SEScoops

Author: Jon Fuentes

  • Randy Orton Reveals How Much Longer He Plans On Wrestling

    Randy Orton Reveals How Much Longer He Plans On Wrestling

    Randy Orton has been a staple in the WWE brand for the past two decades. Over the course of his illustrious career Orton has amassed 14 World Championship reigns. He is also an Intercontinental and United States Championship winner, a former Money In The Bank winner, and a two-time Royal Rumble match winner.

    His rivalries with the likes of John Cena, Edge, and Triple H have been some of the greatest in the history of the business. However, at 42-years-old and with over 20 years in the industry, many are beginning to wonder how much longer “The Viper” plans on keeping this up. Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week, Orton revealed he has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon.

    Orton credited his current tag team with Matt Riddle, which whom he reigns as the RAW Tag Team Champions, for revitalizing the fun he has inside the ring again. With that being said, Orton plans on wrestling for at least another 10 years.

    “I love what I’m doing. I love what I’m doing in the ring. I would love to do it for a much longer time. 10 more years, 12 more years,” Orton said (via WrestleZone) “I’d like to be like ‘Taker and when I get to the point where my body’s like okay maybe not every week, like I’d love to [do] SummerSlam, WrestleMania, like come and have that big match.”

    This weekend Randy Orton will once again team up with Riddle and put their RAW Tag Team Titles on the line. The pair will compete at Night Two of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, Texas, defending against The Street Prophets and Alpha Academy. You check out the full WrestleMania 38 card below.

    WrestleMania 38 Card

    (Night One) Saturday – APRIL 2:

    • SmackDown Women’s Title Match
      Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
    • RAW Women’s Title Match
      Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch (c)
    • SmackDown Tag Team Titles Match
      Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs vs. The Usos (c)
    • Logan Paul and The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio
    • Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Baron Corbin
    • Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus and Ridge Holland
    • Seth Rollins vs. TBA
    • Kevin Owens presents “The KO Show” with special guest – WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

    (Night Two) Sunday – APRIL 3:

    • Winner Takes All Title Match
      WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
    • Triple Threat for the RAW Tag Team Titles
      The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy vs. Randy Orton and Riddle (c)
    • Fatal 4 Way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
      Shayna Baszler and Natalya vs. Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley vs. Naomi and Sasha Banks vs. Carmella and Queen Zelina Vega (c)
    • Anything Goes Match
      Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn
    • Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory
    • Edge vs. AJ Styles
    • Omos vs. Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles Reacts to Cody Rhodes Rumors, Title Match Added to IMPACT Rebellion

    AJ Styles Reacts to Cody Rhodes Rumors, Title Match Added to IMPACT Rebellion

    AJ Styles Reacts to Cody Rhodes Rumors

    There are a ton of rumors swirling around who will be Seth Rollins’ mystery opponent at WrestleMania 38 this weekend. The favorite for the nod is none other than former WWE and AEW star Cody Rhodes. Rhodes is currently a free agent after making the decision to leave AEW, and would be the perfect surprise opponent for Rollins in Dallas.

    AJ Styles, who faces Edge at this weekend’s “Show Of Shows,” recently offered his thoughts on the matter speaking to Wrestling Inc. during media row. “The Phenomenal One” says he’ll believe it when he sees it.

    “Listen, I haven’t seen Cody here, so I’ll believe it when I see it,” Styles said. “This is what we’ve been a part of for a couple, well I’ve been decades. There’s a lot of rumors, but you don’t believe something until you actually see it.”

    Title Match Added to IMPACT Rebellion

    Another title bout has been added to the upcoming IMPACT Rebellion card on April 23. The event will go down from the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York. On this week’s episode of IMPACT Wrestling, Rosemary emerged victorious from a 10-Knockouts Battle Royal to become the new No. 1-contender for Tasha Steelz’s Knockouts World Title.

    Rosemary defeated Lady Frost, Jordynne Grace, Gisele Shaw, Jessie McKay, Havok, Alisha Edwards, Savannah Evans, and Knockouts World Tag Team Champions Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood to earn the title nod. Now, she’ll face Steelz for the strap at Rebellion.

    Check out the updated card below.

