SEScoops

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

  • Roman Reigns Inks New Deal With WWE (Report)

    Roman Reigns Inks New Deal With WWE (Report)

    Roman Reigns seems to have scored a new contract with WWE.

    Fans grew concerned this past weekend after footage of Reigns addressing the live crowd in Trenton, NJ surfaced.

    Many believed the “Tribal Chief” was teasing retirement as he said he doesn’t know if he’ll be back in Trenton since he’s entering a new phase in his career.

    As it turns out, Reigns was actually referring to taking fewer dates going forward. Fightful was the first to report. Apparently, the changes have come courtesy of a new deal.

    Roman Reigns Signs New WWE Contract

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio is reporting that Roman Reigns has put pen to paper for a new deal with Vince McMahon’s empire.

    It’s been said that the deal is for “far less dates,” so don’t expect the “Head of the Table” to be making the house show runs as frequently as he used to.

    Such a deal makes sense for Roman. The “Tribal Chief” will turn 37 on May 25, he’s a father, and is incredibly valuable to WWE.

    Very few get to call their shots in WWE and Roman is one of those few.

    Keeping The Top Dog

    It’s no secret that Reigns is the biggest star WWE has at the moment. The company was wise to keep him happy as his absence would leave a huge hole in WWE’s main event scene.

    WWE is trying to build talent such as Theory and Bron Breakker but neither are close to taking a top spot in WWE. Especially Breakker, who is still very inexperienced and is learning under the NXT banner.

  • Charlotte Already Making Excuses Ahead of WrestleMania Backlash

    Charlotte Already Making Excuses Ahead of WrestleMania Backlash

    Just ahead of the WrestleMania Backlash event, Charlotte is already prepared to accuse Ronda Rousey of cheating.

    Charlotte will be defending her WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship against Rousey tonight (May 8). The action will be held inside the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

    • Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey
      (via WWE)

    Charlotte Ready To Take An L?

    Appearing on WWE’s The Bump, “The Queen” let it be known that if she can’t successfully retain her gold tonight then it must be due to something nefarious on “Rowdy’s” part (h/t Fightful).

    “I have nothing left to prove. I already beat Ronda on the grandest stage. I was the first female to beat her in a singles competition. If she wins or if she has me say I quit, it’s because she cheated.

    “I don’t know, it’s hard [to rank my different accomplishments.] They’re also different. I mean, beating Asuka’s streak at WrestleMania 34 was a huge accomplishment. Main eventing WrestleMania 35. But I think beating Ronda just cemented that I’m the top woman here. So every accomplishment has a different feel to it. It was a big one.”

    Rousey was indeed pinned by the SmackDown Women’s Champion at WrestleMania 38.

    “The Queen” had tapped out to an armbar but the referee never saw it. She hit Rousey with a big boot as she was trying to wake the referee up for the three-count.

    Keep it locked on the SEScoops homepage for coverage of WrestleMania Backlash.

  • No, Roman Reigns Isn’t Retiring Anytime Soon

    No, Roman Reigns Isn’t Retiring Anytime Soon

    Roman Reigns seemingly hinted at retirement during a recent live event but it turns out he is referring to something else.

    The “Tribal Chief” performed during a house show in Trenton, New Jersey on May 7. Reigns successfully defended his WWE Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre. After the match, Roman grabbed a mic and had the following to say:

    “I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever be back here again.”

    Roman Reigns

    Roman Reigns’ “New Phase”

    Roman Reigns also discussed changing his schedule to enter a new phase of his career. This led many to believe that WWE’s top star could be making his exit from the wrestling business soon.

    As it turns out, that isn’t the case.

    • Roman Reigns feature
      Photo: WWE.com

    What Roman Really Meant

    Fightful is reporting that Roman is strongly factored into creative plans for the foreseeable future. People within the company don’t believe he will be leaving anytime soon.

    With that said, Roman’s words did hold some weight. As it turns out, Reigns will likely be reducing his live event schedule. This means he’ll be dialing back on his house show appearances.

    No Clear Next Man Up

    Reigns has finally settled in as the top draw in WWE. For years, Vince McMahon has been looking for that one difference-maker to fill the shoes of John Cena. WWE now has that in Reigns.

    If Reigns were to leave tomorrow, there’s no clear answer on who would replace him. Reports have indicated that Vince sees potential in Theory to be the next big thing but he isn’t nearly ready for that role.

