SEScoops

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

  • John Cena Having a Big Impact on WWE Ticket Sales

    John Cena Having a Big Impact on WWE Ticket Sales

    John Cena continues to be a huge money maker for WWE even with his very limited schedule.

    Cena was WWE’s golden boy for many years. Things are a bit different for “Big Match John” these days, however. While he’s easily the biggest star of the night whenever he appears on WWE TV, Cena’s home these days is in Hollywood.

    While he doesn’t make WWE appearances often anymore, he’s still a massive needle mover for the company whenever his schedule is free.

    Cena is Money

    John Cena
    (via WWE)

    John Cena will be returning on the June 27 episode of WWE Raw. He will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his WWE debut.

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Cena’s advertised appearance has given ticket sales a massive boost. The report notes that 3,726 tickets were out when Cena’s appearance was first announced and that number has skyrocketed to 6,943.

    As of this writing, the show in Laredo, TX is roughly 700 tickets away from a sellout.

    Many believe that Cena and Theory will have some sort of encounter on the show. WWE is reportedly planning to book a match between the two at this year’s SummerSlam event.

    Cena is not only a top draw but he’s widely considered to be an outstanding individual. He recently broke the record for most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation at 650 and counting.

  • Two WWE Superstars Scheduled to Return from Injury Soon

    Two WWE Superstars Scheduled to Return from Injury Soon

    Two WWE superstars who have been on the shelf due to injury are expected to return soon.

    Injuries have plagued the wrestling business as of late. WWE has lost two top stars in Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton due to surgeries that will have them out of action for months.

    Other promotions such as AEW have also been hit hard. AEW is experiencing an all-time high when it comes to injuries.

    There is some good news, however.

    Io Shirai & Zoey Stark Returning Soon

    (via WWE)

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Io Shirai and Zoey Stark are expected to be back on NXT TV soon. The two have been out of action due to injuries but are primed for returns any week now.

    Shirai and Stark are former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. The two had been a humorous duo as Io did everything in her power to get rid of Stark but they ended up winning gold together.

    Time will tell if they’ll return looking for singles gold or if they will once again go after the tag team titles.

  • Update on Who Decided to Make Stephanie McMahon Interim WWE CEO & Chairwoman

    Update on Who Decided to Make Stephanie McMahon Interim WWE CEO & Chairwoman

    Details have been revealed on who made the decision to put Stephanie McMahon in as the interim CEO and Chairwoman of WWE.

    When news first broke that the WWE board was investigating Vince McMahon over an alleged secret $3 million hush pact with a former employee, many wondered what the immediate future would hold.

    Once the Wall Street Journal report of the investigation got out, WWE announced that Vince voluntarily stepped back from his role as CEO and Chairman but retained his creative roles.

    Who Put Stephanie In Interim Role?

    Stephanie McMahon

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Vince McMahon did not make the decision to give Stephanie the interim role. He reports that a special committee consisting of eight members of the Board of Directors made the decision.

    Not included in the decision-making process were Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, and Nick Khan.

    Meltzer also notes that none of the WWE employees who buried Stephanie to the media during her brief leave of absence were members of the special committee.

    There was said to be internal shock over the news of Stephanie being named interim CEO and Chairwoman given how she was buried to the media by anonymous employees, reportedly with Vince’s approval.

  • Reason Why WWE Changed Name of a Show

    Reason Why WWE Changed Name of a Show

    The reason for WWE changing the name of one of its shows has now been made clear.

    The company certainly isn’t afraid to make some changes. WWE has rebranded its developmental system, NXT, and has even made major changes to its main shows Raw and SmackDown.

    In the case of this change, WWE felt it was necessary to avoid confusion.

    Name Change Explained

    Talking Smack Logo

    WWE made the decision to change the name of its SmackDown post-show. The show was called “Talking Smack” but has since been changed to the “SmackDown LowDown.”

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the name change was made due to WWE’s new A&E show being named, “WWE Smack Talk.” The series premiere of WWE Smack Talk will air on July 10.

    The A&E show will feature Booker T, Peter Rosenberg, and Jackie Redmond. They’ll be recapping episodes of Biography: WWE Legends and WWE Rivals.

    WWE had trademarked “SmackDown LowDown” earlier this year. Many assumed that it was for a recap show or segment.

  • Major Star Off AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door Show

    Major Star Off AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door Show

    One big star has now been removed from the upcoming AEW-NJPW crossover event, Forbidden Door.

