is the time says 4pm plus witch soooo… #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/7DxrR6iWzy

— SODAPOP??? (@CasualPunkYEAH) May 14, 2024

Bray Wyatt had many friends in the Firefly Fun House, including Abby the Witch. It has been widely thought that this new stable will be Bray’s “Wyatt 6” stable come to life, which would include the witch character.

New Stable Plans

Currently, four other names are expected to be part of the new faction. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are all set to join the new Wyatt Family group. Each of these individuals has prior experience as faction members: Cross was part of Sanity, Gacy led The Schism, Lumis was a member of The Way, and Rowan was an original member of The Wyatt Family.

Sadly, Bray Wyatt passed away on August 24 at the age of 36-years-old. Although he may be gone, his creative legacy will live on in the form of this new stable. 

Jon Moxley has carved a unique path in pro wrestling. As Dean Ambrose’s  Lunatic Fringe in WWE, he dominated with The Shield and later became World Champion. He declined to sign a new deal and later became the Paradigm Shift after leaving the company. Since then, he has thrived, loving the niche he has created. 

Moxley recently reflected on his legacy during a chat with Justin Barrasso for SI. He values being remembered for marching to the beat of his own drum and cherishes this aspect of his pro wrestling career. He’s the only Jon Moxley there is and when all is said and done, the multi-time AEW World Champion relishes at the idea that he doesn’t fit into a box or rankings. 

You have no idea where to classify me, but you can’t ignore me, so you’re going to have to give me my own space…I like that.”

Mox’s Inspirational Reading

Jon Moxley may have blazed a trail of bloodshed and sharp foreign objects behind him, but that won’t stop him from picking up a book. Moxley is a member of the BCC book club. He finds constant inspiration in books. 

“The line is like, ‘A genius, in the words of Thelonious Monk, is the one most like himself. Genius, in its Latin origin, refers to the attendant spirit present at birth in every person. Each of us is like Aladdin, and our genie–or our genius–is bottled up inside of us waiting to be awakened.’ It’s kind of what I think of when I say there’s only one me.”

Jon Moxley is still the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. His last match was on 11.05.2024. Moxley retained his title by defeating Shota Umino at NJPW STRONG Resurgence 2024.

Moxley’s last match for AEW was on March 3 when The Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley) defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) at AEW Revolution 2024. Since then, he’s has wrestled in CMLL and NJPW.

The landscape of professional wrestling has changed significantly in recent years. Fans no longer need to stay up until midnight to see the conclusion of a WWE pay-per-view. Premium live events have become more concise, and now they are scheduled to start earlier. WWE will maintain the earlier start time for its events, per PWInsider. This will include NXT Heatwave, SummerSlam, and The Bash at Berlin. The current WWE PLE schedule reflects this decision. 

In March, there were discussions about potentially shifting domestic PPVs to an earlier start time, but a final decision had not been made at that time.
Traditionally, WWE has aired its pre-shows at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET. This timing was standard until a few years ago when the start time for the main card was moved to 8 p.m. ET.

CEO Nick Khan recently confirmed WWE’s goal to host its five major PLEs (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank) within the United States, while looking to expand their international touring with the PLE’s. Since overseas shows typically begin much earlier for American audiences, the adjustment to earlier start times for these events should not represent a significant change.

Upcoming Schedule

Below is the current lineup of events on WWE’s calendar for the remainder of 2024. For the remainder of the year, check out our 2024 WWE/NXTPLE Schedule.

• WWE King and Queen of the Ring (May 25, 2024)
  • Venue: Jeddah Superdome
  • City: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• WWE NXT Battleground (June 9, 2024)
  • Venue: UFC Apex
  • City: Las Vegas, Nevada
• WWE Clash at the Castle (June 15, 2024)
  • Venue: OVO Hydro
  • City: Glasgow, Scotland
• WWE Money in the Bank (July 6, 2024)
  • Venue: Scotiabank Arena
  • City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• WWE NXT Heatwave (July 7, 2024)
  • Venue: Scotiabank Arena
  • City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• WWE SummerSlam (August 3, 2024)
  • Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium
  • City: Cleveland, Ohio
• WWE Bash in Berlin (August 31, 2024)
  • Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena
  • City: Berlin, Germany

With less than three weeks until the WWE King and Queen of the Ring premium live event, the tournaments continue with quarterfinal matches tonight on WWE Raw and this Friday on WWE SmackDown.