    Luckily for WWE officials, it looks like Roman Reigns is staying put for now.

  • Cody Rhodes Meets Uncanny Dusty Rhodes Impersonator (Video)

    Cody Rhodes Meets Uncanny Dusty Rhodes Impersonator (Video)

    When Cody Rhodes entered a WWE live event in Trenton, New Jersey, he probably didn’t expect to see one heck of a Dusty Rhodes impersonator.

    Cody has made it clear that he wants to honor his late father by becoming the WWE Champion. It’s a title that Dusty never won. “The American Nightmare’s” first stop on the road to the title has been Seth Rollins.

    Clone Of A Plumber

    At the house show in Trenton, Cody defeated Rollins. The two will mix it up at WrestleMania Backlash on May 8. Cody already scored a pinfall over Seth on PPV, marking a successful return at WrestleMania 38.

    After his match with Seth in Trenton, Cody Rhodes got on the mic and he put a Dusty Rhodes impersonator on the spot. The fan certainly looked the part but did he have the vocal chops?

    The answer might surprise you (courtesy of Angel Rivera):

  • Potential Spoiler On Major IMPACT Wrestling Return

    Potential Spoiler On Major IMPACT Wrestling Return

    An IMPACT Wrestling return is imminent and it could come much sooner than you think.

    For weeks, IMPACT has been rolling out teaser trailers hyping up a mystery competitor. It comes across as a hit list with numerous IMPACT stars such as Moose and Eric Young being wiped off the screen.

    As many had suspected, it looks like those vignettes are for Sami Callihan. Fightful reports that Callihan could be returning as soon as the Under Siege event tonight (May 7).

    If he doesn’t appear tonight, it’s possible he could show up on TV soon as IMPACT has a set of tapings scheduled for May 8.

    Last year, Sami Callihan suffered a broken ankle during a TV taping. He underwent successful surgery and was expected to be back this spring.

    It looks like the process went according to plan.

  • Tammy Sytch (Sunny) Arrested & Charged With DUI Manslaughter

    Tammy Sytch (Sunny) Arrested & Charged With DUI Manslaughter

    Tammy Sytch, formerly known as Sunny in WWE, has been arrested in connection to a fatal three-car crash.

    Sytch was arrested again on Friday, May 6 in Ormond Beach, Florida, per PWInsider. She has been hit with nine charges, including DUI manslaughter.

    Here are the charges against Sunny:

    • DUI Manslaughter (DUI causing the death of a person)
    • Driving with a suspended or revoked license (causing death or serious injury)
    • Seven counts of DUI causing damage to a person or property

    Sunny’s Latest Vehicular Incident

    Back on March 25, Tammy Sytch was allegedly driving southbound on U.S. 1 at around 8:28 p.m. and failed to stop. This caused her to crash into a stopped vehicle, which ended up crashing into another car.

    Julian Lafrancis Lasseter, a driver allegedly struck by Sytch, died due to injuries suffered in the crash.

    Ormond Beach Police were allowed to collect a blood sample once granted a search warrant. This was done to determine whether or not Sytch was driving under the influence.

    If convicted of DUI manslaughter, which is a felony in the state of Florida, Sunny could face up to 30 years in prison. The minimum would be a four-year sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

    Sytch has been booked into Volusia County Branch Jail. Her bond is set at $227,500.

    Tammy Sytch Mugshot
    Tammy Sytch (May 6, 2022)
  • Athena (Ember Moon) Open To Talks With AEW, IMPACT, & Stardom

    Athena (Ember Moon) Open To Talks With AEW, IMPACT, & Stardom

    Athena, formerly known as Ember Moon in WWE, isn’t limiting her options.

    Back in Nov. 2021, Athena was released from her WWE contract. She was part of a wave of talent cuts that included Keith Lee, Nia Jax, Karrion Kross, Scarlett Bordeaux, and more.

    Now that a few months have passed, the former Ember Moon is free to sign with another promotion.

    Athena Sends Messages To Promoters

    If there’s one thing Athena wants to make clear, it’s that she isn’t opposed to truly testing the market.

    She took to Virtual M&G/Asylum Wrestling Store and said she’s ready for the call from AEW, IMPACT, and Stardom (h/t DraVen).

    “If I knew [I would be going to AEW], I wouldn’t tell you.