    The wrestling industry has been hit with a wave of injuries as of late. For AEW, the current string of injuries is at an all-time high. In this case, however, it was actually an NJPW star who has gone down with an injury.

    As a result, this performer has been removed from a big title match.

    Tomohiro Ishii Out of Forbidden Door

    Tomohiro Ishii NJPW Resurgence
    (via NJPW)

    NJPW and AEW have announced that Tomohiro Ishii has suffered a left knee injury. As a result, he will no longer be able to compete in the four-way match with Miro, Malakai Black, and PAC for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship.

    Ishii has been replaced by Clark Connors.

    Forbidden Door will be held inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois this Sunday night (June 26). It’ll feature an interim AEW World Title match between Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

    The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will also be on the line. Titleholder Jay White will look for a successful defense against Kazuchika Okada, Hangman Page, and Adam Cole.

    Keep it locked on SEScoops as we’ll provide live coverage of Forbidden Door this weekend. We’ll keep you up to speed with results and video highlights throughout the event.

  • Kurt Angle Isn’t Happy With How His Time in WWE Ended

    Kurt Angle Isn’t Happy With How His Time in WWE Ended

    Kurt Angle admits his last run in WWE wasn’t ideal.

    Angle is a Hall of Famer and is widely regarded as one of the best performers the wrestling business has ever seen. With that said, many felt his final stretch with WWE left a lot to be desired.

    Kurt definitely wasn’t as agile as he used to be by the time he returned to WWE. With that said, the general consensus is that WWE didn’t exactly give him a proper sendoff.

    The reaction to his WrestleMania 35 loss to Baron Corbin certainly wasn’t a positive one and didn’t really do anything to elevate Corbin.

    Kurt Angle on Last WWE Run

    kurt angle
    (via WWE)

    During an appearance on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast, Kurt Angle said he wasn’t happy over how things ended with WWE.

    “No, not at all. I went back to WWE. It wasn’t a big welcome home. It was more of a, ’We’re going to show you what you did when you left us.’ I didn’t have any hard feelings about it, but Vince McMahon just didn’t have any plans for me.

    “I was doing more jobs than I was winning. I don’t blame him for that. I left the company high and dry in 2006, and coming back, I think he felt that I was a little bit of a liability because of my broken necks. I had four broken necks in WWE back in the 2000s. I also had a painkiller problem that I got myself out of, but I think that he thought I was a little bit of a liability so he didn’t want to utilize me the way he should have.”

    Despite his feelings, Angle says he remains close with Vince McMahon. He said Vince simply got caught in the crossfire of his painkiller addiction when he decided to leave the company back in 2006 to go to TNA Wrestling.

    Quotes via WrestlingNews.co.

  • Cody Rhodes Reveals Timeframe For His Return

    Cody Rhodes Reveals Timeframe For His Return

    Cody Rhodes isn’t exactly planning to wait nine months to get back inside the ring.

    Cody is out of action at the moment due to a completely torn pectoral muscle. Despite the injury, Rhodes toughed it out and took on Seth Rollins in the main event of Hell in a Cell. Rhodes ended up undergoing successful surgery.

    WWE later announced that Cody would be missing action for nine months. It’s a timeframe that Rhodes doesn’t plan on following, however.

    Cody Rhodes Not Interested In 9-Month Wait

    Cody Rhodes
    (via WWE)

    Cody Rhodes took to his Instagram Stories to reveal that he plans on making the timeframe for his return shorter than what WWE has announced.

    “I’ve heard 9 months, that’s their plan… I’ve never concerned myself with other people’s projections – I’ve got a plan of my own – let’s finish, all of us.”

    WWE ran an angle during the post-Hell in a Cell episode of Raw. Seth Rollins attacked Cody from behind with a sledgehammer. WWE used this as a way of explaining the nine-month timeframe.

    Many expect Cody to be back in time for the Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant. Time will tell if that is going to come to fruition.

    It’s been reported that WWE will be giving Cody a hero’s welcome once he’s fully healed and ready to return to action.

  • Triple H Appears to Have Gained More Power in WWE Again

    Triple H Appears to Have Gained More Power in WWE Again

    It seems Triple H has some level of power in WWE again.

    At one point, it seemed like Hunter would be the one to take over once Vince McMahon’s time is up. He ran NXT to his liking and the brand garnered huge praise.

