SEScoops

Author: Staff

  • Cody Rhodes Fires Back At “Pissant Bodybuilder” Triple H After Recent Digs At AEW

    Cody Rhodes Fires Back At “Pissant Bodybuilder” Triple H After Recent Digs At AEW

    Cody Rhodes landed a few shots on Triple H in the latest episode of AEW’s The Road To Double or Nothing Youtube series.

    In episode 14, Cody made his first public comments about older brother Dustin being his opponent at Double or Nothing on May 25th. As seen below Cody cuts an incredible promo to hype the match. Cody bills this contest as ‘generation vs. generation’ and declares that he’s here to kill the Attitude Era. His generation of wrestlers have always been compared to the stars of the 1990’s and he thinks that’s an utter sham. He admits the 90’s stars paved the way, but says they they “set the speed markers at 35” because they’re terrified of he and his peers “putting their foot down on the pedal.”

    Earlier this month, Triple H took a few shots at All Elite Wrestling during DX’s WWE Hall of Fame induction. He referred to them as a “pissant” company and said their four Executive Vice Presidents gave themselves fancy titles just to seem important.

    Cody fired back at Triple H in this promo, referring to The Game as a “pissant bodybuilder” who can’t keep up with the likes of Kenny Omega and IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. He also name dropped CM Punk, a free agent whose name has been coming up more frequently lately by AEW executives.

    Cody asked, “You mean to tell me some pissant bodybuilder making every match a ‘No DQ,’ meandering around the crowd, throwing the jib cam at his opponent compares with a Kenny-Okada match? Or some bra and panties spectacular can match up with what the women did last September 1st? Or even Dwayne—as electric as it was—rhyming and raising. Was it really better than what Punk said sitting on that stage?”

    Watch: The Road To Double or Nothing (Episode 14)

  • WWE Ring Announcer Lilian Garcia Joins Professional Fighters League

    WWE Ring Announcer Lilian Garcia Joins Professional Fighters League

    WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia has joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL) where she will serve as the in-cage announcer for all of the upcoming fights in season 2, which kicks off in May.

    PFL officials announced the signing on Monday.

    “I’m looking forward to stepping in the cage and getting back to introducing fighters to the masses, something I truly love and have missed,” Garcia said in a statement. “What I find most intriguing about the PFL is that every fight matters. Each fighter enters the cage knowing they are competing for a shot at a title and million-dollar prize.

    “There is so much drama surrounding that moment, and I’m honored to help bring it to life for fans in the arena and watching at home.”

    Garcia will be announcing the fighters for every card in the PFL after serving as one of the in-ring voices for WWE for the past 15 years.

    Garcia hasn’t been as present at WWE events more recently, although she still hosts a popular podcast called “Chasing Glory” that features some of the biggest names from the professional wrestling industry.

    Now she will be crossing over into mixed martial arts where she joins announcers such as Bruce Buffer and Joe Martinez, who regularly work events promoted by the UFC and Invicta FC as well.

    PFL is set up as a regular season and playoff format with fighters competing for the ultimate grand prize — $1 million per weight class with the finals taking place on New Year’s Eve in New York.

    Garcia’s debut will come on Thursday, May 9 with all of the PFL season 2 fights airing live on ESPN2 and/or ESPN+ in the United States.

  • WWE Stomping Grounds PPV Announced

    WWE Stomping Grounds PPV Announced

    WWE Stomping Grounds is a new pay-per-view event taking place on Sunday, June 23rd from Tacoma, Washington.

    Earlier this month, we found out that Backlash was removed from WWE’s calendar. At first, it seemed Backlash was canceled due to its proximity to WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia on June 7th. With the announcement of WWE Stomping grounds, the company has two big shows scheduled that month once again.

    WWE’s next pay-per-view, Money in the Bank, takes place in less than three weeks on May 19th. After MITB, the hype will begin for the Saudi Arabia show and Stomping Grounds.

    A full schedule of WWE’s 2019 PPV calendar is listed below.

    WWE Stomping Grounds Match Announcement

    The Tacoma Dome website is advertising Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton for the event, as well as WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, Universal Champion Seth Rollins plus many more. As always, remember ‘card subject to change’ with that Reigns vs. Orton bout.

    Tickets for WWE Stomping Grounds go on sale this Friday, May 3rd at the arena box office and Ticketmaster.com.

    https://twitter.com/TacomaDome/status/1122914319270682624

    WWE’s 2019 PPV Calendar

    With the addition of Stomping Grounds, here’s an updated look at WWE’s pay-per-view calendar for the remainder of 2019:

    • 5/19: Money in the Bank (Hartford, CT)
    • 6/7: Saudi Arabia PPV (Saudi Arabia)
    • 6/23: Stomping Grounds (Tacoma, WA)
    • 7/14: Extreme Rules (Philadelphia, PA)
    • 8/11: SummerSlam (Toronto, ON)
    • 9/15: Hell in a Cell (Atlanta, GA)
    • 10/6: Clash of Champions (Sacramento, CA)
    • 11/1: Saudi Arabia PPV (Saudi Arabia)
    • 11/24: Survivor Series (Chicago, IL)
    • 12/15: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (Minneapolis, MN)

    What do you think of Stomping Grounds as a PPV name?

