Tony Khan has expressed that he would welcome Charles Barkley to AEW television with open arms if the NBA legend shows interest. Khan, currently making media appearances to promote Sunday’s AEW All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London, shared these thoughts during an appearance on the Dan Le Batard Show. He discussed AEW’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery and ongoing media rights negotiations.

While Warner Bros. Discovery is set to lose the NBA and its iconic Inside the NBA franchise, co-host Charles Barkley remains committed to the company for the foreseeable future. This has sparked speculation about Barkley potentially appearing in AEW, following in the footsteps of Shaquille O’Neal, who wrestled on AEW Dynamite in 2020. Khan mentioned that he believes Barkley is a wrestling fan and recalled the AEW crew presenting the Inside the NBA team with AEW Championship belts.

Khan praised Shaq, not just for his work in AEW but also for the kind of person he is. If Sir Charles is interested in stepping into the unpredictable world of professional wrestling, Khan is “absolutely” willing to make it happen.

“I don’t know what the future of the NBA holds, but Charles Barkley, as far as being one of the top hosts in all of sports and being one of the most entertaining people in all of television, I think he adds to any sport he’s involved in.

If he wanted to come to AEW, we would love that. Absolutely, I would encourage that and support that.”

– Tony Khan

Tonight’s WWE NXT airs live on the USA Network at 8pm ET from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The show is focused on the road to NXT No Mercy, scheduled for Sunday, September 1.

We’ll see a Triple Threat Match to determine who will face @OfficialEGO for the NXT title, and a Gauntlet Eliminator Match to determine NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez’s next challenger.

Confirmed Matches & Segments:

• 6-Woman NXT Women’s Championship Gauntlet Eliminator
• Triple Threat Eliminator: Wes Lee vs. Pete Dunne vs. Joe Hendry
• Lola Vice vs. Wendy Choo
• Tehuti Miles vs. Dion Lennox
• Hank & Tank vs. The Good Brothers
• Chase U will host a Championship Celebration after winning the NXT Tag Titles last week

What Happened Last Week

Charlie Dempsey def. Tony D’Angelo to win the NXT Heritage Cup: Dempsey captured the NXT Heritage Cup from D’Angelo in a five-round classic, with an assist from Wren Sinclair.

Lexis King def. Eddy Thorpe: King dominated Thorpe, exploiting an injured hand to secure the win with Coronation.

Lola Vice def. Tatum Paxley: Vice continued her momentum with a victory over Paxley, despite chaos at ringside involving Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan and Wendy Choo.

North American Champion Oba Femi def. Otis: Femi retained his title against Raw’s Otis, overcoming the powerhouse with a decisive Powerbomb.

Izzi Dame def. Brinley Reece: Dame took out her frustrations over her exclusion from the Women’s Gauntlet on Reece, using her size and power to win the match.

Chase U def. Nathan Frazer and Axiom to win the NXT Tag Team Titles: Andre Chase and Ridge Holland captured the NXT Tag Team Titles, with Holland’s power and Chase’s strategy making the difference.

Tonight’s August 19, 2024 episode of WWE Raw airs live on the USA Network at 8 PM ET from the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

Just two weeks until WWE Bash in Berlin on Saturday, August 31, here are the matches and items advertised for tonight:

• CM Punk will deliver a message to Drew Intyre
• Women’s Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match: The Unholy Union (c) vs. Damage CTRL vs. The Pure Fusion Collective
• Randy Orton will appear
• Pete Dunne vs. Sheamus
• The Final Testament vs. The New Day & Odyssey Jones
• Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivy Nile

Stay tuned to SEScoops for more WWE News and coverage of tonight’s Raw.

What Happened Last Week?

Catch up on the Top 10 Raw Moments from last week, including the main event featuring Sami Zayn trying to regain the Intercontinental championship from Bron Breakker:

All Elite Wrestling sent in a press release announcing that next year’s AEW All In event is headed to Texas. AEW: All In Texas is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, 2025 from Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

Globe Life Field in Arlington To Host AEW: All In Texas 2025

First AEW Pay-Per-View To Ever Be Held In Texas

August 15, 2024 – Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, the Texas Rangers, REV Entertainment, Arlington Sports Commission and All Elite Wrestling today announced that Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX will host AEW: All In Texas on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The event will air live around the world on pay-per-view and marks the first time an AEW pay-per-view event has ever been held in Texas. It will also be the first-ever professional wrestling event ever held at Globe Life Field.

