Will Ospreay is very open about his learning disabilities, but he does not see it as a deterrent at all. He is rising above his ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses, and he wants to change how those things are perceived while inspiring others.

Speaking to RJ City on Hey! EW, Ospreay’s struggles came up in the conversation. Ospreay was jokingly asked if he is “shaming people without autism.” The Aerial Assassin quickly replied, “f**k yeah, I am.” He continued by discussing some of the challenges he has faced, expressing his desire to serve as a motivation for others.

“I just want to show people that, yeah I have autism. I have ADHD as well. I’m super dyslexic, I can’t read. I had to have someone f**king read my contract out for me. So, it’s like, it’s super embarrassing, man, it really is. But, I feel like I’ve got to the point where I am because of those things that make me who I am, and I wand to inspire people. So, like a lot of people don’t take risks in my area, like autism, and I hope seeing me inspires other people.”

Ospreay Speaks on his Diagnosis

Will Ospreay was diagnosed with ADHD in 2019, having previously discovered he was dyslexic after struggling in school. In his class, Ospreay only managed to pass in drama and physical education, failing the primary subjects that he needed for college admission.

Ospreay has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, but he wasn’t officially called autistic by a doctor as of 2023. In an interview with Renee Paquette on her The Sessions podcast, he said he was seeking answers to his autism questions, but the pandemic interrupted that effort.

“The autism thing, I went through a doctor thing, I think it was the start of 2020, the pandemic kicked in, and I’ve never wrote back. I do feel I’m on the spectrum, but I haven’t had that guarantee. The other two, I got diagnosed, the other one, I’ve still yet to have answers for.

The wait list is f***ing long. Even if I did have it, I don’t see it as a detriment. I see it as a superpower. All of us autistic kids, we’re so much better than regular, normal people. We can lock into sh*t and do it. To all my autism kids out there, we’re top.”

Will Ospreay in AEW

After appearing in AEW a few times in 2022 and 2023, Ospreay officially signed with the company and joined its roster once his NJPW contract ended in February 2024.

Since making his full entrance into AEW, Will Ospreay has captured several headlines. The former IWGP Champion has also been involved in a war of words with Triple H. After The Game seemingly referred to the young star during a media scrum, Ospreay got back at Triple H during a recent Dynamite promo.

The Aerial Assassin is set to take on Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty in Saint Louis on April 21. 

Erick Redbeard, formerly known as Erick Rowan, has withdrawn from an upcoming East Coast Pro Wrestling event due to new “contractual obligations.” This sudden cancellation ahead of next week’s event adds more fuel to the fire that Redbeard may be gearing up for a return to WWE.

The idea of Uncle Howdy’s return to television has been bolstered by ongoing teases on the company’s television shows since WrestleMania. Someone like Erick Rowan would fit right into that scenario if it came to fruition. Many stars have needed to cancel events after signing with WWE, and “contractual obligations” is a very popular reason given to avoid outright saying they inked that deal.

East Coast Pro Wrestling had a show scheduled with Erick Redbeard, but plans had to change. The former Erick Rowan of the Wyatt Family had to pull out due. Despite this setback, the show will still feature Brian Kendrick and Vanessa Kraven,

WWE Teases That Something Is Coming

The timing of this cancelled appearance for Erick Redbeard with the current string of strange occurrences going on during WWE programming is not lost on us. 

WWE RAW saw glitches appear during the show after WrestleMania 40, temporarily disrupting Bronson Reed’s promo. The live crowd also received a sample of a strange song before the event started.

On April 11, the company’s official Twitter/X account posted and deleted a message with “Hello” repeating several times. The post was up long enough to make an impression, and many believe it is tied to Uncle Howdy’s return.

We also can’t forget about the intention tease of Bo Dallas’ in-ring return at the end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. WWE is cooking something, and it may involve Erick Rowan as a part of that plan. 

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Sunday, April 14, 2024. There is a lot going on in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any time.

WWE keeps cutting people internally, as Sue Aitchison, who was a WWE Hall of Famer Warrior Award recipient in 2019, and Sid Scala was the latest to get the axe. This is interesting timing, and has a lot of fans talking about what is next, possibly even roster cuts. You may find a list of all the 2024 WWE releases and departures below.

WWE:

– Big E’s Bad News: Although he feels happy and healthy, Big E is not cleared for a return. He released a statement to fans yesterday, revealing that he may never wrestle again at this point.

– Family Feud: WWE Superstars went to battle on Family Feud. It was quite a special episode, which featured Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight takingon the team of Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega.

– HBK vs AJ: Shawn Michaels admitted that AJ Styles is his dream opponent if he ever gets back in the ring. Of course, the Showstopper is long retired at this point.

– Rousey Hid Vital Information: Ronda Rousey admitted that she hid her concussion history from WWE.

– WWE Cutting Down on AR: The company will be doing away with a lot of the augmented reality entrances that we see on a weekly basis.

AEW:

– Dynasty Stipulation: AEW added a ladder match stipulation to the AEW World Tag Team Title match between the Young Bucks and FTR at Dynasty on April 21.

– Moxley’s Return: Jon Moxley will be back on AEW Dynamite or their 4/17 episode. He just won the IWGP Heavyweight Title, so this could be interesting.

– Omega Speaks on Punk: Kenny Omega had an interesting reaction to the Punk and Jack Perry footage airing on Dynamite.

– Riho’s Whereabouts: Riho is currently stuck in Japan, where she is dealing with visa issues.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Augmented and virtual reality became a huge fad that is still picking up speed. That being said, WWE is going to pump the brakes on some of those virtual visuals that fans see on a weekly basis.