  • Brian Cage ‘Heartbroken’ By Injury At Impact Rebellion PPV

    Brian Cage ‘Heartbroken’ By Injury At Impact Rebellion PPV

    Brian Cage says he’s “heartbroken” about the way things turned out for him Sunday night at Impact Wrestling’s rebellion pay-per-view.

    Cage was victorious and defeated Johnny Impact to capture the Impact World Championship. It should have been the crowning moment of his career. Unfortunately, he sustained a back injury just minutes into the match. He was able to finish (and win) the contest, but was sent to the emergency room at a local medical facility as soon as the show went off the air.

    The Machine has released a statement addressing the situation. Despite finally reaching the top of the mountain in Impact Wrestling, Brian Cage says the injury sours his victory and the whole situation is heart breaking.

    Brian Cage Statement

    “Not the way I wanted to end the night or the picture/post I thought I’d be making. Very disheartening and disappointed how it went down.This is a moment I’ve dreamt about and have waited, trained, sacrificed and busted my ass for. And to say it doesn’t break my heart and sour my victory would be lying. Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes from everyone. Will see where we go from here…..”

    It’s an unfortunate setback for the Machine, who should be on top of the world today and celebrating. Hopefully his medical evaluation yields good news and he does not miss any ring time.

    Impact returns to the Rebel Nightclub in Toronto tonight for the next round of television tapings. We will have Impact tapings results later tonight. We’ll also provide an update if they address Brian Cage’s health.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw1TNwJFp7k/
  • Chris Jericho: Dean Ambrose Would Be More Than Welcome In AEW

    Chris Jericho: Dean Ambrose Would Be More Than Welcome In AEW

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Chris Jericho recently spoke with the UK’s Express newspaper to promote his appearance at this weekend’s For the Love of Wrestling convention from Liverpool, England. Other wrestling legends appearing include Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Kevin Nash and The Undertaker.

    During the discussion, Jericho spoke extensively about Dean Ambrose leaving WWE and the possibility of Ambrose joining AEW later this year.

    Jericho said he hasn’t tried to convince Ambrose to join AEW, but thinks the former WWE champion would have no problem joining the roster if that’s what he wants.

    “Only Dean knows what Dean wants,” Jericho said. “It’s a grind, and not just the physical aspect of it but there’s a mental standpoint. It’s hard to work matches sometimes four days a week, five days a week. Sometimes you need a break from the business. I’m sure if he wants to come to AEW he’d be more than welcome.”

    In addition to greater creative freedom, AEW is also offering wrestlers a chance to make great money without having to work the rigorous WWE road schedule. AEW President Tony Khan spoke about this earlier this week.

    Dean Ambrose wrapped up with WWE this week. His ‘Superstar bio’ was moved to the Alumni section of WWE.com, a practice that typically coincides with talent no longer being under contract.

    Jericho had great things to say about Ambrose as a performer and feels he will be successful wherever he lands next.

    “He’s a star, he’s a great performer, he’s a great character,” Jericho said of Ambrose. “I think he would mix right in with [AEW’s top stars]. When you get a great performer, it doesn’t matter what company they were before because they’re in a top level.”

  • Legend Says WWE Will Destroy Sasha Banks’ Career After Her ‘Failed Power Play’

    Legend Says WWE Will Destroy Sasha Banks’ Career After Her ‘Failed Power Play’

    WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas is convinced that Sasha Banks’ WWE career is over, whether she returns or not.

    If Sasha Banks does decide to return to WWE, Atlas believes WWE will “destroy” her career in response to what he calls her “failed power play.”

    During an interview with Boston Wrestling MWF, Atlas said, “If she decides to come back, they’re going to destroy her. Her career is over. They’ll job her out.”

    Amid reports that Sasha Banks ‘walked out’ due to frustrations over her booking, Atlas says Sasha Banks told WWE loud and clear that she cannot be trusted.

    WWE has thriving women’s divisions on Raw and SmackDown. NXT and NXT UK are also stacked with female talent.

    “You know how many women right now are kissing up to Triple H, kissing up to Stephanie and saying, ‘Who are you gonna put in that spot?’”

    Atlas compared Sasha Banks’ situation to Chyna, who was ousted from the company when she started pushing for more money and outside entertainment industry projects.

    “She left a spot. They’re glad she’s gone,” Atlas said of Sasha Banks.

    Watch Tony Atlas comment on Sasha Banks’ situation:

  • Nia Jax Provides Update After Undergoing Double Knee Surgery

    Nia Jax Provides Update After Undergoing Double Knee Surgery

    Nia Jax is on the road to recovery after undergoing double knee surgery on Thursday.

    Earlier this month, she announced on Twitter that she needed surgery on both her ACL’s:

    “Some of you may or may not know, but I will be out of action for a little while. Unfortunately, I have been pushing through some pain over the last year due to injuries in my knees and I will be undergoing surgery to repair both of my ACLs. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me! Thank you!”