“On behalf of everyone at AEW, we are ecstatic to bring AEW: All In Texas to Globe Life Field in Arlington on July 12, 2025,” said Tony Khan.

“AEW: All in Texas will make history as both our first-ever pay-per-view in Texas as well as AEW’s American stadium debut, building on the rich legacy of stadium wrestling events held in the US, particularly in the Lone Star State.”

“We are thrilled for Arlington to partner with All Elite Wrestling for their biggest event of 2025,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. “Fans from around the world will converge on our beautiful city to be part of AEW: All In Texas, delivering a significant economic windfall to the region.”

“AEW: All In Texas marks a huge milestone in Arlington’s continued relationship with All Elite Wrestling,” said Arlington Sports Commission Executive Director Matt Wilson. “We thank Tony Khan and the entire team at AEW for all of their support to our city and look forward to an event that fans in attendance and watching at home will never forget.”

“Bringing the first professional wrestling event to Globe Life Field is a historic moment for our venue,” said Sean Decker, President of REV Entertainment, the exclusive events partner of the Texas Rangers. “We can’t wait to partner with AEW to host thousands of passionate wrestling fans at our world-class venue next summer.”

Fans interested in exclusive pre-sale opportunities can register to become an AEW Insider by visiting allelitewrestling.com/aew-insider.

In addition to AEW: All In Texas, a series of events in Arlington are being planned leading up to the event. Additional details will be announced in the near future. This year, AEW: All In London takes place next Sunday, August 25 live from Wembley Stadium in London.

The Bloodline will be back in full force very soon after a recent injury scare threatened the group’s solidarity at a critical time. Jacob Fatu recently burst onto the scene as the newest member of The Bloodline.

The former MLW World Champion immediately aligned with Solo Sikoa, adding another highly combustible element to the group. Fatu wasted no time, winning the World Tag Team Championships with Tama Tonga and playing a significant role in Sikoa’s WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.

Jacob Fatu’s WWE Return

Unfortunately, Fatu’s high-risk offense backfired at SummerSlam when he dove off the top rope onto Cody Rhodes, who was sprawled on the announcer’s table at ringside. Fatu connected, but it was immediately apparent that something went wrong. He was writhing in pain, assisted backstage by WWE officials, and later spotted wearing a protective boot on his foot in the hours following the event.

According to PWInsider, Jacob Fatu is scheduled to return to WWE television by the end of this month. This is excellent news because a more serious diagnosis could have necessitated surgery, derailed storylines, and jeopardized his future mobility. Fatu and Tonga won’t have to surrender the tag titles, and The Bloodline will have ‘all hands on deck’ as they deal with Roman Reigns, the recently returned Original Tribal Chief (OTC).

• NXT moves to The CW Network on Tuesday, October 1, 2024
• WWE has announced the first took weeks will take place from big arenas in Chicago and St. Louis, with Punk and Orton appearing in their respective hometowns

WWE has announced big plans for NXT’s move to The CW this October. The premiere episode on Tuesday, October 1 will take place from Chicago’s Allstate Arena with special guest CM Punk.

The following week, NXT on The CW goes head-to-head with AEW Dynamite, which is running a rare ‘Title Tuesday’ show due to a pre-emotion. WWE plans to keep the momentum going from the premiere on CW, because the October 8 episode of NXT on The CW will hail from St. Louis, with hometown superstar Randy Orton set to appear.

Last year, WWE and The CW Network announced a 5-year partnership that will bring NXT to broadcast television 52 weeks per year through late 2029.

