Thunder Rosa says her injury rehabilitation is going “really well,” but don’t expect her back in All Elite Wrestling any time soon. She’s jogging, is finally able to lift weights again, but still has done any in-ring training.

Rosa has been on the sidelines since August 2022 when an undisclosed injury put her on the shelf. A lot has transpired since then, when she was the reigning AEW Women’s World Champion.

A tournament was held to crown an interim champion during her absence. Toni Storm won the tournament at All Out, but lost the interim title to Jamie Hayter at Full Gear. AEW has since stripped Rosa of her championship, retired the interim title and declared Hayter the official Women’s World Champion.

Several AEW stars have been critical of Rosa during her hiatus, including former champions Storm and Dr. Britt Baker.

• Britt Baker on Thunder Rosa’s AEW Hiatus: “I Was at Work Every Week”

Lifting Weights, 5K

Rosa has provided an update on her recovery. She’s back in the gym doing squats with 2-pound dumbbells, which she considers a huge win after so many months without lifting.

“The recovery is going really well,” Rosa said. “This week I was just able to do squats with a two-pound dumbbell. I haven’t done any lifting for the last four or five months so this is huge.”

She also participated in a 5k race two weeks ago. Doctors are not allowing her to do any running, but she jogged half of it and walked the rest. Despite these recovery milestones, she still has a ways to go.

I have not been able to be in the ring yet so we’re working on that.

– Thunder Rosa Injury Update

Rosa is as tough as they come. Her injury and long road back to AEW are further reminders that pro wrestlers put their bodies and health on the line every time they step through the ropes.

SEScoops wishes Thunder Rosa a speedy recovery.

Sasha Banks (Mercedes Varnado) has landed her first movie role. Details have been scarce, but we’ve been able to piece together some details based on clues we’ve tracked down on social media.

On Sunday, December 4, Banks tweeted that she just wrapped her first movie in her hometown of #Bosston.

Actor Mike Messier noted on Twitter that Banks was filming a movie in the city for actor/director Tom DeNucci.

DeNucci’s latest project in development is, The Collective. IMDB lists Yale Productions as the production company, First Row Filmed Entertainment as the distributor and 2024 as a tentative release date. The synopsis reads:

We also have this (brief) behind-the-scenes clip of Sasha Banks on set:

Sasha Banks in Hollywood

While this is Banks’ first film role, she isn’t new to Hollywood. In 2020, she set the internet ablaze when she appeared in two episodes of Disney’s The Mandolorian. She played Koska Reeves.

Banks left WWE this past May, but is still training. Last month, it was revealed that she had been training with Juventud Guerrera in Mexico. While in Mexico, she was spotted backstage at a non-televised WWE show.

• Photos: Bianca Belair Impresses in Bodybuilding Competition, WWE Superstars React

In her time away from wrestling, she has walked in New York Fashion Week for the first time alongside Naomi. Her CBD company with former WWE Superstar, Kalisto, won an award.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest.

Sunday, December 4 marked the 13 years since the passing of former WWE Superstar Umaga (Edward Smith Fatu). He was a member of legendary Anoa?i family.

Bloodline member Jey Uso honored The Samoan Bulldozer on social media on the anniversary of his untimely death.

As seen below, he posted photos on Instagram remembering his late uncle. The caption reads, “Dec 4th be a sad day. Then, ALL the great memories brightens it up.??? Love u mane.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FATU (@uceyjucey)

Several wrestling personalities liked and commented on the post, including Chris Jeriocho, Chavo Guerrero, Bayley and Renee Paquette.

Jey Uso is very proud of his uncle and his family heritage. In a 2021 interview with Yahoo! Sports, he credted the Samoan people for ‘making’ wrestling.

“I think the Samoan people have made wrestling,” he said. “Pro wrestling is right down our alley, we’re just physical people, strong, quick. I feel like we were just made to do this. Being a part of it now and seeing all of the blood that has been laid before me, the whole family tree, it’s very humbling and I’m so proud I am part of this.”

Both Uso brothers have spoken candidly about the way Umaga changed their lives:

Umaga Lives on

The Bloodline faction is comprised of Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, The Usos, Solo Sikoa (plus honorary Uce, Sami Zayn). WWE broadcaster Corey Graves recently compared Sikoa to Umaga on the After the Bell podcast.

“His reactions reminded me very much of Umaga,” said Graves. “I said it on the air with all due respect, because I know in what regard the family looks at Umaga and with what reference he is viewed within the family. So I would never say that as a flippant comment. A smaller, more compact version, but the same hard-hitting impact. The same savagery once he gets going.”

