SEScoops

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

  • AEW: Julia Hart Out Of Women’s Casino Battle Royale, Replacement Set

    AEW: Julia Hart Out Of Women’s Casino Battle Royale, Replacement Set

    Julia Hart no longer has a spot in the All Out Casino Battle Royale.

    Hart was going to be one of the participants in the match on Sept. 5. Plans have changed. On the pre-All Out edition of AEW Dark, Hart was attacked by Nyla Rose and Jade Cargill backstage. Nyla placed a chair on Hart’s leg and Jade stomped on it, so AEW is running an injury angle to explain Hart’s removal.

    “BREAKING: AEW doctors won’t clear Julia Hart to compete in tomorrow’s Casino Battle Royale due to the injuries from this attack by Nyla Rose and Jade Cargill
    earlier on AEW Dark.”

    Hart has been replaced by Skye Blue, who wrestled Red Velvet in a losing effort on AEW Dark. Tony Khan made his way out to announce that Blue will be entering the match this Sunday night.

    https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1434299486382305280

    “Because of the attack on Julia Hart earlier by Nyla & Jade, there’s an opening in tomorrow’s Casino Battle Royale & AEW GM Tony Khan, impressed w/ Skye Blue’s losing effort vs Red Velvet, adds her to the match!”

    The match was initially set to be featured on the Buy In show before the All Out PPV begins. The match was promoted to the main card after visa issues postponed Pac vs. Andrade “El Idolo.”

  • Eddie Kingston On CM Punk: I See Someone Who Is Hungrier & Happier

    Eddie Kingston On CM Punk: I See Someone Who Is Hungrier & Happier

    Eddie Kingston believes that CM Punk has his smile back.

    Punk made his return to the wrestling industry after being away for seven years. The self-proclaimed “Best in the World” left WWE in early 2014. Punk returned on the Aug. 20 edition of AEW Rampage.

    Kingston spoke to Inside The Ropes and gave his take on Punk’s return to the wrestling business under the AEW banner.

    “I found out because you hear whispers. Certain people who have certain stroke and control were also into the whispers and it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s happening.’ Without them telling me it was happening, it was, ‘Oh, it’s happening.’ I got super excited. I first met Punk when I was 21 when he came to CHIKARA for a special seminar. He’s one of the rare guys that has a name that the name brings people in. Nowadays, it’s AEW, that name or WWE, that name or NWA, that name.

    “When you put CM Punk, you’re coming for CM Punk. He’s become an old-school name. I love that he’s here. When I look in his eyes, I see old Punk. I see someone who is hungrier and happier. Mentally, in his eyes, I can see he’s in a better place than he was when I saw him while he was with WWE in the end. I ran into him and he didn’t seem like himself. Now, he seems better than himself. That’s good for the locker room because a lot of people can learn from him. That’s good for AEW because a lot of people are going to come and tune in now and they’re going to see everybody and not just him. People coming to see Punk is good for the company. Also, it’s fun. Why do something when it’s not fun? This is fun. I’m living a dream and having him here to help with that dream, selfishly, is amazing.”

    Punk is set to have his first match since Jan. 2014. He will go one-on-one with Darby Allin this Sunday night (Sept. 5). The match will be featured on the All Out PPV card inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

  • Maria Kanellis Claims WWE Spread False Rumors About Her Pregnancy

    Maria Kanellis Claims WWE Spread False Rumors About Her Pregnancy

    Maria Kanellis has claimed that false rumors of her pregnancy came directly from WWE.

    Back in April 2020, Maria and Mike Bennett were released from their WWE contracts. This was a part of a wave of post-WrestleMania roster cuts that year. The two unleashed several rants about the company in the following months.

    During an interview with Cageside Seats, Maria claimed she let WWE know about her second pregnancy before signing a contract extension. She claims that WWE officials told her it wasn’t an issue and that Vince McMahon loves kids.

    Soon, Maria Kanellis began hearing rumors that she didn’t inform WWE of her pregnancy plans. She claims those rumors came straight from WWE.

    “From there, I started getting direct messages from different news outlets. ‘Oh, did you not tell them blah blah, blah.’ Those rumors are coming directly from WWE and they are just trying to make us look bad so that when they release us they can feel better about it? But we give them every opportunity to restructure my contract or not pay me as much. They came with more money. That’s not my fault. And so those are the facts.