    “If they came a ringing, if IMPACT came a ringing, heck, if STARDOM came a ringing, I would answer the phone and I would be there in a heartbeat.”

    Current AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa expressed her desire in facing Athena back in 2021.

    Earlier this year, Athena and reigning TBS Champion Jade Cargill traded barbs on social media, leading many to believe that eventually, the two would clash in the ring.

  • WWE Never Planned For Tag Team Title Unification At WrestleMania Backlash (Report)

    WWE Never Planned For Tag Team Title Unification At WrestleMania Backlash (Report)

    WWE reportedly never had plans for a tag team title unification match at WrestleMania Backlash.

    When The Usos first started their feud with RK-Bro, it was centered around trying to unify the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Roman Reigns specifically gave Jimmy and Jey an order to lay claim to the Raw tag team gold.

    While the stage was set for The Usos vs. RK-Bro at WrestleMania Backlash, Reigns interrupted the contract signing. Randy Orton and Riddle were ambushed, and the contract was destroyed. Drew McIntyre then hit the ring and sent Reigns packing with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.

    Now, it’ll be a non-title six-man tag team match. The Bloodline will take on McIntyre and RK-Bro.

    Title Unification Never In The Cards

    • Tag Title Unification

    Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE never had the intent of booking a tag team title unification match. Simply put, WWE didn’t have a challenger lined up for Reigns at the WrestleMania Backlash event.

    It had been reported previously that WWE didn’t want to rush a Reigns vs. McIntyre program.

    WrestleMania Backlash will take place inside the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on May 8. Here is what the lineup looks like just a couple of days away from the event:

    • The Bloodline vs. Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro
    • WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey (“I Quit” Match)
    • Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
    • Edge vs. AJ Styles
    • Bobby Lashley vs. Omos
    • Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss
  • Candice LeRae is a Free Agent After WWE Contract Expires

    Candice LeRae is a Free Agent After WWE Contract Expires

    Candice LeRae is a free agent after her WWE contract expired, as first reported by Fightful.

    LeRae’s husband, Johnny Gargano, also left the company when his deal expired in late 2021. He has been free to sign elsewhere for months but hasn’t done so as he’s been more focused on being a father. LaRae gave birth to the child back in February.

    Candice LeRae’s WWE Run

    During her time with WWE, Candice LeRae performed under the NXT brand. She captured the NXT Tag Team Championship with Indi Hartwell.

    LeRae made her NXT TV debut back in May 2017. She was unsuccessful in a battle royale to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship, which was held by Asuka.

    She then competed in the Mae Young Classic just two months later. At that point, she hadn’t signed a contract with WWE. LaRae put pen to paper for Vince McMahon’s empire in Jan. 2018.

    Eventually, Candice became a part of The Way. The faction featured LeRae, Gargano, Hartwell, and Austin Theory. With LeRae’s pregnancy, Gargano’s WWE departure, and Theory’s callup to the main roster, the stable disbanded.

    SEScoops will keep you posted on the future of LeRae and Gargano as that information becomes available.

  • Big E Injury Update: Recovery Has Hit A Snag

    Big E Injury Update: Recovery Has Hit A Snag

    Big E has received some less-than-ideal news regarding his neck injury.

    On the March 11 episode of WWE SmackDown, Big E suffered a scary injury that could’ve been even worse than it was. The New Day member took an overhead belly-to-belly from Ridge Holland outside of the ring. E landed right on his head and neck and had to be stretchered out of the arena.

    He ended up suffering a broken neck. The good news for E was that he was initially told he’d be able to avoid surgery but since that time, the recovery process hasn’t been smooth sailing.

    Big E Provides Latest Update

    Big E shared an update on the situation with his neck and it isn’t what he was hoping for.

    “For those desirous of an update, my C1 apparently isn’t healing optimally. I’ll spend another 4-6 weeks in a brace in hopes that I can avoid a fusion. But don’t you fret! I’ve got a tremendous support system & what shall be shall be.”

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

    The former WWE Champion has shown a tremendous amount of positivity throughout this scary ordeal. He was even out walking with his neck brace on shortly after the injury occurred.

    Obviously, Big E’s health is the number one priority but some have wondered if he will ever be able to wrestle again.

    Former WWE physician consultant, Dr. David Chao, told Outkick that E’s in-ring career could be over as a C1 fracture often doesn’t heal completely.

