WWE is closing out 2023 with a special episode of SmackDown. The December 29th episode will be a recap of the greatest moments of the year, and now we have more details.
WWE SmackDown December 29th Plans
WWE SmackDown won’t air live on December 29th, opting for a special show instead. Despite the non-live format, FOX will deliver a two-hour broadcast filled with highlights. This week’s episode is dedicated to the Best of 2023, providing fans with a retrospective look.
TV Guide shared a preview of the episode, promising a special night revisiting the standout moments of 2023. No live matches will be featured on the show, but the two-hour show will be full of big moments.
Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves relive the absolute best matches and moments from 2023, featuring John Cena, Logan Paul, and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves will guide viewers through the year’s best matches and highlights, featuring notable figures like John Cena, Logan Paul, and the reigning WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
WWE Best of 2023
WWE SmackDown in 2023 saw big stories on the blue brand, including the dominance of the Bloodline. It will be interesting to see what they include in the upcoming best-of episode, because you could fill a full show with just highlights of Roman Reigns and his stable.
WWE SmackDown in 2024
Looking ahead, SmackDown’s New Year’s Revolution special will mark its return to live television on January 5th, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. That episode is already loaded with matches, and you may find that card below.
WWE SmackDown January 5th New Year’s Revolution Card:
Santos Escobar vs. Kevin Owens – Tournament final to determine the #1 contender for the WWE United States Championship at Royal Rumble
Butch and TBA vs. Pretty Deadly
Iyo Sky (c) vs. “Michin” Mia Yim – WWE Women’s Championship
Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs LA Knight – Triple threat match to determine the #1 contender to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble
WWE had a great 2023, but they also fired a boatload of people this year. Apart from the 100 plus people they fired from their corporate headquarters after the TKO Group Holdings merger went through, they also laid down some big roster cuts. A few of those main roster Superstars are now free agents, and they’re taking dates. McKenzie Mitchell also lost her job with WWE recently, but she’s ready to get back out there.
McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE Release
McKenzie Mitchell served as a host for WWE across various media platforms and NXT. She shared the news of her departure from the company on X, as she was fired along with several others at WWE headquarters.
On Christmas day, McKenzie Mitchell had an announcement. It was officially revealed that she will be at WrestleCon in April, marking her first wrestling engagement post-WWE.
Scheduled for April 4th to 7th, McKenzie Mitchell’s appearance aligns with WrestleMania weekend. She would probably have been around the area for the big weekend, since she is married to Vic Joseph. Now fans have a chance to meet McKenzie in person.
Christmas is a time to think of those we hold dear, even if they are not with us anymore. Bray Wyatt’s name is certainly being spoken today, as so many reflect, and those who knew him well are remembering the great man that the world lost.
Bray Wyatt made a much-hyped return to WWE television during Extreme Rules last year. That marked his triumphant comeback after being released in 2021.
Sadly, the program with LA Knight that transpired after that was his last match, as he was taken from us on August 24th, 2023.
Despite having so many possibilities upon Bray Wyatt’s return, those creative ideas will remain unfulfilled after his untimely passing.
JoJo Offerman’s Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas
Bray Wyatt’s fiancée, JoJo Offerman, recently shared an emotional post reflecting on the challenges of spending the first Christmas after his demise. She penned a caption that shared her thoughts about losing the man she loved, and their Christmas traditions that she misses during this time.
JoJo Offerman also included a photo of herself, sitting with a glass of wine, while looking at a Christmas tree that was decorated with care. It was also impossible to miss the Bray Wyatt painting that was also placed over their fireplace, right above the family’s stockings.
”Merry Christmas Eve my love. It’s been 4 months without you and it still gets harder. Especially now, because Christmas was your thing. You LOVED going all out for the kids. You did the shopping and I did the wrapping. That was our routine. And you got the coolest shit I swear lol trying to do Christmas the way you would have has been so hard. And I’ve broken down every single day. I miss you so much. The kids miss you so much. We wish you were here. But I know you’re here in spirit and I hope I made you proud baby. I love you more than words Windham, forever.”
Bray Wyatt’s sudden passing at the age of 36 deeply affected fans and the wrestling community. Four months later, and those wounds are far from healed after losing an absolute genius like Bray Wyatt.
JoJo Offerman has been transparent about her journey in coping with the profound loss, providing updates on her experiences. WWE has also taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family, by giving him a Legends Deal, releasing a Legacy Collection of merchandise, and making sure that all proceeds go to JoJo Offerman.
Bray Wyatt is gone, but he is far from forgotten. We will have him in our hearts, as the whole world is still in his hands.
Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville were going strong as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Then a devastating knee injury took Deville out for the count. Piper Niven replaced Deville, but a Chelsea’s Got Talent idea was in the air prior to that decision. Although it was ended prematurely, Chelsea Green had big goals for that angle.
Chelsea Green Unveils Original Plan For Chelsea’s Got Talent Angle
While speaking to Spencer Loves Interviews, Chelsea Green opened up about her original plan for that Chelsea’s Got Talent angle. They didn’t see it to the end, but she had a big goal in mind.
Cardi B is on the bucket list for a few WWE Superstars, and it seems that Chelsea Green also wanted to take on the WAP rapper.
“If I’m being honest. I wanted Cardi B. If I couldn’t get Cardi B, I wanted to wrestle Cardi B. There was just so many good options in Chelsea’s Got Talent. What I really liked is that we saw people from all over. We did see main roster talent and announcers. We saw Cathy Kelly. We saw R Truth, but we also saw really amazing NXT talent that people hadn’t really seen yet. Karmen from NXT auditioned. We saw reality stars, like Heidi Montag from The Hills. So it could have been anyone and I hadn’t decided yet. It was only just the preliminary rounds. Nobody made it to the semifinals and the finals.”
