The Bella Twins are two of the most accomplished women in pro wrestling history. According to Nikki and Brie, they may have never made it to the WWE Hall of Fame if not for Freddie Prinze Jr.

The Bellas are the latest guests on FPJ’s latest Wrestling With Freddie podcast. During their discussion, Brie recalls that it was Prinze who kept pushing WWE officials to call them up from Florida Championship Wrestling.

“We do give you a lot of credit, because we were down in FCW for so long and they were like, ‘We just don’t know what to do with twins.’” said Brie. “We’re like, ‘Seems like it writes itself.’ It was your ideas that you kept pushing that I think it made people in the company see there was something special.”

Brie recalls training at [former developmental territory] Florida Championship Wrestling and growing frustrated because WWE couldn’t figure out what to do with them.

Things did not get much better once they made it to the main roster and wrestled as “Divas.” After five years on WWE TV, they were ready to leave because they were not happy with the way women were being portrayed on television.

“We did a five-year contract, we were on TV for five years and our five years was coming up,” said Brie. “I remember at that point, we didn’t like how women were treated in WWE. The two minute matches, but we were allowed to have 10 minutes at live events. What we were working on at live events, we could never showcase on TV and our stories didn’t have depth.”

‘There needs to be a massive change here, this is not good.’

Nikki recalls that morale amongst the female wrestlers was at an all-time low during the early 2010’s.

“We needed to find a way to be treated like the men and treated equally,” she said. “That’s what we wanted for the women. We wanted to empower the women. We were about everyone. ‘Who are we getting over today? What’s the story?’ We never worried about getting our shit in. We just wanted everything to be good and for people to be happy.”

Nikki Bella describes morale as “miserable” and hopeless during the lowest points of women’s wrestling in WWE.

“The locker room was becoming so miserable, because girls were working so hard on live events and getting to Raw or SmackDown and being so disappointed. They were losing their will and their hope. We were like, ‘there needs to be a massive change here, this is not good.’”

Total Divas

Brie feels that the Total Divas reality show (2013) was a huge turning point for WWE’s perception of women’s wrestlers.

“Vince is about putting asses in seats,” she said. “He cares about money. The one thing Total Divas did was it showed Vince that people were coming to the shows to see women. It was more than just men. It started being young girls and women buying tickets just to see the Total Divas.”

Years later, WWE ultimately embraced the ‘Women’s Revolution.’ Athleticism and wrestling ability are valued over bikinis and pillow fighting. Women’s wrestling has come a long way since the Bella Twins’ days in Florida Championship Wrestling. They were a big part of that revolution and credit Freddie Prinze Jr. with helping get it started.

Listen to The Bella Twins on Wrestling with Freedie:

H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

WWE legend Kane (Glenn Jacobs) will seek another term as the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

Earlier this week, the “Big Red Machine” began filing the paperwork to run for re-election.

“Picked up my petition sheet for Knox County Mayor yesterday,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s been an honor serving you and I would love to have your support to serve the Knox County community again.”

Mayor Kane’s Accolades

Glenn Jacobs is a Republican and won election to serve as the Mayor of Knox County, TN on August 2, 2018.

His campaign websites several accomplishments as Knox County Mayor, including no tax increases, job growth and no money to Planned Parenthood.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Jacobs fought tooth and nail against the lockdowns and mandates.

For more information, visit JacobsForMayor.com.

AEW President Tony Khan has commented on the possibility of Danhausen joining All Elite Wrestling.

The very nice, very evil grappler is one of the most popular performers on the independent scene. He was on board for the latest Jericho Cruise. This marked his first appearance in an AEW ring and got fans wondering if he’ll ever join the company in an official capacity.

Khan was interviewed for CBS Sports this week and said the Danhausen-AEW situation is something to keep an eye on.

“Well, he was on the Jericho cruise, interacting with a lot of the AEW wrestlers and that was great,” said Khan. “He’s had an injury recently, I know, so it’s something to keep an eye on, for sure.”

Khan acknowledged Danhausen’s popularity, stating, “He’s got a big following and he does sell some merch. He’s a very nice guy, so he’s got a lot of things going for him.”

Tony Khan’s response is a bit ambiguous, so it’s difficult to get a read on whether or not there is real interest in Danhausen at this time. Danhausen is currently recovering from a broken tibia and fibia, so he won’t be wrestling for several more months.

Orange Cassidy is another comedy wrestler and he’s carved out a niche for himself on the AEW roster, so Danhausen could fill a similar role if they decide to bring him in.