Here’s the official press release sent in to SEScoops:

NXT KICKS OFF THE CW ERA WITH ARENA SHOWS IN CHICAGO & ST. LOUIS

Live from Allstate Arena with CM Punk in Chicago on Tuesday, October 1 &
Enterprise Center with Randy Orton in St. Louis on Tuesday, October 8

Tickets Available Starting Thursday, August 15 at 10 a.m. Via Ticketmaster

STAMFORD, Conn., August 6, 2024 – WWE^®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced NXT will travel to Allstate Arena in Chicago on Tuesday, October 1 and the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Tuesday, October 8 as part of its highly anticipated broadcast television debut on The CW Network. NXT makes its live debut on The CW on Tuesday, October 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

Additionally, the live arena shows will feature special appearances by WWE Superstar CM Punk in Chicago and WWE Superstar Randy Orton in St. Louis. 

Tickets for both events go on sale Thursday, August 15 at 10 a.m. local via Ticketmaster.com. An exclusive presale opportunity will be available starting Wednesday, August 14 at 10 a.m. local. To learn more about registering for pre-sale opportunities, please visit WWE.com.

In November 2023, WWE and The CW Network announced a five-year agreement that will see NXT make its broadcast television debut for the first time in its 13-year history. NXT will air 52 live weekly events throughout the season.

Launched by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, NXT has aired weekly since 2012 and features the brightest young talent in sports entertainment. Nearly 90 percent of the participants in last year’s WrestleMania were developed under the NXT banner. Led by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, NXT is popular with younger audiences. Year to date, NXT’s average viewership is up 20 percent among adults 18-49. WWE Superstars, such as Roman Reigns, Seth “Freakin” Rollins and Charlotte Flair have come up through NXT.

NXT joins a growing roster of live sports on The CW Network, including ACC football and basketball games, Pac-12 football and LIV Golf. The CW is also home to the Emmy®-award winning weekly studio series “Inside the NFL” and the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in Fall 2024. The network will soon offer more than 500 hours of sports programming year-round.

Pro wrestling and politics will collide once again this week when Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance holds a campaign rally on Tuesday at the iconic 2300 Arena. The venue is best known as the former ECW Arena and home base of Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Vance’s appearance at the 2300 Arena comes on the same day Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, is expected to appear in Philadelphia for the first time with her own VP pick.

Vance’s stop at the ECW Arena comes weeks after former WWE President Linda McMahon and WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan spoke at the Republican National Convention, where WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump was formally nominated by the Republican Party.

Gov. Whitmer On Hulk Hogan Endorsing Donald Trump – “I’m An Iron Sheik Fan”

This marks Vance’s first visit to Pennsylvania since former President Donald Trump announced him as his running mate. Wrestling fans who are versed in the ECW product and everything that involved in its heyday can appreciate the absurdity of a Vice Presidential campaign rally being held there.

Back April over WrestleMania 40 weekend, SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman visited the 2300 Arena as one of his personal wrestling ‘bucket list’ items. Learn more about the rich history of 2300 S Swanson St in Philadelphia, PA: My Visit to the ECW Arena

Gunther opened Monday’s WWE RAW to address the audience as World Heavyweight champion for the first time. We quickly learned that his first challenger as the new champion will be WWE legend Randy Orton. The Viper made an unannounced appearance and it was immediately clear what he was there to do. Orton and Gunther went face to face and they will clash in just three weeks in Germany.

The 14-time World Champion told Gunther that he sees greatness in him and is eager to test himself against today’s top dog on WWE Raw:

“It think these fans deserve a modern-day Flair vs Steamboat.”

Randy Orton will challenge Gunther for the World Heavyweight championship at the first WWE Bash in Berlin on Saturday, August 31, 2024 from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 Card Predictions for Rhea Ripley, Ilja Dragunov & more

WWE fans won’t have to wait long to hear Roman Reigns explain his actions in the closing moments of Saturday’s WWE SummerSlam premium live event.

Roman Reigns is now advertised for Friday’s August 9, 2024 edition of WWE SmackDown from Tulsa, Oklahoma at the BOK Center. This marks his first SmackDown appearance since Friday, April 5 at the start of WrestleMania weekend.

Reigns returned to WWE at the conclusion of SummerSlam to deliver a Superman Punch to Solo Sikoa and declare himself as the OTC (Original Tribal Chief). You can be sure he’s got a lot on his mind about everything that’s transpired with The Bloodline since WrestleMania. There’s a Bloodline Civil War brewing, but we know Reigns has even more waiting for him.