WWE plans to reduce the use of Augmented Reality content in its weekly RAW and SmackDown shows, per PW Insider. Although this technology will still appear occasionally, its presence will mainly be limited to Pay-Per-View events.

One source reportedly mentioned that the recent episode of SmackDown is likely the final time Augmented Reality will be used regularly. Additionally, as part of these changes, WWE is expected to reduce its staff and the amount of equipment, such as production trucks, at its events.

This change marks a shift from its previous frequent integration into weekly programming, indicating a new strategic approach to the use of Augmented Reality in WWE broadcasts.

WWE’s Use of Augmented Reality

WWE has really done up the augmented reality during Superstar entrances, with a majority of those setups involving some form of the practice. Judgement Day, The Bloodline, and Cody Rhodes all feature large objects on screen that are only available for fans at home.

Other Superstars like Becky Lynch may also see their augmented reality effects nixed with this move. The company has already stopped using some, as Drew McIntyre no longer carries Angela around, so he doesn’t get a big AR sword anymore. 

As Endeavor shifts WWE into whatever the new era of the company looks like, augments reality will become a rarity. This might bring a more realistic aspect to the product as things appear to have a real-fight feel rather than a spectacle for every single entrance.

WWE fans are hoping for Big E to deliver positive news about a return to wrestling. The New Day member is sharing the results from his latest neck scans two years after his career-threatening injury. Unfortunately, he is still not medically cleared to compete — a status that may be permanent.

The former WWE Champion’s biennial neck scans showed no significant changes. Although his C1 vertebra has healed, it did not form new bone. As badly he wants to get back to his fans, he accepts he may never wrestle again. He feels blessed to be pain free and maintains a grateful outlook on life.

Hey, all!
Two year neck scans are in. Things are unchanged. My C1 has healed fibrously but has not formed new bone. I’m not medically cleared and truthfully, I may never be cleared. But I am blessed to be free of pain, immensely happy and otherwise healthy. Life is good.

— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) April 13, 2024

Big E’s Injury and WWE Career

In March 2022, The New Day found themselves feuding with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. During their match on the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Holland performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Big E at ringside, causing the New Day member to land on the top of his head. He was immediately stretchered out and taken to a hospital.

Later, Big E announced on social media that he had broken his neck, specifically fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Fortunately, there were no ligament or spinal cord injuries, and surgery was not necessary.

Big E has stayed active with WWE through his injury as an ambassador and doing community work for the company. He has also helped out with some recruitment and sat in during tryouts as a scout. Big E has a lot to offer the business, even if his days in the ring are over.

He recently made an appearance alongside Kofi and Xavier once again at the WWE Hall of Fame as they inducted Thunderbolt Patterson.

During his WWE career, Big E raked up several championships, including the WWE Title for a 110-day reign. On top of two reigns as IC Champion, Big E also won the NXT Title in 2012, beating inaugural champion Seth Rollins in the early days of the brand.

In the tag team category, he earned the RAW Tag Team Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team belts six times as a member of the New Day. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods used the “Freebird Rule” with the titles as a trio as they cycled out who defended on each night. 

WWE traditionally makes personnel cuts following the WrestleMania season. With the 40th “Show of Shows” now concluded, several significant internal changes are underway.

Sue Aitchison, the long-standing Director of Community Relations at WWE, has parted ways with the company, according to PWInsider.com. 

Her departure follows the recent exits of two other high-profile employees: Dan Ventrelle, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, who was released on April 11, and Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, who also left earlier this week.

Sue Aitchison’s Contributions to WWE

Sue Aitchison was not only the longest-serving employee at World Wrestling Entertainment but also a 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Warrior Award recipient. Joining in 1986, she dedicated over 38 years to the company as the Director of Community Relations. 

Aitchison was instrumental in spearheading WWE’s community outreach, notably enhancing the company’s relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and initiating various community projects such as the WrestleMania Reading Challenge.

Her outstanding work with Make-A-Wish was honored with the Chris Greicius Award in both 2006 and 2016. Aitchison’s departure is viewed by many as the end of an era in WWE history.

WWE’s Pattern of Releases

As WWE continues to evolve under its new leadership, the pattern of releasing key team members remains apparent. Historically, Vince McMahon would announce a series of roster cuts post-WrestleMania. 

In recent years, these cuts have typically been postponed until after WWE’s event in Saudi Arabia, but precede the annual draft. 

The next WWE Draft is scheduled for April 28 (SmackDown) and May 1 (RAW), and it remains to be seen if further roster cuts will be announced following this series of internal changes.

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Saturday, April 13, 2024. There is a lot going on in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any time.

You never know what can happen in the pro wrestling world, and fans woke up to Jon Moxley as the new IWPG World Heavyweight Champion as he beat Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot.

WWE fans are also talking about how the Bloodline changed last night on SmackDown. Tama Tonga finally made his WWE debut, and it was to take out Jimmy Uso and seemingly replace him in the faction.

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

WWE:

– Vince Selling Out: McMahon’s remaining TKO shares are now registered for sale. It looks like The Chairman is finally getting out of the pro wrestling business.

– Matt Riddle Walkout: Ex WWE Superstar Matt Riddle didn’t make the best impression at the NJPW Windy City Riot show. After he lost his match to Zach Sabre Jr, he rolled out of the ring, no-sold the defeat, danced around a bit and walked off. That was not a great look for the Original Bro.

– Strange Days Ahead: WWE is still teasing something ominous with weird messages during SmackDown.

– Foxxy is Back: Alicia Fox, as Vix Crow, wrestled her first match in years last night. She impressed a lot of people by not skipping a beat.

– Stone Cold Talks: to make a WrestleMania appearance, but they couldn’t agree on money. So, The Undertaker replaced him in the main event match.