• Bray Wyatt Comments On Potential Match With Danhausen

Watch Shak’s complete interview with AEW President Tony Khan:

Kevin Owens says he feels no connection to NXT 2.0, despite being a former NXT Champion and one of the most successful Superstars to pass through developmental.

The 37-year-old grappler from Quebec recently appeared on les Anti-Pods de la Lutte to discuss his decision to re-sign with WWE and much more.

During his discussion with Pat Laprade and Kevin Raphael, Owens said he barely recognizes the current incarnation of NXT.

Kevin Owens doesn’t recognize NXT 2.0

“Today’s NXT is very different than the NXT I was part of, to the point I believe it should have a totally different name,” he said. “And I don’t think it’s better or worse, but it’s just too different. So when I’m watching NXT, I don’t see the NXT I was part of. It’s not the same thing.”

Owens says NXT is a bit like Ring of Honor, in that it evolved so much that it’s barely recognizable anymore. “I don’t even consider that to be the same show,” he added. “I don’t really feel any attachment to NXT now.”

He still checks in on NXT 2.0 and sees talented people down there. However, the brand is so different that he’s not interested in returning there like Finn Balor did.

“I don’t think I fit in the new NXT as I was fitting in the NXT I was part of, with guys like Sami, Finn, Samoa Joe and Nakamura. When I watch NXT now, I don’t feel the same thing I felt when I was watching NXT two years ago.”

• Kevin Owens Discusses Re-Signing With WWE

Monday’s edition of WWE Raw saw the breakup of AJ Styles and his Own Personal Colossus, Omos. The split came after the former tag team champions battled the father-son team of Rey and Dominik Mysterio.

If it feels like WWE rushed this storyline, you are on to something. According to WrestleVotes, the company did in fact accelerate plans to have both men return to go their separate ways.

“Source says both superstars have significant plans in early 2022, and wanted any type of blow off program done prior to the major Rumble & Mania events.”

– WrestleVotes

There’s no word yet on what WWE has planned for Styles and Omos headed into WrestleMania season. However, don’t be surprised to see Omos have a strong showing in the Royal Rumble en route to a feature program at WrestleMania 38.

AJ Styles & Omos

Now that Styles and Omos are a thing of the past, we can look back and see the pairing achieved WWE’s primary objective.

The company sees huge potential in the giant Omos. He commands attention with his larger than life presence. There’s no doubt he improved during his time working with the Phenomenal One.

It will be interesting to see who Omos is paired with after his program with AJ Styles winds down. There are several people on the Raw brand who would be a good fit to work with him. Similar to AJ Styles, WWE will want to select on a performer who can accentuate Omos’ strengths as he continues to develop.

WWE has announced the former partners will square off against one another next week on Raw. The show airs Monday, December 27th on the USA Network.

Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is looking to beef up his move set just in time for WrestleMania season.

McIntyre has been with WWE on-and-off since around 2007. You don’t get career longevity like that without constantly improving yourself.

The Scottish SmackDown star recently spoke with The Daily Record about the ongoing effort to stay in shape, refine his character and stay relevant.

Prior to re-signing with WWE in 2017, McIntyre said he didn’t like what he saw in the mirror. He had a deep conversation with his wife and realized he wasn’t giving his all, in terms of his training. He cut back on his drinking and got himself into the best shape of his life.

“I needed to look like I could beat up Brock Lesnar,” McIntyre recalls. “I didn’t believe it, so I started putting in the work like crazy and eating properly.”

McIntyre has an incredible physique. He’s learned what works and what doesn’t. Of course, it’s important for him to put in serious hours at the gym. However, he believes it’s “100% true” that staying in shape is mostly about diet, not training.

We are less than four months out from WrestleMania 38. WrestleMania season is about to kick into high gear and Drew McIntyre is already working on improving his move-set. In fact, he’s working on a new move that he hopes will bring him another championship in 2022.

“I’m really proud my headbutt is know as the Glasgow Kiss,” he said. “Now, the world knows about the Glasgow kiss. I’m working on a new one when I threw the guy across the ring. Thinking I might call it the Highland Fling.”

Visit the Daily Record to read their full interview with Drew McIntyre.

Drew McIntyre is scheduled to face Madcapp Moss at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view on January 1st from Atlanta, GA.