    • IMPACT World Title Match
      Josh Alexander vs. Moose (c)
    • IMPACT Knockouts World Title Match
      Rosemary vs. Tasha Steelz (c)
    • Triple Threat for the IMPACT X Division Title
      Ace Austin vs. Mike Bailey vs. Trey Miguel (c)
    • Eight-Team Elimination Challenge for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles
      The Good Brothers vs. The Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Decay vs. Willie Mack and Rich Swann vs. Rhino and Heath vs. Jay White and Chris Bey vs. Honor No More vs. Violent By Design (c)
    • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jonah
    • ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham vs. Eddie Edwards
  • Top Matches for First WWE House Show After WrestleMania

    Top Matches for First WWE House Show After WrestleMania

    WrestleMania 38 goes down live this weekend from AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas in an epic two-night event from Saturday April 2 to Sunday April 3. There are several titles up for grabs at “The Show Of Shows,” but it appears that some of these titles already have matches being advertised for post-WrestleMania 38 house shows.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the April 16 show from Erie, Pennsylvania is advertising a Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins Triple Threat match for the Universal Championship. Also, Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley for the RAW Women’s Title is being advertised. And lastly, Charlotte Flair vs. Aliyah for the SmackDown Women’s Championship is being promoted.

    The report stressed that this doesn’t mean Flair and Reigns are a lock for wins this weekend at Mania, but it’s still an interesting note nonetheless. You can check out the full lineup for this weekend’s two-night WrestleMania here below.

    WrestleMania 38 Card

    (Night One) Saturday – APRIL 2:

    • SmackDown Women’s Title Match
      Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
    • RAW Women’s Title Match
      Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch (c)
    • SmackDown Tag Team Titles Match
      Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs vs. The Usos (c)
    • Logan Paul and The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio
    • Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Baron Corbin
    • Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus and Ridge Holland
    • Seth Rollins vs. TBA
    • Kevin Owens presents “The KO Show” with special guest – WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

    (Night Two) Sunday – APRIL 3:

    • Winner Takes All Title Match
      WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
    • Triple Threat for the RAW Tag Team Titles
      The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy vs. Randy Orton and Riddle (c)
    • Fatal 4 Way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
      Shayna Baszler and Natalya vs. Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley vs. Naomi and Sasha Banks vs. Carmella and Queen Zelina Vega (c)
    • Anything Goes Match
      Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn
    • Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory
    • Edge vs. AJ Styles
    • Omos vs. Bobby Lashley
  • Triple H Reportedly Makes Surprise Appearance At WWE Talent Meeting

    Triple H Reportedly Makes Surprise Appearance At WWE Talent Meeting

    Triple H made a very special appearance during a WWE talent meeting in Dallas, Texas this week. The report comes from Fightful, which notes that “The Game” was introduced by WWE Talent Relations head John Laurinaitis to kick off the meeting Thursday night. This was quite the treat for talent, as most hadn’t seen the WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development since August.

    The scene was said to be very emotional, with Hunter discussing his recent health struggles, which led to him making the decision to retire from in-ring competition for good. “The Game” then introduced WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan, who he described as a friend of over 10 years. Khan offered up some news to the talent regarding pay. Specifically that they will earn additional compensation on top of their Superstar contracts for any revenue generated via third-party platforms.

    This includes the likes of services such as Cameo, autograph signings, scripted and un-scripted programming. The meeting was reportedly described as overwhelmingly positive by several Superstars, with one going as far as saying it was a great way to kick off the WrestleMania weekend.

    As for Triple H, he has been steadily increasing his involvement in public appearances as WrestleMania 38 approaches this weekend. He was present for WWE tryouts in Frisco, Texas this past Thursday, and also appeared for The Undertaker’s life-size statue unveiling this week. The former WWE Champion had taken time away from the business after suffering a cardiac episode this past fall.

  • Bobby Lashley WWE Status Update, Booker T Reacts To Steiners HOF Induction

    Bobby Lashley WWE Status Update, Booker T Reacts To Steiners HOF Induction

    Bobby Lashley WWE Status Update

    Earlier this week on Monday Night RAW, former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley made his long-awaited return to set up his WrestleMania 38 matchup with Omos. Lashley had been out of action since Elimination Chamber back in February with a storyline concussion. However, Lashley was actually ailing an injured shoulder.

    Now, according to a report from PWInsider, Lashley is listed as a babyface for the red brand. He’ll get back into the swing of things against one of WWE’s most promising big men on “The Grandest Stage Of Them All” this weekend.

    Booker T On Steiners WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

    As noted, The Steiner Brothers have been announced for a WWE Hall Of Fame induction this weekend. They join an already loaded class that includes the likes of The Undertaker and Vader. Two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T recently took to the latest episode of his podcast, “The Hall Of Fame,” to offer his thoughts on the induction.

    The former World Heavyweight Champion reminisced on how The Steiners were some of Harlem Heat’s greatest rivals. Specifically, Booker noted how the four put on some great matches, and he enjoyed working agains them very much.

    “You’ve got to love it,” Booker T said (via Wrestling Inc.). “I know it had to be pulling teeth, it seemed like it took forever to make this announcement, but The Steiner Brothers got the nod. There have been all kinds of rumors online as far as Scott Steiner having a little bit of trouble and whatnot.