    Triple H ran into problems when WWE wanted NXT to go head-to-head with AEW. NXT was often beat in viewership and “The Game’s” power soon dwindled.

    Once the WWE legend suffered from heart failure, his entire NXT team was pretty much gutted. It seemed like it was a point of no return in terms of HHH’s power within the company but things may be turning a corner.

    Triple H May Have Gained Back Power

    Triple H
    (via SIPA USA/AP)

    It was reported by John Pollock that during a recent visit to the WWE Performance Center, Triple H declared that he’s back.

    Details have been scarce on exactly had that means. With that said, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer says that it would appear Triple H has gained some power within the company again.

    What that exactly entails going forward remains to be seen.

    Of course, this is all happening in the midst of an investigation into Vince McMahon’s alleged secret $3 million hush pact with a former employee. Vince has voluntarily stepped back as the CEO and Chairman of WWE.

    With that said, Vince still runs creative.

    Triple H Makes Major Statement During WWE PC Visit
  • NXT Star Was Backstage at WWE SmackDown

    NXT Star Was Backstage at WWE SmackDown

    One star on the NXT brand was in the building for last week’s edition of WWE SmackDown.

    The show last week was heavily talked about as Vince McMahon made an appearance amid news that he voluntarily stepped back from his role as WWE CEO and Chairman due to an ongoing investigation.

    There was also an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between titleholder Roman Reigns and Riddle. Reigns won the match and Brock Lesnar ended up making a surprise return, laying out The Bloodline.

    Behind the scenes, an NXT 2.0 star was present.

    Sanga Backstage

    (via WWE)

    PWInsider is reporting that Sanga was backstage during SmackDown on June 17. What he was doing there isn’t known at this time.

    Sanga has received a lot of praise for his work over in NXT. Sanga was used in a pre-show dark match on SmackDown one week prior. He took on Wes Lee just before the June 10 episode of SmackDown went on the air.

    It’ll be interesting to see if Sanga is one step closer to being a permanent fixture on the main roster.

    Sanga had been serving as Grayson Waller’s bodyguard on NXT but that was short-lived and the two ended up squaring off.

  • What Happened With Chris Jericho After AEW Dynamite Went Off The Air

    What Happened With Chris Jericho After AEW Dynamite Went Off The Air

    The June 22 episode of AEW Dynamite has come to a close but the fisticuffs didn’t end once the cameras stopped rolling.

    This week’s edition of Dynamite ended with a tag team match featuring Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi taking on Chris Jericho and Lance Archer. The match ended when Tanahashi pinned Archer with the High Fly Flow.

    After the match, members of Suzuki-Gun and the Jericho Appreciation Society brawled with Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz, Wheeler Yuta, and Shota Umino.

    Moxley and Tanahashi had a long staredown in the ring as they are set to collide in an interim AEW World Title match at Forbidden Door.

    NJPW’s top star Kazuchika Okada also made an appearance. He saved Hangman Page from a two-on-one attack at the hands of Jay White and Adam Cole.

    Off The Air

    The brawl kept going once the TBS broadcast ended. Chris Jericho and other members of the JAS continued fighting with Eddie Kingston in the crowd.

    Things have gotten personal between Jericho and Kingston. It’ll all lead to the Blood & Guts match on June 29.

    Before that, they’ll get their hands on each other again on June 26 for the Forbidden Door PPV event. Jericho will team with Minoru Suzuki and Sammy Guevara to take on Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta, and Shota Umino on the show.

  • Kazuchika Okada Appears on AEW Dynamite (Video)

    Kazuchika Okada Appears on AEW Dynamite (Video)

    Kazuchika Okada has stepped foot inside an AEW ring.

    The June 22 episode of Dynamite featured a match between former AEW World Champion Hangman Page and Silas Young.

    Page ended up getting the win but he had no time to celebrate as he was interrupted by Adam Cole, followed by IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White.

    Jay and Cole put the boots to Hangman but Okada’s music hit and he ran down to make the save.

    Later in the show, AEW announced a four-way match between Jay White, Kazuchika Okada, Hangman Page, and Adam Cole for the IWGP gold at Forbidden Door.

    Here’s Okada’s AEW debut.

    There was a lot of speculation on “The Rainmaker’s” status for Forbidden Door. He has put the rumors to rest and many can agree that the AEW-NJPW crossover show set for June 26 just wouldn’t have felt right without him.