WWE Championship: The Greatest Title in Sports Entertainment is packed with photos, telling the story of the WWE Championship from Buddy Rogers in 1963 to present day. The book is now on sale at Amazon:

Here is the official synopsis:

Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Rick Flair, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley are just a few of the 50-plus Superstars who’ve body slammed their opponents, thrilled countless millions of wresting fans, and lofted the WWE Championship belt in triumph over the WWE’s legendary 60-year history.

And now, mixing everything from the Spinebuster and Lionsault to the Stomach Claw and Rock Bottom, WWE Championship: The Greatest Title in Sports Entertainment goes to the mat for WWE fans, exploring the changing face of the WWE Championship through its beloved wrestlers and their epic battles in the ring. 

Hundreds of action photos and posed portraits capture the most memorable moments and personalities in WWE history. Among the greatest matches revisited are: 

• WrestleMania VI‘s Ultimate Challenge between Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior
• Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart’s Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII
• Hulk Hogan’s famous Slam Heard ‘round the World against André the Giant at WrestleMania 3.
• Triple H and Cactus Jack’s Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2000. 

Author Jeremy Brown takes a “raw” look at the WWE Championship by breaking down each WWE era in chronological order:

• Early Years – 1967-1980s
• The Golden Era – 1980s to early 1990s
• New Generation — Early 1980s to mid-1990s
• Attitude Era – Mid-1990s to early 2000s
• Reality Era – 2014 to 2016
• The New Era – 2016 to the present 

WWE Championship: The Greatest Title in Sports Entertainment is the perfect gift for WWE uber-fans and wrestling newcomers alike.

Freddie Prinze Jr. had a great experience working with William Regal during his time at WWE.

Prinze has a new wrestling-themed podcast, Wrestling With Freddie. Most people know Freddie Prinze Jr. for his movie roles. However, SEScoops readers know he was also a member of WWE’s creative team a decade ago (2008-2009 and 2010-2012).

On the latest Wrestling With Freddie, Prinze credits Regal for being a huge help to him behind the scenes.

“William Regal, also known as Steven Regal, is and was one of the single most helpful human beings while I worked at that company,” said Prinze. “He would warn me about people. He would help show me what wrestlers’ strengths were, and to write my promos, to fit the type of wrestler that they were, because I was not doing that.”

It’s one thing to write for a television sitcom. However, professional wrestling is a unique medium with its own rules and nuances.

He continued, “You don’t want to write a Luchador like a big man, you don’t want to write a big man like a high flyer. There’s a different attitude when you’re seven-feet tall. You don’t have to say as much, you’re seven feet tall.”

Also on this episode, Prinze shares a heartwarming story involving New Japan Pro Wrestling star Fred Rosser, formerly known as Darren Young in WWE/NXT.

• Freddie Prinze Jr. recalls not getting along with John Cena in WWE

Listen to Wrestling with Freddie – powered by iHeartRadio:

AEW star Tay Conti deactivated her Twitter account over the past several days. The move comes after the Brazilian bombshell received harassment from fans onine.

Conti was targeted after Sammy Guevara announced the end of his relationship with Pam Nizio. Some fans accused Conti of breaking up their engagement, which prompted Guevara to issue a follow-up statement over the weekend.

Guevara clarified that his relationship with Pam Nizio ended back in October and had “nothing to do with ANYONE else.”

That wasn’t enough to satisfy some people, who continued to target Conti with negative messages on Twitter.

Tay Conti Statement

XPAND Marketing Agency, Tay Conti’s management team, issued a statement on Sunday addressing the situation:

”This is Tay’s management team writing to let you know Tay is doing good but will be stepping away from social media for a couple days.

In the meantime, we will be posting on Tays behalf throughout the week. This includes normal posts as well as some sponsored posts that we have already recorded earlier in the month that must be posted this week.

Thank you for reading, Happy Holidays from Tay & her management team!”

Ric Flair says Jeff Hardy can do “anything he wants” with the next chapter of his career. He’s known Matt and Jeff for a long time and says Jeff has “already got a job” waiting for him in AEW, if he wants it.

The Nature Boy addressed Jeff Hardy’s situation on the latest episode of his WOOOOO Nation Uncensored podcast.

Co-host Mark Madden asked Flair what he thinks is in store for Jeff Hardy’s future.

“Anything he wants,” said Flair. “I think he knows he made a mistake. I don’t know any more than that. But I know Jeff Hardy is such a great talent. He does have the money, as you mentioned, he probably doesn’t need to work. But Like all of us that want to work, for different reasons, it’s hard to walk away.”

Jeff Hardy in AEW?

Ric Flair has known the Hardy family for many years. He has great respect for them and feels Jeff is in control of his destiny.