Roman Reigns Returns to WWE as a Babyface

It’s also worth noting that Reigns, along with Rhea Ripley and Damien Priest, are all listed as babyfaces on WWE’s internal roster, according to PWInsider. The Bloodline are the most hated heels in WWE, but Reigns’ opposition of the group he founded is guarantee that he’ll portraying a ‘good guy’ on television. WWE’s decision to position Reigns as a hero for this next run presents a host of new storytelling possibilities.

The OTC has unfinished business with Cody Rhodes, the biggest babyface in the company, along with The Bloodline. Friday can’t get here soon enough.

Watch Roman Reigns return at WWE SummerSlam (and 9 more big moments from the show) right here:

WWE’s working relationship with TNA Wrestling was on display at Friday’s TNA Impact television tapings from Tampa, FL, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. NXT stars Riley Osborne from Chase U, Wolfgang and Dante Chen competed at the tapings.

Wolfgang, a former NXT Tag Team Champion and NXT UK Tag Team Champion, is part of Gallus, a faction currently feuding with TNA star Joe Hendry.

The collaboration between WWE and TNA has facilitated multiple crossover appearances. NXT talents such as Wes Lee, Izzi Dame, and No Quarter Catch Crew have wrestled on TNA iMPACT!, while TNA stars like Hendry, Jordynne Grace, and Frankie Kazarian have appeared on NXT programming.

This partnership has been mutually beneficial, which each company enjoying the fresh match-ups created when wrestlers ‘cross lines’ or walk through forbidden doors. Stay tuned to SEScoops for our continued coverage of TNA iMPACT!, which airs every Thursday.

The WWE Vault YouTube channel has released a highly acclaimed match from WWE’s recent live events tour of Japan.

Watch as the legendary Meiko Satomura challenges Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship during a WWE Live Event in Tokyo, Japan on July 27, 2024.

Satomura recently announced her intention to retire in April 2025, the 30th anniversary of her pro wrestling debut.

WWE held the SummerSlam 2024 Kickoff Party in Cleveland on Friday, August 2, 2024 outside theRocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. This event was free for anyone to attend and marked the beginning of the SummerSlam weekend festivities.

SummerSlam Kickoff Party Highlights:

CM Punk, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins: The Best in the World and The Scottish Warrior deliver one final message before they throw down at SummerSlam.

Ripley promises to bring the Brutality at SummerSlam:

Liv Morgan with some interesting comments of her own:

Triple H and Michael Cole: WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Michael Cole hype up the Cleveland crowd

Jacob Henry, son of WWE legend Mark Henry, is joining the WWE family. The 18-year-old wrestler committed to the University of Oklahoma broke the news Thursday night at his father’s set at Remix Rumble in Cleveland.

He teased some big news, which prompted an NXT chant from the crowd. He’s going to be a future superstar and it’s been put on paper.

“I have officially signed a deal with the WWE,” he said. “It’s official, I’m locked in.”

Watch Jacob Henry announce he’s signed with WWE:

Mustafa Ali is finishing up with TNA Wrestling and released the following ‘political statement’ addressing his run with the company.

Ali debuted for TNA in the main event of No Surrender, where he challenged and defeated Chris Sabin for the TNA X-Division Championship. He is ‘stepping down’ to focus on independent bookings.

MUSTAFA ALI

August 1, 2024

My Fellow Citizens of TNA,

Over the past six months, we have made great progress as a company.

Today, TNA has the strongest fanbase in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our X-Division, in lowering the number of senior citizens on our roster, and in expanding affordable tickets to a record number of fans worldwide. We’ve provided critically needed entertainment to millions. Passed the first “limits” rule for the X-Division in 22 years. Featured the X-Division Championship on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated for the first time since 2006. Appointed the first Pakistani-Indian American as champion. Main evented recording breaking attendance shows. TNA has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.

I know none of this could have been done without you, the citizens of TNA. Together, we overcame unfit and unfair leaders. We’ve protected and preserved our X-Division. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances with promotions all around the world.

It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your X-Division Champion. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the X-Division for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my independent obligations for the remainder of my term.

I will not speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.

For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Campaign Singh for being an extraordinary campaign manager in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the Citizens of TNA for the faith and trust you have placed in me.

