SEScoops

Author: Steve Russell

  • Andrade On Becoming The “New Face” For Latinos In WWE

    Andrade On Becoming The “New Face” For Latinos In WWE

    The current WWE United States Champion, Andrade, has declared his intentions to become the “new face” for Latinos in the company. Speaking with The New York Post, Andrade addressed his ambitions and his commitment to learning English. He also broached whether he wants to be involved in a storyline with his fiancee, Charlotte Flair.

    “Always Rey Mysterio was the face of Latinos [and] in the past Eddie Guerrero,” Andrade said. “Now is my moment to be the face of the Latinos in WWE. It looks strong to win the title, no? I’m more strong with more opportunities and focused on the next title. This is why I’m preparing and I’m working hard, so maybe in one year no more Rey Mysterio. I’m the new face and my legacy starts.”

    Learning English

    Regarding his goals to further learning English, Andrade revealed how he practices whenever he can. The champion shared how he and Charlotte Flair will work on his language skills on “every drive, on the side, when we’re home” in his efforts to get better.

    “I am trying to practice for the future [for] great promos in English and a little Spanish, you know the promos before with Rey Mysterio and, in the past, Eddie Guerrero,” Andrade divulged.

    Andrade And Charlotte Flair

    With Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch having recently been involved in an on-air WWE storyline, fans may wonder whether the same could happen for Andrade and Charlotte Flair. When asked, Andrade was coy with his response, replying “Maybe in the future, but now she’s focused on her work. I’m focused on my work. Now Zelina’s in my corner. Maybe in the future, but not for now.”

    He shared how he would love to have feuds with notable WWE Superstars. Andrade named Triple H and Roman Reigns as top-level Superstars he’d love to wrestle. His goal, however, remains unchanged: to become WWE’s next big Latino star.

    Although respectful of his connection to those who have come before him, Andrade stressed that he is not the same as Eddie Guerrero or Rey Mysterio and that he is “working for my legacy.”

  • Bobby Lashley Recalls Being Presented With A Mr. T Gimmick

    Bobby Lashley Recalls Being Presented With A Mr. T Gimmick

    WWE Superstar Bobby Lashey recently reflected on the beginning of his pro wrestling career during an interview with Sports Illustrated. Looking back at his time in WWE’s developmental promotion OVW back in 2004, Lashley recalled how he was once pitched with a Mr. T gimmick.

    “I didn’t know this at the time, but Paul [Heyman] saw me–this big, jacked up dude–and didn’t know me. And none of the other writers knew who I was,” Lashley said. “They were just writing on what they thought they knew of me–that I should be like Mr. T and run around like, ‘I pity the fool!’ But that’s not me.”

    Lashley revealed that it was Paul Heyman that took an interest in him during the early days of his WWE career. He continued, “and that’s why Paul wanted to sit down and talk. He knew he needed to write for this guy, but he didn’t know who I was, and he wasn’t going to just guess. So we just sat and talked forever, and he said, ‘I get this guy.’ And he got me over in a short amount of time.”

    Bobby Lashley’s Background

    Lashley highlighted his background, noting how he is a “subtle” person. He referred to his background as one where you “shut up, you train, and you compete.”

    “That’s what Paul saw, and everything he did from then on was highlighting who I was, not trying to put me in a box that didn’t fit. That’s why I was so excited when he came [as the Executive Director of Monday Night Raw], because I knew he gets me, could write for me, and put me in the right position and place on the show.”

    During last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW, Bobby Lashley and Lana were finally able to tie the knot after last week’s interruption. It wasn’t long, however, until Lana’s former partner Rusev got involved, which you can see below:

  • John Cena’s Reported Reaction To Nikki Bella’s Engagement

    John Cena’s Reported Reaction To Nikki Bella’s Engagement

    News recently broke that Nikki Bella had become engaged to her former Dancing with the Stars co-star Artem Chigvintsev. Given her history with John Cena, some wondered how he may feel about the situation.

    According to a source from HollywoodLife.com, Cena is “very happy that she has found someone that treats her so amazingly well.”

    They continued, “Nikki was an extremely important part of John’s life so it does remind him of what they had and he is also reminded of his proposal to her at Wrestlemania a few years ago but he also has thought that they have both grown from their relationship and they both have moved on.”

    The source then explained how Cena always knew this would happen at some point. They added that Cena only wants to wish them the best and send positive vibes.

    “John and Nikki are on great terms, he wants nothing but the best for her,” a second insider added. “And it’s not a big shock or anything, John knows how happy she is with Artem and how much she wants to settle down so he was expecting this sooner or later. He will always cherish his memories with Nikki but he’s moved on too. John’s very happy with his girlfriend Shay so that makes it easier to accept Nikki moving on.”

    John Cena Proposes To Nikki Bella

    John Cena and Nikki Bella dated for six years before their split in July 2018. He famously proposed to her in the ring during WrestleMania 33. This took place after they had tagged together, defeating the team of The Miz and his wife, Maryse.