    “Mike was on the road every single weekend during his recovery. He didn’t go to WWE recovery. They didn’t pay for his recovery. If they had, Mike would have ended up paying 50 percent of it back anyways through his contract. A little-known fact. Linda McMahon actually spoke about it during a congressional Congress interrogation, I guess you would call it. So you guys can look it up if you want facts. Those are the facts that even if they had, Mike would have paid for fifty percent of it anyways. But they did not. If you look it up, you can find out that WWE was on the road every single weekend that I was pregnant. He did not go to rehab. He did not go away.”

    Since their WWE releases, Maria and Mike have returned to Ring of Honor.

  • John Cena Reveals His Choice For Best Actor In WWE

    John Cena Reveals His Choice For Best Actor In WWE

    John Cena has unveiled his choice for the best actor in WWE.

    Cena has been making a smooth transition from the ring to Hollywood. Cena recently made a brief return to the WWE, losing to WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in the main event of SummerSlam. Cena plans to make an appearance on the Sept. 10 episode of SmackDown, which will take place inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    Speaking to Dan Patrick on That Scene, Cena explained why he looks at Vince McMahon as the best actor in WWE.

    “Vince McMahon. This is his thing and he took it from being a regional thing to national and global. He gets it because he created it. The way he walks, the way he talks, his run as the Chairman in the middle of the Attitude Era, evil Vince, he’s made for it. And he gets it. Like he puts ego and self aside and goes out there and gives everything to it.”

    John Cena went on to talk about why WWE has taken the wrestling industry and put their own spin on it with sports entertainment.

    “I think it had something to do with, I say I think because it’s complete speculation if we were entertainment we could be in more places and do more things. And I think that’s why we admitted its entertainment. A lot of the mystique used to be around whether it was real or not, and that was twenty, thirty years ago. So we’re still going strong with a larger reach than ever. It just goes to show that people just want to be entertained, they just want a chance to escape.”

  • Finn Balor: Roman Reigns Is A Once-In-A-Lifetime Talent

    Finn Balor: Roman Reigns Is A Once-In-A-Lifetime Talent

    Finn Balor believes Roman Reigns is one special individual in the wrestling business.

    Balor and Reigns are currently involved in a feud on TV. Balor believes he has unfinished business with Reigns after John Cena took his spot at SummerSlam. Balor made his message clear when he and the Street Profits cleaned house on the “Tribal Chief” and The Usos on the Aug. 27 edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

    During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Balor said he feels fans are finally starting to see just how valuable Reigns is.

    “I want to address five years ago, when I first locked up with Roman Reigns. The world was talking s— about Roman and his abilities and his performances. From the first moment we locked up, I knew he was something special. He was operating on a different level that people didn’t quite fully understand. Now people are learning he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Roman’s proven that over and again, and the masses have accepted and acknowledged that ability and growth. His presence is just unimaginable right now.

    “I remember fighting in an Extreme Rules main event in 2017. I’d done my entrance, Samoa Joe did his entrance, a few others did their entrance, and then Roman did his entrance. I remember getting goosebumps as the energy just changed. It’s more raw than the Cena reaction. The Cena reaction is one-of-a-kind, but there is something uniquely different about when Roman steps into the arena.”

    Reigns has garnered praise for his “Head of the Table” character. Many believe the transition was much needed for the WWE Universal Champion’s career. For years, Reigns developed the reputation of being a “vanilla” babyface that the WWE brass was trying to force. Now, many believe he’s the best thing going on WWE TV.

  • Will Ospreay Added To Chris Jericho’s Rock N’ Rager at Sea Cruise

    Will Ospreay Added To Chris Jericho’s Rock N’ Rager at Sea Cruise

    Will Ospreay has been added to Chris Jericho’s upcoming Rock N’ Rager cruise but don’t expect him to wrestle.

    Ospreay has taken the wrestling world by storm over the years. He has gone from a high-flying junior-heavyweight to a heavyweight main eventer. Ospreay is the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. In storyline, he has taken issue with NJPW brass for stripping him of the gold due to injury.

    Here’s the press release hyping up Ospreay’s appearance on Jericho’s cruise.

    “The hotshot Assasin is currently signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling and holds their former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion title, and he’s also the reigning British Heavyweight Champion of Revolution Pro Wrestling in addition to many other impressive career feats.

    “While Will won’t be wrestling on board, he will be making special appearances throughout the cruise!

    In addition to this HUGE lineup announcement, we’re also excited to share that the legendary Madusa will be taking on the role of Guest Cruise Director and Bully Ray is joining Brad Williams to tag-team as Guest Hosts! With the fate of the Triple Whammy’s activities in these hands, you don’t want to miss out on the best experience of your life!”

