A fan of Cody Rhodes proved their devotion is ‘undeniable’ by running the Disney Dopey marathon dressed as the American Nightmare. On X, a user named Daz shared some photos from the run which caught the attention of the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion.
The Dopey Challenge is one of Disney’s most grueling running events. Named after the lovable dwarf from Snow White, the challenge spans four consecutive days: a 5K on the first day, a 10K on the second, a half marathon on Saturday, and the Disney World Marathon on Sunday.
Rhodes and his wife, Brandi, are known fans of Disney, frequently visiting parks across the U.S. This fan’s creative costume highlights the deep connection Rhodes shares with his audience, a bond that has cemented him as one of WWE’s most beloved Superstars.
Back in WWE, Rhodes’ attention is on the Royal Rumble on February 1, where he will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in a ladder match. Should he retain, Rhodes will focus on WrestleMania 41 and a possible showdown against one of WWE’s all-time greats.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Cody Rhodes, as the American Nightmare’s popularity continues to prove impossible to ignore.
Despite our earlier report, WWE will not be bringing Backlash to Mexico in 2025. According to sources in WWE (first reported by PWInsider), Bad Bunny was mistaken in his comments to Rolling Stone.
While WWE is not planning Backlash in Mexico, the company may host a Premium Live Event (PLE) in the country at some point in the future. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny reflected on his experience competing at the 2023 Backlash event in Puerto Rico and speculated that a future event could take place in Mexico.
“We were there until we could bring WWE to Puerto Rico. And man, I actually feel like it was good for them and for everyone, because I saw that last year Backlash was in France, now it’s going to Mexico. They saw that it worked.”
His information apparently came from this debunked tweet from @WrestleVotes.
Although Bad Bunny’s comments sparked excitement among fans, WWE has not announced any plans for Backlash in Mexico. However, the idea of a PLE in the country is not new. In May of last year, Rey Mysterio expressed his desire for a PLE inside the historic Estadio Azteca. Similarly, in July, Cody Rhodes told fans at a Monterrey live event that he was hoping to bring a major WWE show to the country.
WWE’s Global Expansion
As WWE continues to expand its global presence, hosting events in Mexico would fit into its strategy of international growth. Since 2022, the company has staged Premium Live Events in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia. WWE is also preparing for its Road to WrestleMania tour, which will take its Superstars across Europe.
While Backlash 2025 will not take place in Mexico, fans can remain optimistic about the possibility of a future PLE in a country with a rich wrestling tradition. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on WWE’s international events and potential plans for Mexico.
WWE Raw’s new era on Netflix will continue tonight with a stacked show set to take place inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The show comes off the heels of last week’s historic launch on the streaming juggernaut.
Tonight’s show will see the red brand continue on its new era, as well as build towards the 2025 Royal Rumble. The first PLE of the year will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, with John Cena, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk all confirmed for the Men’s Rumble match.
WWE Raw Preview (12/30/2024)
Tonight’s show will be star-studded, with a mix of high-profile matches and massive appearances confirmed.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Dakota Kai vs. Lyra Valkyria
In addition to these huge matches, CM Punk will appear, fresh off his victory over Seth Rollins at last week’s Raw. World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER and new Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley have also been confirmed for the show.
Don’t miss the historic final broadcast of WWE Raw on the USA Network tonight at 8/7c, live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Posted January 13th, 2025 in WWE. Tagged: WWE RAW.
Jeff Hardy has opened up about the dark place he found himself in following his 2022 DUI arrest, an incident that left the popular wrestler feeling hopeless. Speaking on The Wrestle Spot podcast, Hardy reflected on his struggles and the toll they took on his mental health.
“I came close to ending it all in the summer of 2022, which is in public, and people are aware of my issues throughout the years with drugs and alcohol.”
Hardy was arrested in June 2022, in Volusia County, Florida, facing charges of driving with a suspended license and felony DUI. Following the arrest, it was revealed that Hardy had a blood alcohol level of 0.291—significantly above Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. AEW President Tony Khan issued a press release announcing Hardy’s suspension without pay, stating that his return to AEW would be contingent on completing rehab and demonstrating his commitment to sobriety.
The arrest sparked significant backlash from fans, as it was the latest in a string of DUIs for the former WWE World Champion. Coming just months into his AEW tenure, many believed Hardy had exhausted the numerous second chances he had been afforded. In February 2023, Hardy received a 38-day jail sentence (which he had already served), was required to complete court-mandated DUI education and community service, and faced a 10-year suspension of his driver’s license.
Hardy thankfully got the help he needed and has been able to maintain his sobriety since. Today, fans can find the Charismatic Enigma in TNA Wrestling, where he and Matt hold the World Tag Team Championships.
In December 2024, WWE brought back its iconic Saturday Night’s Main Event show, giving fans a burst of nostalgia while fitting with the promotion’s sleek modern-day presentation. A second show is scheduled for later this month in San Antonio, Texas and now two more dates have been confirmed. Peacock has updated its WWE Premium Live Events Schedule to reveal two new episodes of Saturday Night’s Main Event on the following dates:
May 24, 2025
July 12, 2025
Interestingly, both of these dates may conflict with two of AEW’s biggest shows of the year.