  • Marko Stunt Addresses Fan Criticism Regarding Size

    Marko Stunt Addresses Fan Criticism Regarding Size

    All Elite Wrestling’s Marko Stunt has addressed the criticism some have lobbied at him regarding his size. Appearing on AEW’s Road To Memphis video via the promotion’s official YouTube channel, Stunt confessed when he first saw the reactions he “did not take it well at first.”

    “When I first showed up in AEW, they didn’t understand why I was there,” Marko said. “They didn’t understand why I got booked or why I got hired or anything. Cause why would this 5-foot-1 kid from Olive Branch, Mississippi be on national TV?”

    He continued, “I did not take it well at first. The first couple months, I was very depressed, and I didn’t feel like I should be wrestling.”

    Several wrestlers came to the defense of Marko Stunt following the online backlash, including AEW World Champion Chris Jericho.

    Marko Stunt On Embracing His Passion

    The Jurassic Express member stressed that, whether fans side with him or dislike him, he is committed to his role within AEW. He highlighted his passion for wrestling and how he wants to “live that passion” and continue growing as a person and performer.

    “You make that your thing and you be the best you can be at that, who’s gonna tell you no? Who’s gonna be able to tell you no if you’re the best at that? You make yourself the best at that. You live your dreams.”

    Marko Stunt will be in action this Wednesday. He joins Jungle Express to take on Best Friends and Orange Cassidy on AEW: Dynamite in six-man tag team action.

    If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops.

  • Shawn Spears Expresses Interest In Wrestling Jay White

    Shawn Spears Expresses Interest In Wrestling Jay White

    All Elite Wrestling’s resident “Chairman” Shawn Spears has expressed his interest in wrestling Bullet Club leader “Switchblade” Jay White.

    Taking to Twitter, Spears provided a clear cut message of intent for “Switchblade,” writing:

    “Hey Switchblade, We should wrestle sometime. Sincerely yours, The Chairman”

    At the time of writing, White has not yet responded to Shawn Spears’ message. Given that he has been preoccupied with New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 event, however, that’s no surprise.

    White’s Wrestle Kingdom Experience

    White was unable to defend his IWGP Intercontinental Championship this past weekend. He competed in a losing effort against Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Tetsuya Naito during Night One of Wrestle Kingdom on Saturday.

    He managed to defeat fellow Double Gold Dash contender Kota Ibushi, who failed in his attempts to become IWGP Heavyweight Champion against Kazuchika Okada, on Night Two. By the end of the weekend, it was Naito who would walk away as NJPW’s first-ever dual champion.

    Shawn Spears

    Spears’ most recent feud in AEW has been against “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela. They recently competed against each other on an episode of the promotion’s YouTube show, AEW Dark.

    Spears came up short in the match, with Janela picking up the victory following a top rope elbow drop. After the match, the two shared a couple of White Claws in the ring, only for Janela to deliver a Stunner to Spears.

  • The Usos Comment On Their Return To SmackDown

    The Usos Comment On Their Return To SmackDown

    Following their surprise return to Friday Night SmackDown last week, The Usos joined Roman Reigns backstage for an exclusive interview with WWE.com.

    “We had to come back, man. We missed the WWE Universe just as much as they missed the Usos. A big night for us, man. [We] got to come out and help out cuz once again. I love it. We here now. We was away. Got things right, got on track.”

    “We was at home, we saw them dumping dog food on our big cuz—it’s like ‘Oh no, this ain’t gonna happen again! We got you Uce!’ And what it do? We here. We here.”

    The Usos And Reigns

    Reigns reflected on the time they spent together as children, remembering how the Usos told on him for flipping the bird at them. He noted how he got “whooped” afterwards, but ever since that moment they’ve “been like brothers.”

    “The road is tough out here. You’re so used to having a certain security blanket—having your family on the road, it can be tricky when you don’t have them. With the [brand] split, with you guys going away, with Truth being on the other side, I felt like I’ve been alone. But it felt really good to see you guys here, not only backstage but everything, man.”

    The Usos ran to the ring during last Friday’s episode of SmackDown to save Reigns from an assault at the hands of Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin.

    If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops.

  • MJF Promises He Will Become AEW World Champion

    MJF Promises He Will Become AEW World Champion

    All Elite Wrestling’s Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has claimed that his name “pops” a crowd more than Jon Moxley or even Chris Jericho. He also promised that it’s only a matter of time until he is AEW World Champion.

    Speaking with News Chief, MJF explained how the character fans see every week is, in fact, “110 percent me” before adding how “This isn’t a gimmick.”

    Despite his antagonistic personality, MJF believes he gets a more immediate reaction than even some of AEW’s top stars:

    “I love Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley… but my name pops up more than them. What I’m capable of doing is grabbing you by your face through the TV set and pulling you in. You’re not going to be able to stop watching me. That’s called having ‘it,’ and I’ve got ‘IT’ in spades.”