The latest round of tournament matches were held over the weekend at WWE’s non-televised live events. Kofi Kingston and LA Knight advanced in the King of the Ring, while Shayna Baszler and Tiffany Stratton took steps closer to the throne on the women’s side. A schedule of this week’s tournament matches can be found below.

WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring PLE takes place Saturday, May 25 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome. In addition to crowning a new King and Queen, WWE has also signed three championship matches:

• Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (c)
• Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed

Royal Report: Schedule, Injuries & Footsge

This week’s Raw and SmackDown will each feature 4 tournament matches:

WWE Raw – Monday, May 13

KOTR Quarterfinals:

• Jey Uso v Ilja Dragunov
• Gunther v Kofi Kingston

QOTR Quarterfinals

• IYO SKY v Shayna Baszler
• Lyra Valkyria v Zoey Stark

WWE SmackDown – Friday, May 17

KOTR Quarterfinals:

• Randy Orton v Carmelo Hayes
• Tama Tonga v LA Knight

QOTR Quarterfinals

• Bianca Belair v Tiffany Stratton
• Jade Cargill v Nia Jax

Weekend Results

Results from King and Queen of the Ring tournament matches held over the weekend at WWE live events:

Saturday (Chattanooga, TN):

LA Knight defeated Santos Escoba to advance and face on SmackDown.

.@RealLAKnight advances in the #WWEKingAndQueen Tournament! ? #WWEChattanooga pic.twitter.com/FF34QMob16

— WWE (@WWE) May 12, 2024

Tiffany Stratton defeated Mia Yim and will face Bianca Belair on SmackDown.

.@tiffstrattonwwe has defeated @MiaYim, advancing in the #WWEKingAndQueen Tournament! ? #WWWChattanooga pic.twitter.com/n3QWRvldEv

— WWE (@WWE) May 12, 2024

Sunday (Macon, GA):

Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio to advance and face Gunther on Raw.

EXCLUSIVE from #WWEMacon ?@TrueKofi defeats @reymysterio to advance in the King of the Ring tournament! ?#WWEKingAndQueen pic.twitter.com/e1MT5b1R61

— WWE (@WWE) May 12, 2024

Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri, who had stepped in for reigning Queen Zelina Vega, who had to withdraw due to injury. She’ll face IYO SKY on Raw.

anything you say, @QoSBaszler ???#WWEKingAndQueen #WWEMacon pic.twitter.com/kuy3x4faYc

— WWE (@WWE) May 13, 2024

AEW has experienced several injuries that have sidelined key members of their roster. Eddie Kingston is the latest addition to that list.

Kingston suffered an undisclosed injury during NJPW Resurgence, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports.

Kingston lost the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship to Gabe Kidd at NJPW and sustained injuries during the match. He was hurt during a table suplex spot.

After the incident, Eddie required assistance but managed to walk backstage with a noticeable limp. The extent of his injury is not fully known, but it was confirmed that he sustained a legitimate injury during the match.

It was previously thought that he suffered a leg injury during that match. This new report has now confirmed those fears.

Young Bucks’ NJPW Return

The Openweight Championship match was also significant as it marked the return of the Young Bucks to NJPW. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson made their a surprise return during the NJPW Resurgence event, targeting Eddie Kingston in a brutal assault.

After Kingston failed to defend his NJPW Strong Openweight title against Gabe Kidd in a No-rope Last Man Standing Match, Jack Perry approached the ring for a staredown with Kingston. This distraction allowed the AEW EVPs to enter the ring and launch a surprise attack on Kingston. After a brief promo, they executed an EVP trigger, effectively taking Kingston down.

This Young Bucks spot during NJPW Resurgence was obviously planned ahead of time, and Kingston went through with it despite his injury. We’re sending out our best to the Mad King for a speedy recovery.

Zelina Vega, the current reigning Queen of the Ring, was all set to be in this year’s tournament. Sadly, she will not get to proceed.

WWE SmackDown GM Adam Pearce announced that Vega is out of the tournament. She is not medically cleared, but they did not reveal her injury.

She will be replaced by Maxxine Dupri. The LWO member was set to take on Shayna Baszler in the first round, but now the Alpha Academy representative will take her place at tonight’s WWE live event in Machon, Georgia.

?BREAKING @WWE NEWS?#WWERaw GM Adam Pearce breaks news on tonight’s Queen of the Ring tournament match in Macon, GA.#APHistory #adampearce #wwe #queenofthering #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/kCdqiBsphM

— Adam Pearce (@ScrapDaddyAP) May 12, 2024

This is not the only change that WWE has been forced to make in this year’s tournament. Xavier Woods, who is the reigning King of the Ring, was replaced by Kofi Kingston in the tournament. Also, Bobby Lashley had to pull out, and he was replaced by Angelo Dawkins.

