SEScoops

Author: Chris Stephens

  • Impact Results (12/16): Chelsea Green Knocked Out By Chairshot During Contract Signing

    Impact Results (12/16): Chelsea Green Knocked Out By Chairshot During Contract Signing

    Impact Wrestling on 12/16 continued the build to the Hard to Kill PPV on January 8th. It featured a major angle between Moose and Matt Cardona.

    Impact quick results 12/16:

    1. Josh Alexander defeated Rohit Raju w/Raj Singh
    2. Joe Doening & Doc Gallows w/ Karl Anderson & VBD defeated Rich Swann & Willie Mack w/ Heath & Rhino
    3. Trey Miguel defeated John Skyler
    4. Chris Bey defeated Laredo Kid
    5. Tenille Dashwood defeated Jessie McKay

    Josh Alexander Defeats Rohit Raju

    Alexander had to contend with interference from Raj Singh on the outside but came back to win this match with a C-4 Spike. Commentary played up that we are seeing a more aggressive side to Alexander recently. They also noted Alexander is still dealing with injured ribs from JONAH’s attack at Turning Point.

    Later in the show, JONAH would cut a backstage promo about being the top dog and facing Alexander at Hard to Kill.

    Violent By Design and The Good Brothers Working Together, Doc Gallows & Joe Doering Defeat Rich Swann & Willie Mack

    The Good Brothers and Violent By Design were interviewed in the back and spoke about having come to a business agreement to work together, as we saw them do last week. This led to Doc Gallows teaming with Joe Doering to take on Rich Swann and Willie Mack this week. The finish of the match came shortly after Doering tossed Swann off the top turnbuckle and then him and Gallows gave Mack a double choke-slam and got the pin.

    After the match, VBD and the Good Brothers continued the assault on Mack, Swann, as well as Heath and Rhino who were in Mack and Swann’s corner. This led to Eddie Edwards coming out with a kendo stick to make the save.

    Steve Maclin Attacks Trey Miguel

    X-Division Champion Trey Miguel defeated John Skyler with a meteora this week. As he was heading to the back after the match, however, he was attacked by Steve Maclin. Maclin then dragged him backstage to end the segment.

    After the break, we cut to a video of Miguel tied up backstage while being taunted by Maclin.

    Chris Bey Picks Up Win Over Laredo Kid

    Laredo Kid had to contend with HIKULEO on the outside and it cost him this match here. After a crazy back and forth match, Laredo Kid looked like he had the match won. Bey was prone on the mat and Laredo went to the top. HIKULEO got up on the ring apron, however, and Laredo eventually took him out with a diving attack to the floor. The distraction allowed Bey to recover. Bey then countered a diving attack from his opponent into a cutter and got the 3-count.

    Deonna Purrazzo vs Mickie James At Hard To Kill Made a Texas Death Match

    Footage of Deonna Purrazzo and Knockouts Champion Mickie James getting into a confrontation at an autograph signing aired. We then cut to a clip of Purrazzo and James being told their match at Hard to Kill will now be a Texas Death Match by Gail Kim.

    Tenille Dashwood defeats Jessie McKay

    The short-lived alliance between the Iinspiration and the Influence continues to implode. This week Jessie McKay took on Tenille Dashwood in singles competition. McKay looked like she had the match wrapped up after delivering a big boot but Kaleb pulled the referee out of the ring. This led to Madison Rayne attacking Cassie Lee and McKay coming out of the ring to deal with her. As McKay got back in the ring, Kaleb grabbed her foot, which allowed Tenille to hit the spotlight kick for the win.

    Chelsea Green Knocked Out By Chair Shot During Hard To Kill Contract Signing

    The main event of the show featured a contract signing for the Impact World Championship match at Hard to Kill. Consistent with how such segments usually go, this one eventually broke down into a brawl. Morrissey signed the contract and promptly left. Moose then called Chelsea Green some names and Cardona attacked. Moose put Cardona through the table and then taunted him with his title belt.

    It looked like Moose was going to leave but he turned around and came back. He wrapped Cardona’s neck in a chair and looked like he was going to hit him with another chair but Chelsea Green stopped him. Cardona then went to go hit Moose with a chair but missed and hit Green. Cardona checked on Green as Moose laughed and made his way to the back to end the show.

    Coming Up In Impact Wrestling

    December 18th, Throwback Throwdown II

    Hard to Kill – January 8th, 2022

    • Impact World Championship
      Moose (c) vs Matt Cardona vs W. Morrissey
    • Knockouts Championship
      Texas Death Match
      Mickie James (c) vs Deonna Purrazzo
    • Ultimate X Match For The #1 Contendership to the Knockouts Championship
      Lady Frost vs Rachael Ellering vs Tasha Steelz vs Jordynne Grace vs Chelsea Green vs Rosemary
    • Josh Alexander vs JONAH
  • Freddie Prinze Jr. Teases Starting Wrestling Promotion With Macaulay Culkin

    Freddie Prinze Jr. Teases Starting Wrestling Promotion With Macaulay Culkin

    Actor and former WWE creative team member, Freddie Prinze Jr., has mentioned in multiple interviews as of late that he is interested in starting a wrestling promotion. Prinze recently spoke to TV Insider and mentioned that long-time wrestling fan, Macaulay Culkin, might join him in this venture.