    “MJF Is Going To Be The AEW World Champion”

    Turning his attention to the AEW World Championship, MJF reflected on his journey so far in the company. Many have named MJF as the one to watch in 2020, including WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page and AEW’s own Dustin Rhodes.

    “I came into the company as a relative unknown to being one of the most talked-about wrestlers on the planet, that’s unheard of. Much sooner rather than later, put all your chips on it, MJF is going to be AEW world champion.”

    MFJ is currently feuding with his former best friend, Cody Rhodes. On last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, MJF laid out the stipulations that Cody needs to accept in order to get the opportunity to face off against him.

  • Lana Discusses Current Storyline, Being A Storyteller

    Lana Discusses Current Storyline, Being A Storyteller

    WWE Superstar Lana joined Reel Talker to discuss a variety of subjects. One subject they spoke about was her current storyline with Bobby Lashley, Rusev, and now Liv Morgan.

    “I really am having so much fun, I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I love for a living,” Lana said. “We’re storytellers and at the end of the day, we’re telling a story that people relate to.”

    She continued, “We all know someone that has broken up, we all know someone who has gotten divorced, we all know people that have fallen out of love, we’ve all known someone who has cheated. We’re storytellers and I feel like that’s my destiny in life, to tell stories. People might hate me right now but I think partly the reason people hate the Ravishing Russian is because people know someone like that…. If you don’t have an incredible villain, you don’t need an incredible hero.”

    Lana and Lashley recently shared how they have been receiving hateful comments and online bullying because of the storyline. Their recent wedding ceremony was interrupted by a returning Liv Morgan, who revealed that she and Lana were previously lovers. In the wake of the revelation, Lana asked fans to not “assume someone’s sexuality.”

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

  • PCO Discusses ROH Future, Evolving His Character

    PCO Discusses ROH Future, Evolving His Character

    Current Ring of Honor World Champion PCO has expressed his confidence in re-signing with the promotion. Speaking with The Post & Courier on his career to date, PCO broached his current status with ROH. He confirmed that they are on good terms and are in the final stages of negotiating a new contract. 

    “We’re on good terms. We’re finalizing a new contract,” PCO revealed. “ROH has shown tremendous confidence in me, and we have a great relationship. I’m sure we’ll extend the contract. It’s just a matter of time.”

    He continued, “There are some very good people running ROH. They are running it with heart, with great principles. They’re awesome people. I just think there’s a very bright future ahead for Ring of Honor.”

    Evolving PCO’s Character

    PCO noted how he believes there is more to his character than has been presented, and that “payback” is one of his driving motivators.

    “There’s so much more to go with this character. I think it’s the nature of life,” PCO said. “I’ve got to get payback for everything I went through and everything that I gave with my heart and soul, a lot of tears and sweat.”

    PCO defeated the former ROH World Champion, Rush, last month at ROH’s Final Battle ppay-per-view. They clashed in a Friday the 13th Massacre No DQ matchup. ROH recently uploaded the entire pay-per-view for free to their YouTube channel.

  • Rhino Talks About His Last WWE Run, Keeping His Name

    Rhino Talks About His Last WWE Run, Keeping His Name

    Former WWE Superstar Rhino was a recent guest on Chris Jericho’s podcast, Talk Is Jericho. During the course of their conversation, Rhino addressed his final run with WWE and how he managed to keep his wrestling name upon leaving the promotion. 

    “My last run in WWE was for three years, a three-year contract, and I’m thinking, ‘Okay, well wh wasn’t it more successful?’ When I was going in, I didn’t go in with enough steam. So anyways I’m like, ‘Well, okay, what was wrong, what did I do wrong?’ And I think what it was is I was working so hard on the campaign, not just on knocking on doors, you have to file with the campaign finance committee and all that stuff, so there’s a lot of detailed work trying t get your message there and all that stuff, and then getting ready for one opponent and the next round.”

    He reflected on the mistakes of his final run with WWE before noting that he still enjoyed it as he got to work with Heath Slater. Rhino stated that despite this, he wished he could have had a more successful experience. For him, that doesn’t necessarily translate to being on TV more as he mentioned coaching others and working more behind the scenes.  

    Keeping The Rhino Name

    Turning his attention to how he managed to keep the ring name ‘Rhino,’ the former Superstar recalled the different names WWE once tried to pitch him, including “Mary.”

    “They were kicking around different ideas, Juggernaut was one. The worst one Edge said was Mary and he goes, ‘Yeah, he kept the best one and the worst one.’ They didn’t have me sign R-h-y-n-o over to them but when they re-signed me, I think it was 2002, they re-signed me a year early, and they had in there signing over r-h-i-n-o and r-h-y-n-o. And I said I’ll sign over r-h-y-n-o because you guys did the homework and all that stuff but I’m not signing over the one with an ‘i’ and they go, ‘Okay, no problem.’”

