SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • AJ Lee Names Surprising Pick as the Best Wrestler in AEW

    AJ Lee Names Surprising Pick as the Best Wrestler in AEW

    Former WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee has made her pick for the best wrestler in AEW, and it’s not her husband CM Punk.

    Lee is no stranger to the ring, having worked for WWE between 2009-2015 and signed on as an executive producer for WOW – Women of Wrestling in October 2021.

    On this week’s ‘The Sessions,’ the retired wrestler praised Serena Deeb as the best name working for Tony Khan.

    “I’ve been watching some AEW. I’ve got to say, I love so many people on the roster. I think the best wrestler they have is Serena Deeb.”

    AJ Lee.

    Carrying on, Lee said how Deeb, who was once part of Punk’s ‘Straight Edge Society’ stable in WWE, was a huge influence on her career.

    “I was in FCW and I was the first indie female they had signed in like a decade or something. It was this huge deal. I only had two years of experience. When she came in, it was like I was drowning and this wonderful person came in to save me. She was an indie wrestler that had a lot of experience. She was so good and she taught me so much in a very short period of time.”

    Deeb unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW Women’s World Championship against Thunder Rosa at last weekend’s Double or Nothing event.

    Her most recent match saw her and Nyla Rose beat Skye Blue and Miyu Yamashita during this week’s AEW: Dark Elevation taping.

    Thanks to Wrestling News for the transcription.

  • Xavier Woods Shows off New Video Game Inspired Tattoo

    Xavier Woods Shows off New Video Game Inspired Tattoo

    WWE Superstar Xavier Woods has taken his love of video games to the next level, getting some ink based on two of his favorite franchises.

    On Twitter, Woods showed off the new arm tattoo which incorporates both Final Fantasy and Megaman.

    The ink in question sees the Buster Sword, used by Cloud the protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, considered by many to be the best game in the series.

    On top of the sword is the helmet of Megaman from the game franchise of the same name.

    In the tweet, Woods added that the artwork had been done by InkbyPnut, and shared a timelapse video of his tattoo session.

    Woods is an avid gaming fanatic, with his UpUpDownDown Youtube Channel now boasting over 2.2 million subscribers.

    In November 2021, the channel became inactive after the creators went on strike in solidarity with Woods.

    It was believed that WWE was taking advantage of Woods’ time and efforts and wanted him to have a better deal.

    In April 2022, WWE officials held a meeting about compensating Woods for his work, and the channel returned in full last month.

    Despite being a regular on G4’s Attack of the Show though, he won’t be featured on an upcoming episode with AEW stars.

    Adam Cole, Nyla Rose, and Danhausen will all be appearing on the show this week which Woods will not be on.

  • WWE Announces ‘John Cena Month’ to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of his Debut

    WWE Announces ‘John Cena Month’ to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of his Debut

    WWE is celebrating the legendary career of John Cena in a major way by having the entire month of June dedicated to the 16-time World Champion.

    On WWE.com, the company praised Cena as someone who “forever changed” the promotion upon his debut on the June 27, 2002, SmackDown.

    Cena debuted by answering Kurt Angle’s open challenge, boldly declaring that he had “ruthless aggression.”

    A new episode of WWE Playback will feature Cena breaking down his own debut.

    Cena-themed editions of WWE Top 10 and WWE Playlist have also been announced, as well as never before seen photos and classic videos.

    Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #CenaMonth to celebrate their favorite matches and moments related to the veteran wrestler.

    John Cena’s next match

    Austin Theory would want to retire John Cena in his dream match scenario - Wrestling News
    John Cena could be eyeing up another reign as WWE United States Champion after having a war of words with Theory.

    While Cena was for years considered the face of WWE, his appearances for the company have become less frequent as his Hollywood career grows.

    Cena’s last match for WWE was back at Summerslam 2021, where he lost to Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

    While Cena’s return to WWE has not been confirmed, it’s reported that the 16-time WWE World Champion will be back soon.

    Cena recently had a war of words over social media with WWE United States Champion Theory, who has teased facing John at Summerslam.

    Cena recently said that he has been gone from WWE for too long, teasing a return to the ring.

  • Tammy Sytch Pleads Not Guilty to DUI Manslaughter Charge

    Tammy Sytch Pleads Not Guilty to DUI Manslaughter Charge

    WWE Hall of Famer Tammy Sytch has pled not guilty to several charges leveled against her following the death of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter.