  • Bad News for Bryan Danielson

    Bad News for Bryan Danielson

    Fans hoping to see Bryan Danielson back in action soon may not want to hold their breath.

    Danielson has been out of action ever since the Anarchy in the Arena match held at Double or Nothing late last month. He suffered an undisclosed injury that many within the company thought would only take a week or two to clear up.

    As it turns out, things may be a bit more serious.

    Bryan Danielson May Not Wrestle For A While

    Bryan Danielson
    Bryan Danielson (Photo: AEW)

    Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live reported that sources told him that Bryan Danielson is “definitely out” of the Forbidden Door PPV set for June 26. On top of that, Alvarez has been told that Danielson may not be wrestling again for a while.

    Danielson made an appearance on the June 22 episode of AEW Dynamite. He addressed his status for Forbidden Door and the Blood & Guts match set for June 29.

    Danielson confirmed the news, saying that he has been forced off both shows. He has promised a replacement for Forbidden Door and Blood & Guts but fans won’t find out who that person is until June 26.

    While the extent of Danielson’s injury hasn’t been made public, many are obviously fearing that it may be related to head trauma. That is simply speculation at this time. Of course, Danielson was forced to retire at one point as WWE doctors wouldn’t clear him due to a history of concussions.

    Danielson was eventually cleared to wrestle in WWE again. He had worked a safer style in the company, however, and certainly hasn’t taken things easy since jumping ship to AEW.

  • Triple H Makes Major Statement During WWE PC Visit

    Triple H Makes Major Statement During WWE PC Visit

    Triple H may have just given a big update on his future with WWE.

    “The Game” has been dealing with health issues, which forced him to retire from in-ring action. He has a defibrillator in his chest due to heart failure and many have questioned whether or not he can take on a potentially stress-inducing role behind the scenes ever again.

    While details are scarce at this time, Triple is said to have made quite the statement during a recent visit to the WWE Performance Center.

    Triple H Says He’s Back

    Triple H
    (via WWE)

    John Pollock of POST Wrestling is reporting that Triple H spoke while inside the WWE PC on June 22. It’s been said that “The Game” declared he’s “back,” although exactly what he means by that remains to be seen.

    “According to multiple sources, Paul Levesque was in Orlando today and spoke at the Performance Center. Of the people I heard from, Levesque stated ‘he’s back’ – it is unknown what that entails but that was the wording I was given.”

    Many have speculated that this is in regards to a potential return on the creative side of things for NXT 2.0. When Hunter was forced to step away due to health issues, his NXT team was gutted and the vision was changed.

    The show has been doing far worse in viewership than it was when Triple H was at the helm. The whole point of the change, however, was to make the NXT brand a true developmental system to build the type of characters Vince McMahon would want on the main roster.

    It’s pretty much certain that Hunter isn’t talking about an in-ring return. As one would imagine, WWE’s medical team wouldn’t clear him to have another match.

  • Initial Plans for WWE Main Roster Debut

    Initial Plans for WWE Main Roster Debut

    Original plans for a current NXT 2.0 star to join the main roster have been revealed.

    The WWE machine has been trucking along for a long time. It’s gotten to the point where the company has its own developmental brand, rather than relying on a separate promotion.

    That brand is NXT and it has undergone many changes throughout the years.

    One NXT talent who has been making a name for himself was initially due for a big spot on the major WWE shows but the timing wasn’t right.

    Original Plans For Solo Sikoa

    Solo Sikoa
    (via WWE)

    Solo Sikoa, the younger brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso, has quickly become a fan favorite on the NXT brand. Some believe he can turn into a top star if he and WWE play their cards right.

    Sikoa recently revealed to BT Sport that there were initially plans to have him sent to the main roster to be aligned with The Usos.

    “I don’t want to be referred to as their brother, their cousin, I want people to recognize me for me. Before I debuted, they wanted to put me with The Usos, but they said ‘let’s see what you can do alone.’”

    Sikoa said he was more than happy with the change of plans because he said it sparked a fire within him. He was happy to get a chance to shine on his own rather than have The Bloodline carry him early in his WWE run.

    More recently on NXT, Sioka has found an ally in Apollo Crews.

  • Tony Khan Shows Interest in Bringing AEW to Japan

    Tony Khan Shows Interest in Bringing AEW to Japan

    AEW President Tony Khan is intrigued by the possibility of venturing out to Japan.