“I’ve known those boys since they were young kids,” Flair continued. “They came to see me in Fayetteville, Raleigh, with their dad. I’ve known their dad. Matt and Jeff are two of the greatest guys in my lifetime, that I’ve had an immense amount of fun with and have an immense amount of respect for. So Jeff can do whatever he wants to do.”

Will we see Jeff Hardy join Matt in AEW? Flair began, “If Tony Khan doesn’t hire him…” and is convinced Jeff could be All Elite if that’s what he wants to do.

“You know right away he’s already got a job.”

– Ric Flair on Jeff Hardy in AEW

As a publicly traded company, WWE is held to a different standard when it comes to dealing with ‘problematic’ talent.

“I’m not defending the WWE here, but you have to remember, they’re a publicly traded company,” said Flair. “They get looked at and scrutinized at a whole different level than once that’s not [publicly traded].

“So, I don’t think they had a choice but to tell Jeff he could go. Not because they don’t want Jeff Hardy there, but because there’s just some things that being publicly traded allows you to do and not do.”

Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any of the quotes transcribed in this article.

AEW presents a special Winter is Coming edition of Dynamite this Wednesday night on TNT.

Last year’s installment saw Kenny Omega capture the AEW World Championship from Jon Moxley and the surprise debut of Sting. This Wednesday, Adam Page defends that same title against Bryan Danielson. Some fans are expecting another big debut to keep that tradition going as well.

AEW President Tony Khan knows that fans are on high alert for more debuts. According to TK, fans should stay tuned to AEW programming over the next several weeks for some big surprises.

These Next Few Weeks…

Tony Khan spoke with DAZN this week and addressed the rich free agent market. He hinted at having a few tricks up his sleeve in the weeks ahead.

“I’m more than aware that there’s a number of free agents out there,” said Khan. “Wrestlers I admire, too. But I’ve got to say, you’ve just have to keep watching over these next few weeks — and not just, ‘Winter is Coming.’”

In addition To Winter is Coming, AEW has a few more special hows taking place over the next month. AEW Dynamite moves to TBS on Wednesday, January 5th. You can be sure that AEW will pull out all the stops to ensure that’s a memorable broadcast.

Just a few days later, All Elite Wrestling presents Battle of the Belts, a 2-hour Saturday night event on TNT (Saturday, January 8th).

There is no shortage of big names that could appear on AEW television at any time. Although nothing is certain, potential AEW debuts in the weeks ahead could include Wyndham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt), Johnny Gargano, Kyle O’Reilly or even new ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham.

The Undertaker participated in a rapid-fire Q&A session on TikTok over the weekend.

The Dead Man answered a bunch of questions, including his toughest opponent and his favorite current WWE Superstar, on the WWE TikTok account.

Here are some highlights, followed by a video embed of The Undertaker answering the questions.

Who is The Undertaker’s favorite current WWE Superstar?

Answer: Edge

Who was The Undertaker’s toughest opponent?

Answer: Yokozuna

Which wrestler does he wish he could have worked with?

Answer: Andre the Giant

Who is The Undertaker’s favorite professional athlete?

Answer: Tyron Smith of the Dallas Cowboys

Who has the best ring gear in WWE?

Answer: Rey Mysterio

Who has the best ring entrance?

Answer: Drew McIntyre

What did The Undertaker think when he retired?

Answer: “It’s over.”

• The Undertaker Was ‘Livid’ With One WWE Angle

Watch The Undertaker’s TikTok Q&A:

@wwe

We sat @undertaker down for a rapid-fire Q&A! #WWE #SportsTikTok

? original sound – WWE

Adam Cole would “love” the chance to reunite with Kyle O’Reilly. He’s also eager to work with Johnny Gargano once again.

Luckily for us, there’s a strong possibility we’ll get to see both scenarios play out in the near future.

Over the weekend, AEW held a Q&A panel at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. Talent in attendance included Adam “Hangman” Page, CM Punk, Adam Cole, Ruby Riott, Billy Gunn and Christopher Daniels.

Cole was asked about the reuniting with former Undisputed Era partner Kyle O’Reilly. O’Reilly and Johnny Gargano’s WWE contracts expired last week. Both men are available to work anywhere, effective immediately.

Kyle O’Reilly & Johnny Gargano

Adam Cole has no idea what Kyle’s next move will be. “I’m not sure he even knows what he’s going to do,” he said. “But the idea of getting to reunite with Kyle as well as Bobby [Fish]? Hell yeah, I would love that. Hell yeah I would. Absolutely.”