    “I have this plan where one day I want to start my own [independent] fed here in California,” Prinze said. “One that I know won’t make any money and will be a loss, but I can still stay connected. That I can hire wrestlers and let them do their work.”

    “I was talking to Ariel Helwani about a two-year plan I had,” he continued. Prinze then mentioned Macaulay Culkin, who has been on his podcast, might be interested in being involved as well.

    “I might have a partner in crime with one of my guests Macaulay Culkin, who has a passion for it as well. So we may do MFW, which does not stand for what you think it does.”

    https://twitter.com/RealFPJr/status/1471186326233911296

    The 45-year-old did two separate stints on the WWE Creative Team. Once from 2008-09 and then again from 2010-12. He mentioned in the interview that he did not have the time to continue in the role after having two kids with his wife, actress Sarah Michelle Gellar.

    https://twitter.com/RealFPJr/status/1470805969307258881
  • Jonathan Gresham To Defend ROH Title On GCW Show

    Jonathan Gresham To Defend ROH Title On GCW Show

    The ROH World Championship will be defended on tonight’s Game Changer Wrestling show from Los Angeles. Not only that, Gresham’s match against AJ Gray will be contested under “Pure rules”.

    The show is available on a pay-per-view basis on FITE.

    GCW: Blood On The Hills Lineup:

    • Gringo Loco vs. Arez vs. Jimmy Lloyd vs. Matt Vandagriffvs. Jack Cartwheel vs. Ninja Mack
    • No Ropes Barbed Wire Death Match
      Atticus Cogar vs. Jordan Oliver
    • Chelsea Green & Matt Cardona vs. BUSSY (Allie Katch & Effy)
    • Blake Christian vs. Alex Zayne
    • Tony Deppen vs. Nick Wayne
    • Matthew Justice vs. Jacob Fatu
    • ROH World Championship
      Pure Rules
      Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. AJ Gray
    • GCW Tag Team Championships
      The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) (c) vs. Brody King & PCO

    Shortly after winning the ROH Championship at Final Battle, Gresham spoke to Sports Illustrated. He said that it’s up to him to keep the spirit of ROH alive. Gresham also noted that he wants to defend the title against CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.

    “As champion, it is up to me to keep the spirit and the essence of Ring of Honor alive,” Gresham said. “I will preserve and protect Pure wrestling as Ring of Honor world champion.”

    Jonathan Gresham Wants To Defend ROH Title Against CM Punk & Bryan Danielson
  • Bret Hart Comments On If He’d Ever Be A Manager or Commentator

    Bret Hart Comments On If He’d Ever Be A Manager or Commentator

    Bret Hart is set to be inducted onto Canada’s Walk of Fame today. He is the first professional wrestler ever given the honor. Other inductees set for the ceremony include star of the Matrix and other films, Keanu Reeves.

    During a Q&A session held before his induction, Bret Hart was asked if he’d ever consider being a manager, commentator, or any other type of on-screen character in WWE or elsewhere.

    “I have no time to do that,” Hart responded. “I like to get away once in a while and do the odd little bit here and there. You know, anything sometimes to get out of the house,”

    He added, “But at the same time, my days of sort of playing a character for wrestling, I don’t need it that bad and I’m happy kind of just making up time with my grandkids and being home and you know, kind of smiling about stuff like that.”

    “I Don’t Wanna Be Remembered As a Manager”

    – Bret Hart

    Hart also answered if he would be interested in coming back for a one-off match or something similar.

    “I mean if there was something where it’s like I could wrestle Donald Trump at WrestleMania and Vince McMahon was gonna referee it or something,” Hart joked. “I’d hear it out because it’d be funny to hear it. But the thought of me going in there and wrestling somebody is pretty unlikely.”

    “As far as managers and all that kind of stuff… Bret Hart was a wrestler, not a manager and I don’t wanna be remembered as a manager and so I would never do it.”

    Bret Hart’s Hall of Fame Resume

    In addition to Canada’s Walk of Fame, Hart was also inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Oklahoma in 2006. The Hall of Fame and museum honors achievements in amateur wrestling. Hart won the city of Calgary wrestling championship in 1974.

    For professional wrestling, Hart is in the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame, Prairie Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame, Quebec Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, and he’s been inducted twice into the WWE Hall of Fame.

    H/T to Post Wrestling for the transcriptions.

  • Update on Sami Zayn’s WWE Contract Status

    Update on Sami Zayn’s WWE Contract Status

    Both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were reported to have their contracts expiring in early 2022. Owens recently signed a 3-year deal to stay in the promotion.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the buzz behind the scenes is that Zayn has also signed a new deal.

    “There has also been locker room talk that Sami Zayn (Rami Sebei, 37) did as well, but WWE sources have not confirmed Zayn having signed to us yet,” Dave Meltzer wrote.