    Nia Jax posted a photo on Twitter (seen below) showing her legs wrapped up and in braces. Jax seems determined to begin her physical rehabilitation and says she’s already walking with some assistance.

    https://twitter.com/NiaJaxWWE/status/1121506286804328454

    The former Raw Women’s champion is expected to miss considerable ring time. The length of her recovery time will be determined by a number of factors, but ACL tears have have kept Superstars out of action for around 9 months.

    We’d like to wish Nia Jax a speedy recovery!

  • WWE Reports Q1 2019 Results, Vince McMahon Comments, Stock Dips

    WWE Reports Q1 2019 Results, Vince McMahon Comments, Stock Dips

    WWE announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2019. The following are highlights of WWE’s performance. Click here to view full Press Release, with a more detailed breakdown.

    Despite strong numbers, Wall Street was not pleased and WWE stock was down over 10% Thursday morning.

    Below is WWE’s press release summarizing the results, including comments from WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon

    First Quarter 2019 Highlights

    • Revenues were $182.4 million as compared to $187.7 million in the prior year quarter
    • Operating income reflected a loss of $6.8 million as compared to income of $21.8 million in the prior year quarter
    • Adjusted OIBDA1 of $12.4 million was within the range of guidance ($9 million to $14 million), and reflected an anticipated year-over-year decline primarily due to strategic investments
    • WWE Network average paid subscribers2 increased 2% to 1.58 million paid subscribers, consistent with the Company’s guidance
    • Digital video views increased 15% to 7.7 billion; hours consumed increased 23% to 300 million hours across digital platforms; and social media followers increased 12% to over 1.0 billion3

    Selected WrestleMania Highlights

    • WrestleMania (April 7, 2019) broke the record for MetLife Stadium’s highest grossing entertainment event at $16.9 million, attracting a capacity crowd of 82,265 fans
    • WWE Network subscribers viewed 23.2 million hours during WrestleMania week, which was roughly on par with the same week last year
    • During WrestleMania week, 17.9 million hours were consumed on digital and social media platforms, up 29% from the prior year
    • WWE Network’s total subscribers reached 2.0 million on April 8, 2019, the day after WrestleMania
    • WrestleMania featured a historic, first-ever women’s main event starring Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch

    STAMFORD, Conn., April 25, 2019 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

    “During the quarter, we continued to execute our strategy and achieved targeted financial results,” stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “While engagement metrics over the past two quarters were impacted by Superstar absences, we believe they will improve as our talent return and we launch our new season following a successful WrestleMania. We remain excited about the future, particularly with our debut on Fox in October.”

    George Barrios, Co-President, added “In the quarter, we delivered Adjusted OIBDA within the range of our public guidance and continue to target full-year record revenue of approximately $1 billion and record Adjusted OIBDA of at least $200 million. Our primary focus is to deliver record results while investing in our key priorities: content creation, localization and digitization.”

    First-Quarter Consolidated Results

    Revenues were $182.4 million as compared to $187.7 million from the prior year quarter as the increased monetization of content as reflected in the Media segment was more than offset by a reduction in live event ticket revenue and lower merchandise sales.

    Operating Income was a loss of $6.8 million as compared to income of $21.8 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting a decline in revenue and increased fixed costs, including strategic investments, as well as higher stock compensation costs driven by the increase in the Company’s stock price. The Company’s Operating income margin declined to (4%) from 12% in the prior year quarter.

    Adjusted OIBDA (which excludes stock compensation) was $12.4 million as compared to $35.2 million. The results reflected an anticipated decline and were within the range of the Company’s guidance ($9 million to $14 million). The Company’s Adjusted OIBDA margin decreased to 7% from 19%.

    Net Income reflected a loss of $8.4 million, or a loss of $0.11 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $14.8 million, or earnings of $0.18 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2018. This decrease was primarily driven by the change in operating performance.

    Effective Tax Rate was 26%, consistent with that of the prior year quarter.

    Cash flows generated by operating activities reached $6.7 million as compared to $2.6 million in the prior year quarter as favorable changes in working capital more than offset lower operating performance.

    Free Cash Flow demonstrated a $10.1 million use of cash as compared to a $1.8 million use of cash in the first quarter of 2018 as the change in operating cash flow was offset by a $12.4 million increase in capital expenditures primarily associated with the Company’s workspace plan.4

    Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $338 million as of March 31, 2019, and the Company estimates debt capacity under its revolving line of credit of approximately $100 million.