Panel host Tony Schiavone joked that if you “heard on the Internet” that Kyle O’Reilly is a free agent, then it must be true.

Undisputed Era reuniting in AEW would be huge. However, Adam Cole looks equally excited to resume feuding with another top free agent from NXT.

Another audience member asked, “Who on the stage would be most interested in kicking Johnny Gargano’s ass?”

Adam Cole’s hand went up, which got a big pop from the crowd.

Watch footage from the AEW C2E2 panel below

Bryan Danielson is scheduled to appear at a pro wrestling event in Qatar this coming March, according to Lucha Libre Online.

Danielson has spoken publicly about his desire to wrestle around the world. This is one of the factors that convinced him to join AEW.

The American Dragon will reportedly appear at Qatar Pro Wrestling’s SuperSlam III event. SuperSlam III is scheduled will be held on March 18th and 19th, 2022.

This event will be available to stream internationally at Fite.tv.

Bryan Danielson in QPW

QPW President Ali Al-Marafi has confirmed the news. Lucha Libre Online states that AEW has already signed off on Danielson’s involvement.

Danielson’s opponent has not yet been announced yet, but the show will feature some of the top names in professional wrestling. He won’t be the only AEW star on the card.

Talent advertised for QPW’s SuperSlam III includes:

• Jon Moxley
• Hiroshi Tanahashi
• Will Ospreay
• Sammy Guevara
• “The Titan” Adam Scherr
• Killer Kross
• EC3

Also appearing are Sting, Bret Hart, Booker T and Eric Bischoff.

Looking at the talent lineup, it’s exciting to think about Danielson mixing up with the likes of Ospreay, Tanahashi or Kross.

We’ll keep track of this story and provide updates when they become available.

Johnny Gargano is now a free agent after turning down strong offers to remain with WWE.

We have some additional information regarding his final weeks with the company and what may be next for the former NXT Champion.

Johnny Gargano did not arrive at his decision to leave WWE easily, according to sources close to the situation. WWE made a strong offer to keep him from leaving, as they did with Adam Cole.

After 6 years, Gargano achieved everything there was to achieve in NXT. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that he would most likely remain in NXT had he stayed. He’d no longer be a main event star, but would be used to elevate younger talent.

At 34 years old, Gargano still has a lot left in the tank and might see better opportunity for himself elsewhere.

Johnny Gargano recently signed a short-term contract extension to get him through WarGames. Since his contract simply expired and he was not released, there is no non-compete clause. He could show up anywhere at any time.

WWE gave Gargano a warm sendoff on this week’s episode of NXT TV. He is legitimately leaving on very good terms and the door is still open for them to work together in the future.

While unlikely, it’s entirely possible that Gargano does re-sign with WWE. Entering free agency gives him the legal green light to field offers from other companies, such as AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling and also the independents.

Allowing his contract to expire is certainly not a promising sign that he’ll stay with WWE. However, if the offers he receives – and he will receive offers – do not exceed WWE’s best offer, anything is possible.

Five new Johnny Gargano t-shirts have been added to Pro Wrestling Tees.

Wherever he winds up, Johnny Gargano should be extremely proud of the body of work he produced in NXT. It really was a hell of a run.

Beth Hardy has commented on Jeff Hardy’s WWE’s release.

The Charismatic Enigma was let go after an incident at a WWE live event over the weekend and reportedly turning down WWE’s offer to check into a rehabilitation program.

Hardy’s wife Beth posted a message on social media on Thursday morning stating, “Jeff is good. We are good. Post that you ‘heard’ that. Thanks.”

Beth Hardy’s comments about Jeff being “good” echo what Matt Hardy said during a Twitch stream earlier this week. Matt stated,

“He is at home and he’s okay. It’s not my business. It’s not my story to tell or explain, and besides that, I wouldn’t be able to do it justice anyway because it’s not from my perspective. So, I love my brother and I just want my brother to be okay and healthy. That’s pretty much it.”

Right now, the top priority is Jeff Hardy focusing on himself and whatever personal demons may be negatively affecting him.

SEScoops wishes Jeff Hardy and his family all the best.

Former WWE Superstar Karrion Kross has a new project in the works.

WWE released Kross on November 4th. Despite excelling in WWE’s developmental system, the former NXT Champion floundered on the main roster due to lackluster booking.

Since his release, he’s back to using the name Killer Kross. He’s also been posting teaser videos on social media, as seen below.

