Brad Blum resigned as WWE’s Chief Operating Officer on May 1st, according to the Wrestling Observer. As COO, he was in the upper echelon of WWE’s most influential officers alongside Nick Khan and Paul Levesque. 

Blum joined WWE in 2006, initially serving as Chief of Staff, a role he held for over a decade. His voice was frequently heard alongside Vince McMahon during the company’s quarterly financial calls.

Over the years, he held various leadership positions and in early 2020, took on responsibility for WWE’s Operations. His duties included overseeing Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Corporate Communications, Creative Services, IT & Technology, Insights & Analytics, Real Estate & Facilities, and Corporate Travel. During the time of his exit, he reported directly to Nick Khan.

In Janel Grant’s 67-page lawsuit, Blum was referred to as Corporate Officer No. 2. The lawsuit mentioned that McMahon, after meeting Grant, arranged for her to meet with Blum. During this meeting, Blum asked few questions before hiring her for a $75,000 per year position in the legal department.

The lawsuit also noted that in February 2020, McMahon mentioned to Grant that Blum had warned him about rumors circulating regarding their relationship, leading to her transfer to another department.

This Year’s WWE Releases & Departures

We’ve updated our WWE Releases & Departures Tracker to include Brad Blum.

It’s Friday, and you know what that means, it’s time for the Daily Drop. Today’s edition should catch you up on everything you need to know before going out into the pro wrestling community today.

Before we get going, probably the biggest story in pro wrestling has to do with Janel Grant’s lawsuit. John Laurinaitis has changed his position in the ongoing legal case involving former WWE executive Vince McMahon. Previously, Laurinaitis had claimed to be a victim but has now filed a motion to support McMahon’s efforts to counter Janel Grant’s allegations. This change is a significant shift in the case. Initially, Laurinaitis distanced himself from McMahon, but his latest legal action aligns him closely with McMahon, forming a united front against Grant’s accusations.

WWE:

WWE SmackDown 5/3 Card:

• A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller & Austin Theory) versus The Street Profits – WWE Tag Team Championship Match
• New Catch Republic (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) against Authors of Pain
• Cody Rhodes and A.J. Styles face off ahead of their Undisputed WWE Championship match at Backlash
• Debut of the RKO Show, hosted by Randy Orton & Kevin Owens

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6ZWe2Ci4_Y

Rollins Isn’t Leaving: On Friday morning, news broke that Seth Rollins has inked a new deal with WWE. The details are not 100% clear at this time, but his new multi-year contract will keep him with WWE into his 40s. The Visionary is currently only 37-years-old.

SmackDown Plans: Tonight’s episode of SmackDown will air on a tape-delay for fans in America. That being said, it will be a rare treat for fans in the UK, as they get to watch a SmackDown show live for once at a decent time, 6:00 PM local time. WWE Backlash is going down tomorrow, May 4, and coverage starts at 1:00 PM EST.

AEW:

Ethan Page Gone: Although he entered AEW with a lot of momentum, coming off a great run with The North and tag team partner Josh Alexander in Impact Wrestling, Page didn’t do a lot in AEW. Now, he is gone from the company, as he had been wanting to leave the Land of All Elite since February.

Julia Hart Injured: The former TBS Champion confirmed that she is injured. She also may need surgery to fix her issue before making a return to the ring.

AEW Viewership: The May 1st edition of AEW Dynamite attracted 703,000 viewers with a 0.24 rating in the 18-49 demographic, showing a slight increase from the previous week’s 683,000 viewers and a 0.23 rating. Following Dynamite, Rampage aired a live episode and drew 431,000 viewers with a 0.15 demographic rating. This was a significant improvement over the last Rampage after Collision, which had 293,000 viewers and a 0.09 rating.

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 25: King & Queen of the Ring (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)
• Sunday, June 9: NXT Battleground (PLE)

Seth Rollins has re-signed with WWE, meaning that the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion will be around for a long time to come.

Some were concerned about the ticking clock on Rollins’ WWE deal, but he has agreed to terms on a new contract, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports.

It was noted that the mindset was that “They’re not going to let him go.” The 37-year-old’s new agreement will keep him in the company until his 40s.

Seth Rollins just lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL as Drew McIntyre ended his 316-day reign. The Scottish Warrior’s championship run lasted just over five minutes when CM Punk attacked him, which opened the door for Damian Priest to successfully cash in his Money in the Bank contract. Rollins has since taken time off to recover from a knee surgery. 

Recently, WWE has also secured contracts with Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre, and Damian Priest, underscoring a period of significant re-signings.

Endeavor Handling WWE Contracts

WWE fans are getting their first glimpse of how Endeavor will handle these big-money contracts. They certainly waited a lot longer than the previous regime did to re-sign talent in most cases.

Seth Rollins’ wife, Becky Lynch, has not signed a new deal as of this writing, When Ariel Helwani questioned her about this prior to WrestleMania XL, she did not seem worried about not getting a new deal with WWE. As of April, her contract was expiring in two months’ time.

It’s time for the Daily Drop on Thursday, May 2. Last night saw AEW present a very interesting three-hour block of programming, and there is a lot to unpack.

Kenny Omega made his return to AEW television last night in Winnipeg, but things did not turn out too well for him. After receiving a rousing welcome in his home city, The Elite inserted themselves into the situation to make sure The Cleaner left on a stretcher. Then, the Young Bucks chased that stretcher down and tipped it over like the dastardly heels they are.

Now, let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!

AEW:

Nyla Fires Back: The Native Beast, Nyla Rose, released a t-shirt to fire back at The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, who said she cannot wrestle cis gendered females as a transgender woman. That new merchandise will go to help Freedom Oklahoma, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy group.

Pressure on Swerve: The new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland spoke on the pressure that is on him now. He also said that all of his endeavors outside pro wrestling helped prepare him to carry the heavy ball for Tony Khan.

The Bounty Hunter: Bryan Keith confirmed that he inked a multi-year deal with AEW. He will be around for years to come. Keith signed a deal with AEW in February 2024 after competing against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he has faced wrestlers like Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.

Bryan Danielson Can’t Travel: Brie Garcia revealed on the Nikki and Brie Show that Danielson hurt his neck at AEW Dynasty. She made a point to say that it wasn’t too bad, and it is the kind of bump that comes with being in the ring. Despite Garcia trying to play it down on her podcast, it was announced on AEW Dynamite that Danielson didn’t make the Winnipeg Dynamite because he was not medically cleared to travel.

Taz Gets Bad News: Taz recently visited an orthopedic surgeon due to severe knee issues. After tests and X-rays, he learned that both his shoulders and knees need replacements. He has opted not to undergo surgery immediately and will instead continue with regenerative procedures to manage the pain.

Went to a highly acclaimed orthopedic surgeon yesterday to discuss my knee. It’s been brutal for a couple of years, he did testing & X-rays on me. So, both of my shoulders & knees need to be replaced. 4 joints. I am not doing this right now. I’m gonna keep trying regenerative…

— taz (@OfficialTAZ) May 1, 2024

WWE:

WrestleMania London: Triple H did not throw any kind of wet blanket on the idea of London hosting the show of shows. At this point, The Game stated that all locations are on the table.

Mandy Rose Gets Lips Dissolved: The former NXT Women’s Champion logged onto Instagram to update her fans about a cosmetic procedure that she’s having reversed, her lip filler. In the post, she revealed, “We did some lip dissolving today! I’ve always been a little afraid to do this ngl but it was definitely needed and really wasn’t that bad! Swollen at first but a couple hours later the swelling went down, and honestly with the numbing cream I barely even felt it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C6ctEvSu3Ov

Drew Brings Up AJ: In a very bold move, Drew McIntyre said that he would steal AJ Mendez from CM Punk if he wasn’t already married. This was a big shot, and it will only add to the rivalry that Punk and McIntyre are destined to have once the Second City Savior returns to the ring. He later tweeted and deleted a quote retweet of that video saying: “It’s a general statement, not specific. Even when comes [sic] to Punk there’s some lines you don’t cross.”