    First-Quarter Key Operating Metrics

    During the fourth quarter 2018 earnings call, WWE management discussed the absence of several talent and their belief that these absences had a negative impact on the Company’s engagement metrics. Management believes that these absences continued to impact engagement in the first quarter 2019 as domestic TV ratings for Raw and SmackDown declined approximately 14% and 13%, respectively, and average attendance at the Company’s live events in North America declined 11%. WWE Network average paid subscribers increased 2% and digital video consumption increased 23%. Looking to the future, management believes the Company’s engagement metrics will improve with the return of its talent, the emergence of new storylines and new Superstars, and as the Company launches a new season of WWE following a successful WrestleMania. Moreover, management remains excited about the debut of SmackDown Live on Fox in October. The debut will mark the first time WWE will be available live 52 weeks a year on a premier broadcast platform. In addition to absolute performance, management believes relative performance is critically important as it illuminates the value of WWE within the pay TV ecosystem. In the first quarter, when excluding NASCAR’s premier event, The Daytona 500, WWE delivered greater average viewership than any professional sports league other than the NFL.5

  • Tony Khan Talks AEW TV Deal, His 5-Year Plan & More (Video)

    Tony Khan Talks AEW TV Deal, His 5-Year Plan & More (Video)

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) presents Double or Nothing next month live from Las Vegas, NV. It will the first live event under the AEW banner.

    A month out from Double or Nothing, company president Tony Khan spoke with sports and entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet about everything AEW. Below are some highlights followed by video of their discussion.

    AEW’s TV Deal

    AEW has spent the past several months announcing talent acquisitions, live events and match-ups for those shows. It’s an exciting process, but the general consensus from wrestling pundits and industry power players is that the entire venture hinges on AEW securing a meaningful television deal. So where does that stand?

    “I’ve negotiated some things and I am very excited about what we are doing. I do think it’s very important to give wrestling fans a better quality of life. I think 20 years ago was honestly in many ways not nearly as good of a time to be a wrestling fan. There was not nearly as much wrestling out there and available if you were really looking for it. If you are really looking for great wrestling now there has never been a better time to be a wrestling fan.”

    Tony’s 5-Year Plan for AEW

    The launch of a major league wrestling organization is a massive undertaking. With tens of millions of dollars on the line, you don’t just “wing it” and hope things work out. You need a plan. You need a vision for where the company will be 1, 2, even 5 years out. Tony Khan is no stranger to managing professional sports franchises and shared his longterm strategy to make AEW a success.

    “The 5-year plan for AEW is that we will have built up a brand, we will have built up a roster, we will have established ourselves as a top brand in wrestling for people who want fast paced exciting action and want a product that is more of a sporting based product. I’ve talked a lot about how I want wins and losses to matter because at the end of the day, that’s why you’re having the match.”

    He continued, “There’s going to be a winner and a loser and it matters. It should matter to your standing in the company and it should matter to your standing in your chase for the championship which at the end of the day is what everyone is trying to attain.”

    Staying Off Television

    One of the most overdone tropes in pro wrestling is the owner putting themselves on television. Even worse is the evil authority figure. As the President of this upstart venture, Tony Khan might feel the temptation to make himself an on-air character in AEW. Khan once again shows that he’s tuned in to what wrestling fans want and plans to stay off AEW television.

    “I have thought about it and I’m not going to do it. We have some of the greatest on-air performers in the world and look, I am who I am in the promotion. I am the president and the CEO and the founder of this company but it’s not going to be me all over TV and I’m not going to be doing a lot of interviews or backstage segments on television.”

    There’s much more to the interview, including Tony’s thoughts on AEW having a ‘wrestler-friendly’ schedule, the signing of Dustin Rhodes, CM Punk’s return to wrestling over the weekend, WCW, ECW and more.

    Check out Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube channel to see his recent interviews with John Cena, Johnny Gargano, Dolph Ziggler, Rob Van Dam and more.

    Watch: Tony Khan talks about AEW’s TV Deal & 5-Year Plan

  • Tom Magee Signed For Starrcast II, Will Appear With Bret Hart

    Tom Magee Signed For Starrcast II, Will Appear With Bret Hart

    Tom Magee has been announced for next month’s Starrcast II convention from Las Vegas, NV. The 1980’s Canadian grappler will appear on stage with 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart. Of course, the duo will discuss their infamous match from 1986 which has become wrestling folklore in recent years.

    Starrcast promoter Conrad Thompson broke the news Wednesday afternoon.

    Starrcast II

    Starrast II is a 4-day wrestling convention that takes place from Las Vegas, Nevada during Memorial Day weekend. Although Starrcast is not directly affiliated with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the convention will feature many AEW-related festivities and is the unofficial convention of the AEW Double or Nothing.

    Starrcast is not just meet & greet photo ops. Fans on hand (and people streaming at FITE.TV) will experience the AEW Double or Nothing Weight-Ins & Press Conference, the Roast of Ric Flair, stage shows, live podcasts and music, documentary screenings and more.

    In addition to Bret Hart and Tom Magee, other top talent appearing at Starrcast II include the stars of All Elite Wrestling, Sting, Ric Flair, Kenta Kobashi, Ricky Steamboat, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, Jim Ross, Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard, Tony Schiavone and many more.

    For more information, visit Starrcast.com and FITE.TV to stream.

  • Kenta Kobashi Appearing At Starrcast II

    Kenta Kobashi Appearing At Starrcast II

    Japanese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi is the latest high-profile star announced for next month’s Starrcast II convention from Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Kobashi is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Throughout his career, Kobashi won countless championship awards during his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Pro Wrestling Noah.