SEScoops has updated our comprehensive coverage of the King and Queen of the Ring.

Queen of the Ring First Round

In the first round of the Queen of the Ring tournament, several matches concluded with decisive victories. Iyo Sky defeated Natalya, while Lyra Valkyria overcame Dakota Kai. Zoey Stark secured a win against Ivy Nile, and Bianca Belair triumphed over Candice LeRae.

Jade Cargill emerged victorious against Piper Niven, and Nia Jax defeated Naomi. Tiffany Stratton also won her match against Michin.

In the final match of the first round, Shayna Baszler will face Maxxine Dupri after Zelina Vega was replaced by Dupri.

You can check out the quarterfinal matchups for the 2024 Queen of the Ring tournament below.

• Iyo Sky vs. the winner of Shayna Baszler vs. Maxxine Dupri
• Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
• Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax
• Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton

WWE is enjoying a booming period in their company’s history, and new television rights deals are set to inject a ton of guaranteed money into their coffers. Although SmackDown is moving networks, the WWE Universe will not have to change their weekly schedule to see it.

WWE plans to keep SmackDown on Friday nights when they move to the USA Network in October 2024, according to Dave Meltzer. The move is somewhat surprising, because Friday is a very competitive night and USA has more flexibility to move the show than Fox did.

WWE had the option to schedule SmackDown on any day of the week, such as Wednesday or Thursday, which typically face less sports competition than Fridays. Specifically, moving SmackDown to Wednesdays could have been a strategic move against AEW, which broadcasts its Dynamite show on the same day.

WWE’s New Television Rights Deals

WWE is embarking on new television rights agreements beginning in October 2024. NXT will transition to The CW, while SmackDown shifts to the USA Network.

Friday Night SmackDown is set to air on the USA Network beginning September 13, 2024. NBC has agreed to pay $287 million annually for the U.S. broadcasting rights to SmackDown, totaling over $1.4 billion on a five-year deal. Additionally, NXT has secured a five-year media rights agreement with The CW, valued between $20 million and $25 million each year. This deal represents a 70% increase from its previous contract with NBCUniversal’s USA Network.

WWE RAW is set to move to Netflix starting January 2025, but it will continue airing on the USA Network until the end of 2024, despite the current deal expiring in October. For these additional three months of RAW on the USA Network, WWE will receive $25 million, a significant bargain in light of their forthcoming $500 million annual deal with Netflix, which will span 10 years.

WWE SmackDown took over Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s Mohegan Sun Arena with a sold-out show this week. Those fans witnessed some incredible King and Queen of the Ring Tournament matches take place.

The 2024 King and Queen of the Ring tournaments have begun in WWE, featuring matches on Raw and SmackDown. The finals will go down at a live event in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25. Thirty-two competitors from the roster are vying for the crown, a title previously held by many notable wrestlers.

On WWE SmackDown this week, they continued their road to King & Queen of the Ring. In the first match of the night, Nia Jax defeated Naomi to advance in the tournament.

Carmelo Hayes, the former NXT Champion, won his match against Baron Corbin to advance in the tournament. Hayes secured the victory with a roll-up pin, which didn’t significantly hurt Corbin’s standing, as he was just call-up from NXT during the 2024 WWE Draft along with Hayes.

Additionally, the match featured sponsorship from “The Iron Claw” on Max, with MAX graphics on the barricades and entrance as Corey Graves mentioned the Von Erich Family biopic post-match.

Baron Corbin vs Carmelo Hayes
Brought to you by The Iron Claw. #KOTR #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/kMXHI63Wkl

— Balor Club Guy (@TheBalorClubGuy) May 11, 2024

Jade Cargill also advanced toward the 2024 Queen of the Ring crown as she defeated Piper Niven. It’s hard not to see the former TBS Champion as a favorite in the tournament. Cargill impressed throughout the match, executing a blue thunder bomb on Niven, along with perfect splashes in the corner.

Chelsea Green tried to interfere, but there was no stopping the Storm from coming as she won with a Jaded. This win for Cargill also set up a match against Nia Jax next, and that will be another incredible test for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion.

JADED! ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/TMXmn0OQ4X

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 11, 2024

Bianca Belair made her entrance as her tag team partner, Cargill, was leaving. This gave them a chance to pose as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions before the match kicked off. After a back-and-forth contest, Belair won the match to advance in the tournament.