Killer Kross’ New Project

Killer Kross (real name Kevin Kesar) has landed a leading role in an upcoming action film, according to Fightful. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2022.

As of this writing, no further details are available. However, an action movie seems to be a great fit for the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder.

Kross does have some acting experience. He previously co-starred in the 12-episode series, Before the Dark (2013-2014).

Scarlett Bordeaux Comments

Kross’ significant other, former WWE Superstar Scarlett, has confirmed that he’s landed a “really big” movie role.

During a recent appearance on The Asylum Facebook show, she said they’re both keeping busy with different projects.

“Kross just got a really big movie role. I’m [securing] photoshoots for magazines, stuff like that. So, we’re enjoying not being tied down anything right now.”

As for their future plans in wrestling, she added, “Anything’s on the table. Let’s put it that way.”

From WWE to Hollywood

Killer Kross is not the only former WWE Superstar crossing over to the world of acting.

Windham Rotunda, best known as Bray Wyatt, will be starring in a horror movie that is currently in production. More about that project here:

All Elite Wrestling has announced details of the company’s first pay-per-view event of 2022, AEW Revolution.

AEW holds four PPV events each year: Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out and Full Gear. Double or Nothing has historically been held in Las Vegas, while every All Out haas taken place from Chicago.

AEW Revolution 2022 comes to fans live on Sunday, March 6th from Orlando, Florida at the Addition Fi Arena.

AEW is going “all out” by making this a weekend-long event, including a Friday night Rampage taping and the first-ever AEW Revolution Fan Fest on Saturday, March 6th.

Tickets for AEW Revolution weekend go on sale next Friday, December 17th at AEWTix.com. Limited combo offers will be available, for fans looking to attend more than one of the weekend’s events.

Hometown hero Maxwell Jacob Friedman addressed the Long Island crowd after Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite and Rampage tapings.

After the Rampage taping wrapped up, AEW President Tony Khan came out to thank the crowd for sticking around late night. He then introduced MJF, who came out to Billy Joel’s classic song, My Life.

MJF called Tony Khan his “best friend” but once again joked that TK will have to cough up a lot of money to re-sign him in 2024 when his contract expires.

He then took some shots at CM Punk, saying he “f**king sucks” and so does the city of Chicago. MJF said Long Island is the “most magical place in the world” and he’s living his dream by competing on this big stage in front of his friends and family.

MJF Addresses AEW fans on Long Island

You can check out video sof MJF addressing the Long Island crowd in the tweets embedded below:

Wrestling legend Blackjack Lanza (Jack Lanza) has passed away. He was 86 years old.

Jim Ross announced the news on social media on Tuesday afternoon.

Lanza was one half of the popular Blackjacks tag team, along with the late Blackjack Mulligan. They wrestled all of the world during the 1960’s and 70’s.

They team championship gold in WWE (the World Wide Wrestling Federation), American Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Association.

After he retired from active competition, Blackjack Lanza transitioned to a role behind the scenes in WW. He worked as the head road agent during the 1990’s at the height of the Attitude Era.

Lanza and Mulligan were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.

SEScoops sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the great Blackjack Lanza.

Blackjack Lanza Remembered

Matt Hardy has provided an update on his brother’s condition after Jeff Hardy was sent home by WWE over the weekend.

To recap, Jeff Hardy appeared at Saturday night’s WWE live event from Edinburg, Texas. During the main event, he teamed with Xavier Woods and Drew McIntyre to face The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & The Usos). Hardy appeared ‘sluggish’ during the match and actually left the ringside area with the bout still in progress.

The word going around backstage is that Jeff Hardy was sent home by WWE officials.

Jeff Hardy did not appear at Sunday’s WWE live event from American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX and was replaced by Rey Mysterio.

Matt Hardy updates Jeff’s Condition

During a Monday afternoon Twitch stream, Matt made his first public comments about the situation.

Matt did not want to say much on his brother’s behalf, but assured fans that he spoke with Jeff earlier in the day. He thinks Jeff will be fine, but said it’s not his business and believes Jeff will speak for himself if and when he chooses to do so.

“He is at home and he’s okay,” said Matt. ”It’s not my business. It’s not my story to tell or explain, and besides that, I wouldn’t be able to do it justice anyway because it’s not from my perspective. So, I love my brother and I just want my brother to be okay and healthy. That’s pretty much it.”

“Jeff is okay. He’ doing fine. All is good. If there’s any information to be given out, I’m sure he will himself. He’s good, though.”