Remembering Umaga

WWE has created this playlist recapping some of Umaga’s greatest in-ring moments. He was an active Superstar from 2001-2003 (as Jamal of the ‘Three Minute Warning’ tag team) and later 2005-2009 (as Umaga).

AEW filed a new trademark application last week. On Wednesday, November 30, filed an application on the phrase, “Hat Trick.” These trademark applications often provide a glimpse what wrestling companies and wrestlers have planned in the coming months.

According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) database, the Attorney of Record for the live trademark is Bradley M. Stohry.

The Goods and Services usage description for the Hat Trick trademarks includes:

• Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of television shows and multimedia entertainment content featuring wrestling programs and events;

• Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual wrestlers;

Hat Trick is a phrase that means, “three similar successes” and is often used in sports when three goals are scored in a game/match.

AEW has utilized sports-related phrases for its special events, including Grand Slam and The First Dance, so it could be an event name. There’s also Jake Hager of the Jericho Appreciation Society, who really likes his purple hat.

Wrestling Trademarks

Here’s some more recent news about pro wrestling trademarks:

• New Trademark Filings Reveal Future Plans for Chris Jericho
• Sasha Banks’ Next Moves Revealed by New Trademarks
• ‘Queen of the Ring’ Trademark Hints at Upcoming WWE Tournament
• WWE Files Trademark for ‘Uncle Harper’
• AEW Files for “All Elite Women” Trademark
• Windham Rotunda Files To Trademark The name, ‘Wyatt 6’

Major League Wrestling has sent in word that the infamous War Chamber match is headed to New York City for the first time ever.

What is the War Chamber? According to MLW, “Locked in a carbon steel chamber with the perimeter of the top fortified with barbed wire, two teams of four will clash in combat that only the War Chamber can contain.”

MLW brings WarChamber to NYC on Thursday, April 6 at the Melrose Ballroom. The event will be a Fusion TV taping (airing on beIN Sports and streaming at Pro Wrestling TV).

War Chamber Rules

• A coin toss determines which team enters first
• 1-on-1 for 5:00 in stage 1 of the War Chamber
• The winner of coin toss comes out for 2-on-1
• Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every 2 minutes
• Once all combatants are in the War Chamber, victory is won by submission, surrender or pinfall

Tickets for MLW War Chamber 2022 go on sale Thursday, December 8 at MLWNYC.com. If you’re in the NYC area, this is definitely an event to check out.

Saraya is headed to the dentist’s chair just weeks after her first match in over five years (against a dentist) and yes, she sees the irony there.

On Thursday evening, Saraya noted on Twitter that she just landed home and was going”straight off the plane to the dentist.”

She’ll be undergoing oral surgery, but it’s unrelated to anything that happened in the ring. She’s having her wisdom teeth removed, a procedure that most people recover from within two weeks.

What’s Next for Saraya?

Saraya has been feuding with Dr. Britt Baker since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. After their match at Full Gear last month, she had positive things to say about her rival. During the post-PPV media scrum, she stated bluntly, “Britt carried me through the whole thing.”

It will be interesting to see if Saraya continues her feud with Baker, or if she moves on to a program with someone else. It’s likely too soon into her run to jump into the title picture. Other heels in the AEW women’s division include Anna Jay, Nyla Rose, Red Velvet, Serena Deeb and Tay Melo.

In an unrelated note, Saraya has been outspoken about wanting to work with Sasha Banks again in the future, which is interesting on several levels. She recently revealed that she spoke with Banks after announcing she was medically cleared to wrestle again.

Just days after Full Gear, Saraya name-dropped Banks again:

• Saraya: “I’ll Get My Rematch with Sasha Banks”

Cody Rhodes is gearing up for (another) triumphant return to WWE. Nearly six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, the American Nightmare is healthy, back in the gym and patiently waiting for the right moment to strike.

As the year comes to a close and the focus shifts to the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania, we have an encouraging update regarding the man who may be destined for a career-defining moment in just a few months time.

According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rhodes is “back to normal when it comes to his ability to train.”

Rhodes’ WWE return is a huge deal and it’s likely they’ll incorporate the element of surprise to maximize the impact of the moment.

Cody Rhodes Bulking Up

Now that his injury is healed, Rhodes has been lifting heavy weights and bulking up. The Observer notes that he’s been working with top level trainers to put on size and strength.

His goal is to be 240 pounds when he returns, “which may be the thickest he’s been in his life.” Based on this report, we won’t have to wait long to meet the new and improved Cody Rhodes.

WrestleMania Plans

Rhodes is expected to be a featured in a top program headed into WrestleMania 39. Prior to his injury, WWE was planning for an eventual showdown between Rhodes and Roman Reigns, the company’s Undisputed Universal Champion.