  • AEW Trios Titles Have Already Been Created

    AEW Trios Titles Have Already Been Created

    As expected, AEW will likely be introducing trios titles in the future.

    Taking to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that fans can expect AEW to roll out the championships sometime in the future. He says the titles have already been created. Here’s a quote from Dave courtesy of Bodyslam.net:

    “Trios titles have been made so now it’s just a matter of when they pull the trigger.”

    AEW Trios Titles: Who Is In Contention?

    • Kyle O'Relly Adam Cole Bobby Fish
      Kyle O’Relly, Adam Cole & Bobby Fish

    While some believe having too many titles dilutes things, trios gold in AEW seems to make sense. After all, the promotion has a slew of factions and puts on plenty of trios tag team matches. The seeds may have already been planted in that regard.

    As far as exactly when AEW fans will get to see the trios titles, while there isn’t an exact timeframe many feel it won’t happen until Kenny Omega returns. Having Omega and The Young Bucks hold the trios gold seems too good for AEW to pass up.

    Omega is currently healing from multiple injuries. The “Best Bout Machine” had surgery on his knee and was dealing with a sports hernia. He had also been pretty banged up in other areas.

    Of course, there are plenty of other worthy options for the trios titles as well. One can’t rule out the Blackpool Combat Club, which features Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and Wheeler Yuta. There’s also Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish.

  • WWE Hall of Famer Wants AEW To Sign Dakota Kai

    WWE Hall of Famer Wants AEW To Sign Dakota Kai

    One WWE Hall of Famer thinks Tony Khan should be rushing to the phone to call Dakota Kai.

    WWE has been known for having waves of talent releases. The promotion’s most recent one took place in late April. In total, 10 members of the NXT roster were cut. Among the names released was Dakota.

    DDP Urges AEW To Sign Dakota Kai

    During an appearance on SportsKeeda‘s The Bro Show, WCW legend DDP explained why he thinks AEW President Tony Khan should reach out to Dakota Kai.

    “I was surprised they got rid of Dakota [Kai]. She’s good-looking, her work is really good, I was expecting to see her up there, but she never got that shot. If I was Tony Khan, I’d pick her a** up.

    “They have some good talent there with the women now. WWE’s women’s talent is off the charts. Most of the girls are better than the guys.

    “If I was Tony, I’d pick her up. But it’s a different world now bro.”

    AEW hasn’t been afraid to snag former WWE talent. Some feel that Kai could be at the top of Khan’s list as far as female talent is concerned.

    During her time in WWE, Dakota became a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion alongside Raquel Gonzalez, now known as Raquel Rodriguez.

    Kai also won the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Classic with Raquel. In 2019, Dakota won the NXT Year-End Award for “Future Star of NXT.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CdM28iNKsdC
  • Authors Of Pain Planning To Return To The Ring (Report)

    Authors Of Pain Planning To Return To The Ring (Report)

    Former WWE Raw and NXT Tag Team Champions Authors of Pain aren’t done dishing out punishment in the ring.

    It appears Akam and Rezar are poised for a return to the squared circle. This according to a report from Fightful Select. There is currently no word on which promotion the two are eyeing.

    • AOP
      Authors of Pain

    Authors Of Pain: A History Lesson

    Authors Of Pain made their NXT TV debut back in June 2016. The powerhouse tag team, led by manager Paul Ellering, attacked American Alpha. The duo ended up winning their first match on NXT the following week.

    AOP defeated DIY back in Jan. 2017 to capture the NXT Tag Team Championship. They held onto the gold for 203 days. Eventually, AOP made it to the main roster and won the Raw Tag Team Championship.

    The team aligned with Seth Rollins and Murphy before Rezar suffered a biceps injury. AOP was released from WWE in Sept. 2020.

    While the team has been away for a while, they confirmed that they aren’t done with the industry last year.

  • WWE Signs On For New RPG Video Game

    WWE Signs On For New RPG Video Game

    WWE will be tackling the RPG genre with its video game division.

    WWE has long seen the value in using gaming to market its brand. WWF WrestleMania was the company’s first officially licensed game and it was released for the NES back in early 1989. Just a few months later, WWF Superstars hit Arcades.

    Today, WWE still releases multiple video games. The promotion takes full advantage of the mobile market and is partnered with 2K Games for console releases.