Cardi B & WWE
Carbi B was rumored to be a part of SummerSlam a couple of years ago, because they used “Up” as the official song. Those plans were nixed when she revealed during the 2021 BET Awards that she was pregnant. That took her out of the running to make the trip for WWE.
Although Cardi B hasn’t taken part in any WWE events yet, that idea is not dead. Her recent social media activity against her soon-to-be ex-husband Offset has rivaled the most heated WWE promos we can think of.
What’s Next For Chelsea Green In WWE
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles to Katana Chance and Kayden Carter during the December 18th episode of WWE RAW. Odds are, Green will try to get those titles back, because she has already initiated a social media campaign to get justice for that loss.
AEW’s television deal with Warner Brothers Discovery is set to expire at the end of 2024. The next year will be a very important one for Tony Khan, as he looks forward to what is next for his television shows. Tony Khan is committed, but that brings a very important question about WBD’s interest.
AEW Possible Television Problem
Tony Khan has commented in the past about how strong AEW’s deal is with Warner Brothers Discovery. Still, the possibility is out there that AEW may not retain that platform for their next set of television deals.
During 83 Weeks, Eric Bischoff discussed how Tony Khan is committed to the product and ‘in it for the long haul, but he also questioned what that means if they don’t get renewed by Warner Bros Discovery.
“Let me make it simple. If in fact, they lose WBD, Warner Brothers Discovery, if they’re no longer part of that platform. I’m not sure where they’re going to go. It’s going to be a smaller cable outlet. I don’t see a big cable outlet [picking them]. And this whole thing with Paramount and WBD, that’s such a wildcard. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of variables that’s gonna throw into the equation. It could be really good for AEW. Whenever that is, the Paramount WBD thing if it actually becomes a reality. Because it’s too soon to know if it’s real or not. But if it becomes a reality, and there’s a merger there, it can either be the absolute stake through the heart of AEW or it can be the golden ticket. We don’t know. But in a case where it’s not the golden ticket and AEW finds itself on the outside looking in and WWE is now the television partner for Paramount WBD or whatever that ends up looking like.”
“I don’t know where Tony’s gonna go. Because the world is getting so small. Vertical integration, you’re looking at probably two or three companies that own everything. Where are you going to go? What cable outlet are you going to go to that isn’t owned by NBC Universal, Paramount. Where are you going and what do you have to sell? Not much. Here’s what you get to sell, ‘Hey, we were on Turner for five years and prime time. Over the last five years, our audience has deteriorated. But we want to be on your network.’ I don’t want to sell that. I wouldn’t want to be the person assigned to try to sell that story.”
Nothing is set in stone yet, and this is all hypothetical at this point. Still, it is enough to get people talking, because there are some big rumors about the upcoming television landscape, and where AEW falls into that.
Warner Brothers Discovery Interested In WWE RAW
There is reported interest in WWE from Warner Bros Discovery. WWE has not found a new home for RAW yet, and that new deal will go into effect in October 2024.
The recent rumor is that CM Punk’s WWE return brought WBD interest. That could present another obstacle for Tony Khan if WWE is able to secure Warner Brothers Discovery as the new home of RAW.
Bret Hart was a part of many famous moments in WWE history. The Hitman is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, and he fought hard to keep his spot in the company. Many fans see WrestleMania 13 as a massive turning point in Hart’s career, but it was also the start of an even bigger change for the pro wrestling business.
Setting Up WrestleMania 13
While speaking to Inside the Ropes, Bret Hart remembered his big feud against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. The Texas Rattlesnake was just getting momentum, and that was reflected by the changing audience at the time.
Bret Hart mentioned that he had a match with Steve Austin at the previous Survivor Series, and they wanted to take time building a rematch. Bret was originally scheduled to face HBK at WrestleMania, but Shawn Michaels went home to “find his smile,” and the match between Hart and Austin was put together at the last minute.
“The audiences were changing in that time period. Especially I remember particularly on the East Coast. I think that was probably due to ECW but the fans started to kind of find it was more fun to cheer the bad guys and piss the good guys off. So they were there to kind of make trouble at the shows lot of the times and they’d start chanting for all the bad guys. During that time period, I noticed that it really changed the atmosphere of the matches.”
“I remember a lot of the good guys having a lot of trouble getting reactions and the bad guys were getting, like Steve Austin was getting all the reaction in the world. You could sort of sense that he was gonna become a babyface, and guys like me would move over to the side. I just saw it as a chance ‘So I should just change styles. I’ll just wrestle like Bret the Hitman, the old Hart Foundation days.’ It wasn’t such a hard transfer for me. I could work heel or babyface pretty easy.”
The WrestleMania 13 Match
When it comes to building the match, Bret Hart stated that it was “pretty nice” how they went about it. Then, when they showed up for the match, there wasn’t much of a plan in place.
“So it was just building up pretty nice. I think my momentum was going pretty well. But when I showed up to wrestle Steve at WrestleMania 13. I don’t think either one of us had much of a plan for the match. I remember we started talking about it in the dressing room. I was like ‘So what are we doing?’ And he was like, ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do?’