AEW:

– Scapegoat Update: Jack Perry referenced AEW airing the CM Punk footage during the NJPW Windy City Riot show.

– No Swearing: Toni Storm said that Thunder Rosa’s name is considered like a profanity around her household.

– Sting After Retirement: What will Sting do now? We have an update in one of your latest articles.

Jon Moxley is the first wrestler to win the WWE, AEW and NJPW World Championships ? #NJRiot pic.twitter.com/cEAJisg0Zs

— Heel Homie (@heelhomie) April 13, 2024

AEW Collision Card (4/13):

• AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. AZM
• Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
• Lee Moriarty vs. Katsuyori Shibata
• House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Dante Martin, Action Andretti & Matt Sydal

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Tiffany Stratton is ready to light up the SmackDown roster, and she did so with some special gear this week. The former NXT Women’s Champion rocked ring attire that paid homage to her “Clueless” character roots.

Stratton wore a black and yellow outfit on SmackDown this week. Corey Graves dropped “as if” on commentary during that segment for a reason. Her look was very close to Alicia Silverstone’s famous costume from the classic teen comedy.

Like as if…. @tiffstrattonwwe @AliciaSilv #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/XafBHBIKNm

— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) April 13, 2024

Previous WWE Superstar Tributes

WWE Superstars will pay homage to their favorite pop culture. Johnny Gargano is known for paying tribute to a variety of comic book characters. Becky Lynch famously wore a tribute to The Bride from Quintin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film.

Of course, when you’re talking about cosplay, you can’t forget about Zelina Vega. The LWO member has dressed up as several video game and anime characters for years.

Tiffany Stratton was born in 1999, years before “Clueless” was released in 1995, but that film is obviously a big part of her roots. Her tribute was certainly noticed on the blue brand’s show this week.

What Happened This Week

Bayley made her way to the ring, ready to embrace what is next after defeating IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Then Stratton entered the situation on SmackDown this week as she interrupted Bayley’s first promo as WWE Women’s Champion.

Stratton wanted to cash in on an open challenge from Bayley, but the champion didn’t offer one. The former Damage CTRL leader wanted to face Naomi, and The Glow soon came down to claim a match with Stratton, one that the former Knockouts Champion won.

WrestleMania is in the rearview mirror, and WWE has been known to re-stack the deck. This week’s SmackDown included a big change for The Bloodline as Jimmy Uso was kicked out to make room for Tama Tonga.

It is a new era for the Bloodline. The Rock is gone after WrestleMania, although he did promise to return for a match against Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns is also taking a break after losing his title.

There is a new Bloodline, and Paul Heyman is reluctantly on board.

Bloodline Changes After WrestleMania 40

The Bloodline took to the ring this week on SmackDown, and they had a lot to address. The Wise Man Paul Heyman spoke about Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE World Title at WrestleMania.

Suddenly, Solo Sikoa cut off WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman’s speech on SmackDown this week to make his own announcement. He called attention to Jimmy Uso and how he should be reprimanded for losing. Then Solo hugged Jimmy in the ring while saying, “you’re my brother, I love you.“

Jimmy Uso is coming off a WrestleMania loss to his brother, Jey Uso. There are punishments for losing, and they made that point very clear when Tama Tonga jumped in the ring to attack Jimmy.

After a brutal beat-down in the ring, which included wrapping a chair around Jimmy’s head in the corner followed by a running hip attack from Solo, brought a new chapter in the Bloodline saga.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

Jimmy Uso just got taken out by…TAMA TONGA?!?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/BP2uHOhXPN

— WWE (@WWE) April 13, 2024

Paul Heyman famously said that we were only in the “bottom of the 3rd inning” at SummerSlam last year. We have to wonder where they are in the ballgame after this development after WrestleMania 40.

The Wise Man looked scared in the corner, fearing that he was next in line. That beatdown on Heyman did not happen, as Solo brought him to join him and Tama as they did the Bloodline sign. Heyman, although a bit hesitant, did the pose alongside them.

???

EVERYTHING just changed for #TheBloodline… #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/G6rDVEeXvO

— WWE (@WWE) April 13, 2024

Who is Tama Tonga

Roman Reigns and Tama Tonga are not related, but they share a connection through their Polynesian heritage. Tonga, real name Alipate Fifita, is of Tongan descent, while Reigns is Samoan, both belonging to the broader Polynesian cultural group. He is son of legendary pro wrestler Haku.

Tama entered WWE after having a lengthy run in NJPW, where he won many titles along the way. He has won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times with Tanga Loa. Tama is a four-time NEVER Openweight Champion and has won the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship four times.

He’s been on WWE’s radar for a while, but NJPW kept him locked in a contract. Needless to say, The Bloodline has a huge boost with Tama in their ranks.

There are other potential future Bloodline members possibly on their way. Jacob Fatu and Zilla Fatu, who is Umaga’s son, are always possibilities. From the way they splintered things off, it looks like Jimmy Uso could use an ally to fight the new Bloodline now.

Tonight’s 4/12 WWE SmackDown takes place from Detroit, Michigan at the sold-out Little Caesars Arena. Over 13,000 wrestling fans will be on hand to witness the fallout from WrestleMania 40 and the start of a new era on Friday nights.

Here’s what WWE is advertising for the show: 

• Cody Rhodes will appear
• Bayley will celebrate her championship win at WrestleMania

Plus, a mini-tournament will also kick off tonight to determine the #1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. We’ll see two triple-threat matches, with the winners squaring off next week to determine the next challenger:

• Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles
• Santos Escobar vs. LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley

This is expected to be an eventful show. WWE always shakes things up after WrestleMania with new storylines and feuds. The Bloodline is in utter turmoil following WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns has been conquered, The Rock is leaving again and Paul Heyman needs to figure out what to do with himself with the Tribal Chief cast into exiled. Could we see a New Bloodline emerge?