    As mentioned in the press release, Bully Ray will be serving as a guest host on the cruise. Medusa is the Guest Cruise Director. Kurt Angle is set to be the Guest of Honor. AEW talent such as Britt Baker, Orange Cassidy, Lance Archer, and more will also be featured on the cruise.

  • X-Division Title Match Added To Sept. 18 Victory Road Card

    X-Division Title Match Added To Sept. 18 Victory Road Card

    The Impact Victory Road card for Sept. 18 just got another title match.

    On the Sept. 2 edition of Impact Wrestling, Josh Alexander put his X-Division Title on the line in an open challenge. Jake Crist ended up accepting the challenge. Alexander defeated Crist to retain his gold.

    After the match, Alexander said he feels he has to be in the conversation for the greatest X-Division Champion of all time.

    Alexander was interrupted by Chris Sabin, who knows a thing or two about carrying the X-Division Title.

    Sabin showed his respect for Alexander. He went as far as to say Alexander is one of the best wrestlers he’s ever seen in the ring. With that said, Sabin let Alexander know that must beat him to be in that conversation as the greatest X-Division Champion of all time. Sabin laid down the challenge for Victory Road.

    Alexander shook Sabin’s hand, signaling an acceptance of the challenge. Now, Impact has made the match official.

    “BREAKING: Josh Alexander will defend the X-Division Championship against Chris Sabin at Victory Road on September 18th!”

    Headlining Victory Road will be an Impact Wrestling World Title match. Champion Christian Cage will put his gold on the line against Ace Austin.

  • Britt Baker Not Interested In Wrestling Outside Of AEW

    Britt Baker Not Interested In Wrestling Outside Of AEW

    The “Forbidden Door” has led to many intriguing matches and angles but don’t expect Britt Baker to show up for a promotion outside of AEW.

    Baker is the reigning AEW Women’s Champion. She captured the gold back in May at Double or Nothing when she defeated Shida. Britt’s victory ended Shida’s 372-day title reign.

    As of late, we’ve seen AEW work with a slew of different promotions. We’ve seen cross-promotion with the likes of NJPW, AAA, Impact Wrestling, and NWA. It has led many fans to think of potential fantasy matchups.

    Speaking at Planet Comic-Con, Britt said that if anyone wishes to wrestle her from another company, they will have to make the trip to AEW.

    “I’m not going anywhere because I’m in the hottest professional wrestling company on the planet. I don’t need to go anywhere. They can come here, and that’s fine, but I have no desire to go anywhere because they can all come to us.

    “Everyone has their own different path. I’m the baddest b*tch of the block in AEW and, again, if they want to come to me I welcome them all with open arms. Please step foot in my ring.”

    Britt Baker is scheduled to make her third title defense against Kris Statlander. The championship match will take place this Sunday night (Sept. 5). It’ll be a part of the All Out PPV inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

  • Karl Anderson Stirs Drama Following Rant On WWE

    Karl Anderson Stirs Drama Following Rant On WWE

    Karl Anderson has gone on quite the Twitter rant and many fans aren’t pleased.

    Anderson once worked under the WWE banner along with his tag team partner Doc Gallows. The two even signed a lucrative contract extension but were released shortly after WrestleMania back in 2020.

    Anderson now works for Impact Wrestling and has appeared on AEW TV with The Elite. Anderson and Gallows are the current Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions.

    Anderson found himself at the center of controversy on Twitter. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful tweeted the news that WWE has sent out a memo offering talent mental health counseling services in the wake of Daffney’s passing.

    Anderson rubbed people the wrong way in a since-deleted response to Sapp’s tweet. Anderson said, “They suck bro.”

    He went on to rant about NXT. “What happened to the Wednesday night wars? F*ck they gave up quick. NXT was putting out [a] sh*t product constantly, this is on them and Hunter.”

    https://twitter.com/MachineGunKA/status/1433571240229445634

    Anderson later responded to a ton of Twitter users who have criticized him for his comments. He has even threatened some fans, saying he can’t wait to meet them in person, and then used a fist emoji.

    Karl Anderson was seen on the Sept. 1 edition of AEW Dynamite. He joined Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and the rest of The Elite in their beatdown of Christian Cage and The Lucha Bros.

  • John Cena: Conor McGregor Would Be ‘Fantastic’ Addition To WWE Roster

    John Cena: Conor McGregor Would Be ‘Fantastic’ Addition To WWE Roster

    John Cena believes that Conor McGregor can do great things inside a WWE ring.