“Me and Steve, we were just kind of trying to figure it out. We sat on the ring apron and we just started talking about it and I said ‘The way I see this fight or this match is like a school fight’ I was sort of the guy that was the cool guy in school. [I was] popular with everybody and I was maybe the quarterback on the football team kind of thing. Steve Austin was the new guy that came to school, [who] had a shaved head, was kind of a badass. The way I remember talking to Steve about it is like ‘So this should be like a school fight and all the fans are basically all the kids at the school watching this flight.’ That’s where we started kind of the psychology of the match and how we should build it.”
Steve Austin & Bret Hart’s Future In Pro Wrestling
Bret Hart hasn’t wrestled a match since he teamed with John Cena to beat Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez on September 12th, 2011 during an episode of WWE RAW. Hart didn’t do much in that match, but it still wrapped up his career in WWE.
Steve Austin, on the other hand, is not 100% retired from in-ring competition. You can never say never with him, although there are no reported plans for him to lace up his boots again any time soon. His match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 was proof that the Texas Rattlesnake can still go in the ring.
John Cena has received a ton of honors from WWE fans, and Hollywood jumped on board as well. While he waits for his eventual WWE Hall of Fame induction, the Greatest of all Time is being honored by the NCAA.
John Cena’s Big NCAA Honor
John Cena, along with five others, is set to be honored at the NCAA convention in January with the 2024 Silver Anniversary Award.
The Silver Anniversary Award recognizes individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college sports careers. Nominations for this prestigious award are submitted by administrators at the awardees’ undergraduate institutions. The selection process is conducted by a panel consisting of former student-athletes and representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences.
Among the 2024 recipients are Nicole Aunapu Mann, Jerry Azumah, Shannon Boxx, John Cena, Misty May-Treanor, and Cindy Parlow Cone. These individuals will be presented with the 2024 Silver Anniversary Award during the NCAA Convention Welcome and Awards Presentation on January 10th in Phoenix.
John Cena’s NCAA Career
John Cena is already in Springfield’s Hall of Fame. This induction was given to him 8 years ago.
The press release from the NCAA listed out John Cena’s accomplishments in College Football, which saw him serve as a team caption for the 1998 Springfield football team.
As a student-athlete: John Cena served as one of three captains on the 1998 Springfield football team that went 9-2 and advanced to the Division III tournament. At season’s end, the accolades rolled in for the senior, as he was named a Hewlett-Packard Division III first-team All-American, a Football Gazette All-American, an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England/Northeast Division III All-Star and a New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star. A three-time Freedom Football Conference All-Academic honoree, Cena was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was honored at Springfield College’s 40 Under 40 Awards Celebration in 2017.
As a professional: While football ended for Cena after his time at Springfield, he put his athleticism to use as a professional wrestler. Now, he’s one of the most recognizable sports and entertainment faces in the world as a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar and 16-time world champion. He is also well known as an actor and former rapper. His philanthropic work is just as notable. Cena has been especially involved with Make-A-Wish, granting more than 650 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, which is more than anyone else involved with the organization. He’s also been an advocate in anti-bullying efforts and promoting the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, he’s been heavily involved with the Susan G. Komen organization, which strives to eradicate breast cancer, and has worked with WWE to raise more than $1.5 million to support that mission. The collection of these efforts led to him receiving the 2018 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award in recognition of his leadership as a philanthropist.
John Cena has a huge Hollywood career ahead of him, so he will remain in the public eye for years to come. This achievement from the NCAA is still one that he is very honored to receive.
The ceremony on January 10th will be a special one for John Cena. We have not heard whether he will make the trip to receive that honor personally.
The Iron Claw finally arrived after decades of pro wrestling fans proclaiming that the Von Erich Family’s incredible story deserves their own feature film. Now, we are getting the numbers after the film’s first few days in the theaters.
The Iron Claw Opening Weekend Box Office
The Iron Claw dropped on December 22nd, but their opening weekend box office did not deliver as many expected. The R-Rated film also received a ton of promotion, with trailers playing during commercial breaks for weeks.
According to Dave Meltzer’s update on FW Daily Update, The Iron Claw is estimated to bring in $5.06 million in 2,774 theaters in week one. That number equals out to around $1,824 per screen.
About The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw tells the story of the Von Erich brothers in the fiercely competitive world of professional wrestling during the early 1980s. Amidst moments of tragedy and triumph, the brothers strive for larger-than-life recognition on the grand stage of pro wrestling. All the while, they must navigate the influence of their authoritative father and coach.
MJF was an executive producer on The Iron Claw, and he also played Lance Von Erich in the film. He didn’t have a ton of screen time, which some fans commented on as well.
The Iron Claw’s Competition
According to The Numbers, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom brought in $28,100,000 and Wonka earned $17,700,000. Also, Migration brought in younger fans as well, with $12,310,000.
The Iron Claw isn’t finished making money yet. There is still streaming and DVD release market after its theatrical run. Still, it didn’t pull in a ton of money in its opening weekend.
Toni Storm is having an incredible run in pro wrestling right now with her current angle. Her Timeless gimmick may be the best current character work from any female in the entire pro wrestling landscape. She doesn’t stop delivering top quality entertainment, and that includes viral videos.
Toni Storm’s NSFW Holiday Traditions
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm recently participated in a holiday interview where she shared insights into various aspects of the festive season, including traditions, meals, presents, movies, and more.
During the interview, Toni Storm opened up about her favorite holiday traditions. She made reference to having a key party in the interview. Then she was asked about her favorite meal.
Toni Storm said that she “loves a bit of spotted dick.” Then Storm admitted that was the reason why they had to cancel their key parties. This topic is a bit NSFW, so we will let you Google search what a key party is, but spotted dick is a well-known British dish.