WWE Speed For Women: Triple H confirmed that WWE is looking heavily into featuring women in upcoming versions of WWE Speed. No word on whether they will introduce a WWE Speed Women’s Title as a part of this.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Tony Khan rode a wave of attention when he wore a neck brace during the NFL Draft. He had plenty of chances to plug Dynamite this week, as he promised that fans will find out what is next in the obvious power struggle going on within the company.

Tony Khan opened this week’s AEW Dynamite via satellite from Jacksonville, Florida. As he was explaining that he couldn’t be in Winnipeg due to The Elite’s actions last week, his feed got choppy and cut out. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson appeared in a production truck and made it clear they were in charge of the broadcast. They explained Khan can’t fire them due to a ‘founder’s clause’ in their AEW contracts. Since they’re the highest ranking officials at the show, they’re in charge and rolled a customized Dynamite opening video package featuring only The Elite.

What we thought was an update from @TonyKhan turns quickly into the @YoungBucks taking control of #AEWDynamite

We're LIVE on TBS pic.twitter.com/O9nh1XBigo

— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) May 2, 2024

Later in the show, Jack Perry explained his actions against Tony Khan last week. He said he did what was best for AEW in this “new era” as the Winnipeg arena filled with “CM Punk” chants.

"We are entering a new era under The Elite"
– Jack Perry

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@youngbucks | @boy_myth_legend pic.twitter.com/aE87pMV288

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 2, 2024

The Cleaner Returns

Kenny Omega took the ring during the final segment of AEW Dynamite. After explaining his ordeal with diverticulitis, The Cleaner admitted that he couldn’t watch AEW television for the longest time. The former AEW World Champion stated that he’s not done wrestling, and he will do whatever it takes to return.

Then he brought up The Jackson Brothers, saying that they don’t call the shots by themselves in AEW, because the Best Bout Machine is still an EVP of the company. Kazuchika Okada made his way to the ring after that, as fans chanted “holy sh*t” before either of them said a word. 

Okada said, “I’m sorry Kenny, I’m the best bout machine now” right before Jack Perry jumped Omega from behind.

Although Omega mounted a bit of a comeback, Perry whacked him in the gut with a steel chair, sending him down to the mat. The Young Bucks soon came down to nail him with an EVP Trigger. FTR ran down for the save, chasing The Elite off, but the damage was done. AEW signed off Dynamite this week with Omega laying in the middle of the ring. When Rampage started immediately afterward, they led Omega off on a stretcher. After the initial assault, The Elite stopped EMTs from loading Omega onto an ambulance. They then tipped over the stretcher while Kenny was strapped in, adding insult to injury. 

This is completely uncalled for!

Watch #AEWRampage LIVE on TBS!@youngbucks | @boy_myth_legend | @rainmakerXokada pic.twitter.com/krJ99oVqIE

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 2, 2024

The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has issued a warning to AEW regarding Nyla Rose, a transgender woman, competing against cisgender women in the state. She has now responded by putting out her own merchandise to help people like her in that state.

Rose posted a new t-shirt showing an image of herself crouching in front of the word, “HER” in giant letters. To hammer home the message, the Native Beast included a caption to hype her new merch.

Ok well the cats outta the bag ya big noseys!!!! I was waiting for the official graphic but Yes this is a real shirt you can buy with your money to wear on your body AND ALL proceeds will go to @FreedomOkla and hopefully we can do some good for the people that live there

Ok well the cats outta the bag ya big noseys!!!! I was waiting for the official graphic but Yes this is a real shirt you can buy with your money to wear on your body AND ALL proceeds will go to @FreedomOkla and hopefully we can do some good for the people that live there pic.twitter.com/YVasbEhrOF

— Rizzie McGuire? (@NylaRoseBeast) May 1, 2024

The former AEW Women’s World Champion picked a charity that hit close to home for her. Freedom Oklahoma works across the state and within the 39 sovereign tribal nations to create a future where all Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other individuals whose sexuality, gender, or romantic identities fall outside the traditional heteronormative, binary framework (2SLGBTQ+), can live safely.

You may find more information about Freedom Oklahoma here.

The Nyla Rose Warning

During a January meeting, the OSAC decided to warn AEW that continuing such matchups with Nyla Rose against other cis gendered women could lead to punitive measures.

This issue arose after AEW’s event on December 20, the first one they hosted in Oklahoma, during which Rose defeated Alejandra Lion in a match broadcast on ROH television. Someone in the crowd didn’t see the entertainment value, and they lodged a complaint.

Jim Miller, OSAC Administrator, learned that Rose had participated in the match. He subsequently contacted AEW to inform them that this was against OSAC regulations.

Mike Bower, OSAC chairman, then pointed out that unlike applications for boxing, kickboxing, and MMA, wrestling applications in Oklahoma currently do not inquire about gender reassignment surgery. He suggested that the wrestling application forms should be updated to include this question.

Nyla Rose has already responded to the controversy, with a tongue-in-cheek post, she chastised whoever traveled to Oklahoma to entertain those pro wrestling fans.

WHO THE FUCK WAS IT?!!
Don’t worry Oklahoma I’ll find the dastardly Transgender that *checks notes* entertained fans!!! HOW DARE THEY MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY?!!! https://t.co/O4ftfW48UI

— Rizzie McGuire? (@NylaRoseBeast) April 17, 2024

Right now, the whole situation seems up in the air. AEW does not have any announced dates in Oklahoma. We will have to see how they cross that bridge when they come to it. 

AEW has inked deals with several prominent names over the last few months, including “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith.  After making several appearances for Tony Khan’s company, Keith has confirmed he’s officially ‘All Elite’ and will be for years to come. In a recent interview with WhatCulture, Keith expressed his enthusiasm and readiness for his role with the major league promotion.

“I’m on top of the world dawg. I feel like everything I’ve done in my life has prepared me for being in AEW. I’m capitalizing on every opportunity I got and just having fun, you know, being myself and mixing with everything else that’s going on in AEW and meshing with that so well. I’m excited. I signed a deal with them for the next couple years so I’m excited to see what’s gonna happen.”

Keith finalized a deal with AEW in February 2024, following a match against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he’s wrestled against wrestlers such as Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.

Bryan Keith Before AEW

Before joining AEW, The Bounty Hunter had a successful career with several accolades in professional wrestling. At Deadlock Pro-Wrestling, he won the DPW National Championship and currently holds it.

He made a tour around the indies, picking up top titles in F1RST Wrestling, Freelance Wrestling, and Loko Wrestling. In New Texas Pro Wrestling, he earned the New Texas Pro Championship.

Furthermore, Keith held titles in Pacific Coast Wrestling, where he is the current PCW ULTRA Light Heavyweight Champion. We will have to see how AEW handles the fact that he’s still carrying gold on the indies.

Keith also dominated Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling company for a bit. His accomplishments there include winning both the ROW Heavyweight and ROW Television Championship.

Many regarded The Bounty Hunter as one of the best indie wrestlers who was not on any mainstream platform. Now that he is with AEW, the sky is the limit. 