    McGregor is regarded as the most popular MMA fighter the sport has ever seen. He has garnered mass appeal for a long period of time, even longer Ronda Rousey. While he has seen better days inside the Octagon, going 1-3 in his last four outings, the “Notorious” one remains the top PPV draw in the UFC.

    Cena knows a thing or two about sports entertainment and he feels McGregor is tailor-made for WWE. Speaking to Dan Patrick, Cena said he’s of the belief that McGregor would fit right in the WWE mold.

    “He’d be fantastic. He is what we do. It’s a little less predictable. Our surprises are getting people to show up at random and weave the ‘choose your own adventure’ into a different alley. His surprises are getting a few teeth knocked out or getting an operation. Not to say that this doesn’t happen with us, mistakes happen, but in his profession, it’s not a mistake. I hope (he makes an appearance) because I want to see it. At my core, I’m a fan. He’s interesting and has a gravity about him. I want to see him perform.”

    McGregor has said some things about Cena in the past that haven’t been so flattering. During a media scrum back in 2016, McGregor had the following to say about Cena.

    “What’s the main guy? John Cena. He’s 40. He’s 40 years of age. He’s walking around in a luminous orange T-shirt and a headband talking about nobody can see him. We can see him right there. He’s a big, fat, 40-year-old failed Mr. Olympia motherf*cker.”

  • Omos Reflects On Embarrassing Moment In Front Of The Undertaker

    Omos Reflects On Embarrassing Moment In Front Of The Undertaker

    WWE Raw superstar Omos has revealed the time where he was on the receiving end of an embarrassing moment in front of The Undertaker.

    Omos has been portrayed as an intimidating giant on WWE TV. He has found great success with AJ Styles. The two reigned as Raw Tag Team Champions for 133 days. They ended up losing the titles to Randy Orton and Riddle at SummerSlam.

    While Omos is an intimidating figure, not even he is immune from embarrassing situations. During an appearance on Rasslin’ With Brandon F. Walker, Omos admitted he did indeed rip his pants in front of The Undertaker and two other legends.

    “Yes, that did happen. So, at the [Performance Center] we have events that we call ‘PC Lives’. And the day before the PC Live, this was I think, right before the Mania in New York. Everyone came down and came to town. It was just like ‘You know what? We’re doing that tomorrow, if you have any dress-up attire, bring it.’ As you can tell, I like my pants skinny, and I had skinny dress pants. I put them on, and [they said] something about rehearsals. You’re going to hop over the top rope. I did it one time, and I’m fine. I did it one time and they said ‘You have to do it again.’ I said ‘Brother, my pants are going to rip.’ And they said ‘Oh no, no.’ I did it again and I got comfortable. And the fourth time I tried to go, it rips, literally.

    “I’m just like, ‘What am I going to do?’ I can’t go home; I don’t have another pair of pants. Let’s go on with the show. So, the whole time I’m doing the show I’m standing at ringside and my whole backside is just exposed. They have Undertaker, Batista, Hunter. Everybody’s there. And my butt is just hanging out.”

  • WWE Producer Comments On ‘Rough’ Charlotte vs. Nia Jax Match

    WWE Producer Comments On ‘Rough’ Charlotte vs. Nia Jax Match

    A WWE producer has weighed in on the much-talked-about match between Charlotte and Nia Jax.

    On the Aug. 30 edition of Monday Night Raw, Charlotte and Jax went one-on-one. Jax ended up getting the three-count but the match appeared to go off the rails. There was miscommunication in the ring and at some point, it looked as if both Charlotte and Jax were taking legit shots at each other before finally settling on the finish.

    D-Von Dudley made an appearance on the “Table Talk” podcast and he addressed what went wrong.

    “A lot of people suspect Nia and Charlotte got into it heavy. I even heard some reports that they were beating each other up in the back. Number one, they weren’t beating each other up in the back. Something happened in the ring, they handled it the way they handled it and they got over it. It’s as simple as that. They got over it.

    “Were things done in the ring? I think it’s obvious. No dirtsheet writer can put me on blast and go, ‘Well, D-Von said…’ No, everybody saw what happened this past Monday. It got a little rough. It happens. It’s not the first time it happened, but of course, everyone is making a big deal out of it.”

    D-Von went on to say that the one good thing that can come out of the incident is that more eyeballs will be on their next meeting. D-Von feels a well-built match can lead to good business for WWE.

  • Hammerstone Cashes In MLW Title Shot Against Jacob Fatu On Oct. 2

    Hammerstone Cashes In MLW Title Shot Against Jacob Fatu On Oct. 2

    Alexander Hammerstone has made a major announcement.

