SEScoops

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

  • International Star Turned Down WWE Contract Offer

    International Star Turned Down WWE Contract Offer

    One international star was offered a WWE deal but he turned it down.

    WWE is considered to be the top company in all of wrestling. It’s certainly the most successful promotion from a financial standpoint and has a rich history.

    While many wrestlers long for the day to be able to walk down the aisle and perform at a WWE show, others actually don’t.

    Chris Brookes Turned Down WWE

    (via DDT)

    Chris Brookes, who performs under the DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion in Japan, recently revealed that he was ready to turn down a WWE tryout a few years back before a current SmackDown superstar convinced him otherwise.

    Brookes went through with the tryout and was then offered a WWE contract. He explained to Andrew Thompson why he turned it down.

    “I got offered the tryout I think in 2017… so I got offered the tryout thing first and I remember when they called me, I was like — I think I spoke to maybe Pete Dunne [Butch] about it at the time and I was like, ‘They’ve offered me a tryout thing but I don’t think I’m gonna go.’

    “He was like, ‘What do you mean you’re not gonna go?’ I was like, ‘…There’s nothing that I wanna get out of it. It doesn’t feel worthwhile going,’ and I think he convinced me. He was like, ‘Even if you don’t wanna get anything from it, you should still go just to get the experience,’ which he’s right. I’m glad I got to do it and have that tryout [at] The O2 [Arena] and stuff.

    “It was a cool two days and whatever and then when they decided they wanted to start the U.K. brand, I guess maybe a year or so after, they offered me a position in it, but they offered so many people contracts and whatever but like, they really cast a wide net at the time and they offered me one of the deals, same as the other guys and I thought about it.

    “I think the initial one was like a year or two years thing and I guess if that’s 2018, I was 27-ish around that time. And my mentality towards it was like, of course it’s only two years or whatever but no one knew how it was gonna pan out.

    “No one knew what the exclusivity to it would be and I didn’t feel done by any means with doing indie wrestling and stuff that I wanted to do and my goal was always Japan and I was like, if it’s two years, I’m 27, 28 now.”

    Chris Brookes also said that WWE was never his goal in wrestling. He said that he fell out of watching wrestling when he was a kid but got back into it years later after watching Pro Wrestling NOAH, Big Japan, DDT, ROH, and CZW.

    Quotes via WrestlingNews.co.

  • Roman Reigns Only Scheduled For One WWE Raw Appearance This Summer

    Roman Reigns Only Scheduled For One WWE Raw Appearance This Summer

    Roman Reigns will not be on Monday Night Raw very often this summer.

    Reigns is the WWE Undisputed Universal Champion. He also happens to be the biggest star in WWE.

    The problem WWE is left with, however, is that the “Tribal Chief” signed a new deal that sees him work fewer dates. Many have criticized the company for putting both world titles on Reigns only to extend his deal for fewer shows.

    Now, word has gotten out that Reigns won’t even be on Raw for most of the summer.

    Roman Reigns’ Lone Raw Appearance

    Roman Reigns Contract

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer has reported that Reigns is only scheduled to make one WWE Raw appearance this summer. That being the Madison Square Garden show in New York City on July 25th.

    It was reported by WrestleVotes that WWE’s creative team had no clue that Reigns would sign on for fewer dates when the decision was made to unify the world titles.

    The thought was that Reigns having both championships would actually lead to more appearances on both brands.

    Roman Reigns hasn’t wrestled in a match since WrestleMania Backlash on May 8. That’s about to change, however.

    He will be putting the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship on the line against Riddle on the June 17th episode of SmackDown. If Riddle loses, he can never challenge Roman for the gold again.

  • Sasha Banks Sporting New Look Amid WWE Suspension

    Sasha Banks Sporting New Look Amid WWE Suspension

    Sasha Banks is switching things up in the midst of her suspension from WWE.

    The May 16 episode of Monday Night Raw brought some high drama that very few could’ve expected. Sasha and Naomi were expected to be featured in a six-pack challenge on the show but the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions left the building.

    As a result, WWE vacated the women’s tag team gold and suspended Sasha and Naomi.

    Sasha Banks’ New Look

    Sasha Banks recently underwent PRK surgery performed by Dr. Newsom. The procedure is done to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

    The official Instagram account for Newsom Eye posted photos and video of Sasha’s visit.

    In the image below, you can see “The Boss” is rocking a new look.