There’s still hope within WWE that The Rock will work WrestleMania. Plans for the WrestleMania main event are typically locked in by mid-January, ahead of the Rumble.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but that’s probably not what MJF was going for with his latest bombastic suit.

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite saw Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s first appearance as AEW World Champion. It was an eventful segment that saw the 26-year-old send William Regal to the hospital and the introduction of his custom “BBB” AEW World title belt.

Friedman marked the big occasion by donning a custom suit that features the text, “Better Than You” all over it. As seen below, MJF will stop at nothing to express his feelings of superiority.

MJF vs. Conor McGregor

MJF has been throwing shade at Conor McGregor for years now and his “Better Than You” suit may be his latest attempt to goad The Notorious into an in-person confrontation.

The UFC megastar made headlines in 2017 when he wore the infamous “F-U” suit during his press tour for his fight against boxing champion Floyd Mayweather. The custom three-piece “F-U” suit was designed by David August and cost around $6,500.

There are similarities between MJF and Conor McGregor, but don’t tell that to MJF. Back in December 2020, he called comparisons to McGregor “cute” and “laughable.”

MJF said he appreciates what McGregor did in the UFC, but McGregor couldn’t spar with him and would get “absolutely bent over, if you know what I mean” on the microphone.

More recently, they’ve been exchanging trash talk on social media. It started when MJF called UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett a “Dollar Store Conor McGregor.” McGregor responded by saying he doesn’t know who MJF is, which really got him going. MJF called McGregor a “roided-up leprechaun” and challenged him to show up to an AEW event.

Tony Khan and Triple H have both commented on the possibility of working with Conor McGregor, who has also teased interest in pro wrestling:

• Triple H Talks Conor McGregor Possibly Working In WWE
• Tony Khan Would Like to See Conor McGregor & Floyd Mayweather in AEW
• Conor McGregor Teases Match With Finn Balor
• John Cena: Conor McGregor Would Be ‘Fantastic’ Addition To WWE Roster

All Elite Wrestling star William Regal is expected back in WWE very soon. Over the past several weeks, there’s been conflicting reports over Regal’s contractual status with AEW.

Regal was released by WWE back in January. The decision caught a lot of people off guard and was attributed to the company’s decision to go in a new direction with NXT 2.0. His Lordship made a surprise debut at AEW Revolution in March and quickly aligned with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley. They later formed the Blackpool Combat Club, one of this year’s most dominant factions in pro wrestling.

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite saw Regal’s first public appearance with the man he helped win the AEW World Championship, Maxwell Jacob Friedman. The alliance was short-lived, as MJF ended the segment by blindsiding Regal with an attack that sent him to the hospital.

Regal Likely Returning Home to WWE

A lot has changed since Regal joined AEW, most notably Vince McMahon’s retirement. Regal’s longtime friend Triple H is now running the show, a situation that paved the way for his inevitable return.

On Thursday, a pair of reports strongly indicate Regal will be back at Triple H’s side in the very near future. According PWInsider, “there have been rumblings” within WWE that Regal will be returning soon in a backstage role. Regal was a driving force behind the success of NXT and served as the brand’s on-screen authority figure for several years.

In addition to this report, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful tweeted that he’s heard Regal’s AEW contract expires this month (December).

Regal is considered one of the brightest minds in the business and is an invaluable asset to whichever company he decides to work.

Ronda Rousey Enters the Arena as a Playable Legendary Champion in the Acclaimed ‘RAID: Shadow Legends’ Collection RPG

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – November 30, 2022 – Plarium, a global leader in developing F2P mobile and PC games with more than 435 million users worldwide, announced today that Ronda Rousey, WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion and former UFC Bantamweight World Champion, is now her own Legendary Champion in Plarium’s acclaimed collection fantasy RPG, RAID: Shadow Legends. Beginning today through February 28th, the Ronda Legendary Champion will be available for free to all RAID players after 7 days of logging in to the game.

“We are thrilled to have one of the world’s most renowned athletes join the ranks of RAID’s Banner Lord Champions, a title she is already quite familiar with in her career,” said Ronen Gross, VP of business development at Plarium. “Her love of gaming and natural gifts in mixed martial arts, judo, and wrestling made this partnership a perfect fit. As expected, her Ronda Champion will mete out punishment with fiery gauntlet fists, similar to her real-life counterpart, and will be a valuable addition to any team.”

Ronda will unveil her Champion during a Facebook Gaming channel stream in the coming weeks where she will share her design influences, as well as special skills and move sets that players can use in-game. The Ronda Legendary Champion joins RAID’s 700+ unique champions and will be usable in all game modes including the single-player campaign (PVE), Dungeons, the Arena, Faction Wars, Doom Tower and Clan vs. Clan Tournaments.