    Back in July, Hammerstone won MLW Battle Riot III. This earned him a guaranteed shot at MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu. We now know when Hammerstone is cashing in his title match.

    During an interview with Alicia Atout, the MLW National Openweight Champion made his big reveal.

    “The time is now because I’m announcing that I’m officially gonna cash in that title shot October 2nd in Philadelphia at Fightland.

    “It’s gonna be title for title. There’s nowhere to run anymore, nowhere to hide, no more games. I’m gonna hike that 300-pound Samoan up for the Nightmare Pendulum and swing him down. His reign of terror, Contra’s reign of terror is coming to an end and your boy Hammer is gonna stand tall at Fightland.”

    Fightland will be taking place inside the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA. MLW has announced that Tajiri of All Japan Pro Wrestling will be appearing at the event.

    Here are some other names you can expect at Fightland.

    • World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu
    • National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone
    • The Von Erichs
    • King Muertes
    • Azteca Underground
    • Alicia Atout
    • Mads Krügger
    • “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
    • Davey Richards
    • Richard Holliday
    • World Middleweight Champion Myron Reed
    • EJ Nduka
    • Calvin Tankman
    • Gino Medina
    • Ikuro Kwon
    • Jordan Oliver
    • And MORE!
  • Max Caster’s Status With AEW Revealed (Spoiler)

    Max Caster’s Status With AEW Revealed (Spoiler)

    The status of Max Caster in AEW has been unveiled.

    Caster was at the center of controversy during an episode of AEW Dark back in August. Caster dropped a rap referencing the mental health issues of Olympian Simone Biles and the 2006 Duke lacrosse rape case. The rap was edited out of Dark and Caster hasn’t been seen on TV since.

    Many have wondered about the status of Caster and we now have a clear answer. During an AEW Dark taping, Caster appeared to help his tag partner Anthony Bowens get a victory over Griff Garrison.

    It was reported by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio that Caster was sent to sensitivity training due to the rap.

    “After what happened last week and the fallout, Max Caster has been sent to sensitivity training,” wrote Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    Khan made it clear that he will be overseeing the editing process of AEW Dark going forward. He wants to avoid situations like this from happening again.

    Caster is set for a rap performance on Sept. 2. He’ll be inside the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, Illinois. The performance takes place just three nights before AEW’s big All Out PPV inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

  • WWE Star Asuka Gets Teeth Fixed, Seen In Arm Sling

    WWE Star Asuka Gets Teeth Fixed, Seen In Arm Sling

    Former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka may have revealed why she’s been out of action.

    Asuka hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since the July 18 Money in the Bank PPV. “The Empress of Tomorrow” competed in the women’s money in the bank match in a losing effort. Nikki A.S.H. ended up winning the match and she successfully cashed in her briefcase the following night.

    In a Twitter post, Asuka let fans know that she has a new set of teeth but she was also in an arm sling.

    https://twitter.com/wweasuka/status/1432837555498618880?s=21

    Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter previously reported that health issues weren’t to blame for Asuka’s absence. At the time of the report, Meltzer claimed she left a Raw taping early simply because she wasn’t being used.

    Asuka was none too pleased with the report and took to her Twitter account to deny it.

    “Nothing has been revealed. That information is totally wrong. Really different. Completely different. Everything is different. I would like to ask the information provider. Don’t make a fake story.”

    As far as Asuka being seen in an arm sling is concerned, there is no update at this time. If anything on the matter surfaces, SEScoops will keep you up to speed.

  • Anna Jay Returns, Set to Compete In Casino Battle Royale At All Out

    Anna Jay Returns, Set to Compete In Casino Battle Royale At All Out

    Anna Jay has made her return to AEW just before the All Out PPV.

    On the Sept. 1 edition of Dynamite, Tay Conti went one-on-one with Penelope Ford. Ford recently aligned herself with The Bunny. Ford’s interference cost Conti a match against The Bunny on Rampage. Conti got some revenge with a victory over Ford on Dynamite.

    After the match, Ford and The Bunny attacked Conti. Jay’s music hit and she cleared the ring to save her friend. It was then announced that Anna Jay will be competing in the Women’s Casino Battle Royale on Sept. 5 at All Out.

    Jay had suffered a shoulder injury, which was announced back in February. She underwent successful surgery.

    “Hi everyone, I just got out of my shoulder surgery, and all is well. For the next two days I will most likely sleep and eat only ice cream and soup. But after that…I will be working my ass off in any way I can. Thanks for all of the support and well wishes.”