– Matt Hardy on his brother Jeff’s condition

Maxwell Jacob Friedman spoke with Renee Paquette and Miesha Tate on Monday’s edition of Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha on Sirius XM.

MJF was there to promote Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite from the UBS Arena on Long Island, NY. Renee introduced him as one of the 4 pillars of AEW and one of the best sh*t talkers in all of professional wrestling. MJF called the introduction “mid” and proceeded to introduce himself in typical MJF fashion.

When asked how it feels to have an AEW event in his home town, MJF says it feels great. Long Island is his home, it’s where the best people live and it’s the most magical place in the world. If you live there, you know MJF. He expects a huge ovation on Wednesday and wrestling fans will finally get to see how he should be treated everywhere.

On Wednesday, he expects to win his third consecutive Dynamite Diamond Ring battle royal. Unlike CM Punk, he won’t struggle to win.

Long Island Homecoming

MJF said that when he’s on the road, there’s oddly a perception that he’s not a good guy. In reality, he’s salt of the earth and the fine people of Long Island understand that. He can’t wait to have a packed arena of fans chanting his name.

MJF called his mother a disgusting skank and a huge glory hog, if we’re being honest. Everything is always about her. You’d think it’s enough for her to say that she raised a god. She always wants more and it’s disheartening.

Does MJF have any haters on Long Island? It might come as a shock, but in his hometown, he’s known as a hometown hero. People call him, “The King of Long Island.” No issues here, but he has issues when he leaves and has to deal with the poors and the fats.

MJF celebrated Hanukkah alone this year with his cat, Piper. He chose to not spend time with his family, because they just want this autograph so they can sell it on eBay.

When asked if he has a lot of friends, he said the Pinnacle are his friends. Shawn Spears, FTR, great guys. “Wardlow? Ehh. But the rest of em? Love them.”

His Beef With CM Punk

MJF explained that he’s got beef with CM Punk because Punk disrespected him. He tried to be respectful. He offered Punk his hand to shake. He tried his best. Not many people can say CM Punk offered to shake their hand. Instead of being a man, Punk walked away and snubbed him. He believes Punk should be shaking his hand for making him relevant again.

CM Punk recently said that Britt Baker should replace MJF as one of the Four Pillars of AEW. Baker’s significant other Adam Cole recently did an interview and said he’ll sock MJF in the face if he talks about her again.

“All respect to the Boom Boy,” MJF said of Adam Cole. “You know, Adam, Adam’s a great, great guy. I don’t have a problem with Adam. My problem is with Punk.”

MJF says Punk doesn’t care about younger talent. He’s working with up and comers to steal their spotlight. Punk needs the rub from MJF, but he’s not so sure that Punk has earned that respect.

Miesha Tate asked MJF about CM Punk’s short-lived UFC career. MJF actually gave Punk some credit for venturing outside pro wrestling. You won’t see MJF fighting in an MMA cage. “God bless him, he went for it. but if he’s in the ring with me, the same outcome will happen. He’ll be left a bloody mess.”

MJF on The Miz

CM Punk recently compared MJF to a low-rent version of WWE Superstar The Miz. Renee asked MJF what he thinks about The Miz.

“The Miz is a tremendous, tremendous performer,” he said. He then made the distinction, “I am a professional wrestler.”

When Renee said she’s a big Miz fan, MJF replied, “How could you not be? The guy is gold on the stick. In the ring, very solid too. If I’m being completely fair here, I’m not talking shit – it’s just factual. There are no holes in my game. And that is not a jab at Miz. Miz is great. But he’s not me.”

MJF said guys like Bryan Danielson, CM Punk and Kenny Omega are great, but they’re all lacking something. There’s nothing that MJF can’t do.

MJF grew tired of the “softball” questions and told Renee to give him something good. She asked what it’s going to look like when his AEW contract expires in 2024.

MJF said there’s a lot of intruiging match-ups for him outside of AEW. A lot of people want to see him wrestle guys like The Miz, Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns. They might get their wish, if Tony Khan doesn’t shell out the right type of cash. He told people to expect the greatest bidding war in the history of our sport.

Catch AEW Dynamite this Wednesday night on TNT and listen to Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha Monday afternoons on Sirius XM.

SEScoops has learned Will Ospreay is no longer scheduled to debut for Major League Wrestling (MLW).

Back in October, MLW announced Ospreay would be coming in some time this fall. Unfortunately, Ospreay’s MLW debut was not meant to be.