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

  • AJ Styles On If He Is Close To Retirement, Not Liking Social Media

    AJ Styles On If He Is Close To Retirement, Not Liking Social Media

    WWE Superstar AJ Styles has revealed why he isn’t a fan of social media. Speaking with Busted Open Radio, Styles opened up about his opinion, commenting on how he wished “social media didn’t exist.”

    “[…] it’s terrible,” Styles stated. “I honestly wish social media didn’t exist, and [these] are arguments that I have with my own wife about things that… it’s like, listen, if some crazy stuff happened, happened when we were kids, we just didn’t know about it but now, you know everything about anything that goes on because of social media. It’s terrible. I wish we didn’t have it guys. I really do.”

    AJ Styles On Contemplating Retirement

    When asked by host Mark Henry if he was close to retirement, Styles confirmed he believes he is. He reflected on how, as he has gotten older, his energy levels aren’t where they once were. 

    “You can see that starting to deplete and I’ve said this before, I don’t want to be that AJ Styles that everybody goes, ‘Wow, I wish he could still do that’ or, ‘Oh wow, he’s really slow.’ I don’t want that. I wanna be the AJ Styles that people will remember and go out that way. Will I be like I was when I was 25? There’s no way. It’s just not possible.”

    Styles is currently involved in a storyline against “The Viper” Randy Orton. Their feud further developed last week on Monday Night RAW after a supposedly injured Orton managed to surprise Styles with an RKO. 

    H/T to Postwrestling for the transcription.

  • Tetsuya Naito Discusses Double Gold Dash Opportunity

    Tetsuya Naito Discusses Double Gold Dash Opportunity

    Ahead of his IWGP Intercontinental Championship clash against Bullet Club leader Jay White, Tetsuya Naito sat down with njpw1972.com to discuss his Double Dash Gold opportunity. Naito was clear about why he wanted to be the one to walk away on Sunday with both titles: to make history.

    Naito was the first in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) to begin openly talking about being a double champion last year. For him, it’s all about making history and breaking old records.

    “But when you’re the first to do something, that stays forever,” he explained. “I was trying to think of something that’s never been done before, that I could be first at. And then it hit me; double IWGP champion.”

    He explained how “[…] there’s always been a distinction between the two titles; people wrestling for the Intercontinental Championship haven’t mixed with the Heavyweight contenders. So rather than have people think that I’ve gone back to just wrestling for the IC title, I wanted to say, no, I’m going to have this and wrestle for the heavyweight title as well.”

    Tetsuya Naito’s Day One Ambition

    The Los Ingobernables de Japon leader shared how he wanted to get rid of the idea that those competing for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship never move away from that scene. He reiterated how he’s never had any genuine interest in that championship, with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship always being his “number one belt.”

    For Naito, defeating Jay White and once again becoming Intercontinental Champion is a means to an end. That end being the Heavyweight gold. Despite his goal, however, Naito stressed how “[…] the thing that I want the absolute most right now is the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Remember, that’s what I’ve said since day one: I want to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship while holding the Intercontinental.”

    Tetsuya Naito faces off against Jay White this Saturday on Night One of Wrestle Kingdom 14. The winner of their championship bout will go on to face the winner of Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on Night Two.

    Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this weekend on 1/4 and 1/5 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

  • Elias On His Championship Ambitions, The WWE Universe

    Elias On His Championship Ambitions, The WWE Universe

    WWE Superstar Elias took part in an interview with The Commercial Appeal ahead of tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, which takes place from the FedExForum in Memphis.

    The former WWE 24/7 Champion looked to the year ahead, detailing his plans and championship aspirations. Elias has set his eyes on one title, in particular: the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Once he has claimed that gold, Elias would then like to eventually be in contention for the WWE Universal Championship. 

    “I’ve got every tool you could imagine to get there, so it’s just a matter of opportunity and timing, as far as I’m concerned,” Elias said.

    Elias And The WWE Universe

    Elias returned to WWE programming in late November. He explained how his time away from the ring was spent travelling the world, noting how he spent time reflecting about what he has to do in order to get to the top of WWE. Elias came to an epiphany when he realized he wanted the support of those he has rejected over the years: the WWE Universe.

    “They need to be on your side, and it just so happens I’ve got the power to manipulate people with my music, with my words, with everything I do, and it looks like that is the approach I am going to have to take moving forward,” Elias confessed.

    When it comes to his music, Elias admitted that for most “the truth can hurt.” He is confident, however, that his return to Memphis won’t be ruined by previous things he may have said or sung. Instead, he believes that this time his truth will be accepted on a much grander level by those in attendance. 

  • MJF Discusses His Influences, Being Hated “For The Right Reasons”

    MJF Discusses His Influences, Being Hated “For The Right Reasons”

    All Elite Wrestling’s Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) was recently interviewed by local Florida newspaper, News Chief. During the interview, MJF took the opportunity to discuss his mentality when it comes to pro wrestling, portraying a loathsome heel, and which wrestling legends he has drawn inspiration from.

