SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Alexa Bliss is Confident She is WWE Hall of Famer Material

    Alexa Bliss is Confident She is WWE Hall of Famer Material

    For the past two years, Alexa Bliss has been one of WWE’s most prominently featured Superstars.

    In mid-2020, Bliss became part of Bray Wyatt’s ‘The Fiend’ storyline, which she kept going after the former Universal Champion’s release in July 2021.

    Before being involved with The Fiend, Bliss saw success in both singles and tag-team action.

    The first woman to hold both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, Bliss is a former Women’s Tag Team Champion and captured the 24/7 Championship earlier this year.

    Hall of Famer

    With her memorable storylines and championship reigns, it’s easy for Bliss to be considered a future WWE Hall of Famer.

    Speaking on the MackMania podcast, Alexa was asked whether she thinks she deserves to join the likes of Chyna, Mae Young, Trish Stratus, and Lita (via Sportskeeda.)

    “I think on paper, yes. On paper, I could be a Hall of Famer, 100%. You know, I’ve been very fortunate with the opportunities I’ve had in WWE, especially in my first couple of years on the roster.”

    Bliss gave no indication as to who could induct her when she becomes a WWE Hall of Famer.

    An Entire Class

    Alexa Bliss sees herself as a future WWE Hall of Famer, but she’s not the only current Superstar worthy of the honor.

    In that same interview, the former Women’s Champion also praised WWE’s current women’s roster.

    “On paper our whole women’s division technically yes, could be Hall of Famers.”

    Alexa Bliss on the current WWE’s Women’s division.

    WWE boasts an impressive women’s roster, including Charlotte Flair, who holds the record for the most Women’s Title reigns ever, as well as Becky Lynch, the first (and to-date only) woman to hold the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships simultaneously.

    Alexa Bliss Just Won her First Championship in Over Two Years
  • Edge on his Wrestling Career: “The End is in Sight”

    Edge on his Wrestling Career: “The End is in Sight”

    At the 2020 Royal Rumble Pay Per View, Edge made his in-ring return, almost nine years after his last match.

    It was on the post-WrestleMania 27 Raw in 2011 that Edge announced his in-ring retirement due to neck issues, and it was believed he’d never wrestle again.

    Since returning, Edge has feuded with some of WWE’s biggest stars including AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins.

    The End is Near

    Edge’s return to wrestling is nothing short of a miracle, but the WWE Hall of Famer will one-day have to retire all over again.

    Speaking with Bleacher Report for a new interview, Edge made it clear he’s well aware that he is on borrowed time.

    “I am enjoying and soaking in every moment with the complete realization that it’s going to end soon. I know the end is in sight and I can see it, and because of that, it makes me enjoy it more.”

    “I know the end is in sight and I can see it.”

    Edge on his return to pro-wrestling.

    What’s Left for Edge?

    Edge has accomplished plenty throughout his wrestling career, but there are some accolades left for the Rated-R Superstar to tick off his proverbial bucket list.

    The WWE Hall of Famer has headlined WrestleMania twice (24 and 37) but is yet to win the final match on WWE’s biggest event of the year.

    Edge is also yet to become Universal Champion, something he tried to do in 2021.

    More immediately, Edge will compete on tonight’s Raw in his native Toronto, facing Damian Priest.

    It is expected that he will compete at next month’s Clash at the Castle.

    Edge Confirms Reports About Judgement Day
  • Former WWE Star Exits Impact Wrestling

    Former WWE Star Exits Impact Wrestling

    Impact Wrestling has been around for over 20 years and boasts an impressive roster of wrestlers.

    Despite some shaky years, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, Impact has emerged the other side a stronger company and has a loyfal fanbase, ready to support the wrestlers and the company.

    Impact Wrestling has a stacked roster, but it will have to operate without Tenille Dashwood.

    Tenille Dashwood Gone from Impact

    Tenille Dashwood

    Tenille Dashwood has departed Impact Wrestling. On Sunday, she confirmed her status as a free agent for the first time in 3 years.

    Dashwood’s most recent match for Impact was nearly two months ago, losing to Masha Slamovich in just over one minute at the July 2, tapings, which would air two weeks later.

    Since her most recent appearance for IMPACT, Dashwood has competed in several matches in her native Australian for the WSW promotion.

    On the tour with WSW, Dashwood picked up wins over Shazza McKenzie and Chelsea Green, but failed to capture the WSW Women’s Championship from Taya Valkyrie.

    Dashwood in Impact

    Tenille Dashwood

    In July 2019, Impact announced that Dashwood had signed a deal with the promotion, after previously competing for WWE and Ring of Honor.

    One of Dashwood’s first matches after signing however would be at AEW All Out 2019 Pay Per View, where she’d be part of a 21-woman Casino Battle Royale on the pre-show.

    In Impact, Dashwood would immediately become a challenger for the Knockout’s World Championship, but lost to then-Champion Taya Valkyrie at Bound for Glory 2019.

    It wouldn’t be until March 5, 2022, four days after her 33rd birthday, that Dashwood would capture her first Championship.

    That win saw Dashwood and Madison Rayne win the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship by defeating The IInspiration.

  • Karrion Kross & Scarlett to Appear at Indie Events Despite WWE Return

    Karrion Kross & Scarlett to Appear at Indie Events Despite WWE Return

    On the post-Summerslam 2022 edition of SmackDown, Karrion Kross and Scarlett returned to WWE.

    The pair had been released in November 2021 as part of ‘budget cuts’ mere months after WWE had promoted the two-time former NXT Champion to the main roster.

    Kross made an impact upon his return to WWE, attacking Drew McIntyre and facing off with Roman Reigns.

    Making Appearances

    Prior to his return to WWE, Kross (under the name Killer Kross) appeared for several promotions, including Chikara, CYN, MLW and NJPW Strong.

    On Twitter, Kross confirmed that from now on, he will only be competing in WWE rings and on WWE TV.

    However, the company is allowing both Kross and Scarlett to appear at independent events that had already been booked prior to the duo’s return to WWE.

    Kross made it clear these appearances will be for meet-and-greets only and that fans should not expect either of them to wrestle.

    The SmackDown Superstar added that he will only appear if the event does not overlap with his WWE schedule which takes precedence.

    The Main Event

    While Kross’ first stint on WWE’s main roster, his return has been an incredible sight to behold.

    Upon returning, Kross has been thrust into the main event scene, involving himself in the storyline between WWE’s arguable two biggest stars (Reigns and McIntyre.)

    It is believed that Kross and McIntyre will feud after WWE Clash at the Castle next month.

    There have been reports that WWE is planning for Reigns to face Kross at Survivor Series 2022 this coming November.

    Karrion Kross Reveals His Reaction To WWE Return
  • Charlotte Flair Claims Becky Lynch Title Exchange Controversy was an Accident

    Charlotte Flair Claims Becky Lynch Title Exchange Controversy was an Accident

    In October 2021, then-Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair was drafted to SmackDown on FOX.

    Mere months earlier, Raw Superstar Becky Lynch had captured the SmackDown Women’s Title after over a year away due to pregnancy.

    On the October 22, 2021, episode of SmackDown, a segment saw the two switch titles, to correspond with their respective brands.

    Going Off-Script

    During the segment, the two former friends took digs at each other, and Flair was said to have gone off-script.

    Instead of handing the title to Lynch as planned, Flair dropped the Raw Women’s Title on the floor, which is said to have left Lynch furious.

    Once backstage the pair got into a heated argument which led to Flair being escorted from the building.

    An Accident

    Flair dropping the title was the latest issue between the two former friends and was widely reported at the time.

    The second-generation wrestler was condemned for her going off-script, but that’s not what happened according to Charlotte.

    While speaking on Steve Austin’s “The Broken Skull Sessions,” Charlotte said that what happened was just an accident (via The Sportster.)

    “I wish I could sit here and tell you that I did it on purpose but if people need me to be that bad guy, I’ll be that bad guy. Things happen on screen. I would never go on a scripted television show and purposely do something on purpose…It was accidental.”

    “If people need me to be that bad guy, I’ll be that bad guy.”

    Charlotte Flair denying that her title-belt dropping was deliberate.

    Lynch would later lose the Raw Women’s Championship to Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 38.

    While Flair would retain her SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania, she’d lose the gold to Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania Backlash.

    Becky Lynch Provides Injury Recovery Update
  • WWE TV Has More Wrestling Since Triple H Took Over Creative

    WWE TV Has More Wrestling Since Triple H Took Over Creative

    Triple H is putting the “wrestling” back in WWE.

    When Vince McMahon retired from WWE in July, his son-in-law Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque replaced the ex-Chairman as Head of Creative.

    As both the Head of Creative and Head of Talent Creative, Triple H has implemented several changes, bringing back several Superstars released under the previous regime.

    The change in WWE management has also had an impact on the in-ring action, as the wrestling in ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’ has become more prominent.

    More Wrestling

    Since the “King of Kings” took over as head of WWE’s Creative department, there has been a notable uptake in the amount of wrestling, fans get to see.

    Data from Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reveals that in the four weeks of Raw’s since Triple H took over, there has been an increase in the number of minutes dedicated to wrestling per hour.

    The most action-packed Raw was the August 1, 2022, episode of the red brand, which saw 26 minutes of wrestling per hour, totaling one hour and 18 minutes of in-ring work over the three hours.

    In the data, the show with the lowest amount of wrestling as the April 4, Raw, the night after WWE WrestleMania 38, which averaged 12 minutes of in-ring action per hour, or 36 minutes in total.

    For SmackDown, the most action-packed episode was the July 29, 2022, show, the go-home event before Summerslam, which had 25 minutes of wrestling per hour, or 50 minutes in total.

    The worst offender was the July 8 episode, the first SmackDown after Money in the Bank 2022, which saw seven minutes of wresting per hour, 14 minutes across the entire show.

    WWE fans have been eager to see what this “new era” brings. With Triple H serving as the new head of talent relations, he’s already brought back several performers including Dakota Kai, Io Sky, Hit Row, Karrion Kross and Scarlett. As the head of creative, it’s encouraging that we’re already seeing more in-ring wrestling per week.

  • Miro Fires Back at Comments About Lana’s Wrestling

    Miro Fires Back at Comments About Lana’s Wrestling

    In 2014, WWE called up Rusev and Lana to the main roster, with the latter serving as the manager for the Bulgarian wrestler. 

    Years later, Lana would enter the ring herself, and challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2017 in a losing effort. 

    In 2020, Lana seemed on the cusp of a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship win, though that didn’t happen, and she was released in July 2021. 

    Okish

    Lana, now going by CJ Perry, may have left WWE without a title win to her name, but she faced plenty of big stars during her years with the promotion. 

    Former and current Champions including Mandy Rose, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler have all come up short against the “Ravishing Russian.”

    Despite this, some believe Lana accomplished little in the ring, and in a recent tweet, Cageside Seats branded her an “okish” wrestler.

    In response, Miro praised his wife as a “better wrestler then 95% of the entire locker room” and added that she is also the “best manager.

    He also blasted Cageside Seats reporting as “okish.”

    In response, Cageside Seats didn’t apologize but said they “accept this criticism.”

    A Reunion in AEW?

    CJ Perry hasn’t wrestled since being released from WWE last year, but there have been talks about her in AEW.

    Recently Miro made reference to his wife during a segment when Julia Hart tried to convince him to join the House of Black to no avail.

    After the segment, Perry spoke on Busted Open Radio, saying she was “furious” by Hart’s actions.

    She added that she would love to do something with her husband in AEW, and hopes she gets the chance.

    Lana & Miro Comment On Her WWE Release
  • Ric Flair Names WWE Legend Who Doesn’t Belong in the Hall of Fame

    Ric Flair Names WWE Legend Who Doesn’t Belong in the Hall of Fame

    In 2008, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, marking the first-time an active Superstar had received the honor.

    Flair retired (the first time) the next night, losing to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, but wasn’t finished being inducted.

    Four years later, Flair was inducted yet again, this time as part of the Four Horsemen faction, becoming the first-ever two-time inductee into WWE’s Hall of Fame.

    Doesn’t Belong

    At this time, there are a total 234 entries into the WWE Hall of Fame, consisting of individual Superstars, Tag-Teams, Stables, Celebrity inductees, and Warrior Award recipients.

    The Warrior Award is in honor of the Ultimate Warrior, who during his 2014 induction, addressed the idea of an award for the unsung heroes working within WWE.

    On the latest edition of his ‘To Be The Man’ podcast, however, Flair addressed the Warrior’s legacy, and why he feels he doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame (via WrestleTalk.)

    “You hold up the company, then you sue them – which he [The Ultimate Warrior] did, and then you end up in the Hall of Fame… There’s a lot of people in the Hall of Fame that are there for – I can’t figure out any rhyme or reason why they would be other than political stuff.”

    Suing the Company

    Flair is referencing Warrior’s lawsuits against WWE in 1996 and 1998, when the two sides fought for ownership of the Ultimate Warrior character.

    The courts ruled that Warrior was legally entitled to use the gimmick, costuming, face paint designs, and mannerisms of the WWE character.

    In January 2006, Warrior would again sue WWE, this time for libel following the release of the ‘The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior’ DVD.

    The documentary saw several Superstars have unflattering comments about Warrior, though his libel case was thrown out in September 2009.

    Ric Flair Reveals Thoughts On His Final Match
  • There is “A Ton of Backstage Drama” in AEW Right Now

    There is “A Ton of Backstage Drama” in AEW Right Now

    During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, CM Punk challenged ‘Hangman’ Adam Page to a title match, which was not accepted by the Cowboy.

    It has since been reported that Punk’s actions were not part of the plans for the show, and that the AEW World Champion knew that Page was not scheduled to appear on the show.

    Seemingly going into business for himself, Punk’s promo has sparked a discussion among fans about reported real-life beef between himself and the man he dethroned as AEW World Champion in May.

    Backstage Drama

    Punk and Page appear to have some issues, but they are not the only ones who are causing things to be tense behind the scenes.

    Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that “a ton of backstage drama involving many of the top guys that has gotten much worse in recent weeks.”

    Meltzer added that AEW President Tony Khan may have no other choice but to arrange a meeting with everyone to “air everything out” before things get any worse.

    “It feels like a number of people are close to their breaking point if things don’t get settled.”

    Dave Meltzer on the tensions within AEW right now.

    Unhappy Talent

    Punk may have a problem with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, but the reigning AEW World Champion isn’t the only unhappy talent right now.

    Earlier this month, Miro liked a tweet suggesting that he had it better in WWE, where he became a three-time United States Champion as ‘Rusev.’

    A separate tweet, that argued that Miro was being wasted in AEW, and the same went for Andrade El Idolo, was liked by the former NXT Champion.

    CM Punk’s UFC Opponent Reacts To Recent Controversy
  • Predicting the Main Event of AEW All Out 2022

    Predicting the Main Event of AEW All Out 2022

    When CM Punk returned from injury on last week’s AEW Dynamite, fans were excited for him to get back in the ring.

    On this week’s Dynamite, Punk confirmed that his first match back will be at AEW All Out 2022, where he and Jon Moxley will unify the Lineal and Interim World Championships.

    Later in the show, however, Moxley convinced Punk that the match should happen on next week’s episode of Dynamite instead.

    With All Out’s scheduled main event now happening next week instead, there are several possible routes AEW could go.

    AEW World Champion CM Punk Vs. Interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley

    Just because Punk Vs. Moxley has been announced for next week’s Dynamite, the two could still face off at All Out 2022.

    It was confirmed on Dynamite that Punk and Moxley will face off to unify the two World Championships next week, but that doesn’t mean it will happen.

    There’s no shortage of title matches ending in a no-contest, which usually means that the champion retains their title.

    In this instance, both champions would retain, presumably after a mass brawl, featuring the Blackpool Combat Club and the Jericho Appreciation Society disrupting the match.

    Not only does AEW get the expected viewership boost on next week’s Dynamite, but they still get the unification match at All Out, possibly in some sort of stipulation to prevent interference.

    AEW Undisputed World Champion CM Punk Vs. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page

    CM Punk brand ‘Hangman’ Adam Page a “coward” during this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite.

    If AEW commits to crowning an Undisputed World Champion next week, odds are the winner will be CM Punk.

    Moxley only became champion due to Punk’s injury, and it’s unlikely that Tony Khan, after paying a fortune to bring Punk in, wants his title reign to end on such a whimper.

    On this week’s Dynamite, Punk addressed Moxley, but he also had some serious beef with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.

    Punk challenged Page to a title match, aware that the Hangman wasn’t in the building, and branded the former Champion a “coward.”

    While it’s been reported that Punk’s comment wasn’t part of the plan, it appears that AEW is setting up a rematch between Page and the AEW World Champion.

    A rematch may have been the plan all along, but delayed due to Punk’s injury, and the two could face off at All Out.

    AEW Undisputed World Champion CM Punk Vs. MJF

    Are we less than a week away from the return of MJF?

    The same night that CM Punk got injured, MJF cut a scathing promo on AEW, culminating in begging Tony Khan to fire him.

    MJF’s promo, which was based on some real-life grievances, is that Khan spends too much money and attention on ex-WWE Superstars.

    CM Punk is a prime example of that, as Khan has paid a ton to bring in the former WWE Champion, who has been pushed as AEW’s top star since joining the company last year.

    MJF hasn’t been seen since his June 1, promo, but it may finally be time to bring him back.

    The Salt of the Earth is also the only man in AEW to hold a victory over Punk, defeating the AEW World Champion on the February 2, 2022, Dynamite.

    A post-match attack on Punk could be the perfect way to bring MJF back, setting up a very personal war for All Out.

    CM Punk Calling Out Hangman Page on AEW Dynamite Was Not Planned
  • NXT Europe is WWE’s Newest Brand, Launching in 2023

    NXT Europe is WWE’s Newest Brand, Launching in 2023

    WWE is the most recognizable brand of professional wrestling on the planet and is watched by millions of fans around the world.

    Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, WWE would regularly tour internationally and has returned to touring overseas over the past year.

    Now, the company is looking to branch out even further than before.

    NXT Europe

    WWE is already the global force in professional wrestling, but will soon be expanding with the launch of NXT Europe.

    The new brand, as the name suggests, will operate within the titular continent and has been confirmed to be launching at some point next year.

    In a statement on WWE’s Corporate website, WWE’s Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels said he believes this is the right time for NXT Europe.

    “Given the success of NXT UK, we felt like it was time to expand beyond that.”

    Shawn Michaels on NXT Europe

    The statement also highlighted some of the names who have started in WWE in NXT UK, including Rhea Ripley, Butch, and Intercontinental Champion Gunther.

    The full statement can be found here.

    The Future of NXT UK

    With NXT Europe launching, the new brand will have an impact on the already-existing NXT UK

    In his statement, Michaels confirmed that NXT UK will go on a “brief hiatus” in preparation of the new brand.

    The two-time WWE Hall of Famer said that the hiatus will begin after World’s Collide, and the show was confirmed in the company’s statement.

    On this week’s Heatwave special of NXT 2.0, several NXT UK Superstars appeared, setting up the crossover show.

    WWE NXT UK Tapings Canceled, Uneasiness Among Talents
  • WWE Announces NXT Worlds Collide – The Same Day as AEW All Out

    WWE Announces NXT Worlds Collide – The Same Day as AEW All Out

    Since AEW launched in 2019, the promotion has been at odds with WWE in a fight for viewers.

    For over a year, AEW Dynamite went head-to-head with WWE NXT in the Wednesday Night Wars, which Tony Khan’s promotion would ultimately win.

    Now, the two companies are set to go head-to-head once more, on a bigger scale.

    World’s Collide

    During this week’s NXT Heatwave special edition of the show, several stars from NXT UK made their presence felt.

    The first surprise appearance came by Gallus, who attacked the Diamond Mine but later attacked fellow NXT UK Superstars Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen.

    Blair Davenport later appeared on the show in a segment with Indi Hartwell, while NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate confronted NXT Champion Bron Breakker after the latter’s victory in the main event.

    In a statement on WWE’s Corporate website, the company confirmed that this crossover is for World’s Collide, which will take place on September 4, the same day as AEW All Out.

    WWE’s statement comes after Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the two shows will face off, and that Triple H will be overseeing things.

    “Hunter is all in on this.”

    Dave Meltzer on NXT World’s Collide.

    No matches have been confirmed for the NXT & NXT UK crossover event.

    Possible Card

    WWE has not confirmed the crossover event for September 4, so no matches have been confirmed either.

    After this week’s NXT 2.0, it’s likely that Tyler Bate will face Bron Breakker are the show.

    If WWE goes down the route of Champions Vs Champions (like Survivor Series) then certain matches are expected.

    NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose would face NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura unless either woman loses their titles in the coming weeks.

    NXT Tag Team Champions The Creed Brothers are likely to face NXT UK Tag Team Champions Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen.

    Killer Kross: NXT Talent Were Too Focused On Competing With AEW
  • Eddie Kingston Lashes Out at CM Punk After AEW Dynamite Dig

    Eddie Kingston Lashes Out at CM Punk After AEW Dynamite Dig

    On last week’s AEW Dynamite, CM Punk returned to TV after over two months away due to a foot injury.

    This week, Punk said that he and Jon Moxley would unify the AEW World Championships at All Out, but Moxley later convinced Punk to have the match next week.

    This will mark Punk’s first match since the June 1, edition of AEW Dynamite when he and FTR defeated the Gunn Club and Max Caster

    Kingston Hits Back

    During his promo on this week’s Dynamite, Punk made reference to WWE and also took aim at some of the AEW wrestlers.

    One name Punk mentioned was Eddie Kingston, calling him the third best Eddie he’s stepped in the ring with and the second best Kingston.

    The first comment likely is in reference to Eddie Guerrero, who Punk faced early in his career, but it’s unclear who the other Eddie is.

    The second best Kingston line is presumably a nod to Kofi Kingston, who Punk teamed with in WWE in 2008.

    Responding on Twitter, Eddie Kingston didn’t hold back.

    https://twitter.com/MadKing1981/status/1560060197481185282

    Punk and Kingston

    Kingston’s comment stems from reported real-life beef that the ‘Mad King’ has with the reigning AEW World Champion.

    Last November, it was reported that Kingston despised Punk from their days in IWA-Mid South, where Punk called Kingston and his tag-team partner at the time Blackjack Marciano, fat, lazy, and unsafe.

    Marciano had injured Delirious during a match, and an irate Punk “buried them nonstop” according to a source who was with the promotion at the time.

    Eddie Kingston Says Match Against CM Punk The Most Personal Of His Career
  • Triple H may have Undone a Controversial Vince McMahon-era Ban

    Triple H may have Undone a Controversial Vince McMahon-era Ban

    In July, Vince McMahon resigned from all duties with WWE, due to the ongoing investigation against him.

    McMahon is alleged to have paid millions of dollars to former WWE employees in Non-Disclosure Agreements to cover up alleged affairs.

    The former Chairman’s departure has seen Triple H grow in power behind the scenes, replacing McMahon as Head of Creative and replacing John Laurinaitis as Head of Talent Relations.

    The Ban

    In late 2020, WWE issued a new rule which stated that the company would be taking over talents’ third-party streaming accounts.

    Several prominent Superstars were forced to either shut down or change their streaming channels, with AJ Styles, Xavier Woods, Adam Cole and others all being affected.

    WWE’s rule was met with a ton of backlash by Superstars, fans and those in the industry.

    AEW poked fun at WWE’s rule, with Kip Sabian promoting his Twitch channel during the All Out 2020 Pay Per View.

    On Twitter this week, WWE Superstar Drew Gulak confirmed that he has returned to Twitch, and thanked ‘Papa H’ for the chance.

    https://twitter.com/DrewGulak/status/1560087806554300417

    Other Changes

    Triple H has been hard at work undoing some of the decisions made recently by Vince McMahon.

    Since becoming Head of Talent Relations ‘The Game’ has rehired several Superstars released under the previous regime of the company.

    Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Dakota Kai, and Hit Row have all returned to WWE so far, with more returns expected including Bray Wyatt.

    There has also been a change to WWE’s banned terms list, with words including hospital and wrestler now being used on TV.

    AEW Star Sees Triple H’s New Role as a “Game Changer” for WWE
  • Billy Corgan Confirms Plans for Future NWA Empowerrr Event

    Billy Corgan Confirms Plans for Future NWA Empowerrr Event

    Last year, the National Wrestling Alliance hosted their Empowerr event, marking the first all-female show in the promotion’s history. 

    The event didn’t just showcase the female talent in the NWA but also stars from AEW and AAA in a three-way crossover of the companies. 

    The show was headlined by Chelsea Green going the distance in the NWA Women’s Invitational Cup Gauntlet after entering from the #1 position.

    Bringing Back Empowerrr

    In the year since NWA Empowerrr, the promotion has not brought back the event, but that is reportedly the plan. 

    Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, NWA owner Billy Corgan discussed the all-female event’s future. 

    “It is in the cards. In fact, I saw a headline recently that said I don’t plan on bringing back Empowerr and that is totally false… We will definitely run another Empowerrr Pay Per View. Absolutely. Hopefully next year, but it’s just one of those things where it has to be the right time.”

    “We will definitely run another Empowerrr Pay Per View.”

    Billy Corgan on the future of the NWA’s all-female event. 

    Addressing not holding an NWA Empowerrr Pay Per View this year, Corgan said that there are currently not enough female free agents to justify doing the show.

    “Look at all the people under contract with AEW and look at all the people under contract with WWE. You recognize probably 80 to 90 percent of top talent on the female side is already under contract.

    NWA 74

    Next weekend will mark the NWA 74 Pay Per View, which will run from August 27 to August 28.

    In the interview, Corgan promised that “anything can happen” and that “history will definitely be made” next weekend. 

    The Smashing Pumpkins star also spoke about the NWA reaching it’s 75th year of operation, which he described as “insane.”

    Later in the interview, Corgan called next week’s two-day event as a blend of “what was, is, and will be.”

  • Thunder Rosa Addresses her “Challenging” AEW Women’s World Title Reign

    Thunder Rosa Addresses her “Challenging” AEW Women’s World Title Reign

    In March this year, Thunder Rosa captured the AEW Women’s World Championship, ending the 290-day reign of Dr. Britt Baker DDS and doing so inside of a steel cage.

    The win was made even more special as it happened in her adopted hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

    Rosa has held on the title since then, defending against the likes of Toni Storm, Nyla Rose, Serena Deeb, Marina Shafir, and Miyu Yamashita.

    The Challenge

    Prior to signing full-time with AEW, Thunder Rosa competed for the NWA, where she is a former NWA Women’s World Champion.

    Rosa’s 277-day reign as NWA Women’s World Champion began in January 2020 and would end at the hands of Serena Deeb that October.

    Speaking to Bullet Cast, Thunder Rosa explained how being the Champion of AEW has brought on more challenges than her time with the NWA (via Wrestling Inc.)

    “It’s been really challenging because being a champion on a major platform is different than when I was the NWA Women’s Champion. There’s a lot more at stake, there’s a lot more that you’re representing, and also a little bit of pressure.

    “It’s been really challenging… There’s a lot more at stake.”

    Thunder Rosa on her reign as AEW Women’s World Champion.

    “Every time you stand in front of the camera, you just want to make sure that you’re perfect. The thing is, it’s not about perfection, it’s about making a difference and I hope that I have been making a difference in the women’s division.”

    Rosa’s most recent title defense saw her retain against Jamie Hayter on the August 5, Battle of the Belts III special taping.

    Thunder Rosa & Marina Shafir Make Amends After Sabotage Claims

  • WWE Signs 17 New Recruits to Contracts

    WWE Signs 17 New Recruits to Contracts

    WWE’s roster has changed a lot in recent years, with dozens of Superstars losing their jobs in the name of ‘budget cuts.’

    Last September, WWE debuted a series of new stars as part of the revamped NXT 2.0, and announced their Next in Line program not long after.

    In recent weeks, several released Superstars have returned to WWE after being rehired by Head of Talent Relations Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

    New Recruits

    This week, WWE once again changed it’s roster, by signing a total 17 new recruits to contracts with the company.

    In a statement, WWE said that the 17 hopefuls “include a variety of up-and-comers who have already made names for themselves.”

    The recruits include Valerie Loureda, who previously fought in Bellator, where she compiled a 4-1 record.

    Tracy Hancock is an established amateur wrestler, having competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo last year.

    Alexis Lete is a former Miss Indiana and has spent four years with the George Washington University volleyball team as their leading middle blocker.

    Tiller Bucktrot is a former offensive lineman for Tulsa University and represents the Native American Muscogee Creek Tribe.

    Originally from Nigeria, Abadi-Fitzgerald has spent four seasons as a defensive tackle for Kentucky.

    AJ Amrhein is a three-time national champion with The Bears and the fitness instructor was named the 2020 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

    Antoine Frazier comes to WWE with a background in Football, having played for on the offensive line for both Kansas University and the University of Northern Iowa.

    Isaac Odugbesan is a three-time SEC shot put champion and is a 2021-2022 WWE NIL Athlete.

    Daniel McArthur is a four-time NCAA All-American and ACC Track & Field Champion from the University of North Carolina and attended the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials.

    Giovanna Eburneo has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has won at both the Pan-American and European Championships.

    Gina DeLucia is a CrossFit competitor ranked among the top 200 females in the United States.

    Houston Miller comes to WWE with a Football background having played three seasons for Texas Tech along the defensive line.

    Caleb Balgaard is a multi-sport athlete originally from Fenton, Michigan, and was a stand-out on the South Alabama baseball team.

    Joe Spivak is another 2021-22 WWE NIL Athlete and captain of the Northwestern University Wildcats Football team and was also named to the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.

    Sarah Baer was a standout collegiate soccer and basketball player at both Bowling Green University and Lynn University.

    Tiana Caffey is a former collegiate soccer player from LSU and was called up to play for the USA U17 National Soccer Team.

    Roman Macek was an offensive lineman for Duquesne University and a bronze medalist at the PIAA State Wrestling Championships.

    The full statement from WWE can be found here.

    WWE Announces NIL Program To Recruit College Athletes
  • AEW Talent Set to Appear at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

    AEW Talent Set to Appear at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

    This coming January, New Japan Pro Wrestling will host its annual Wrestle Kingdom event, highlighting the biggest stars of the promotion.

    Wrestle Kingdom is NJPW’s biggest event of the year, and next year’s show will have an international flavor to it.

    AEW at Wrestle Kingdom

    Wrestle Kingdom 17 will showcase NJPW’s biggest stars, but will reportedly include names from All Elite Wrestling.

    Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio today that there are plans for some AEW wrestlers to compete at the event, but didn’t name any specific stars.

    This wouldn’t be the first time AEW and NJPW had teamed up, as at Wrestle Kingdom 14, then-AEW World Champion Chris Jericho defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi.

    The two-night event also saw Jon Moxley defeat Lance Archer for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship in a Texas Death Match.

    AEW and New Japan

    Wrestle Kingdom 17 will be just the latest team-up by the two massively popular promotions.

    AEW star Wheeler YUTA competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament while Lance Archer is working the G1 Climax tournament.

    The promotions also teamed together for the Forbidden Door Pay Per View in June which saw Jon Moxley defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi.

    A Confirmed Match?

    Wrestle Kingdom 17 is still months away, but one match may already be known.

    AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door was rumored to have CM Punk face Hiroshi Tanahashi in the show’s main event, but that did not take place due to the AEW World Champion’s injury.

    While speaking to Tokyo Sports in June, Tanahashi threw out the challenge for Punk to face him in the Tokyo Dome for Wrestle Kingdom.

    What Happened After AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door Went Off The Air
  • Teddy Long on the Origins of ‘Going One-on-One With The Undertaker’

    Teddy Long on the Origins of ‘Going One-on-One With The Undertaker’

    In 2004, Theodore R. Long, who had previously worked as a manager and referee, was appointed the General Manager of SmackDown.

    Long would become arguably the most iconic GM of the Blue brand thanks to his lengthy tenure on the show, and his various catchphrases and character quirks.

    The WWE Hall of Famer could often be seen dancing to his own entrance theme, and never shied away from booking tag-team matches.

    Going One on One…

    For Long’s entire run as SmackDown’s General Manager, The Undertaker was a constant presence on the show, and ‘Teddy’ would often book ‘the Phenom’ in high-profile matches.

    Many Superstars would be filled with dread when hearing the news from Long that they “will go one on one, with The Undertaker!”

    Speaking to the MuscleManMalcolm YouTube channel, Long explained how a conversation with Vince McMahon inspired him to put some impact into announcing The Undertaker.

    “This is really the truth. One time I was sitting down and we was talking to Vince. Vince wasn’t really talking to me. He was talking to somebody else and they went on and they introduced somebody. Vince stopped him and he said ‘No, you have to make my stars mean something when you introduce him.’ I heard that and that’s all I did. The Undertaker and Vince liked it. So that came from me.”

    In 2009, Long found himself on the receiving end of The Undertaker’s wrath, after costing him the World Heavyweight Championship.

    After making it to his car, a concerned Long would be accosted by The Undertaker who drove off with the SmackDown GM.

  • WWE Issues new Statement on Vince McMahon Hush-Money Scandal

    WWE Issues new Statement on Vince McMahon Hush-Money Scandal

    In June, WWE announced that they would be investigating allegations into Vince McMahon, following claims against the then-Chairman published in the Wall Street Journal.

    McMahon was alleged to have paid off several women who it is claimed he had extramarital relationships with.

    McMahon stepped down as WWE CEO and Chairman amid the investigation into him, and announced his retirement on July 25.

    The Statement

    This week, WWE issued its quarterly report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

    In a statement, WWE explained how McMahon was able to make payments privately, which should have been recorded as company expenses (via PW Insider)

    “We did not maintain effective risk assessment based on the criteria established in the COSO framework which resulted in deficiencies in principles associated with risk assessment. Specifically, these control deficiencies constitute material weaknesses, either individually or in the aggregate, relating to: identifying and analyzing risks to the achievement of objectives across the entity.”

    The promotion added that they have plans to fix loopholes going forward that allowed such activity.

    What’s next for Vince McMahon and WWE?

    McMahon has resigned from all duties with WWE but the investigation into him is still going on.

    McMahon has promised to respect the result of the investigation no matter the result.

    With McMahon gone, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan have been appointed co-CEOs of WWE.

    McMahon has also resigned as WWE’s head of creative, with Triple H taking on the role.

    “The Game” has undone several of his father-in-law’s actions, from bans on certain words to rehiring some of McMahon’s released Superstars.

    Former WWE Talent Buries Vince McMahon Amid Investigation
  • A Current WWE Superstar is Ready to Face Off Against Bray Wyatt

    A Current WWE Superstar is Ready to Face Off Against Bray Wyatt

    In July 2021, WWE released Bray Wyatt, shocking fans and those in the wrestling industry.

    As The Fiend, Wyatt’s alter ego which had debuted two years earlier, the former Universal Champion had become immensely popular with audiences.

    Following his release, it was reported that differences with then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, health issues, and a $4 million contract were factors in WWE’s decision.

    Tick Tock

    Wyatt has kept away from the ring since his release from WWE, but recent reports have suggested that he will return to the company soon.

    On Twitter, former ECW personality Joel Gertner expressed his desire to see Wyatt face Karrion Kross, who returned to WWE alongside Scarlett on the post-Summerslam 2022 episode of SmackDown.

    Gertner said that if the match was to happen, then he wouldn’t need to watch wrestling anymore, as the industry would have peaked with the Kross-Wyatt match.

    In response, Kross shared a tweet with a video, where a character encourages another to “call me,” signifying that the two-time former NXT Champion is interested in facing Wyatt.

    The film clip also gave the impression that Wyatt is already in Kross’ ‘house’ which would be WWE in this scenario.

    Wyatt’s Return

    While Bray seemed gone for good when he was released from WWE in 2021, a lot has changed over the past year.

    It’s reported that Triple H is much higher on Bray than McMahon ever was and that several Superstars have made it clear they’d “go to bat” for the former Universal Champion.

    Wyatt hasn’t commented publicly on the rumors of an imminent WWE return, but did recently share a social media post where he referenced WWE.

    What Did Bray Wyatt tell Alexa Bliss Before his WWE Release?
  • Drew McIntyre Just Used a WWE ‘Banned’ Term on Raw Many Times

    Drew McIntyre Just Used a WWE ‘Banned’ Term on Raw Many Times

    In the wake of Vince McMahon’s retirement, there have been sweeping changes throughout WWE.

    Not only has there been a change of management, with Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan now running things as co-CEOs, but the roster has also changed.

    WWE’s new Head of Talent Relations Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has brought back several Superstars released by the previous administration, and WWE went back on another old rule on this week’s Raw.

    McIntyre on Raw

    During this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, Drew McIntyre made a rare appearance on the red brand, in order to scout possible opponents.

    McIntyre spoke about Ciampa, Seth Rollins and AJ Styles as possible opponents for the night before being interrupted by Kevin Owens.

    During a back-and-forth promo segment between the two, McIntyre used the term ‘wrestle’ which had been banned by the WWE’s previous regime.

    “We’re wrestlers in a wrestling ring. Let’s just freakin’ wrestle!”

    Drew McIntyre to Kevin Owens on this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw.

    McIntyre would defeat Owens by disqualification after being attacked by The Usos during their match.

    Post-match, the two-time former WWE Champion would fight back against the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions but would take a stunner from Owens.

    Undoing the Ban

    McIntyre use of the term wrestling was a shock to some, but WWE has made an effort to use some of the previously banned terms.

    At Summerslam 2022, Paul Heyman received an F5 from Brock Lesnar, and on the following SmackDown, Roman Reigns said his special counsel was being treated at a hospital.

    Traditionally, WWE has banned the use of the term ‘hospital’ instead favoring the more vague ‘local medical facility.’

    WWE’s reasoning was that saying a Superstar was at a local hospital would lead to fans visiting nearby hospitals hoping to meet the wrestler.

  • WrestleMania Hollywood Ticket Sales Off to a Strong Start

    WrestleMania Hollywood Ticket Sales Off to a Strong Start

    Last week, WWE hosted their WrestleMania 39 tickets launch event in Los Angeles, in a star-studded event featuring names from WWE and entertainment.

    JoJo Siwa, Gabriel Iglesias, and WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg appeared alongside the likes of The Miz, Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, and Becky Lynch.

    WWE wanted to make a great impression with fans looking to buy tickets for WrestleMania 39 and they’ve certainly succeeded.

    WrestleMania 39 Tickets

    With a maximum capacity inside SoFi Stadium of over 70,000, WWE has their work cut out filling the venue for both nights of WrestleMania 39.

    The “combo” ticket package (WrestleMania Saturday & Sunday) was close to selling out a few days ago. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted last week that over 10,000 combo packages were sold during the pre-sale event, and around 1,000 tickets were sold individually for each night in the pre-sale.

    Combo tickets were described as reasonably priced, while individual tickets ran much higher and were described in the Observer as ridiculously priced.

    It’s worth noting, only a limited number of sections were made available at the beginning. Additional blocks of tickets will be released as sales ramp up.

    Internal Reaction

    With WWE moving so many tickets in the first few days since they went on sale, it should come as no surprise that company executives are said to be “ecstatic” with the early ticket sales. Tickets for night two are selling especially well, according to PWInsider. This indicates fans are bracing for a big main event, presumably the long-rumored showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns.

    On last Friday’s SmackDown, Michael Cole noted that this event marked the highest amount of first-day ticket sales for any WrestleMania event. 

  • WWE’s Most Iconic Jobber is Confident He’d Win Real Fights With Wrestlers

    WWE’s Most Iconic Jobber is Confident He’d Win Real Fights With Wrestlers

    For decades, Steve Lombardi worked for WWE before his release in 2016, under a series of gimmicks.

    While he appeared as Kim Chee and Abe ‘Knuckleball’ Schwartz, Lombardi is best known as the Brooklyn Brawler, arguably WWE’s most recognizable jobber.

    The list of wrestlers who have picked up wins over the Brawler range from icons such as Kurt Angle and Triple H to lesser stars such as Tekno Team 2000.

    Real Fights

    Lombardi may have spent most of his career staring up at the lights, but is confident in his real fighting skills.

    Speaking with Bill Apter in an interview for Sportskeeda Wrestling, Lombardi said that in a real fight, he’d easily dispatch the majority of his opponents.

    “Every person I wrestled, every person that beat me, I would say 60 percent of them I could beat the hell out of.”

    Steve Lombardi on how he’d fare in a real fight.

    Lombardi did not name any of his opponents he is confident he could easily beat if they came to real blows.

    Working with McMahon

    Hired by the WWE in 1983, Lombardi spent decades working for Vince McMahon, who recently retired from all roles with the company.

    McMahon’s retirement comes amid an investigation into the ex-Chairman over allegations of misconduct with female employees.

    Addressing McMahon’s retirement, Lombardi said he had nothing but respect for his former boss.

    “He made me a rich man. He made me a well-off man. He always did me right.”

    Steve Lombardi reacts to Vince McMahon’s retirement.
    Colt Cabana Plays Brooklyn Brawler On Young Rock (Video)
  • Ronda Rousey Has an Idea for how WWE can Spend her Suspension Fine

    Ronda Rousey Has an Idea for how WWE can Spend her Suspension Fine

    On last Friday’s WWE SmackDown, Ronda Rousey returned to the show after serving a brief suspension.

    Rousey had been suspended for attacking a WWE official at Summerslam 2022 following her controversial loss to SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan.

    Rousey’s return came during a contract signing between Morgan and Shayna Baszler to make their title match at Clash at the Castle official.

    Spending the Money

    Rousey wasn’t just suspended by WWE after her actions at Summerslam but was also forced to pay a heavy fine.

    In her SmackDown return, Rousey produced a large bag of money which she used to pay off the fine.

    Rousey had an interesting message for WWE in an Instagram post on Sunday, suggesting that the company could undo some budget cuts with the money.

    “Use that cash wisely @wwe – Maybe it can help with those “budget cuts”. Bring back some asses for me to kick.”

    Ronda Rousey on how WWE should spend her fine money.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/ChPkOdtO2t2/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=dcd0d018-4d42-44cc-a727-2c8a34473cf6

    Who Could Return Next?

    In recent weeks, several WWE releases have been undone by the promotion’s new management, with Triple H serving as the new Head of Talent Relations.

    Dakota Kai, Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Dexter Lumis, and Hit Row have all returned so far, with more returns expected soon.

    It has been reported that Bray Wyatt’s return is “likely” after being released from WWE in July 2021.

    Fans have suggested that Tegan Nox may be back soon, possibly in time for WWE Clash at the Castle which will take place in her native Wales.

    Ronda Rousey Made “Demand” About Losing the SmackDown Women’s Title