I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing that TNA can’t do-when we do it together. We just have to remember we are TNA.

– Mustafa Ali

AEW star Trent Beretta underwent neck surgery on Thursday to replace two broken screws from his previous neck fusion surgery (June 2021). He was reportedly injured at AEW Double or Nothing during his grudge match against Orange Cassidy.

Beretta has unfortunately dealt with neck injuries dating back to his time doing motion capture work on the WWE 2K16 video game. During an appearance on Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast last summer, he explained that while practicing some of his moves on a crash pad, another wrestler attempted and botched dragon suplex, causing Beretta to land on his head.

Over the next five to six years, that injury combined with the bumps he took in the ring led to severe symptoms that led him to undergo the fusion surgery in June 2021.

We wish Trent Beretta a full and speedy recovery.

AEW star Mercedes Moné is speaking about her divorce for the first time.

Moné actively communicates with her fans on social media and via her official newsletter. In a has new video on her YouTube channel, the AEW TBS Champion shares the details about why she and Sarath Tan are separating.

“Tomorrow finally, after a long, long time, I’ll be finally signing my divorce papers.”

“I’m excited, happy and for me.. I’m just ready to be free. I’m ready to be free of not being afraid. For long, i’ve kept this secret because of how fast life has been going… I just didn’t want the outside world to judge or say anything, especially during a time while all of this is happeninG”

She credits Sarath with saving her life and being an incredible guy that she’s so thankful for.

“Sarath, my ex-husband now, we had such a great relationship, and he’s such an amazing, incredible guy, that I’m so thankful for, he’s another person that changed and saved my life.”

She’s excited to be free and to say that she’s finally getting a divorce. She recalls being asked about her marriage regularly during interviews and not knowing how to handle the subject. They had been separated for a long time, around December 2020. He moved out the following month while she was shooting The Mandalorian while trying to get into the main event of WrestleMania that year, so she was extra-concerned about her privacy at that time. Now, it’s time for her to begin the next chapter of her life.

AEW star Mercedes Moné and her husband Sarath Ton have filed for divorce (dissolution of marriage). They were married on August 4, 2016.

Varnado and Ton, a WWE costume designer best known as Mikaze, met in 2010. He’s credited with designing some of the most iconic outfits worn by her former persona, Sasha Banks.

According to records available at the Clark of the Circuit Cort and Comptroller of Seminole County, Florida, the divorce proceedings were filed Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

The case is currently open.

WWE and Aires Tech have announced a multi-year global marketing partnership aimed at enhancing the performance and recovery of WWE Superstars while educating fans about the potential health effects of electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs). This collaboration, visible during WWE SummerSlam on August 3, will feature extensive social media promotion and integrations on WWE programming.

WWE® AND AIRES TECH ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR GLOBAL MARKETING PARTNERSHIP

TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Aires Tech and WWE^®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today unveiled a momentous new partnership aimed at bolstering the personal performance regimens of WWE Superstars. The collaboration will educate fans worldwide about safeguarding against ubiquitous electromagnetic frequency (EMF) sources’ potential long-term health effects and support WWE Superstars in enhancing their physical performance, maintenance, and recovery.

The agreement names American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTCQB: AAIRF) (“Aires Tech” or “Aires”) as an official WWE partner, building on Aires Tech’s dedication to performance and wellness innovation. The partnership will be visible at WWE SummerSlam which takes place Saturday, August 3 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland.

Aires Tech’s agreement with WWE, effective as of June 11 and runs through the end of 2025, will prominently feature across WWE properties, emphasizing extensive social media promotion. The partnership launches with prominent placement on “WWE NOW,” the WWE Universe’s essential news roundup, airing weekly ahead of WWE programming. Aires will be highlighted in segments of “Celtic Warrior Workouts” on WWE Superstar Sheamus’s YouTube channel, featuring fitness routines with top WWE athletes. Fans can catch these integrations by following WWE’s platforms regularly, which broadcasts to more than 180 countries in 30 languages and can be seen in 1 billion television households worldwide each week. WWE creates seven hours of original programming that is watched by approximately 11 million diverse fans in the United States.