    (via Newsom Eye)

    Sasha certainly hasn’t let on that she’s missing in-ring action. She attended a concert shortly after walking out of Raw and had spent some family time with her cousin Snoop Dogg.

    WWE has publicly buried Sasha and Naomi. The company had both Corey Graves and Michael Cole call the duo “unprofessional” and claim they let down millions of WWE fans.

    All online merchandise for Sasha and Naomi has been removed from WWEShop. It’s also been reported that the two aren’t being paid throughout their suspensions.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CewFQsZF7b1/
  • Gail Kim Would Welcome Paige to IMPACT Wrestling (Exclusive)

    Gail Kim Would Welcome Paige to IMPACT Wrestling (Exclusive)

    Gail Kim is aware that Paige plans to return to the ring at some point.

    Late last week, Paige announced that her final day with WWE will be on July 7. She said the company choose not to offer her a contract extension.

    Paige has vowed to make her in-ring return and it’s left many wondering where she’ll end up if she can get medical clearance.

    Paige to IMPACT Wrestling?

    Paige

    Speaking to Steve Fall for SEScoops, IMPACT Wrestling producer Gail Kim said she’d be more than happy to welcome Paige to the Knockouts division.

    “Never say never. I love Paige, I admire everything that she’s done for women’s wrestling. She also came up kind of in that period where maybe it was so powerful — what it is now.

    “Women’s wrestling is probably at its best right now with main eventing. Pay-per-views, shows, it’s not an irregular thing for that to happen. So you know, Paige was part of that process.

    “I have nothing but respect for her in and outside of the ring. And hey, if she wants to come over to IMPACT Wrestling I feel like the door is open. So, come on over, Paige!”

    – Gail Kim on Paige joining Impact Wrestling

    Watch Steve Fall’s discussion with Gail Kim:

    Paige’s Next Move

    Paige hasn’t wrestled since a house show event back in late 2017. She injured her neck during a tag team match and was never cleared to wrestle again by WWE’s medical team.

    After retiring in 2018, WWE used Paige as a manager and later an analyst before having her sit at home until her contract expires.

    Paige admitted she was frustrated with the lack of communication from WWE. At one point, she even pitched an idea to serve as Ronda Rousey’s manager but the company never took her up on it.

    Nonetheless, she did express gratitude to WWE for keeping her as long as they did knowing she wouldn’t be cleared to wrestle.

    Quote: Paige Is Going To Be Back Inside The Squared Circle Very, Very Soon
  • What Happened After June 13 WWE Raw Went Off The Air

    What Happened After June 13 WWE Raw Went Off The Air

    Another episode of WWE Raw has come and gone.

    Fans got to see a Money in the Bank qualifying match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles. Riddle took on Ciampa, while Veer Mahaan went one-on-one with Rey Mysterio. Another MITB qualifier involving Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan vs. Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop also took place.

    The June 13 episode of WWE Raw ended with a pose-down between Bobby Lashley and WWE United States Champion Theory.

    Once Cameras Stopped Rolling

    At the end of Raw, Theory blindsided Lashley by spraying baby oil in his eyes and dropkicking him out of the ring to close the show.

    Once Raw went off the air, the two had a match. Bobby Lashley emerged victorious but the WWE United States Championship did not change hands.

    After the match, Lashley posed for fans.

    It appears Lashley is set on challenging Theory for the United States gold. With that said, the bigger picture for Theory is a potential showdown with John Cena at SummerSlam.

    It’s been reported that WWE has been eyeing a match between the two for July 30 inside Nissan Stadium. Theory and Cena have hinted at making the match happen.

    Cena is scheduled to return to WWE on the June 27 episode of Monday Night Raw.

  • Major NJPW Star Booked For AEW Dynamite

    Major NJPW Star Booked For AEW Dynamite

    A big-time NJPW star and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will be wrestling on AEW Dynamite this week.

    AEW will be airing a special edition of Dynamite on June 15. This will be the Road Rager episode. It’ll feature a tag team title ladder match between champions Jurassic Express and The Young Bucks.

    Fans will also get to witness a hair vs. hair match between Chris Jericho and Ortiz.

    Will Ospreay Makes Dynamite In-Ring Debut

    Will Ospreay
    (via NJPW)

    AEW President Tony Khan has announced that Will Ospreay will wrestle one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions Dax Harwood this Wednesday night.