Swerve Strickland won the AEW World Title at Dynasty last month to end Samoa Joe’s reign and usher in a new era for himself and the company. He admits it’s a lot of pressure to carry AEW on his back, but he was ready for the responsibilities. Speaking on AEW Close Up with Renee Paquette, he said representing change will bring some detractors. 

Strickland compared wearing the coveted AEW World Championship to, “fitting into a perfect shoe that was made for you.” He knows you can’t please everybody and there will always be resistance when changes and history are made. He sees some of the online negativity, but it doesn’t get him down. Instead, he uses it as motivation to keep going and showing the world this is Swerve’s House.

“For me to be at the top of that there’s a lot of pressure to be the first of anything, there’s a lot of pressure. I can already read in the comments and stuff, and I think they’re waiting to see how I respond to that. They wanna see me take that bait, but they don’t understand the professionalism and the mind state that I’m at, at this point. They wanna see the cracks form, they’re waiting for it. Coming off of Dynasty into Dynamite, it’s like, ‘Boom!’ right into the action., and I’m like, ‘Good, it’ll give you no room to speak..”

All Just a Practice Run…

Swerve kept busy in the days leading up to his win at AEW Dynasty and did the media rounds to spread the word about the company he wants to lead. The day before the PPV, he threw out the first pitch before the Saint Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. He had the AEW World Title with him for photo-ops, even though he had yet to win the gold. 

Swerve Strickland has many irons in the fire outside pro wrestling. He recently rocked the Rolling Loud Los Angeles stage with his music, and he also keeps up his Swerve City Podcast. Swerve explained how these personal endeavors prepared him to carry the torch for AEW.

“I feel like the last two or three years was preparation. It’s not like I was presented to do these things. It’s just something that I wanted to do. I’m inspired by Jericho and Fozzy, touring and still making it to TV, doing Talk is Jericho and doing all the shows, and all these guys who have these outlets. I was like, ‘man I wanna do that.'”

“This was all just a practice run, like oil in a machine, and now [points at AEW World Title] I am the machine. The machine is here because I’ve been doing this for a while with my small team, my small crew and I have to lead that. I’ve been leading these small crews in music and everywhere and it’s like now we’re gonna add this responsibility on top of that.”

The AEW World Title commands a great amount of time and attention. The schedule may be grueling, but Strickland has been putting himself to the test for years with his own hustle. Now he is the face of AEW, and more than prepared to take on the role of a lifetime.

It’s the first Daily Drop of May, and we have a lot to cover. Last night saw NXT bring the second night of their Spring Breakin’ event, and there is a lot to unpack.

First off, Wes Lee made his return from injury, and he is going for the North American Title, currently held by Oba Femi. The night concluded with Lola Vice defeating Natalya in an NXT Underground match.

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

New NXT Title: The NXT Women’s North American Championship is coming. On the April 30 episode of WWE NXT, General Manager Ava announced that the title will find its inaugural champion at NXT Battleground on June 9 in a six-woman ladder match in the UFC Apex. Before this event, there will be qualifying matches to decide the participants in the ladder match.

The Rock Responds: The Rock dropped a photo of himself during the WrestleMania 40 walkthrough. This was after reports that he was late and his tardiness caused issues. The timing of this post was apparent that he wanted to make a statement of denial that he was late to WrestleMania.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6aOICzrbOV

Who Killed WCW?: The trailer for Seven Bucks Productions’ upcoming four-part Vice TV documentary about WCW’s demise is out, and fans are talking about it in a big way. This new documentary, debuting on June 4, promises to include a lot of stories that fans haven’t heard before, and from a different angle as well. This should be a great watch, especially since Dark Side of the Ring creators are also involved.

"Who Killed WCW?" from our @SevenBucksProd & the Co-Creators of @Darksideofring comes a 4-part series about the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of the cultural phenomenon that was World Championship Wrestling.

Premiering June 4, 10P ET on VICE TV. pic.twitter.com/qIRJLYAQLC

— VICE TV (@VICETV) April 30, 2024

CM Poop: During Monday’s draft on RAW, CM Punk showed up to surprise Drew McIntyre, who didn’t think he made the trip to the show. Punk later surprised a fan who brought a “CM Poop” sign to the show. The Second City Savior tracked this fan down and had to autograph the sign. He also took photos with the young fans who brought it to the show.

CM Poop ?? pic.twitter.com/WoNKfCK0Ck

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

AEW:

AEW Dynamite Card for 5/1:

• Kenny Omega returns
• Find out Swerve Strickland’s challenger for AEW World Title at Double Or Nothing
• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata
• AEW TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Buddy Matthews
• Mariah May vs. Serena Deeb
• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brian Cage (with Prince Nana)
• Samoa Joe vs. Isiah Kassidy

Darby Allin Injury Update: Allin updated fans after he was hit by a NYC bus. He may still appear on AEW television, but his Mount Everest journey is cancelled for now. That being said, his foot is not scheduled to heal until around June, so he has a couple of months left.

Power Struggle: Tony Khan spoke about the power struggle going on in AEW right now. This week’s episode of Dynamite in Winnipeg could be a very interesting one with everything going on in the company. Since Kenny Omega is returning tonight, it’s anyone’s guess how another EVP might weigh into things.

Online Battle: Dax Harwood and Eric Bischoff are having it out on Twitter. This is all in defense of AEW, where Bischoff took the opportunity to call Harwood a “chunky little monkey” who keeps tabs on his timeline.

The Wizard at The Game: Chris Jericho showed up to Game 5 of the NHL Playoffs, where the Winnipeg Jets faced off against the Colorado Avalanche. Jericho pumped up the crowd, but in the end, the Jets were defeated 6-3 by the Avalanche, losing the series 4-1.

The Learning Tree has all the faith in Winnipeg ??

Tune in to Jets vs. Avalanche on Sportsnet West, or stream on Sportsnet+! pic.twitter.com/gyiXSJk282

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 1, 2024

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Tony Khan says The Elite has ignited a “power struggle” in AEW and the company plans to have a new “highest-ranking official” onsite for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. The Elite shocked the pro wrestling world last Wednesday by attacking Tony Khan one night before his participation in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars owner generated a ton of media attention for the neck brace he wore at the Draft to sell the effects of the unconscionable attack he sustained.

During an interview with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Khan said how lucky he is to work with the NFL and appreciates all the concern about his condition. He said he won’t be present for Wednesday’s Dynamite from Winnipeg, but he’s worked remotely in the past throughout the pandemic. The big question is, who will be on top of the totem pole in his absense?

“We all have experience working outside the office. During the lockdown, we got used to meetings on Teams and Zoom. I’ll still be overseeing AEW and managing the show remotely.

As for who will be the highest-ranking official onsite, stay tuned Wednesday. It will certainly be addressed this week on TBS. This power struggle that is happening in AEW.”

As Kevin Nash spoke about on his podcast this week, Tony Khan fired CM Punk when he felt physically threatened. The Elite have taken things much farther than Punk did. What repercussions will they face, if any?

TK Welcomes Kenny Omega’s Return

Kenny Omega is advertised to make his AEW television return when they go to Winnipeg. As another EVP of the company, this could throw a wrench in the Young Bucks’ plans. After all, they did fire him from The Elite a few weeks ago. This will be a big moment for AEW, and Tony Khan is also very excited about that, as he continued plugging the upcoming episode of Dynamite on TBS.

Omega has been out of action due to a diverticulitis attack, one that reportedly required surgery. Although The Cleaner is far from his in-ring clearance, he won’t miss Dynamite in his home city. Khan says, “I can’t wait to have Kenny Omega back in AEW. It’s the perfect time for Kenny to return. I know Kenny Omega has been recovering at home since he was fired from The Elite by The Young Bucks last month. It’s the perfect time for Kenny Omega to return on May 1.”