    Lasseter died in March 2022 when his vehicle was struck by the car Sytch was driving which belongs to her boyfriend James Pente.

    After being arrested last month, Sytch was charged with one count of DUI causing death, one count of causing death while operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, four counts of DUI causing injury to a person, and three counts of DUI causing damage to property.

    PW Insider was the first to report that Sytch entered a not guilty plea in an arraignment hearing on Tuesday and did not speak at the hearing.

    If convicted, Sytch faces up to 30 years in prison for the DUI Manslaughter charge, with a four-year minimum sentence, and a fine of up to $10,000.

    Sytch was represented at the hearing at S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach by defense attorney Steven deLaroche.

    After the hearing, Pente spoke with The Daytona Beach News-Journal and said that Sytch regrets the events that happened in March.

    “She feels absolutely terrible. I can’t emphasize it more. She just feels bad in general.  Everybody’s life’s ruined.” 

    James Pente

    Pente is being sued by the Lasseter family and said he has apologized to them.

    Thanks to PW Insider for the transcription.

  • Chris Jericho Talks Going Public About his Niece Being Bullied at School

    Chris Jericho Talks Going Public About his Niece Being Bullied at School

    Chris Jericho stood up for every victim of bullying by publishing a video of his niece being attacked at school, the AEW star has claimed.

    Last month, Jericho shared a concerning video that showed his niece being attacked outside Mulrennan Middle School while a gathering of other students watched.

    Jericho also claimed that Hillsborough County Public Schools had ignored the pleas of his family for help and threatened to take this incident to ABC Action News and WFLA.

    During an interview with KTLA, Jericho explained his reasoning for sharing the footage online.

    “My niece was bullied very badly in Tampa, there’s video of it which is very brutal. I wanted to try and put some light to it, not just because she’s my niece, but because the situation was horrible. I wanted to stand up for her and everybody else that’s been bullied, every other kid that doesn’t have a famous uncle who can go on Twitter and post that video.”

    Jericho added that while the school has taken action, this only came about because of him posting the video online.

    “They patted themselves on the back after disciplining the bully. There are warning signs that need to be moved on, and need to be addressed. Action needs to be taken.”

    Jericho last competed at AEW Double or Nothing 2022 where the Jericho Appreciation Society defeated Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Santana, Ortiz and Jon Moxley.

    Thanks to eWrestlingNews for the transcription.

  • MJF Missed AEW Meet & Greet As He Was “In No Place To Be In Public”

    MJF Missed AEW Meet & Greet As He Was “In No Place To Be In Public”

    A recent AEW Meet & Greet had to go ahead without MJF as the “Salt of the Earth” was in “no place” to meet the fans.

    MJF has been at odds with AEW President Tony Khan over his current contract, which MJF has made clear will expire in January 2024.

    The Dynamite Diamond Ring winner has also teased joining WWE though some have questioned if this is all part of his character.

    During a recent PWTorch.com audio show, Wade Keller detailed the issues between MJF and Khan and why the wrestler no-showed the recent Meet & Greet prior to Double or Nothing 2022.

    “The way it was portrayed to us is MJF was in no place to be in public. He was in a bad place. And so it just seemed if not mutually agreed upon [it was] pretty obvious to everybody that it would be good for him to not make a public appearance.

    “People in AEW were hoping that Tony and MJF could sit down and hash out their differences. There was just hope that cooler heads would prevail. Tony Khan on social media can come across sometimes as defensive.”

    “MJF was in no place to be in public. He was in a bad place.”

    Wade Keller

    The issue between MJF and Khan is reportedly over money as the wrestler is earning substantially less than others in the promotion.

    Keller explained that while MJF has received a raise, it is still less than several free agents signed to AEW contracts over the past year.

    “MJF was given a raise once since he signed with AEW. So he’s making substantially more than the starter contract, like hundreds of thousands of dollars but it is modest compared to the contracts of more than a half a dozen free-agent signings AEW has made over the past year.”

    Keller named Christian, Mark Henry, Malakai Black, Adam Cole, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk as just some names signed to better deals than the “Salt of the Earth.”

    He added that while MJF’s segments do better than most, his pay doesn’t reflect that performance.

    MJF appeared at Double or Nothing 2022 where he lost to Wardlow, who earned a contract with AEW due to his win.

    MJF was stretchered out of the arena after the match, indicating that he is being written off TV for the time being.

    Thanks to Wrestling News for the transcription.

  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament “Dead in the Water”

    WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament “Dead in the Water”

    The announced tournament to crown the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

    During the May 16, 2022, episode of Monday Night Raw, then-champions Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out due to frustrations with their creative booking.

    On the following SmackDown, Michael Cole announced that the pair had been suspended, stripped of the titles, and new champions would be crowned in a tournament.

    While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that WWE has no plans for the tournament despite it being announced.

    “That women’s tag team tournament is dead in the water. They had an idea for a four women’s team matchup, it was pitched but it was never signed off on as of like a week ago.”

    Dave Meltzer

    Crowning New WWE Women’s Tag Champions

    WWE has not announced any teams for the tournament and has not announced a start date either.

    Last week, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that there had been different pitches made, including for a four-team tournament.

    The teams pitched included Shayna Baszler & Natalya, Tamina & Dana Brooke, Nikki A.S.H & Doudrop, and Carmella & Queen Zelina.

    The Observer noted that WWE had planned for Carmella & Queen Zelina to team up despite the pair having previously split on TV.

    Zelina is currently sidelined, however, due to an injury. She reportedly underwent surgery for the undisclosed injury.

    Quotes via Wrestling News

  • CM Punk Addresses Botches During AEW World Title Win at Double or Nothing

    CM Punk Addresses Botches During AEW World Title Win at Double or Nothing

    CM Punk may have captured his first World Championship in nine years at last weekend’s Double or Nothing event, but the match with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page did see some mistakes.

    During the match, Punk attempted Page’s Buckshot Lariat twice and botched both attempts.

    On both occasions, the former WWE Champion failed to land the front flip over the top rope that sets up the move.

    While Punk followed through with the lariat the second time the fans weren’t impressed by the error.

    Speaking on the Double or Nothing post-show media scrum, Punk said that this was his first time botching the move.

    “That’s one of those f*cking things. That’s the only time that I’ve missed it since I’ve tried it, and I did it on TV, and I just didn’t hit it for whatever reason, and it sucks. But that’s the fun thing about pro wrestling, I’m more comfortable when sh*t goes f*cking sideways, and not everything needs to look perfect, in my opinion. I’ll probably beat myself up about it way too much, but, you know, mistakes happen.”

    “That’s one of those f*cking things. That’s the only time that I’ve missed.”

    CM Punk on botching the Buckshot Lariat.

    Punk’s win marks the first time he’s held a championship since losing the WWE title to The Rock at the 2013 Royal Rumble.

    After the show, Punk thanked his wife April Mendez (AJ Lee), and celebrated in the ring with FTR.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

  • Teddy Long says Drunken Jakks Employee Told Him There’d be no More Figures of Him

    Teddy Long says Drunken Jakks Employee Told Him There’d be no More Figures of Him

    Long-time WWE on-screen personality Teddy Long has said he was told by a drunk representative of Jakks Pacific that there would be no more action figures for him.

    Despite not being a wrestler, Long would be immortalized in plastic multiple times, including in a two-pack with Rey Mysterio in the Jakks Pacific ‘Adrenaline 13’ wave of toys.

    Speaking to Wrestling Inc, Long recalled being told that no more figures would be made of him by Jakks Pacific.

    “One night at one of the WrestleMania parties, the guy from Jakks Pacific, he comes up to me, he’d been drinking a while and he said, ‘Well, won’t be seeing no more action figures of you, Teddy Long, we’ve been told not to make any more action figures.’ I guess the alcohol told him to tell me that.”

    WWE’s working relationship with Jakks ended in late 2009 and veteran-toy manufacturer Mattel has been making WWE action figures ever since.

    Teddy Long in WWE

    Joining the then-WWF in 1998 after over a decade with Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW, Long was originally a referee but became a manager years later.

    In 2004, Teddy was announced as the General Manager of SmackDown and would also serve as General Manager of ECW from 2008 to 2009.

    Long last appeared in WWE in May 2021 during a throwback edition of SmackDown.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

  • NJPW’s Kazuchika Okada is Going to Become a Father

    NJPW’s Kazuchika Okada is Going to Become a Father

    Reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada is soon to be adding a new accolade to his name as he is set to become a father later this year.

    It was confirmed by Yahoo Sports Japan that Okada and his wife, voice actress Suzuko Mimori, are expecting their first child this August.

    Speaking earlier this year, Okada was asked about possibly becoming a parent and said he would not stop his child from wanting to be a wrestler.

    “I can’t say anything because it’s a little ahead of the story …” I was allowed to do what I wanted to do, so I don’t think I can say “Pro-wrestling? No.”

    Okada on whether he’d allow his child to be a professional wrestler.

    Okada captured the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in January 2022 at Wrestle Kingdom 16 (Night One), defeating Shingo Takagi.

    On the show’s second night, he retained the title against the returning Will O’Spreay, who had vacated the gold in May 2021 due to a neck injury.

    Okada is also a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and holds the record for the longest reign (his fourth) at 720 days, as well as the record for the most title defenses at 12.

    Mimori has worked as a voice actor since 2010 and has worked with several popular franchises including Digimon, Tokyo Ghoul, and Fairy Tail.

    We here at SEScoops would live to wish Okada and Mimori our congratulations on their joyous news.

    Thanks to Yahoo Sports Japan for the transcription.

  • Alexa Bliss Tells Corey Graves “Stay in Your Lane” After WWE Raw Criticism

    Alexa Bliss Tells Corey Graves “Stay in Your Lane” After WWE Raw Criticism

    WWE Raw Superstar Alexa Bliss has fired back at Corey Graves’ recent comments about her, telling the commentator to “stay in your lane.”

    During last week’s Raw, Bliss faced her former tag-team partner Nikki A.S.H and defeated the Scottish Superstar after Twisted Bliss.

    On commentary, Graves said it felt like Bliss was in “cruise control” and lacked urgency.

    Responding on Twitter, Bliss didn’t tag Graves but referenced his line in the caption.

    Corey Graves on Commentary

    Bliss is the latest star to hit out at Graves’ comments, but she’s by far not the only person with an issue with him.

    Graves has faced criticism for his comments earlier this month following Sasha Banks and Naomi’s walk-out during the May 16, 2022, episode of Raw.

    On the show, he said the pair had acted “unprofessionally,” though fellow commentator Jimmy Smith has defended Graves, saying the former Superstar was told to read the line.

    Last December, former NXT on-air talent Alyssa Marino spoke out against Graves’ commentary, claiming he couldn’t focus on the match and was instead “constantly commenting on the appearances of competitors.”

    On the October 4, 2021 Raw, Graves called the action for a match between Dana Brooke and Shayna Baszler and had some harsh words for Brooke.

    Graves said that Brooke “hasn’t accomplished much of anything” and questioned whether she should ‘cut her losses,’ suggesting that she should leave WWE, if not wrestling altogether.

  • Simone Johnson Defends new WWE Ring Name

    Simone Johnson Defends new WWE Ring Name

    Ava Raine, aka Simone Johnson, has said she doesn’t understand why her new ring name is proving to be a heated topic with fans.

    Recently, Johnson, the daughter of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, changed all her social media handles to use the Ava Raine name, which appears to be her ring name from now on.

    The name has received criticism from fans who believe that there was nothing wrong with Johnson’s original name and that WWE is distancing her from her iconic father.

    On Twitter, Johnson said that her new name does not diminish any of the success of her father or anyone in the legendary Samoan wrestling family founded by The Rock’s grandfather Peter Maivia.

    She added that people could still bash her no matter what name she had, and thanked those fans who have supported her.

    This name change has become the latest trope from WWE, which doesn’t want any wrestler to use any part of their real name.

    WWE changes the name of Superstars to a name they can trademark, to prevent a Superstar from being able to use the name they made famous in WWE in another promotion.

    Despite the significant star-power being a Johnson brings Raine, the daughter of The Rock is no exception to the rule.

    Ironically, The Rock’s original WWE name ‘Rocky Maivia’ leaned heavily on his father and grandfather: Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia.

    It wouldn’t be until turning heel and making a name for himself as The Rock that fans were won over by the future Hollywood A-Lister.

    Johnson signed with WWE in February 2020 but suffered a knee injury that required surgery that September.

    She is yet to make her official NXT 2.0 debut but has been seen several times at the WWE Performance Center, in Orlando, Florida.

  • Ricky Starks has Brutal Response to Critical fan at AEW Dynamite

    Ricky Starks has Brutal Response to Critical fan at AEW Dynamite

    AEW wrestler Ricky Starks didn’t hold back during an interaction with a fan at this week’s edition of Dynamite.

    Competing in a three-way match this week, Starks faced Jungle Boy and Swerve Strickland in a match the latter won.

    During one spot, Starks misses the majority of a stomp onto Strickland from the apron, and a fan responds saying “you missed him.”

    The irate Starks fired back, saying “yeah, and your daddy should’ve missed you when he came you punk ass b*tch.”

    Ricky Starks in AEW

    Starks made his debut for AEW in June 2020, and immediately made an impression upon his arrival.

    Unsuccessfully challenging for the TNT Championship, held at the time by Cody Rhodes, Starks was signed to a deal by Tony Khan shortly after.

    At July 2021’s Fyter Fest, Starks would capture the FTW Championship from Brian Cage, marking his first title in AEW, though it is not an officially sanctioned title.

    Starks has had seven successful title defenses since winning the title, against the likes of Cage, Strickland, Matt Sydal, and others.

    Since September 2021, Starks has also worked as part of the commentary team for AEW Rampage, replacing Mark Henry.

  • GCW Wrestlers Respond to Claims the Promotion Faked Negative COVID-19 Tests

    GCW Wrestlers Respond to Claims the Promotion Faked Negative COVID-19 Tests

    Multiple wrestlers from GCW have denied the allegation that the company faked negative COVID-19 tests to allow sick wrestlers to appear.

    Earlier this week, independent wrestler “Dirty” Ron McDonald claimed that he faked COVID-19 testing results so GCW could run events from October 2020 to January 2021.

    On Twitter, Tony Deppen denied the claim, saying that talent was given specific deadlines for when they had to submit test results.

    Deppen adds that he was forced to miss two shows due to not submitting a result in time, which reportedly came at the request of Brett Lauderdale.

    This matches with a tweet from January 2021, where GCW announced that Deppen would miss an event in adherence to COVID-19 protocols and “an abundance of caution.”

    Joey Janela responded to McDonald’s claim by sharing screenshots of the group chat Deppen mentioned and said everyone working for GCW is vaccinated.

    “We always had groups like this on social media apps, many wrestlers have been told to sit out before… Roster is vaccinated now, see everyone in Vegas. Most will ignore this because they ‘Wanna smoke that GCW PACK’ whatever the f*ck that means.”

    Brett Lauderdale has been advised by lawyers not to respond to McDonald’s claims.

    GCW will host their Downward Spiral event this Sunday, which will be headlined by NWA World Heavyweight Champion Matt Cardona Vs. Blake Christian.

    Thanks to 411Mania for the transcription.

  • Bianca Belair is Interested in Going to WWE NXT 2.0

    Bianca Belair is Interested in Going to WWE NXT 2.0

    Bianca Belair may be riding high as the WWE Raw Women’s Champion, but she could soon be competing on Tuesday nights.

    Before coming to the main roster, Belair made a name for herself in NXT but never held gold as part of the brand.

    While speaking to Lucas Charpiot of VL Media, Belair expressed a desire to go to NXT, now NXT 2.0.

    “I have never won the NXT Women’s Championship. It was quite a complicated thing to do at the time. I saw that Natalya was currently there. Natalya is a legend in this medium. It’s great to see her wrestle in NXT 2.0 with these young wrestlers. This isn’t the first time she’s wrestled in NXT. As far as I’m concerned, NXT is where I learned it all.

    “NXT is my home.”

    – Bianca Belair

    Belair gave props to NXT star Amari Miller, saying she’s one of the most passionate performers she’s ever come across.

    “NXT is my home. It would be nice to be able to come back there to face these young wrestlers. I’ve always loved Io (Shirai) and had the chance to wrestle her when I was in NXT. I’m seeing Amari (Miller). I love her to death. She’s so passionate. I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone with as much passion as her.”

    A policy from WWE has said that at least one main roster Superstar should be appearing for the paint-splattered brand at all times.

    Since this policy was implemented, fans have seen AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler, Natalya, Robert Roode and the Viking Raiders all appear in NXT

    Belair will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch and Asuka at WWE Hell in a Cell 2022.

    Quotes via Cultaholic

  • Michelle McCool Explains why The Undertaker is Afraid of Cucumbers

    Michelle McCool Explains why The Undertaker is Afraid of Cucumbers

    The Undertaker may have spent three decades terrifying his opponents and fans alike, but there is one thing that leaves the recently-inducted WWE Hall of Famer shaking in his boots.

    It’s a little-known secret that The Undertaker is afraid of cucumbers and goes to great lengths to avoid the creeping vine plant.

    This week, The Undertaker’s wife Michelle McCool explained on the latest episode of the Wives of Wrestling podcast, the power that the humble fruit has on the former WWE World Champion:

    “We can’t even have one in the room. Every birthday, [daughter] Kaia gets cucumbers. She’ll like put them under his pillow, she’ll put them in his car. Cucumbers, he can’t even smell them … can’t even be around it. He ate so many cucumbers one day that he got sick, and ever since then, it was just game over.”

    “He ate so many cucumbers one day that he got sick, and ever since then, it was just game over.”

    Michelle McCool

    Getting pranked

    The Undertaker may have commanded the respect of every Superstar in WWE, but there was one man who was willing to have fun at “The Deadman’s” expense.

    Throughout his career, Owen Hart was known as a serial prankster, and even the legendary “Phenom” wasn’t safe.

    On an episode of Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, the veteran WWE personality recalled a story of The Undertaker getting pranked by Hart:

    “Owen put cucumbers in the bottom of the iced tea so that when Taker drank the tea and drank it back, he didn’t realize the cucumbers were in there until it was looking at his face. Sometimes Owen would hide them in his tights and then put them in Taker’s face during a headlock. It was always fun to place cucumbers in odd places for Taker. Just like a cucumber on top of his bag would freak him out.”

    Thanks to Sportskeeda for the transcription.

  • Jimmy Smith Defends WWE Commentators Burying Sasha Banks and Naomi

    Jimmy Smith Defends WWE Commentators Burying Sasha Banks and Naomi

    WWE Raw commentator Jimmy Smith has come to the defense of his broadcast colleagues for the backlash some have received over Sasha Banks and Naomi’s walkout.

    Last week, Banks and Naomi walked out during a Raw taping, forcing WWE to scrap plans for the advertised six-pack challenge main event.

    The pair’s walkout has also forced WWE to change plans for the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, which both Banks and Naomi were scheduled to compete for.

    After the walkout, Corey Graves said the pair had acted “unprofessionally” while Michael Cole said the Superstars “let us all down” when announcing their suspension on last Friday’s SmackDown.

    Speaking on his Unlocking The Cage with Jimmy Smith Podcast, Smith said that the two are just doing the job asked of them.

    “Michael Cole and Corey Graves aren’t making this stuff up. People are getting mad at them like they’re freestyling stuff, they’re not. They’re broadcasters, if Vince [McMahon] had said, ‘Here, read this,’ I would’ve done exactly what Michael Cole did. Vince could’ve said, ‘Hey, Jimmy, I want you to read that,’ and I would’ve went, ‘Ah, okay! Sasha Banks and Naomi let us all down.’ I would’ve read the same thing.

    “It’s this weird thing where like, in my sense, on Monday Night Raw, Corey Graves is getting all this sh*t. Corey Graves didn’t make up that statement, he’s a broadcaster and he was told to read it and he read it. So, I understand maybe the ire of the fans but the misdirection of that ire is weird. People getting upset at me or Corey Graves, you’re just getting mad at the wrong people. I don’t get that. Graves was told to say what he said and he said it.”

    “People are getting mad at them like they’re freestyling stuff, they’re not. They’re broadcasters.”

    Jimmy Smith, responding to criticism of Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

    Both Banks and Naomi have been indefinitely suspended and had their merchandise pulled from WWEShop.com.

    The contracts of both women are expected to expire later this year, though there is the possibility WWE could freeze their current deals.

    Thanks to WrestlingInc for the transcription.

  • Roman Reigns Shaken to the Core by Two-Year-Old Fan at WWE Live Event

    Roman Reigns Shaken to the Core by Two-Year-Old Fan at WWE Live Event

    Roman Reigns may have spent the past two years telling fans to acknowledge him, but the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion had no choice but to recognize a young fan at a recent WWE Live event.

    In a video posted on Instagram and later shared by WWE on BT Sport, Reigns can be seen confronting the young fan, whose glare shakes the “Head of the Table” to his core.

    Reigns can be seen watching the fan in fear much to the delight of the crowd.

    Returning to the ring, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion responds with a glare of his own.

    Roman Reigns at WWE Live events

    While Reigns may be WWE’s most detestable heel on screen, his actions at WWE Live events have been far more friendly than the man fans see on TV.

    Reigns will often end WWE Live events by thanking the fans for coming and wishing them safe travels on the way home from the arena.

    The “Tribal Chief” is also able to be more relaxed at untelevised shows compared to TV tapings of Raw or SmackDown.

    Last December, Reigns joked with a fan who said they loved him in Aquaman, comparing the WWE Superstar to the film’s lead Jason Mamoa.

    Reigns joked that the film would have made much more money had he been the star.

    Earlier this week, Reigns seemingly revealed that he will soon finish competing at WWE Live events, as part of a new lucrative deal with the company.

    Reigns’ new contract will also see him wrestle less on TV, including missing the upcoming WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 Premium Live Event.

  • WWE Brand Split is “Essentially Done”

    WWE Brand Split is “Essentially Done”

    WWE fans can expect to see more of their favorite Superstars on both Raw and SmackDown as the brand split is considered to be finished.

    In 2016, WWE reintroduced the brand split, five years after merging Raw and Smackdown’s rosters into one collective.

    According to Bryan Alverez who spoke on Wrestling Observer Live, WWE is doing away with the brand split, and fans can see more Superstars appear on both brands.

    “They haven’t officially said anything, but the brand extension is essentially done. Half of the Raw crew is going to be on SmackDown Friday. Cody’s going to be there, I think Seth is going to be there. They’re just going to do whatever.”

    Bryan Alvarez

    Andrew Zarian followed up on this, saying that a WWE source told him that while the company doesn’t plan on officially announcing the end of the brand split, there will be far more crossover going forward.

    Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens have all been advertised for this Friday’s SmackDown though it’s unclear if they’ll appear on the broadcast.

    In addition to this trio, Roman Reigns is also able to appear on both Raw and SmackDown due to his place as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

    The Usos are also able to appear on both Raw and SmackDown after unifying both brands’ tag team titles following their win over RK-Bro last week.

    Quotes via WrestlePurists

  • Wrestling couple Veda Scott and “Speedball” Mike Bailey married

    Wrestling couple Veda Scott and “Speedball” Mike Bailey married

    Veda Scott and “Speedball” Mike Bailey are officially married after tying the knot this week.

    The happy couple got engaged in November 2020 but have had to wait out the Covid-19 pandemic and two busy schedules before getting married.

    On social media, Veda announced the big news, sharing some photos from their ceremony.

    It appears that the couple was married by an Elvis Presley impersonator.

    Bailey is considered by many to be one of the hottest names in wrestling outside of WWE and AEW.

    After working his way through promotions including CZW, PROGRESS, Rev Pro, and Ring of Honor, the “Speedball” signed with Impact Wrestling in 2021 and debuted this year.

    Veda has worked as both a professional wrestler and valet and has competed for Ring of Honor, Shimmer, and Absolute Intense Wrestling.

    Scott made their TNA Wrestling debut in 2014 at the One Night Only Knockouts Knockdown event, losing to TNA veteran Gail Kim.

    In 2020, Scott briefly worked for AEW, providing commentary for the Women’s Tag Team Cup Tournament, and later joined the commentary team on AEW Dark.

    We here at SEScoops would like to congratulate Bailey and Scott on this joyous occasion.

  • Kevin Owens Mocks Edge for Teasing new Members of The Judgement Day

    Kevin Owens Mocks Edge for Teasing new Members of The Judgement Day

    Kevin Owens has poked fun at Edge’s recent teases for a fourth member of The Judgement Day.

    On social media, the WWE Hall of Famer has teased several possible members to the faction, including Ciampa, Bayley, and Corey Graves.

    Edge has also teased AJ Styles, Finn Balor, and Liv Morgan, all of whom The Judgement Day is currently feuding against.

    With some tweets of his own, Owens shared images of cats, and like Edge, gave no caption for the image.

    What’s next for The Judgement Day?

    The Judgement Day has proven to be a formidable force since debuting earlier this year, but it has been reported that the group will gain a fourth member.

    While Edge is teasing several names, it’s been reported that Finn Balor will be the next to join the group, presumably turning on Styles and Morgan.

    The Judgement Day is the latest faction for Edge, who was once part of The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness and ran his own faction ‘La Familia’ from 2007 to 2008.

    There’s no confirmation on when the fourth member of The Judgement Day will be revealed on WWE TV.

  • Mia Yim Calls out WWE For Changing a Superstar’s Gimmick Just to Release Them

    Mia Yim Calls out WWE For Changing a Superstar’s Gimmick Just to Release Them

    Impact Wrestling star Mia Yim has hit out at WWE for changing the gimmicks of Superstars only to later release them.

    Yim was cut from WWE in November 2021, and returned to Impact Wrestling earlier this month.

    On Twitter, Yim responded to a fan who said her release was because she was not willing to work with WWE’s ideas.

    Yim pointed out that she did change gimmicks because that is what WWE wanted and she was still released.

    Mia Yim in WWE

    While Yim made sporadic appearances in WWE in 2014-2015 as a Rosebud, her first time in the ring was as part of the 2017 Mae Young Classic.

    Yim defeated Sarah Logan in the first round but was eliminated by Shayna Baszler in the second, and signed a contract with WWE in 2018.

    Competing in the 2018 tournament, Yim made it to the quarterfinals, where she lost to Toni Storm.

    In 2020, Yim was called up to the main roster as ‘Reckoning’ part of the Retribution stable.

    In the October 2021 draft, Yim was moved to Raw, but was released before she competed on the red brand.

  • Becky Lynch Trends After WWE Raw due to Comparisons to Jerry Seinfeld and Prince

    Becky Lynch Trends After WWE Raw due to Comparisons to Jerry Seinfeld and Prince

    WWE Raw Superstar Becky Lynch may be called “The Man” and “Big Time Becks” but now the Irish Superstar is being compared to Jerry Seinfeld.

    During this week’s Raw, Lynch wore a white, puffy shirt during a backstage segment with Dana Brooke and Adam Pearce.

    Almost immediately after, fans took to social media to compare Lynch to Seinfeld, who wore a similar top in the hit sitcom’s fifth season.

    In ‘The Puffy Shirt,’ Seinfeld earns a lucrative appearance on “Today” but must wear the shirt after a misunderstanding with Kramer’s “low talker” girlfriend.

    The episode is often considered one of the best in the entire Seinfeld series, with Jerry’s line “I don’t wanna be a pirate” becoming synonymous with the show.

    Fans also compared the outfit to what Prince wore during his ‘Purple Rain’ music video.

    On Raw, Lynch defeated Asuka, earning a spot in the Raw Women’s Championship match at Hell in a Cell 2022.

    The match will now see both Lynch and Asuka challenge Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at the June 5, Premium Live Event.

    https://twitter.com/HurriKane_Jr_88/status/1528904390530285569/photo/1
  • Hana Kimura Memorial Show Results from Tokyo, Japan

    Hana Kimura Memorial Show Results from Tokyo, Japan

    The second-annual memorial show in memory of Hana Kimura has taken place in Tokyo, Japan.

    Kimura took her own life in 2020 after being harassed online following her appearance in the reality show ‘Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020.’

    • This week’s memorial show was held in Korakuen Hall and opened with Hana’s mother (fellow wrestler Kyoko Kimura) speaking about her daughter.
    • KAIRI came out to be a commentator and there was a moment of silence.
    • Kenoh defeated Menso-re Oyaji
    • Tag Team Battle Royal: Sendai Girls (Mika Iwata & Chihiro Hashimoto) def. Munenori Sawa & Fuminori Abe, Yuko Miyamoto & Yuki Miyazaki, Masahiro Takanashi & Cherry, Super Delfin & Miyuki Takase, King Shisar & HUB, Hanako Nakamori & Tsubasa Kuragaki, DASH Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto, Koji Kanemoto & Ryo Mizunami and Speed Of Sounds (Banana Senga & Tsutomu Oosugi)
    • Jungle Kyona def. Kyoko Kimura
    • Gauntlet Match: Aja Kong, Kaori Yoneyama, & Saori Anou def. Sakura Hirota (cosplaying as Hana Kimura)
    • Rina def. Sakura Hirota
    • Syuri def. Veny
    • The show ended with a tribute package to Hana.
  • Lance Archer Suggests Massive Faction Match at AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door

    Lance Archer Suggests Massive Faction Match at AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door

    Lance Archer has suggested that the House of Black should face Suzuki-Gun at the upcoming AEW-NJPW crossover event ‘Forbidden Door.’

    Forbidden Door will mark the first crossover show between the two promotions and will take place on June 26, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    Speaking to Steve Fall from NBC Sports Boston’s Ten Count podcast, Archer put forward the match.

    “I’ll throw out a fun possibility dream match because the two guys just fought this last week. Brody King fought [Minoru] Suzuki at New Japan’s Capital Punishment [Capital Collision]… So they had a battle so why not Suzuki-Gun versus House of Black? That’d be cool.”

    What we know about AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door

    AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door was announced by Tony Khan last month and has already proven to be a hit with fans.

    When pre-sale tickets went on sale earlier this month, the 11,000 available tickets sold out immediately.

    The show sold out when tickets went on sale to the general public just one day later, leaving AEW and NJPW to open up more of the venue for fans.

    So far, no matches have been confirmed by either promotion for AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door 2022.

    Credit to Steve Fall of NBC Sports Boston for the interview.