We reached out to the self-proclaimed “real” IWGP World Champion, who confirmed to us that the deal is off.

We have some additional details on why the booking fell through. According to a well-placed source, MLW’s working relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling ended in mid-November.

MLW informed NJPW it was now also working with All Japan, which didn’t sit well with them. New Japan works with NOAH, but not All Japan.

Will Ospreay has commented on his status with MLW. In a tweet sent out on Tuesday, Big Match Billy says he does hope to eventually work with MLW.

MLW’s Open Door Policy

Luckily, there’s no shortage of talent available on the free agent market to help MLW keep its roster fresh with top-tier talent. The company recently announced an Open Door policy for free agents. The first high-profile name to utilize this policy is reigning ROH Women’s Champion Rok-c, who is set to make her MLW debut next month.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen several big names teasing involvement with MLW. Braun Strowman has been teasing a match with MLW World Champion Hammerstone.

Former MLW World champ Shane ”Swerve” Strickland, soon to be a free agent, was also among the many wrestlers to take notice of the Open Door policy on social media.

MLW’s next live event, Blood & Thunder, is scheduled for Friday, January 21st from Dallas, Texas. Tickets are now available at Eventbrite.

• NJPW President Comments on Will Ospreay’s Status for Wrestle Kingdom

The National Wrestling Alliance presents NWA Hard Times 2 on Saturday, December 4th from GPB Studios in Atlanta, GA. The event will stream on FITE pay-per-view.

NWA President Billy Corgan has announced the complete lineup for this historic event. In addition to the full match card, there are also a few newsworthy items to report:

• The NWA is bringing back the Junior Heavyweight championship, a title that was first introduced in 1945.
• The Ring of Honor Tag Team Championships will be defended on the show
• Mick Foley will be in attendance as a special guest

Hard Times 2 Matches

The following is the complete match card for NWA Hard Times 2:

• NWA World Heavyweight Champion Trevor Murdoch vs. Mike Knox

• NWA Women’s World Champion Kamille vs. Melina

• NWA Television Champion Tyrus vs. Cyon in a No Time Limit, No DQ match. Pope will serve as the special guest referee.

• Nick Aldis vs. Thom Latimer in a Grudge Match.

• NWA National Champion Chris Adonis vs. Judais with James Mitchell

• World Tag Team Champions La Rebellion vs. The End

• Women’s World Tag Champions The Hex vs. vs. Kylie Rae & Tootie Lynn vs. Natalia Markova & Lady Frost [Update: Lady Frost has been pulled from the PPV.]

• Mickie James vs. Kiera Hogan

• Colby Corino vs. Doug Williams

• Austin Aries vs. Rhett Titus (Junior Heavyweight Qualifying Match)

• 12-Man NWA Junior Heavyweight Qualifying Gauntlet for the returning NWA Junior Heavyweight Title.

• ROH World Tag Team Champions OGK vs. Aron Stevens & Kratos

Plus, there will be a special appearance by hardcore legend Mick Foley and an in-ring tribute to women’s wrestling legend, Jazz.

If you’re in the Atlanta area, tickets are still on sale for Hard Times 2 at Eventbrite.

Carmelo Hayes has big aspirations in WWE.

The high-flying Superstar has garnered a lot of attention since debuting for NXT back in June. Since then, he’s won the NXT Breakout Tournament and captured the coveted North American championship.

Hayes appeared on The War Report podcast this week to discuss his plans to elevate NXT 2.0, his friendship with Trick Williams and more.

When asked who he wants to work with on the main roster, Carmelo Hayes set his sights on the biggest dog in the yard.

“Roman,” he said. “I feel like that’s the only answer. I feel like, go big or go home. It’s Roman, bro.”

Carmelo Hayes on Roman Reigns

Co-host Justin says that it seems like Roman Reigns is a mythical figure within the WWE locker room. Everyone looks at him as the gold standard for success. He asked Hayes if that’s true, and he agreed.

“Yeah, that’s true, bro. He’s that guy, for real. I met him when I did SmackDown. He’s that guy. He’s that guy who you should want to wrestle, because he’s the big money guy. If you think about it, big match, big moments. He’s that guy.”

For Carmelo Hayes, it makes sense that he’d want to challenge the biggest star in WWE. For Roman Reigns, it’s another example that being the best means you’ve often got a target on your back. You can’t take your foot off the gas peddle, because there’s always someone young and hungry wanting your spot.

Listen to Carmelo Hayes’ appearance on The War Room podcast: