Everybody loves The Acclaimed, AEW’s reigning world tag team champions – even the guy who was in charge of the music playing at WWE’s Royal Rumble Super Store

The Royal Rumble Super Store has been open since January 26 at the Alamodome and is presented by Credit One Bank. Fans who are in town for the Rumble can purchase merchandise, check out iconic WWE memorabilia and participate in autograph signings presented by Fiterman Sports A correspondent on the ground in San Antonio wrote in to tell us that it’s an attraction that’s definitely worth checking out if you attend a big WWE PPV weekend.

On Friday night, a few customers who were in attendance mentioned on social media that the Acclaimed’s entrance theme music was playing at the store while ‘members of the WWE Universe’ were shopping.

According to Twitter user @BosniazFinest28, “the guy who came to turn it off said he got screwed by his Spotify playlist.”

Here’s the footage:

Scissor Me Daddy Ass

The Acclaimed was represented at another WWE event just miles away from the Royal Rumble Super Store. On Friday’s SmackDown, a fan of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens who had great seats proudly held a sign that reads, “Scissor Me Daddy Ass!”

Seth Rollins doesn’t sound too interested in having CM Punk back in the WWE locker room.

Rollins is currently in San Antonio, Texas for the Royal Rumble. WWE has been hosting a series of media events over the past few days, including one on Saturday to promote the upcoming launch of the WWE 2K23 video game.

Nick Hausman of WrestlingInc caught up with Rollins, who was dressed up as a “Dripping Cowboy” to honor the local heritage. The 2019 Rumble winner scoffed at the idea of Cody Rhodes being the odds-on favorite to win this year’s match.

Hausman asked Rollins about a few potential free agents, and whether or not he’d like to see them [back] in WWE.

Regarding FTR, Rollins was all about it. “Yeah, great talents, hell of a tag team,” he said. “[They’re] good guys, always had a hell of a relationship with them, I’d love to see them come back if they’d like to come back with us.”

As for CM Punk, not so much.

Hausman was surprised by the answer, which led Rollins to double down. “I don’t like Phil, he’s a jerk. Oh, did we just figure that out? Everybody in the room is like, ‘Oh no, did he say that?’ Yeah, he’s a jerk, we figured that out over there [AEW], we knew it over here [WWE]. I don’t want him back. Go do something else. Bye-bye! See ya later!”

Rollins says the new WWE 2k23 game looks sick. The next-gen systems have the graphics looking unreal, the gameplay is incredible and he’s eager to try out the new WarGames match. Most importantly, he and his wife (Becky Lynch) look great, so “it’s all a win.”

WWE 2K23 is due out Tuesday, March 14. You can pre-order the game now at Amazon.

We’re just hours away for the 2023 WWE ‘Royal Rumble’. Keep it locked to SEScoops tonight for our Royal Rumble Results & Live Discussion. Chat with other readers in the comments section while watching one of WWE’s biggest events of the year.

Ahead of tonight’s show, here are some last minute news and notes:

Royal Rumble Attendance

The Royal Rumble takes place from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This is the third time the Alamodome has hosted the event, following 1997 and 2017.

On Friday’s WWE ‘SmackDown,’ commentator Michael Cole mentioned they’re expecting over 50,000 fans in attendance. According to Wrestletix, the venue is configured to accommodate 44,868. As of Saturday morning, 44,417 tickets had been distributed, with 451 still available and 1,411 seats on the secondary market (StubHub, etc.)

This show has generated a lot of excitement, so this will likely be a legitimate sell-out when all the walk-up sales are accounted for.

• Royal Rumble 2023 Sets Box Office Record for WWE

Royal Rumble Betting Odds

Here are the five most likely winners of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, based on actual betting activity, courtesy of OddsChecker:

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

1. Cody Rhodes: -120
2. Sami Zayn: +400
3. The Rock: +400
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin: +1200
5. Seth Rollins: +1800

Women’s Rumble Rumble Match

1. Rhea Ripley: -175
2. Becky Lynch: +450
3. Raquel Rodriguez: #1200
4. Alexa Bliss: +1600
5. Bayley: +1600

WWE has released a “cold open” preview for Saturday’s Royal Rumble premium live event. This video, hosted by country music singer Hardy, will air at the start of the Royal Rumble broadcast on Peacock.

“I know what it’s like to want to make a name for yourself,” says Hardy. “To be on the road, grinding. Success don’t come easy. You gotta fight for it.”

Hardy, who will perform his song “Sold Out” live at the Rumble, narrates over footage hyping the Owens vs. Reigns and Bliss vs. Belair title matches, as well as the men’s and women’s Rumbles.

• WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Staff Predictions

Country music sensation Hardy helps set the stage for Royal Rumble 2023 in San Antonio.

Comcast Corp, parent company of NBCUniversal, is among the many organizations discussed as potential buyers of World Wrestling Entertainment.

On Thursday’s Comcast earnings call, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was asked about the possibility of purchasing WWE.

Shell did not specifically mention WWE in his response, but stated that the company is always in acquisition mode if the right opportunity comes along.

“We are always looking for bolt-on acquisitions that bolster our businesses. Two examples: we bought DreamWorks [Animation]… and it has been paying off steadily since our acquisition. Just now, with Puss In Boots [The Last Wish], which is a big hit at the box office and really our entrance back into the Shrek universe, continues to make that acquisition look really favorable, And our Blumhouse investment over time, where we’re partners with Jason Blum, and we have a big hit, M3GAN, this month, which is coming out of that investment.”

You can listen to audio of this topic here, courtesy of Brandon Thurston:

As of this writing, WWE has a $6.42 billion market capitalization.

Click here for more of our recent coverage on a potential WWE sale.

H/T to Deadline for the transcribed quote

It’s Thursday, January 26 and we are just two days out from the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble from San Antonio, Texas. SEScoops will have live results of the Rumble on Saturday night. We’ll also be hosting a live discussion in the comments section of our Results post – we hope to see you there. Here’s a rundown of some odds-and-ends news items:

Bray Wyatt’s Role on SmackDown

Bray Wyatt is having a big week. On Monday’s Raw is XXX anniversary special, the Eater of Worlds shared a memorable encounter with The Undertaker. Each of them commented on the moment, with Wyatt stating, “This moment justified a lifetime of sacrifices for me.”

According to the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE officials have Wyatt slotted as the #1 babyface on SmackDown brand. He’ll face LA Knight in a Lights Out match (stipulation details TBA) at the Rumble.

As the top babyface on SmackDown, it’s probably only a matter of time before he’s in the title picture for either Roman Reigns’ Undisputed Universal Championship, or the Intercontinental title held by Gunther.

Royal Rumble Favorites & Participants

The Royal Rumble premium live event will be headlined by two 30-person Rumble matches (men’s and women’s), with the winners going on to challenge a champion of their choosing at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood. The current favorites, based on leading online sports betting sites, are Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley.

As of this writing, 15 people are confirmed for the Men’s Rumble match and only seven confirmed for the Women’s Rumble. WWE.com has a running tally of all the participants.

Rhea Training with Dominik:

WWE has published several videos to get fans hyped for the Royal Rumble. As seen below, Rhea Ripley has been training with Dominik Mysterio.

Ripley was in the news earlier this week for her comments about wanting to compete in the men’s Royal Rumble match.

Zoey Stark Throws Shade at Nikkita Lyons

NXT star Nikkita Lyons announced that she’s dealing with a serious knee injury (a torn ACL and meniscus). Rival Zoey Stark has little sympathy for Lyons, who will be out of the ring for several months.

Naomi and Natalya’s New Looks

Finally, two female Superstars are sporting new looks. Naomi (Trinity Fatu) continues to branch out into modeling with a new photo shoot for L’Officiel Baltic Sports.

Natalya has been out of action since November, when she underwent nasal surgery to move her dislocated nose “back to the center of my face where it belongs.” During her time away, she’s decided to tryout a new hairstyle.

WWE has announced the signing of 15 athletes to the company’s ‘Next In Line’ program, which aims to recruit elite collegiate athletes from around the Untied States.

As the Next in Line program enters its second year, WWE has finalized the third class of prospective future Superstars. The program now encompasses 46 athletes (26 male, 20 female) from 13 sports.

This round of signees includes two-time NCAA All American wrestler Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State University), four-time NCAA National Champion thrower Turner Washington (Arizona State University) and NCAA Champion hurdler Alia Armstrong (Louisiana State University).

Here’s the full list of athletes and the sports they’ve played:

• Abby Jacobs (Soccer)
• Alexandra Jaksec (Tennis)
• Alia Armstrong (Track & Field)
• Cameron Jones (Football)
• Dee Beckwith (Football)
• Greg Kerkvliet (Wrestling)
• Isaiah Iton (Football)
• Jaiden Fields (Softball)
• Landon Jackson (Football)
• Mady Aulbach (Basketball)
• Nick Dawkins (Football)
• Otoniel Badjana (Track & Field)
• Peyton Prussin (Wrestling)
• Tori Ortiz (Track & Field)
• Turner Washington (Track & Field)

WWE also published this infographic about the Next in Line program, which has been updated to include the latest class of 15 athletes:

Learn more about the “Next In Line” program at wwerecruit.com.

One of the top up and comers in WWE’s developmental system is taking a positive outlook on an injury that will keep her out of the ring for several months.

On Wednesday, Nikkita Lyons announced specific details regarding her knee injury. Unfortunately, her she’s torn her ACL and meniscus.

Despite the setback, she remains full of love, light and positivity. Many athletes would see this as a serious career setback, but Lyons is taking a different outlook. Instead of focusing on the injury, she sees this as a life lesson and is laser focused on making a comeback.

Nikkita Lyons Announces Knee Injury

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikkita Lyons (@nikkita_wwe)

Lyons’ most recent match for WWE took place on the January 20 edition of NXT Level up. In her Level Up debut, the 23-year-old from Las Vegas defeated Jakarta Jackson. 

SEScoops wishes Nikkita Lyons a speedy recovery from this injury.

Impact Wrestling has announced a special ‘season pass’ of tickets for three upcoming double-header events in the Chicago area.

All six shows will take place from Cicero Stadium. The venue hosted Impact Emergence last summer, as well as several Major League Wrestling and mixed martial arts events.

For the first time ever, secure your ticket for all 6 nights! It all starts with Spring Slugfest this April and continues through July with Chicago Heat and it all leads to an unforgettable Bound For Glory. The Season Pass secures your ticket for all events!

The Season Pass Ticket Option is valid for 1 Ticket to all 6 Events. Spring Slugfest, Chicago Heat and Bound For Glory.

Here’s the official schedule for the shows:

• April 28-29: Spring Slugfest
• July 28-29: Chicago Heat
• October 21-22: Bound for Glory and BFG Fallout

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com starting this Friday. The Season Pass Ticket option is valid for 1 Ticket to all 6 Events (Spring Slugfest, Chicago Heat and Bound For Glory).

Tony Khan is on board with the idea of a ‘World Cup’ of pro wrestling. He knows it wouldn’t be easy to get WWE on board working with the likes of All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro Wrestling, but he’s open to working with “anybody” for the greater good.

“You never know.”

– Tony Khan

Last year’s AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view was successful, despite injuries nixing plans for several inter-promotional dream matches. An event of this magnitude involving competing promotions can present a lot of hurdles that need to be cleared. Khan worked hard to establish a level of trust with NJPW executives. Having been down that road once before, the AEW President is optimistic this could be done on an even larger scale.

Tony Khan Open to a ‘World Cup’ of Wrestling

Earlier this week, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada expressed interest in organizing a wrestling World Cup. He said he’d be willing to meet with Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque to broker a deal to make such an event a reality.

Tony Khan appeared on the Battleground podcast and was asked about the wrestling World Cup concept. During his conversation with Tim Battle, TK said he loved last year’s Forbidden Door show and would be willing to work with “anybody” on an even bigger inter-promotional super-event.

Khan has already co-promoted a pay-per-view with NJPW. He’s featured talent (and championships) from Impact and AAA on AEW television. Without saying who “anybody” is, it’s clear who the big holdout would be. It’s unlikely that WWE would sign off on working with AEW in any capacity, but 2022 and (already) 2023 have shown us that even the most outlandish scenarios may come to pass.

• AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door Drew Over $5 Million on Pay-Per-View

H/T to Fightful and Jeremy Lambert for the transcribed quotes

Mark Briscoe will make his AEW Dynamite debut one week after his brother Jay Briscoe (Jamin Pugh) was tragically killed in an automobile accident.

The wrestling world has been rallying around the Pugh family during this incredibly difficult time. There’s been an outpouring of support from Jay’s friends and fans and a fundraiser has been set up to ease the family’s financial burden. Unfortunately, AEW has not been able to do much to honor Jay Briscoe due to a longstanding policy by Warner Bros. Discovery.