    WWE Enters RPG Space

    During the Q1 2022 earnings call, WWE CBO Stephanie McMahon announced that the promotion is taking a dive into the world of RPG video games (h/t Wrestling Inc).

    “We continue to see strength in the performance of our mobile games, with 2K and Scopely’s Supercard and Champions, and recently signed a new deal in the role-playing game space that will be announced soon.”

    Stephanie further discussed WWE’s commitment to gaming for over 30 years.

    “Gaming is a priority for WWE to reach our next-gen audience with over 80% of WWE’s audience self-identifying as gamers, and nearly 60% of the gaming audience in general being 34 years or younger.”

    There are plenty of RPGs in the mobile, console, and PC markets. Time will tell if WWE can draw in a solid player base for its soon-to-be-announced role-playing title.

    WWE’s latest major video game is WWE 2K22. SEScoops reviewed the game, which you can see here.

  • Charlotte “Absolutely” Open to Unifying WWE Women’s Titles

    Charlotte “Absolutely” Open to Unifying WWE Women’s Titles

    Charlotte Flair has a long list of accolades to her name, but this one could put things over the top.

    There’s no denying that Charlotte is a future WWE Hall of Famer. She is one of the top performers in WWE and is recognized as a 13-time world champion in the company. Could undisputed gold be in her sights down the road?

    • Charlotte flair

    Charlotte Unifying Titles?

    During an appearance on El Brunch de WWE, Charlotte was asked about potentially unifying the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Titles. After all, Roman Reigns is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

    “The Queen” answered by saying she’d be all for it (h/t POST Wrestling).

    “Absolutely [I’d be up for unifying the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Titles]. Yeah, but I don’t feel like I need the Raw or SmackDown Title to be the queen of both divisions [Flair laughed].”

    Surpassing Father’s Achievement

    Charlotte went on to say that her next big goal is to break Ric Flair’s record of holding 16 world titles in WWE.

    “I think it’s just continuing the legacy, beating my dad’s record. I’m a 13-time champion, so I’m getting close to 16-time. I think that’s probably next.”

    The SmackDown Women’s Champion is currently in a feud with Ronda Rousey. She’ll put her gold on the line against “Rowdy” at the WrestleMania Backlash event in an I Quit Match on May 8.

    Do you think WWE should consider unifying the women’s titles?

  • Nikki Bella Set To Host Celebrity Game Show On USA Network

    Nikki Bella Set To Host Celebrity Game Show On USA Network

    Nikki Bella will be back on USA Network but it won’t be for WWE.

    Deadline reports that musician Blake Shelton and Carson Daly will be teaming up to start a new game show titled, “Barmageddon.” The show will be airing on USA Network. On the show, celebrities will compete in a series of bar games.

    Nikki Bella Hosting Barmageddon

    Nikki Bella will serve as the host of the upcoming game show. Shelton will be on stage with his house band, while Daly will be behind the bar.

    Here’s an official description of Barmageddon:

    “In each episode, two celebrities will play a unique set of five games in the bar to win a much-needed prize for a viral Internet sensation each has chosen to support. Plucked from obscurity following their epic misadventures on the Internet, these now-infamous stars find themselves at Ole Red hoping to be redeemed.

    The competition heats up when the losing rival of each round has a chance to even the score by spinning the Wheel of Redemption, a risky move with hilarious consequences. Shelton and Daly will offer words of encouragement – and heckling, of course – to their celebrity friends.

    On occasion, they might even step in to show off their skills and play a game or two. Ultimately, the winning team takes home a prize while the losing celebrity must accept the shame of defeat. But this is Barmageddon – even if they did not win, at least they had a ton of fun trying.”

    The show will be filmed in Blake Shelton’s own bar, Ole Red, in Nashville.

    Bella made waves back in April when she said she’d be open to a WWE return during a Q&A session for America’s Got Talent: Extreme. She said that if the doctors give her clearance, then she won’t rule out the possibility.

  • AEW Dark: Elevation Taping Altered Due To Power Failure

    AEW Dark: Elevation Taping Altered Due To Power Failure

    A recent taping for AEW Dark: Elevation was hindered due to issues with power.

    Ahead of the May 4 episode of Dynamite, AEW taped matches for Dark: Elevation. The matches included Max Caster vs. Cheeseburger, Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. QT Marshall & Nick Comoroto, Abandon vs. Emi Sakura, and Sonny Kiss vs. Peter Avalon. The Dark Order was also in action.