Earlier this year, Aires Tech became an official partner of UFC, facilitated by WME Sports as part of its comprehensive collaboration with Aires Tech to shape the company’s brand strategy in sports and entertainment. Together, these partnerships will further fuel Aires’ market awareness and sales growth, in pursuit of transforming the brand into a household name.

“We are excited to expand TKO’s partnership with Aires Tech to include WWE,” said Grant Norris-Jones, Executive Vice President & Head of Global Partnerships for TKO. “Aires’ attention to detail on innovation coupled with health and wellness practices aligns with WWE’s approach to safety for its athletes.”

“Our collaboration with the WWE sheds further light on the invisible dangers of EMFs as digital connectivity is more deeply entwined into our daily lives,” said Josh Bruni, chief executive officer of Aires Tech. “Aires’ technology protects against the negative effects of EMF and amplifies the positive, helping athletes feel and perform their best. The WWE represents the pinnacle of athleticism and we’re proud to partner with them to heighten the awareness of the potential health effects of EMF.”

The company has also partnered with Canada Basketball and individual athletes as part of their #AiresAthletes campaign that connects the brand with peak performance and health in the minds of consumers. The athlete partners appear in programming and content to engage athletes and tens of millions sports fans around the world to promote the Aires brand and its EMF protection products. The #AiresAthletes roster includes Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett, 6-time NHL All-Star John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maycee “The Future” Barber of the UFC’s Women’s Flyweight division and NFL Legend and 3-time NFL Pro Bowler Tiki Barber.

For more information on Aires’ partnership with the WWE and its innovative EMF protection technology, please visit www.airestech.com.

CM Punk is just days away from his first televised one-on-one match in WWE in over a decade. WWE’s digital team caught up with Punk prior to Monday’s WWE Raw at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

We know that CM Punk has been spotted at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando several times over the past several months, but we haven’t seen much of him in the ring until now.

CM Punk Trains for SummerSlam

Punk reflects on starting his pro wrestling career in Minnesota 24 years ago as he tapes his wrists and prepares to move around. He says, “I’m going to give them a show tonight before we see the multi-time WWE & AEW Champion jump from the apron into the ring and run the ropes at a healthy pace.

He said, “arm feels great” as he smiled to the camera, a promising sign he’ll be in top shape this weekend.

CM Punk & Jesse Venutra

We then see new footage of CM Punk meeting WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Punk is shown telling Ventura that they met once about a decade ago and introducing himself again. He extended his hand and said, “CM Punk, Phil” and Ventura recalled, “Oh yeah, you’ve got that unique name. I always tried to figure that name out, how in the hell did you come up with a name like CM Punk?”

Punk agreed it’s a stupid name and said it was his nickname as a child, because he was a little brat kid. “Well, good for you, it served you a purpose then, you can’t forget it.”

Ventura later jokes, “When you get to be my age, you’re just another old man.”

During a separate conversation with with Jimmy Traina for the SI Media podcast, Punk commented on the surreal meeting with The Body:

“I saw Governor Ventura the other day, said Punk. Absolutely, 100% blown away, one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me in my life is when he tells me that he saw I came back, and he said, ‘The place must have changed. If Punk is back, I’ll go back.”

During an appearance on 10 Essentials from GQ Sports to promote WWE SummerSlam, WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes shared broke down his daily essentials and the things he just can’t live without.

Among his essentials were Rolex watch, his American flag hat, a special pair of cufflinks, and his prized Nintendo Switch (“I can play Donkey Kong all day long”). This led to the American Nightmare naming his picks for the Top 10 Video Games of all time. The list is strong, showcasing a range of genres and eras that highlight his diverse gaming tastes.

Cody’s Top 5 Video Games

#5 Ghost of Tsushima (PlayStation 4, 2020)

“Ghost of Tsushima” transports players to feudal Japan in a beautifully crafted open-world action-adventure game. Its striking visuals, immersive combat, and poignant story of honor and sacrifice have earned it critical acclaim and a place among the all-time greats.

#4 Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, 2001)

The game that put the Xbox on the map, “Halo: Combat Evolved” revolutionized first-person shooters with its innovative gameplay, engaging story, and multiplayer experience. Its impact on the gaming industry and its lasting legacy make it a standout title in Cody’s list.