Up until this week, the Briscoes have been effectively blackballed from TBS & TNT due to insensitive (homophobic) comments made by Jay many years ago that he’d since atoned for. Thankfully, it appears that policy has been changed.

Tony Khan announced on Tuesday that Mark Briscoe will be in action on Dynamite, thus ending their controversial ban. He’ll wrestle Jay’s longtime friend and rival, Jay Lethal.

According to TK, the match was requested by both men to honor Jay Briscoe on what would have been his 39th birthday.

• Family Friend Provides an Update on the Health of Jay Briscoe’s Daughters

AEW Dynamite Preview (January 25, 2023)

Here’s an updated preview for Wednesday’s Dynamite from Lexington, Kentucky:

• ROH World Tag Team Champion Mark Briscoe vs Jay Lethal
• Buddy Matthews of the House of Black answers Darby Allin’s TNT Championship Open Challenge
• JungleHOOK (Jungle Boy & Hook) vs Ethan Page & Matt Hardy
• Women’s 3-Way Match: Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D vs Ruby Soho vs Toni Storm
• “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage
• Le Sex Gods (Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara) vs Action Andretti/Ricky Starks

Plus, Billy Gunn will mediate a ‘family therapy’ session involving his sons, The Gunns, and AEW World Tag Team Champions, The Acclaimed.

SEScoops will have live results of AEW Dynamite Wednesday night starting at 8pm (Eastern).

Monday’s 30th anniversary edition of WWE Raw was an eventful show. Perhaps the most buzz-worthy moment of the 3-hour marathon broadcast was the face-to-face confrontation between The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt.

The Dead Man whispered something into Wyatt’s ear that had a profound impact on the Eater of Words. Wyatt took a moment on Tuesday morning to share his feelings about the interaction with his legion of fans on social media.

Wyatt says that one moment with The Undertaker at Raw 30 “justified a lifetime of sacrifices” for him. Whatever you want to say about Wyatt’s WWE character, you have to agree: he’s unique. This uniqueness has brought adversity, including people encouraging him to change and confirm. He’s resisted these calls, and now feels reassured that he hasn’t compromised himself to fit someone else’s narrative.

The interaction with Bray Wyatt on Raw was also meaningful for The Undertaker. He echoed the sentiment that pro wrestling is all about moments. He’s created countless moments throughout his legendary career, but his brief encounter with Wyatt on Raw was a special one he’ll remember for a long time.

Many are looking at The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt’s interaction as a passing of the torch, of sorts. Taker has been WWE’s resident supernatural character since he arrived on the scene in November 1990. Many others have come and gone, but nobody has pulled it off quite like The Undertaker.

They’ve worked together before, most notably a feud that culminated at WrestleMania 31. The Undertaker has publicly expressed his respect for Wyatt, his creativity and his persona. He’s called Wyatt a “phenomenal talent” who has a lot to offer the industry.

WWE presents a new episode of NXT tonight on the USA Network live from Orlando, Florida.

We’re less than two weeks out from NXT Vengeance Day, which takes place next weekend on Saturday, February 4. The event will stream live on Peacock at 8pm (Eastern).

Tonight’s broadcast will see an NXT Vengeance Day Women’s Championship Summit. What will happen when Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne and NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez go face-to-face (to-face) ahead of their clash on 2/4?

We’ve also got several matches advertised, including:

• Alba Fyre will battle NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Kayden Carter and Katana Chance in a 1-on-2 handicap match with the titles on the line.

• Tiffany Stratton vs. Indi Hartwell

• Elektra Lopez vs. Wendy Choo.

• Fallon Henley and Kiana James be in action

Check back later tonight for our weekly NXT Results feature. Catch up on all the happenings from last week’s show right here:

• NXT Results from Last Week (1/17): Tag Team Headliner, Breakker & Waller Talk

Here’s WWE’s video preview for tonight’s NXT broadcast on the USA Network:

WWE attempted to present a feel-good show for Monday’s Raw 30th anniversary special. Despite the company’s best efforts, but many fans were left disgruntled and dejected over the way women were booked on the show.

Raw 30 (Results) saw some memorable moments, including The Undertaker’s interaction with Bray Wyatt, Ric Flair proudly introducing his daughter Charlotte, DX interacting with Imperium and Brock Lesnar’s show-closing return.