    Owens new deal with WWE is said to be in the $2-3 million range but does not include a no-cut clause. This means that while Owens is committed to WWE for 3 years, WWE only needs to provide him with 90 days notice that they are releasing him.

    If, for whatever reason, WWE decides Owens is no longer worth the amount they are paying him, he could be released.

    Zayn signed with WWE in early 2013. Since debuting in the promotion, Zayn is a 1x NXT Champion and a 2x Intercontinental Champion.

  • Serena Deeb Comments On How CM Punk Helped Her Career

    Serena Deeb Comments On How CM Punk Helped Her Career

    Serena Deeb was once a member of CM Punk’s Straight-Edge Society faction in WWE. They are now both members of the AEW roster. Deeb was recently interviewed by Wrestling Inc. and noted that Punk has helped her career in multiple ways.

    “We have a great relationship, we obviously go back a long way and we did some really good business together over the years,” Deeb said. “I met Punk in, I want to say 2005 at OVW when he first reported there and Paul Heyman was booking the show and Punk was his guy.”

    Deeb continued to say that Punk played a role in helping her get into the Shimmer and Ring of Honor promotions.

    “Punk was the driving force behind getting me to Shimmer for the first time, which at the time was, as a female wrestler, that was the indie that you aspire to go to because that was the best. From Shimmer that got me to Ring Of Honor. Punk really guided me and really helped support me in getting to all these places before WWE.”

    CM Punk, Serena Deeb, and the Straight Edge Society

    During the January 22nd, 2010 edition of WWE SmackDown, Deeb appeared as a fan in the crowd. She jumped the guardrail and made it known she wanted to join Punk’s Straight Edge Society faction. As an initiation, the group shaved her head. Deeb also spoke about her time in the group during her recent interview.

    “I think because we had that great relationship and that friendship and that foundation, we had chemistry already just from all of that. It translated on-screen. I constantly get tagged on social media and people still love The Straight Edge Society and it was over a decade ago, it’s crazy. I love having him in the locker room.”

    Serena Deeb On Advice She Receives From CM Punk

    Deeb also spoke about how she regularly goes to CM Punk for advice on her matches. She believes everyone in the AEW locker room should do the same.

    “He’s somebody I think all the guys and all the women should be asking for feedback. I ask him. I ask him to watch my matches, he doesn’t always get the chance to because he’s doing a million things on the show.”

    Deeb continued to praise CM Punk’s ability to tell stories in the ring. She even noted that we might see a reunion between them somewhere down the line.

    “The dude’s a master storyteller. I mean he blows my mind with some of the stuff he does. He’s clearly one of the best to ever do it and we have a great relationship. We talk every week and everything is great and yeah, we might see a reunion one day.”

    The full interview is available in the player below:

  • Ryback Responds To MJF Mentioning Him On AEW Dynamite

    Ryback Responds To MJF Mentioning Him On AEW Dynamite

    Last night on Dynamite, Maxwell Jacob Friedman referred to CM Punk as the “New Ryback” during a promo. MJF was commenting on how Punk has been undefeated while facing a string of underwhelming opponents in underwhelming matches when he made the comment.

    Ryback took to social media last night to respond to MJF’s comments.

    “Thanks for the shoutout MJF. Now you have your big chance at being an enhancement talent working with an underwhelming opponent,” Ryback Tweeted.

    MJF’s comment about Punk being the “new Ryback” comes on the heels of a line Punk used on him during their promo battle in Chicago. Punk referred to MJF as a “less famous Miz” during that show. The reference to Miz on Dynamite was then alluded to by Edge on the following week’s RAW.

    “You have people on other shows saying your name just to get a cheap reaction. You live rent-free in a lot of heads,” Edge said to Miz. 

    Ryback was signed to WWE in 2005 after impressing WWE officials on Tough Enough. In 2010, he would be one of the members of the Nexus faction that invaded WWE. He was once rated as high as #13 in the PWI Top-500 rankings. Ryback is a former Intercontinental Champion and won 5 Slammies from 2012-14. He was released in 2016.

  • NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 Matches Revealed (Nights 1 & 2)

    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 Matches Revealed (Nights 1 & 2)

    New Japan Pro Wrestling has revealed the lineups for Wrestle Kingdom 16 nights 1 & 2 on January 4th and 5th.

    Night 1 – January 4th

    • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
      Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
    • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
      El Desperado (c) vs.Hiromu Takahashi
    • IWGP Tag Team Championships
      Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi) (c) vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI)
    • NEVER Openweight Championship
      Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. EVIL
    • Katsuyori Shibata vs. TBA
    • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, and BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, and Jeff Cobb
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Rocky Romero vs. KENTA, Taiji Ishimori, and El Phantasmo
    • YOH vs. SHO
    • New Japan Ranbo Battle Royal

    Night 2 – January 5

    • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
      Winner of Shingo Takagi/Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Will Ospreay
    • IWGP United States Championship
      Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb
    • SANADA vs. Great-O-Khan
    • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Championships
      EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO (c) vs Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, and YOH
    • Four-way match for the KOPW 2022 trophy: (4 final entrants left from the battle royal on Night 1)
    • Stardom Match
      Mayu Iwatani and Starlight Kid vs. Tam Nakano and Saya Kamitani
    • IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships
      Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero

    Night 3 will take place on January 8th from the Yokohama Arena will feature NJPW wrestlers take on wrestlers from NOAH.

  • Kevin Owens Getting Millions To Stay With WWE

    Kevin Owens Getting Millions To Stay With WWE

    Kevin Owens has a lot to celebrate this holiday season.

    News broke on Wednesday that Owens has signed a new multi-year contract with WWE. Details of Owens’ new deal have been revealed by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    “He signed a 3-year deal with WWE,” said Meltzer. “I believe it was actually a couple of weeks ago when this happened.”

    “It’s a very good money deal. I think the feeling is it’s more than he’d be able to get from AEW. $2-3 million in that range per year.”

    Iron Clad?

    While Owens is making good money per year, he did not get a no-cut clause in his contract that would protect him from being released somewhere down the line.

    “He did not get a no-cut, he didn’t, that’s the other thing that I’ve heard,” Meltzer continued.

    “In 3-years, he’ll be in the same position and probably fixing to make more money barring a career-ending injury.”

    Owens has been with WWE since 2014. He is a 1x NXT Champion, 1x Universal Champion, 2x Intercontinental Champion, and 3x United States Champion.

    Owens is scheduled to challenge for the WWE Championship at Day 1 on January 1st. He is booked in a fatal 4-way match against Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins, and WWE Champion, Big E.

  • Jeff Hardy Announces Meet & Greet Tour For December & January

    Jeff Hardy Announces Meet & Greet Tour For December & January

    Jeff Hardy recently announced a live Meet and Greet tour that will also include a Jeff Hardy “acoustic” session.

    Coincidentally, many of the dates lineup with WWE’s live events touring schedule.

    Hardy has announced the following dates for the tour:

    • 12/16/21: The Miramar Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    • 12/17/21: Bub City in Rosemont, Illinois – WWE is running Smackdown from the nearby Allstate Arena that night.
    • 12/18/21: The Rusty Boots Saloon in Rockford, Illinois. WWE has a live event scheduled for Rockford that same night.
    • 12/19/21: XBK Live in Des Moines, Iowa. WWE has a live event in Des Moines that same night.
    • 1/13/22: The Royal Grove in Lincoln, Nebraska.
    • 1/14/22: The Slowdown in Omaha, Nebraska. WWE has a live event scheduled in Omaha that night.
    • 1/15/21: The TAK Music Venue in Fargo, North Dakota. WWE has a live event in Fargo scheduled for that night.
    • 1/16/21: BIGS Sports in Sioux Falls, North Dakota. WWE has a live event scheduled for Sioux Falls that night.

    Hardy was recently released by WWE after an incident at a live event where he exited through the crowd during a match. He had been with the company since returning for a second time in 2017.

  • Fox & USA Execs Want WWE to Sign MJF

    Fox & USA Execs Want WWE to Sign MJF

    Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) says there will be a bidding war for his services when his AEW contract expires in 2024. He’s not bluffing.

    The Long Island loudmouth has teased the “bidding war of the century.”

    MJF still under contract for almost 3 more years. However, in what has become somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy, MJF has gotten attention of TV executives from the Fox and NBC Universal (USA Network). They want WWE to make a play for him.

    According to Andrew Zarian of the We’re Live, Pal podcast, MJF’s talk a 2024 bidding war has ‘got people buzzing.’

    ”It almost worked the corporate side of stuff on USA and even Fox,” said Zarian. “It perked their ears like ‘hey, this guy is really good. Is his contract ending in 2024? Is that true? There have been conversations and I know WWE is very interested in him.”

    WWE and its television partners realize they need to invest in young talent. MJF is with AEW for the foreseeable future, but WWE could make a play for him in a few years.

    Zarian’s comments can be heard in the player below:

    Tony Khan Comments On An MJF Bidding War In 2024

    Tony Khan appeared on Busted Open Radio shortly after MJF made the comment about a bidding war in 2024. The AEW President is fine with the idea that he could be bidding for MJF’s services come that time.

    “I have no problem with it,” Khan said. “I signed him to a five year contract two years ago, he has three years left. I’m totally fine. There may be a bidding war in 2024, I’m fine with that.”

    Tony Khan Comments On Possible Bidding War For MJF In 2024

    If you use any of the above quotes please H/T to SEScoops for the transcriptions.

  • Charlotte Flair Not Interested in Zelina Vega’s Crown

    Charlotte Flair Not Interested in Zelina Vega’s Crown

    Charlotte Flair has no interest in a Queen vs Queen match against Zelina Vega.

    During an interview with Metro UK, Flair said she has no interest in Vega’s crown.

    “I don’t think I need to fight over a crown, sorry.” she said. “I don’t think I need a crown to be called the Queen, I am the Queen. It’s silly to me. [laughs] No offense!”

    Flair continued to say that she has no problem facing Queen Zelina, but she’s not interested in a storyline or a match over a crown. She believes she’s the “Queen of them all” and always has an “invisible crown” on her head.

    The Real Queen of WWE

    Charlotte Flair

    Charlotte Flair continued, “I mean, maybe facing Zelina, but to have a match focused around Queen versus Queen? Like, I’m the Queen of them all – without a throne,’ she insisted. ‘I don’t see that as – she has a long way to go before that becomes her… I don’t know how you say it? I always wear my invisible crown.”

    Flair did not participate in the recent Queen’s Crown tournament, which saw Zelina Vega defeat Doudrop in the finals.

  • Buff Bagwell Says He Turned Down WWE Hall of Fame Offer

    Buff Bagwell Says He Turned Down WWE Hall of Fame Offer

    Buff Bagwell says WWE wanted him to go into the WWE Hall of Fame along with the other members of the NWO in 2020. Bagwell says he turned down the offer, however, as he didn’t want to go into the Hall of Fame as a member of a group. He made these comments on the “Who The Fook Are These Guys” podcast.

    “They actually called me to do the Hall of Fame thing,” Bagwell said. “I was like, I’ll be honest with you I said ‘I don’t want to be part of a group in the Hall of Fame.’ I’d be like Brett Favre getting a Hall of Fame ring because of the Green Bay Packers.”

    “Brett Favre got a ring because he’s Brett Favre.”

    When Bagwell asked if he felt that a solo induction was possibly in his future, the 51-year-old stated he didn’t believe that was ever going to happen. He also noted that Lex Luger isn’t in the WWE Hall of Fame either.

    Bagwell had a 10-year-run in WCW from 1991-2001. He then had a very brief run with WWE that ended shortly after a disastrous match against Booker T on the July 2nd, 2001 episode of RAW.

    If you use any of the above quotes please credit the “Who The Fook Are These Guys” podcast with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • Johnny Gargano Says He Could Show Up Anywhere If Fans Chant “Johnny Wrestling”

    Johnny Gargano Says He Could Show Up Anywhere If Fans Chant “Johnny Wrestling”

    If you want to see Johnny Gargano, all you have to do is chant “Johnny Wrestling”. At least, that is according to comments he made during the first live stream on his new Twitch channel.

    With Gargano now a free agent, he could show up anywhere and at anytime. If fans want to see his return to wrestling, they just need to chant for him at shows.

    “The ‘Johnny Wrestling’ chants, they mean the world to me,” said Gargano on the stream. “If you chant ‘Johnny Wrestling’ somewhere loud enough, you never know what could happen.”

    He continued, “I could show up anywhere at this point. That’s real. I’m free to do whatever I want. So if someone wants to see me bad enough, the Johnny Wrestling chants come in, I’ll hear them. I watch everything. You never know.”

    Just chant “Johnny Wrestling”

    Now that Gargano is a free agent and has told fans how to ‘summon’ him, it will be interesting to see if we get any Johnny Wrestling chants tonight at AEW Winter is Coming.

    Gargano’s WWE contract is believed to have expired on December 10th. This is after he signed a one-week extension on a contract that expired on December 3rd. The extension was so he would be able to perform on the War Games PPV and the following episode of NXT 2.0.

    He had been with WWE since 2015 and does not have a non-compete clause.

    Watch Gargano’s comments in the player below:

  • Anthony Bowens Comments On Fan Yelling A Homophobic Slur On Dynamite

    Anthony Bowens Comments On Fan Yelling A Homophobic Slur On Dynamite

    On last week’s edition of AEW Dynamite, a fan can be heard yelling a homophobic slur at the Acclaimed’s Anthony Bowens during his match. The Acclaimed teamed with 2.0 in a losing effort to the Varsity Blondes and Jurassic Express on the show.

    Bowens recently spoke to TMZ about the incident.

    “Unfortunately that kind of stuff comes with the territory, being an out LGBTQ athlete,” Bowens said.

    “This is actually the first time that I’ve audibly heard something like that during a performance or during television.”

    Bowens also responded to a Tweet featuring a video of the fan yelling the slur.

    Bowens continued to say that when he started a YouTube channel with his boyfriend, the comments they received were quite hateful.

    “I have really thick skin, I’m kind of used to it from my boyfriend Michael and I,” Bowens said. “We have our YouTube channel and when we first started that the comments were brutal.”

    Bowens would continue to say, however, that the comment is not indicative of AEW fans at all.

    “This is not indicative of the AEW fans at all,” Bowens said. “Any interactions I’ve had with them since starting the company have all been positive.”

    Bowens also spoke about how when he first arrived in AEW, he was happy to see LGTB wrestlers such as Nyla Rose and Sonny Kiss freely being themselves. His full comments are available in the player below:

  • Former WWE Ref: McMahon Family “Torn Apart” Over Triple H & Shane’s Falling Out

    Former WWE Ref: McMahon Family “Torn Apart” Over Triple H & Shane’s Falling Out

    Former WWE referee Mike Chioda recently shed some light on the rocky dynamics within the McMahon family.

    During a recent Q&A session on his podcast with AdFreeShows, Chioda was asked if Triple H was ever warned against dating Vince McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie. He revealed that Shane McMahon did exactly that – to the detriment of his relationship with The Game.

    “Yes, Shane did,” said Chioda. “Shane McMahon did. That’s why the feud fell out, that’s for sure,” Chioda said. “It was a thing from Vince Sr. that came around many years ago. They didn’t want anybody dating talent, none of the kids and none of their family.”

    Vince McMahon Triple H Shane McMahon
    Vince McMahon, Triple H & Shane McMahon

    Chioda continued to say that the falling-out between Shane and Triple H had a negative impact on Shane’s standing in WWE.

    “I think Shane really had a big part of that and that’s why Shane and Triple H had a falling out for many years, and that’s why Shane was exiled for 10 years. Shane is still not on top of the list. Where is he at now? Is he in the office? Is he running things?”

    Shane McMahon departed WWE in 2009. He announced his resignation from the company in October of that year. Shane would not return to WWE until 2016 when he was named the General Manager of Smackdown.

    McMahon Family “Torn Apart”

    Triple H Shane McMahon
    Triple H & Shane McMahon

    Chioda continued to say that the McMahon family is torn apart. Perhaps they are not torn apart completely but they are definitely severed to some degree.

    “It gets more interesting, believe me. It’s sad because when I started working for this company, there was Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon and now it seems to be all broken apart.”

    He continued, “All the money in the world probably can’t fix it. They have all the money in the world, a publicly traded company, which is ok. The family is torn apart at this point I think. Maybe not torn apart all the way, which I hope not, but it’s torn apart.”

    In WWE storyline, McMahon has won several titles in the promotion. He is a 1x European Champion and a 1x Hardcore Champion. Upon returning to the WWE in 2016, he won the Smackdown Tag Team Championships along with The Miz once.

    At 2018’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia, Shane replaced The Miz in the finals and won the Best in the World tournament.

    H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcriptions.

  • Hangman Page Says He Got Off On The Wrong Foot To Start AEW Career

    Hangman Page Says He Got Off On The Wrong Foot To Start AEW Career

    AEW World Champion Hangman Page will make his first title defense this Wednesday against Bryan Danielson. His ascent to the world title has been lauded as an example of long-term booking but Page doesn’t feel it was. He recently appeared on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette and spoke about his AEW career thus far.

    “I wouldn’t even talk about, at least my journey, to the AEW World Championship, as like some kind of grand scheme that was hatched on day one, or something like that, because it never was. At least to me, it was never that way,” Page said.

    He continued to talk about how he was booked in the first ever AEW World Title match but at the time, he didn’t feel the fans saw him as a main event guy.

    “When AEW started, and I, you know, realized, I was going to be suddenly… I was just a guy losing all the Bullet Club multi-man matches. I wasn’t nobody, but I certainly wasn’t the main event guy, who was suddenly going to be main eventing the first-ever title match in AEW. Like, I knew people wouldn’t buy it and it didn’t matter what i said, it didn’t matter what I did, it was too fast, too soon. I knew people, they might be forgiving, but I knew deep down they wouldn’t buy it.”

    Hangman Page Said His AEW Career Got Off On The Wrong Foot

    Page felt like he got off on the wrong foot by challenging Chris Jericho to determine the first-ever AEW World Champion.

    “I felt like I got off on the wrong foot and I wanted to rectify that. I felt like the only way you can is to be vulnerable to let that loss and that disappointment come out over a long time. and every week, we’d get to tv and it wasn’t like some grand scheme of ‘how we get back to Adam Page winning the world title.’ I just think, how do I feel about this? What would I feel about this? Then ok, let’s do that this week.”

    Page’s full appearance on the show is available below:

    If you use any of the above quotes please credit Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcriptions.

  • WWE Files To Trademark “Piper Niven”

    WWE Files To Trademark “Piper Niven”

    Will Doudrop be going back to her pre-WWE main roster name of Piper Niven? According to a report from PW Insider, WWE filed to trademark several names recently and one of them was Piper Niven. Other names WWE is looking to trademark include Odyssey Jones and Ivy Nile.

    When Doudrop/Piper Niven debuted on the main roster she was aligned with Eva Marie and given the name Doudrop. Eva Marie was released from WWE on November 4th, however. In an interview with Metro UK, Niven said she was heartbroken over Marie’s release from the company.

    “Honestly, I’m absolutely heartbroken because that woman is a big sister to me,” Doudrop said. “Behind the scenes, she is the nicest person you will ever meet… Every single person, she’s got a funny story with them. I just love her so much.”

    “I hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of her in WWE, I think she’s amazing. When you see her in real life, you’re like… you’re amazing at being a heel. But time will tell – who knows what will happen in this crazy world?”

    Doudrop has dropped two straight matches to Bianca Belair on RAW. Last week, she bailed on the match and was counted out. This week, Belair pinned her after a 450 splash from the top rope.

    Doudrop “Heartbroken” Over Eva Marie’s WWE Release
  • QT Marshall Comments On Training Shaq for AEW

    QT Marshall Comments On Training Shaq for AEW

    QT Marshall trained Shaquille O’Neal for his match along with Jade Cargill against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet earlier this year. Shaq and Cargill were victorious in the match that took place at “AEW Cross Rhodes” on March 3rd, 2021.

    Marshall recently discussed training Shaq during an appearance on My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox for Barstool Sports.

    “I was like, I could teach you how to do this in 10 days,” said Marshall. “For what I think we’re looking to do, 100%.’ He got in there and I suplexed him, right, with a crash pad. Then he was like, ‘Alright, let’s move the crash pads’ and I suplexed him again. He was saying, ‘That’s not too bad.’ He’s like, ‘It hurts, but it’s not that bad.’ I said, ‘When the adrenaline’s going, you don’t feel anything.’”

    Marshall continued to say that they tried to hold off the match for as long as possible due to the pandemic. Eventually, the decision was made to go forward with it, however.

    QT Marshall on Training Shaquille O’Neal

    “We were trying to hold off as long as we could, because of, you know, the pandemic, and the crowd, all that stuff. But then one thing led to another, but like I said, he was there all the time and really paying attention to what I was saying. I mean, he powerbombed by me the first time and he dropped me right in my head. I was like, ‘Hey, you’re really tall. So if you don’t squat down with this, you’re gonna dump everyone on their head, and you can’t do that to Cody.’ So, yeah, he was really dedicated. Also, he was having fun.”

    The match was officially the 2nd of Shaq’s pro-wrestling career. In 2016, he also appeared in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32.

    His appearance in the match looked as though it was going to lead to a match against the Big Show (Paul Wight). The match never materialized, however.

    The full interview with QT Marshall can be viewed in the player below:

    H/T To Fightful for the transcriptions.

  • Liv Morgan Wants To Apologize To “Disappointed Liv Girl” Fan

    Liv Morgan Wants To Apologize To “Disappointed Liv Girl” Fan

    When Becky Lynch cheated to defeat Liv Morgan in the main event of RAW last week, the camera cut to the live reaction of an upset young fan. The disappointment on the girl’s face rivalled “Miz girl” from years ago.

    Liv Morgan was recently a guest on WWE El Brunch and noted that she hopes to make contact with the young fan.

    “I want to find her and send her a letter or a video,” Morgan said. “I just want to thank her for supporting and watching and being there.”

    Liv continued to say she wants to tell the fan that things aren’t over between her and Becky Lynch.

     “I just want to apologize if I disappointed her, but I want to let her know that this isn’t over with and I’m going to keep on fighting. I definitely want to find her somehow and say hello. She’s so cute.”

    Liv Morgan’s full appearance on the show can be viewed below:

    Liv Morgan confronted Becky Lynch on last night’s RAW. She was attacked and had her hand trapped in the steel steps by “Big Time Becks”, however. WWE would later send out an injury update on social media.

    H/T To Fightful for transcriptions.

  • Jonathan Gresham Wants To Defend ROH Title Against CM Punk & Bryan Danielson

    Jonathan Gresham Wants To Defend ROH Title Against CM Punk & Bryan Danielson

    Jonathan Gresham defeated Jay Lethal in the main event of Final Battle 2021. The event represented the end of an era for Ring of Honor. The promotion is now moving forward without keeping any talent on contract. When the company announced its change in business plans, it also noted there are plans to hold a return event in April during WrestleMania week.

    New ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham spoke to Sports Illustrated recently and noted that it is up to him to keep the spirit of ROH alive.

    “Final Battle was a night that was full circle for me,” Gresham says. “I spent a lot of time with the fans at ringside. There were so many people there I knew—from the independents, from seminars, fans from smaller independent shows, like NOVA Pro [in Virginia], guys that stayed on my couch during our travels—and everyone kept telling me they had to see me win the Ring of Honor title. I have enjoyed this entire ride, so all of that meant the world to me.”

    “As champion, it is up to me to keep the spirit and the essence of Ring of Honor alive,” Gresham says. “I will preserve and protect Pure wrestling as Ring of Honor world champion.”

    Gresham continued to say that he plans on making the Ring of Honor title the most important championship in wrestling. To do that, Gresham says, he has to wrestle CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.

    “I am going to make this championship the best wrestling title in the world,” he says. “In order to do that, I need to wrestle two men who helped make the Ring of Honor title the best in the world: Bryan Danielson and CM Punk.”

    Gresham is the 29th wrestler to win the ROH World Championship. His victory at Final Battle 2021 was the 36th title change in the championships lineage. Adam Cole is the only wrestler to win the title 3x. Jay Lethal has spent the most time as champion at 707 days. Samoa Joe holds the record for the longest single reign with the belt at 645 days.

    The full article can be read here.

  • Bret Hart Honored By Canada Walk of Fame Induction

    Bret Hart Honored By Canada Walk of Fame Induction

    Bret Hart will be honored on Canada’s Walk of Fame on December 17th. Chris Jericho is set to induct him during the ceremony. Hart recently spoke to the Toronto Sun about what the induction means to him.

    “It will always mean a lot when you’re celebrated and honoured amongst your peers and fellow wrestlers,” Hart said.”The WWE Hall of Fame always meant a lot to me. This is even higher to me in a sense. You’re being lumped in with Canadians – great Canadians and the contributions they’ve made in their fields. It means a lot to me to be honoured by Canadians across the country for my wrestling career.”

    Among other inductees for this year’s Canada Walk of Fame are Bruce Cockburn and Keanu Reeves.

    Hart talked about some of the best matches of his career. He noted a flag match from 1997 in Halifax he had as one of his favourites.

    “I think one that stands out is a flag match I had in Halifax at the height of the U.S. and Canada bashing (storyline in 1997). It was me, Jim Neidhart , Owen, (Brian) Pillman and Davey Boy (Smith) . It was all five of us on one side. I remember we ended up winning and it just pissed off the American wrestling fans so much.”

    Much like MJF did in Long Island last week on AEW Dynamite, the Hart Foundation cheated to win the match and the Halifax fans cheered them on while they did it.

    “We cheated all the way through the match and we celebrated like the good guys and the (Halifax) fans cheered. It was very warped in a sense because the American fans were like, ‘that ain’t right.’ The next week we’d be in San Antonio where they wanted to kill us.”

  • Ric Flair On If He Has One More Match Left In Him

    Ric Flair On If He Has One More Match Left In Him

    Ric Flair Flair recently spent some time on his Wooo Nation Uncensored podcast talking about if he has one more match left in him. This summer, Flair got physical during Andrade’s match at AAA’s TripleMania event. Mark Madden asked him about this during the show.

    “I can do anything,” Flair said. “WWE won’t let me do anything.”

    Flair continued to talk about his efforts to get WWE to let him be physical in the ring before his departure from the company.

    “I totally understand, they’ve got so much liability. I told them I’d sign anything. Nobody wants me to die on their watch, if that makes sense. I’d rather die in the ring.”

    Madden responded that he’d rather Flair didn’t die at all. “No, but I meant if I have to go,” Flair answered him.

    “I’d rather not spend another 31 days in the ICU on life support, does that make sense?” Flair continued.

    “It took me 3 years to get back to my feet after that. I did not just snap up.”

    He continued to talk about how his wife Wendy supported him and took a class on how to best help him.

    “I can never, ever, thank her enough,” he said of Wendy.

    Flair’s comments can be heard in the player below:

    If you use any of the above quotes please credit Ric Flair’s YouTube channel and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcriptions.

  • Booker T Says AEW Is The Last Place Jeff Hardy Should Be

    Booker T Says AEW Is The Last Place Jeff Hardy Should Be

    Jeff Hardy was released from WWE last week after being sent home from a recent WWE live event tour. Booker T doesn’t believe that Hardy should be thinking about going to AEW right now. Rather, Booker believes Hardy should be getting the help he needs. He spoke on the subject recently on his Hall of Fame podcast with Brad Gilmore.

    “I know people gonna be calling for him to be going to AEW and whatnot. I’m sure that’s already the talk out there, but I think that’s the last place he needs to be right now. From a monetary perspective, you’ll always be ‘checking,’ okay? So that right there can motivate you to go do work when you really don’t need to. My thing is, hopefully he gets the help he needs.”

    Booker continued to say that Jeff and his brother Matt have a long history in WWE and likely would have had a job there forever.

    “Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, those guys are ‘WWF’ originals. Those guys were literally created through the WWE in that brand, for so many many years. I’m sure a guy like Jeff Hardy, as well as Matt Hardy would’ve had a job there forever doing something.”

    WWE reportedly released Hardy after he refused to go to rehab. There was concern regarding Hardy’s performance at a house show event where fans noted he looked sluggish. Hardy also left through the crowd after tagging out during the match.

    Footage of Hardy at the house show is available below:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=653&v=9WD9T1Rofgc&feature=emb_logo

    H/T to WrestleZone for transcriptions.

  • Amanda Huber Pens Article About Brodie Lee

    Amanda Huber Pens Article About Brodie Lee

    The world lost Jon Huber (aka Brodie Lee) on December 26th, 2020. Coming up on the 1-year anniversary of his passing, Brodie’s wife Amanda has penned a column for the Players Tribune about her husband.

    “I know there’s a tendency, after someone passes, to want to sugarcoat things — to tell the ‘easy’ version of the story. But that’s not something I’m interested in doing with the story of me and Jon. It just wouldn’t feel right. Our love was never perfect….. but it was always real,” Huber wrote.

    Amanda continued to write about the early parts of their relationship, when both were on the independent wrestling scene. She also spoke about her efforts to make it in wrestling back during this time.

    “But I won’t lie: I still get sad, sometimes, when I think about the wrestling business of a decade ago, the wrestling business that I tried to make it in. Because the truth is….. that business chewed me up and then spit me out, pretty much.”

    “Too many years of being around types of behavior that we didn’t even have words for yet.”

    The article continues to detail Jon’s career in WWE and their marriage. Eventually, Amanda covers Jon getting sick and the very difficult conversations she had to have with her kids.

    “Today would have been our tenth anniversary. December 13th, 2011 — that’s the day we got married. It was a Tuesday (and you know what that means). Counting everything….. I guess we knew each other for about 18 years. Funny how that seems both so long and so short.”

    The full article is available here.