    MJF recalled how, growing up, he loved all of the performers that most people hated. From Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Buddy Landel to “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. He highlighted how his “biggest inspiration would be the Hot Rod.”

    Like those that pushed the envelope before him, MFJ is willing to throw himself wholeheartedly into being hated. He explained how, “If there’s a line that people make, I hop over it as far as I can.”

    He continued, “No one can tell me how to do my job. I’ve had people jump guardrails, try to stab me, throw (urine) on me, throw batteries. All that means is I’m being myself. The issue isn’t me, it’s everybody else.”

    MJF Wants To Be Hated “For The Right Reasons”

    Despite not caring if fans boo him, MJF is adamant that people should dislike him for the “right reasons,” pointing to his former mentor, Cody Rhodes, claiming that Rhodes is a “sociopathic monster.”

    “I want them to boo me for the right reasons,” he said. “Cody is a sociopathic monster. He’s been on a blood rage since AEW started by trying to make himself the face of AEW. I saved them from a Ghengis Khan, and I gave them a face everybody could love.”

    “When They Die I Will Not Care”

    One legend that MJF is eager to learn from is Ring of Honor’s Bully Ray. Despite his willingness to listen to Bully Ray, however, that doesn’t mean MJF is open to advice from just anybody. MJF likened some veterans to old dogs, saying “They want to be fed treats to feel important.”

    When it comes to those few he does regard, he noted how he simply wants to “use them” and “when they die I will not care, and I’m going to make sure the business is in good hands.”

  • Lance Archer Wasn’t Sure He Would Stay With NJPW In 2019

    Lance Archer Wasn’t Sure He Would Stay With NJPW In 2019

    The start of Lance Archer’s 2020 is remarkably different from the beginning of his 2019. Currently the IWGP United States Champion, Archer will face off against former champion Jon Moxley this Saturday at Wrestle Kingdom 14. The two will compete for the belt in a Texas Death Match. In an interview with Fightful, Archer recalled how he wasn’t even sure he would remain a part of NJPW in 2019.

    “I had no idea (where I’d be in 2019). Legitimately, there’s no knock to anywhere else or anyone else, there was thought of leaving New Japan just for the simple fact that I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know what was going to continue to move forward or what was going to happen. But, it wasn’t a situation where I was actively looking to leave the company. It was just a point of actively looking to further my career.”

    He continued, “At the time, starting in 2019, I didn’t know if that was gonna be in New Japan. Obviously the business has changed even drastically since the beginning of 2019. So, I was just looking to see what was going to be the next best avenue for myself.”

    Lance Archer’s 2019 Upswing

    Archer’s 2019 turned out to be transformative for the wrestler. Not only did he play a notable role in last summer’s G1 Climax tournament, he would eventually claim the vacated IWGP US Championship.

    This victory marked what he referred to as his “first major singles title” in his career. In the run-up to their matchup on Saturday, Archer recently delivered an unsettling warning to Moxley. The winner of their match will compete the following day during Night Two of Wrestle Kingdom 14 against Juice Robinson.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcription.

    Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this weekend on 1/4 and 1/5 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

  • Charlotte Flair On How She And Andrade Began Dating

    Charlotte Flair On How She And Andrade Began Dating

    WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair recently took part in a Twitter Q&A session with her fans, utilizing the hashtag “#HappyWooYear.” Flair, who recently announced her engagement to RAW Superstar Andrade, answered questions regarding her relationship. She also addressed who she would like to compete against in 2020 and recalled Ric Flair’s impressions of her new fiancee when they first met.

    When a fan asked her how their relationship first began, Flair confessed that she was the one who made the first move, asking Karl Anderson if Andrade was his friend. She also revealed that their first date was at catering during a WWE show and that the first time she realized she was in love with him was when she almost “accidentally said it on our first boat trip!”

    As for her father’s impressions of Andrade when they first met, Charlotte recalled Ric saying “He’s a good wrestler!” Flair also took to Twitter to share his feelings on the engagement news.

    Charlotte Flair also engaged with questions over who she’d like to face in the coming year. When asked to name the one person she hoped to have more matches with, Flair was succinct with her response, naming Alexa Bliss. She also expressed her interest in wrestling against WWE veteran Mickie James, declaring that they “need to have a match.”

  • Gene Snitsky Recalls His Time In TNA Wrestling

    Gene Snitsky Recalls His Time In TNA Wrestling

    Former WWE Superstar Gene Snitsky was, at one point, a part of TNA Wrestling. Recalling his time with the company back in 2014 during a recent interview with Hannibal TV, Snitsky divulged why he ultimately left the promotion. For him, it was a case of not being paid what he felt he was worth. 