Looking Ahead

WWE DRAFT: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW. So, we only have a limited time left with these current rosters.

BACKLASH: WWE Backlash: France takes place Saturday, May 4 from Lyon, France. Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match on Raw to become  the next challenger to new World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. While not confirmed, this clash is expected for Backlash.

Randy Orton landed an RKO on IShowSpeed at WrestleMania 40. It didn’t take Speed long to get his revenge, but it didn’t happen in a traditional ring.

During a WWE2K24 livestreaming session, IShowSpeed faced off against the Viper while using a created character in his own likeness. When he delivered a devastating RKO to the digital Apex Predator, Speed erupted with his trademark enthusiasm.

iShowSpeed gets his revenge on Randy Orton. ? pic.twitter.com/u8zAJ5PfxZ

— DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) April 11, 2024

IShowSpeed at WrestleMania 40

WrestleMania 40 was a two-day spectacle featuring a few notable celebrity appearances. Everyone knew someone had to be in that Prime bottle costume as it accompanied Logan Paul to the ring. KSI was under a similar disguise last year, and this year IShowSpeed took a turn.

After the social media influencer ran his mouth a bit, Randy Orton seized an opportunity that many with they could as he nailed Speed with an RKO on the announce table. It didn’t break, but the Lincoln Financial Field crowd popped for the viral spot.

Those shenanigans worked, because they all led to Logan Paul retaining the United States Title on the grandest stage of them all. Paul made Speed a Prime endorsed influencer after that before gifting him a Tesla Cybertruck.

It remains to be seen whether Speed will make a return to WWE television at this juncture, but he might want to squash things with Randy Orton outside the video game realm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-FowE4epw

Who is IShowSpeed

IShowSpeed started his YouTube channel in 2016, initially posting gameplay videos sporadically. By December 2017, he began to livestream and share videos primarily focused on games like NBA 2K and Fortnite, though initially attracting only two viewers on average.

His channel’s growth accelerated dramatically over time, hitting significant milestones of 100,000 subscribers in April 2021, 1 million by June 2021, 10 million by July 2022, and reaching 20 million subscribers in August 2023.

He racks up millions of views, creating viral moments at every turn. As of March 2024, the 19-year-old’s net worth is approximately $12 million. 

The ‘Bloodline Rules’ stipulation of Sunday’s WrestleMania 40 main event between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns allowed for several exciting surprise appearances. The jam-packed Lincoln Financial Field erupted when John Cena and the Undertaker made surprises appearances to assist the American Nightmare.

Many fans were expecting to hear the infamous ‘glass shatter’ and see Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring for one more confrontation with his greatest rival, The Rock. As it turns out, WWE did negotiate with Austin regarding this exact scenario. Unfortunately, the two sides could not come to a financial agreement, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

In the months leading up to wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year, Austin was addressed the possibility of another WrestleMania appearance. He kept some hopes alive by saying “never say never,” but now we know why it didn’t materialize.

Steve Austin shocked the wrestling world by coming out of retirement at WrestleMania 38 (2022) and competing in his first match in 19 years.

It started with Kevin Owens calling out Stone Cold and inviting him to appear on the KO Show at WrestleMania 38. Austin accepted, but when he showed up for a talk, Owens had other plans in mind. An impromptu No Holds Barred match broke out and Austin got to show it’s still a very bad idea to cross him.

Bloodline Rules

Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a match contested under ‘Bloodline rules.’ The specific rules were not laid out in person, but it was essentially a no-disqualification match.

The relaxed rules allowed for plenty of outside interference, with members of the Bloodline backing Reigns, and John Cena, The Undertaker and Seth Rollins evening the odds.

In the end, Rhodes ‘finished his story’ and ended the Tribal Chief’s historic championship reign at 1,316 days. 

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, April 12.

We are a day removed from AEW releasing CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In fight footage, and that’s still the biggest talking point. Fans are also still mixing in their own audio tracks, and there is no shortage of great contributions out there.

EXCLUSIVE leaked audio of what lead to the altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry at AEW ALL IN! pic.twitter.com/DOIg83WM5d

— simon (@BleeSimon) April 11, 2024

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop…

WWE:

– Big Departure In Talent Relations: Dan Ventrelle, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, was let go on April 11. He had joined WWE years ago and was closely associated with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque within the company.

– Another Notable WWE Exit: Trent Wilfinger, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, also left on the same day. He started at WWE in summer 2021, focusing on Global Athlete Strategy & Development under Paul Levesque. Before joining WWE, he worked for over ten years at the fitness company EXOS.

– R-Truth’s Family Tragedy: Truth updated fans on Thursday to let them know that his cousin, Rosco, had a stroke. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

My cousin Rosco had a stroke the night I had my Big Wrestle Mania winning the WWE tag team championship ?, He has ALWAYS been my biggest supporter! Every time I see him he would tell me how proud of me he was, That meant more to me than anything!! Life doesn’t come with a… pic.twitter.com/JEMaw1kxxy

— Ron Killings (@RonKillings) April 12, 2024

– Zelina Vega Called Out: The LWO member was accused of underpaying artists for their work on her ring gear. She since came out to deny the allegations, and she said she will present proof of her innocence.

AEW:

– Send Hook: SEScoops ran an exclusive about Hook’s AEW contract status. His deal is running up and WWE is interested in him.

– AEW Pay-Per-Views: We now have a comprehensive list of AEW pay-per-views scheduled for the rest of 2024.

– Sting After Retirement: We ran a story about Sting’s plans after his retirement from AEW. His last match saw him retain the AEW World Tag Team Titles with Darby Allin at Revolution against The Young Bucks.

– AEW Dynamite Viewership: AEW saw a viewership boost with their 4/10 episode. It looks like the hype behind that CM Punk and Jack Perry footage paid off.

– AEW Disliked: The AEW YouTube page cut out the actual CM Punk and Jack Perry fight footage. That did not go over well with fans.

– Don’t Shame Cole: Adam Cole fired back at fans who continue to body-shame him.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Zelina Vega was accused of commissioning work and not paying the artist in full. She has responded to deny the accusations against her, while promising to release more information that proves her innocence. 

A prop maker named mecha_musume on Instagram accused Zelina Vega of underpaying them for WrestleMania gear. They claim to have created, printed, and decorated several items for the LWO member, such as a Mecha Chancla, cuffs, Mech wings, and a headset.

After her experience, Mecha Musume said of Vega, “As a Puerto Rican, you are literally a disgrace and 100% not for your people, let alone small businesses.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5oAeGvrdVC

Another artist named Sangre came forward to share their account of working with Zelina Vega. They also provided a screenshot along with their post.

This new accuser said that they did not ask Zelina Vega for any monetary compensation, but she did get them backstage at a WWE event. The screenshot featured a conversation between the two, where Vega said she “would have” offered more work to the artist if they didn’t have this conversation about payment.

https://twitter.com/sangrebomb/status/1778481485747822946

Zelina Vega Responds

Vega addressed this situation on Twitter/X. She promised to clear things up later, and she claims to have receipts.

This controversy gave her a reason to reactivate her Twitter/X account. “Screenshots, photos & videos to come. Last thing my husband and I are, are scammers, so! Time to make things clear. Alllll of it,” Vega posted.

Zelina Vega is outright denying that any shady business went down between her and costume designers. We will have to see what kind of evidence she has, but many fans are already commenting to point out that her accusers came with screenshot evidence as a part of their statement.

Welp, had to reactivate Twitter just to correct people. Screenshots, photos & videos to come. Last thing my husband and I are, are scammers, so! Time to make things clear. Alllll of it.

And for the people who want to threaten, lie and create fake “new scam scenarios” to jump on…

— ZV (@ZelinaVegaWWE) April 11, 2024

The hype was heavy for AEW Dynamite this week, but it wasn’t a match that fans were excited to see. Tony Khan delivered on CM Punk and Jack Perry’s fight footage at All In. This came with a boost in viewership.

The April 10 episode of AEW Dynamite brought an average viewership of 819,000 viewers, with a .30 in the 18 to 49 demographic, per Wrestlenomics. That number is up from last week’s 752,000 viewers.

AEW brought their April 10 episode of Dynamite to Charleston, West Virginia. Fans were chanting “CM Punk” by the end of the night at the Young Bucks in response to that footage.

Fan Response

The company delivered on their promise to reveal security footage from Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage brawl at All In. The silent video went viral, with many people providing their own soundtracks for the silent clip.

A number of fans commented on how this footage didn’t make the company look good in any way. Referee Paul Turner did receive some props for how he stepped in to break up the Punk and Perry fight.

https://twitter.com/AmyNemmity/status/1778226516603892094

SE Scoops provided an in-depth article detailing the course of events that led to Tony Khan allowing that footage to air on his television show. 

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Thursday, April 11.

The main topic of conversation this morning is AEW’s controversial decision to air backstage footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s’s physical altercation at All In London. 

We’ll see if it helped Dynamite draw a big audience, but it was a questionable ratings stunt at best. CM Punk and many more reacted to AEW showing the Brawl In clip, and we’ve compiled the best ones here.

The general consensus is… “Did we really need to see that?”

WWE:

– Legendary Passing: Sumo legend Akebono, who faced Paul Wight at WrestleMania 21, passed away. Our thoughts are with his family and fans at this time.

– WWE RAW Viewership: The April 8 episode of RAW had 2.362 million viewers, the most since February 17, 2020. The show drew a 0.83 rating, its best since September 30, 2019.

– GOAT Faction: Damian Priest stated that he believes Judgment Day is one of the greatest stables of all time.

– WWE Studios: The company is building a brand-new studio. Their plan is to take production to the next level.

– Black Belt Baszler: Shayna Baszler has received her black belt from Tampa Florida Judo. The school sent out a social media blast to let everyone know about this big achievement.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5mxsycMI7K

– Waller Trolls: Grayson Waller trolled AEW airing the CM Punk and Jack Perry footage in the afternoon before AEW Dynamite.

– Cena Weighs In: John Cena commented on the ongoing beef between Vin Diesel and The Rock. He also confirmed that they are both “alpha.”

AEW:

– Will Ospreay’s Takes Shot: Ospreay fired back at Triple H’s comments about not wanting to grind. This was in response to a question that Pat McAfee asked Paul Levesque about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE. Ospreay’s insult also came directly after AEW aired the CM Punk and Jack Perry Fight.

– CM Punk Chants: After AEW aired the All In fight footage, fans in Charleston, West Virginia responded by chanting the Second City Savior during the show.

– Breaking Down Footage: The video of Punk and Perry’s Brawl In fiasco has been broken down many times by fans. You can find a clip of the video below, overlaid with Punk’s explanation of how the event went down.

https://twitter.com/WWEGP/status/1778339849684062477

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Will Ospreay took Triple H’s comments about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE personally. He returned fire on the 4/10 episode of AEW Dynamite.

While speaking to the Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend, Triple H said, “When I see people trying to make it, and they pick the job where they go, ‘Well I work less and the schedule’s lighter,’ okay I’m glad I didn’t get you. Because if you’re not in it for the grind in that point in your career, you have no business being here.”

Will Ospreay cut a promo on AEW Dynamite, where he answered Triple H’s comment about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE.

“Normally I wouldn’t rise to this type of bait, right? But seeing how the guy who said it is only in the position because he was grinding the boss’ daughter, you have no business telling me what the grind is all about, my friend, because you have no idea what I fight for.

Will Ospreay takes aim at Triple H’s comments of running from the grind:

“The guy that said it is only in the position he’s in because he was grinding on the bosses daughter.”#AEWDynamite

pic.twitter.com/zXW6dXwX1K

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) April 11, 2024

It Was Ospreay’s Idea

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that it was all Will Ospreay’s idea to throw a dig at Triple H into the promo on Dynamite. He collaborated with the creative team on the promo. The media’s recent portrayal of him confused wrestlers from various organizations. A WWE member noted his efforts to honor the process and WWE, despite choosing AEW for his family’s benefit.

AEW’s Recent Signings

AEW signed three big names in a row with Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone. All of those stars were talking to WWE at one point, and they decided to take Tony Khan’s deal instead.

Mone and WWE came to a financial roadblock. She signed an incredibly lucrative deal with AEW, one that is reportedly the largest woman’s deal in pro wrestling history.

AEW locked down Kazuchika Okada with a three-year contract valued at approximately $13.5 million. Okada is earning about $4.5 million a year with his All Elite deal.

Will Ospreay has been open about why he turned down a WWE contract. Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE, but he emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

“I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

AEW is set to air footage from CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl and WWE star Grayson Waller couldn’t resist a little trolling on social media. Waller referenced tonight’s highly-publicized release of AEW All In footage by teasing a scandalous video of his own.

Waller claims he and SmackDown tag team champion partner Austin Theory recently beat ip the entire WWE locker room backstage and the whole thing was captured on video. 

Later today, I’m going to share exclusive security camera footage of myself and @_Theory1 beating up the entire WWE locker room backstage.

It’s time the world knows how tough the Smackdown Tag Champs really are!

— Grayson Waller (@GraysonWWE) April 10, 2024

There are several pro wrestlers from WWE, AEW and beyond who have proven to be experts and hurtling insults online. Waller recently took aim at NXT star Lexis King and compared the second generation star to the infamous Tiger King.

SEScoops published an in-depth article about the footage that AEW will air on the 4/10 episode of Dynamite, including all the supporting information for this controversial chain of events.

It seemed highly unlikely that the AEW All In footage would ever see the light of day, Tony Khan has doubled-down on his pledge to deliver what fans are expecting. 

Naturally, the pro wrestling world is giving this situation a lot of attention, and that includes those in WWE.

• CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a physical altercation backstage at AEW All In: London 2023 from Wembley Stadium (August 27, 2023).
• This was Punk’s final date with the company before a messy breakup. 
• Punk told his side of the story last week on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. He and AEW have been taking digs at one another ever since, and now AEW is teasing:
• “The Young Bucks Present Backstage Footage From ALL IN LONDON & Will Discuss For The First Time”
• Tony Khan and the Young Bucks say they’ll deliver tonight on Dynamite

AEW delivered on their promise to air the footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl.

https://twitter.com/WrestlingCovers/status/1778222984869593412

WrestleMania XL is history, and wrestling fans are already getting another big topic to talk about: the release of the AEW All In Footage of CM Punk’s backstage brawl with Jack Perry that led to his abrupt departure from the company. Now, that footage has been released.

The Young Bucks introduced the footage on AEW Dynamite. They also took several underhanded digs at Punk, including saying that they don’t want to spread rumors. Nicholas and Matthew Jackson centered the entire promo around hyping their match against FTR at Dynasty on April 21, and how Punk is a friend of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.

Matthew & Nicholas Jackson breakdown their history with FTR.

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@youngbucks pic.twitter.com/OehwC2qf6z

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 11, 2024

Why AEW and the Young Bucks Are Releasing The “Backstage Footage”

Punk’s April 1 appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani got intense. He commented on his physical altercation with Jack Perry backstage right before his final AEW match against Samoa Joe inside a packed Wembley Stadium. Punk, now a top-paid WWE Superstar, buried AEW and its management. 

A perceived tipping point was Perry’s intent to use glass in a spot on AEW Collision, but Punk stopped him. At All In, Punk didn’t have the same influence, and Jungle Boy Jack taunted the Chicago legend live on camera.

Shortly thereafter, Khan gave his side of the story to a live AEW audience. “I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over thirty year, I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt, until Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life was in danger.”

CM Punk Discusses Tony Khan

Punk placed onto AEW’s President for not diffusing his volatile situation with Perry before it ignited. He watched backstage as Perry taunted him in front of the world during the Zero Hour kickoff show.

After urging his boss to handle the situation, Punk says that Khan replied, “What do you want me to do?” The Second City Savior warned he’d be pushed to take action the company wouldn’t approve of.

CM Punk’s comments on Tony Khan pic.twitter.com/2XmKg1YTdH

— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) April 1, 2024

“Man, that’s a loaded question because I don’t want this to be…I don’t like the drama, but the truth is the truth, he is not a boss, he’s a nice guy and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company.”

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland started off the first Dynamite after Punk’s interview by indirectly addressing the controversy. The ‘Rated R Superstar’ said, “There’s been a lot of negative BS that’s spewed this week, right? There has … SCREW THAT! I wanna talk about positives!”

AEW Delivered The Controversial Footage

Wrestling fans naturally wondered if this was legit or a bait and switch situation. Tony Khan made it clear that they will air the ‘real’ footage. Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the AEW President clarified:

“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

Punk continues to prove that he is a lightening rod for controversy. He’s long gone from All Elite Wrestling, but he will probably help Dynamite draw viewers on Wednesday night. Love him or hate him, people just can’t stop talking about CM Punk.

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Wednesday, April 10. Last night’s NXT carried on after Stand & Deliver, and we saw what was possibly Bron Breakker’s final farewell on the brand.

After Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin lost the NXT Tag Team Titles this week, Breakker addressed the NXT fans with a goodbye speech.

EXCLUSIVE: @bronbreakkerwwe reflects on his time in NXT and thanks the NXT Universe one last time.#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/nDWitOozm4

— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2024

Let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!

WWE:

– The Final Boss Gets Stock: TKO awarded The Rock with $9.4 million in company stock after WrestleMania 40. In total, he was given 96,558 additional shares, adding to around 400,000 shares of TKO stock is already had currently valued at approximately $39 million.

– Cody Rhodes Merch Sales: Cody had an incredible WrestleMania 40 weekend, and in the end, WWE sold over $1 million in his merch.

– Damian Priest Contract Status: Priest confirmed after his WWE World Heavyweight Championship win that he inked a new contract with the company.

– Cody Rhodes Made History: The American Nightmare made history at WrestleMania by racking up a triple crown title win. Rhodes became the fourth wrestler in history to hold the WWE World Championship and the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.

– The Nightmare’s New Fur Baby: Rhea Ripley celebrated her big WrestleMania 40 win by getting a new dog. Via her Instagram stories, she introduced fans to Bella.

– Seth Rollins’ Injury Hiatus: Rollins lost the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania, and he’s taking some time off. A recent report stated that Rollins won’t be out of action for long, as he just needs to rest up his knee injury.

– Cody Tops The Rock: Cody Rhodes actually beat The Rock in Google search volume on April 8, the day after his big WrestleMania 40 win over Roman Reigns.

AEW:

– Tony Khan Talks Footage: Khan has doubled-down that they are not bait and switching fans with the CM Punk footage.

– Limited Edition Merch: AEW has a new “Swerve When I Drive” t-shirt featuring Prince NaNa. This will be a limited edition offering, and you can check it out below.

This limited edition @princekingnana “Swerve When I Drive” shirt is only available until 1pm ET TOMORROW at https://t.co/9hHlXpcSbp! Order yours today, so you don’t miss out!#shopaew #aew #aewdynamite #aewrampage #aewcollision pic.twitter.com/t6MvXLeXaP

— ShopAEW.com (@ShopAEW) April 8, 2024

– AEW Collision Rating: The April 6th AEW Collision show had about 463,000 people watching on average overnight, and it scored 0.15 for viewers aged 18 to 49. This is a bit higher than the last show, which had 458,000 viewers and a 0.11 score in the same age group.

AEW Dynamite Card This Week (4/10):

• TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
• AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
• Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
• Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
• Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
• Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Cody Rhodes finally finished his Story at WrestleMania 40 by defeating Roman Reigns to bring the WWE Championship home to his family. Cody’s win was celebrated around the world by his legion of fans who are proud to show their support for the American Nightmare.

WrestleMania 40 was monumentally successful in many ways and we’ve just learned a new one. Fightful Select reports that WWE sent an internal company memo touting that Cody Rhodes merchandise grossed over $1 million during WrestleMania weekend.

The amount of Cody Rhodes merchandise in the crowd at WWE events is a sure sign that they have the right Superstar on top.

WWE released a commemorative t-shirt immediately following Cody’s win with the phrase, “The Story Continues.”

Cody Rhodes also out-performed The Rock in terms of Google searches on Monday, April 8, after he won the Undisputed Universal Title. Cody obviously has the WWE Universe’s attention right now, and for good reason.

WrestleMania 40 took place in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7 in Lincoln Financial Field. WWE SmackDown (4/5) and the RAW After WrestleMania (4/8) were both held in the Wells Fargo Center.

Cody Rhodes’ WWE Contract Situation

Rhodes previously stated that it was his goal to retire from in-ring competition before he turned 40. Cody Rhodes recently signed a new multi-year contract with WWE. The 38-year-old second-generation Superstar revealed this fact in a recent interview.

While speaking with Justin Walker, Cody confirmed that “40 is out of the question just because, not to give you scoop, it was widely reported, but I did sign a new contract with WWE. It extends beyond my 40th birthday.”

He does not have an immediate challenger for the Undisputed Universal Championship yet, but The Rock made it clear that he is coming back to WWE for a match against the American Nightmare.

Damian Priest is WWE’s new World Heavyweight Champion after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract in shocking fashion at WrestleMania 40. 

On Monday’s post-WrestleMania WWE Raw, Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match to become Priest’d first challenger. Priest and Uso both cut promos about each other backstage after the show. While hyping up their upcoming match (date and location TBA), Priest revealed he’s signed a new contract with WWE.

“This has already been a great year for me,” he said. “New contract, new title, new theme song voiced by yours truly. Judgment Day is on fire.”

Priest spent several years wrestling for Ring of Honor (as Punishment Martinez) before signing with WWE in 2018. He was a dominant force in NXT and held the North American Championship before making a surprise appearance in the 2021 WWE Royal Rumble. He joined the Raw brand the following night.

The Judgment Day leader has had great success on the main roster, including runs with the United States Championship, the SmackDown tag titles (2x) and of course, Money in the Bank 2023. The MITB cash-in was planned out months in advance.

I can confirm that Priest’s cash-in was not a last minute booking. WWE planned Damian Priest’s MITB cash-in at Mania for six months.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) April 9, 2024

All of this, coupled with his World title victory and new contract, demonstrate their faith in Priest to deliver in the ring and drive business.

Damian Priest WrestleMania 40 Videos:

Cash-In and NEW:

Backstage after cashing in Money in the Bank and winning the World Heavyweight championship from Drew McIntyre:

Post-WrestleMania 40 press conference, courtesy of Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture:

Seth Rollins is expected to take a brief hiatus from WWE following this past weekend’s historic WrestleMania 40.

He competed at WrestleMania Saturday and Sunday and lost both nights. He and Cody Rhodes came up short against Roman Reigns and The Rock. He lost the World Heavyweight Championship that he worked so tirelessly to legitimize. Despite all this, he left Philadelphia a winner. Cody Rhodes conquered Reigns fair and square, but it was Rollins’ self-sacrifice that ultimately triggered the Tribal Chief’s downfall.

Rollins did not appear on Monday’s post-WrestleMania WWE Raw and is not expected to be back in action anytime soon. According to Dave Meltzer, Rollins is expected to take some time off, but “not that long.”

Seth Rollins’ Knee Injury

Seth Rollins suffered an MCL injury on the road to WrestleMania, but he did not need to miss the show of shows. He recovered enough to get cleared to compete, but now he is getting some much-needed time off.

Rollins has a history with knee injuries, so WWE obviously doesn’t want to risk any greater injury for one of their top stars. He’s been out of action for way longer in the past with a severe ACL injury that needed surgery, but this time reportedly won’t be that bad.

In a rare show of respect between heated rivals, Drew McIntyre addressed Rollins on Raw and thanked him for their match over the weekend. Triple H also gave Rollins his ‘flowers’ on Monday, praising his work putting the World Heavyweight championship on the match.

If anybody’s earned some time off to rest, it’s Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins. We wish him a speedy recovery.

How do you make steel and leather become a most sought after possession? How do you get men to give their blood, sweat and tears to attain it? How do you make it mean the absolute most? Seth “Freakin” Rollins. pic.twitter.com/OhA51jx7LH

— Triple H (@TripleH) April 8, 2024

Multi-time World Champion Sheamus will be back on television very soon. A promo aired on this week’s WWE Raw touting the Celtic Warrior’s imminent return.

He's back, FELLA. ? pic.twitter.com/fdnPJavDwq

— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2024

Sheamus has been out of action since last summer. His most recent match took place on a very special episode of WWE SmackDown back on August 18, 2023. He wrestled WWE Hall of Famer Edge that night in what would ultimately be the Rated R Superstar’s final match before jumping to AEW.

While WWE says Sheamus is officially back, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that WWE sources have indicated we may not see him until the week of the 2024 WWE Draft, “or won’t have a defined brand until then.”

More on the 2024 WWE Draft

The 2024 WWE Draft begins later this month on WWE SmackDown (4/26) and will continue on WWE RAW (4/29). WWE typically runs a ‘supplemental draft’ with additional roster moves announced in the following day(s). 

The WWE Draft is a chance to ‘shake things up’ and creating a host of fresh matchups for the year ahead. It’s also an opportunity for the top stars of NXT to be ‘called up’ to the main roster.  

We already know that NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov will be part of this year’s Draft and will be a top prospect for General Managers Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis. Another NXT star expected to be joining Raw or SmackDown is Carmelo Hayes, who we spoke with over the weekend just before Saturday’s NXT Stand & Deliver premium live event:

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, April 9. Last night was the RAW after WrestleMania 40, and Jey Uso is the new #1 contender for Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Title.

Before we get going, there was a very ominous glitch during the RAW after WrestleMania. The live crowd also heard a strange clip from a song that they didn’t know, as the lights were cut out for a bit. Something is certainly brewing, and you can get all the info we have so far in our report.

You can find what happened after RAW this week here, as the company wrapped up WrestleMania week. Check out our complete WrestleMania 40 Saturday coverage by visiting our WrestleMania 40 hub.

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

WWE:

– Damien Priest’s Cash-In: I asked around about Priest’s cash-in at WrestleMania 40. This was not a last-minute booking, because the company has been planning this for six months. 

I can confirm that Priest’s cash-in was not a last minute booking. WWE planned Damian Priest’s MITB cash-in at Mania for six months.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) April 9, 2024

– Time Off: Seth Rollins is expected to take some time off. His knee needs to heal up a bit.

– WWE Draft Confirmed: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW.

–Cody and Bray Connection: It turns out that the mask Cody Rhodes wore at WrestleMania 40 has a connection to Bray Wyatt, because he used the same man, Jason Baker, to construct his mask.

–Mick Foley Cancels: Foley has officially called off his last match, so he will never wrestle again at this point.

–Samantha Irvin: WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin received some huge props from legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer after her WrestleMania performance.

– John Cena Returns: Cena returned for a spot during the RAW after WrestleMania 40. He helped Awesome Truth beat Judgment Day, but Cena isn’t expected to be back for any longer run at this time. He did express a desire for Hollywood to “pump the brakes” so he can make a WWE return for one more run.

– TKO Buying Vince’s Shares: TKO is buying a ton of stock from Vince McMahon. He will still have millions in the company, but his ownership percentage is down to under 5% now.

WWE NXT Card (4/9):

• NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Wolfdogs vs. Nathan Frazer & Axiom
• Appearance by Je’Von Evans
• Appearance by Natalya

AEW:

– MJF Gets Flowers: Cody Rhodes said he’s proud of MJF, as he praised him in a big way.

– Mark Henry Controversy: The World’s Strongest Man caused a bit of controversy when he said that Kairi Sane showed disrespect for the business at WrestleMania 40.

AEW Dynamite Card This Week (4/10):

• TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
• AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
• Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
• Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
• Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
• Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.