    “Rick Steiner saying, ‘We’ve got to do this, we’ve got to do this right now, we ain’t got time to be messing around.’ I am just paraphrasing, none of that was said like that. But I do want to say congratulations to Rick, and Scott Steiner. Two of the Harlem Heat’s ultimate rivals back in the day, we had such a good time working with those guys, so many great matches.”

    You can check out the updated lineup for this weekend’s Hall Of Fame induction ceremony below.

    WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022

    • The Undertaker, to be inducted by Vince McMahon
    • Vader
    • Queen Sharmell, to be inducted by Boker T
    • The Steiner Brothers, Rick & Scott
    • Shad Gaspard to receive the Warrior Award
  • Corey Graves Names One Key Aspect He Thinks NXT Is Lacking

    Corey Graves Names One Key Aspect He Thinks NXT Is Lacking

    Corey Graves never shies away from the opportunity to offer WWE some constructive criticism on his podcast, “After The Bell.”

    During the latest episode of the show, Graves discussed the current product over on WWE NXT, and what he believes it’s lacking. Graves pointed out that the program contains, possibly, the greatest in-ring work going at the moment within the business. However, he doesn’t feel like fans know who this current crop of NXT stars actually are. Graves went on to compare how stars of NXT’s past; such as Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Bayley, and more had established characters during their respective runs on the show.

    “A lot of people just watch NXT for in-ring action, and if that’s your vibe, if that’s your flavor of ice cream, cool. I understand it. I’m just saying, for Corey Graves, the wrestling fan, knowing what I know and knowing the way my mind works obviously with RAW and SmackDown that I’m focused on now, I think we need to know who these people are a little bit more,” Graves said (via NoDq.com).

    “When I compare everything to NXT, I think back to my time there. You knew who Bayley was. You knew what made Seth Rollins tick. You knew what The Wyatt Family were about. Adam Rose, for goodness sake, he was this party animal. It didn’t translate, obviously, to major success on RAW or SmackDown, but you knew who these people were.

    “I regularly watch NXT, but I don’t study it like I used to. I don’t follow every bit of it. So, when I sit down and watch TakeOver, I look at it thinking, as a general wrestling fan who may not know who all these people are, in this case, it was me, what could they show me to make me care a little bit more and to hook me a little bit deeper?”

    Graves himself was one of the Superstars who was with NXT during its inception after it evolved from Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in 2012. His run with the brand as an in-ring talent was short-lived, however, as he was forced to retire due to concussion complications in December of 2014. Since, Graves has established himself as a tremendous broadcaster for the company, currently working on SmackDown Live.

  • Ric Flair Reveals Gift Triple H Gave Him After His Son’s Passing

    Ric Flair Reveals Gift Triple H Gave Him After His Son’s Passing

    Two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair was recently a guest on the WINCLY podcast to discuss several professional wrestling topics.

    One topic touched on during that conversation was the passing of Flair’s son, Reid, back in 2013. Reid Flair passed away from an apparent drug overdose in March of 2013 at the age of 25. While discussing the issue, Ric Flair noted that he buried Reid with one of his two WWE Hall Of Fame rings. This prompted his longtime friend Triple H to gift him a new Hall Of Fame ring with his late son’s name inscribed on it.

    “I’ve moved on. Trust me, I’ve had words with Hunter, and I’ve had words with Stephanie,” Flair said. “I’ve argued with them, and we’ve had tough times too. I was drinking a lot, and Steph and I had a bad argument.

    “I said something terrible, but they’ve forgiven me and so has Hunter, and Vince has never left my side ever since the day I met him. And they couldn’t have done more for my son. I can remember after we buried Reid, I put one of my Hall of Fame rings on Reid. At NXT one time, Hunter said, ‘I need to talk to you,’ and I maybe thought I had done something wrong.

    “And he called me into his office, and he had a duplicate ring with Reid’s name engraved on it. That’s someone who cares. I spent half the time with Hunter than I did with those guys (the Horsemen).”

    Ric Flair In WWE Today

    Flair continues to play a role in WWE today, even after his official in-ring retirement with the company back in 2008. He’s actually locked in a storyline with his daughter, Charlotte Flair, on Monday Night Raw. Ric Flair was previously managing Charlotte’s rival, Lacey Evans, before her real-life pregnancy forced her out of the ring. Now, Ric will likely continue his storyline with Charlotte heading into WrestleMania this April.

  • Bad Bunny Selling A Ton Of Merchandise At WWE Shop

    Bad Bunny Selling A Ton Of Merchandise At WWE Shop

    Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny has reportedly hauled in some big numbers on WWE Shop. In fact, per a report from Fightful, his merchandise sales have exceeded $500,000 so far this year. At one point last week, Bunny’s merchandise held four of the top five selling spots on the site. It placed number one for the men’s t-shirt, three for the women’s, and came in fourth for the youth size. His pullover hoodie ranked second. At that time, the only other WWE Superstar in the top five was Universal Champion Roman Reigns at five. Bunny’s initial merchandise, which released around the time of the Royal Rumble last month, sold out fast. Now, WWE has released new limited edition merchandise for the music star.