    The Women’s Casino Battle Royale was initially set for the Buy In preshow. The match has been bumped to the PPV portion of All Out after Pac vs. Andrade “El Idolo” was postponed.

    SEScoops will be providing coverage of All Out this weekend. Be sure to stick with us for results and updates throughout the show. All Out takes place inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

  • Tommaso Ciampa Weighs In On Incoming NXT Changes

    Tommaso Ciampa Weighs In On Incoming NXT Changes

    Tommaso Ciampa, one of the mainstays on NXT, has reacted to changes being made to the brand.

    For many, Ciampa has been an MVP of NXT. He had many memorable matches and moments with Johnny Gargano. Ciampa had a heavily praised NXT Title match with Adam Cole back in Feb. 2020 as well. More recently, he had a hard-hitting showdown with WALTER back in April of this year.

    PW Insider first reported that major changes are coming to the NXT brand. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio confirmed the report and added that WWE is looking at NXT as a developmental brand rather than the third major brand. On top of that, it’s been said that WWE is focusing more on bigger-sized talent rather than indie wrestlers.

    First Look At The New WWE NXT Logo

    Speaking to Fightful, Ciampa gave his take on the incoming changes.

    “It’s exciting, man. Change sometimes is for the best, and I don’t know, everyone’s been kind of keeping a tight lid on it, so I really just don’t know what to expect. I think the first live show is gonna be the 14th, I believe, if I’m not incorrect, with whatever this new look and image is.

    “The overall feeling seems to just be excitement, you know, it’s new, it’s different, it’s fresh. And at the same time, it’s the same. Because NXT is NXT, man, and it’s the same roster, same group of guys and girls in the back, they’re just gonna go out there and give their best. It’s the same people behind the scenes, so it’s like, I don’t know. It’s hard to say right now, if it’s just a new paint job or what it is, but it’s exciting at the very least.”

    Tommaso Ciampa also expressed his belief that not much will change for him personally. He says all he’s worried about is continuing to put out quality work and whatever happens, will happen.

  • CM Punk: I Don’t Think WWE Return Was Ever On The Table

    CM Punk: I Don’t Think WWE Return Was Ever On The Table

    CM Punk believes that a return to WWE was pretty much out of the question.

    Punk made his return to the pro wrestling industry after being away for seven years. The self-proclaimed “Best in the World” appeared on the Aug. 20 episode of AEW Rampage. He addressed his decision to return and revealed he will be wrestling Darby Allin at All Out on Sept. 5.

    Appearing on The Angi Taylor Show, Punk explained not mentioning WWE by name in his return promo.

    “I understand life’s tough and not everybody can do it, but I’m just somebody that will just never compromise myself. And I say the place I used to work because I don’t feel it’s specifically necessary to mention them when I don’t have to. I am full of anxiety and stress doing press for AEW right now that I’m inadvertently going to say a whole bunch of stupid stuff. People are going to break it down and use out-of-context quotes for clickbait.

    “But the reality is you can’t talk to me, coming back after seven years, without bringing up the place I used to work. I’m just trying to do my best to not sling mud so to speak because everything I say about them is 100% the truth. I just want to focus on and highlight the positives of the new place I work, AEW. I’m trying here, I’m trying.”

    Punk went on to say there was a time when he didn’t even think about making a return to the ring before AEW got started. He also made it clear that he doesn’t feel a WWE comeback was ever going to happen.

    “I don’t think I considered it. Three years ago, five years ago I don’t think AEW even existed. I don’t think going back to WWE was ever really, logically, on the table.”

    Punk made his exit from WWE following the 2014 Royal Rumble PPV. Punk was said to be destined for a WrestleMania match with Triple H that year. CM Punk told Colt Cabana that he was scheduled to win that match but he was burned out by that point.

  • Pac vs. Andrade ‘El Idolo’ Removed From AEW All Out Card

    Pac vs. Andrade ‘El Idolo’ Removed From AEW All Out Card

    The singles match between Pac and Andrade “El Idolo” will no longer take place at All Out.

    The All Out PPV event is scheduled to take place this Sunday night (Sept. 5). A feud has been brewing between Pac and Andrade. As of late, Andrade and Chavo Guerrero have been trying to pull Lucha Bros from Pac, which has left “The Bastard” in a foul mood.

    The two will not be able to settle their differences inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, however.

    Tony Khan took to his Twitter account to announce that Pac vs. Andrade is now off the All Out card due to travel issues. He revealed what will replace the match on PPV.