#3 Red Dead Redemption 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, 2018)

“Red Dead Redemption 2” is a masterful open-world game that immerses players in the life of an outlaw in the late 1800s. Praised for its stunning visuals, rich narrative, and detailed world-building, this game is considered one of the finest achievements in modern gaming.

#2 Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation, 1998)

A pioneer in the stealth game genre, “Metal Gear Solid” introduced players to the tactical espionage action of Solid Snake. With its groundbreaking storytelling, cinematic presentation, and complex gameplay mechanics, this game remains a beloved classic.

#1 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64, 1998)

No surprise here, Cody is a super-fan of the Legend of Zelda series, and “Ocarina of Time” is often hailed as one of the greatest games of all time. This classic adventure game from Nintendo set a new standard for 3D action-adventure games with its innovative gameplay, compelling story, and memorable characters.

Cody Rhodes defends the WWE Undisputed Championship against The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa this Saturday at WWE SummerSlam.

Bonus

Cody Rhodes and Steve Austin disagree on the best Legend of Zelda game:

Cody Rhodes and other WWE Superstars answer, “Which game was better: WCW/nWo Revenge or WWF No Mercy?”

WWE Survivor Series is headed to Vancouver for the first time ever on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the the Rogers Arena. Once again, we’ll see the return of WarGames, the dangerous double-ring steel cage match that pits two teams against one another in an anything-goes battle.

This will be WWE’s second premium live event from Canada this year after Money in the Bank was held from Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, July 6.

To get a taste of what WarGames is all about, we tracked down these Full Matches that WWE uploaded of last year’s Men’s and Women’s WarGames matches from Survivor Series:

Press Release

Here’s the official press release for the event sent in to SEScoops:

VANCOUVER TO HOST SURVIVOR SERIES: WARGAMES^® ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30

First-Ever Survivor Series to Emanate From Vancouver

STAMFORD, Conn., August 1, 2024 – WWE^®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), in partnership with Destination Vancouver, today announced Survivor Series: WarGames^® 2024 will take place Saturday, November 30 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, making it the first-ever Survivor Series to emanate from the city. 

To learn more about registering for Survivor Series: WarGames pre-sale opportunities, please visit: Survivorseries-2024-presale.

The announcement comes on the heels of a record-breaking Money In The Bank^®which was held in July at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Premium Live Event became the highest-grossing WWE arena event in Canada in company history.

This year’s WWE SummerSlam Store powered by Fanatics is located in Downtown Cleveland at the Tower City Center Shopping Center at 230 W Huron Rd, Suite 7286, Cleveland, OH 44113. Admission is free.

Dates & Hours

The WWE SummerSlam Store opens Thursday morning, August 1 at 10AM and closes Sunday afternoon, August 4 at 5PM.

Official store hours:

• Thursday: 10AM – 7PM
• Friday: 10AM – Midnight
• Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
• Sunday: 10AM – 5PM

Meet and Greet Schedule

WWE Superstars Chelsea Green, Candice LaRae and Bron Breaker are scheduled for meet and greets at the store .

• Thursday: Chelsea Green (5-6PM)
• Friday: Candice LeRae (11AM-12PM)
• Sunday: Bron Breakker (11AM-12PM)

Wristbands for the Meet and Greet are free, but with limited supply and talent is subject to change.

Exclusive Merchandise & Photos

The WWE SummerSlam Store in Cleveland and WWE Shop are selling a line of exclusive WWE SummerSlam merchandise totaling 200 items, including replica championship belts, baseball and basketball jerseys, hats, socks, flip-flops, posters and more.

SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay will be visiting the WWE SummerSlam Store this weekend and we’ll update this article with some photos of what it’s like when WWE takes over Tower City Center.

Get ready for AEW Dynamite tonight at 8/7c live on TBS from Greenville, SC at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. We’re just three weeks out from AEW All In: London and the full-speed-ahead build continues.

Scheduled matches for AEW Dynamite tonight include:

• Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer
• Hangman Adam Page vs. Darby Allin
• Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander

Plus, we’ll hear from Bryan Danielson live as well as the Mercedes Moné.