Toni Storm was also asked about her favorite Christmas gift, and she had a good answer. She really liked the binoculars she received one year, because they helped her in some voyeuristic endeavors.
Then Toni Storm was asked, “What is the best way to spread Holiday cheer?” She said: “Eagle.” Yep, she really did.
What’s Next For Toni Storm
Toni Storm will defend her AEW Women’s World Title against Riho at Worlds End on January 30th. She has been hyping that match by flaunting her Timeless character on-screen.
Toni Storm is underestimating Riho right now, but Storm has the potential to carry that title for a long time, or at least until Mariah May turns on her down the line.
WWE is undergoing significant changes under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella. We now have a partnership with All Japan Pro Wrestling. As part of this collaboration, a current NXT talent is set to travel to Japan for a significant match in 2024.
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Match Set Up
AJPW has been teasing a mysterious challenger, referred to as them as an ‘Assassin,’ for the AJPW Triple Crown Championship. This challenger is slated to face the winner of the upcoming match between Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kento Miyahara on January 3rd.
Following a phone call from WWE to AJPW President Tsuyoki Fukuda, the identity of the NXT Superstar making the trip to All Japan Pro Wrestling has been revealed.
William Regal appeared in a video where he spoke about his own career in Japan, highlighting some of the great names he worked with over the years. He then stated that a new generation of talent is going to bring that British excellence to Japan.
William Regal then announced that Charlie Dempsey, his son, is making the journey from NXT to AJPW. Regal also made mention of the fact that this is the first time he’s publicly acknowledging that Dempsey is his son, so he picked a great time to confirm that news.
Charlie Dempsey came up to NXT by way of NXT UK. He eventually carved out a spot in NXT as a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew alongside Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. Odds are, they will be rooting him on in a big way as Dempsey makes that trip to Japan for an amazing opportunity.
Mustafa Ali’s inclusion on September’s list of WWE releases was both a surprise and not so much. Many knew he requested his WWE release in January 2022; but in September 2023, he was in NXT and having a great series of matches with an NXT North American Title match on the horizon. Now that he’s a free agent, Mustafa Ali plans to continue that momentum.
Mustafa Ali has completed his non-compete clause period with WWE and is gearing up for a global wrestling tour. It appears that he has been using the last 90 days to get jacked.
The former Retribution leader posed for the camera, and it looks like he’s been lifting some heavy weights. With a look of determination in his eyes, Mustafa Ali simply stated that he’s preparing for his World Tour.
Recently, Mustafa Ali took to Twitter to unveil a campaign-inspired video, signaling the commencement of his World Tour. This announcement stirred up excitement, because many pro wrestling fans still believe that Mustafa Ali has a truckload of untapped potential.
Mustafa Ali’s schedule will likely fill us fast. He will be a part of GCW’s No Compadre event scheduled for January 12th, where he is set to face Gringo Loco.
On January 19th, Ali is set to journey to Ottawa, Canada, for a wrestling appearance with C4 Wrestling. Following this, he will mark his debut on the UK independent wrestling scene at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28th. The leader of Retribution is scheduled to participate in an event with DEFY on February 9th in Seattle, Washington.
2024 will be as busy as Mustafa Ali wants to make it as he calls his own shots in the global wrestling landscape.
RVD made a name for himself thanks to his innovative move set, and one of a kind attitude. At 53-years-old, Rob Van Dam is still able to perform in the ring, but WWE isn’t calling him.
RVD’s Status With WWE
The WWE Hall of Famer stands out as one of the most skilled competitors to grace the squared circle. He can still get fans to chant his name to this day, and he can still execute every one of his signature moves.
Over the course of RVD’s career, he has clashed with numerous top-tier opponents, including the likes of Triple H. However, RVD believes that a lack of communication with Triple H is a significant barrier preventing his return to WWE.
RVD saw an appearance on WWE television was during the 2023 Draft, but there have been no further developments since then. He has since made it very clear that he’s down to appear for WWE, in pretty much any way they want to use him.
During a discussion on Marty Jannetty’s “Party with Marty” podcast, RVD revealed that he never had a substantial relationship with Triple H, and that is likely why The Game didn’t call him for a comeback.
“No… I never really talk to Hunter. If I had that relationship with him where we talked, then maybe I would be there. I’m assuming that’s a big reason why I’m not there… Everyone can see I’m still in f*cking better shape than ever. I can work with a motherf*cker. If you ask me why I’m not there, I’d probably say relationships with the office but I don’t know.”
RVD’s journey in the wrestling world includes a successful stint in ECW before signing with WWE in 2001. He spent six years as an active wrestler in WWE, securing numerous championships, including the WWE and ECW Championships. Despite leaving WWE in 2007, RVD made a brief return in 2013 before departing again in 2014.
Although RVD appeared for AEW, he never inked a deal with Tony Khan. Those per appearance deals were definitely a sign that the Whole F’n Show is down to appear whenever he’s called.
In his current role as Chief Content Officer, Triple H holds a key position in WWE, making crucial decisions for the company. He worked for years to climb up WWE’s corporate ladder, and that paid off.
Although Triple H and RVD are in different places in the pro wrestling world, they are still pro wrestlers at heart. WWE fans can only hope that The King of Kings gives RVD a call down the road.
Dana Massie, who is also the wife of AEW EVP Matt Jackson, played a key part in overseeing merchandise, managing The Young Bucks’ empire before AEW. She made a transition to AEW, and had a big hand in the company’s early stages, as she was there from the very beginning. She is moving on, and Matt Jackson has confirmed it.
Matt Jackson Speaks On His Wife, Dana Massie, Leaving AEW
Matt Jackson posted to his Instagram stories to address his wife’s AEW departure. He included a photo of Dana Massie backstage at an AEW event, with a sleeping child on her shoulder, while doing her duties as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer and mother at the same time.
In the caption with the post, Matt Jackson also expressed his gratitude for Dana Massie’s contributions. He then thanked her for being a huge part of AEW’s early foundation, while acknowledging the challenges of her sometimes thankless job.
“End of an era. You were in the first conversations, when this was all only an idea. One of the main builders of our empire. Always positive in at times was a thankless job. Glad you got to do it all, and leave on your terms, by your own choice. It’s been fun working with you. See you at dinner.”
From Matt Jackson's Instagram…
Please – Send LOTS of Love to Matt & Dana Massie (Jackson) this Christmas…
— Matthew Jackson: Out of Context (Fan Account) (@MattJacksonOOC) December 24, 2023
AEW saw some significant departures in 2023, with Dana Massie being the latest to disclose their exit. Her role as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer was very important to AEW since the beginning. She will be missed on the road, but Matt Jackson will still see his wife at home.
Dana Massie left AEW on her own terms, and it doesn’t appear that there is any ill-will there. Whoever gets Dana Massie’s responsibilities next will have big shoes to fill.
AEW Had Some Key Departures in 2023
With Dana Massie’s departure from AEW, and the upcoming exit of Vice President of Live Events and Touring Rafael Morffi, AEW faces changes in key positions. QT Marshall is already gone from the company, and he held a role as Tony Khan’s right-hand man for a time as well.
CM Punk returned to WWE after nearly a decade away from the company. That Survivor Series return brought Chicago fans to a frenzy, but he wasn’t the only return that night.
Looking Back At CM Punk’s WWE Survivor Series Return
Randy Orton needed back fusion surgery in 2022, a fact that cost him 18 months of in-ring competition. The Apex Predator also returned at Survivor Series, where he helped his team win the WarGames match. Then CM Punk returned to steal the spotlight.
While speaking to Rewind, Recap, Relive, Heath Slater discussed CM Punk’s return to WWE. He saw it as a very cool moment, but he also feels as though it overshadowed Randy Orton’s return to the ring.
“I mean it’s a thing in the wrestling world with the fans and the popularity of it. I mean, it’s a cool moment. Come on, man, it’s been a decade pretty much. It’s a cool moment.”
“Do I wish that they would have done it at WarGames? No, because I feel that Randy should have had a great moment, too.”
“Because Randy is amazing. He’s one of those Hall of Famers, icons, legends. If you sculpt out what a Superstar should be, it’s Randy. I feel like it overshadowed Randy’s moment. But, it was a cool moment, of course.”
“The whole backstage drama BS drama, it’s there. We all know it’s there. How will it be handled now? Who knows? I guess we’ll see. He can burn bridges, but he can re-build them. Who knows? Who the hell knows? For the fans and the people who watch WWE, cool moment.”
Heath Slater went on to say that CM Punk “always stuck with himself a lot,” even as leader of the new Nexus faction. Still, Slater had good things to say about CM Punk’s return to WWE being a cool moment. He might have decided against running that return right after Randy Orton’s first match in 18 months.
CM Punk’s WWE Return So Far
CM Punk’s return to WWE has been a financially successful decision. He is selling a truckload of merchandise, his name is trending, and Warner Bros Discovery may have re-entered the discussion for RAW’s next television deal just because of his return.
The jury is still out on whether CM Punk can avoid those backstage issues that he’s known for. As it stands right now, CM Punk’s homecoming is going just fine.
Judgment Day is known for their family vibe, and this new video drop from WWE shows that in full HD. The WWE stable recently had a Secret Santa gift exchange between each other, and it created a great Christmastime video.
During the festive season of gift-giving, the Judgment Day crew decided to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange, and WWE’s cameras captured the heartwarming moments. Each of them actually put thought into their gifts, so this wasn’t a kayfabe segment meant for an angle.
Judgment Day’s Secret Santa Gifts Revealed
Finn Balor drew Rhea Ripley’s name, and he got her a Stranger Things bag, a book about women with tattoos and a beanie with “Mami” on it. Rhea Ripley got Damian Priest as her Secret Santa and gave him some Australian candy and a boomerang that she must have brought back from her recent trip Down Under.
Dominik Mysterio shared the holiday spirit by giving Finn Balor a Louis Vuitton hat. The moment that Louis Vuitton logo was seen, it captured attention, making all of us think about Dirty Dominik’s new WWE contract.
JD McDonagh drew Dominik Mysterio’s name, and he gave him some custom gold pens, with his name inscribed on them. He received some heckling over the gift, after trying to blame Finn Balor for the gift idea. Balor then revealed that he told JD to get Dominik a Rolex watch, but he’s too cheap.
To complete the gift exchange, Damian Priest gave JD McDonagh a very thoughtful present. He explained that every member of the Judgment Day was given a steel bracelet, a symbolic gesture meaning that they are officially in the stable. Now, JD has one, too.
Some fans may forget that Judgment Day was originally just Edge and Damian Priest, meaning Priest is the only OG member of the stable. That gift of a steel bracelet obviously meant a lot to JD McDonagh.
What’s Next For Judgment Day In WWE
Judgment Day is getting a little break from the road, along with the rest of the WWE roster. There is little rest for them, though, because Dominik Mysterio is booked to wrestle CM Punk in Madison Square Garden on December 26th. Odds are, he will have his Judgment Day family with him at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Dominik Mysterio has been an absolute workhorse for WWE in 2023. As we enjoy Dominik Mysterio’s rise in WWE, it’s always important to remember when he came from.
Dominik Mysterio’s Arrest Situation
Many fans consider Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley invading Rey Mysterio’s home on Christmas as one of the benchmarks for his rise as a heel in WWE.
That was quite a fiasco, resulting in a viral video, and the “My mom hit Mami” meme. The Judgment Day members were just getting started, and that viral video created quite a storm. It also caused the catalyst for the Prison Dominik character.
That all went down one year ago today, and WWE wanted to make sure that fans remember that monumental event in Dominik Mysterio’s WWE career. The company’s social media account posted the video, along with a caption, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of that memorable moment.
Dominik Mysterio recently inked a new WWE contract. He will be with the company for years to come. Although it wasn’t 100% confirmed, the belief is that Dirty Dominik’s new WWE deal is a five-year contract.
So far in 2023, Dominik Mysterio has wrestled 102 matches, doubling his number from 2022. He’s not finished yet, because Dominik still has two matches against CM Punk coming up at WWE live events.
AEW afforded Jon Moxley the opportunity to pursue his interests in other pro wrestling companies, and he has made the most of that. During his time on AEW television, Moxley made his way to the ring on many occasions with the IWGP United States Title over his shoulder. It was his title to hold throughout the pandemic, but it’s nobody’s title anymore.
Jon Moxley won the IWGP United States Title from Lance Archer at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 4, 2020. Then the pandemic struck, and he held that title until July 21, 2021, when he dropped the title back to Archer at AEW Fyter Fest in a Texas Death Match.
Moxley actually held the IWGP United States Title prior to that. On June 5th, 2019, Jon Moxley won the belt at the Best of the Super Juniors 26, but he dropped it a short time later after failing to make the trip back to defend it due to Typhoon Hagibis.
IWGP United States Title Destruction
The IWGP United States Title was destroyed by David Finlay in a shocking move on December 11th, 2023. In its place, the company will have the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Still, to see the US Title go in such a way was hard to watch.
While speaking to NJPW’s website, Jon Moxley opened up a bit about the IWGP United States Title’s abrupt deactivation. He understands the business, but he did put everything he could into representing that title while he held it.
There are a lot of belts in this business. A lot of championships, and a lot of guys walking round with all kinds of gold and silver on their shoulder or their waist. But a championship is what you make it. It’s how you represent yourself. The championship you wear is a representation of who you are. Your guts, your heart, your fighting spirit, and where you draw the line in the sand between you and your opponent. It says that you will give no quarter and no-one will take it from you.
I put a lot of heart and soul and hard work into that IWGP United States Championship, and I do not take kindly to David Finlay smashing it with a big stupid Mario Kart hammer.
Belts hold up your pants, but championships are a much different thing. The gall it took for Finlay to do what he did, I kind of admire it, but it really does piss me off.
What Happened To The IWGP United States Title
David Finlay destroyed the IWGP U.S. and U.K. titles at Power Struggle. NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi later announced during the Wrestle Kingdom 18 press conference that a replacement title would be introduced.
The jury is still out on how the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship will be represented. Jon Moxley still might have a bone to pick with the Bullet Club leader over how he treated the US Title.
The Rock recently met a Make-A-Wish kid named Jayden. The 15-year-old is a huge pro wrestling fan, so meeting The Rock was a very special deal for him. He also may have been given a pretty huge spoiler about The Rock’s WWE plans.
In the middle of his Instagram caption, Dwayne Johnson said that he “told him a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE to lay the SmackDown on all their candy asses.” That piqued our interest in a big way, making us all wonder what The Great One told Jayden.
”Droppin that old school Rock theme music for my boy Jayden Harden from @makeawishamerica!
Jayden is 15 and he’s awesome!! Jayden’s wish was to meet, “the people’s champ”.He is HUUUUUGE ROCK & pro wrestling fan and we had a BLAST chopping up his favorite wrestlers and matches!!I LOVE pro wrestling so my time with Jayden was super dope!
I told him a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE to lay the SmackDown on all their candy asses
There’s a lot of negative and toxic noise out there in the world – but there’s a lot of positive, good things too, and Jayden is one of them.
Now, Jayden holds information that many pro wrestling fans would love to know. The Rock’s WWE return, if only for one segment on SmackDown, is a massive deal. So, any information that Jayden may have about Dwayne Johnson’s WWE return could be vital.
Insight On The Rock’s WWE Return
I was told on many occasions that The Rock is not in any WrestleMania 40 plan. After asking several times, as recently as last month, I have been told that The Rock is not in any active creative discussions.
The Rock was penciled in for a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but that didn’t happen. In fact, I was told that The Rock was a “virtual lock” for WrestleMania 39 before things fell through. The Rock claimed while speaking with Pat McAfee in Boulder, Colorado, that they tabled the idea until they could come up with a moment that justifies the match.
“We shook hands and we hugged right there, all three of us at the table, and said, ‘Let’s do this.’ So then we had a year to really think about this. So the north star thought was, ‘Okay, let’s not do something good. Let’s not do something great. Let’s do something unprecedented.’ It was in, what can we create for the fans that has never been done before. A match, great. Roman, incredible athlete. He’s gonna be on Mount Rushmore. Super handsome, good dude, my cousin, family. Amazing. We can have the match, but the bigger thought was, what can do for the fans and the business that love, where WrestleMania isn’t the end of something, it’s actually the beginning of something bigger.”
The Rock can always return to WWE whenever he wants to. All it would take is a phone call to Nick Khan or Triple H and WWE would shift gears to make it happen. That being said, Dwayne Johnson has a demanding Hollywood schedule that is keeping him from the squared circle, and it will likely continue to do so.
It’s Christmastime, and that calls for a new roll-out of Holiday specials. AEW fans are in luck, because a unique episode of Hey-EW dropped on Christmas Eve for their viewing pleasure.
RJ City had no idea who he would be interviewing for his Christmas special. Little did he think that Renee Paquette would lead him straight into a one-on-one session with Danhausen. This isn’t the first time AEW put out a special Christmas video with RJ City and Danhausen, but RJ City wasn’t expecting a repeat.
Danhausen Ruins Christmas … Again!
The Very Nice, Very Evil AEW star was excited about the Holidays. While dressed as Santa Claus, he proclaimed “Happy Christopher Massachusetts!”
During the segment, Danhausen and RJ City read an AEW parody version of “The Night Before Christmas.” Those lines were switched up a bit to give it a little AEW flair, and you can read a portion of the poem below.
Twas the day before Christmas and all through the show, all the wrestlers were angry like Ruby Soho.
The Hangman was hung in tight denim pants, as Eddie Kingston did one of his loud New York rants.
The Ass Boys were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of Prince Na Na swerved in their heads.
Renee Paquette made a large pronouncement, as Tony Khan himself announced he was making an announcement.
The Night Before Christmas parody continued, and it’s worth a watch. They also took a bit of time between each line to comment on the poem.
Danhausen and RJ City don’t really hate each other, but they certainly work well on camera while keeping up that act. If anything, this will give AEW fans another Holiday program to watch this year as they prepare for Santa Claus to arrive.
We’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone at SE Scoops. May your day be as jolly as Danhausen in this latest video drop. You can also watch Danhausen ruin last year’s Christmas below.
Kevin Owens is currently one match away from securing a WWE United States Title shot at the Royal Rumble. Owens wants to take that title from Logan Paul in a big way, but first, he must sanitize it.
Kevin Owens’ WWE SmackDown Story So Far
Kevin Owens was moved to the blue brand following Jey Uso’s switch to Monday Night RAW. Owens then engaged in feuds with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, where he was able to knock both of them out backstage with one swift punch.
The Prizefighter also had strong words for Logan Paul before his match against Santos Escobar. The seeds were planted for KO vs The Maverick a while ago, and it appears that is WWE’s direction.
Logan Paul As WWE United States Champion
Logan Paul is really living it up as WWE United States Champion. He posted photos of himself wearing nothing but his title. He has also cuddled up with it in bed.
One thing Logan Paul made clear is that Triple H requested that he not do the nasty while wearing his title belt, which is hasn’t admitted to doing yet. Still, Kevin Owens isn’t taking any chances.
Logan Paul opened up in a YouTube vlog about how Triple H once asked him not to have sex in his WWE hardware. He promised The Game that he wouldn’t.
“I don’t think you understand. I just took a shower with this belt on. I ran a 5K earlier with this belt on. This belt never leaves my body waist. I f*ck in this belt. This belt means everything to me. Cut that out, bro. Just because the WWE, they did say that I can’t f*ck in the belt. When I won the belt, they said [laughs]. I swear, Triple H, he came up to me, he said, ‘Logan, congratulations on the belt. One thing we’ve been really cautious about here in the organization is making sure our athletes are not f*cking in their belts, so if you could just refrain from f*cking in your belt,’ and I gave him my word. Next thing you know, I’m clapping cheeks in this f*cking 40-pound piece of metal. You gotta cut all of that out.”
Kevin Owens’ Promise For WWE US Title
During a conversation with Kayla Braxton after SmackDown this week, Kevin Owens expressed his displeasure with Logan Paul’s actions involving the United States Championship. Owens then stated his intention to use sanitizer on the title to clean it after winning it.
“Once I go through Santos [Escobar], the ultimate face to punch, Logan Paul. You know what he’s been doing with the US Title since he’s won it? Just repulsive, just gross. He’s a man of very low moral fiber, right? I can’t wait to take that title back, put it in my bathtub, and I’m not gonna take a bath with it. I’m just gonna put so much Clorox, hand sanitizer, whatever is needed to clean that thing. Then I’ll take it and will restore the prestige it deserves, and that’s about it. That’s my plan.”
Logan Paul’s matches in WWE have impressed everyone so far. Each time he’s been booked, The Maverick brought it. That helped him gain popularity on WWE television, and locker room respect came with it. He is still a hated heel that fans would love to see take a Stunner from Kevin Owens.
Thunder Rosa returned to in-ring action on the December 23rd episode of AEW Collision. She also did so with a memorable entrance, as she rode on a low rider. It turns out that car had a bit of history behind it as well.
The tag team match, where Skye Blue and Julia Hart took on Thunder Rosa and Abadon, provided a preview of Julia Hart’s TBS Championship defense against Abadon. Of course, in San Antonio, the attention was on Thunder Rosa.
Thunder Rosa’s Special Entrance
Thunder Rosa’s low rider entrance had a unique touch, as many fans called out the fact that it looked like the car featured in the 1997 film “Selena.” Many fans will remember that car if they’ve seen the Jennifer Lopez movie.
Over a year out of #AEW action, the former #AEW Women's World Champion Thunder Rosa is BACK in action as she joins Abadon in tag team action!
In the “Selena” movie, their tour bus breaks down, but they soon find help. A low rider shows up, and they can’t believe that they get to help Selena out of a jam. Many fans know that low rider by the unique paint job, and that is exactly what showed up on AEW Collision this week.
Although it is unconfirmed whether it is the exact car from the film, the ‘Selena car’ is known to make appearances around the San Antonio area. This adds credibility to the possibility that Thunder Rosa used either the actual car for her entrance. Regardless.
Thunder Rosa’s AEW Hiatus
In the end, Thunder Rosa’ team secured the win on AEW Collision, marking a successful comeback to the ring. Thunder Rosa hadn’t wrestled since August 10th, 2022 prior to that. Needless to say, fans in San Antonio had a night to remember.
Thunder Rosa was still working for AEW during her time away from the ring. She provided Spanish language commentary for the show. It’s unknown if she will continue that gig after her in-ring return.
Batista has certainly expanded his range of contacts since leaving WWE. He is a bona fide Hollywood heavy-hitter at this point, keeping friendships with high profile celebrities. He recently flexed that influential muscle by appearing alongside Mr. Beast to help out 100 dogs.
Batista’s Big Charitable Act
Dave Bautista just wrapped up a long stint as Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. That was quite a role for him, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else filling those shoes ever again. Despite his rising star in Hollywood, The Animal is still giving back.
Batista recently updated fans to let them know about a charitable endeavor he was just a part of. The should-be WWE Hall of Famer recently linked up with Mr. Beast, and together they helped rescue 100 dogs.
Mr. Beast is one of the most popular content creators on YouTube. He gained widespread attention for his philanthropic endeavors, creating videos where he gives away large sums of money to individuals or undertakes massive challenges.
Mr. Beast is known for his creative and sometimes unconventional approaches to charity, aiming to make a positive impact through his online presence. His recent video about rescuing 100 dogs may be found below.
Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega were all set to challenge Big Bill and Ricky Starks for the AEW World Tag Team Titles at Worlds End on December 30th, then Kenny Omega’s health took a turn for the worse. Despite losing his Golden Jets partner, Chris Jericho will continue without The Cleaner.
AEW Tag Team Title Match At Worlds End
Chris Jericho is determined to win the AEW Tag Team Titles at AEW Worlds End, even in the absence of Kenny Omega due to diverticulitis. He made that very clear on AEW Collision this week.
During the December 23rd episode of AEW Collision, Ricky Starks and Big Bill announced their intention to take the night off and celebrate. They suggested that the scheduled tag team match at Worlds End was canceled since Kenny Omega is not able to compete.
However, Chris Jericho stepped in, and he revealed something very important. He still possesses a contract entitling him to an AEW Tag Team Title match. Le Champion is not fazed by Kenny Omega’s absence, because the show must go on.
Chris Jericho then declared his intention to find a partner and challenge Ricky Starks and Big Bill for the titles at AEW Worlds End. He didn’t reveal who his partner will be at the pay-per-view.
Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega secured their opportunity for the AEW Tag Team Titles by defeating The Young Bucks at AEW Full Gear. The Young Bucks used that loss to turn heel as well.
Ricky Starks and Big Bill address the status of the #AEW World Tag Team Championship match at #AEWWorldsEnd.
AEW is gearing up for 2024, along with the rest of us. Everything changes, but it seems that Tony Khan’s company is seeing a few big departures to close out the year.
AEW’s Recent Departures
Rafael Morffi, AEW’s Vice President of Live Events/Touring, is believed to be wrapping things up with the company. Reports broke today that he will be leaving after Worlds End for a job with the Barclays Center. Now, we have another departure to report.
Sean Ross Sapp took to X, where he broke some more AEW news. Matt Jackson’s wife, Dana Massie, who has been with the company since they opened their doors, will be leaving her position over the company’s advertising division.
Fightful Select and @TheRajGiri have learned that as things stand, Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Dana Massie is set to finish up with AEW.
She’s been there since the start of AEW. She’s the wife of Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks.
Fightful Select and @TheRajGiri have learned that as things stand, Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Dana Massie is set to finish up with AEW.
She's been there since the start of AEW. She's the wife of Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks. pic.twitter.com/E7QA4FztJT
This is a bit of a surprise, because Dana Massie had a big hand in many AEW promotional and merchandise efforts. She was given that spot in AEW after spearheading The Young Bucks’ merchandise empire, one that saw them arrive in Hot Topic as indie stars.
QT Marshall also left the company, which will be official in 2024, but he is no longer attending AEW events. Marshall, on top of being an in-ring competitor, was AEW President Tony Khan’s right-hand man for a time.
AEW is making some changes internally, with Kevin Sullivan’s sudden release, and now QT Marshall, Dana Massie and Rafael Morffi leaving the company. There may be a lot more to unpack when the dust settles on this story.
Randy Orton returned to WWE at Survivor Series, bringing back his old theme song. WWE fans get very attached to entrance music, especially songs with the kind of longevity that Orton’s music possesses. Despite that fact, WWE still considered a change.
WWE Considered Big Change For Randy Orton
Although WWE did consider a change in Randy Orton’s music, they are not going that direction. This will probably make a lot of fans who hate change very happy.
Fightful Select reports that a new theme song for Randy Orton was tested, but the plans for changes in his entrance were subsequently abandoned. At this point, it doesn’t appear that Randy Orton will get new entrance music.
Fightful’s Corey Brennan has learned that with the Randy Orton theme song, they did one play through live in the arena and decided to scrap it.
The original plan was for Randy Orton to debut with his old music, out of familiarity. Then they would transition into a new song. It appears that transition has been nixed.