    “Thank you to you fans supporting AEW Dynamite LIVE next on TNT! The Women’s Casino Battle Royale, which was booked on the Buy-In, will now be featured on the ALL OUT PPV card. Due to travel issues, ‘The Bastard’ Pac vs. Andrade “El Idolo” bout is postponed until a future AEW Rampage.”

    As Khan mentioned, Pac vs. “El Idolo” will now take place on a future episode of AEW Rampage. There’s no word on exactly which date the rescheduled bout will fall on.

  • Jon Moxley Plans To Commit ‘Felonious Assault’ On Satoshi Kojima

    Jon Moxley Plans To Commit ‘Felonious Assault’ On Satoshi Kojima

    Jon Moxley is going to a dark place ahead of his showdown with Satoshi Kojima.

    On AEW TV, Moxley has made it clear that he’s none too pleased with NJPW talent. He feels the likes of current IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi have been ducking him. One man who has stepped up to the plate is Kojima.

    While Moxley says Kojima is someone to be respected, he still plans on taking out his frustration on the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He went as far as to tell Sports Illustrated that he’s looking to full-on assault Kojima.

    “Kojima is here to be celebrated. With that being said, I’m still planning on committing egregious, felonious assault and trying to end his career, and he’d be insulted if I felt any other way. It’s an honor to share the ring with him, and I can’t wait to throw with him.

    “He still has gas left in the tank, and there’s still something he wants to prove. He’ll be staring across from the baddest motherf—er in the business. I don’t expect it to be long, I don’t expect it to be pretty. It’s going to be violent, and I can’t wait to get in there with him.”

    Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima is scheduled to take place on Sept. 5. The match will be featured on the All Out PPV card. It’ll be held inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Also featured on that card will be the in-ring return of CM Punk as he meets Darby Allin. Plus, Kenny Omega defends the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage.

  • Former ROH World Champion Rush Undergoes Surgery

    Former ROH World Champion Rush Undergoes Surgery

    Rush has gone under the knife following an injury.

    The former two-time ROH World Champion suffered a knee injury during a match at Glory by Honor. The injury was bad enough that he needed to undergo emergency surgery.

    Here’s what La Tijera Lucha Libre is reporting.

    “Rush has undergone emergency surgery and his family sent us this image. Likewise; the Muñoz Dynasty will host a press conference next Thursday at noon to talk about the surgery and his future.”

    Rush was scheduled to be a part of a Six-Man Tag Team Title match against Shane Taylor Promotions on Sept. 12 at Death Before Dishonor in Philadelphia, PA. Bestia del Ring will be replacing Rush.

    Rush first captured the ROH World Title back in Sept. 2019. He defeated Matt Taven for the gold. Rush ended up losing the ROH World Championship to PCO at Final Battle 2019 after a 77-day reign.

    Rush won the title back at Gateway to Honor. His second title reign lasted 498 days as ROH had a down period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rush lost the title against Bandido at Best in the World 2021.

    Stick with SEScoops for updates on Rush as they become available.

  • Latest Report Signals The End Of An Era For NXT

    Latest Report Signals The End Of An Era For NXT

    It looks like the version of NXT as we know it is coming to an end.

    During an edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that sources within WWE have claimed that Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard will be in charge of the production of NXT. This is said to be taking effect on Sept. 14.

    Here’s what Alvarez had to say.

    “Anything is possible but I talked a while ago about how we’re gonna have a new NXT. It’s gonna be like the old NXT. I have heard from several people now that when they go back to live shows, this is going to be a Vince McMahon-Bruce Prichard production.”

    PW Insider first reported that major changes would be made to the NXT brand. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio later followed up, confirming the brand would have a new look and overall feel. Meltzer also noted that WWE is putting greater focus on making NXT a developmental brand as it once was rather than a major third brand.

    We’ve also seen reports claiming that WWE is turning away from signing independent talent. A follow-up update has claimed that WWE talent scouts will still give indie talent a look if they feel it’s worthwhile. With that said, the focus will be on larger-sized talent.

    First Look At The New WWE NXT Logo
  • Billy Corgan Reacts To Ric Flair Referencing WWE At NWA 73

    Billy Corgan Reacts To Ric Flair Referencing WWE At NWA 73

    Billy Corgan has responded to Ric Flair’s WWE references at NWA 73.

    Flair made his return to the NWA this past Sunday night (Aug. 29). Flair spoke to the crowd inside Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri. Flair thanked Corgan for the opportunity and apologized to his family for being on the road so much during his reign as the NWA’s golden goose.