    Kobashi has been awarded Match of the Year honors on multiple occasions by Tokyo Sports and Nikkan Sports. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has given his matches a “5-star” rating 23 times, the second-most ever (behind Mitsuharu Misawa’s 25).

    The news of Kobashi’s appearance comes on the heels of The Undertaker and Kurt Angle pulling out of the convention. According to Conrad Thompson, it was WWE Chairman Vince McMahon who forced them to withdraw.

    Conrad says tried to get Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon or Shawn Michaels to appear instead. He offered to donate proceeds to the Conor’s Cure charity, but WWE declined.

    In addition to Kobashi and the stars of All Elite Wrestling, other legends signed to appear at Starrcast II include Sting, Bret Hart, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, Jim Ross, Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard, Tony Schiavone and many more.

    Starrcast II takes place during AEW: Double or Nothing weekend (May 23-26). For more information, visit Starrcast.com and FITE.TV to stream.

  • Ronda Rousey Confirms WWE Hiatus, Might Not Return

    Ronda Rousey Confirms WWE Hiatus, Might Not Return

    Ronda Rousey is taking an indefinite leave from WWE as she prepares to start a family with her husband Travis Browne.

    On Monday, Rousey released a video where she addressed her in-ring future after WrestleMania 35 where she dropped the RAW women’s title to Becky Lynch in the main event.

    After suffering a broken hand in the match, Rousey revealed that she had two pins inserted during surgery just recently with a cast that will remain on her arm for the next four weeks.

    More importantly, Rousey is taking a break from her career as she hopes to start a family in the near future and that was always the plan from the day she signed with WWE. In fact, Rousey says her stint with WWE was actually expected to be much shoter but she truly fell in love with the business and opted to stick around longer.

    Ronda Rousey Might Not Return To WWE

    Rousey reveals that initially, she was not planning to stick with WWE through WrestleMania 35. In fact, she was expecting to wrap up with the company in late 2018.

    “Originally, I approached them I thought I would only be able to wrestle from WrestleMania to November because we already wanted to start a family,” she said. “We came to WWE as ‘hey before we have a baby, I just want to be able to come and do this for a couple months cause it’s something I’ve always wanted to do’ and then it just kind of snowballed. Instead of being a small detour in my life, became my whole life for an entire year and I completely fell in love with it.

    She fell in love with pro wrestling, which convinced her to stick around and make history by headlining WrestleMania with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.

    “As time went on that I was in the company, we were kind of playing it by ear and I loved it so much, I ended up getting the title and when it became a real possibility that women could be the main event at WrestleMania if I stuck around, I decided to stick around. We planned on after WrestleMania, me and my amazing husband here would go off and try to start our family.”

    Ronda Rousey Might Not Return To WWE

    Now that Rousey has taken a hiatus from WWE, she’s planning on traveling with her husband as they prepare to have a baby in the near future.

    As far as her professional wrestling career, Rousey is still undecided until after she has a child.

    “As for WWE plans in the future, we want to have a baby first. I don’t know what it’s like to have a baby,” Rousey explained. “I could look down at this beautiful child and be like f—k everything, I don’t care about anything else other than this baby and you’ll never see me again or I could be like my mom, she trained until she was eight months pregnant and then won the U.S. Open six weeks after giving birth, which is unbelievable. I don’t think I’m going to try and aspire to her level. You just never know.

    “I don’t want to make any promises about the future when I don’t know how I’m going to feel in the future.”

    Rousey signed a multi-year deal with WWE when she joined the organization in 2018. After debuting at WrestleMania, Rousey was thrust into the spotlight as one of the main attractions on the entire WWE roster and she eventually became champion.

    It all culminated one year later when Rousey headlined WrestleMania 35 alongside Lynch and Charlotte Flair as the first ever women’s main event at the historic ‘showcase of the immortals’.

    Now Rousey is focused on another goal as she hopes to start her family and there’s no telling what her future in WWE will or won’t be until after she has her baby.

  • WWE’s Viking Experience Renamed, ‘Viking Raiders’

    WWE’s Viking Experience Renamed, ‘Viking Raiders’

    WWE has mercifully pulled the plug on one of the worst tag team names of the past several years.

    NXT tag team champions The War Raiders were called up to the Raw roster last week as part of the Superstar Shakeup. For whatever reason, WWE decided the “War Raiders” team name did not work anymore. Instead, they were renamed the Viking Experience.

    The Viking Experience name elicited mockery from WWE fans across the world. Fans on social media had a field day mocking the name. The backlash was so swift, so unanimous, that WWE caved and dropped the Viking Experience name entirely after just a week.

    Erik and Ivar, formerly Rowe and Hanson, will now be known as the Viking Raiders. Their Superstar bios on the company website have been updated to reflect the change.

    The name change came late Monday afternoon. Several WWE.com articles from last week now list them as the Viking Raider, although “Raw Preview” for tonight still lists them as the Viking Experience.

  • Aleister Black, Andrade & Zelina Vega Moved To SmackDown Roster

    Aleister Black, Andrade & Zelina Vega Moved To SmackDown Roster

    WWE’s Superstar Shakeup took place last week, but three Superstars who were moved to the Raw brand are now officially back on SmackDown.

    Aleister Black is now a member of the SmackDown roster, effectively disbanding his tag team partnership with Ricochet. Black’s Superstar bio on WWE.com has been updated to reflect the change.

    Andrade and Zelina Vegas have returned to SmackDown after 1 week on Raw. According to PWInsider, the FOX network requested that WWE shift the duo to SmackDown in part because they felt the show lacked Latino stars.

    When SmackDown Live moves to FOX this October, there are plans to spotlight WWE’s Latino talent on the FOX Deportes Spanish language station.

    Another positive aspect of these changes is that two WWE couples will be reunited on the road. Aleister Black is married to Zelina Vega, while Andrade is dating Charlotte Flair.

  • Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin Advertised For WWE Extreme Rules

    Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin Advertised For WWE Extreme Rules

    WWE Extreme Rules takes place Sunday, July 14th from Philadelphia, PA.

    The Wells Fargo Center website has updated its preview for the event to include three headline matches.

    A lot can happen from now through mid-July, but it’s worth noting that WWE submitted the following matches to the venue to advertise for the show:

    • Universal Champion Seth Rollins vs Baron Corbin
    • Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton
    • AJ Styles vs. Drew McIntyre

    Of course, we know the old adage, “Card Subject to Change.” There can’t be too many fans excited about Baron Corbin in the Universal Championship picture, so let’s hope that comes into play for this show.

    If you’re in the Philadelphia area and Baron Corbin main eventing a WWE pay-per-view interests you, visit WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com for ticket information.

  • WWE China Tryout Camp Announced For July

    WWE China Tryout Camp Announced For July

    WWE will return to China this summer in search of the next generation of Superstars.

    A 4-day camp will be held this July in Shanghai, China from Monday, July 15th through Thursday, July 19th. Up to 50 male and female athletes from China will go through a rigorous camp in hopes of impressing WWE officials.

    Select talent from the camp will earn the opportunity to begin training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

    “We are excited to return to Shanghai following the huge success of the first tryout in 2016,” said Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative. “I have a personal message to every athlete and performer in China who has a dream of becoming a WWE Superstar: I am coming to Shanghai to help you make that happen. This is real, this is your chance. Step up and take this opportunity to change your life forever.”

    WWE Recruiting Talent Worldwide

    WWE’s recruitment website is now available in Mandarin. “Tailored to athletes who are interested in pursuing a career in sports-entertainment, the website features information about the WWE recruitment process, and provides a detailed look at what day-to-day life is like for NXT Superstars and members of the WWE Performance Center roster.”

    For Chinese athletes looking to participate in the WWE Shanghai tryout camp this July, applications can now be submitted at Sports.pptv.com/wwe/tryout2019.

    This is the latest tryout camp in WWE’s ongoing initiative to recruit talent from around the world. The first Shanghai camp was held in June 2016. Seven participants signed developmental deals and relocated to Orlando to train full-time at the WWE PC, including Boa, Mars and Rocky.

    WWE has held similar tryouts in London, Dubai, Tokyo, Jeddah, Cologne, Santiago and Mumbai.

  • WWE RAW Preview: A New Era Begins

    WWE RAW Preview: A New Era Begins

    Now that the 2019 Superstar Shakeup has taken place, a new era awaits for WWE’s red brand. AJ Styles, The Miz, Andrade, Ricochet, Aleister Black, Viking Experience, Lacey Evans and Naomi are amongst the new talent populating the Raw roster.

    WWE.com is advertising the following items for tonight’s Raw, which takes place from Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena:

    RAW Preview (4/22/19)

    – Which of the new Raw Superstars will make an impact and what new matchups await everyone?

    – Will a new challenger emerge for Seth Rollins’ Universal Championship?

    – What is the meaning behind the creepy promo’s we’ve seen in recent weeks involving a laughing/coughing buzzard and a doll in a rocking chair?

    – Lacey Evans continues to make the case that she should be first in line to challenge “Becky 2 Belts.”

    – How long can Shane McMahon avoid The Miz, who is out for revenge after Shane brutalized his father?

    These questions and more will be answered tonight on WWE RAW. Check back at SEScoops after the show for our weekly Takeaways article.

  • Dustin Rhodes Is Cody’s Opponent At Double Or Nothing

    Dustin Rhodes Is Cody’s Opponent At Double Or Nothing

    Dustin Rhodes has been announced as Cody Rhodes’ opponent for AEW: Double or Nothing.

    The identity of Cody’s opponent was revealed Saturday night on a special edition of the Road To Double or Nothing Youtube series.

    The crew from The Elite have been teasing that Cody’s opponent is a very personal situation. It doesn’t get much more personal than Cody’s older brother, Dustin.

    Dustin says this is not a new beginning for him, because he’s literally done it all after a 30 year career. If this is “one last ride” for him, so be it. But if Cody is trying to put him out to pasture with this match, good luck with that. Despite being brothers, Dustin says his upbringing was very different from Cody’s. He feels that Cody was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and is an egotistical SOB. He’s always looked out for Cody and never once got a thank you for his mentorship and guidance.

    Dustin was shown painting his face. He picked up gold paint and tossed it aside. He is now sporting black and red paint. The red represents life. The black symbolizes death, his dark past and the demons he has conqured.

    Dustin teased, “One last ride. Or is it ?”

    Updated Card for AEW: Double Or Nothing

    The following matches are now confirmed for Double or Nothing:

    • Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho
    • Hangman Page vs. PAC
    • The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Bros
    • Cody Rhodes vs. Dustin Rhodes
    • Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae
    • SCU vs. CIMA & 2 Partners
    • Over Budget Battle Royal

    AEW: Double or Nothing takes place Saturday, May 25th from Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

    Watch: Bonus episode of The Road To Double or Nothing

  • CM Punk Recalls Triple Threat With Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio (Video)

    CM Punk Recalls Triple Threat With Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio (Video)

    CM Punk vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio sounds like a dream match, but it actually happened back in 2002. The match took place in IWA Mid-South during a brief period when Eddie Guerrero was on hiatus from WWE and Rey Mysterio had not yet made his debut. Punk was the reigning IWA Mid-South Champion at the time.

    Rey Mysterio posted a screen cap from the match with the caption, “Never would [have] imagined how our destinies would turn out after this night!”

    https://www.instagram.com/619iamlucha/p/BwaniZHBLQ0/

    CM Punk saw the photo and ‘commented’ with his memories of the surreal match-up. Punk explains how the match came together and how much it meant to him for the two legends to treat him as an equal. Punk wrote,

    “People should know how good Eddie really was. He was in a rough spot. Recently fired, home front was turbulent. He came to this show and looked tired. Said to me ‘I hate three ways. If it’s okay with you, can you and Rey put something together and just call it to me?’ I wasn’t sure that was possible. He didn’t miss a beat. And you Rey, so open and giving to a little punk Indy kid. You laid out a masterpiece and I wasn’t sure I could keep up. One of the early times I remember being in the ring and thinking to myself, ‘this is fucking MAGIC!’ A pleasure. An honor. I miss Eddie, truly fortunate to have worked him as many times as I did. I feel the same about you Rey! Legends, who treated me like an equal, and I’ve never forgotten it. Viva la raza!”

    Watch: CM Punk vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio (Full Match)

  • The Roast of Ric Flair to Headline Starrcast II

    The Roast of Ric Flair to Headline Starrcast II

    The Roast of Ric Flair has been announced as the headline attraction of next month’s Starrcast II convention in Las Vegas.

    The Nature Boy will be in the hot seat Friday night, May 24th at Cesars Palace. Comedian Ron Funches will host. The pay-per-view event will stream live at FITE.tv.

    Starrcast II promoter Conrad Thompson tells CBS Sports, “Well, I wanted to turn the volume up, and we are here at Caesar’s Palace, and there is no bigger name in the history of wrestling than Ric Flair,” Thompson told CBS Sports. “So, the ‘The Roast of Ric Flair’ is happening.”

    Flair will be roasted by some of the biggest names in professional wrestling and comedy. The 16-time-world champion has cleaned up his hard-partying ways, but he still has fond memories of running wild in Sin City.

    “I’ve got a lot of history with Caesar’s Palace,” Flair tells CBS Sports. “Oh God, it was a regular stop in the 80s and 90. I’m lucky to be here and every day is a blessing. But one of those reasons is Las Vegas. I’ve had a couple of drinks in that town!”

    Starrcast II is the wrestling convention taking place in Las Vegas, NV during AEW: Double or Nothing weekend. For more details on the convention, visit Starrcast.com.

  • MLW Announces National “Openweight” Championship

    MLW Announces National “Openweight” Championship

    Major League Wrestling (MLW) has announced a new National Championship.

    This will be an “open weight” title, making MLW’s entire roster will be eligible to compete for it. MLW boasts a diverse roster of fighters of all sizes. From super heavyweights down to middleweights, the potential match-ups are endless.

    A 4-man tournament will be held to crown the first MLW National Champion kicks off next month. The finals take place at Fury Road 2019 on Saturday, June 1st from Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Waukesha County Expo Center.

    Tournament participants will be announced later this month.

    “The new championship means bigger fights with greater regularity,” said MLW CEO and founder Court Bauer.

    Visit MLWTickets.com for details on how you can attend Fury Road on June 1st.

    MLW’s Current Champions

    The new openweight National title will be the fourth championship sanctioned by Major League Wrestling. Current champions include:

    • World Champion: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
    • Tag Team Champions: The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Brian Pillman Jr.)
    • Middleweight Champion: Teddy Hart
  • Florida Teen Arrested For RKO On Alligator (Video)

    Florida Teen Arrested For RKO On Alligator (Video)

    Remember the Florida teenager who was arrested earlier this month for attempting to RKO his school principal? He’s been arrested again – for another RKO.

    This time, he tried to RKO a (fake) alligator.

    According to ABC News, Gianny Sosa of Miami, Florida was arrested again this week and charged with criminal mischief. Sosa was at The Falls Shopping Center in Miami-Dade County when he spotted a decorative display that featured a fake alligator.

    A video posted to social media shows the 18 year old removing his shirt, running to the side of the display, jumping over a barrier and tossing the fake alligator off a rock and into the display pond. He then picked the alligator up and performed the RKO and went for a pinfall the gator.

    A witness identified Sosa after watching video of the earlier incident. He confessed to police, apologized and was arrested.

    Police charged him with criminal mischief after damaging the fake alligator, which was valued at $3,690, according to the manager of the mall.

    Sosa was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County and booked.

    You can watch video of the incident here or in the player below:

  • John Cena in Early Talks for James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’ Movie

    John Cena in Early Talks for James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’ Movie

    John Cena is looking to join ‘The Suicide Squad’.

    The WWE superstar, who has transitioned into more and more acting roles in recent years, is reportedly in early talks to join ‘The Suicide Squad’ film from writer and director James Gunn.

    According to the Hollywood Reporter, talks are ongoing that would see Cena join the upcoming movie that already stars Idris Elba and Margot Robbie in two of the starring roles for the film.

    It’s unknown at this time what role Cena would play.

    ‘The Suicide Squad’ is a follow up to the 2016 film from David Ayer that followed a group of super villains released from prison in an effort to stamp out problems too dangerous for even the best superheroes in the world. The original film grossed over $746 million at the box office but it was a disaster with critics.

    DC and Warner Bros. then decided to hire Gunn to head up the new version of the film after he had so much success writing and directing the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movies for Marvel.

    If Cena finalizes his deal this would be the first major comic book film for the multi-time WWE champion after past roles in films such as ‘Blockers’ and a recent role in the ‘Transformers’ spinoff ‘Bumblebee’.

    ‘The Suicide Squad’ will land in theaters on August 6, 2021.

  • Luke Harper Update After Requesting WWE Release

    Luke Harper Update After Requesting WWE Release

    Luke Harper announced on Tuesday that he has requested his release from WWE. The former Wyatt Family member has been with WWE since 2012.

    Veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer reports that Harper’s current deal runs through the 4th quarter of the year, likely in November (give or take a month).

    We’ll provide an update on Harper’s status if and when WWE announces his release.

    Luke Harper Requests His Release

    Luke Harper is the latest disgruntled Superstar to request his release from the company. On Tuesday, he announced the following on Twitter:

    “As of this evening, I have requested a release from WWE. The past 6 years have been a simply, amazing journey around the world and back with lifelong friends and family. I am proud to say I shared the ring with my co workers.

    This decision, as difficult as it was, feels right for myself and WWE. My goal in the future is to continue to grow as a performer and person and continue to make my family proud.

    Thank you. From the top to the bottom of WWE. Thank you to the fans for your undying support. Thank you everyone.”

    Luke Harper’s WWE Career

    Harper signed a developmental deal with WWE in March 2012. He made his NXT debut later that year and was dubbed the “first son” of Bray Wyatt’s Wyatt Family. Harper and Erik Rowan held the NXT tag team championships the following year.

    The Wyatt Family’s main roster debut came occurred in the summer of 2013. The faction had mixed success before disbanding the following year. Harper captured the Intercontinental Championship as a singles competitor before. He’d later team with Erik Rowan again as Wyatt Family members and later the Bludgeon Brothers.

    Luke Harper underwent wrist surgery at the end of 2018. Since then, he’s wrestled a handful of singles matches and most recently competed in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 35.

  • Bayley Reacts To Going Solo On SmackDown

    Bayley Reacts To Going Solo On SmackDown

    Former Women’s tag team champion Bayley was among the female competitors moved to SmackDown Live in the Superstar Shakeup.

    Bayley appeared on this week’s SmackDown to declare that she is now a singles competitor, officially dissolving her Boss ‘n’ Hug partnership with Sasha Banks.

    In her first SmackDown appearance as a singles competitor, Bayley had words with Becky Lynch and then competed in an 8-woman tag team match.

    Backstage after the show, Bayley explained that she’s ready for a change. This completely contradicts her attitude from Monday night, but it’s been a tumultuous week with WWE storylines.

    Bayley said it’s exciting to be part of SmackDown Live. She is evolving and welcomes the new challenges that await her and reiterated that her sights are set on Becky Lynch’s SmackDown Women’s Championship.

    Bayley later tweeted this message about her new role on SmackDown and her desire to dethrone “The Man” Becky Lynch.

    “I don’t just show up to clock in and clock out,” she wrote. “I’m not just along for the ride, I’m here to evolve. And I expect this whole roster to push me to my limits. Because that is what I’m here to do to them. To be more. Becky might be the Champ for now, but I’m here to be the change.”