SEScoops

Author: Steve Russell

  • Vince Reportedly ‘Furious’ About Sami Zayn Mentioning AEW on RAW

    Vince Reportedly ‘Furious’ About Sami Zayn Mentioning AEW on RAW

    The wrestling world is still buzzing from All Elite Wrestling’s inaugural event, Double Or Nothing. The show has been getting rave reviews from fans and performers alike, including WWE Superstars. The AEW pay-per-view was a hot topic of conversation behind the scenes at Monday’s Raw. Many people were waiting to see if WWE would react to the event on Raw.

    The biggest instance of WWE acknowledging AEW came during Sami Zayn’s “electric chair” promo. Fans in the crowd (or as WWE would say, “Sports Entertainment Enthusiasts Comprising the WWE Universe”) were encouraged to ask Zayn hard-hitting questions. No topic was off limits, which seemed like a prime opportunity for an AEW reference. When none of the fans asked about AEW, Zayn mocked them and said, “You could have asked me about AEW.” The reference got a big reaction.

    Given the WWE’s usual stance on other promotions, the namedrop surprised the WWE Universe— leading many to believe that Zayn went off script and improvised the reference. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, that’s not the case. He argued that it was a scripted moment.

    Co-host Bryan Alvarez disagreed, stating that the AEW reference was, in fact, improvised. While Zayn was ready to respond to an AEW question had it come up, Alvarez heard Vince McMahon was “furious” after Zayn voluntarily referenced WWE’s new competition.

    “Vince Flipped His Lid. He Was Furious.”

    “There are absolutely people who insist that Sami was given the OK to mention AEW, alright?” Alvarez said. “I’ve even heard from one person who said that in the script that went around in the morning yesterday, it was in the script that he was going to mention AEW. One person said that. I had another person say, and Dave had people tell him that it was a scripted line. Now, with that said, I heard from multiple people, far more people in fact, and people that heard from other people, that all said, the line was not scripted, the line was not supposed to be said.”

    “I was also told from multiple people that when it happened, Vince flipped his lid. He was furious that this happened, OK? […] The one [theory] that people seem to think is the most likely, is that a small number of people were told that he was given the OK, and that they’re working the boys and flipping out about it,” Alvarez explained.

    “[…] I wasn’t there to witness it, but I do know that the people there who absolutely 100% believed that he was very angry, that this was not him putting on a show for people, that this was not him trying to work the boys, that he was angry when this got on the air. I don’t know how to explain everything, I just know that’s what happened last night.”

    Future Consequences?

    WWE edited out the AEW reference in their YouTube upload of the segment. They didn’t, however, choose to do anything with their live delay. RAW airs with a 15-second delay, which would’ve given them ample opportunity to bleep or silence the name.

    If Zayn did go off script, and Vince was genuinely furious as described, it is believed that Sami will have to contend with the consequences of his decision. Meltzer even suggested that Zayn could face possible suspension if that’s the case.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • The Club To Reform During WWE Tour Of Japan

    The Club To Reform During WWE Tour Of Japan

    WWE has released the line-ups for their forthcoming Live Events in Japan, and a few things stood out to the WWE Universe, one of them being the reformation of The Club.

    Unfortunately, it appears to be a brief reunion as AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson are slated to team for only one night. They will be facing off against Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, and Bobby Lashley on June 28th.

    The Club was initially formed in WWE in a nod to the group that brought them together: New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Bullet Club.

    Despite attempting to capitalize on their former Bullet Club association, The Club disbanded shortly after their formation and were never given the opportunity to establish themselves as a credible group.

    Live Events

    Other matches that caught the WWE Universe’s attention include Shinsuke Nakamura main eventing the 6/28 card, as he competes against WWE Universal Champion, Seth Rollins.

    Alexa Bliss is also scheduled to see in-ring action, as she takes on RAW Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch. This is particularly notable given she was recently pulled from Money In The Bank over fears she had suffered a concussion.

    WWE Japan Live Events

    6/28:

    • Shinsuke Nakamura vs WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins
    • Alexa Bliss vs RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch
    • Asuka and Kairi Sane vs WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics
    • The Revival vs RAW Tag Team Champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins
    • AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley
    • Ricochet vs Samoa Joe vs Cesaro
    • Braun Strowman vs Robert Roode

    6/29:

    • Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman and AJ Styles vs Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley
    • Alexa Bliss vs Asuka vs RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch
    • The Revival vs Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs RAW Tag Team Champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins
    • Ricochet vs Cesaro
    • Shinsuke Nakamura vs Robert Roode
    • Appearances by Samoa Joe, Kairi Sane, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics
  • Dustin Rhodes Discusses Creative Frustrations In WWE

    Dustin Rhodes Discusses Creative Frustrations In WWE

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is set to try and take the wrestling world by storm with their follow up to All In, Double Or Nothing.

    One of the major storylines going into this show is the reignited rivalry between Cody and his brother, former WWE Superstar, Dustin Rhodes.

    In a recent interview with the WINCLY podcast, Dustin Rhodes addressed his creative frustrations during his last tenure with WWE. He compared WWE’s creative approach to AEW’s, promising that the new promotion will “open a lot of eyes and shock the world.”

    “They Never Take Your Idea Seriously”

    “I think everybody is rushing to up their ratings and entertainment value. Let’s face it, the creative team in the other company [WWE]… you pitch so many ideas and nothing ever gets done. They never take your idea seriously and then you have to bypass them and go to the boss [Vince McMahon],” Rhodes said.

    Dustin spoke about his frustrations in being ignored despite actively coming up with new ideas to try. He claims that this WWE culture, where people are afraid to try new things or to talk to Vince McMahon to discuss ideas, has to stop.

    “If something is pitched to you and it’s a damn good angle, why are you scared to go take it to the man [Vince McMahon]? That makes no sense to me; he’s a man. He might be our boss but all he can do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ My frustration was that I didn’t get a lot of answers.”

    He adds that, creatively, “As long as I have that hunger, I wanna keep doing it,” revealed Rhodes. “Until that hunger leaves me, I’m not gonna stop creating… It doesn’t matter what I’m doing. If I’m doing a backstage segment, I’m gonna make it the best backstage segment I can.”

    Dustin will face off against his brother, Cody, during Double Or Nothing. The event takes place on May 25th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • Johnny Gargano Dealing With Knee Injury

    Johnny Gargano Dealing With Knee Injury

    It’s been reported that current NXT Champion, Johnny Gargano, has been dealing with a knee injury.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this is why Gargano has seen minimal in-ring action in recent weeks.

    Further details are unknown at this time, but it is speculated that the injury could have been sustained back in March.

    Although he has appeared for NXT TV tapings, Gargano was used sparingly, minimizing the amount of time actively grappling.

    These precautionary measures have been taken to allow Gargano an opportunity to rest and heal. He is scheduled for a matchup with Adam Cole. The two will clash for the NXT Championship at NXT’s upcoming TakeOver XXV event.

    #JohnnyProducing

    In recent weeks, Johnny Gargano has been working as a producer at NXT, learning a different side of the product.

    In a recent tweet, he highlighted the importance of not becoming complacent. He called it “The #1 killer of success” before signing off with the hashtag “JohnnyProducing.”

    “The #1 killer of success is complacency. Especially when it comes to this job.. there’s just so many different sides and intricacies to it, you can always get better and learn something new. I get the chance to wear a different hat this weekend! @WWENXT #JohnnyProducing?”

    NXT TakeOver XXV takes place on June 1st from the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

  • Backstage News On 24/7 Championship

    Backstage News On 24/7 Championship

    This past Monday night on RAW, Mick Foley unveiled the latest WWE championship to the WWE Universe. It was met with a mixed response, with the live crowd actively booing the announcement.

    With Foley being the man to reveal the newest title, many were speculating the return of the Hardcore championship. Instead, they were introduced to the 24/7 championship.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, fans can direct their praise or frustrations over the new belt towards the USA Network.

    USA Network officials have allegedly been actively worried, complaining over the undeniable drop in RAW ratings. The third hour of the show has been under scrutiny for some time.

    This concern has seen USA Network supposedly push Vince McMahon and his team to fix the flagging third hour. In previous years, the 10-11pm hour has typically been highly rated. That has changed drastically over the years.


    Shake Up, Wild Card, 24/7

    The 24/7 championship is just the latest attempt by WWE in their efforts to reinvigorate not only the third hour but their show as a whole. It follows the recent Superstar Shake-Up, which was intended to bring new feuds and opportunities for both wrestlers and fans.

    Only weeks later, they would renege on some of their decisions, introducing a ‘Wild Card’ rule that would allow certain ‘drafted’ talent to freely jump between brands.

    This has been done to prepare for SmackDown’s move to Fox in October, ensuring WWE’s top stars are present on both brands and avoiding the blue brand from feeling like a B-show.

  • Only One Superstar Knew Brock Lesnar Would Win Money In The Bank

    Only One Superstar Knew Brock Lesnar Would Win Money In The Bank

    Brock Lesnar’s appearance at Money In The Bank was kept under wraps, being treated on a ‘need-to-know’ basis. Apparently, the finish of the match, which saw Lesnar secure the briefcase, was so secretive only one of the ladder match competitors knew about it.

    According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, SmackDown Live Superstar, Ali, was the only wrestler to be informed of the true finish.

    Need-To-Know

    Officials “who needed to know” were told that Ali would be the one to win the briefcase. Earlier plans saw Drew McIntyre claiming the prize.

    The actual Superstars involved with the ladder match were allegedly told that Ali was not winning. They were informed an unannounced wrestler would be appearing late in the match. It was understood this wrestler would knock Ali from off the ladder and win the matchup.

    Ali was reported to be told just before the match started that the “unannounced wrestler” would be Brock Lesnar.

    MITB Fall Out

    Not everyone was thrilled with Lesnar’s unexpected return. Prior to Money In The Bank, Lesnar’s last WWE appearance was in early April, where he lost the Universal Championship to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 35.

    Lesnar is expected to announce whom he is cashing in against on next week’s episode of Monday Night RAW.

    With Kofi Kingston having accepted Dolph Ziggler’s challenge, it is likely that Lesnar will challenge Seth Rollins for a championship matchup at Super ShowDown on June 7th.

  • Rey Mysterio Provides Injury Update

    Rey Mysterio Provides Injury Update

    Rey Mysterio defeated Samoa Joe for the WWE United States Championship last Sunday at Money In The Bank. Despite the surprisingly short matchup, both men would unfortunately walk away injured. Joe would end up with a busted nose, while Rey Mysterio suffered a shoulder injury.

    Taking to his Instagram account, Mysterio has provided an update on his current health saying:

    “So after Sunday’s Money In The Bank match against Samoa Joe which—there’s still some issues that need to be cleared up after that 1,2,3, but due to the result at the end of the match I separated a little bit of my AC joint, and we’re doing some PRP sessions here at the lab. Hopefully, this will improve my range of motion, which has been really bad.”

    He accompanied the post with the following caption, thanking The Lab for helping him as he heals:

    “Thank you @thelabprc for putting me back together & always looking out for me! Highly recommend any athlete or non athlete with injuries to stop by and let them look out for you! #TheStaffIsNumero1 #Cryo #Sauna #PRP #MuchLove”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0ZVXrB1tD/

    With Rey Mysterio injured, WWE has announced that they will reveal the state of the United States Championship on next week’s episode of Monday Night RAW.

  • More Information On Brock Lesnar Cashing In Money In The Bank Contract

    More Information On Brock Lesnar Cashing In Money In The Bank Contract

    It appears as though WWE already knows when they want Brock Lesnar to cash in his Money In The Bank opportunity. More importantly, they have also decided which champion he will be targeting.

    At this point in time, it is reported that Lesnar will cash against Universal Champion, Seth Rollins. It’s expected to be for a matchup at WWE Super ShowDown, which takes place in Saudi Arabia on June 7th.

    Cashing In

    According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE intends to have Lesnar make this announcement next week on Monday Night RAW. He may also appear on the June 3rd go-home show prior to Super ShowDown.

    He noted that, while Brock will be working the Saudi Arabia show, it’s likely the WWE Universe won’t see “The Beast Incarnate” afterwards until SummerSlam in August.

    Lesnar vs Kingston?

    Although the company is attempting to hype up speculation over Brock’s decision, they have already announced Kofi Kingston versus Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship.

    Granted, they could still have Brock Lesnar vs Kofi Kingston, assuming Lesnar doesn’t cash in his briefcase against Rollins on June 7th. The likelihood of the two competing in a non-championship match, however, is slim.

    Lesnar won the MITB briefcase after inserting himself into the match as surprise entrant during last Sunday’s Money In The Bank event. His victory has been met with a mixed reaction from both fans, those in the wrestling industry, and WWE Superstars.

  • Ruby Riott Undergoes Succesful Shoulder Surgery

    Ruby Riott Undergoes Succesful Shoulder Surgery

    Riott Squad leader, Ruby Riott, who suffered an unfortunate bilateral injury, has undergone successful shoulder surgery on her right shoulder. She will be undergoing further surgery on her left shoulder at a later time.

    WWE released the following update:

    “Raw Superstar Ruby Riott underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a bilateral injury to her right shoulder, WWE.com can confirm. Riott will receive surgery for the same injury on her left shoulder at a later date. Join WWE.com in wishing Ruby a speedy recovery!

    The RAW Superstar last competed on television in a losing effort to Dana Brooke on the April 22nd episode of WWE Main Event.

    She last competed on May 17th at a WWE Live Event in Cardiff, Wales as a participant in a Fatal Four Way for the RAW Women’s Championship. Becky Lynch would successfully defended her championship.

    There is no scheduled return date for Riott at this point in time. However, considering she is yet to receive surgery to her left shoulder, she will probably be out for quite a while.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxx7vDDlHMs/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Riott Squad

    Given that The Riott Squad were essentially disbanded following Liv Morgan’s move to SmackDown Live post-Superstar Shake-Up, that only leaves Sarah Logan as a potential representative for the group on Monday Night RAW.

    WWE has yet to really utilize either Logan or Morgan on their respective brands since the Shake-Up took place.

  • Chris Jericho Clarifies His Role In AEW

    Chris Jericho Clarifies His Role In AEW

    We are only days away from All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) highly anticipated event, Double Or Nothing.

    The show will see former WWE Superstar, Chris Jericho, face off against former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega. The winner of that match will proceed to face the winner of the Casino Battle Royale at a later date, with the subsequent victor becoming the inaugural AEW World Champion.

    Taking on his podcast, Talk Is Jericho, Chris Jericho hyped the event as he broke down the card. He would also provide further information on his role within the company, highlighting that he isn’t “part of the office.”

    “I am not one of the executive vice presidents or whatever the terms are. You know, Cody’s in there and Kenny and Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, and of course Tony Khan kind of heading everything up—but I know they have a lot of conversations, a lot of booking meetings, a lot of plans. I’m not privy to those conversations,” he clarified before adding “ “[…] I have nothing to do with that behind-the-scenes type hierarchy.”

    Double Or Nothing

    • Kip Sabian vs Sammy Guevara
    • Casino Battle Royale: Sonny Kiss, Brandon Cutler, Ace Romer, Glacier, Brian Pillman Jr., Sunny Daze, MJF, Joey Janela, Dustin Thomas, Billy Gunn, Jimmy Havoc, Michael Nakazawa, Jungle Boy, Isiah Kassidy, Marq Quen, Luchasaurus, Shawn Spears, TBD
    • Aja Kong, Yuka Sakazaki, and Emi Sakura vs. Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Ryo Mizunami
    • SCU vs Strong Hearts
    • Best Friends vs Angelico & Jack Evans
    • Britt Baker vs Nyla Rose vs Kylie Rae
    • Cody vs Dustin Rhodes
    • AAA Tag Team Championship Match:The Young Bucks vs the Lucha Bros
    • Kenny Omega vs Chris Jericho

    Double Or Nothing takes place this Saturday, May 25th, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

  • Ryback Comments On WWE’s “Grueling” Schedule

    Ryback Comments On WWE’s “Grueling” Schedule

    It’s not easy being a WWE Superstar. With so much travel, media, and actual wrestling, the job is understandably taxing on a Superstar’s physical and emotional well-being. Since the advent of the WWE Network and their original programming, WWE Superstar’s are expected to compete more frequently now than ever before.

    Former WWE Superstar, Ryback, has spoken out on his podcast, Conversations With The Big Guy, about WWE’s rigorous touring schedule, commenting on the promotion never having an offseason whilst their talent deal with constantly hurting whilst on the road.

    “You’ve got to adapt quickly to the schedule and [you’re] hurting all the time. That’s one of the best things about not being on the road. You wake up and it is just one thing after another. Because it is never-ending. There is no offseason or nothing,” he said. “[…] It is an adjustment for talent, booking your hotels, booking your rental cars, WWE takes care of your flights. But you must be good with your money. You are not just a professional wrestler. You’re a professional driver.”

    The time taken driving from one location to another for WWE tends to be done in long stints—a fact that can be dangerous, especially if you have to drive through the night.

    “I’m shocked that there have not been any deaths,” Ryback said. “Driving on one-way roads with semi-trucks. There have been nights I have been driving with my head bobbing, drinking my tenth coffee just to stay awake because I’m going on 45 minutes of sleep doing media in the morning. It’s a grueling schedule for the talent.”

    Ryback has been wrestling on the independent circuit since parting ways with WWE in 2016.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc. for the quotes.

  • Cesaro Reveals How He Discovered The Bar Had Been Disbanded

    Cesaro Reveals How He Discovered The Bar Had Been Disbanded

    Cesaro is back to competing in singles action after becoming one of the newest additions to Monday Night RAW. This move, made during the Superstar Shake-Up, saw the end of The Bar, his tag team with Sheamus.

    Turns out that Cesaro wasn’t even fully aware the team were being split up until WWE changed his travel plans. It was at this point that he realised that The Bar was no more.

    In an interview with TalkSport, Cesaro recounts discovering this news and his initial reaction to it.

    “[…] I was traded after the Superstar Shake-Up. So, I actually thought that The Bar may not have been broken up, you know? You never know! Then, all of a sudden I get a message like ‘Hey, your travel changed,’ and I’m like ‘Ah, OK yeah, guess I’m a RAW guy now!’

    This change brought a surprise end to the duo. They had been teaming together since 2016 after then General Manager, Mick Foley, forced them to team together after their best-of-seven series against one another.

    Addressing their beginnings, Cesaro stated that “”For all I know, yes, it was [Mick’s] idea to put us together. He saw something in that, and he was lobbying for the best-of-seven series and then to make us a team. So, thank you, Mick!”

    During their time as a team, The Bar would go on to win the RAW Tag Team Championships four times. They have also won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

  • Taz Talks About Brock Lesnar’s Money In The Bank Victory

    Taz Talks About Brock Lesnar’s Money In The Bank Victory

    Former WWE Superstar and commentator, Taz, has chimed with his thoughts on Brock Lesnar’s Money In The Bank victory. Lesnar would scale the ladder after making a surprise appearance, securing the briefcase and earning himself a guaranteed championship opportunity.

    Taz shared his thoughts on the Lesnar situation on his podcast, The Taz Show.

    “The internet wrestling community, the hardcore fanbase is really pissed off about it,” he observed. “Honestly, this might not be the popular thing but I thought it was great. Brock’s a superstar. And WWE right now needs as many superstars as possible. They need to build other stars but Brock’s a star. I know I’m in the minority when I put this thing over but I don’t care.”

    “It’s Heat For The Locker Room”

    He would add, however, that this comes from his point of view as a spectator. If he were still WWE talent, he admits that he would probably feel very differently.

    “I’m cool with Brock coming out and winning but as a former talent, I wouldn’t be cool with it. Looking at those men down selling, as a former worker, I felt for them,” he said. “These guys just busted their ass all this time in this match and put their bodies on the line, taking all these bumps on these f***ing ladders. And one guy comes out at the very end and doesn’t have to crack a sweat and wins the gimmick. It’s heat for the locker room.”

    Taz would praise Lesnar’s acumen for business, claiming that, if nothing else, “if you can get limited dates, you’re doing the right thing. I’ve always sung his praises as a businessman.”

    With the briefcase in hand, Lesnar has a choice over whether he will cash in against Seth Rollins or Kofi Kingston. He is scheduled to announce his intentions on next week’s episode of Monday Night RAW.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • The Revival Aim To Prove Themselves To Vince McMahon

    The Revival Aim To Prove Themselves To Vince McMahon

    The Revival is committed to proving that they are the best tag team on WWE’s roster.

    Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder were able to pick up a victory over RAW newcomers, The Usos, this past Monday.

    In a backstage interview with Cathy Kelley, the pair discussed their rivalry with The Usos, calling them immature and childish, before declaring their ambitions to prove themselves as the absolute best.

    “What momentum exactly are you talking about? Taking videos of us shaving each other’s backs or putting Uce-Hot in our trunks, or basically trying to make a mockery out of The Revival? We had nothing but respect for The Usos coming into this, nothing but respect, but they want to do that, they want to play childish games. That’s what they want to do, that’s how they want to handle this? I don’t see the momentum,” Wilder said.

    “Yeah, no momentum,” Dawson added. “They’re immature. We had our perception of The Usos, and our perception was completely crushed. We were looking forward to this because we wanted to prove to The Usos, to each other, to the WWE Universe, and to the man, the big man in the office, that we are the absolute best tag team he’s got on this roster.”

    Given their victory, the team would claim that they got the last laugh over the Usos before Wilder signed off, saying “So I guess, Usos, the joke’s on you now. Top guys out.”

    Prior to this, The Revival would play victim to several pranks at the hands of Jimmy and Jey Uso as the two debuted on Monday Night RAW after the Superstar Shake-Up.

  • Information On Changes Made As RAW Aired

    Information On Changes Made As RAW Aired

    It has been reported that the script for this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW was still not finalized as the show began.

    According to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com, that’s not totally true—though he did reveal WWE’s backstage was allegedly “extremely disorganized.”

    “Disaster is a funny word because when I watched the show, […] the only thing on the show I thought was a disaster was the 24/7 stuff. The rest of it was just normal stuff. Apparently, backstage it was extremely disorganized and things were being changed as the show was going on. Matches were changed, and maybe that’s why Baron Corbin got pinned.”

    He added that the promotion kept some of the segments as they were initially scripted, before saying “It’s not like they nix everything. They just change some percentages of it because Vince is on a whim. What are you gonna do? I have no explanation for this. Yeah, it just is what it is. WCW used to be like this.”

    WWE’s creative team and writing staff have been under heavy scrutiny these past few months. Clear attempts have been made to shake up their main roster shows, RAW and SmackDown, with varying degrees of success.

    The latest in their attempt to freshen their programming comes in the form of the newly announced 24/7 Championship, currently held by R-Truth. This comes off the back of the recent Superstar Shake-Up and the subsequent Wild Card ruling weeks later.

    https://youtu.be/J9vO7QpHpeg
  • Charlotte Responds To Rusev’s Sarcastic Twitter Comments

    Charlotte Responds To Rusev’s Sarcastic Twitter Comments

    This past Sunday at WWE’s Money In The Bank event, Charlotte Flair faced off against long-time rival, Becky Lynch.

    Flair would eventually emerge victorious, claiming the SmackDown Women’s championship. It would be a short lived reign.

    Shortly after, Bayley would cash in her newly won Money In The Bank briefcase, pinning Flair and becoming the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.

    Not everyone was thrilled for Flair increasing her championship stats, however.

    Taking to Twitter, SmackDown Live Superstar, Rusev, tweeted out:

    “Wow when it’s all said and done @MsCharlotteWWE will be 35 time world champ!!! The greatest superstar in the history of superstars. Teach me”

    Now, Charlotte has responded.

    Three Simple Steps

    Firing back on her own Twitter account, Charlotte responded to Rusev’s passive aggressive message with “First, win one, then I’ll show you what I can”.

    Rusev, rising to the bait, responded with a one-word reply: “How” accompanied with an emoji of a man shrugging.

    The Queen’s response included a strategic breakdown in an effort to help Rusev achieve similar championship glory.

    According to her, Rusev should first change his name. The second step is demonstrated with the woman emoji shrugging. Finally, the final step in her easy three-step plan simply stated “Championships”.

  • Braun Strowman Believes It Is “Inevitable” He Will Become Universal Champion

    Braun Strowman Believes It Is “Inevitable” He Will Become Universal Champion

    Braun Strowman has accomplished a lot during his time as a main event Superstar.

    “The Monster Amongst Men” is not only a Money In The Bank winner, he also won the Greatest Royal Rumble and is an ex-RAW Tag Team Champion with his partner, Nicholas. Most recently he emerged victorious in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at this year’s WrestleMania 35.

    One prize continues to elude him, however: the WWE Universal Championship.

    “It’s Motivation To Keep Working Harder”

    Despite being primed for numerous title opportunities, Braun has yet to call RAW’s red championship belt his own.

    In an interview with Daily Star Online, Strowman addressed his championship aspirations. He claimed that 2019 will be the year in which he climbs back up the mountain.

    “[…] it is a little frustrating as it’s been so close so many times,” Braun admitted. “Literally had my fingertips on it, but it’s motivation to keep working harder.”

    “The big goal this year is getting back in that WWE Universal Championship picture as I have slid down the mountain a little bit.”

    He continued, “But I am going to keep clawing tooth and nail to get back as it’s the one thing that’s eluded me. I want it, I am hungry, and the monster’s ready to eat.”

    “You Can’t Fight The Inevitable”

    Strowman believes it’s only a matter of time until he claims the Universal Championship, calling it “inevitable.” According to him “you can’t fight the inevitable. Its gonna happen.”

    Braun Strowman is scheduled to face off against former Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley. The two will face off on June 7th, 2019, for WWE’s Super ShowDown event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

  • AJ Styles Reveals What He Said To Seth Rollins After Their Match At Money In The Bank

    AJ Styles Reveals What He Said To Seth Rollins After Their Match At Money In The Bank

    Seth Rollins and AJ Styles had a phenomenal match at Money In The Bank, with Rollins managing to successfully defend his Universal Championship.

    After the match had concluded, the two shook hands. As they did, Styles said something to Rollins that wasn’t caught on camera.

    In an interview with Newsweek, Styles divulged what he told Seth Rollins at that moment. He also addressed his next steps and ambitions for gold.

    “I told Seth I was right when I said 13 years ago that he would be something special in this business,” he said.

    “We both respected each other that was never in question,” Styles said. “It was two guys, two egos and a lot of testosterone that you’re going to get a fight when two big dogs get next to each other. Tempers go awry and next thing you know we’re fighting and it is what it is, but when it’s over and someone comes out the better man you shake hands.”

    “I Want To Be Universal Champion Before My Career Is Over”

    But just because he lost once, doesn’t mean his journey towards the Universal Championship and a potential rematch against Seth Rollins is over. He promised that this loss is “100 per cent” not the end.

    “Just because you lose doesn’t mean it’s over,” Styles said. “I’ve lost before. I’ve lost the WWE championship before. You find your way back into the hunt. You may get derailed by going to the back of the line but you want what you want. And I want to be Universal Champion before my career is over.”

  • Ali Takes A Shot At Brock Lesnar Over Money In The Bank

    Ali Takes A Shot At Brock Lesnar Over Money In The Bank

    Not everyone was happy to see Brock Lesnar make a surprise entrance this past Sunday at Money In The Bank.

    When “The Beast Incarnate” arrived, he injured a couple of cameraman with a ladder as he stampeded towards the ring to claim the Money In The Bank briefcase.

    Once inside, he would confront SmackDown Live Superstar, Ali.

    Ali, who was ready to secure the briefcase, instead found himself getting busted up at the hands of the Beast. Lesnar would go on to unhook the briefcase and become the winner of the 2019 Money In The Bank Ladder Match.

    Clearly unhappy with how the matchup transpired, Ali took to Twitter to take a jab at the former Universal champion:

    “Look at the bright side, @brocklesnar climbing a ladder is the most wrestling he’s done all year.”

    Mocking The Beast

    Ali isn’t the only wrestler to be outspoken over WWE’s decision.

    All Elite Wrestling wrestler, and former WWE Superstar, Chris Jericho was one of the first to mock the decision:

    “Awesome to see @BrockLesnar win the #MoneyInTheBank match…even though he wasn’t officially entered! Brock is the future of the biz and this perfect example of genius booking shows why @WWE will remain on top FOREVER! #GoBrockGo”

    Brock Lesnar would appear on last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW to gloat about his victory. The question remains, however, over whom he will cash the briefcase against: Seth Rollins or Kofi Kingston?

  • Rey Mysterio Injured, WWE To Address State Of The United States Championship Next Week on RAW

    Rey Mysterio Injured, WWE To Address State Of The United States Championship Next Week on RAW

    Rey Mysterio emerged as the United States Champion during Money In The Bank. He earned a surprisingly quick victory over Samoa Joe. After the match, Joe would ambush and beat down the new champ in front of his son, Dominick.

    Unfortunately, it turns out that Mysterio suffered a legitimate injury during his match with Joe. He allegedly separated his shoulder on his way to a win—albeit a controversial one, given that Joe’s shoulder was not on the mat.

    This injury was acknowledged by WWE on Monday Night RAW, with the company teasing the future of the United States championship given Rey’s injury.

    They highlighted that Rey won the matchup due to a bad call by the official and stated that the WWE Universe can find out what will happen to the state of the championship next week on Monday Night RAW.


    “There Will Be Justice”

    In an effort to continue incorporating Mysterio’s son into the feud, Samoa Joe has sent out a veiled threat directed at Dominick.

    “There will be justice, lest the Son suffer the sins of the Father..”

    In a backstage segment, he gave Rey Mysterio an opportunity to “do the right thing and hand me back my United States championship. Rey, I’m giving you the opportunity to lead by example. So be the man that I know you hope Dominick grows to be. Because if you don’t, just imagine the example that I will set for you.”

  • Carmella Calls Out Mandy Rose For Being Unsafe

    Carmella Calls Out Mandy Rose For Being Unsafe

    The Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match would kickstart WWE’s recent event this past Sunday. It’s often advertised as a dangerous, high stakes matchup where its competitors don’t always come away the way they entered.

    Unfortunately, this appears to be the case for at least one of the women involved.

    During the matchup, Carmella appeared to suffer an injury to her knee after an exchange with Mandy Rose. The two had an awkward exchange in the ring after Carmella seemingly suffered the injury, refusing to engage with Mandy Rose and telling her to go away.

    Taking to Twitter, she would lash out after being baited by a recent tweet by Mandy, which read:

    “Aw how’s your knee hunny? Also, go back to being a brunette, you’re never gonna look like me. #MITB #GodsGreatestCreation”

    Carmella would Tweet (and delete) the following reply:

    “Trust me, I don’t wanna look like you babe. You could never pull off both. Also, go back to NXT and learn how to be safe in the ring.”

    View post on imgur.com

    Whether the injury is legit or not is up for debate, especially as the “Staten Island Princess” would return late into the matchup in her efforts to become a three-time Money In The Bank winner.

    What isn’t up for debate, however, is Carmella’s frustration with Mandy Rose—a frustration that may just play out on WWE.

  • Information About Referee Botches At Money In The Bank

    Information About Referee Botches At Money In The Bank

    Everybody makes mistakes, but it turns out that WWE’s referees may have been making theirs deliberately. At least, that appears to be the case coming out of their recent event, Money In The Bank, which took place this past Sunday.

    Commenting on the perceived botches made by WWE officials at the event, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com said the following:

    “It was so obvious that it was part of the scripting of the match. That was so obvious. That was the theme of the show, that was the second time in a row they did it,” he explained.

    “They weren’t both screw-ups. No, this was obviously part of the match. That’s why I’m so sure that it wasn’t a screw up because they played off of the idea of that [WrestleMania] screw-up. It was so clear.”

    He would continue, highlighting that the way the commentary team addressed the officiating made it apparent the “mistakes” were “very clearly a part of the story of the match.”

    At least two matches at Money In The Bank featured obvious referee botches. The first being Shane McMahon versus The Miz, where Miz’s pin was incorrectly broken up by a rope break during their steel cage match. The second saw Mysterio pick up the win over Samoa Joe, despite Joe’s shoulder being off the canvas. This victory would see Mysterio win the United States Championship.

    So it appears that in an effort to continue justifying Becky Lynch’s WrestleMania 35 victory—which caused controversy due to a pinfall being made despite Ronda Rousey’s shoulder being off the mat—WWE has decided to purposely make their officiating team unable to correctly officiate their matches.

  • Conrad Thompson On Whether WWE Made Concessions For The Undertaker At Starrcast II

    Conrad Thompson On Whether WWE Made Concessions For The Undertaker At Starrcast II

    In a recent media call hyping up the highly anticipated Starrcast II event, Conrad Thompson addressed the fact that WWE Superstar, The Undertaker, was pulled from the proceedings.

    When queried by Wrestling Inc. whether they had received any sort of concession from WWE, Thompson replied, “No concessions were made to me. Absolutely none. It would have been nice if that were to be the case.”

    He explained that he made alternative pitches to try and compensate for The Undertaker no longer appearing. Though every time he suggested a new name, including the McMahons and Shawn Michaels, he was denied.

    “They Had A Contract With Me And Ultimately Did Not Honor It”

    Conrad clarified that he “[…] booked The Undertaker through Get Engaged Media and wired my deposit to Get Engaged Media and I had a contract with Get Engaged Media and I was contacted by Get Engaged Media to let me know WWE would not allow The Undertaker to appear.”

    “So, unfortunately, WWE is getting painted with the ugly stick here and I think The Undertaker has too and I think that’s a little unfair,” he said, before explaining that “My deal is with Get Engaged Media who marketed and advertised him on social media. They had a contract with me and ultimately did not honor it. The heat should not be with WWE or The Undertaker. It’s Undertaker’s representation, Get Engaged Media.”

    Holy Grail

    Although The Undertaker will no longer be at Starrcast II, WWE has allowed the event the opportunity to screen the 1986 dark match between Bret Hart and Tom Magee—a match that has recently resurfaced and is cosidered a “Holy Grail” in pro wrestling.

    Starrcast II takes place between May 23-26th in Las Vegas, Nevada from Caesars Palace.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • More Information On The Anxiety Issues Lars Sullivan Suffered Earlier This Year

    More Information On The Anxiety Issues Lars Sullivan Suffered Earlier This Year

    Lars Sullivan’s past racist and bigoted comments have been a focal point of conversation amongst fans in recent weeks.

    Despite their awareness of said comments, WWE still wanted to go ahead with a significant push for the Superstar. In an effort to demonstrate a reprimanding, the company has since levelled Sullivan with a legitimate $100,000 fine and sensitivity training that he must undertake.

    Prior to his initial call up, however, there were rumblings that Sullivan was due to debut in a major feud with John Cena. This rivalry would have culminated at WrestleMania 35, providing Cena with a big match and Lars an opportunity to shine on the “Grandest Stage Of Them All” with the Babe Ruth of WWE.

    But things didn’t pan out that way.

    Sullivan would suffer serious anxiety issues before the storyline could begin, nixing his own main roster debut in the process. His anxiety issues would see him take time off to deal with his problems, with many believing he suffered stage fright from the pressure.

    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, however, says this isn’t the case. Instead, the anxiety was directly related to his concerns over his comments coming to light and having obvious repercussions on him, his career, those close to him, as well as WWE.

    Despite trying to deal with the issue internally, having known about these comments for at least a year, the news still came out over his past.

    Sullivan has since released an official statement and has apologised personally to several WWE talent, including The New Day and Titus O’Neil.

  • Scott Hall Calls Out Promotion For Falsely Advertising An Appearance

    Scott Hall Calls Out Promotion For Falsely Advertising An Appearance

    It appears as though an independent promotion has been falsely advertising WWE Hall Of Famer, Scott Hall, for an upcoming event. They may have gotten away with it, too, until “The Bad Guy” found out.

    Vanguard Championship Wrestling has allegedly been adverting Hall for a “special guest appearance” during their June 15th show, which takes place in Norfolk, Virginia.

    As of writing, the company are still advertising Hall’s appearance, with a prominent post at the top of their website. His name and image are also used on other advertising materials for the event, such as flyers, etc.

    The Good Guy

    Hall, upon seeing this, took to Twitter to put things straight:

    “ATTENTION PLEASE : Hey yo VCW please stop advertising me for an appearance you never contacted me about. I will NOT be at the VCW event on June 15 th . Thanks”

    https://twitter.com/SCOTTHALLNWO/status/1129047544552742914

    Unfortunately, some fans have already bought tickets based on the opportunity to meet Scott Hall, as one Twitter interaction demonstrates. When one fan reached out to him, Hall responded:

    “Never heard from anyone connected to that company and have been booked in Texas on that date for months”

    Another pointed out that, by pointing out that he’s not going to be there, Hall has, in essence, given the promotion free advertising. Hall replied, saying he “Just wanted fans to know in advance so they don’t get ripped off” before informing everyone that he has a booking that day—it just happens to be in Texas.

    https://twitter.com/SCOTTHALLNWO/status/1129090897419935744