Tama Tonga picked up the win over Angelo Dawkins to advance this week. Dawkins replaced Bobby Lashley, who had to pull out. Tonga is coming off his brother, Tanga Loa, debuting at WWE Backlash in France, so he wanted to keep that momentum going. Tonga also got to show off his new entrance on SmackDown.

Tama Tonga's Entrance ???#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GwxXxrq2SG

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 11, 2024

AJ Styles and Randy Orton brought the third and final King of the Ring match of the night. The two veterans continued as Orton developed a leg injury during the match, one he sold to enhance the drama. Orton fought to keep from getting trapped in a Calf Crusher from the Phenomenal One as fans chanted The Viper on.

They fought on, and Orton delivered his signature suspended DDT, but he was unable to capitalize. The Apex Predator was able to kick out of a Phenomenal Forearm and then he hit an RKO outta nowhere to secure the win.

ring awareness pic.twitter.com/cxzfFzEuOn

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 11, 2024

The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will culminate on May 25 at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the finals for both tournaments will take place.

You may find the results for this year’s tournament (so far) in the space below. We have also listed the announced quarterfinal matches.

King of the Ring:

First Round Results:

• Gunther defeated Sheamus
• Ilja Dragunov defeated Ricochet
• Jey Uso defeated Finn Balor
• Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio
• Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles
• Tama Tonga defeated Angelo Dawkins
• Carmelo Hayes defeated Baron Corbin
• LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar

Quarterfinals Scheduled:

• Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston
• Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov
• Tama Tonga vs LA Knight
• Carmelo Hayes vs Randy Orton

Queen of the Ring:

First Round Results:

• Iyo Sky defeated Natalya
• Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai
• Zoey Stark defeated Ivy Nile
• Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri
• Bianca Belair defeated Candice LeRae
• Jade Cargill defeated Piper Niven
• Nia Jax defeated Naomi
• Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin

Quarterfinals Scheduled:

• Iyo Sky vs. Shayna Baszler
• Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
• Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax
• Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton

WWE King & Queen of the Ring Card:

• King of the Ring Tournament Final
  • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
• Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
  • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
• Women’s World Championship Match
  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (Singles match)
• WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
  • Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed (Triple threat match)
• Undisputed WWE Championship Match
  • Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (Singles match)

Logan Paul already has the WWE United States Championship around his shoulder, but he is after another title for the other side. The Maverick is now set to take on Cody Rhodes at King and Queen of the Ring on May 25.

WWE SmackDown kicked off this week with Nick Aldis introducing Rhodes. The American Nightmare made his way to the ring to a thunderous reception, and then the SmackDown GM got right down to business.

Aldis congratulated Rhodes for beating AJ Styles at Backlash, but then he said that his next challenger has already been determined. This is when Logan Paul’s music hit, much to the chagrin of fans in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s sold-out Mohegan Sun Arena.

Logan and Cody had a back-and-forth on the microphone, one where the YouTuber turned Superstar said that winning the Undisputed WWE Title from Rhodes will help usher in the “Logan Paul Levesque Era.”

After securing the WWE United States Title at WWE Crown Jewel last year, Logan Paul has become the longest-reigning champion in WWE history. With his title reign reaching 188 days and still ongoing, Paul was sure to mention this milestone during his segment with Cody Rhodes.

Then Cody Rhodes brought up the fact that if he won the WWE U.S. Title, that would make him a WWE Grand Slam Champion. He then said that Logan is self-centered, but WWE is a team, and at King and Queen of the Ring, The Maverick will learn where he stands with that team.

Look who it is! ??@CodyRhodes newest challenger United States Champion @LoganPaul is here! pic.twitter.com/QDbb6lODLe

— WWE (@WWE) May 11, 2024

Two Belts

Cody Rhodes later tweeted out to simply say: “Two belts.” It seems that he has his eye on Paul’s title as well. This may be a winner take all match if they confirm the stipulation. 

2 belts

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) May 11, 2024

WWE King & Queen of the Ring 2024

The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments are set to return in 2024, marking the first occurrence since 2021. Matches for the tournament are ongoing, and SEScoops will provide in-depth coverage.

Xavier Woods and Zelina Vega are the current reigning King and Queen of the Ring.

The finals for the 2024 tournaments will be held at a live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 25. The stage for this event was prominently established on SmackDown.

WWE King & Queen of the Ring Card:

• King of the Ring Tournament Final
  • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
• Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
  • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
• Women’s World Championship Match
  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
  • Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
• Undisputed WWE Championship Match
  • Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul