WWE legend The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) has once again left his fans in awe when he gave an ESPN host his prized wrestling ring during a live interview.
The heartwarming moment transpired on January 24, 2024 and the gesture has received massive praise from his fans and won over people’s hearts.
The Rock gifts his ring to the reporter
‘The Great One’ recently made an appearance on a segment of the First Take talk series. During the segment, the host Molly Qerim revealed how much she loved The Rock’s ring, which he wore at the time.
“That pinky ring, I don’t know if that’s vintage, but I’m obsessed with rings, if you can tell I’ve been staring at it the entire show. It’s amazing.”
The Rock, who has often proved he’s a gentleman, took off the ring and handed it to Molly Qerim and told her, “There you go”.
Molly was astonished with the former WWE Champion’s gesture and asked if he was sure. She then said that she was going to text Nick Khan’s sister-in-law, who is her stylist, and tell her they needed something similar.
“So [WWE President] Nick Khan’s sister-in-law Lisette Mora is one of my dear friends, and she’s my stylist, and I was literally going to text her, like, we need something like this vintage,” shared the host.
The Rock went on to state that the ring meant a lot to him but it meant more that she mentioned it on air. Molly further if the ring was a gift to which The Great One replied, “Absolutely, 100%. Yes.”
After the episode aired, Molly took to her Instagram and made a collaborative post, lauding the Hollywood star for being an amazing person.
“I’ve been very blessed to interview some amazing people over the yrs, but there is a special energy & light to The Rock,” she wrote in the post’s caption. “Tough guy, but you can feel his heart. He’s humble & sees people. No accident he’s so successful. Grateful!”
AEW superstar Darby Allin recently revealed that he isn’t listening to pro wrestling legend Ric Flair’s advice.
Allin has a reputation for involving himself in high-risk spots in his matches. He has captivated the fans with his dangerous stunts that thrill the fans. However, suffering career-threatening injuries look inevitable. He has suffered injuries from time to time but that isn’t stopping him anytime soon.
Pro wrestling takes a toll on the physical health of the performers and it is no secret. Veterans of the business have dealt with complications at the latter stage of life and WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who has experienced the same, shared a piece of advice for Allin.
Darby Allin won’t listen to Ric Flair
During a recent interview with Rock 106.1, Darby Allin revealed that though he appreciates Ric Flair’s advice to slow down he won’t listen to him. Allin says that he feels good physically and doesn’t see himself stopping. He said:
“Ric Flair, a couple weeks ago, he came up to me and is like, ‘Darby, you need to slow down.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ ‘You’re crazier than Mick Foley.’ I’m like, ‘Getting advice from Ric Flair?’ What’s funny is, people don’t know how great I feel physically. I feel amazing, like nothing hurts.“
“DDP also, he’s like, ‘We have to put you in a lab. They have to test you out and see what’s going on because you’re not human.’ I feel amazing. I won’t stop doing it. Sorry for anybody trying to give me advice, all the people out there telling me to slow down. I can’t and I won’t.”
Darby Allin and his tag team partner ‘The Icon’ Sting have their sights set on the AEW Tag Team Championships. On the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, the duo challenged the champs Big Bill and Ricky Starks, who eventually accepted the challenge.
Former Bloodline member Jey Uso has nothing but high praise for his cousin and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
‘The Trible Chief’ has become one of the most recognizable and unstoppable characters in WWE history. His journey to superstardom dates back to his early days at Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was then WWE’s developmental territory. It was there that Reigns developed his skills and started laying the groundwork for his future success.
His history-making WWE Universal Championship reign for 1,243 days and counting remains to be one of the greatest chapters in WWE and Reigns has established himself as the ‘Tribal Chief.’
He has demonstrated unmatched skills in the ring and has become the face of WWE SmackDown brand. His phenomenal development as a performer and a character highlights his commitment to the business which cements his place among the greatest of all time in the WWE.
Jey Uso lauds Roman Reigns’ meteoric rise
Just like any other WWE fan, Jey Uso is also thrilled about the idea of Roman Reigns vs. The Rock. Regarding the dream match potentially materializing as soon as this year’s WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, Jey is excited while highlighting how far Reigns has come.
During a recent interview with Chamatkar Sandhu of TNT Sports, “Main Event” Jey Uso said:
“Yeah, I’m so excited because, like I said, people want to see that match, and it’s a big W for my family still,” Jey stated. “Like that makes me joyful. It’s breathtaking. I look at my cousin now, Roman, and I’m just happy on how far he’s come. From the day he walked into FCW, developmental, which I was there, to present. Inspiring, man.
“He’s the blueprint of what hard work does and you can never knock that. He has great work ethic. He deserves all the time off that he has, he earned it. But I really fell like The Rock is stepping back into a place where he don’t know what’s gonna hit him, let alone The Great One. We The Ones, or we used to be The Ones, but that’s The Great One.”
Roman Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, Randy Orton and AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event on Saturday, January 27.
This weekend’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event will be a massive show but ahead of the event, WWE has announced a blockbuster clash for Royal Rumble’s go-home SmackDown show. LA Knight is set to take on the Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa on this week’s Friday Night SmackDown lineup.
LA Knight and Solo Sikoa clash in a rematch
Knight vs. Sikoa is a rematch from the October 13 SmackDown where Knight secured a win over Sikoa in the build up to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal title at Crown Jewel in November.
Knight has a huge opportunity at hands as he participates in a four-way Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match with title holder Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton.
Apart from LA Knight vs Solo Sikoa, WWE announced a Women’s Tag Team title match as Katana Chance & Kayden Carter put their titles on the line against Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). On the other hand, Carlito will square off against Santos Escobar, while Austin Theory faces Carmelo Hayes. A face-to-face segment with The Pride and The Final Testament factions has also been announced.
Lineup for the Friday, January 26 SmackDown:
LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa
Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance & Kayden Carter defend against Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin Theory
The Pride (Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits) & The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Authors of Pain, Scarlett & Paul Ellering) face-to-face
Is the former Women’s Champion Bianca Belair looking for a heel turn?
Well, ‘The EST of WWE’ has been one of the most popular superstars. She was called up from NXT and joined the main roster during the pandemic era of WWE. Bianca Belair won the 2021 Royal Rumble and at WrestleMania 37, she headlined the WrestleMania Saturday with Sasha Banks. That night Belair became the Smackdown Women’s Champion for the first time.
It can be said that Bianca Belair has shone on the main roster as a babyface. She has inspired several women off the screen with her character and continues to portray a heroic role. However, Belair’s heel run in NXT years ago was undeniable as well. It seems that we could see Bianca Belair as a heel in the near future.
Bianca Belair shares her plan for her possible heel run
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Belair was asked if she prefers being a babyface or heel, to which she replied:
“I love being a good guy, I love being a babyface because it puts purpose to what I do. I feel like it has a bigger impact and I’m able to do stuff with the community and it’s very purposeful and inspirational and impactful. That being said, when I was a heel in NXT, it was so much fun. I feel like being a heel is a lot easier. It’s a lot easier to get people to not like you than to get people to like you and keep liking you and keeping it fresh.”
In addition to this, she also discussed what she would want out of a heel run if she turned now:
“At NXT, I was a heel, but if I ever turned heel now, I want to be the right type of heel. I was the cool heel in NXT, which I don’t feel like benefitted anyone but myself. I got myself over. If I’m in there with a babyface that’s not as established, it’s very hard for them. I learned when I got to the main roster how great it is to work with an amazing heel like Bayley when I first came in. The reason why I think I hit the ground running, as a good guy, was I had this amazing heel who was established and over. She helped introduce me to the audience and helped people get to know me and care about me. That’s what I want to do if I ever turn heel, so I won’t be the heel you like and cheer for,” she said.
Recently, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley were featured on the cover of WWE 2K24: Deluxe Edition. A video clip was also released where Triple H surprised them.
WWE superstar Cody Rhodes recently named two AEW stars who he believes should join WWE.
‘The American Nightmare’ has been on the top of his game ever since he left AEW and decided to return to WWE in 2022. He went on to win the Royal Rumble and main-event last year’s WrestleMania.
Cody is one of the examples who came back years later as a huge star. While the WWE roster is stacked with a plethora of talents, Cody has picked some names that he would like to see join WWE in the future.
Cody Rhodes names Ricky Starks and Wardlow
Rhodes and Starks have a good friendship outside the ring and Starks has been spotted backstage in WWE supporting Rhodes.
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Cody Rhodes revealed that he wants ‘The Absolute One’ to jump ship to WWE.
“My buddy Ricky Starks. I know he’s under contract so that’s not happening – but it’d be cool to see.”
In addition to this, the former AEW star named Wardlow, who had been speculated to join WWE in the past. Rhodes believes that Wardlow will fit well in the heavyweight-dominated WWE locker room.
“Wardlow is one I’d like to see cross over if he ever wanted to.” Rhodes continues. “There’s a lot of beef in the WWE locker room; it’s a heavyweight locker room. It’s hard when you think you’re big and jacked, then you stand across the ring from Drew McIntyre and you find out ‘Oh, maybe not’. Wardlow is somebody I feel could fit into that role really well.
“It seems like we’re in this day where we’re doing so well everyone wants to be part of it, and the more the merrier. I’m happy with anyone who wants to make the leap and be part of this team.”
2K recently announced that Cody Rhodes will be the cover Superstar for the regular version of the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. ‘The American Nightmare’ recently went face to face with CM Punk in an epic promo battle on this week’s Monday Night Raw. Cody and Punk are among the several talented superstars who are aiming to win the coveted Royal Rumble match and earn a title shot at WrestleMania 40.
WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has got a new ink.
Rhea Ripley has become a formidable superstar in WWE and experienced a meteoric rise in WWE after joining The Judgment Day. Her affinity towards body ink is no secret. In addition to her in-ring prowess, ‘Mami’ is recognized for her distinctive canvas of tattoos and they are very personal representations of her identity and her journey in life. With a variety of tattoos, Ripley has created a distinct look that is fitting for her character.
Rhe Ripley reveals her new ink
That being said, Rhea Ripley recently took to Twitter and flaunted her new tattoo on the back of her neck. It seems that it is a set of wings.
As we approach the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event this weekend, it’s worth noting that she has fond memories of the event. ‘The Eradicator’ had won last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match and earned a title shot. She defeated Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to capture the gold. This year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match will see a new winner and her reign could be at jeopardy at WrestleMania 40.
On the most recent edition of SmackDown, Bayley was ringside for the women’s tag team match. She called out Rhea Ripley and referred to herself as the ‘Mami Slayer.’ Bayley has been considered to be a favorite to win this year’s high-stakes match. On the other hand, Ripley and Becky Lynch recently had a confrontation which could to WrestleMania 40 as well. It is to be seen who steps up to Rhea Ripley next.
Royal Rumble 2024 WWE Premium Live Event which will emanate live from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 27.
WWE Superstar Natalya has expressed her desire to battle one of the legendary women’s wrestlers, Gail Kim.
Natalya is a pro wrestling veteran and has been one of the mainstays in WWE for more than a decade. While he has several accomplishments and fought legendary superstars over the years, she never got an opportunity to face Gail Kim. Well, now she has revealed that she would have loved to face Kim and that she’s her dream opponent.
Natalya took to her Instagram story to repost Gail Kim’s recent picture with Nattie’s real-life husband, TJ Wilson (also known as Tyson Kidd).
“Always love you both. My Faves And you’re a DREAM MATCH OF MINE.”
Natalya says Gail Kim is ‘so talented’
The former Women’s Champion also recently took to Twitter and responded to a post from a fan. The veteran star responded by saying that she would love to wrestle Gail Kim, and she believes that the former WWE superstar is very talented.
“Would so love to wrestle Gail. I think she’s so talented,” she wrote.
Gail Kim’s legacy in wrestling is defined by her trailblazing achievements. In WWE, Gail Kim made an immediate impact by winning the WWE Women’s Championship in her debut match in 2003. However, she left the company in 2004. She returned to the company in 2008 and that run lasted until 2011.
It was in TNA where Gail Kim truly cemented her legacy. She is considered as a trailblazer, who helped to elevate the TNA Knockouts Division to new heights. With her in-ring prowess, she set a new standard for women’s wrestling.
She’s a 7-time TNA Knockouts Champion and apart from in-ring performances, she also played a pivotal role behind the scenes. In 2016, she was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame and it was certainly a fitting tribute to her contributions.
AEW star Kenny Omega is yet to have surgery and a concerning report has emerged regarding his health.
‘The Cleaner’ is currently out of action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis following his match with Ethan Page. The former AEW World Champion was hospitalized immediately after the match. Omega was set to team up with Chris Jericho at AEW Worlds End but that match had to be scrapped off due to Omega’s absence.
We had reported that Omega has a long road ahead for recovery. Now, it has come to light that his condition is bad enough that surgery could be risky at the time and a decision of the surgery is yet to be made.
Update on Kenny Omega
Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that the current plan is to monitor Omega’s condition for seven weeks before deciding on surgery. Meltzer has highlighted that during this period, Omega will receive no treatment, and after seven weeks, a decision will be made depending on his progress on recovery.
Meltzer stated:
“It’s going to be nothing for seven weeks and then in seven weeks, they are going to see how everything goes and, at that point, he’ll either need surgery or he… I don’t know how he won’t need surgery, but if he can heal.
Normally, you would have already done the surgery right away but his condition and everything was so bad that they could not risk the surgery at the time and now they are kind of just… it’s going to be in seven weeks he’ll either have the surgery or he won’t and then at that point we’ll see. He’s in a tough situation, I feel very bad for him. Until that happens, it’s a painful situation.”
It is certainly a tough time for Omega, given his future is up in the air. Fans are hopeful that he’ll recover and get back inside the ring soon.
Months after his shocking release from WWE, Nemeth arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he introduced the fans to his ‘Wanted Man gimmick’ and most recently he made an appearance in TNA.
Nic Nemeth uses his WWE theme song
Nic Nemeth recently worked WWC Euphoria event in Puerto Rico. Fans noted an interesting thing which is that he used his WWE theme ‘Here To Show The World’ while making his entrance to the ring. Former WWE Superstar Primo Colon introduced Nemeth to the fans and hyped up his appearance. At the event, Nic Nemeth squared faced Ray Gonzalez in a singles match.
After his NJPW and TNA appearances, fans are hopeful that Nic Nemeth will show up in AEW eventually. It’s worth noting that his brother Ryan Nemeth is also a part of the AEW roster. He had been trying to convince Nic for a decade that he should exit WWE.
But for now, it seems that Nic Nemeth made his goals in TNA clear during his first promo in the promotion. He is going after the ultimate prize of the promotion, TNA World Championship. Read more below:
Damage CTRL led by Bayley has been a formidable faction in the women’s division. The faction originally had Dakota Kai and IYO SKY and later Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the group.
Bayley recently posted a new photo with herself, Kairi Sane, Asuka, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai. The former Women’s Champion wrote the following in the caption:
“They said we won’t. I bet we will.”
CM Punk jokes about wanting to join Damage CTRL
CM Punk took note of the photo and wrote an amusing comment. He joked that he applied to join Damage CTRL.
“I sent in my application to join but haven’t heard anything yet,” he said.
Bayley and CM Punk will compete in respective Royal Rumble 2024 matches
Royal Rumble 2024 WWE Premium Live Event which will emanate live from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida is less than a week away. The show takes place on January 27.
Damage CTRL’s Bayley is certainly among the
favorites to win this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match. With Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley seemingly locked for a title bout for WrestleMania 40, ‘The Role Model’ could win the high-stakes match and go after IYO SKY’s WWE Women’s title, adding a new layer to their storyline.
Meanwhile, CM Punk who made a blockbuster return in November last year has made a major impact. He had been the talk of the town for quite some time and if he wins the Royal Rumble match, he could even go on to main event WrestleMania 40.
Bang Bang Scissor Gang will go down in the history books alongside the handful of supergroups that the pro wrestling world has witnessed.
The recently formed group of The Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) had assaulted Jay White and The Acclaimed in the weeks leading up to the reveal of Adam Cole’s identity as The Devil at AEW Worlds End. This certainly gave a reason to The Acclaimed and Bullet Club Gold to unite and form a supergroup.
While the two factions haven’t been on the same page in the past, they are united now and gave fans a reason to cheer about last night on AEW Collision.
Bullet Club Gold and The Acclaimed unite to form The Bang Bang Scissor Gang
On last night’s edition of AEW Collision, the newly crowned Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Champions, Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn had a segment to celebrate their victory over the Mogul Embassy on January 17’s AEW Dynamite where they became the new champs.
Soon, AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed (“Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn, Anthony Bowens, and Max Caster) interrupted them. It has been teased for weeks that they will unite to form a supergroup, The Bang Bang Gang. The Acclaimed had been pursuing them to and this time around, they would not leave the ring until they got their answer.
This led to The St Louis crowd chanting “Bang Bang Scissor Gang.” Colten and Austin Gunn were ready to shake hands with The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn but Jay White stopped them.
The Bullet Club Gold then had a little chat before turning around and do the ‘scissoring gesture,’ thus officially forming the Bang Bang Scissor Gang.
Check out the video clip of the segment below:
The new faction has reunited Billy Gunn with his sons, Austin and Colten Gunn. They were previously known as Gunn Club.
We will now have to wait and see how this storyline pans out.
Fans will be delighted to know that multi-time Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair is ‘crushing it’ in the recovery process after she recently suffered a significant injury.
‘The Queen’ sustained the injury in a singles match against Damage CTRL’s Asuka on the Tribute to the Troops edition of SmackDown on December 8.
The injury occurred when Flair tried to hit her signature moonsault outside the ring. Flair managed to finish the match despite the injury.
It was later announced that Charlotte Flair suffered multiple knee injuries during the incident, including tears to her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. She was even spotted on crutches at the CMLL event ahead of her surgery.
After undergoing surgery, The Queen is pushing herself to the limits to make her highly-anticipated return. She is expected to be out for at least 9 months but it seems Flair wants to make a comeback far sooner. Flair recently posted a video clip on social media to show off her progress. She is already on the treadmill and hopes to return sooner.
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has shared an update on her recovery. He said:
“I was speaking with Dr. Dugan. He’s been there 30 years. He said Ashley is one of the top three athletes that they have ever done surgery on. Think about that. We’re talking Bo Jackson. We’re talking, I mean, I can go down the list of people.“
“The Tommy John’s. He said we consider her one of the top three athletes, not wrestlers, to ever come through the doors.”
Ric Flair lauded Charlotte Flair’s recuperation and that she’s showcasing her extraordinary abilities. Considering it one of the greatest compliments one could receive, he said that she is recovering beyond expectations and is expected to return sooner than advised. Ric highlighted the special and distinctive attributes of Charlotte Flair and said:
“Her recovery, she’s crushing it. She’s actually going to come back faster than they will ever recommend. That’s unbelievable. I thought that might be one of the biggest compliments.“
“I mean, it’s unfortunate that it had to come from a doctor in a hospital, but I keep telling people, man, she’s a different kind of cat.”
We will now have to wait and see if Charlotte Flair actually makes her return ahead of schedule.
Tama Tonga has bid emotional goodbye to his NJPW fans.
Tonga had dethroned Shingo Takagi to regain the NJPW NEVER Openweight title at Wrestle Kingdom 18 but his title run was short-lived. That night, in a post-match press conference, Tonga had announced that January would be his final month with the promotion. He added that he wants to find work closer to home and that he misses his family.
EVIL dethrones Tama Tonga
At Saturday’s NJPW The New Beginning in Nagoya event, EVIL defeated Tama Tonga in the headlining clash to win the NEVER Openweight Title. The main event originally resulted in a double disqualification after Bullet Club, Guerrillas of Destiny, and Hontai members got involved.
Tama went on to insist that the match should be restarted but this time as a lumberjack match. At the end, EVIL dethroned Tama in latter’s farewell match.
Following the match, Tama Tonga, who was quite emotional, cut a promo and expressed his gratitude to the fans. He said:
“Thank you for giving me a chance to know you. I love you.”
Tama Tonga emerged as a significant force in the tag team division alongside his brother Tanga Loa. He tasted success as part of Guerrillas of Destiny and the Bullet Club. Tonga’s journey in NJPW is marked by multiple IWGP Tag Team Championships. He has also held the NEVER Openweight Championship and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship four times each. He has now decided to depart NJPW and it is needless to mention that the fans will miss him.
Where is Tama Tonga headed? Well, WWE had been interested in signing him. Read more below:
Fans will be able to witness a clash between Okada and Tanahashi for one final time on February 11 at The New Beginning at the EDION Arena in Osaka. It was at this same venue where Okada faced Tanahashi at The New Beginning in 2012. Okada had secured a stunning win that night over Tanahashi and captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Hiroshi Tanahashi expresses gratitude to Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada’s last appearance under the NJPW contract will take place on January 24 in Korakuen Hall. Ahead of Okada’s departure, Tanahashi spoke with Tokyo Sports and shared his thoughts on working with ‘The Rainmaker.’
“I can only express my gratitude in the sense that I have contributed to New Japan for the past 12 years,” Tanahashi said (as translated by Fightful). “Speaking personally, I would have liked to have seen more matches with the new generation (Shota Umino, Ren Narita, Yota Tsuji, and Yuya Uemura).”
He continued:
“However, if I feel for Okada, I know that he has done enough in New Japan. I hope he will spread his wings to the world. If he is going overseas with what he has achieved at the top in New Japan, I hope that he will show (them) Kazuchika Okada. It’s the same feeling I had with Nakamura. I am very proud of him. I think things will get interesting from now on. We have an abundance of talent right now, and there are a lot of young fighters in the dojo. When the rain stops, there will be a rainbow. Who will light up the future of New Japan when the rain of money stops falling?”
Okada’s departure will certainly leave a void that the NJPW fans will feel. The memories of Okada’s legendary matches with Tanahashi will be cherished by the fans for the times to come.
AEW superstar Darby Allin recently talked about almost suffering a broken neck at AEW Dynamite ‘Homecoming’ edition at Daily’s Place.
Allin has made a name for himself with his breathtaking spots in his matches. He has captivated the fans with his high-risk maneuvers that thrill the fans. However, with it comes a line between a memorable moment and a career-threatening injury. He has managed to escape neck injury, which has put several stars on the shelf for good.
The January 10th episode of AEW Dynamite saw a Texas Tornado Match in the main event, featuring Sting & Darby Allin against Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs. The babyface pair secured the win but at the expense of some nasty bumps.
A spot during that match saw Takeshita and Cage throw Allin across the ring by his hands and feet. The former TNT Champion hit the mat on the other side of the ring, catching his head under the bottom rope.
Darby Allin comments on his risk moves
Speaking on KSDK to promote AEW in St. Louis, Darby Allin recalled the incident and noted that AEW stars try to deliver the unexpected every week. He further revealed that he almost broke his neck due to the horrific spot.
“The thing with AEW is, you can expect the unexpected. I mean that, I’m not just trying to sell anything. Every week, there is crazy shenanigans going on. Last week, I almost broke my neck. This week, we have so much crazy stuff. Literally, it’s something different every week. We don’t play it safe. I was in town, I saw this arch, and I kind of want to jump off of it.”
Allin is a risk-taker and he looks far from stopping himself from showcasing his daredevillry whether it’s inside or outside the squared circle.
AEW veteran commentator Jim Ross has disclosed that he is yet to ink a contract extension with the promotion.
Good Ol’ JR is certainly willing to stay with AEW for a long time to come and that is only possible if he pens a fresh deal.
Ross has been a part of AEW since 2019, which is years after his controversial firing from WWE. He has been a familiar voice in the world of pro wrestling and has called the action for AEW shows regularly.
Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross said that he’s happy the way the contract situation is developing and he’d love to announce his contract extension to the fans before February 14.
“It seems to be that it just makes sense that the original two guys that called the very first Sting-Flair match if they were available and could still carry their share of their water, would be a good opportunity,” Ross said.
“I mentioned it to Tony Khan. He loved the idea. My problem is not that. My problem is my contract is up February 14th, which I’ve mentioned ad nauseam…that event is in March. So we gotta take care of some business and I’m sure that we will. I feel good about where I’m headed with Tony and AEW. I’d love to have something to announce before the 14th, if possible.”
Ross has stated that the contract talks are still in the same place and believes that it would be apt if he and Tony Schiavone call Sting’s last match. He said:
“We’re still at the same place right,” Ross said about his contract talks. “I gotta get there contractually to be able to pull that off. I’m not using it as a leverage ploy. It just seemed like it makes sense.
I think the best booking is booking this logically and having JR and Schiavone call the match to me seems logical. So we’ll see how it all works out. It’s going to work out the way it’s supposed to be and we’ll see how it goes from there, but I’m happy with the way things are moving along.”
Recently, during the main event of AEW Dynamite ‘Homecoming’, Jim Ross made his return to the commentary booth and joined the regular team of Tony Schiavone and Excalibur. They went on to call the match which featured the team of Sting and Darby Allin facing Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs.
Former WWE superstar Mandy Rose recently addressed the rumors surrounding her potential return to WWE.
The former NXT Women’s Champion had been a locker room leader in WWE’s development brand. She had been the leader of Toxic Attraction. Shortly after her controversial split with WWE in late 2022, Rose decided to leave the pro wrestling industry and establish herself with independent endeavors. The former WWE star tasted massive success behind the initial paywall of FanTime before she eventually switched to the popular exclusive content platform, OnlyFans.
Rumor has it that WWE would be open to bringing back The Golden Goddess if the opportunity allows. Will fans be able to see her back in WWE? Well, Mandy Rose has answered.
Mandy Rose addresses the rumors
Speaking on the Power Alphas Podcast, Mandy Rose stated that she’s uncertain whether she’ll ever be able to rejoin WWE. The former NXT Women’s Champion is aware that her fans miss her so she isn’t entirely ruling out a return to the ring. She said:
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be back in WWE. I don’t know what the future holds. However, I’m enjoying my life a lot right now, and we’re getting married soon. We got a lot of big plans, a lot of trips, lot of exciting things in the works. So yeah, that’s your answer… You never shut doors. I will say, if I was to ever come back, it would be for my fans, for you guys. Because I know you guys miss me, and I miss you guys too,” Rose said.
As the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event is right around the corner, fans are speculating that Mandy Rose might make an appearance as a surprise entrant in the namesake match.
We will have to wait and see if fans get to witness Mandy Rose back inside the WWE ring.
NJPW has shuffled the upcoming The New Beginning tour lineup in the wake of Okada’s departure.
Kazuchika Okada will face Hiroshi Tanahashi in their last clash
Okada and Tanahashi will battle for one last time on February 11 at The New Beginning at the EDION Arena in Osaka. It was the same venue where Okada faced Tanahashi at The New Beginning in 2012. That night, Okada stunned the fans by defeating Tanahashi to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Kazuchika Okada’s last appearance under NJPW contract will take place on January 24 in Korakuen Hall. At the show, he will compete in the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag team Championship match, previously scheduled for New Beginning in Osaka. Okada will join forces with Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi to face TMDK’s Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Kosei Fujita.
Okada will be making his final NJPW appearances in Sapporo on February 23 and 24.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada are certainly two of NJPW’s biggest superstars, and their storied rivalry which began in 2012 remains to be one of the greatest chapters in pro wrestling. They have put on legendary matches over the years and it is quite a way for Okada to bid adieu to NJPW fans.
Chris Jericho has revealed that Sammy Guevara has sustained an injury that is likely to keep him on the shelf.
Guevara has been missing out on in-ring due to multiple injuries in the recent past. Last year, he suffered a concussion during WrestleDream pay-per-view event. During a trios tag match, Guevara joined forces with Konosuke Takeshita and Will Ospreay to face off Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi. This battle culminated with Guevara pinning Chris Jericho.
Sammy Guevara injured
The former TNT Champion has yet again suffered an injury on last week’s AEW Battle of the Belts IX. Ricky Starks and Big Bill put their AEW World Tag Team Championship on the line against Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara in a Street Fight.
In the final moments of the match, Guevara dived off a lighting rig onto Starks. However, Powerhouse Hobbs pulled Starks out of the way to make the save and Guevara crashed onto the floor as Starks pinned him for the win. It seems that it was at this moment, ‘The Spanish God’ sustained an injury. Here’s what Chris Jericho said:
Sammy Guevara has high-flying moves in his arsenal but they are quite risky to execute. A slight mistake could lead to injuries. Though he attempted a risky move this past week, Guevara had previously stated that he would be more cautious with his high-flying spots in the ring now that he and Tay Melo are parents.
“It’s pretty cool for sure and now it’s got me thinking differently just in wrestling. Because I’m used to doing all the ‘I’m Crazy ‘ stuff but now I’m like, yeah, I guess I can’t be that crazy anymore… I don’t know if we’re going to dial it back but I think we’ll be more selective with how and when we do the crazy stuff.”
The details of the injury are yet to be disclosed but fans are hoping that it won’t keep him away from the squared circle much longer.
We at SEScoops wish Sammy Guevara a speedy recovery.
AEW superstar Hook recently took a shot back at WWE star Jinder Mahal ahead of the biggest match of his career.
Recently, AEW President Tony Khan attacked WWE for booking Jinder Mahal in a World Heavyweight Championship match on Raw. Khan argued that Mahal’s dismal win/loss record means he shouldn’t be competing for the title. Fans reacted negatively to this, citing Abadon’s abrupt push in the TBS title picture and Hook’s push in the AEW World Championship picture.
Tony Khan was enraged after seeing a tweet from the USA Network that made no mention of either Khan or AEW. The aforementioned post was a reaction to Raj Giri’s Tweet about the NXT Championship bout between Mahal and Rollins in 2012. The USA Network questioned about the Cagematch rating for the match which Khan took as a dig at him.
Tony Khan made an argument in that post that Hook, who has a 28-1 record, is also deserving of a World Title shot.
A double standard:@730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage
Jinder has literally lost every single match he's in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage#AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS
FTW Champion Hook, who is inactive on social media, has responded to Jinder Mahal in a new promo hyping his AEW World Championship match against Samoa Joe on Dynamite this week.
In the video clip, the 24-year-old addressed the pressure that comes with the title match against Joe. He also questioned his own identity which is apparently a dig at Jinder Mahal.
“So who’s the pressure on tomorrow? I mean, is there really anything that I have to lose?
And also (bites into a slice of pizza), I’m not big enough to compete with Samoa Joe. Eh, but I am getting some calories right now (holds up pizza), so who knows.
Then again, who the f**k am I anyway?
24 hours Joe, I’m coming for that world title.”Sa
HOOK, 24-Hours before challenging for the #AEW World Championship
This will mark Samoa Joe’s first AEW World title defense after winning the title at AEW Worlds End pay-per-view and we will have to see how this match pans out.
The rising NXT superstar Roxanne Perez has yet again secured a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship and has explained what it means to her.
‘The Prodigy’ is aiming to become a two-time NXT Women’s Champion when she takes on Lyra Valkyria at Vengeance Day next month. Though she had odds stacked against her, Perez outlasted 19 other women to earn a title.
Last night on NXT, Roxanne Perez competed in the 20-woman battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. She made it to the final four which turned into a four-way match as previously announced. The bout also consisted Kelani Jordan, Fallon Henley and Kiana James. and Perez eventually won the match.
Perez is quite confident on her quest to dethrone the NXT Women’s champion and reclaim the title.
Roxanne Perez: I’m The Prodigy, and you can’t break me
In a WWE NXT Exclusive, Roxanne Perez shared her thoughts on her triumph last night and reiterated that she’s the best woman in the locker room.
“What does it mean to me? I just stood in the ring with 19 other women and prevailed. It was me against the world tonight. But did I doubt myself? No. But I’m pretty sure every single person out there did, just like they have been for the past year. When I said that I’m the best damn woman in this locker room, I wasn’t lying. I’ll say it once, I’ll say it twice. I’ll say it a third time. I’m The Prodigy, and you can’t break me,” Perez said.
Roxanne’s last reign as champion lasted for 109 days. At last year’s NXT Stand & Deliver Perez dropped the title to Indi Hartwell in a ladder match which also involved Gigi Dolin, Zoey Stark, Tiffany Stratton, and Lyra Valkyria.
On next week’s edition of NXT, Perez and Valkyria are set to have a contract-signing segment for the title match.
We will have to wait and see if Roxanne Perez manages to dethrone Lyra Valkyria at Vengeance Day which takes place on February 4 at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee.
AEW star Pac is seemingly closing-in on his return to the squared circle.
The Brit hasn’t competed inside the ring in over five months, but he was backstage at the Homecoming edition of AEW Dynamite on January 10. It has now come to light that he was also backstage at the latest edition of AEW Collision.
The Death Triangle member’s backstage presence at Daily’s Place has prompted some to assume that his return could be only around the corner. Pac was reportedly one of several names backstage during the performance who haven’t been seen in a while.
Pac was backstage at AEW Collision
PWInsider has now reported that AEW’s first Doube Champion also made his presence felt backstage on Saturday’s AEW Collision. The outlet noted that he was working out in the squared circle before the show. This indicates his return is closer than ever.
“PAC was backstage at last night’s AEW Collision taping and was working out in the ring before the taping, so he’s back Stateside and will be back soon.”
PAC has been a part of AEW since its inception. However, his run at the promotion has been hindered by extended time offs, and the former AEW All-Atlantic Champion, who’s based out of the UK, faced travel-related complications. In addition, he has been dealing with multiple injuries in recent years.
PAC’s final match before the hiatus saw him win against Gravity on the July 26, 2023, edition of Dynamite. A few days prior, at Death Before Dishonor on July 21, Pac suffered a defeat to Claudio Castagnoli.
We will now have to wait and see how AEW plans Pac’s return.
Posted January 15th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: PAC.
WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump recently mentioned WWE legends The Kane and The Undertaker during his recent speech.
In WWE, Kane was billed as The Undertaker’s brother and duo went on to have great tag team run as well as memorable storylines as rivals.
After bringing down the curtain on his pro wrestling career, Kane (real name Glenn Jacobs) became the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. In the past, the former ‘Big Red Machine’ had backed the former President and showed his support for Trump in his attempt to get elected again.
Donald Trump talks about Kane and The Undertaker
During an event held on Sunday at the Iowa caucuses, the former Kane was one of the people who attended the show and also spoke before Donald Trump’s speech. Jacobs had nothing but praise for Donald Trump like always.
Trump also reciprocated the feelings. He lauded Glenn Jacobs for his physique and his time in WWE. During the speech, he also namedropped The Undertaker.
Trump was slurring and fumbling over his words at times but didn’t shy away from speaking about the iconic duo of Kane and The Undertaker.
“And another man who’s a friend of mine. He’s another one I’m not going to mess around with. He’s Knox County, Tennessee, do you know Glenn Jacobs? Goes by the name, goes by the name of …. Kane. Kane. Where is Kane? Where’s the …. look at the size of this guy. Man o’ man – that’s – he’s all man. He’s all man. He’s good. How many years have you been doing that? You’ve been W, W …. Kane one of the great characters in uhm …. how many …. so how tall are you? You’re six what? 6’8 and weigh what – when you wrestle? Well that’s not bad – I’m not that far away either. That’s not good. You just ruined my day – 300 [pounds]!”
“When I see these guys, some of them like The Undertaker right? And I see him and walks around the ring lifting a 300-pound guy over his shoulders like this. It may be acting… then he throws him into the seats, it’s pretty great.”
Jacobs last competed as Kane in WWE back in 2021 as part of the men’s Royal Rumble match, while The Undertaker’s last match was at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 when he faced AJ Styles in a cinematic match, ‘Boneyard Match.’ against AJ Styles.
NXT superstar Cora Jade has apparently suffered an injury at a house show last night in Dade City, Florida.
Jade has become of the promising talents in recent times in WWE’s developmental brand but the apparent injury could keep her on the sidelines.
Cora Jade injured
Cora Jade and Lyra Valkyria squared off in the main event and unfortunately, Jade hit the mat at some point, and medical staff arrived to see how she was doing. Those in attendance shared pictures on social media of Jade being checked on by the referee and a trainer. In one of the pictures, she can be seen holding her head while lying on the mat. We are hoping that it’s not something major.
Jade recently made her comeback at NXT Deadline and has been regular on TV.
Jade has been eyeing to capture the NXT Women’s title. At the Premium Live Event, Valkyria approached Blair Davenport after she emerged victorious in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge and dropped hints at their upcoming bout. However, Jade had other ideas as she announced her intention to win the NXT Women’s Championship.
Since then, Jade has been appearing in the Title picture, and her last night’s match against Valkyria is seemingly an indication that a major bout between the two is set to take place at a high-profile live event. However, if Jade gets hurt, things may need to change, depending on how serious the injury is.
Deadline was a big night for Jade, as not only did she make her return to NXT TV but she also ran into her favorite wrestler CM Punk backstage. The two shared an awesome moment where Punk called back to their first meeting when Jade attended a fan event and had him sign something, and he told her how proud he was of what she’s done and that she should also be proud of herself.