    “At the time, they said it was going to lead to something and that whole deal,” Snitsky explained. “That never really materialized because of the money aspect. I was like ‘Well, do I really want to do this and not get paid what I think I should get paid or just nip it in the bud?’ I’m not one of those guys who are just along for the ride. I think very highly for myself, I know I’m a good athlete, I know I have charisma.”

    Gene Snitsky On Dixie Carter

    When asked if he had any opportunities to engage and interact with Dixie Carter, Snitsky confessed he didn’t. He explained how he shot a few vignettes with her, but that was the extent of their interactions.

    Snitsky noted how Carter would be present and ready for when they needed to shoot their segment and, once completed, she left, leaving no time or opportunity for any real face time between them. 

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription. 

  • Joaquin Wilde Reflects On Decade-Long Journey To WWE

    Joaquin Wilde Reflects On Decade-Long Journey To WWE

    NXT Superstar Joaquin Wilde has reflected on his decade-long journey in getting signed to WWE. The Superstar shared his journey via Twitter, detailing his accomplishments, as well as his failures, as he continued to grind towards his ultimate goal.

    A Wilde Decade

    Looking back to 2010, Wilde shared how he had been invited to a WWE/FCW tryout camp but was ultimately rejected. The next year, he would sign with TNA. 2012 saw him win his first TNA X-Division Championship before he began DJ’ing in 2013. Wilde confessed that he only began DJ’ing as he believed it would make him “more interesting to WWE.”

    His 2014 saw him DJ live on Sway in the Morning before he began training with Skayde in 2015. He then reached out to WWE, only to be rejected again. Despite this further setback, 2016 saw him continue to grow and improve, with Wilde earning his second X-Division championship. Unfortunately, this was the year he also suffered his first injury, breaking his wrist.

    2017 would see him invited for a WWE Performance Center tryout. A near-death experience in Mexico, however, would force him to miss out on the opportunity. So, in 2018, he began wrestling for EVOLVE in the hope it would get him “closer” to WWE. He once again tried reaching out, only to be rejected once more.

    In 2019, however, Wilde finally signed with WWE. He competed on WWE’s black-and-gold brand as well as 205 Live. He also competed in the NXT Breakout Tournament, losing in the first round to Angel Garza.

    “It took me literally the entire decade to make it to WWE,” he wrote. “I never lost hope at any point, despite several rejections and setbacks throughout the journey. And after 10 years, the journey is still just getting started.”

    After suffering an injury, Wilde revealed in November that he had been medically cleared by WWE to return to in-ring action.

  • The Revival Promise To “Change Everything” In 2020

    The Revival Promise To “Change Everything” In 2020

    Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson are ready to embrace the new year, and all that 2020 might offer them as a team. Taking to Twitter, Wilder reflected on The Revival’s success over the past few years, highlighting how 2020 is the year in which they “change everything.

    “2017 was a wash. 2018 we got our groove back. 2019 we took control back. 2020 we change everything.”

    Wilder and Dawson’s WWE contracts allegedly expire at some point this coming April. The team have frequently teased their interest in All Elite Wrestling. At one point, The Revival’s temporary partner, Randy Orton, also hinted at his interest in the promotion. Orton would subsequently sign a new multi-year deal with WWE. A 10-week extension was reportedly added to Wilder’s contract. This was due to time missed with the company thanks to a broken jaw he suffered in 2017.

    The Revival Versus Harlem Heat

    The Revival has recently continued their pursuit for a match against WWE Hall of Famers Harlem Heat.

    The team disrespected Booker T during WWE’s TLC Kickoff show last year. Booker T recently addressed his interest in The Revival’s challenge, admitting that he and his brother, Stevie Ray, have spoken about the matchup. He added how he has “one more left in me” before lobbying another warning at The Revival, telling them not to “get jacked up, sucka!”

  • Tetsuya Naito Opens Up About Considering Leaving Pro Wrestling

    Tetsuya Naito Opens Up About Considering Leaving Pro Wrestling

    This Saturday, during Night One of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestling Kingdom 14 event, Tetsuya Naito gets his opportunity at reclaiming the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. He faces Bullet Club leader Jay White for the gold.

    Despite his Double Gold Dash opportunity, the Los Ingobernables de Japon leader revealed in an interview with njpw1972.com that for approximately six months he considered ending his wrestling career.

    “I don’t want to go into specifics, but for a while, I thought I couldn’t wrestle anymore,” Naito stated. “Truth is for about six months, maybe since May, I had this kind of crisis of confidence.”

    He continued, “From about May, I’d felt something was up, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I thought I could cover it up, but I think the result was that it did come through. I was constantly wrestling in that state of unease. I hate going to the hospital, but I really wasn’t myself for a time.”

    Tetsuya Naito’s Mental Strain

    Reflecting on that time, Naito compared his mindset to having an injury. He noted how “things don’t get back to 100%”. When it comes to this particular issue he’s managed to recover thanks to some time off. He stressed that, 100% or not, he felt he was close to zero due to the mental strain, believing he might not be able to get into a ring again.