“As someone who loves games with strong female leads, it’s exciting to actually become one,” said Rousey. “I look forward to sharing my champion with the RAID fans on my channel and helping them level up their game using her unique skill sets.”

After February 28th, Ronda will no longer be available through the 7-day loyalty program but can then be secured by only new players during a special in-game event up until May 15. Players can also opt-in to receive in-game promo codes through February 28th that unlock Ronda-related rewards.

RAID: Shadow Legends is available to download on iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as PC through the Microsoft Store or the Plarium Play platform.

Impact Wrestling has announced a new multi-year partnership with the DAZN streaming service that will bring the company’s weekly TV show, PPV events and other programming to more than 170 countries.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment and DAZN Announce International Multi-Year Distribution Partnership for Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling

IMPACT’S Signature Series, PPV Events & Other Programming To Be Televised By DAZN To More Than 170 Countries Beginning November 29

TORONTO, ON and LONDON, UK, November 29, 2022 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., a global multi-platform media company, and DAZN — a leading global sports entertainment platform — announced today an international partnership that will deliver Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling to more than 170 countries worldwide beginning on November 29.

The multi-year agreement will give DAZN viewers in 170+ countries — including the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Brazil — the best seat in the house to IMPACT Wrestling’s weekly IMPACT! flagship series, home to larger-than-life characters, high-stakes matchups and blockbuster drama.

Additionally, DAZN viewers will have access to IMPACT’s high-octane PPV events and premium IMPACT Plus live specials, as well as select titles from IMPACT Wrestling’s archives, directly through the DAZN platform.

DAZN can be accessed on Smart TVs, games consoles, Amazon Fire TV/Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV, as well via the DAZN app on iPhone, iPad, android and other tablet and mobile devices. For all the ways to watch, please visit www.dazn.com.

“DAZN is a global leader in premier sports programming, and we are proud to partner with them as we expand IMPACT Wrestling’s international reach even further,” said Scott D’Amore, Executive Vice President, Anthem Sports Media Group. “From the beginning, IMPACT Wrestling has enjoyed a worldwide audience of passionate and knowledgeable fans who crave high-quality professional wrestling content. With this announcement, we hope to make it even more convenient for them to enjoy our flagship series, premium specials and pay-per-view events, while also introducing the IMPACT Wrestling brand to even more sports enthusiasts across the globe.”

Said Veronica Diquattro, CEO of DAZN Global Markets: “We are incredibly excited to sign this multi-year partnership with Impact. This deal will see the promotion’s world-class professional wrestling content arrive on the DAZN platform in more than 170 countries worldwide, reinforcing our growing position as the global home of combat sports.”

For more on this big partnership, visit ImpactWrestling.com.

Bianca Belair says the women’s division on WWE’s main roster reminds her a lot of her days in NXT. The self-proclaimed ‘EST’ spent years honing her craft in WWE’s developmental brand. From 2016-2020, she established herself as one of the most promising acts of her genration.

Her success has continued since arriving on Monday Night Raw in 2020. She’s the reigning Raw Women’s Champion. She’s also a former SmackDown Women’s champion and won the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble. WWE’s Four Horsewomen (Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Bayley) helped usher in the Women’s Revolution, but Belair may surpass them all when all is said and done.

NXT As a Pipeline to WWE

Belair recently spoke with Bleacher Report‘s Graham Matthews and said she gets strong ‘NXT vibes’ from the women on Raw and SmackDown.

“It kind of feels like NXT all over again,” she said. “I think when we were in NXT, it was special. It was a time where the women’s locker room was full of women empowerment. We were competitors but we wanted the best for each other.”

NXT is a training ground for Raw and SmackDown, and virtually all of the top women in WWE wore ‘black and gold’ before they wore red or blue. Belair gets a great deal of satisfaction seeing the people she came up with thrive on the big stage.

Belair added, “What’s amazing is that it’s 3, 4, 5 years later., it’s those same women but we’ve all gotten even better. We’ve evolved.”

Almost all of the top young female stars on Raw and SmackDown started in NXT. Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez, Damage CTRL, Shotzi, the list goes on and on. If you want a glimpse at who will be carrying the women’s division in 3-5 years, you know where to look.

Recruiting talent is a crucial component of ensuring WWE has a bright future.

WWE will hold its next tryout camp later this week, according to Sports Illustrated. The two-day event will take place from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The prep school touts itself as, “the world’s foremost authority in athletic, academic and personal development.”

Approximately 30 to 35 athletes are expected to participate. WWE’s recruiting philosophy has evolved over the past few years. After a period of time focusing on wrestlers from the independent scene, the strategy has shifted to signing elite collegiate athletes.

The WWE NIL (Next in Line) program has been at the forefront of the new initiative.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has high hopes for this week. He wrote on Twitter, “As WWE continues to invest in recruiting college athletes, IMG Academy is an ideal venue for this week’s tryout. The next great Superstar just may be in attendance…”

Big E Scouting Talent for WWE

The IMG tryouts will mark WWE’s third big tryout camp of the year. 18 developmental contracts were awarded during WrestleMania weekend tryouts. Another 15 athletes were signed during SummerSlam weekend.

Big E will be in attendance for this week’s tryouts. James Kimball, WWE’s Head of Talent Operations and Strategy, says the former WWE Champion will have a big role in the process.

“E is such a critical part of what we’re doing,” says Kimball. “This recruitment strategy is really hitting home for him, and it’s something we should have had when he was a collegiate student-athlete at Iowa. He’s such a great ambassador, and he can relate to these athletes. He’s presenting with shared experience—that goes a long way.”

Big E has been out of action since fracturing his neck earlier this year. He is incredibly thankful to be living life pain-free and will have a better idea about his in-ring future when he gets checked out again by doctors in early 2023.

• “I Have Been Incredibly Blessed” – Big E on Fans Supporting Him During His Injury

William Regal’s future with All Elite Wrestling has been speculated about over the past several weeks. Recent actions from AEW and WWE led to fans wondering if he’d be working for Triple H again in the near future, but that won’t be the case.

WWE released Regal in January 2022 as part of “the continued evolution of NXT 2.0.” Regal served as WWE’s Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting. A talent of his caliber does not stay on the sidelines for long.

Just two months later, Regal shocked the wrestling world when with a surprise debut at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view. The longtime figurehead of WWE’s NXT brand stormed the ring after Jon Moxley’s match against Bryan Danielson.

Within a matter of weeks, they’d all be on the same page as part of the Blackpool Combat Club faction. The group later added Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta.

• William Regal Reveals Who Talked Him Into Joining AEW

Regal’s AEW Contract

Regal turned on Jon Moxley earlier this month at AEW Full Gear and allowed MJF to capture the AEW World Championship. This past week on Dynamite, Moxley told Regal to run far away from him or else he will deliver on his violent intentions for revenge. It seemed like Regal was being written off television.

Triple H later invoked Regal ahead of Saturday’s WWE Survivor Series premium live event with a video of Regal shouting WarGames. He noted the show wouldn’t be the same without him.

Dave Meltzer stated on Wrestling Observer Radio that Regal still has “several months left” on his AEW deal. Early Monday morning, Meltzer clarified that his initial report about Regal signing a 1-year deal was incorrect. Regal actually signed a 3-year deal with AEW in early 2022, based on comments he made shortly after his debut.

Regal’s Role in AEW

William Regal is one of the brightest minds in pro wrestling and offers decades of experience that he’ll use to train the next generation of AEW talent.

AEW President Tony Khan spoke about Regal’s role with the company at the media scrum that took place after Revolution, the night of Regal’s AEW debut. Khan said he couldn’t believe that Regal became a free agent and has the utmost respect for his contributions to the business.

“Behind the scenes, I’m really excited to have him here,” said Khan. “I think Lord Regal can teach all of us here a lot. It’s gonna be great having him here and I’m very excited like I said, onscreen and offscreen. It came together very recently and I think it fits very well with what we’re doing here in AEW all around.”

• William Regal Recalls Being Given Just 24 Hours To Live

Wrestling fans called for Sasha Banks at WWE Survivor Series, but the chants weren’t audible on television for long.

Saturday’s big event took place her hometown of Boston, MA. Banks remains one of the industries biggest names despite being out of the spotlight since May 2022.

According to a correspondent who was in attendance for Survivor Series, the “Sasha Banks” and “We Want Sasha” chants were pretty loud during Ronda Rousey’s match against Shotzi.

We want Sasha ??? pic.twitter.com/v9fKEbr6eo

— J A L E E L (@Jaleelllll) November 27, 2022

Sasha Banks Chants Muted

WWE’s production team lowered the crowd audio to censor the Sasha Banks chants at Survivor Series, according to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio.

The decision to censor Sasha Banks chants can be looked at from several perspectives. WWE knew she was not going to appear at Survivor Series. The company also does not want Sasha Banks chants become a form of rebellion, much like CM Punk’s name was chanted for years when the audience wasn’t satisfied with whatever WWE was presenting.

The two sides are currently in talks to get her back in the fold, but nothing has been signed as of this writing. During her time away from WWE, Banks has branched out with several non-wrestling projects.

We’ve also seen All Elite Wrestling sign names like Renee Paquette and Saraya. Earlier this month, Saraya said she’s confident she’ll get a chance to wrestle Banks again. You can be sure WWE hears about quotes like this and will do whatever it takes to prevent her from going to the competition.

Banks has a ton of leverage in her negotiations and will likely be offered the biggest contract of her wrestling career. At the end of the day, she’s in the drivers seat and will have to decide what’s best for herself and her career.

Stars like Sasha Banks don’t come around very often. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time before we see her grace the squared circle once again.

WWE officials are discussing when to hold the next WWE Draft, an event that sees the re-shuffling of the Raw and SmackDown rosters.

The most recent WWE Draft took place in October 2021. It was the 16th Draft since the concept was introduced in 2002.

The most significant roster moves from the 2021 WWE Draft saw Charlotte Flair move from Raw to SmackDown and Bianca Belair move from SmackDown to Raw.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the 2022 WWE Draft would take place in September, after WWE Clash at the Castle. We’re now at the end of the November and it’s clear we won’t be getting a draft this year.

2023 WWE Draft

The latest update is that WWE is considering holding a draft after WrestleMania 39, which takes place during the first weekend in April. The news comes courtesy of Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

WWE underwent a significant shakeup during the summer of 2022, with longtime leader Vince McMahon stepping away from WWE for the first time since he took over from his father in 1982. Paul “Triple H” Levesque soon took over the company’s top post and has gotten rave reviews for the changes he’s made to the WWE product since then.

WWE plans out storylines months in advance, so it’s understandable that Triple H wanted to ‘stabilize the ship’ when he took over and hold off on making immediate changes to the rosters. WrestleMania serves as the culmination of the storylines, making mid-to-late April a great time to ‘reshuffle the deck.’

Hit up the comments section below and let us know what you want to see out of the 2023 WWE Draft. Are there any big trades that you think would make Raw or SmackDown stronger shows?

Saraya says there is a clear distinction between the woman she is today and Paige, the persona she portrayed in WWE from 2011 until June 2022.

The former WWE Divas and NXT Women’s Champion shocked the wrestling world when she debut at AEW Grand Slam in September. She returned to in-ring action at AEW Full Gear last weekend, her first match since December 2017.

She went through hell to get to where she is today. After battling being forced into an early retirement and battling addiction and other personal issues, Saraya is ready to write the next chapter of her career.

Saraya recently spoke with Chris Van Vliet about a wide variety of topics, including The Rock making a movie about her life, dealing with negativity on social media, her relationship with Sasha Banks and so much more.

Saraya vs. Paige

As she embarks on a new journey in AEW, Saraya about leaving ‘Paige’ behind for good. She has matured in so many ways, she’s simply not that person anymore.

“Saraya is more mature, that’s definitely a big thing.. and sober,” she said. “The thing is, with Paige, she was.. she was this little emo girl teenager, kind of like the anti-teenager phase, and going into Saraya; I can’t imagine myself being that character anymore.”

Saraya is an industry veteran at only 30 years old. She was a teenager when she joined WWE, which is an important factor to consider when thinking about everything she’s dealt with over the years.

Looking back at how her current character compares to Paige, she considers Saraya to be “elevated” and “more grown-up.”

“Paige just didn’t give an F about anybody, not even herself,” she said. “She just cared about.. outside of wrestling, partying, and stuff like that. Where me, as Saraya, I focus on elevating myself, remaining healthy, mentally being happier.”

Saraya sounds like she’s in a great place and ready to lead the AEW women’s division into a new era.

Bryan Danielson took a leap of faith when he left WWE and joined All Elite Wrestling. The American Dragon admits that it was a “scary” decision to step outside of his comfort zone and wrestle a more physical style in AEW.

During a recent appearance on Ron Funches’ One Fall podcast, Danielson spoke about WWE always wanting to portray him as an underdog and his drive to continue testing his body at this stage in his career.

You can listen to the full episode here, with highlights below:

Playing the Underdog

Danielson was one of the top stars in WWE over the past decade. He did it all there, including five world title reigns and countless other accomplishments.

He understands the company wanted to portray him as an underdog early in his run. It made sense for him to be the underdog against monsters like Brock Lesnar. But he eventually grew tired of that role and think fans did too.

“It was hard for the fans a little bit too, I think to connect with somebody who is an underdog, who, at this point, had won the title multiple times … Married also this beautiful woman who’s got a reality TV show. I’m really not an underdog in life anymore, right?”

Joining AEW

He ultimately made the decision to leave WWE and join AEW. Danielson admits the change came with some fears and uncertainty.

“The scary part of it was stepping outside of this comfort zone that I had in WWE,” he said. “In AEW, you see them doing some pretty risky things. I was like, I don’t know if physically I can do that anymore. Over the last year-plus, I’ve proven to myself that I can.”

Danielson remains driven to continue testing himself physically. Some people, including his wife Brie, question why he feels the need to push himself to the limits at 41 years old.

“I don’t know why I have that desire, but I do.”

• Bryan Danielson Reveals Ideal Scenario For His Last Match

Logan Paul has provided an update on his health and it’s great news for fans hoping to see him back in a WWE ring.

Paul injured his knee during his match against Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel earlier this month. He knew something was up mid-match, but decided to gut it out. He ended up turning in a performance that people are still talking about.

Despite the setback, he was thrilled with the experience. He plans to wrestle for a very long time and is already plotting a blockbuster match at WrestleMania.

Logan Paul’s Injury

Paul initially thought he tore his MCL, ACL and meniscus, which would have kept him out for a long time. Luckily, it was “only” a Grade-3 MCL tear.

He posted a new vlog on Friday and shared the news of what his doctor told him:

Anybody who has been through physical therapy will tell you, it’s not pleasant. Paul has spent November undergoing PT and sports rehabilitation sessions. He says “it’s been great thus far” and teased that he knows when he’ll be able to return to WWE.

The vlog ended with Paul saying, “As of now, it looks like I’ll be back to the WWE, sometime in …” and it cuts off.

Recovery

If Logan Paul stays on course with his recovery, six weeks from today brings us to January 6. Hypothetically, he could appear in the 2023 men’s Royal Rumble match on January 28.

That would be an aggressive timeframe, perhaps too aggressive. Even if he plays it safe and returns at a more conservative pace, a match at WrestleMania 39 in April seems very realistic. If only there was somebody he wanted to work with…

AEW star Dante Martin is said to be “doing fine” after an injury scare at Wednesday’s AEW Rampage tapings. The 21-year-old high-flying phenom wrestles a high-risk style, but that comes at a steep price.

During a backstage segment on Dynamite, Top Flight challenged Ring of Honor tag team champions FTR to a match on this week’s Rampage, which was taped after Dynamite went off the air.

As seen below, fans on social media became concerned when fans in attendance noted that Martin was hurt during the contest.

High Risk, High Reward

Top Flight has dealt with a slew of injuries since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. They’re looking to re-establish themselves as contenders for the AEW World tag team championships, so another injury is the last thing they need.

Speaking of the AEW tag titles, Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed has provided an update on Martin’s status. On Thanksgiving, Bowens posted a photo of The Acclaimed and Top Flight with the caption, “Happy Thanksgiving from the House of Half Black.”

Twitter user @FrozennAngell replied to the photo and asked Bowens about Martin’s health. Thankfully, he had good news to share.

Catch Top Flight vs. FTR on this week’s AEW Rampage, which airs at a special start time of 4pm EST on Friday afternoon. “Uncle” Dax Harwood of FTR is excited for fans to see this first meeting of the two teams.

Bray Wyatt’s new feud with the recently-rebranded LA Knight is set to continue tonight on SmackDown.

The primary focus of the show will be the final build to Survivor Series, including an ‘Advantage Match’ on the men’s side, and Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Mia Yim revealing the final member of their team for the women’s WarGames match. However, WWE has several other ongoing storylines that are worth tuning in for.

• WWE SmackDown Preview (Nov. 25): WarGames is Coming

LA Knight

Wyatt has been trying to keep himself on an honest path since returning to the company, but he’s had a difficult time keeping his violent tendencies at bay. He slipped up by recently attacking LA Knight, and attempted to apologize for his actions last week. Knight wasn’t having it. After interrupting a Wyatt’s in-ring promo, he slapped Wyatt in the face, twice.

Later in the show, Knight was found badly beaten backstage. Maybe the attack was carried out by Waytt, maybe someone else was responsible.

Headed into tonight’s SmackDown, Fightful Select reports that plans call for Knight to sell his injuries “pretty heavily” on the show.

It would be (very) short notice to add Wyatt vs. Knight to the Survivor Series card less than 24 hours before the event. One thing we o know: this storyline still has a ways to go as we head into the final weeks of 2022.

Wyatt Masks

Finally, Fightful also notes that several Bray Wyatt masks are being brought to SmackDown.

Check back later tonight for our WWE SmackDown results and takeaways feature.

We’re just a day away from WWE Survivor Series, but there’s still one more stop on the road to the final premium live event of 2022. WWE SmackDown takes place live from Providence, Rhode Island at the Amica Mutual Pavilion and it’s sure to be an eventful show.

There are several items advertised for SmackDown, but the most consequential match will determine which team gets the numbers advantage the men’s WarGames match. This Saturday night, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens and the Brawling Brutes go to war with The Bloodline.

Tonight on SmackDown, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre will face Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos in a non-title match to determine which team will gets the first entry into WarGames, which provides a 1-man advantage for a good portion of the match.

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will be on SmackDown, along with Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Mia Yim, to reveal the final member of their WarGames team. The SmackDown World Cup Tournament also continues with two semi-final matches.

WWE has announced the following line-up for tonight’s SmackDown:

• Sheamus and Drew McIntyre vs. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos for the Men’s War Games numbers advantage
• RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will announce the final member of her team for Women’s War Games
• World Cup Semi-finals: Butch vs. Santos Escobar
• World Cup Semi-finals: Braun Strowman vs. Ricochet
• SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler vs. Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez

WWE and the arena website are also advertising the following Superstars for SmackDown: Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, Liv Morgan, The New Day, Ricochet, Hit Row, Shinsuke Nakamura and WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.

An upcoming episode of WWE SmackDown will air on the FS1 cable network instead of its usual home on Fox.

The post-Survivor Series edition of SmackDown (December 2) will air on FS1 on Friday, December 2 due to a scheduling conflict.

The move is due to Fox’s commitment to broadcast the PAC-12 College Football Championship Game that night.

To make up for the possible loss in viewership due to the change, FS1 will be airing SmackDown three times that night. SmackDown will air live at 8pm ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY that night. It will then replay at 10pm and midnight.

WWE tends to go into a ‘holding pattern’ with programming during the holiday season, but this FS1 edition of SmackDown should be eventful. Aside from the fact that WWE typically stacks these pre-empted shows to make sure people tune in, we’ll be coming off the final big premium live event of 2022.

WWE Survivor Series takes place this Saturday night from Boston, MA. For the first time in history, Survivor Series will feature two WarGames matches.

• WarGames Rules Explained for WWE Survivor Series

New trademark filings by Chris Jericho provide an inside look at what to expect from AEW’s most reinventive performer.

Last week (November 16), Chris Irvine, Inc filed three new trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. According to the USPTO database, Jericho and attorney Michael Dockins applied to trademark the names:

• Christory
• This Day in Christory
• Seltzer Man

Christory in the Making

The ‘Goods and Services’ usage descriptions for these new trademarks include:

• Entertainment services, namely, continuing video programs featuring professional wrestling, music, and popular culture accessible by means of computer networks, websites, video, web-based applications, and mobile phone applications
• Entertainment services, namely, continuing video programs featuring professional wrestling, music, and popular culture distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media
• Conducting of entertainment events in the nature of live stage shows discussing professional wrestling, music, and popular culture; Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer
• Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a a professional wrestler and sports entertainer

Chris Irvine, Inc. holds trademarks to dozens of names and terms used by Jericho, including Chris Jericho, A Little Bit of the Bubbly, The Painmaker, The Ocho, The Wizard, Jericho Appreciation Society, Sports Entertainer, Million Viewer Man, Corazon De Leon and Mimosa Mayhem.

Expect to see “Seltzer Man” and “This Day in Christory” on AEW programming some time in the near future.

WWE’s Royal Rumble premium live event is over two months away, but the event is already a blockbuster success for the company.

WWE has announced the 2023 Royal Rumble has garnered the largest box office gate in the event’s 36-year history.

The event takes place Saturday, January 28 from San Antonio, TX at the AlamoDome.

$5 Million+ Gate

Over the weekend, the Royal Rumble surpassed $5 million in ticket sales. The previous record for ‘largest Royal Rumble gate’ was set in 2017, the last time the Rumble was held at the AlamoDome.

Wrestletix provided an update on Royal Rumble ticket sales on November 18. As of that date, 30,361 tickets had been distributed and the stadium was configured to accommodate 33,874 fans. If you’re interested in attending the 2023 Royal Rumble, tickets are still on sale at SeatGeek.

As we’ve seen in recent years, WWE will hold two Royal Rumble matches on January 28th (one for men, one for women). The winners of the Rumble matches will earn the right to challenge the champion of their choice at WrestleMania 39.

Record-Setting Business

WWE has been on a roll this year, setting box office records left and right. 2022 saw new box office records set for WrestleMania, Extreme Rules and Crown Jewel.

This latest milestone for the 2023 Royal Rumble puts WWE in a great position headed into the new year. WrestleMania 39 is scheduled for April 1 and April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Back in August, the company announced over 90,000 tickets were sold within the first 24 hours, more than any event in WWE history and a 42% increase over first-day sales for WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.