AEW Dynamite Preview (5/1)

You can find the current lineup for the May 1 episode of AEW Dynamite below.

• Chris Jericho vs. Shibata
• Adam Copeland vs. TBA
• Mariah May vs. Serena Deeb
• Kenny Omega’s TV return

Due to a scheduling conflict with the NHL Playoffs, AEW Rampage will air at a different time this week. A three-hour event will air this week on Wednesday, May 1, with a live Rampage following Dynamite. Also, AEW Collision will not broadcast on May 4, due to this conflict with the NHL. AEW’s Saturday night show is set to return to its regular time slot on Saturday, May 11.

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Tuesday, April 30. This is the last day of the month before we spring into May, and there are a few big stories to cover this morning.

Before we get going, WWE finished up the 2024 Draft on RAW. There is a lot to unpack. Now only do we have new rosters, but there are also zero free agents this year.

This was Triple H’s first year calling all those shots as the final decision maker, and we saw a few notable NXT call-ups in the process including Carmelo Hayes, Blair Davenport, Ilja Dragunov, Dijak, and Kiana James. Nobody knew about their draft destinations, just like as in previous years, as they tried to capture organic reactions on camera.

Let’s get into the Daily Drop today!

WWE:

WWE NXT Card for 4/30:

• Oba Femi (c) vs. Ivar – NXT North American Championship Match
• Axiom & Nathan Frazer (c) vs. Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) – NXT Tag Team Championship Match
• Natalya vs. Lola Vice – NXT Underground Match
• Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe vs. The O.C. (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) – Tag Team Match
• Thea Hail vs. Jacy Jayne – Singles Match

Patrick Mahomes on WWE RAW: Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes showed up in Kansas City for RAW this week. He aligned himself with Logan Paul as a heel, and many thought this was a confusing decision for him in the city that he’s brought three Super Bowl rings. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that this appearance was not through WWE, but Logan Paul’s Prime company, so they needed to work together for the segment. In the end, Kansas City still loves their GOAT QB.

Was @PatrickMahomes about to GET THESE HANDS from Braun Strowman during the #WWEDraft on #WWERaw?! pic.twitter.com/MviEP9ZNeR

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

QR Codes: WWE fans got even more QR Code clues this week on RAW. Something is coming, and all signs point toward Uncle Howdy and a possible stable may follow. Stay tuned on this one, because that story could break out in the blink of an eye.

Uncle Howdy's message from tonight's QR Code.
Seems like we're getting closer and closer to his return. ? #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/YNQYH15TzG

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) April 30, 2024

The Monster Returns: Braun Strowman was drafted to RAW as part of the 2024 WWE Draft. This marks his return after a year-long absence due to a neck surgery. He made his return later that night as he helped Jey Uso when he was about to take a shot with a fist full of Super Bowl rings. Strowman also had words with Patrick Mahomes, which was a fun and tense moment on the show.

Giulia Visa Issues: Although she signed with WWE, Giulia does not have her visa in place just yet. The former top STARDOM talent needs to get that in line before a WWE debut can properly go down. Giulia was around for WrestleMania 40 weekend, and she made an appearance in the crowd during Stand & Deliver on April 6. She could perform in Toronto for NXT Heatwave at the Scotiabank Arena on July 7, but she will need to get her visa issues sorted out before working in the U.S.A.

AEW:

Tony Khan On Weinstein Comment: Nobody will soon forget how Tony Khan said that WWE is the “Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling” while on the NFL Network. He doubled down on that comment by emphasizing how AEW is the better of the two companies.

Reason Behind Attack: Tony Khan’s beat-down at the hands of The Elite is still getting attention, especially thanks to the neck brace that TK was sporting all over afterward. During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that “for sure” one of the big reasons behind that attack was to give Khan a reason to sport a neck brace on television during the 2024 NFL Draft so he could gain attention for AEW.

Adam Copeland on Metalingus: While speaking on AEW Unrestricted, the WWE Hall of Famer noted how his entrance music took on a life of its own in AEW, which he really thought was cool, especially that fans knew the lyrics to his song.

“It’s taken on a life of its own which is so cool. It’s so fun to have it be that interactive, I guess, and for me to connect with something and it feels like people over the years have really kind of actually paid attention to the lyrics and went, ‘Oh! Oh wow!’”

Kamille Is All Elite: After expressing interest in WWE, Kamille signed with AEW. She made a comment on social media that a deal has been signed since February, and that led to a report that she inked a deal with Tony Khan and is expected to debut soon. Kamille, who helped Billy Corgan’s NWA as their Women’s Champion for the longest time, could be a big addition for the women’s roster.

Max Caster Has No Regrets: Caster was suspended from AEW in 2021 when he took a dig at Simone Biles’ decision to step out of competition due to her mental health. Looking back as he spoke to Isiah Kassidy’s YouTube channel.

“I don’t know if I regret it. That kind of helped my career, more than anything, believe it or not. Again, right or wrong, helped The Acclaimed, and it helped me a lot, and it gave me a reputation, and one that I like to live up [laughs].”

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Monday’s April 29 episode of WWE Raw from Kansas City kicked off with some serious star power. United States Champion Logan Paul showed up in a Rolls Royce and had a special guest in with him: NFL Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

HOLD UP!#USChampion @LoganPaul brought @PatrickMahomes of the @Chiefs to the #WWEDraft on #WWERaw RIGHT NOW on @USANetwork! pic.twitter.com/TssyXyj8Yg

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

Mahomes and Logan Paul were enjoying themselves backstage at Raw with their hardware:

Champs @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/WY6Nf6RDNx

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) April 30, 2024

Triple H also welcomed the Super Bowl champ to the show:

Always good to have an extra champ in the house. @PatrickMahomes @Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/0gowJbBT8H

— Triple H (@TripleH) April 30, 2024

28-year-old Patrick Mahomes is considered one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks ever. He’s won the Super Bowl three times, including this year’s and he was the MVP for two of those victories. His performance has also earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player award twice, in 2018 and 2022.

Mahomes also released a special edition of Logan Paul’s Prime drink. It dropped just in time for Super Bowl LVIII and featured Kansas City Chiefs colors.

Patrick Mahomes got involved in the action later on, in a manner of speaking. During Logan Paul’s time in the ring, Jey Uso came down to confront him, and that is when Finn Balor and JD McDonagh surrounded him. 

After Uso was taken down, Mahomes gave Logan a few of his Super Bowl rings to use on his fist against Uce. This didn’t work out as he planned, because Uso ducked and JD took the brunt of the punch.

Patrick Mahomes le da tres anillos de SuperBowl a Logan Paul para atacar a Jey Uso… PERO LE DA A JD MCDONAGH

SJSDJHSDJSDHDSH #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/tmLH41pk3t

— LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) April 30, 2024

Braun Strowman made his big return to WWE RAW, as he was drafted in the previous round. After the Monster of all Monsters chased off Judgment Day, he had some words with Mahomes for helping the United States Champion in his heel tactics.

Was @PatrickMahomes about to GET THESE HANDS from Braun Strowman during the #WWEDraft on #WWERaw?! pic.twitter.com/MviEP9ZNeR

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

WWE is mixing up their rosters with another Draft, and now it’s the red brand’s turn to host the festivities. Fans should brace for surprises, as this year promises to be no exception.

The 2024 WWE Draft is scheduled for Friday, April 26 during SmackDown and Monday, April 29 during RAW. We already saw SmackDown’s draft go down last week, and those results can be found here.