    Power Struggles At AEW Dark: Elevation

    There was one match on the Dark: Elevation tapings that won’t be airing on May 9. Nyla Rose took on Skye Blue but AEW couldn’t film the match due to a power failure.

    Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline shared the details:

    “The entrance and the announcing place all of a sudden went dark. So, they did the match, Max Caster won, and then they did another match that they announced which was Skye Blue and Nyla Rose and they just said, ‘This match is only for you fans in the arena, it will never air.’ Because they couldn’t tape it because they had the power failure, or whatever it was. Luckily, they got the thing fixed by eight o’clock and there was no problem with Dynamite.”

    As Meltzer mentioned, you wouldn’t know there were power issues watching Dynamite live. The situation cleared up before the live airing.

    Time will tell if AEW rebooks Nyla Rose vs. Skye Blue so that the match can air. For those wondering, Nyla won the match as one might’ve guessed.

    The Lee & Strickland vs. QT & Comoroto match was taped after Dynamite.

  • Tessa Blanchard Seemingly Responds To Reports Of Tension With WOW

    Tessa Blanchard Seemingly Responds To Reports Of Tension With WOW

    It appears Tessa Blanchard has shared a post in response to a report regarding her future with Women of Wrestling.

    On May 4, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that the relationship between Tessa and WOW had gotten rocky ahead of the promotion’s return tapings. The report noted that many have been none too pleased with Tessa after she “tore apart” Samantha Sage verbally during an April workshop class.

    As a result, it’s been said that the acting classes were canceled until further notice. Another source claimed that Tessa is no longer in charge of training talent and has been replaced by Selina Majors.

    Standing Up for Your Beliefs

    Tessa Blanchard took to her Instagram Stories shortly after the report surfaced. In the story, she shared a post with an interesting quote:

    “When standing up for your beliefs becomes a matter of great inconvenience, will you stand anyway?”

    Tessa Blanchard: Lightning Rod for Controversy

    Per the Fightful report, a source implied that Tessa will only be able to find work in Mexico going forward. One former WOW star is under the impression that Tessa is gone from the company but that isn’t a confirmation.

    When WOW first announced its relaunch, Tessa was at the forefront as one of the promotion’s biggest stars. Having scored a deal with ViacomCBS, many questioned WOW for putting faith in Blanchard despite past accusations of her toxic behavior.

    Blanchard has denied accusations of racism and bullying, which were brought about in early 2020. She also had a nasty split from Impact Wrestling while she was the promotion’s world champion.

  • Dolph Ziggler’s Hilarious Response To His Brother Getting AEW Merchandise

    Dolph Ziggler’s Hilarious Response To His Brother Getting AEW Merchandise

    Dolph Ziggler is having some fun after his brother, Ryan Nemeth, received AEW merchandise.

    Dolph performs under the WWE banner, while Ryan works for AEW. The two have been known for roasting each other on social media and the antics certainly haven’t shown signs of slowing down.

    Dolph Ziggler Roasts His Brother

    AEW has rolled out some new merchandise for Ryan Nemeth and it’s available on ShopAEW. It’s a big deal for Ryan and he made sure he let Dolph know about it.

    https://twitter.com/ryrynemnem/status/1521914433093648384

    “Ha! @HEELZiggler you see this?”

    Dolph responded and as expected, he had some fun with it.

    “Wow!!! Big Patty Mayonnaise meets Don Martin, vibes.”

    Dolph also had one more brotherly jab for the road.

    “DESTROY IT!”

    Dolph Ziggler has had a long career with WWE. He signed a contract with the company back in 2004, developing under Ohio Valley Wrestling. He made his main roster debut as Chavo Guerrero’s caddie. Chavo had undergone a gimmick change and was known as Kerwin White.

    The ball started to get rolling with Dolph when he joined the Spirit Squad. Eventually, Dolph became a singles competitor and captured multiple championships in WWE. This included a brief World Heavyweight Title run.

    More recently, Ziggler became the NXT Champion. The reign fell short of lasting a full month as Dolph was pinned by Bron Breakker on the post-WrestleMania episode of Raw.

  • Women’s Title Match Announced For AEW Double Or Nothing

    Women’s Title Match Announced For AEW Double Or Nothing

    AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa’s next challenger has been revealed.