    During his promo, Flair also name-dropped a lot of WWE talents. Flair was quite complimentary of the likes of Randy Orton, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and others. He even thanked Vince McMahon.

    During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Corgan was asked if he knew Flair would make as many WWE references as he did.

    “No, but you know what, Ric said, ‘What do you want me to say?’ I said, ‘Ric, you’re Ric Flair, you can say whatever you want.’ He went, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Yeah, talk about whatever you want. I trust you.’ He said, ‘I want to speak from my heart. I’ve been thinking about what I want to say and it teared me up, thinking about it.’ I said, ‘Do your thing.’ That’s it. That’s what we’re about.

    “Ric Flair has earned the right to step through those ropes and say whatever the damn hell he wants. I asked Ric, ‘Did you wrestle here?’ He said, ‘Many times. (I wrestled) Harley, Dusty, Blackjack.’ He rattled off twenty names and I was like ‘oh my God.’ Of course he can step in the ring and say whatever he wants. You don’t think he’s earned that? I do. I don’t care what anyone else thinks with their company. In my company, Ric Flair can say whatever the damn hell he wants.”

    Flair has wasted little time exploring his options after being let go by WWE. He appeared at AAA’s TripleMania event, accompanying Andrade “El Idolo” to the ring for his match against Kenny Omega. Reports have claimed that Flair is likely AEW bound but he says he hasn’t heard a word from Tony Khan.

  • Tony Khan Explains How Cross-Promotion Benefits AEW

    Tony Khan Explains How Cross-Promotion Benefits AEW

    Tony Khan believes that cross-promotion has been serving AEW well.

    Ever since Chris Jericho and Hiroshi Tanahashi teased the “Forbidden Door” ahead of their Wrestle Kingdom 14 match back in 2020, fans have been buzzing about potential dream matches. While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down, we’ve been seeing the “Forbidden Door” come to life the past few months.

    During an appearance on Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday, Tony Khan explained how doing business with other promotions benefits AEW.

    “IMPACT, AAA, and certainly New Japan, I’ve done a lot of stuff with. It has to make sense for AEW and we’ve seen wrestlers from AEW go and capture championships in different promotions around the world. A lot of AEW wrestlers still hold championships in various promotions around the world and it’s good for those promotions to have such strong recognizable champions who have a great TV platform to wear their titles. And it’s good for us because it shows that we’re the top company in wrestling, frankly, and a lot of companies out there have had our wrestlers come in and do really well.

    “I’m very open to it and it shows good bonds between the companies and allows us access to good wrestlers. We have one of the best rosters, but it’s always good to have fresh and different talent. It’s why I like working with other companies. Also, New Japan has had big shows and have great talent specifically. I’ve done a lot of things with them. The main focus is on AEW and our shows. We have such a big roster and so much bandwidth that it allows us to expand, partner, and help other wrestling companies.”

    We’ve seen the likes of Kenny Omega hold titles in Impact Wrestling and AAA. Christian Cage is the current Impact Wrestling World Champion. NJPW stars have been featured on both AEW and Impact. AEW has also done business with NWA.

  • CM Punk Reveals Meaning Behind ‘AC’ & ‘CF’ On His Sneakers

    CM Punk Reveals Meaning Behind ‘AC’ & ‘CF’ On His Sneakers

    CM Punk got the internet buzzing with some initials he drew on his sneakers and he has revealed the meaning.

    Punk made his electric return to wrestling on Aug. 20. He made his AEW debut inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Punk then had an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone on the Aug. 25 edition of Dynamite.

    It didn’t take long for fans to notice several initials on Punk’s sneakers such as “AC” and “CF.” Theories ran rampant on the Internet with some believing that “AC” stood for Adam Cole and “CF” stood for Charlotte Flair.

    Speaking to the New York Post, Punk revealed the true meaning behind two of those initials.

    “I stole this from LeBron James; a lot of basketball players will write messages on their shoes and stuff. I wrote AC on my shoes and CF on the other foot. AC is Always Chicago and CF is Chicago Forever.”

    CM Punk

    Punk had some other initials on his sneakers that he did not address. One of them was “BW.” This has led many to speculate that it stood for Bray Wyatt, who was released by WWE.

    CM Punk is scheduled to have his first match since January 2014. He will meet Darby Allin at the All Out PPV on Sept. 5. The action will be held inside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

    Punk left WWE following the 2014 Royal Rumble PPV event. He cited the lack of time off, a misdiagnosis of a staph infection, and creative differences as the reasons for his departure.