We saw Kiana James and Carmelo Hayes get called up from NXT during SmackDown. Still, a concern exists that WWE may pick their developmental brand clean after this year’s draft. Ilja Dragunov’s name hasn’t been called, so we’ll have to see who ends up on which brand this time around.

We are providing live coverage of the 2024 WWE Draft. So, please keep refreshing this article and we will update as picks are made

Round One

Presented by Stephanie McMahon

RAW:

Imperium (GUNTHER & Ludwig Kaiser)

Damage CTRL (IYO Sky, Asuka, Dakota Kai, & Kairi Sane)

SmackDown:

Jade Cargill

Kevin Owens

Here are your first round #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames #WWE2K24 #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/sjOUa7Cx0N

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

Round Two

Presented by Logan Paul & IShowSpeed

RAW:

CM Punk

Braun Strowman

SmackDown:

The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Street Profits, B-Fab)

Tiffany Stratton

Round Three

Presented by Ron Simmons & JBL

RAW:

LWO (Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Zelina Vega, Carlito, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde)

Drew McIntyre

SmackDown:

Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Angel, Humberto, & Elektra Lopez)

Shinsuke Nakamura

Here are your second round #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames#WWE2K24 #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/7voguHQ0SV

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

Round Four

Presented by Teddy Long & Alundra Blayze

RAW:

Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, JD McDonagh)

Ilja Dragunov

SmackDown:

Naomi

Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Here are your third round #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames#WWE2K24 #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/XuL00AGtMr

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024

Round Five

Presented by Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley

RAW:

New Day

Lyra Valkyria

SmackDown:

Pretty Deadly

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

Round Six

Presented by Nick Aldis & Adam Pearce

Raw:

Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Scarlet, Paul Ellering, AOP)

Bronson Reed

SmackDown:

DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano)

Blair Davenport

Supplemental Draft

RAW:

Diamond Mine (Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, and Ivy Nile)

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

Natalya

Dijak

New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)

Odyssey Jones

SmackDown:

Apollo Crews

Giovanni Vinci

Tegan Nox

WWE NXT Call-Ups:

This installment of the 2024 WWE Draft saw Dijak, Blair Davenport, and Lyra Valkyria have their names called. Of course, the biggest was former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov, who is going to RAW.

Davenport and Valkyria were legitimately surprised by their call-ups, because WWE doesn’t let anyone know this in advance. This will be Dijak’s second run on the main roster, as his first was as T-Bar, a masked force who lived on long after the Retribution stable disbanded.

Carmelo Hayes and Kiana James were called up during SmackDown to the blue and red brand, respectively.

2024 WWE Draft Rules:

The 2024 WWE Draft will distribute 16 picks across four rounds to SmackDown and 24 picks across six rounds to RAW, based on RAW’s longer airtime. Champions are not included in the draft, except for the Women’s Tag Team Champions who are not part of the Draft Pool.

SmackDown will make its first selection on Friday, and RAW will make its first pick the following Monday. The final rosters will be confirmed by May 6th.

Following new television contracts, SmackDown will move to the USA Network and RAW to Netflix. The impact of RAW’s transition to Netflix will become apparent from October 2025. These rosters will start the new media rights agreements unless there is a change in the roster.

Kamille has signed with All Elite Wrestling, adding another notable name to their women’s division. The former NWA Women’s World Champion has inked a deal with Tony Khan’s league and is expected to debut shortly, according to a report by Fightful Select. She  became a free agent on January 1 when her NWA deal expired. 

Her name has been churning in the rumor mill since then regarding her next destination. Most recently, Kamille piqued interest amongst fans after saying she signed somewhere in February, though she did not specify where. She deleted her tweet and clarified that she was talking about autograph signings.

Kamille’s AEW Debut

It is unclear when Kamille will make her AEW debut, but she is on the way. Adding her name to Tony Khan’s women’s division provides them with a real boost. The company recently added Mercedes Mone, and the former Sasha Banks already has a TBS Title shot against Willow Nightingale at AEW Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on May 26.

Kamille held the NWA World Women’s Championship for 812 days. She played a significant role in the promotion during Billy Corgan’s ownership. Kamille has a good chance of replicating that success in AEW if given the proper environment.

Prior to signing with AEW, Kamille told SEScoops in February 2023 that she was hoping to join WWE so she could work with Charlotte Flair. During our interview, she told Scott Fishman, “[Charlotte Flair] is the best in the world. I think we would have a good backstory and story that could lead into it. Getting in there with someone who is so talented could help me learn and grow and and it’s something people would want to see.”

Check out the full interview from the SEScoops YouTube channel:

Charly Arnolt may be best known for her tenure with WWE, as she hosted segments and shows for WWE. Now, she is making history in the UFC as the company’s female first-ever in-ring announcer.

On April 27, 2024, Chary made history as the first female ring announcer in UFC, stepping in temporarily for Joe Martínez, who was ill.

Charlie owned the microphone as she announced the fighters, and she received praise as well. Many commented on her poise and show well she adapted to the situation.

Congratulations to the talented Charly Arnolt on becoming the first female Octagon announcer in UFC history at #UFCVegas91

Excellent first impression @CharlyOnTV ?? pic.twitter.com/JcOxrNTvNy

— AlAudhli ? ??????? (@alaudhli) April 28, 2024

Charlie Arnolt’s WWE Entry & Departure

Interestingly enough, Arnolt entered WWE thanks to Tony Khan. The AEW President invited her to a WWE SmackDown show in Indianapolis in 2016 to get her foot in the door.

During the event, Arnolt met WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Relations, Mark Carrano, who introduced her to Michael Cole. The rest is history, as they eventually offered her a job with the company.

WWE did offer her a new contract, which she declined in 2021. Following her rejection of that new deal, she was removed from television broadcasts. She eventually left WWE for a full-time position at ESPN.

Some rumors emerged about her having heat in WWE prior to her departure. While speaking to Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Charly stated that she had no issues when she was with the company.

“There is always going to be chatter. The contract was coming up. Instead of renewing, I’m moving on. Everyone is going to have their own opinions regardless. I never had any issues while I was at WWE.”

“Nothing bad happened. As far as I’m concerned, I’m leaving on a positive note and beginning what I believe to be the next step in my career.”

In April 2023, Arnolt announced that she would be leaving ESPN for a position with OutKick. Despite her ESPN departure, Charly continues to appear for the UFC broadcasts on the network. 

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Monday, April 29. We only have one more day until May, and Spring is already heating up in the pro wrestling world.

Before we get going, WWE will hold the second night of the 2024 Draft tonight on RAW. We already saw some big names drafted during SmackDown, and the company will take care of the rest of the roster tonight. How many NXT call-ups will we have? How many free agents will WWE have going around the brands this year? We will have all of those answers tonight after the 2024 WWE Draft is over!

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

WWE RAW Card for 4/29:

• Night two of the 2024 WWE Draft
• United States Champion Logan Paul appears
• Jey Uso, Andrade & Ricochet vs. Damian Priest, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh

Drew McIntyre’s Injury Status: Although he just signed a new contract with WWE, The Scottish Warrior is still recovering from a hyperextended elbow sustained at WrestleMania 40. The Scottish Warrior has been pulled from shows for now.

Don’t Mail The Big Man: Bronson Reed logged onto Twitter and made it very clear that he does not want fans mailing things directly to his home. It is an invasion of privacy the way he sees things, and he was quite nice about it in his post.

Sending fan mail to my home address is a big NO NO.
I will not respond, and I find it an invasion of privacy.
My home is for my family!
Send fan mail to WWE headquarters or to the PC.

— BIG BRONSON REED (@BRONSONISHERE) April 28, 2024

Cody Rhodes’ Backlash Gear: Cody Rhodes is set to defend his title for the first time at Backlash against AJ Styles. This will be a special event for the American Nightmare, as he defends his title in France. To hype fans up for his big match, he posted a little teaser for his upcoming gear.

CODY RHODES JACKET SNEAK PEAK FOR BACKLASH

????? pic.twitter.com/9pEav0GYQE

— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) April 28, 2024

AEW:

DAZN Drops AEW: In a shocking announcement, This is not a good sign for AEW’s future pay-per-view events. DAZN has officially confirmed that their partnership with AEW has ended, just one year after it was initially announced. The decision to discontinue AEW content came into effect on December 31, 2023, following a series of broadcasts that did not meet expected viewership levels. Only a few events managed to achieve the target numbers, such as All In 2023, the initial weeks of AEW Collision, and certain episodes of AEW programming.

Julia Hart Injured: Julia Hart is sidelined again due to an injury, continuing her recent series of health setbacks. Despite her return to the ring, Hart’s injury flared up before AEW Dynasty, leading her to drop the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale. The specifics of Hart’s injury are still unclear, but initial signs indicate she might need surgery. Hart is not scheduled for upcoming AEW television appearances.

MJF In Sling: The former AEW World Champion reportedly underwent should surgery, and he was recently spotted in a sling. During Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, the Salt of the Earth recorded a dig at Brock Lesnar’s alleged affinity for urine related videos while rocking an arm sling with the fan everyone knows as Brock Lesnar Guy.

MJF makes fun of Brock lesnar

?? pic.twitter.com/fsOHigCUuE

— The Wrestle Plug (@wrestleplug_) April 28, 2024

AEW Collision Viewership: The April 27th edition of AEW Collision brought in an average overnight viewership of 499,000, including 193,000 viewers in the 18 to 49 demographic. This marks an increase from the previous episode, which had 461,000 viewers and a 0.13 rating in the same demographic.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Pro wrestling fans are no strangers to witnessing wild videos appear on their timeline. We’ve seen backyard wrestling before, as it was the genesis for some people’s fandom, but playground wrestling is on another level.

A video went viral showing playground wrestling in New York City. This video was incredibly hard, and it is also stirred some fond memories with a lot of people. That being said, it was new to many as they saw it pop up on their feeds.

https://twitter.com/BvDpro/status/1784264029327794219

AEW Stars React

The AEW locker room keeps their pulse on the heart of what’s trending on social media. When Ortiz saw the crazy playground wrestling display, he shared a bit about his own history on Twitter/X. Seeing a video like this brought back fond memories for him.,

“We did this every Saturday rain or shine for years.Kept me out the streets../ Developed friendships I still have to this day.where I developed my love for pro wrestling. Now a decade later it’s catching traction all over social media.we would of killed for this attention back then!”

Will Ospreay is now lighting up the AEW roster after making his way from Japan. He has seen what the pro wrestling world has to offer, and he responded to say the playground wrestling video is fire.

2KW ??

— Will Ospreay • ????????? (@WillOspreay) April 28, 2024

Playground wrestling legend King Tek also chimed in. He had nothing but great memories to share, and one of them included the art of taking a powerbomb in a very unconventional setting.

That is me taking the powerbomb into the crowd

I loved every minute I spent wrestling here

Awesome people Awesome atmosphere pic.twitter.com/0c4n1afyur

— KingTEK (@_TekTweets_) April 27, 2024

Unconventional Pro Wrestling Viral Videos

Pro wrestling is very much engrained in popular culture, so you never know when it will pop up in a viral video. We’re getting a lot more gender reveals based around pro wrestling matches. Logan Paul and Nina Agdal just revealed the gender of the upcoming addition to their family with a match.

You also never know when a pro wrestling fan will throw a match into their wedding reception. We’ve also seen fans use pro wrestling themes, like The Bloodline, in their actual ceremony as they make their way to the altar.

Fans have seen wrestling matches break out in public while they were in town for big events. These may be organized in a manner of speaking, but it certainly has a violent avant-garde vibe.

Professional wrestling is a physically demanding sport, performed by trained professionals in controlled environments. Wrestling on asphalt playgrounds increases the risk of injuries in massive fashion. That being said, always prioritize safety and don’t try this at home, or at your local school/park.

Welcome to our Daily Drop for Sunday, April 28. There is always something going on in the pro wrestling world, and today is no exception.

Before we get going, Drew McIntyre finally inked a new WWE contract. This is the first round of big contracts to come due since TKO took over the operation, and it is interesting to see how they are waiting until the final moments to lock down these deals.

WWE:

Logan Paul Gender Reveal: Since Logan Paul grew up on the internet, and he created a ton of trends in the process, he got in on one popular activity for expecting parents who are also pro wrestling fans. The WWE United States Champion had a gender reveal wrestling match for all to see. Spoiler: It’s a girl!

Dolph Wins Gold: Nic Nemeth, who performed as Dolph Ziggler in WWE for years, picked up gold in AAA. He is now the company’s Mega Champion.

WWE Rivals: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Booker T’s epic rivalry will be the focus of tonight’s episode of WWE Rivals on A&E. The show starts at 8:00 PM EST.

Relive the epic rivalry between myself and @steveaustinBSR in an all-new WWE Rivals TONIGHT at 8/7c only on @AETV. https://t.co/KAtXs6P6TR

— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) April 28, 2024

Melo Don’t Miss: Carmelo Hayes quote re-posted an old tweet from 2021. That old tweet said he would be a first-round draft pick. His updated post said that it took long enough. Melo was picked #2 in the first round by SmackDown in the 2024 WWE Draft, only coming in behind Bianca Belair.

Took long enough ? https://t.co/g2AZ1gvECA

— Carmelo Hayes (@Carmelo_WWE) April 27, 2024

AEW:

MJF’s Surgery: MJF will be out of action for even longer now, as he had shoulder surgery. At this time, there is no return planned for him.

Darby Allin’s Latest Injury: Allin may be out of action with an injured foot, but now he has even more problems. He was hit by a bus in New York City. He seems to be okay, all things considered, but this will not help speed along his in-ring return.

Grizzled Young Vets Aren’t Happy: The Acclaimed beat Grizzled Young Veterans in the former NXT tag team’s first AEW match. James Drake and Zack Gibson are not happy about how that match on Collision turned out, and they let everyone know this with a furious promo.

EXCLUSIVE: The Grizzled Young Vets, although frustrated, are more determined than ever! #AEWCollision@ZackGibsonGYV | @JamesDrakePro pic.twitter.com/fdRAjwd6My

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 28, 2024

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Maxwell Jacob Friedman will not be returning to the ring for AEW any time soon. Longtime SEScoops correspondent Jason Solomon of the Solomonster Sounds Off broke the news that MJF’s physical rehabilitation was not getting him back to 100% and as a result, he underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder. 

So a bit of news. Hearing through the grapevine that it will be a while yet before we see MJF back in the ring. PT was not a success and he had to go under the knife. Not sure of any timetable, but that’s obviously a blow to AEW. His presence has been missed.

— Jason Solomon ?? (@solomonster) April 27, 2024

On Sunday, Friedman appeared at the C2E2 comic expo in Chicago sporting a brace on his elbow and looking nowhere close to lacing up his boots again. 

MJF Speaks about his injuries

MJF was wrestling through a lot of physical problems toward the end of his World Title run. He was very banged up and needed time off television. In his absence, AEW removed him from their roster page, but he remains under contract.

Back in December MJF spoke with The Solomonster at the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island, New York. This was right before his AEW World Title defense against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End. He detailed the various injuries he was powering through, but this shoulder injury is going to keep him out of the ring longer than originally hoped for.