    We’re just a few days away from the big AEW-NJPW crossover show Forbidden Door. The PPV event takes place inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on June 26.

    As we draw closer to the event, Japanese wrestling fans are wondering if it’s possible that AEW will make its way to “The Land of the Rising Sun” one day.

    AEW in Japan?

    Takami Ohbari, Tony Khan
    (via AEW)

    During an interview with Tokyo Sports (Michael Nakazawa serving as the interpreter), Tony Khan discussed the possibility of holding an AEW event in Japan (rough Google translation):

    “I haven’t held a tournament in another country yet, but I would like to try to deliver AEW to the world. Of course, I want to hold a tournament in Japan, and if I do, I would like to invite a lot of new Japanese players. Japan is definitely included in the list of countries where you want to have an AEW tournament.”

    Khan also had high praise for NJPW’s “Ace” Hiroshi Tanahashi, who will meet Jon Moxley for the interim AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door.

    “Tanahashi (Hiroshi) is a charismatic and legendary person who leads the industry. He has a very strong heart … He is an indispensable part of the history of New Japan.”

    The June 22 episode of AEW Dynamite is expected to feature a slew of NJPW talent to help promote Forbidden Door this weekend. One of the big names expected for the show is Zack Sabre Jr., although that is a report and hasn’t been confirmed by AEW.

  • Backstage Reaction to Vince McMahon’s Public Appearances Amid Investigation

    Backstage Reaction to Vince McMahon’s Public Appearances Amid Investigation

    There are some rumblings backstage over in WWE regarding Vince McMahon’s recent appearances.

    Vince is under investigation by the WWE board over an alleged secret $3 million pact with a former employee. After the report was released by The Wall Street Journal, WWE named Stephanie McMahon as the interim CEO and Chairwoman of WWE.

    Vince’s duties on the creative side of things remain unchanged, and he hasn’t been shy in letting people know about it.

    Internal Reaction to Appearances

    Vince McMahon
    (via WWE)

    PWInsider is reporting that there is a lot of sympathy for Stephanie McMahon backstage over being brought back in after being buried by executives in the media and wanting to step back.

    It’s also been said that there is a lot of “head shaking” over Vince McMahon’s public appearances on Raw and SmackDown after The Wall Street Journal report. The internal feeling is that Vince is “in denial” that this is a serious situation.

    The report also notes that a lot of employees have been mum on the Vince news to avoid getting caught up in the mess.

    John Laurinaitis is on leave of absence as it was said in The Wall Street Journal report that Vince allegedly passed the ex-employee over to Laurinaitis “like a toy.” Bruce Prichard is now the interim Head of Talent Relations.

  • Nikkita Lyons Return Update

    Nikkita Lyons Return Update

    There is a positive update on Nikkita Lyons made official by WWE.

    Lyons was expected to perform in the semifinals of the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament on May 24. She ended up being pulled due to an injury.

    Lyons revealed that she had suffered a partially torn MCL. She referred to it as just a sprain and didn’t expect to be out of action for long.

    Nikkita Lyons Returns Next Week

    Nikkita Lyons
    (via WWE)

    During the June 21 episode of NXT 2.0, it was announced that Nikkita Lyons will be making her return during next week’s episode (June 28).

    Some had Lyons as the favorite to win the NXT Breakout Tournament before she suffered her injury. Roxanne Perez ended up defeating Tiffany Stratton in the finals to take that honor.

    It’ll be interesting to see what Lyons has in store upon her return to WWE’s developmental brand.

    She hasn’t competed since the first round of the tournament when she defeated Arianna Grace.

  • Yet Another WWE Superstar Receives Name Change

    Yet Another WWE Superstar Receives Name Change

    You can add another WWE superstar to the list of talents who have received a name change.

    WWE has long been known to make adjustments to characters. Sometimes, a talent will receive a full-blown makeover, while other times it can be as simple as new theme music.

    In the case of this particular performer, he will no longer be using his real name on WWE programming.

    Jordan Devlin Gets New Name

    Jordan Devlin
    (via WWE)

    Jordan Devlin will be making the move from NXT UK to NXT 2.0. With the move comes a new name.

    Devlin will now be referred to as “JD McDonagh.” WWE had a vignette on the June 21 episode of NXT 2.0 promoting McDonagh’s inevitable arrival to the brand.