Despite these high points, there’s been a lot of negative feedback over the lack of emphasis on female Superstars. The top women’s match advertised for the show, a steel cage match between Becky Lynch and Bayley, never took place.

Due to earlier segments in the show running long, the decision was made to cut the women’s cage match and simply run a quick ‘attack’ angle instead. We did get Bianca Belair vs. Sonya Deville, as well as a backstage promo from Alexa Bliss and a special appearance by Charlotte Flair. Rhea Ripley even got involved during the Usos vs. Judgment Day tag title match. However, there was enough backlash to get #WWEWomenDeserveBetter trending on Twitter.

WWE advertised the Bella Twins for RAW 30, but they were nowhere to be found. They posted a video on social media venting about WWE’s poor treatment its female talent. Nikki mocked WWE for getting upset that Sasha Banks was “too over” and Brie added, “there’s a bunch of us they doin’t want to show.”

It’s not a great look for WWE. They’re quick to pat themselves on the back for empowering women, but they’re falling short in the eyes of fans and even their female talent. Women have been part of some of the biggest moments in Raw history. Some of those moments were featured during the ‘flashback’ segments that aired throughout the broadcast.

At the end of the day, feedback from fans (and talent) matters. Even if you think you’re doing a great job, substantial backlash like this needs to be considered.

A new Jay Briscoe t-shirt is now available, with 100% of the proceeds going to the late star’s family. Briscoe (Jamil Pugh) passed away last week (January 17, 2023) in a tragic automobile accident. He was just 38.

The shirt is officially on sale by Ring of Honor at the Pro Wrestling Tees and ShopAEW stores. The description for the shirt reads:

“On January 17th, the wrestling world lost one of its most beloved family members when Jamin Pugh, known professionally as Jay Briscoe, tragically lost his life in an automobile accident. A member of the Ring of Honor family from the very beginning, Jay became a multi-time ROH World Champion, a 13-time ROH World Tag Team Champion, and a first-ballot ROH Hall of Famer with his brother Mark.

Together, The Briscoe Brothers were a part of ROH’s foundation, the heart and soul, and were essential in building that company into the most influential wrestling promotion of the last twenty years But more than that, the Pugh family lost a husband, a father, a brother, a son, and in an effort to both honor Jay’s memory as well as support those left behind, we are offering this “Reach For The Sky” t-shirt with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit the Pugh family as they cope with this tragic loss.“

If you’re interested in donating to the Pugh family, a fundraiser has been arranged to help ease any financial burdens that will arise from his passing. Visit Givesendgo.com to donate.

• Positive Update on Jay Briscoe’s Daughters After Tragic Car Accident

It’s going to be a celebration tonight as WWE recognizes the 30-year anniversary of Monday Night Raw. The very first episode of Raw took place January 11, 1993 from the Manhattan Center in New York City. 1,547 episodes later, and the longest-running-episodic-program on television is still going strong.

WWE is bringing back some of the biggest names in Raw history to mark this special occasion. Legends who will be on hand include ‘The Immortal’ Hulk Hogan, ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair, The Undertaker, ‘Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, the Bella Twins and more.

We’ve also got some exciting matches to look forward to, including multiple title matches, a steel cage match and Sami Zayn going on ‘trial’ before the Bloodline.

SEScoops will have live coverage of tonight’s WWE Raw. Our live results post will be up at 7:45pm (EST) so you can chat in the comments section.

Raw is XXX Preview

WWE is advertising the following matches for tonight’s Raw is XXX special:

• Bayley challenges Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship in a Steel Cage Match.
• Bobby Lashley challenges Austin Theory for the United States Championship.
• The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio) challenge The Usos for the Raw tag team championships.

Plus, The Bloodline will hold a Tribal Court for the Trial of Sami Zayn.

Ahead of tonight’s Raw, check out our special feature running down 30 ‘Must See’ matches from the first 30 years of Monday Night Raw:

• 30 Must-See Matches from 30 Years of WWE Monday Night Raw

Rhea Ripley wants to follow in the footsteps of her childhood hero Beth Phoenix by competing in a men’s Royal Rumble match.

Ripley is a member of The Judgment Day faction, along with Finn Balor, Damian Priest and Dominick Mysterio. While the female members of wrestling factions have typically been portrayed as eye candy, Ripley is arguably the enforcer of the group. Over the past several months, the former Raw and SmackDown Women’s champion has gone face-to-face with several male Superstars, including Luke Gallows, Solo Sikoa and Akira Tozawa.

WWE introduced the annual women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018, but Ripley sees a chance to make history and emulate one of her childhood heroes by testing herself against the men. During a recent interview with WrestleBinge, Ripley says she’s ready to make history.

“I would most definitely love to enter the Men’s Royal Rumble. I would love to.”

– Rhea Ripley

Several competitors including Phoenix, Chyna and Nia Jax have competed in the men’s Rumble. However, Ripley is open to the idea of participating in the men’s and women’s Rumbles on the same night, a feat that would etch her name in the history books.

Elsewhere in the Wrestlebinge interview, Ripley spoke about her admiration for Beth Phoenix. She was a huge fan of the ‘Glamazon’ while growing up and related to her muscular body type. She would be honored to ‘fill those shoes’ and help advance the women’s evolution by showing she’s not limited to competing with other women.

We may very well see Rhea Ripley in a men’s Royal Rumble one day. As of this writing, she is entered – and the odds-on favorite to win – the women’s Rumble match.

The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble premium live event takes place this Saturday, January 28.

WWE has scrapped a major segment that was originally planned for Monday’s ‘RAW is XXX’ anniversary show from Philadelphia, PA.

The Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony, which was going to feature several generations of the Anoa’i wrestling dynasty, will not be taking place. The news was first reported by PWInsider. The Wild Samoans (Afa and Siki) were slated to appear, along with Rikishi and Samu.

WWE has already announced a replacement segment. Due to the events that transpired on Friday’s SmackDown, The Bloodline will hold a Tribal Court for The Trail of Sami Zayn.

In addition to the Trial of Sami Zayn, top matches advertised for Raw is XXX include:

• Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a Steel Cage Match
• Bobby Lashley challenges Austin Theory for the United States Championship
• The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio) challenge The Usos for the Raw tag team championships

WWE legends scheduled to appear include The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Road Dogg, X-Pac, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Teddy Long, Ron Simmons, and Kurt Angle.

WWE SmackDown heads to the Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas this Friday night. The show takes place just 24 hours before the 2023 Royal Rumble premium live event, so fans can expect a hot atmosphere.

On the eve of the biggest match of his career, Kevin Owens won’t get a chance to rest up. He may very well be the next Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but first he’ll have to make it to San Antonio. Before testing himself against Roman Reigns at the Rumble, Owens have to go through Solo Sikoa.

The SmackDown Tag Team Championship Contender’s tournament continues, with two semi-final matches scheduled. Plus, Rey Mysterio’s ongoing feud with Killer Kross comes to a head.

WWE SmackDown Matches (January 25, 2023)

The following matches are scheduled for Smackdown:

• Kevin Owens vs. Sola Sikoa of The Bloodline

• Killer Kross vs. Rey Mysterio

• Sheamus and Drew McIntyre vs. Hit Row (SmackDown Tag Team Championship Contender’s Tournament Semi-Final Match)

• Legado Del Fantasma vs. Imperium (SmackDown Tag Team Championship Contender’s Tournament Semi-Final Match)

All Elite Wrestling has announced five matches and a unique ‘sports entertainment’ style segment for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite from Lexington, Kentucky at the Rupp Arena.

There are six episodes of Dynamite until the next AEW pay-per-view, Revolution on Sunday, March 5. If you’re in the Lexington area, tickets are still available at AEWTix.com.

The top items for the show including Darby Allin’s latest TNT Championship Open challenge and Bryan Danielson’s next ‘gauntlet’ match to earn a shot at MJF’s AEW World Heavyweight Championship, the ‘Big Burberry Belt.’

Ahead of Dynamite, you can catch up on results from last week’s episode.

AEW Dynamite Matches (January 25, 2023)

• Buddy Matthews of the House of Black answers Darby Allin’s TNT Championship Open Challenge

• JungleHOOK (Jungle Boy & Hook) vs Ethan Page & Matt Hardy

• Women’s 3-Way Match: Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D vs Ruby Soho vs Toni Storm

• “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage vs

• Le Sex Gods (Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara) vs Action Andretti/Ricky Starks

Plus, Billy Gunn will mediate a ‘family therapy’ session involving his sons, The Gunns, and AEW World Tag Team Champions, The Acclaimed.

WWE paid tribute to Jay Briscoe (Jamin Pugh) on Friday’s ‘SmackDown’ television broadcast on FOX.

Early in the show, commentator Michael Cole took a moment to acknowledge Briscoe’s tragic passing in an automobile accident earlier this week (January 17).

Speaking on behalf of WWE, Cole addressed the Universe:

WWE acknowledged Briscoe’s passing on Tuesday night on NXT.

AEW, Impact and the entire wrestling world have been paying respects over the past several days. On AEW Dynamite, several stars wore armbands honoring their friend.

A ‘Jay Briscoe Celebration of Life’ special was taped after Dynamite. That card of ROH matches will soon be available for streaming on the HonorClub service. (Spoiler Results)

• Support the Pugh family by donating at Givesendgo.com.

Game Changer Wrestling presents GCW: Don’t Talk to Me tonight (January 20, 2023) from the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, North Carolina.

Matches

Here’s the full card for GCW Don’t Talk to Me:

• Ricky Morton vs. Tony Deppen
• Nick Wayne vs. Arez
• Blake Christian vs. Andrew Everett
• Marty Garner vs. Cole Radrick
• Jordan Oliver vs. Kerry Morton
• BUSSY (Allie Katch and EFFY) vs. Charles Mason and Parrow
• John Wayne Murdoch and George South vs. Revolt (Caleb Konley and Zane Riley) vs. Bojack and Lucky Ali vs. Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner and Matthew Justice)
• El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Gringo Loco
• GCW Tag Team Championship: Los Macizos (Ciclope and Miedo Extremo) (c) vs. The Ugly Ducklings (Lance Lude and Rob Killjoy)

How to Watch

GCW: Don’t Talk to Me stream live on FITE+ on Friday, January 20, 2023 starting at 8pm (Eastern).

All Elite Wrestling presents a new episode of AEW Rampage this Friday night at 10pm (Eastern) on TNT. These matches were taped Wednesday night from Fresno, California at the Save Mart Center.

In addition to Dynamite and Rampage, AEW also held a Ring of Honor “Jay Briscoe: Celebration of Life” special that will soon stream for free on Honor Club.

• Spoiler: ROH Jay Briscoe Celebration Of Life Results

AEW Rampage Preview (Jan. 20)

The following matches and segments are set for this week’s Rampage:

• The Jericho Appreciation Society’s Daniel Garcia vs. Action Andretti

• ROH World Six-Man Champion Brian Cage vs. Willie Mack

• The Firm’s Ethan Page vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry

Plus, we’ll hear from Eddie Kingston and TBS Champion Jade Cargill will be in tag team action along with Leila Grey of the Baddies.

AEW Rampage Spoilers

Here are spoiler results for Rampage:

• “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry defeated Ethan Page
• Brian Cage defeated Willie Mack
• Jade Cargill & Leila Grey defeated Jaina and Jordyn Vanity
• Action Andretti defeated Daniel Garcia

Major League Wrestling has signed a new TV with REELZ, a US-based cable channel available in more than 40 million homes.

The new weekly series MLW Underground Wrestling premieres Tuesday, February 7 at 10pm (ET) / 7pm (PT). The first episode will see MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone vs.EJ Nduka in a Last Man Standing match.

New Weekly Primetime “MLW Underground Wrestling” Events Showcase Professional Wrestling for a New Generation

(Albuquerque, NM) Friday, January 20, 2023 — REELZ today announced the fastest growing wrestling league in the world Major League Wrestling (MLW) premieres on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. The new weekly primetime series MLW Underground Wrestling is a new era of wrestling for a new generation of fans, featuring an electrifying mix of world class fighters including MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone, “The Certified G” Real1, Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie, John Hennigan, Jacob Fatu, “The World’s Greatest Wonder” Microman and more. 

Journey into the underground beginning Tuesday, February 7 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT with the premiere of “Titan vs. Titan” featuring Hammerstone vs. ex-NFL player EJ Nduka in a Last Man Standing World Championship Match and also stars Real1, the Bomaye Fight Club and Mance Warner. Immediately following at 11pm ET/ 8pm PT it’s the REELZ premiere of the classic “MLW Battle RIOT IV.”

“Major League Wrestling is for a new generation of fans and we’re thrilled to bring our viewers a ringside view with exciting nights at the fights,” said Steve Cheskin, SVP of Programming at REELZ. “With the strong response from our viewers to several REELZ originals celebrating the extraordinary lives and careers of professional wrestlers we’re stepping into the ring to bring them new Major League Wrestling events every week.”  

“Wrestling has never been hotter and MLW Underground Wrestling will deliver a weekly adrenaline rush when we join the REELZ roster February 7,” said MLW CEO Court Bauer. “The extraordinary growth and success of REELZ with its line-up of must-see programming is a perfect fit for MLW.”  

MLW wrestlers have distinct backgrounds with rich cultural connections making their journeys relatable and authentic to viewers. MLW also features some of next generation of some of the most iconic wrestling families in the sport including the Samoan Dynasty, the British Bulldogs and more. New episodes of MLW Underground Wrestling air Tuesdays at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT followed at 11pm ET/ 8pm PT with REELZ premieres of classic episodes of the most memorable and action packed matches in MLW history. 

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE WRESTLING 

Major League Wrestling (MLW®) is a sports media holding company, offering television content, action figures, apparel, live events, and ancillary entertainment. MLW operates live events in major markets throughout the United States and Mexico, including New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Tijuana. One of the fastest growing wrestling leagues today, MLW programming is available in over 60 countries worldwide, including its new flagship series MLW Underground Wrestling on REELZ in the United States airing Tuesdays at 10pm ET / 7pm PT; and MLW Fusion on Pro Wrestling TV in the U.S. and Ayozat TV on SKY in the United Kingdom.

For more information visit MLW.com and follow MLW on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About REELZ—REAL LIVES. REAL STORIES. REAL CELEBRITIES.®

REELZ is a leading independent television network that is home to the hit original series On Patrol: Live that follows law enforcement officers live from a diverse mix of police departments and sheriff offices across America. REELZ original programming is focused on real people in revealing stories ranging from the critically acclaimed and award-winning The Kennedys to Autopsy: The Last Hours Of and the network is also home to true crime stories and law enforcement action including Gangsters: America’s Most Wanted, Mobsters, COPS, COPS Reloaded and Jail that take place in real communities across America.

REELZ is available in more than 40 million homes on DIRECTV (238), DISH Network (299), Verizon FiOS TV (692HD), AT&T U-verse (799/1799HD) and Xfinity, Spectrum, Optimum, Mediacom, Philo, Freecast, DIRECTV Stream, Dish Sling and many other cable systems and major streaming services nationwide. Find REELZ in your area by visiting www.reelz.com. If REELZ is not available, or not in HD, on your cable, telco or streaming provider, we encourage viewers to call them and ask for it. Owned by Hubbard Media Group, REELZ is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM with national ad sales based in New York City with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles. 

REELZ library programing is available in more than 30 million additional homes and growing via major streaming platforms such as Amazon Channels, Fire TV, Roku, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, Samsung Smart TV+, Vizio, Crackle, Xumo, Redbox, FreeVee and Local Now.  

WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hitman” Hart is getting into the bar business.

The seven-time world champion has announced Hitman’s Bar is coming soon to his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

According to Hart, the establishment will be “a place to gather, enjoy a great meal, live, laugh, and celebrate.” The establishment opens next month (February 2023) and grand opening details are coming soon.

Hitman’s Bar already has a Twitter account set up, which you can follow at @Hitmansbar.

We’ll provide an update when more information is available.

Bret Hart-Themed Drinks

Hitman’s Bar is not the first time Hart has dabbled in the world of adult beverages.

In 2018, Calgary’s very own Village Brewery released a citrus hibiscus ale called, The Village Hitman Citrus Hibiscus Ale. The brewery described the beer as follows:

“Like a sharpshooter, the Hitman takes you by surprise. Unlike his contenders, he’s not bitter. Instead, this champion has a subtle bite; a citrus tang of orange and lemon tag teamed with hibiscus and fragrant hops. It catches you off guard. Before you know it, the Hitman has a hold on you.”

More recently, Hart teamed up with Alberta-based Romero Distilling Co. on a special promotion for their dark rum.

Mockery Brewing Co. out of Denver, CO also has a Hart-themed drink, Brett The Hopman Tart, a Tart Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sour IPA. Hart is not affiliated with this one.