MJF & Adam Cole

Injuries greatly affected MJF and Adam Cole’s main event 2023 storyline. Friedman lost the On December 30, 2023, MJF defended his AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at the AEW World’s End pay-per-view event at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. MJF dropped his title during that match, and he hasn’t wrestled since. He suffered multiple injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Adam Cole, who was revealed as The Devil, had to stop touring with the company. His ankle injury from AEW Grand Slam was not healing as he wanted it to, because the travel was getting in the way of his recovery. The Devil storyline, and the Undisputed Kingdom faction, had to pump the brakes big time after that.

Drew McIntyre has signed a new contract with WWE, putting an end to months of speculation about the possibility of him testing the waters of free agency. 

The Rock was the man who broke this news as he publicly congratulated Drew McIntyre for signing his new WWE contract. He did so by presenting him with a claymore sword while the former WWE Champion was out at dinner.

As we talked about after your #WrestleMania match, I know this Scottish Claymore represents everything that you, your family and your country embody.

The TKO board member went on to say that he wanted to hand-deliver this gift, but he “had warm cheat meals and chilled tequila waiting.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6SPdjevxll

The Rock has admired McIntyre’s work for years. In a company with no shortage of talented wrestlers vying for the spotlight, the Final Boss named McIntyre as the ‘Next Big Thing’ back in 2019.

The Rock was asked in 2019 for who could be “The Next Big Thing” in WWE.

His answer? Drew McIntyre.

Respect. pic.twitter.com/EwlKWrdbrZ

— Two HEADS, One TABLE???? (@TwoHeadsPodcast) April 28, 2024

Drew McIntyre’s Contract Situation With TKO

Drew McIntyre just got off a wild road to WrestleMania, one that saw him beat Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, where he held the title for only five minutes before Damian Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase.

He did all that with a contract that was expiring in a matter of weeks. While McIntyre’s WWE contract situation had a big question mark above it for a while, now we can put that to rest.

How TKO handled Drew McIntyre’s contract situation is a very interesting situation. It may set a precedent for how all future contracts will be handled, as they waited until very late in the game to nail down a deal.

Becky Lynch’s WWE contract is also running out in a matter of months. She spoke openly about this fact, but she is not worried about it. 

Toni Storm keeps her Timeless character going, even during press conferences. This led to her bringing up Nikki Garcia in a very unflattering manner, but now the WWE Hall of Famer is answering back.

During the AEW Dynasty press conference, Toni Storm fired off a line about the former Nikki Bella as she said, “Nicole Garcia thought about joining AEW when she saw Mercedes did. You know why she didn’t? Because then she saw me and realized, she can’t hold a p*ssy scented candle to what I do.”

“P*ssy scented candle, what does that even means?” Nikki Garcia asked during the Nikki and Brie Show. Brie then said that she received phone calls asking if it was a pro wrestling term — it is not. Niki went on to explain her confusion about Storm’s comment.

“Listen, I love Toni Storm, and she’s doing this character now and i’ts great. I loved her in NXT. No I wasn’t bothered by it. I laughed. I was like, ‘p*ssy scented candle?!’ Then I’m trying to figure it out. Like, was it a diss? Maybe we should bring her on the podcast and ask her.”

Tony Khan Almost Got A Call From Nikki Bella

Nikki Garcia previously stated that she thought about calling Tony Khan after seeing Mercedes Mone debut with the company. She explained that her son, Matteo, needs her at home more than she wants to be on the road with AEW.

“When I saw Mercedes [Mone] debut and cut her promo, that line stuck with me, ‘Here, we’re going to make the evolution worldwide.’ I was like, ‘They do.’ It goes into many leagues, is what she means, it doesn’t have to be at one place. It can be at all these places where all these women are wrestling at. I go, ‘Brie, I think I can do it for a year. I can do it here to here and go every week.'”

“Then, I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like, ‘This is it. I’m going to call Tony Khan. I’m your girl. I will commit.’ Then, I was like, ‘I can’t do that to my son right now. He needs me,'”

Nikki Bella retired from the ring in 2018 due to neck and spine issues, but she returned to compete in the Royal Rumble in 2022. The Bella Twins officially exited WWE in 2023 when their contracts ended. 

Choosing to explore independent ventures, they still have a weekly podcast and Nikki is co-host of the USA Network’s Barmageddon.

Welcome to the Daily Drop on April 27, 2024. We have a lot to cover, because there’s always a lot going on in the pro wrestling world.

Before we get going, WWE’s new era is continuing in a big way, and Vince McMahon is not going to be a part of it. McMahon listed his remaining TKO stock for sale.

In another interesting twist to that story, WWE President Nick Khan also listed all of his stock for sale. We will keep a very close eye on that story for further developments, but Khan is slated to keep his position with the company, unlike McMahon.

Now, let’s get into the Daily Drop!

WWE:

2024 WWE Draft: WWE presented night one of the 2024 WWE Draft during SmackDown. We had two NXT call-ups in Carmelo Hayes and Kiana James. The Bloodline also didn’t get picked until the third round, because Roman Reigns removed himself from Draft eligibility.

WrestleMania Ticket Sales: Official numbers are out for WrestleMania 40’s gate in Lincoln Financial Field. This two-night event also established a new WWE record for a gate, generating $38.5 million in ticket sales, which represents a 78% increase from the previous year and a 147% increase from 2022.

PG Era Over: It is now being reported that the internal mindset within WWE is that the PG Era is now over. This is thanks to Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame speech and everything The Rock was allowed to do on the road to WrestleMania 40.

It’s Tiffy Time: Tiffany Stratton made herself a menace this week on SmackDown. She took on Naomi in a #1 contenders match, that ended via DQ thanks to Nia Jax. After the match, Stratton continued her beat-down on Naomi and Bayley. She is very happy with herself, as you can see by her latest TikTok.

Tiffany Stratton’s new TikTok after interfering tonight ? #Smackdown pic.twitter.com/aGowVnkiFH

— malachi (@malthechamp) April 20, 2024

Dominik Mysterio Injury: It was reported that Dominik Mysterio will need Tommy John surgery. He has since tweeted out to debunk that story, as he claims that no surgery will be needed. Either way, he is expected to stay on television through his recovery. 

AEW:

AEW Collision Card for 4/27:

• AEW Unified Trios Championship: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Top Flight and Action Andretti
• AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm vs. Anna Jay
• Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The Acclaimed
• We’ll hear from AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland for the first time

WWE Is Harvey Weinstein: Tony Khan brought a ton of attention to himself when he appeared on the NFL Network with a neck brace. He also took the opportunity to throw a big shot at WWE in the process.

Tony Khan discusses taking the TK Driver from the Bucks and compares WWE to Harvey Weinstein pic.twitter.com/borodQ1GiF

— CJ Fogler ? (@cjzero) April 26, 2024

AEW Dynamite Viewership Drop: The April 24th edition of AEW Dynamite attracted 683,000 viewers and earned a 0.23 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, marking a decline from the previous week’s performance of 762,000 viewers and a 0.26 demo rating.

Adam Copeland’s Acting Tips: Copeland revealed some of his acting tips that he had to adopt when making a transition from pro wrestling. He had to tone it down a bit for the close-up shots.

The many branches of the performing arts! In the mind of one of the greats.

New episode of the @Swervecitypod feat @aew TNT Champion @RatedRCope is out THIS MONDAY!!!