    Rosa is approaching the two-month mark of her AEW Women’s Championship reign. She captured the title during the St. Patrick’s Day Slam edition of Dynamite, defeating Britt Baker.

    Thunder Rosa made her way out to the stage during the May 4 episode of Dynamite. Serena Deeb saw it as a perfect opportunity to address the champion. We then learned that Rosa vs. Deeb is now official for the Double or Nothing PPV set for May 29 in Las Vegas.

    Here is the confrontation between Rosa and Deeb:

    Here is what the card is looking like for Double or Nothing so far:

    • Hangman Page (c) vs. CM Punk – AEW World Championship
    • Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Serena Deeb – AEW Women’s World Championship
    • Men’s Owen Hart Cup finals
    • Women’s Owen Hart Cup finals
  • Mercedes Martinez is the Undisputed ROH Women’s Champion

    Mercedes Martinez is the Undisputed ROH Women’s Champion

    Mercedes Martinez has ushered in a new era for ROH by unifying the women’s gold.

    On the May 4 episode of AEW Dynamite, Martinez went toe-to-toe with Deonna Purrazzo. Going into the match, Martinez was the interim ROH Women’s Champion while Purrazzo was the main titleholder.

    Something had to give in the main event of Dynamite. In the end, it was Mercedes Martinez who forced Purrazzo to tap out via Surfboard Dragon Sleeper. She is now the undisputed ROH Women’s Champion.

    Peep the highlights below:

  • Former ROH COO Grateful After Sale Closes

    Former ROH COO Grateful After Sale Closes

    The former COO of ROH, Joe Koff, has issued a statement expressing gratitude following the sale of Ring of Honor.

    Back in March, AEW President Tony Khan announced he is the new owner of ROH. SEScoops first reported that the sale hadn’t officially closed but ROH staff members were expecting that to change as soon as April.

    It may have taken a tad bit longer but Khan announced that the sale has finally closed.

    Wrestling financial analyst, Lavie Margolin, added the following:

    “Here we go, in the 8K filing: ‘In May, the Company sold certain assets of Ring of Honor Entertainment, including the wrestling promotion’s extensive video library dating back to 2002, brand assets, intellectual property, production equipment and more, to an affiliate of AEW.’”

    Joe Koff Issues Statement

    If there’s one person who fought tooth and nail for ROH over the years it was Joe Koff. He took to his LinkedIn page to respond to the ROH sale close.

    “What started with a dinner with Cary Silkin some 12 years ago, ended with Episode 552 of Ring of Honor television, which aired recently across our Ring of Honor network, featuring all of the Sinclair Broadcast stations, Bally Sports Networks, Marquee, select stations across America, regional cable systems, international clearances, STIRR, and Honor Club.

    “12 years. 552 weekly original hours. Over 1,000+ hours of additional match content. Close to 100 podcasts. YouTube specials. Honor Club. PPV’s. Live House shows on 3 continents. Merchandise. And let me not forget a SOLD OUT Madison Garden. That was our Ring of Honor and now, it is in the most capable hands of AEW and the brilliant Tony Kahn along with all of the stars that shone in our Ring and the new stars sure to glow as brightly in his Ring of Honor. Thank you again Tony.

    “As I look back on this amazing journey, there are so many people who joined this journey with me, our staff, our brilliant athletes that you will always know as Ring of Honor, our partners in production and distribution, our vendors and most importantly, you, our fans. I want to thank you personally for your continuous support, belief in me and our product, what we could do, what we would do, what we did!

    “It was the journey of a lifetime and I thank you for sharing it with me.”

  • W. Morrissey Once Infuriated Triple H Over A Promo

    W. Morrissey Once Infuriated Triple H Over A Promo

    W. Morrissey has reflected on the time Triple H was none too pleased with him over a promo that wasn’t in the script.

    Morrissey performed as “Big Cass” under the WWE banner. He teamed with Enzo Amore and there was a time when the team received red hot crowd reactions. Eventually, the two were split and their WWE careers never quite took off like many were hoping.

    W. Morrissey Leaves Triple H Fuming

    During an appearance on The Sessions with Renee Paquette, W. Morrissey revealed that the decision he and Enzo made to sing a Frank Sinatra song at SummerSlam got them an earful from Triple H due to concerns of copyright (h/t Wrestling Inc).

    “Creatively, it was just a new set of talent to work with, to do promos with. We got to do things with the New Day, which was awesome to kind of feed off of other tag teams and have fun with that. We did the one segment with the New Day overseas in the UK, and it’s just a totally different ballgame. NXT is, I guess it’s less worrisome, it’s less nervewracking, and it’s not as big of a deal. When you get to WWE, it’s kind of like everything you do is a big deal and it could have consequences. We messed up a few times.

    “I can think of one time when we really messed up. We went off-script at Summerslam in Brooklyn and sang a Frank Sinatra song. You can’t sing or imitate things that are copyrighted. That was a stern talking too. He was furious, Hunter. We didn’t know. We didn’t know those sorts of things.

    “I think everything is amplified and it’s so much bigger, and the magnitude of things you do and the consequences of the things you do are way bigger. That’s something that maybe, in the moment, I didn’t realize. But you’re on live television. If you mess up or do something that can cost the company, that’s on you. It’s way bigger, it comes with a lot more money and a lot more glory, whatever you want to call it, but you have to watch yourself a lot more.”

    Morrissey currently works for Impact Wrestling. It has been heavily implied that Wardlow’s mystery opponent for the May 4 episode of AEW Dynamite will be Morrissey. Impact and AEW have worked together in the past, so this wouldn’t be surprising to many.

  • Kenny Omega Frustrated With Yuke’s During AEW Fight Forever Development (Report)

    Kenny Omega Frustrated With Yuke’s During AEW Fight Forever Development (Report)

    It appears things aren’t exactly rosy between Kenny Omega and developer Yuke’s.

    Omega has played a big role in the AEW Games division. Many credit him with pushing AEW to release the upcoming Fight Forever title.

    While Kenny has shown great enthusiasm publicly, as Kofi Kingston used to say, “Looks like there’s trouble in paradise.”

    Kenny Omega Not Pleased With Yuke’s?

    • Kenny Omega AEW game

    Sports Gamers Online is reporting that throughout the making of AEW Fight Forever, Kenny Omega and Yuke’s haven’t been on the same page.

    The report notes that the feeling is Yuke’s has been taking advantage of Kenny due to his inexperience in the video game business.

    The report also notes that Omega has gone as far as “hating” working with the developer. It’s been said that the game is “way over budget” and even needed an extra investment.

    Issues with the budget have reportedly led to some features being scaled back or removed entirely.

    As far as the relationship between AEW, specifically Omega, and Yuke’s is concerned, sources told SGO there is a chance it can be repaired. With that said, some people on both sides wouldn’t be surprised if this is a “one and done” deal.

    Yuke’s had been the longtime developer of WWE games until the two parted ways back in 2019. Omega initially wanted the team who made the WWF No Mercy game for the N64 but ultimately, Yuke’s got the call.

    The AEW Fight Forever roster is expected to feature around 50 playable characters, which means there will inevitably be some disappointing omissions from the core roster.

  • GRAPHIC: AEW Star Has One-Inch Hole On His Neck Following Procedure

    GRAPHIC: AEW Star Has One-Inch Hole On His Neck Following Procedure

    A member of the AEW roster has dealt with a nightmare mouth infection.

    In late April, Fuego Del Sol revealed that he was hospitalized due to the infection. The medical issue was bad enough that he needed to undergo surgery. The good news for Fuego is that he was eventually released from the hospital but the aftermath is gnarly.

    Poor Fuego

    Fuego Del Sol took to his Twitter account and shared that he has been left with a one-inch hole on his neck following the procedure.

    https://twitter.com/FuegoDelSol/status/1521556674061996033

    “Had a drainage tube taken out of my neck this morning and now I have an unstitched 1-inch hole in my neck… it’s wild!”

    Of course, some requested an image of the hole. Among those asking for a pic was AEW referee Aubrey Edwards. That old saying, “be careful what you wish for” couldn’t ring more true than now.

    Below is a photo of the unstitched hole but BE WARNED it is graphic.

    https://twitter.com/FuegoDelSol/status/1521559451068768257

    Surely, there are better days ahead for Fuego following this less-than-ideal experience.

    Del Sol nabbed an AEW contract following a match with Miro back in 2021. He’s mostly been used to put over the bigger stars of AEW but he’s shown flashes of what he’s capable of in the ring.