    If successful in his match against White, Naito would go on to compete against the IWGP Heavyweight Champion on Night Two of Wrestle Kingdom 14. Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibush clash for that title on Night One.

    Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this weekend on 1/4 and 1/5 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

  • Lance Archer Warns Jon Moxley Ahead Of Wrestle Kingdom 14

    Lance Archer Warns Jon Moxley Ahead Of Wrestle Kingdom 14

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s IWGP United States Champion Lance Archer has shared his unsettling intentions with Jon Moxley ahead of their championship clash at this weekend’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 event.

    In a video uploaded to NJPW’s YouTube account, Archer discussed their forthcoming Texas Death Match in front of a fire pit, his precious championship belt next to him as he burns an image of Moxley in the flames.

    “Jon Moxley…You Will Die”

    Lance Archer told Moxley, “Let me tell you a story about a lunatic who thought he could try to be strong style. He left his safe little cage, he left his friends, he left the protection of a shield, but that shield of protection is gone.”

    Archer continued, “I’m talking about Jon Moxley. You lost something because you couldn’t show up to Japan. A little wind scared you away, and it was in my favor.”

    “Now let me tell you about me. The Murderhawk Monster. The one you should be afraid of. The one that you shouldn’t underestimate because I’ve been coming up for eight and a half years and this is my time, and not you or anybody else—no little s***—is going to come in and take my title.”

    He continued, “In this Texas Death Match, I don’t have to pin you, I just have to hurt you, so you never get up again. I’m going to do to you what your friends say they’re going to do: I’m going to set you ablaze; I’m going to burn you to the ground. I’m going to make you wish that you never showed up in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. […] I don’t care who you think you are. I don’t care if you think you’re a lunatic. I don’t care how crazy your fans think you can be. You’re not me. Jon Moxley, you will die…because everybody dies.”

    Lance Archer Championship Victory

    Moxley was initially stripped of the IWGP United States Championship after he was unable to attend last October’s King of Pro-Wrestling show due to Typhoon Hagibis. Lance Archer defeated Juice Robinson that night to claim the vacated title. Since then, Moxley issued his challenge to Archer for the championship.

    Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this weekend on 1/4 and 1/5 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Archer and Moxley will clash in a Texas Death Match on Night One.

    If you use any quotes from this article, please provide a H/T to SEScoops.

  • Ring of Honor Releases Final Battle 2019 (Video)

    Ring of Honor Releases Final Battle 2019 (Video)

    Ring of Honor (ROH) has released their most recent pay-per-view, Final Battle, for free. The promotion has uploaded the entire show, including the pre-show matches, to YouTube giving fans and those curious about the company an opportunity to see what ROH is capable of delivering. 

    Final Battle 2019 took place a few weeks ago on December 13th in the UMBC Event Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The show was headlined by a ROH World Championship match between Rush and Villain Enterprises’ PCO. 

    Final Battle 2019

    • ROH World Championship Match: Rush (c) vs PCO
    • ROH World Tag Team Championship Match: The Briscoes (c) vs Jay Lethal and Johnathan Gresham
    • ROH World Television Championship Match: Shane Tayler (c) vs Ryu Lee
    • Angelina Love vs Maria Manic
    • Colt Cabana vs Alex Shelley
    • Street Fight: Mark Haskins vs Bully Ray
    • Matt Taven vs Vincent
    • Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll and Flip Gordan) vs Bandido and Flamita

    Pre-Show

    • Jeff Cobb vs Dan Maff
    • Kenny King vs Rhett Titus
    • Silas Young and Josh Woods vs Dalton Castle and Joe Hendry

    There is no word at the time of writing if the pay-per-view will remain online indefinitely or if Final Battle is only online temporarily to act as a teaser of sorts to curious fans.

  • Kota Ibushi Discusses Double Gold Dash, Broadening Pro Wrestling

    Kota Ibushi Discusses Double Gold Dash, Broadening Pro Wrestling

    G1 Climax winner Kota Ibushi is ready for his IWGP Heavyweight Championship opportunity against reigning champion Kazuchika Okada. The two will face off for the gold this Saturday during Night One of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 event.

    Speaking with njpw1972.com, Ibushi addressed the Double Gold Dash conditions of this upcoming weekend. The winners of the IWGP Intercontinental and IWGP Heavyweight Championship matches on Saturday will subsequently compete against one another on Sunday. The winner will then claim both belts.

    Double Champion Ambitions

    Looking to what it would mean to emerge victorious on Sunday as a double champion, Ibushi stated how “Whenever I’ve talked about wanting two championships, it’s always been with the dream in mind of furthering professional wrestling. Having two titles would make for the ultimate platform for that message.”

    Despite the magnitude of these championship opportunities, Ibushi is clear that he has no interest in cheating or fighting dirty to ensure victory.

    “I don’t want to be fighting dirty, or for there to be any doubt,” he said. “This is all about furthering wrestling in my opinion, and it has to be done the right way. […] I have faith in my own style of wrestling to do what I want to do.”

    Broadening Pro Wrestling As A Medium

    Ibushi confessed that one of his driving motivators in coming away with both belts lies in his ambitions to “broaden the very idea of what pro-wrestling is as a medium.” He explained, “There are so many possibilities for professional wrestling and that’s why I want to broaden it. But I don’t have a belt at the moment. I don’t have the platform that a champion has. At the moment it’s all just empty talk. That’s why the two titles are so important.”

    He noted how pro wrestling has “more potential than any other sport” and how he really wants to explore these “infinite” possibilities if given the opportunity—one Kota Ibushi believes can’t be denied if he were to hold both the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships.

    Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this weekend on 1/4 and 1/5 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. 

  • Jay White On Being Mistreated By NJPW, Champ-Champ Ambitions

    Jay White On Being Mistreated By NJPW, Champ-Champ Ambitions

    Bullet Club leader Jay White is scheduled to face off against Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Tetsuya Naito this Saturday during Night One of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 event. The two will clash over White’s IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The winner of Jay White vs. Naito will challenge the winner of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship bout between Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibushi in a Double Gold Dash match. The final victor claims both belts.

    Talking with njpw1972.com, White addressed his opponent and why he wants to become a double champion in NJPW. He also discussed how he feels he has been mistreated as a champion by the promotion. 

    Jay White vs Tetsuya Naito

    With their match only days away, Naito has become more and more vocal about his intentions for Wrestle Kingdom 14.

    White confessed he was “a little surprised when he showed a little bit of life. Myself, and the fans have come to expect somebody that’s a little bit too tranquilo. At the end of the day though, he can put all the life into this that he wants, but it’s about Wrestle Kingdom January 4. Against anybody else, maybe he can toy with their minds, but I’m on another level, especially mentally, and especially compared to Naito. Maybe he’s made things a bit more exciting, but it’ s not going to make a difference.”

    Mental Edge

    White then addressed how, despite being IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Jay White has not been featured in the promotional material for Wrestle Kingdom. To him, NJPW is mistreating him as they attempt to take “the mental edge away.”

    “You can see, by this piece of gold right here that I’m the champion. Wouldn’t you think that as the champion, if there’s a championship match that my face would be on the graphic instead of the challenger alone? In fact, not alone! My belt was in the picture! On the mat! With Naito holding his eye open, looking at it! All that was there was my name. That’s NJPW, taking a mental edge on me, and taking the mental edge away from me. They can’t stand the thought of me being the first ever double IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion, so they’re giving him the edge.”

    Double Gold Dash

    The Bullet Club leader then confessed his driving motivation in becoming a double champion. If victorious, he believes that NJPW won’t be able to “deny” him anymore. White blamed the fans for Naito being given this opportunity despite, in his opinion, not being deserving of it. 

    “So why do I want to be double champion? It’s so the fans, the office, the other wrestlers, nobody will be able to deny that I am what I say I am. The best wrestler in the world.”

    Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this weekend on 1/4 and 1/5 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

  • Andrade On Winning The US Championship, Advice From Charlotte Flair

    Andrade On Winning The US Championship, Advice From Charlotte Flair

    WWE United States Champion Andrade was recently interviewed by The New York Post. He took the opportunity to discuss his recent championship victory and his respect for the former U.S. Champion, Rey Mysterio. Andrade also shared the advice he has received from his fiancee Charlotte Flair.

    Looking back at winning the United States Championship, Andrade noted how he not only defeated a Legend to do it but also managed to do it in the legendary arena, Madison Square Garden. “Rey Mysterio is a legend in Mexico and MSG is one of the most famous arenas in the world, to win the title is many dreams [for me],” he said. “Winning the title, that was my opportunity. Now is my moment.” 

    Andrade stressed that “Whenever Rey wants a match, I’m ready,” before divulging his respect for the luchador. He reflected on how Mystery is a legend and idol in Mexico, and so to win the title from him was “incredible.” 

    Andrade Receives Championship Advice

    Since winning the championship, Andrade has shared that he has received advice from Charlotte Flair in how to carry himself as a champion. Given that Flair is a multiple time Women’s Champion in WWE across NXT, RAW and SmackDown, no doubt Andrade will take her advice on board.

    “When I won the title at Madison Square Garden, she told me [I needed] something different to enter with the title,” Andrade said. “You hold the title to a different side or in the middle so people can remember this and have familiarity with the title. You now are the champion.” 

    Andrade and Flair recently revealed on social media that they are now engaged, with Andrade proposing on New Year’s Eve.

    Flair’s father, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, was quick to share his excitement over the news. He took to Twitter to write “Congratulations To My Beautiful Daughter @MsCharlotteWWE And An Awesome Young Man @AndradeCienWWE On Their Engagement! So Happy, So Proud! What A Way To Start 2020!”