    Bad Bunny at WrestleMania

    As we’ve noted, Bunny is expected to be teaming up with Damian Priest against the team of John Morrison and The Miz at this year’s WrestleMania. The rapper began a feud with the duo at the Royal Rumble when he attacked The Miz in retaliation for destroying his DJ booth. This was followed up by Bunny and Priest aligning themselves together against Miz and Morrison on Monday Night Raw during a Miz TV segment.

    Now, the stage is set for Bunny and Priest to take on the former WWE Tag Team Champions at “The Showcase of the Immortals.”

    What do you think about Bunny having a match at this year’s WrestleMania? And how do you feel about him being the top seller on WWE Shop so far this year? Let us know in the comments!

  • Backstage News On Potential New Location For WWE SummerSlam

    Backstage News On Potential New Location For WWE SummerSlam

    SummerSlam takes place in less than three weeks, but WWE has yet to announce where the summer spectacular will take place.

    Most of WWE’s pay-per-views have taken place at the Performance Center in Orlando, FL due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been rumors that WWE is looking to hold SummerSlam outside of Florida. The North East United States has been discussed as a host region.

    On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed the chatter about SummerSlam’s host venue. Meltzer says that a beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey is being discussed. Vince McMahon is hoping to achieve a “different look” for SummerSlam. Additionally, the WWE boss is pushing to have at least some fans in attendance.

    With such a short lead-up time to the pay-per-view, expect the location to be finalized very soon.

    WWE SummerSlam Card

    WWE currently has four matches confirmed for this year’s SummerSlam pay-per-view:

    • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
    • WWE RAW Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. Andrade & Angel Garza
    • WWE United States Champion Apollo Crews vs. MVP
    • Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio

    SummerSlam takes place on Sunday, August 23rd and will stream live on the WWE Network.

  • Nikki & Brie Bella Give Birth A Day Apart (Photos)

    Nikki & Brie Bella Give Birth A Day Apart (Photos)

    Nikki and Brie Bella have both given birth to baby boys, and only a day apart from one another!

    Both former WWE stars announced the news on their respective Instagram pages. Brie was the first to share her news, posting, “It’s a BOY!!! 8-1-2020 We are overwhelmed with joy and everyone is healthy!!!,” along with all three of the family’s hands. This is Brie and husband Daniel Bryan’s second child together.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDZbd7UBdSg/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Next, Nikki shared a photo with the same pose – she, fiancee Artem Chigvintsev, and her newborn baby boy all holding hands. Nikki captioned the photo with “7/31/2020 Our baby boy is here and we couldn’t be HAPPIER and more in LOVE! Everyone is safe and healthy.” Check it out below.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDZoxn7lGa3/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Nikki and Brie briefly shared a pregnancy period with fellow WWE star Becky Lynch. Earlier this year, Lynch was forced to vacate her WWE Raw Women’s Title due to the fact that she is pregnant. However, she remains unsure if she’ll return to the ring after giving birth later this year, unlike the Bella twins, who are currently retired from in-ring competition.

    “I don’t know what the next chapter is because I only know what it’s like to think for myself when I’m by myself,” Lynch told People Magazine earlier this year. “So I don’t know what it’ll look like and how my priorities shift and what I’m going to want in the future. So, everything’s open.”

    Becky Lynch and fiancee Seth Rollins’ child is due to be born this December.

  • MLW Teasing Return Of Live Events

    MLW Teasing Return Of Live Events

    Major League Wrestling (MLW) could be gearing up to get back to running live events again.

    It’s no secret that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a huge blow to the professional wrestling industry, along with the rest of the world. Several promotions have been forced to hold off on hosting events, MLW included. The company hasn’t put on a show since March, when the pandemic began to get out of control.

    However, that could all change very soon. MLW’s official Twitter account Tweeted out a photo of their production set, captioning it with a ticking clock. This has led many to believe that MLW is teasing the return of live shows soon.

    https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1290098770273689600

    Promotions such as WWE and AEW have been running empty arena shows for the past several months. They have also used their own talents to serve as audience members, placing them in the crowd where fans would usually be in an attempt to liven the shows up a bit.

    Now would be a great time for MLW to get back to work. Especially with the recent news of the promotion partnering up with WAVE.tv for social media content distribution. The partnership will allow for more of MLW’s content to be seen by the likes of Gen Z and Millennial sports fans through WAVE.tv’s combat sports media brand “HAYMAKERS.”

  • Shad Gaspard’s Wife Releases Statement On His Passing

    Shad Gaspard’s Wife Releases Statement On His Passing

    As we’ve noted, former WWE star Shad Gaspard has passed away. The former Cryme Tyme member’s body was located on Venice Beach

    Earlier this week Gaspard and his 10-year-old son found themselves caught in a strong rip tide. Gaspard instructed lifeguards to help his son first before assisting him. Luckily, Gaspard’s child was safely returned to shore. However, Gaspard was subsequently taken underwater by a big wave.

    Gaspard was missing for a few days before his body was eventually located yesterday on Venice Beach. Gaspard was 39-years-old. Now, in the wake of his confirmed passing, Gaspard’s wife, Siliana, has released a statement on the matter.

    “Aryeh, myself, and the Gaspard and Chittick families would like to take this time to thank everyone for their prayers and support, as we mourn the terrible loss of our beloved Shad. Shad was our whole world and we were his. There are not enough words to describe what he means to all of us.

    “He was our heart, our soul, our protectors, our warrior. He was a bright force of nature, who brought joy to many through his joyous and gracious nature. The outpouring of love from Shad’s friends, colleagues and fans has meant more to us than you can even imagine. We’d like to once again thank the lifeguards, coast guard, divers, fire and police departments for their efforts. Shad was and will always be our real life super hero. Siliana Gaspard.”

    Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gaspard family during this difficult time.

  • AEW Providing COVID-19 Testing To All At Dynamite Tapings

    AEW Providing COVID-19 Testing To All At Dynamite Tapings

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is doing its best to ensure the safety of its talent and staff ahead of Dynamite tonight.

    With the current coronavirus pandemic going around, there’s a lot of controversy as to whether or not live shows/sporting events should be allowed to continue. However, AEW is being allowed to continue taping its shows in Jacksonville, Florida from Daily’s Place. With that being said, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) took to Facebook to reveal the safety measures for tonight’s Dynamite.

    Everyone involved in the tapings was not allowed into the venue without first receiving a COVID-19 rapid test. Other measures have been taken, such as implementing portable wash stations, hand sanitizer stations, mandatory masks, and enforcing social distancing – especially during breaks. Furthermore, in the comments of the post, IATSE confirmed that the tests were supplied by AEW themselves.

    It was added that tonight’s taping of AEW Dynamite will be a closed set with no crowds, despite the fact that Florida is allowing sports venues to have fans as long as its 25 percent capacity of the venue.

    When asked what would happen if someone tested positive for COVID-19, IATSE confirmed that all personnel tested negative. However, had anyone tested positive, they would have been referred for a Molecular test, which determines if you can work.

    It seems like AEW is pulling out all the stops to ensure everyone is working as safe as possible. We’ll keep you updated on the situation as more information becomes available to us.

    AEW President Tony Khan noted that all wrestlers and employees tested negative for COVID-19 ahead of Wednesday’s live AEW Dynamite from Jacksonville, FL.

  • Curtis Axel Released From WWE

    Curtis Axel Released From WWE

    Curtis Axel is the latest WWE talent to be released from the company. WWE has been making a ton of cuts in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and the detrimental effect its had on the economy.

    Today, WWE announced on their official website that Axel, the son of WWE Hall Of Famer Mr. Perfect, has officially been released. Axel had spent 13 years with WWE. During that time, he had an Intercontinental Championship run and won the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles twice. Once with David Otunga, and another with Bo Dallas. Now, Axel, real name Joseph Hennig, is gone from WWE for the first time since 2007.

    Prior to his release, Axel hadn’t wrestled on WWE TV since the February 28 episode of SmackDown Live. He suffered a loss to Daniel Bryan inside the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Axel joins a long list of talents who have already been let go from WWE amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. A list of other notable talents who were let go can be found below.

    • Drake Maverick
    • Luke Gallows
    • Karl Anderson
    • EC3
    • Curt Hawkins
    • Lio Rush
    • Heath Slater
    • Eric Young
    • Rusev
    • Kurt Angle
    • Aiden English
    • Erik Rowan
    • Sarah Logan
    • Mike Chioda
    • Primo & Epico Colon
    • Mike Kanellis (Bennett)
    • Maria Kanellis
    • Zack Ryder
    • No Way Jose
    • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Chris Jericho Reacts To WWE’s Recent Talent Cuts

    Chris Jericho Reacts To WWE’s Recent Talent Cuts

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Chris Jericho has offered his thoughts on WWE’s recent roster cuts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. WWE recently laid off a huge list of in-ring talents, and also furloughed a lot of its employees as well.

    During a recent interview with TV Insider, Jericho has offered his thoughts on WWE’s talent cuts. In regards to how AEW will respond to the influx of free agents that are now on the market, “Y2J” says he has no clue.

    “It’s an interesting time right now, because a lot of guys got released. By proxy, you went from a business that was very profitable in many different levels to everything grinding to a halt. Hopefully, many of them will get picked up by the different companies.

    “Some guys may have to go overseas. I don’t know what AEW has planned. That’s not really my wheelhouse. But I’m sure everybody is going to land where they should land. It’s just how it goes.”

    Jericho has taken a bit of a break from in-ring competition in 2020. He has only competed in one singles match this year, that being his title loss to Jon Moxley at Revolution.

    Jericho has been doing a lot of commentary work as of late on Dynamite, and recently fell out of the weekly AEW Rankings.

  • TD Garden Claims WWE SummerSlam Still Going Forward As Scheduled

    TD Garden Claims WWE SummerSlam Still Going Forward As Scheduled

    It appears that WWE SummerSlam, for the time being, is still going down from the TD Garden in Boston.

    The current coronavirus pandemic has forced WWE, and various other sports organizations, to cease mass gatherings of fans and hold events in empty arenas. It could be a long time before fans are ever allowed back inside sporting events. WWE has been taping most of their programs inside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

    The upcoming Money In The Bank program was filmed on the roof of WWE headquarters. With that being said, SummerSlam could remain from the TD Garden in Boston, as the venue issued the following statement on the matter.

    “As of today, we have not received any updates from WWE regarding changes to SummerSlam, so it is still scheduled as planned. Any updates regarding the event will be posted to our website here: https://www.tdgarden.com/events/detail/wwe-summerslam-2020. We also suggest checking WWE’s website and social channels for the most up-to-date information.”

    Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, WWE has been forced to make a lot of changes. Numerous talent and WWE employees have been let go due to the economic impact of the virus. Also, the company’s biggest show of the year, WrestleMania, for the first time ever, took place in front of an empty arena and was pre-taped. This has truly been a trying time for the professional wrestling industry, and the sports world as a whole.

    We’ll keep you updated as more information on the matter becomes available. WWE SummerSlam is currently scheduled to go down on Sunday, August 23, 2020.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO4dao93D58
  • Sarah Logan Expected To Return To WWE Soon

    Sarah Logan Expected To Return To WWE Soon

    Sarah Logan was one of several WWE stars handed their walking papers from the company last week. However, it appears that she might be back with the company very soon.

    According to Fightful, several people ‘went to bat’ for Logan following her release and encouraged WWE officials to give her another look. There is a good chance that Sarah Logan will be back with WWE soon. She is married to Erik of the Viking Raiders tag team.

    Sarah Logan’s WWE Career

    Sarah Logan has been with WWE since 2014. She worked primarily in NXT until 2017, when she was brought to the main roster as part of the Riott Squad faction with Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan. She has not held any championships in WWE.

    Her most recent match took place on the April 13th edition of WWE Raw. She lost to former NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Bazsler in a Money in the Bank qualifying match.

    WWE Money in the Bank takes place Sunday, May 10th from WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT.

  • New Trademark Might Reveal The Revival’s New Name

    New Trademark Might Reveal The Revival’s New Name

    Cash Wheeler, formerly known as Dash Wilder in WWE, has filed for a new trademark that may reveal The Revival’s new tag team name.

    Wheeler applied for the trademark “Fear the Revolt” on April 10. With that being said, it’s reasonable to assume that The Revival will now be going by The Revolt wherever they end up next. Although, it’s a strong possibility that the pair are AEW-bound. Wheeler applied for the trademark the very same day he and Dax Harwood, formerly known as Scott Dawson, were released from WWE.

    It was first reported that the former tag team champions requested for their release back in January. While Wheeler and Harwood have applied for trademarks since their departure, WWE has as well, trademarking things such as “the Mechanics,” “No Flips, Just Fists,” and more. The Revival weren’t happy during their time with WWE, but they did achieve quite a bit.

    The duo were the first-ever triple-crown winning tag team champions after winning the NXT, Monday Night RAW, and SmackDown Tag Team Titles. They also co-held the WWE 24/7 Title at one point. Now that they’re done with WWE, and not under a non-compete clause with the company, Wheeler and Harwood are free to sign wherever they like. It’s no secret they have a lot of friends in AEW, making the young promotion their likely landing spot when it’s all said and done. Only time will tell.

    We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.

  • WWE Releases Lance Storm, Fit Finlay, Shane Helms & More Producers

    WWE Releases Lance Storm, Fit Finlay, Shane Helms & More Producers

    The WWE has been forced to make several layoffs due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

    It was announced that the company has cut ties with several talents already, including Kurt Angle, EC3, Drake Maverick, Gallows & Anderson, and more. The company has now been forced to get rid of several producers.

    You can check out the full list (so far) below; which is highlighted by notable names such as Mike Rotunda, Fit Finlay, Shane Helms, and more.

    • Billy Kidman
    • Mike Rotunda
    • Dave Finlay
    • Pat Buck
    • Shawn Daivari
    • Scott Armstrong
    • Sarah Stock
    • Shane Helms
    • Lance Storm

    Of course, it’s very likely that this is only the beginning of more backstage cuts to come. The coronavirus pandemic continues to destroy the United States economy, and the WWE has obviously been affected as well. The company’s first COVID-19-related hurdle came with their biggest show fo the year. WrestleMania 36 was forced to be relocated from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to WWE’s own Performance Center in Orlando.

    Also, for the first time ever, WrestleMania took place in front of an empty crowd. No fans were allowed due to gathering restrictions, after the event was initially expected to draw over 70,000 fans. The card was also dramatically changed due to health concerns.

    Now, WWE has been forced to let go of several talents, backstage personal, and more as the pandemic rages on. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.

  • Vince McMahon Says Talent Cuts, Reduced Operating Expenses Are Coming

    Vince McMahon Says Talent Cuts, Reduced Operating Expenses Are Coming

    Vince McMahon and WWE have announced that some major cuts are coming the company’s way.

    This is due to the current coronavirus outbreak and how detrimental it has been to the United States economy. WWE released an official press release, noting the coronavirus and current government-mandated impacts on the company will force several changes. The changes read as follows:

    • Reducing executive and board member compensation;
    • Decreasing operating expenses;
    • Cutting talent expenses, third party staffing and consulting;
    • Deferring spend on the build out of the Company’s new headquarters for at least six months

    To recap, WWE will be reducing executive and board member salaries. Also, operating expenses, talent expenses, and third party staffing/consulting will be cut. This means that some roster cuts are coming, and there will be select WWE stars who will be given their walking papers soon. “The Company also identified headcount reductions and made the decision to furlough a portion of its workforce effective immediately.”

    It might only be a matter of time before the news begins pouring in that some talents are now free agents. Once the coronavirus pandemic begins to wind down, hopefully things will slowly return to normal and those who have been furloughed will return to work. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

    Update: WWE Releases Gallows & Anderson, EC3, Drake Maverick & More

  • WrestleMania 36 Ticket Refunds Reportedly Being Issued

    WrestleMania 36 Ticket Refunds Reportedly Being Issued

    Refunds are reportedly being issued to those who purchased tickets for WrestleMania 36. This comes via a report from PWInsider.

    Initially, WrestleMania 36 was to go down from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was forced to make a huge change. WWE moved their “Show Of Shows” to their own Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Also, for the first time ever, no fans were allowed in the arena for the show.

    WWE aired WrestleMania 36 over a two day period and featured more off location matches than usual. In addition to the show facing a ton of hurdles this year, it wasn’t without controversy either. Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship win over Brock Lesnar was criticized for being too short. Also, Edge and Randy Orton’s Last Man Standing match, the second-longest in WrestleMania history, was believed to have lasted too long.

    The match also featured a spot that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. During the match, Orton choked Edge with a machine in the weight room similar to the one Chris Benoit killed himself with in 2007. With WrestleMania now behind them, WWE is focused on continuing to tape their weekly programs live. Florida has now deemed WWE “essential,” thus allowing them to continue broadcasting live weekly rather than pre-taping shows.

  • WrestleMania 38 Could Take Place From Tampa Bay In 2022

    WrestleMania 38 Could Take Place From Tampa Bay In 2022

    This year has been tumultuous for everyone, especially WWE and this year’s WrestleMania. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, companies and sports leagues all around the world have been forced to cease operations. However, a select few, such as the UFC and WWE, have decided that the show must go on.

    WrestleMania 36 was initially scheduled to go down just like any other year on Sunday, April 5 yesterday from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. It was expected that the event would attract over 70,000 people.

    Due to the the coronavirus outbreak, WWE was forced to move WrestleMania to their own Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, making WrestleMania. For the first time ever, a closed-door event with no fans. The matches were all pre-taped ahead of time and aired on two separate nights over the weekend. With all that being said, Tampa missed out on the economic boom a WrestleMania weekend would have brought to its city.

    Now, according to a report from the WrestleVotes Twitter account, Tampa may get another WrestleMania hosting opportunity fairly quickly. Tampa is actually in the running to host “The Show Of Shows” in 2022. The report adds that the initial legwork is already done, and the city is still very eager to host the event. As for whether or not Tampa actually gets the nod, only time will tell.

    In regards to WrestleMania 37 next year, that’s currently scheduled to go down from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on March 28, 2021.

  • Choking Spot At WrestleMania Reminded Some of Chris Benoit

    Choking Spot At WrestleMania Reminded Some of Chris Benoit

    There was a questionable spot during the Edge vs. Randy Orton Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36 that many found disturbing.

    The match featured Edge and Orton doing battle all over the WWE Performance Center. Once the fight hit the gym, Randy Orton used a weight cable to choke Edge, reminiscent the method Chris Benoit used to killed himself back in 2007. There was immediate criticism for the incident on social media.

    According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, some people in WWE were troubled by the visual. Everybody is WWE familiar with the details of the Chris Benoit situation. Especially with Benoit back in the headlines from the excellent Dark Side of the Ring episode covering the murders, many people made the connection and it was seen as a ‘questionable’ decision at best.

    Aside from the criticism the match received for the choking spot, its duration was also criticized. The 40-minute Edge vs. Orton match is now the second-longest bout in WrestleMania history, right behind Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart from WrestleMania 12, which was an Iron Man match that lasted over an hour.

    Edge eventually defeated Orton in their match with a conchairto. Orton was unable to answer the 10 count after Edge crushed his skull with a steel chair. It was “The Rated-R Superstar’s” first singles match in nine years.

  • Michael Cole Promoted Within WWE, Receives New Corporate Title

    Michael Cole Promoted Within WWE, Receives New Corporate Title

    Longtime WWE commentator Michael Cole has reportedly received a promotion within WWE, and it comes with a new corporate title. Cole has officially been promoted to WWE’s Vice President of Announcing.

    Michael Cole has been a staple in the WWE’s announcing department for over 20 years now. He got his start with the company back in 1997, where he began as a backstage interviewer. When SmackDown launched in 1999, Cole was selected to be the program’s play-by-play announcer.

    He’d go on to form iconic pairings with the likes of Tazz and WWE Hall Of Famer JBL. Over the years, Cole has established himself as “the voice of WWE” and climbed the ladder backstage. He now hires, mentors, and produces other announcers within the company.

    Aside from his work at the commentary table, Cole has very much been a team player, even getting involved inside the ring. Cole has taken bumps, played a part in angles, and even participated in matches.

    Michael Cole owns a WrestleMania victory over Jerry “The King” Lawler from their match at WrestleMania 27 back in 2011. He won the match via disqualification. After a few more matches, Cole has remained comfortably behind the announce desk and now finds himself as WWE’s new Vice President of Announcing.

  • Triple H Fires Back At Critics Who Say WrestleMania 36 Should Be Postponed

    Triple H Fires Back At Critics Who Say WrestleMania 36 Should Be Postponed

    Triple H has responded to the criticism WWE has received for going through with WrestleMania 36 despite the current coronavirus pandemic.

    Former WWE Champion “The Game” was recently a guest on “The Ariel Helwani MMA Show” to discuss “The Show Of Shows.” Triple H noted that WWE believes they’re putting on an essential service of entertaining fans during this hectic time.

    “Look, there’s going to be critics of everything. I think we’re doing this to provide what we believe is an essential service in entertaining our fans, entertaining people around the world, and I think you see that with ESPN picking up past WrestleManias, and FOX, NBC and that partnership, we can put out content… even our historic content is evergreen in nature because of the storytelling aspect of what we do, and I say this a lot, we’re more akin to the ‘Rocky’ movie than we are actual boxing.

    “Once the event takes place live in boxing, you’re kind of done with it. With us, you’ll watch it over and over again, because it’s the story, and the characters, and the emotion that you feel. You’ll go back and relive those epic moments — Hogan slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3, or whatever connects with you from the past.

    He went on to note that WWE is working very closely with government officials, and taking all the necessary precautions to protect all involved.

    “We’re working with the government officials very closely. We’re taking all of the precautions, we’re screening our talent. Anybody that’s uncomfortable doing this doesn’t have to. The crew and the staff is very, very limited.

    “We’re working the talent waves, where we bring them in for their particular stuff and then they can leave, and keeping people as separated as possible, trying to do this in as safe a way as possible, while still being able to perform a vital service. We’re following CDC recommendations, as well as Dr. Joseph Maroon and Dr. Jeffrey Dugas.”

    WrestleMania 36 was initially scheduled to take place from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on April 5. However, after the coronavirus outbreak, the event was canceled due to gathering bans. WrestleMania was expected to attract over 70,000 people. Now, the event has been relocated to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Also, the show will take place over the span of two nights. Day one of WrestleMania 36 begins tomorrow, Saturday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

    The action continues on Sunday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. ET as well. Aside from the location and date changes, some of the matches have also been affected. One of the biggest changes being Roman Reigns’ removal from his Universal Title match with Goldberg. Goldberg will now face a replacement opponent on the show.

    H/T POST Wrestling for the transcriptions