    Devlin is a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion. His final appearance on the NXT UK brand was a loser leaves town match. He fell short against NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov.

    WWE did not reveal a date for Devlin’s debut on the NXT 2.0 brand but promised he will be “coming soon.”

    Devlin first appeared on WWE programming back in early 2017. He participated in the first-ever United Kingdom Championship tournament. He was defeated by Tyler Bate in the quarterfinals.

  • AEW Star Banged Up During Match in Mexico

    AEW Star Banged Up During Match in Mexico

    One AEW star didn’t leave Mexico unscathed following a match during AAA’s TripleMania event this past weekend.

    If there’s one thing major promotions can agree on, it’s that injuries are bad news. We’ve seen WWE hit hard with the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton injuries. Reigning AEW World Champion CM Punk recently underwent surgery and he’ll be out for a little while.

    Some injuries are more severe than others and in the case of one AEW veteran, the hope is that he hasn’t sustained anything serious.

    Matt Hardy Suffers Swelling

    Matt Hardy
    (via AEW)

    Matt Hardy recently teamed with John Hennigan to take on Dragon Lee and Dralistico at the TripleMania event in Mexico. Fightful reports that Matt was banged up as a result of the match and suffered some significant swelling in his knee.

    At this time, there is no word on the severity of the injury. Obviously, AEW officials are hoping that Hardy was simply dinged up a bit and the issue won’t have any long-term effects.

    Matt was expected to challenge for the AEW World Tag Team Titles during the Road Rager episode of AEW Dynamite. That plan went awry as his brother Jeff was pulled from the match due to his recent DUI arrest.

    Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline had reported that even if Jeff’s DUI incident never happened, AEW had plans of pulling him from the match as he had a brain scan scheduled.

  • What Happened After June 20 WWE Raw Went Off The Air

    What Happened After June 20 WWE Raw Went Off The Air

    The June 20 episode of WWE Raw has wrapped up.

    This week’s edition of Monday Night Raw featured a fatal five-way to determine the new number one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship. Rhea Ripley was expected to challenge titleholder Bianca Belair at Money in the Bank but she won’t be medically cleared in time.

    We also got to see two MITB qualifying matches. Riddle fell short against Omos in the first qualifying match of the night, while Asuka and Becky Lynch battled it out for a spot in the ladder match. Asuka ended up winning the match.

    Following Before The Broadcast

    WWE did things a bit different this time. The Judgment Day vs. The Mysterios, a match that one would expect to see on TV or in an after-event dark match, was actually aired before the show for Main Event.

    As a result, there was no dark match once WWE Raw went off the air.

    WWE Raw Talk

    WWE also held its Raw Talk show. Seth Rollins explained why he attacked Riddle and Booker T made an appearance. There was also a WWE digital exclusive where Omos discussed qualifying for the Money in the Bank ladder match.

  • Elias Returns to WWE Raw, Blasts Kevin Owens With a Guitar (Video)

    Elias Returns to WWE Raw, Blasts Kevin Owens With a Guitar (Video)

    As promised, Elias made his highly-anticipated return and Kevin Owens got more than he bargained for.

    For weeks, KO has been trying to prove that Ezekiel, Elias’ younger brother, is actually Elias. Zeke promised his older brother would show up on the June 20 episode of Monday Night Raw and he delivered.

    Before Elias could get a song going, however, Owens interrupted.

    KO was not convinced that the video of Elias and Ezekiel having a face-to-face conversation was real. He got inside the ring and smashed Elias’ guitar.

    This prompted Elias to take another guitar and smash it over Owens’ back.

    When KO got to the back, he challenged Ezekiel, Elias, or their alleged long-lost brother “Elrod.” Zeke ended up accepting the challenge.

  • Nixed Plans for Last Week’s WWE Raw Revealed

    Nixed Plans for Last Week’s WWE Raw Revealed

    WWE had a change of plans for the June 13 episode of Monday Night Raw.

    The show featured two Money in the Bank qualifying matches. Seth Rollins defeated AJ Styles to earn his spot in the ladder match, while Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan beat Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop to lay claim to their spots.

    Fans also got to see a pose down between Bobby Lashley and Theory, which ended up closing the show.

    Ahead of WWE Raw, some changes were made to initial ideas.

    Details on WWE Raw Changes

    R-Truth
    (via WWE)

    Fightful reports that WWE originally planned to have R-Truth be involved in the pose down between Lashley and Theory. There’s no word on why that idea was ultimately nixed.

    The outlet also notes that Mustafa Ali was not initially factored into plans for Monday Night Raw. He was expected to face Shelton Benjamin on Main Event.

    Instead, Benjamin defeated Akira Tozawa on the show, while Ali lost to Chad Gable on Raw.

    Speaking of Gable, fans noticed that Alpha Academy did not accompany Kevin Owens to the ring for his match with Ezekiel. Fightful has reported that the team was initially going to be ringside for the match but that plan was scrapped.

  • WWE Rumor Killer on Stephanie McMahon & Triple H

    WWE Rumor Killer on Stephanie McMahon & Triple H

    A big rumor has been making rounds regarding Stephanie McMahon and Triple H and it’s time to put it to rest.

    Last week brought a firestorm of news in the wrestling business. WWE, in particular, was under a microscope following a report from The Wall Street Journal.

    After news broke that the WWE board is investigating Vince McMahon for an alleged secret $3 million pact with a former employee, the company announced that Stephanie is now the interim CEO and Chairwoman of the company.

    Fans noticed something in the press release and it started the rumor mill.

    No, Stephanie & Triple H Have Not Split

    Triple H Stephanie RAW
    Photo Credit: WWE.com

    In the official WWE presser, Stephanie was referred to as “Ms. McMahon” rather than “Mrs. McMahon.” This led some to believe that Stephanie and Triple H may have quietly split from their longtime marriage.

    Wade Keller of PWTorch is reporting that this simply isn’t true. In fact, sources told Wade that the two very much continue to be a “team.”

    The source also told Keller that when Stephanie stepped back, Triple H actually reduced his hours in the company.

    Stephanie is said to have taken the leave of absence in part due to the age of their kids and the fact that they are well off as far as money is concerned.

    Wade also dismissed the notion that Stephanie initially took a leave of absence because she knew about the investigation on Vince.

  • Bryan Danielson Status Update

    Bryan Danielson Status Update

    There is an update on Bryan Danielson’s status and it doesn’t appear to be ideal.

    Danielson is one of the top stars on the AEW roster. He’s a current member of the Blackpool Combat Club and has been involved in a big storyline where bad blood is brewing between him and Eddie Kingston in the fight against the Jericho Appreciation Society.

    Unfortunately, Danielson has been out of action due to an undisclosed injury suffered during the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing.

    Latest on Bryan Danielson

    Bryan Danielson
    Bryan Danielson (Photo: AEW)

    NJPW’s Zack Sabre Jr. has been teasing a match with Bryan Danielson at the Forbidden Door PPV event on June 26. It’s a fantasy technical matchup for many but there is a chance it may not happen at this time.

    Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that as of last Wednesday, Danielson had still not been cleared to return to the ring.

    Meltzer suspects that if Danielson doesn’t appear for the June 22 episode of AEW Dynamite, then he likely won’t wrestle at Forbidden Door.

    It would be a major blow to the crossover show if Danielson can’t perform.

    As it stands now, Kazuchika Okada’s status for the card is up in the air. Andrade claims he was set to meet Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door but politics with Mexico’s two top promotions got in the way.

    Plenty of NJPW stars are expected to attend Dynamite this week in the final push before Forbidden Door.

  • Jack Evans Takes Scary Bump During GCW Show (Video)

    Jack Evans Takes Scary Bump During GCW Show (Video)

    Jack Evans had quite the scare during a recent GCW event.

    Evans went one-on-one with Ninja Mack during the show. This was for the You Wouldn’t Understand event. The action was held inside the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, NY this past Saturday (June 18).

    Jack went up the top turnbuckle and attempted a 630 splash but Ninja Mack got out of the way. Evans landed hard on the mat and something wasn’t quite right as he laid in the middle of the ring.

    Mack ended up scoring the pinfall.

    https://twitter.com/Aregularindyfan/status/1538322834749022208

    Thankfully, Jack did make it up to his feet and Ninja Mack raised his arm to an ovation. GCW personnel helped Evans to the back.

    Jack Evans had been scheduled for the Ultimate X match at Slammiversary the following night. That didn’t end up happening as he was pulled from the card as a precautionary measure.

    “BREAKING: Out of an abundance of caution following an injury this weekend, @JackEvans711 has been pulled from today’s Ultimate-X match. He will be replaced in the X- Division Title showdown by @_AndrewEverett!”