SUBSCRIBE: https://t.co/EKysxjItfB

Swerve City Podcast Now Rated #TOP20 on Apple Podcasts Music Interviews! pic.twitter.com/u9CbtvvR3H

— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) April 27, 2024

Kenny Omega Uncertain About Return: While speaking on his Twitch steam, Omega opened up about his AEW return in Winnipeg next Wednesday. He wasn’t 100% sure about it at first. 

”I remember thinking about maybe, maybe showing up to Winnipeg. It was a maybe. And then I saw that my sister, my parents, my aunty who lives in Calgary who said ‘Oh my goodness we heard the big news.’ I was like ‘What big news?’ They were like ‘Yeah, the arena was advertising your return.’ And I thought ‘Come on, man I’m like 80% on board maybe, but I don’t know man.’ And I thought ‘Well, they advertised me. I guess that 80 becomes a 100.’ So, I called the boss and was like ‘Hey man, you wanna run a graphic or something, I guess I’ll show up.”

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

• Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
• Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

WWE is shaking up their rosters once again with another Draft. Fans have come to expect the unexpected, and this year will be no different.

The 2024 WWE Draft is scheduled for Friday, April 26 during SmackDown and Monday, April 29 during RAW. To streamline the process, the rosters were divided into two Draft Pools.

Through all the excitement, there is also some worry within NXT. A concern exists that WWE may pick their developmental brand clean after this year’s draft. Ilja Dragunov is the only name that has been announced for the draft, but each nigh is likely to include new NXT call-ups.

To start things off, Paul Heyman revealed that Roman Reigns pulled himself from draft eligibility. He said that Roman is not returning in the immediate future, so he will not be anyone’s first draft pick this year.

JUST ANNOUNCED BY @HeymanHustle: @WWERomanReigns has voluntarily withdrawn himself from the 2024 #WWEDraft… ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ZuL8du6CWQ

— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2024

Round One

*Announced by Triple H & Cody Rhodes

RAW

Jey Uso

Seth “Freakin'” Rollins

SmackDown

Bianca Belair

Carmelo Hayes

Here are your first round #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames #WWE2K24 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/p0j5MTuD3q

— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2024

Round Two:

*Announced by Torrie Wilson & Michelle McCool

RAW:

Bron Breakker

Liv Morgan

SmackDown:

Randy Orton

Nia Jax

Here are your SECOND ROUND #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames #WWE2K24 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/O7CEYNJs1u

— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2024

Round Three:

*Announced by Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley

RAW:

Ricochet

Sheamus

SmackDown:

LA Knight

The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama, & Paul Heyman)

Here are your THIRD ROUND #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames #WWE2K24 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/MUBnprhXD0

— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2024

Round Four:

*Announced by Teddy Long & JBL

RAW:

Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa)

Kiana James

SmackDown:

AJ Styles

Andrade

Here are your FOURTH ROUND #WWEDraft picks… ?@WWEgames #WWE2K24 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/UIAZ6wVN4c

— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2024

Supplemental Draft Picks

RAW:

Alba Fye & Isla Dawn

Ivar

Shayna Baszler

Zoey Stark

SmackDown:

Baron Corbin

Cedric Alexander & Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis

The OC (Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin)

NXT Call-Ups

WWE usually calls up a few NXT Superstar with their draft. This year was no exception. Carmelo Hayes and Kiana James were called up to the main roster. Hayes was in the building for SmackDown, where he got right to business by challenging Cody Rhodes.

2024 WWE Draft Rules

The 2024 WWE Draft will allocate 16 picks over four rounds to SmackDown and 24 picks over six rounds to RAW, reflecting RAW’s longer runtime. Champions are exempt from the draft, except for Women’s Tag Team Champions, who are excluded from the Draft Pool.

SmackDown will pick first on Friday, and RAW will get its first choice the following Monday, with final rosters set by May 6th.

Following new TV deals, SmackDown is moving to the USA Network and RAW to Netflix. The full effects of RAW’s switch to Netflix will be seen from October 2025. Unless WWE plans a roster shake-up, these rosters will initiate the new media rights agreements.

WWE operates on many layers, because there is a complicated business world behind the sports entertainment lights. Nick Khan has been responsible for ushering WWE into a new era, but he is now selling out his remaining shares.

It was revealed on Friday that McMahon is selling up to 8.02 million shares he owns, per Sportico. The shares Vince McMahon has listed for sale are valued at over $776 million, based on TKO’s closing price of $96.76 on Friday. He is not the only person who is unloading a ton of stock, because Nick Khan is also listing all of his remaining TKO shares.

WWE president Nick Khan is also listed as a seller in the prospectus. He plans to sell his entire stake of 234,424 shares, including restricted stock units he has accumulated over time.

Despite these sales, Khan will continue in his current role at the company, as confirmed by a source familiar with the transaction who wished to remain anonymous and was not authorized to speak publicly on his behalf.

It’s important to understand that the filing only makes these shares eligible for sale; it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be sold. However, in the corporate world, such filings typically precede the actual sale of the shares soon after. Generally, in the business sector, when shares are listed like this, they tend to be sold.

Nick Khan’s Life Prior To WWE

Before joining WWE, Khan served as Co-Head of Television at CAA, where he represented top figures and organizations in sports media, negotiating media rights deals worth billions of dollars. Khan came on board at WWE in 2020 and played a pivotal role in driving the company to achieve record revenue and profitability.

He started his career as a practicing attorney, so he understands the intricacies of contract talks. Nick Khan and The Rock have also been friends since childhood, giving another strong connection to the pro wrestling business.

It will be interesting to see what his next move is, especially if he sells all of his stock, but remains with the company.

SEScoops will have more on this still-developing story as additional information is made known.

Vince McMahon is selling his remaining shares in TKO Group Holdings, marking the end of his over 50-year association with the pro wrestling business.

It was revealed in a prospectus on Friday that McMahon might sell up to 8.02 million shares he owns, per Sportico. These shares are valued at more than $776 million, based on TKO’s closing price of $96.76 on Friday.

It’s important to note that the filing simply makes the shares eligible for sale and does not guarantee that they will be sold. However, in the corporate world, such filings generally lead to the actual sale of the listed shares shortly thereafter. That being said, in the business world, shares put up like this usually sell.

McMahon has been inching toward a full departure from WWE for quite some time. Before the announcement on Friday that he might sell all his TKO stock, McMahon had sold $1.365 billion of TKO stock since November. If he sells his remaining shares at market value, he will have made over $2 billion from TKO stock in six months.

If you’re wondering if Vince will start a new pro wrestling company, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports, while Vince is interested in pursuing new business opportunities in the future, starting a new wrestling promotion is not on his agenda. The general consensus in the wrestling community is that it would be impractical for him to start from scratch and compete against an established giant like WWE.

McMahon isn’t the only person selling all of their TKO stock, because WWE President Nick Khan is doing the same.

Vince McMahon’s WWE Exit

McMahon has been with WWE for decades, first entering the company in the 1960s. After taking ownership from his father, Vince led the company into a global superpower. Bill Simmons’ upcoming Netflix docuseries will undoubtably tell that story in full.

In 2022, McMahon resigned from WWE after it was revealed that the company had made payments to settle sexual misconduct claims against him. However, as the main shareholder, he reappointed himself as chairman at the end of the year to help sell the company. In September, Endeavor Group Holdings, the company that owns UFC, bought WWE and formed a new publicly traded company called TKO.

McMahon resigned from his position as executive chairman of TKO in January following a sex trafficking lawsuit that accused him and other executives of sexual coercion and other serious acts. Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship just prior to the 2024 Royal Rumble premium live event, causing TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro to urge McMahon’s resignation. 

TKO Group Holdings was created after Endeavor Group Holdings acquired WWE the previous year.