    Ospreay appeared on the June 8 episode of Dynamite. He and other members of the United Empire attacked FTR and Trent Beretta.

    Ospreay and Aussie Open ended up losing a six-man tag team match against FTR and Beretta on Rampage.

    AEW Road Rager 2022 Preview

    Here’s how the rest of the Road Rager card is shaping up.

    • Hair vs. Hair Match: Chris Jericho vs. Ortiz
    • AEW Tag Team Title Ladder Match: Jurassic Express (c) vs. The Young Bucks
    • Will Ospreay vs. Dax Harwood
    • Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker
    • AEW All-Atlantic Championship Tournament Qualifying Match: Miro vs. Ethan Page
    • Wardlow vs. 20 security guards
  • AEW Star Expected to be Done With the Company

    AEW Star Expected to be Done With the Company

    It looks like an AEW star who had some promise will no longer be working for the company.

    Things can change seemingly overnight in the world of wrestling. One minute a performer is in the midst of a big push, the next that person is sent all the way down the card.

    Real-life issues can also get in the way of someone’s career and cost them a job. That appears to be what has happened in this situation.

    Jake Atlas Gone From AEW

    Jake Atlas
    (AEW)

    Fightful is reporting that Jake Atlas is likely done with AEW. The news comes following the wrestler’s arrest for domestic violence battery.

    Atlas allegedly attacked his partner and signed a no-contact order back in May. Atlas allegedly followed his partner after initially charging at him and left the victim with a scratch.

    The police report alleges that the issue began as Atlas had a night of drinking and felt his partner was giving more attention to a female friend than him.

    There were high hopes for Atlas as he was immediately put in a match with Adam Cole earlier this year and many felt he showed promise before tearing his ACL. It was a tough bump in the road for Atlas but this is even worse.

    The Fightful report notes that Atlas had been working on a per appearance deal with AEW.

    Atlas signed with WWE back in 2019. He was released by the company in Aug. 2021.

    AEW was Atlas’ second chance on a big stage and one has to wonder if he’ll ever get another opportunity again.

  • Update on WWE’s Decision to Unify World Title

    Update on WWE’s Decision to Unify World Title

    When WWE first decided to put the Undisputed WWE Universal Title on Roman Reigns, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

    After all, Reigns is the top star in the company. On top of that, fans had been clamoring for just one recognized world champion in WWE as the feeling among some was that having two champions devalued the importance of having a world title.

    When Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38, there was some hope that one recognized world champion would do some good for WWE.

    That was before the company’s world champion took on a reduced schedule.

    Creative Unaware of Roman Reigns’ New Deal

    Roman Reigns
    (via WWE)

    A new report from WrestleVotes claims that when WWE’s creative team decided to put both the WWE and WWE Universal Championships on Roman Reigns, they weren’t aware that he had been working on a new deal.

    The report notes that the team was under the impression that Reigns would actually be making more appearances on both Raw and SmackDown.

    Obviously, that hasn’t been the case. The “Tribal Chief” ended up inking a new contract with WWE that sees him working fewer dates.

    While WWE claimed that there wouldn’t be much of a difference, Reigns has missed a few weeks of television and will finally be making his return on the June 17 episode of SmackDown.

    Reigns will put the Undisputed WWE Universal Title on the line against Riddle. If Riddle loses, he can never challenge Roman for the championship again.

  • Cops Pull Guns on Jeff Hardy Before DUI Arrest (Video)

    Cops Pull Guns on Jeff Hardy Before DUI Arrest (Video)

    The scene of Jeff Hardy’s recent DUI arrest is more frightening than many even realized.

    Early Monday morning, the AEW star was arrested in Volusia County, Florida. He was charged with Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Driver’s License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs, his third offense within 10 Years.

    Hardy’s BAC was nearly four times the legal limit.

    Scary Jeff Hardy DUI Arrest Video

    TMZ has released footage of Jeff’s recent arrest and it’s quite terrifying. Jeff seemingly wasn’t cooperating with three police officers, prompting all of them to pull out their firearms.

    Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed.

    Jeff Hardy was released from jail on $3,500 bond Monday evening. He’s due for a court hearing on June 14 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

    As of now, there has been no word on what actions AEW will take against Hardy. The company did remove advertising for a planned ladder match involving Jeff.

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer also reported that WarnerMedia has told AEW to pull any advertising featuring Jeff Hardy.

  • WWE May Have Already Lost Faith in Former NXT Champion

    WWE May Have Already Lost Faith in Former NXT Champion

    It seems WWE is already at a loss on what to do with a certain superstar.

    The old NXT regime has pretty much been dismantled. Many believe the death blow for the old guard was due to NXT consistently being beat by AEW Dynamite in terms of viewership.

    Ultimately, Vince McMahon saw more value in making NXT a true developmental brand rather than its own main roster brand. The show now features mostly green talent with some veterans to help guide the stars of tomorrow.

    One NXT talent from the prior regime is currently on the Monday Night Raw brand and he may already be lost in the fold.

    Ciampa’s WWE Future Not So Bright?

    Tommaso Ciampa
    WWE.com

    Since making his main roster debut (full-time) back in April, Ciampa has seemed lost.

    His grand first impression was telling Kevin Owens backstage that Ezekiel isn’t Elias and smiling. The segment gave fans the impression that the former NXT Champion was a babyface but he ended up being a heel.

    Ciampa randomly attacked Mustafa Ali on Raw but that really didn’t lead to anything. Then, he had another random attack, this time on Riddle. The following week, Ciampa was given no entrance and was simply in the ring for a short match with Riddle which he lost.

    Suddenly, Ciampa is just another guy on the main roster. It doesn’t help that he’s made a few appearances on Main Event as well.

    Time will tell if WWE will have anything significant for Ciampa in the future but it isn’t looking good.

  • Former WWE Talent Taking Hiatus From Wrestling

    Former WWE Talent Taking Hiatus From Wrestling

    One former WWE superstar will be taking a break from the world of wrestling.

    Some performers stick with the wrestling business for most of their lives. Others find a new line of work that makes them happier.

    In the case of this particular talent, some time away from the industry to reassess is in order.

    Fandango Addresses Hiatus

    SD Fandango
    (via WWE)

    Former WWE superstar Fandango had a social media post that had some thinking he was retiring. He cleared things up during an appearance on the Dropkick Podcast at WrestleCon.

    Fandango isn’t officially retired but he is taking a break.

    “First of all, I just wanted to get rid of Twitter. In general, it’s a very negative platform. It’s kind of my own fault for reading the comments. It’s good if you want to build your brand.

    “I do construction back home, I’m kind of putting a lot more energy into that lately. I’m getting surgery this summer on my knee. I never really said I was retiring, I said I was going to step away for a little while.

    “Of course, the dirt sheets picked it up. I kind of got a kick out of it. I’m gonna get surgery on my knee, it’s been bothering me for about a year now and re-evaluate this summer, take the summer off, spend it with my girl and my dogs, and see where we’re at.

    “Wrestling is not going anywhere.”

    Fandango was released by WWE back in June 2021. He told Chris Van Vliet late last year that the most emotional moment he had in WWE was when he won the NXT Tag Team gold with Tyler Breeze.

    Here’s Fandango’s recent interview on the Dropkick Podcast:

    Quotes via Fightful.

  • Mike Tyson Will be Roasting Ric Flair This Summer

    Mike Tyson Will be Roasting Ric Flair This Summer

    Ric Flair will soon be on the receiving end of a roast from boxing legend Mike Tyson.

    STARRCAST is helping put together what is being billed as “The Nature Boy’s” swan song. Flair is set to have his final match on July 31 inside the Nashville Fairgrounds. The type of match and participants have not been revealed.

    TMZ first reported that Mike Tyson will take part in the “Roast of Ric Flair” on July 29th. STARRCAST has since confirmed the news.

    Tyson has made many friends in the wrestling industry over the years. His shoving segment with Stone Cold Steve Austin back in the WWF Attitude Era days is an all-time classic. He also served as a guest host for Monday Night Raw and has made appearances on AEW TV.

    Ric Flair Partners with Mike Tyson for New Cannabis Products

    The Roast of Ric Flair

    In a statement issued by STARRCAST, it was announced that the “Roast of Ric Flair” will feature some of Flair’s closest friends as well as comedians.

    “The last weekend in July is going to be Ric’s swan song in a professional wrestling ring, so what better way to send him off before his final match than giving him a proper roast,” asked STARRCAST creator and organizer Conrad Thompson.

    “Ric’s career has transcended professional wrestling and made him a pop culture icon. You’ve seen his influence everywhere from sports to hip hop. He’s done it all, except get roasted by some of his dearest friends and the most talented comedians in the world. That all changes on July 29th.”

  • WWE Raw Superstar Returns From Injury

    WWE Raw Superstar Returns From Injury

    The wrestling industry has been hit hard with injuries but one WWE Raw talent has actually returned from injury.

    WWE Raw was held inside the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas on June 13. The show featured two Money in the Bank qualifying matches.

    Seth Rollins defeated AJ Styles to move on to the ladder match, while Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan defeated Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop to earn their spots.

    Shelton Benjamin Returns

    shelton benjamin
    (via WWE)

    Shelton Benjamin had been out of action due to injury. Shelton has long had a reputation for staying healthy throughout his career.

    His only major injury had been one he suffered in Pro Wrestling NOAH back in 2016, delaying his eventual WWE return. At that time, Shelton had to undergo shoulder surgery.

    The injury bug recently bit Shelton but not for long. He returned for this week’s Main Event taping.

    Shelton defeated Akira Tozawa on the show.

  • Elias Set to Appear on WWE Raw Next Week

    Elias Set to Appear on WWE Raw Next Week

    On the June 20 episode of WWE Raw, fans will once again walk with Elias.

    During the June 13 episode of Raw, Kevin Owens took on Ezekiel, the “brother” of Elias. For weeks, Owens has been obsessed with proving Ezekiel is actually Elias.

    Owens’ rage ended up costing him the match as he had an outburst on top of the commentary table as the referee counted him out.

    Owens had already beaten Ezekiel at Hell in a Cell but he was goaded into giving Zeke a rematch after he “admitted” to being Elias. Once he got the match, Ezekiel revealed he lied about actually being his brother.

    After winning the rematch, Ezekiel grabbed a mic and announced that Elias will be making his way back to Raw next week.

    WWE has been playing up the Ezekiel character. The company has gone as far as to send Zeke on a journey to Elias’ stomping grounds such as the Performance Center.

    Last year, WWE ran a vignette that saw Elias burn his guitar and claim that the character was dead.

    It’ll be interesting to see how WWE plays this one out next week.

  • Ronda Rousey’s Opinion of WWE Locker Room is Wild

    Ronda Rousey’s Opinion of WWE Locker Room is Wild

    Ronda Rousey has quite the viewpoint of WWE’s locker room.

    Rousey is a big star for WWE. She is the reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion.

    A lot has been said about Rousey over the years. She was praised for quickly getting a grasp on the wrestling business but rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with her prior disdain for the fans as well as calling the industry “fake.”

    Still, Rousey is fully back in the swing of things and is seemingly enjoying herself more these days.

    Ronda Rousey’s Explicit Outlook

    During an appearance on The Kurt Angle Show, Ronda Rousey shared her wild outlook on the WWE locker room.

    “Heyman was telling me if there was like a pitbull in the room and you don’t know about this dog, you know? You don’t know this dog and it could probably kill you, you’re not going to do anything crazy while the pit bull is in the room. You’re going to wait until the pitbull leaves the room and then you get crazy.

    “So as far as I know, it’s just sunshine and lollipops in the locker room. It’s a bunch of cupcakes and handjobs. Everyone’s having a great time.”

    Rousey has been feuding with Natalya. During a recent episode of SmackDown, Natalya attacked “Rowdy” from behind, which has led to WWE running a storyline injury where Rousey’s Money in the Bank status is in question.

    Quote via Wrestling Inc.

  • Vince McMahon Has Had Conversations About WWE’s Next Biggest Star

    Vince McMahon Has Had Conversations About WWE’s Next Biggest Star

    WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has had talks with one superstar on potentially becoming the face of the company.

    It’s no secret that Roman Reigns is the top star in WWE. With that said, the “Tribal Chief” isn’t getting any younger. Reigns recently turned 37 years old and he inked a new deal with the company for fewer dates.

    Next is Cody Rhodes, who has brought some new life into the Monday Night Raw brand but he’s currently sidelined due to an injury. Upon his return, he’ll also be 37 years old.

    WWE has to get younger at some point and one current champion may spearhead that movement.

    Is Theory The Next Face of WWE?

    Theory Vince McMahon
    (via WWE)

    At the age of 24 and with momentum behind him, Theory looks poised to be a top star in the near future. He’s the current WWE United States Champion.

    On TV, Vince McMahon has called him the new “Chosen One” but it isn’t just for show. Reports have suggested that Vince sees Theory as the next John Cena.

    During an appearance on Ryan Satin’s Out of Character podcast, Theory revealed he’s had conversations with Vince about being the next face of WWE.

    “Yeah, because I wanted him to know that this was never a second choice for me. This was always the only thing. Nothing against college or stuff like that, you can do that at any time. For me, I never had a plan B. It was this or nothing.

    “I was so heavy believing in myself at a very young age that, when these guys are at parties in high school, I’m in the gym and I’m training. I finish a job in a warehouse, working 8 pm to 8 am, I’m tired as hell, but I have to get up and workout because if I don’t, I’m gonna fall off. I’m gonna keep pushing until the next day.

    “It’s that mentality and those little things. Everything that happens in life, happens for a reason. The build-up of all these huge moments that have been happening. Could this be the big build-up to get me ready for someone like John Cena?

    “I’m gonna be honest, there are a lot of huge attractions, but I don’t think it gets any bigger than John Cena. Whether you’re a fan or not, you can’t deny his work ethic and what he’s done for WWE.

    “To me, being in that position where I could possibly be the face, just thinking of how much work there is, it’s insane. My hats off to that. It takes a hell of a human, a man, an anomaly, somebody who can pull that off. It’s insane.

    “I feel like my brain will go crazy if I try to think of all this stuff to get there. If I just enjoy every moment and give it my best, it should be a good ride.

    “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I definitely keep my head on straight and keep moving forward.”

    Both Theory and John Cena have hinted at facing off at SummerSlam on July 30. It’s been reported by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer that this is indeed WWE’s plan in an effort to elevate Theory.

    Quotes via Fightful.

  • Top WWE Raw Superstars Scheduled for SmackDown Taping

    Top WWE Raw Superstars Scheduled for SmackDown Taping

    Two top WWE Raw talents are set to make their way to the destination of this week’s SmackDown show.

    WWE has two main roster brands with split rosters. Despite this, some performers are often seen on both Raw and SmackDown, such as Riddle.

    There will be two superstars from the Raw brand at the sight of SmackDown this Friday but whether or not they’ll be on TV remains to be seen.

    AJ Styles & Finn Balor

    (via WWE)

    PWInsider is reporting that AJ Styles and Finn Balor are set to be in Minneapolis for the June 17 SmackDown taping.

    As of now, there is no word on if they’ll appear on the FOX broadcast or if they’ll wrestle in a dark match.

    Styles and Balor could be set to begin a feud. Balor had been aligned with AJ and Liv Morgan in the fight against The Judgment Day.

    Balor ended up turning heel by aligning with Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley to kick Edge out of the faction.

  • WWE Announces Latest Class of NIL Athletes

    WWE Announces Latest Class of NIL Athletes

    WWE’s NIL program continues to add new athletes looking to become breakout stars.

    The company has announced that 15 college athletes will be joining the “Next In Line” program. The second NIL class features athletes from 14 universities.

    These athletes have competed in a wide range of sports from football to collegiate wrestling, gymnastics, and more.

    Here is the second WWE NIL class:

    • Ali Mattox of Ole Miss, a 5-foot-7 cheer & dance athlete from Little Rock, Ark.
    • Case Hatch of Arizona State, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound football player from Gilbert, Ariz.
    • Chandler Hayden of Tennessee, a 5-foot-11 track & field athlete from Pittsfield, Ill.
    • Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound wrestler from Parker, Colo.
    • Derrian Gobourne of Auburn, a 5-foot-4 gymnast from Sarasota, Fla.
    • Ericka Link of Elon, a 5-foot-6 volleyball player from Hedgesville, W.Va.
    • Keshaun Moore of Hampton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound football player from Suffolk, Va.
    • Luke Ford of Illinois, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound football player from Carterville, Ill.
    • Maliq Carr of Michigan State, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound football and basketball player from Inkster, Mich.
    • Mikala Hall of Central Michigan, a 5-foot-5 basketball player from Danville, Ill.
    • Rachel Glenn of South Carolina, a 6-foot track & field athlete from Long Beach, Calif.
    • Ruben Banks of Arkansas, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound track & field athlete from Binfield, England
    • Thunder Keck of Stanford, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound football player from Northfield, N.H.
    • Tyanna Omazic of Miami, a 6-foot-2 volleyball player from Kansas City, Mo.
    • Zachary Knighton-Ward of Hofstra, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound wrestler from Rosedale, N.Y.

    WWE will be officially welcoming these athletes at the inaugural NIL summit tonight (June 13). It’ll be held inside the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

    WWE’s inaugural NIL class was introduced back in late 2021.

  • That Hulk Hogan Biopic Isn’t Happening Any Time Soon

    That Hulk Hogan Biopic Isn’t Happening Any Time Soon

    Fans who have been anticipating seeing Chris Hemsworth take on the role of Hulk Hogan will have to wait a while.

    Back in Feb. 2019, the announcement was made that Hemsworth would be playing Hogan in a biopic. Since that time, there’s been a lot of hearsay over whether or not it’s a done deal.

    As of late, however, there hasn’t been much information on the project.

    Update on Hulk Hogan Biopic

    Hulk Hogan
    (Rolling Stone)

    During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Hemsworth said that Todd Phillips, the director of the biopic, is tied up at the moment.

    “Uhhhh, maybe? Todd Phillips is busy doing, I think, Joker 2 I believe, and I’ve been off doing other films, and it’s all in conversations and in development and things like that. A lot of little different things need to come together for it to happen, but I don’t have 24-inch pythons. Yet.”

    In a separate interview with Comic Book, Hemsworth said fans shouldn’t expect the film to drop anytime soon.

    “Oh, that film’s a while away. It’s sort of in the development stage, you know? If it comes to fruition, great, Todd Phillips is brilliant. I haven’t ripped any shirts off yet, but you’ll be the first to hear about it when I do.”

    It’s been reported that the Hulk Hogan biopic will focus on the origins of Hulkamania but details have been scarce. Eric Bischoff has been named as one of the producers of the film.

    Quotes via Fightful.

  • WWE Extreme Rules Set for Oct. 8 in Philly

    WWE Extreme Rules Set for Oct. 8 in Philly

    WWE has confirmed a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer that Extreme Rules is coming to Philly.

    The company issued a statement revealing that Extreme Rules will be held inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Oct. 8 will be the date.

    Here is WWE’s official announcement:

    “As first announced by “The Philadelphia Inquirer,” WWE Extreme Rules will take place Saturday, Oct. 8 live from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Premium Live Event will stream live exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.

    “Tickets for WWE Extreme Rules will go on sale Friday, July 15 at 10 a.m. ET via www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com. Click here to learn more about registering for presale opportunities.”

    For the immediate future, WWE is focusing on its two big premium live events set for July. Money in the Bank will be taking place on July 2, while SummerSlam goes down on July 30.

    Both shows were set to be held inside stadiums. SummerSlam will now stand alone as the only WWE event in July being held inside a stadium.

    Time will tell whether or not WWE will bring out the heavy hitters for this event. WWE’s top star Roman Reigns has taken a reduced schedule, while Cody Rhodes is expected to be out for several months and won’t be ready for Extreme Rules.

  • More Details on Chris Jericho-MVP Incident

    More Details on Chris Jericho-MVP Incident

    There are some more details on the confrontation involving Chris Jericho and MVP.

    It had been reported by Dave Meltzer that Jericho and MVP ran into each other at a hotel lobby following the May 18 episode of Dynamite. AEW was in the Houston area where MVP lives.

    The story goes that Jericho and MVP had a falling out and the two got into a big argument that ended with Jericho telling MVP he doesn’t fight jobbers. This was said to have left MVP fuming in the hotel lobby.

    Jericho & MVP Beef

    Fightful has an update on the story involving Jericho and MVP. Jericho told Fightful the following:

    “Nothing else to say. I don’t fight jobbers. Nuff said”.

    Chris Jericho

    Fightful also reached out to MVP, who said this:

    “There was an exchange, but it didn’t go down like that”.

    MVP

    The update also noted that someone in AEW reached out to WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis about the ordeal. It was said that Laurinaitis wasn’t too concerned about the incident once he found out nothing got out of hand.

    It appears the beef between Jericho and MVP stems from political disagreements. At one point, Jericho even blocked MVP on Twitter.

  • Possible Backstage Heat on Thunder Rosa

    Possible Backstage Heat on Thunder Rosa

    Thunder Rosa may have made herself some enemies and we’re not talking storylines.

    Rosa is the reigning AEW Women’s Champion. Some haven’t been impressed by her title reign thus far. She had a well-received title defense against Serena Deeb at Double or Nothing but the build was lackluster.

    She then had a match with Marina Shafir, which wasn’t very good but some have pinned the blame on Rosa for deliberately sabotaging the performance of her opponent.

    Thunder Rosa’s Reputation

    Thunder Rosa Britt Baker
    (via AEW)

    Twitter user @ericinsarasota, who happens to be Erick Stevens, a former ROH star, recently shared two interesting tweets on the Thunder Rosa vs. Marina Shafir match from the June 8 episode of Dynamite. The user believes that Rosa was blatantly “sandbagging” her opponent, making Shafir look weak in the process.

    “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a match where somebody so obviously tried to make themselves look better than their opponent by sandbagging and no selling, but I just saw a perfect example of it on Dynamite.

    “It might just look like a bad match to the untrained eye but it’s pretty clear when somebody doesn’t want to play ball. Which sucks because it just makes you and your opponent look bad.”

    One might think the tweets are from someone sharing a wild theory but there could be something to this.

    Britt Baker, the biggest female star on the AEW roster, actually ended up liking the first tweet, while Marina Shafir liked both.

    This isn’t the first time Thunder Rosa has had an incident in the ring with her opponent. Back in Sept. 2020, she had a match with Ivelisse that went off the rails. Ivelisse told Chris Van Vliet that Rosa forgot her spots and the match ended up turning into a shoot.

  • WWE Releases NXT 2.0 Superstar

    WWE Releases NXT 2.0 Superstar

    WWE has released another NXT 2.0 star but this situation is a bit different.

    The company has had a sizable amount of roster cuts in recent months. Most of the time, budget cuts are the main reason given by the company. In some situations, budget cuts are simply used as an excuse.

    In this case, however, it was a different issue entirely.

    Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan Released

    (via WWE)

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer is reporting that WWE has released Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan. The report notes that this was due to a policy issue.

    Meltzer notes that it’s possible Donovan could be brought back in a year if both parties are interested by that time.

    Bryan Alvarez had reported that more NXT talent cuts were coming but that those were related to improvement issues. Bryan never made mention of cuts being made as a result of policy matters.

    Donovan had signed with WWE back in March. He recently aligned with Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on NXT TV.

  • WWE Tag Team Could Be Getting Name Change

    WWE Tag Team Could Be Getting Name Change

    A WWE tag team may be on the verge of a slight name change soon.

    WWE officials aren’t afraid to make some alterations to its characters. From attire, to music, to name changes, the company will make any changes it sees fit. WWE has even reversed changes in the past.

    A tag team that recently resurfaced on Raw could possibly get their own change.

    Dirty Dawgs Getting Name Change?

    The Dirty Dawgs Dolph ZIggler Robert Roode

    After a brief stint on NXT, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, Dirty Dawgs, returned to Monday Night Raw. They started a feud with Omos and MVP.

    According to USPTO, WWE has filed a new trademark for “Dirty Dogs,” which is a slight change from what the company currently calls the team.

    “Mark For: DIRTY DOGS™ trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network.”

    As mentioned, Ziggler and Roode had been on NXT for a little while. Dolph captured the NXT Championship but eventually lost it to Bron Breakker.

    Time will tell if WWE actually goes through with a slight change or if they’ve trademarked the “Dirty Dogs” version just to get ahead of anyone who may try to use it.

  • Yet Another AEW Star Possibly Injured

    Yet Another AEW Star Possibly Injured

    Spring has been a nightmare for top wrestling promotions.

    The injuries are piling up within the industry. The “Summer of Punk” got derailed when CM Punk was forced to undergo surgery on his foot. Punk remains the AEW World Champion but an interim title will be used in his absence.

    Adam Cole has reportedly been dealing with a torn labrum but is expected to work Forbidden Door on June 26. TNT Champion Scorpio Sky will be undergoing an MRI to see if there’s any significant damage to his right knee.

    There might be another AEW star added to the list.

    Red Velvet Potentially Injured

    (via AEW)

    Fightful is reporting that Red Velvet was being carted around in the backstage area following last week’s AEW Dynamite and Rampage shows. The report notes that she may be dealing with an injury.

    It’s unknown exactly what Red Velvet could have issues with at the moment.

    Velvet is a part of Jade Cargill’s Baddies faction. She was in action against Kris Statlander on the June 10 episode of Rampage.