Danielson has his sights on Swerve Strickland and raising the AEW World Championship sky high as fans chant “YES! YES!” to close out the show at Wembley Stadium. Swerve recently praised Danielson as the Greatest of All Time, a gesture that puts unique dynamic on this high-stakes contest.

Meanwhile, it’s the CEO the one hoping to hold on to her gold and fend off Dr. Britt Baker. After their altercation at San Diego Comic Con 2024 last week, can AEW officials maintain order until August 25?

Enjoy the show tonight and head over to our AEW News section for more.

Here are results from this week’s WWE NXT Great American Bash special on Syfy:

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) defeated Meta-Four (Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend) by pinfall.
• Backstage Segment: Pete Dunne wants a match with Trick Williams next week.
• NXT Heritage Cup Championship Match: Tony D’Angelo retained over Tavion Heights with a 2-1 score.
• Singles Match: Cedric Alexander defeated Brooks Jensen by pinfall.
• Backstage: Girls fawned over Joe Hendry and Ashante “Thee” Adonis.
• Promo Segment: The Rascalz Treehouse segment where they discussed a potential tag title shot
• Concert Segment: Joe Hendry’s live concert mocked Gallus and Booker T until Gallus interrupted and attacked him.
• Contract Signing: Oro Mensah and Ethan Page had their contract signing in Ava’s office.
• Singles Match: Jaida Parker defeated Kendal Grey by pinfall.
• Backstage Segment: Axiom agreed to the tag title match, upsetting Nathan Frazer.
• Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx & Fallon Henley defeated Karmen Petrovic, Lola Vice & Sol Ruca by pinfall.
• Backstage Segment: Tatum Paxley tried to get Kelani Jordan to play dolls with her, while Wendy Choo was creeping up on her.
• Parking Lot Segment: Joe Hendry called out Gallus, expressing his desire to face Joe Coffey next week.
• NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez retained her title against Thea Hail by pinfall.

The Great American Bash continues next Tuesday on Syfy. WWE NXT returns home to the USA Network the following week, Tuesday, August 6. Visit our NXT News page for more.

NXT Great American Bash Video Highlights

Former WWE and WCW champion Bill Goldberg recently sat down with wrestling journalist Chris Van Vliet on Insight for a wide-ranging interview. The 57-year old legend discussed his relationship with former WWE boss Vince McMahon, his infamous match with The Undertaker and of course, Bret Hart.

Here are some of the key takeaways of what Goldberg said about:

Vince McMahon’s Broken Promise

Goldberg maintains that Vince McMahon broke a promise for him to receive a proper retirement match:

“If that match was still on the table, it would have been done, I would have thought. But hey, man, I was thinking about it this morning in the shower, right? And I thought, Man, I had one of the best wrestling careers ever and don’t think for one second that I don’t understand that and I don’t appreciate it. And so to sit here and cry over a person not keeping his word in a business, that’s as cutthroat as humanly possible and he gets cast out.”

His Dud Match With The Undertaker

Goldberg discussed his disappointing match with The Undertaker at WWE Super Showdown 2019, which he blames on giving himself a concussion before he even made it into the ring.

“I knocked myself out before walking to the frickin ring. You know, when I came back, intensity is something very hard to replicate and I had forgotten my sequence to the ring. I had forgotten my preparation.”

His Relationship With Bret Hart

Goldberg and Bret Hart’s bitter feud is well-documented. Hart blames Goldberg for cutting his career short due to injures he sustained during their match at WCW Starrcade 1999. For all that’s been said about it, Goldberg admits mistakes were made.

“It was a screw-up in the match and it’s live on national television. There’s two people that have to dance and you can only do so much and I mean, things went awry. It is what it is.”

Goldberg says it’s time to move on and leave the bitterness behind them, especially since he claims Hart accepted a favor from him after he got injured.

“I really don’t care anymore about Bret, I couldn’t care less. You know Louis, right? All I can tell you is this. Louis and I know and [Brian] Knobbs knows, through Legends of Wrestling that shortly thereafter all that sh*t that happened. I talked Louis into giving Bret Hart a job at Legends of Wrestling. He must forget about stuff like that.”