May 24, 2025 takes place over Memorial Day weekend. While AEW hasn’t announced a show on this date as of press time, the holiday weekend has played host to AEW Double or Nothing since the company’s launch in 2019.
The July 12, 2025 episode of SNME will go head-to-head with AEW All Out: Texas, scheduled to be AEW’s largest event in the United States to date.
As Tony Khan looks ahead and plans out the next few months of storylines, he now has extra motivation to deliver the best possible product to minimize damage to AEW PPV buys amid stiff competition from WWE PLE airing on broadcast television in the United States.
Thunder Rosa’s AEW Women’s World Championship was a long-time coming for her, but took the 38-year-old on an emotional rollercoaster full of highs and lows. In a conversation with Tim Rivera, Thunder Rosa reflected onher 2022 championship victory. Though she felt unprepared to take on the role of AEW’s top woman, Rose appreciated the looks of recognition she received at the time.
“I don’t think mentally I was ready for it… The good was, like, you create history, you get a bigger platform, and you’re at another level now. People see you with different eyes, they see you as the s***.”
Unfortunately for Rosa, her title reign also shared an uglier side to wrestling, including those she had considered friends betraying her trust.
“It’s heartbreaking when friends turn on you, or when people you thought you could trust prove you can’t. You have to stay strong through it all.”
Thunder Rosa won the gold from Britt Baker in March 2022 in a steel cage match at the St. Patrick’s Day Slam edition of Dynamite. In August, she suffered a back injury and would relinqush the title in November of that same year.
Rosa stopped short of naming who betrayed her trust, but the highs and lows of her title reign remain a pivotal chapter of her AEW career. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Thunder Rosa and see whether she holds the title ever again.
The Rock and Cody Rhodes’ on-screen beef is seemingly finished, resulting in footage filmed with the two potentially never seeing the light of day. On the historic WWE Raw debut on Netflix, The Rock praised Cody and the pair shared a hug inside Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome.
Rhodes and The Rock filmed a segment at the Moana 2 premiere that now may never be aired. According to Fightful, segment would’ve seen the two squash the beef between them, but that the segment on Raw covered the same topics as the Moana 2 segment. Sean Ross Sapp added that given what transpired on Raw, the segment filmed at the film premiere didn’t need to see the light of day.
While Raw marked the end of the Rock-Rhodes angle to many, the Final Boss’ appearance on WWE NXT teased that their feud may not be over just yet. Seemingly addressing the backlash to his year-long feud with Rhodes being abruptly ended, Rock teased that he was 20 steps ahead of everyone else, and encouraged fans to stay tuned.
With his issues with The Rock in the rear-view mirror (at least for the time being,) Rhodes attention turns to the Royal Rumble, where he’ll face Kevin Owens in a Ladder match. Stay tuned for the latest on both Cody Rhodes and The Rock, and whether the pair ever do battle in a WWE ring.
The Miz and Maryse recently opened up about balancing their lives as WWE personalities and their lives as parents to their two daughters. Speaking to PEOPLE at the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere event, Maryse shared that though she misses WWE, nothing can beat being a mom.
“I want to go to bed at night and know that I’m in the same house as my kids, so as much as I love the business, I miss it, I choose my kids.”
While Maryse’s days as a full-time Superstar, The Miz remains active on WWE TV, where he’s been part of Karrion Kross’ feud with the Wyatt Sicks. The two-time Grand Slam Champion is kept busy on the road, though his career shows his children the importance of setting goals.
“I try to find that healthy balance of fulfilling our dreams, but also show our kids if you have a dream, go after it and do what you have to do.”
The couple’s first daughter, Monroe Sky, was born in March 2018. At WWE Elimination Chamber 2019, the duo shared they were expecting again, and Madison Jade was born that September.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The Miz and Maryse, as WWE’s resident ‘It Couple’ continue to make waves, both inside and outside of the ring.
The 2025 Royal Rumble is mere weeks away, and excitement is building ahead of the February 1 PLE in Indianapolis, Indiana. With that in mind, here is every WWE Royal Rumble winner and where they are today.
1988: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan: Duggan won the inaugural Royal Rumble by last eliminating One Man Gang. He retired from in-ring competition and occasionally makes guest appearances at wrestling events.
1989: Big John Studd: Studd secured victory by eliminating Ted DiBiase. He passed away in 1995.
1990 & 1991: Hulk Hogan: Hogan became the first back-to-back winner, solidifying his status as a wrestling icon. He is now retired and makes sporadic appearances for WWE, despite the opinion of fans.
1992: Ric Flair: Flair won the Rumble and the vacant WWF Championship by last eliminating Sid Justice. He is retired and had his final wrestling match in 2022.
1993: Yokozuna. Yokozuna earned a title shot at WrestleMania 9 by eliminating Randy Savage. He passed away in 2000.
1994: Bret Hart & Lex Luger: Both were declared co-winners after simultaneously eliminating each other. Hart is retired and makes occasional WWE appearances; Luger is also retired and involved in motivational speaking.
1995 & 1996: Shawn Michaels: Michaels won consecutive Rumbles, famously starting as the first entrant in 1995. He is retired and works as the head figure in WWE’s NXT brand.
1997, 1998 & 2001: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin: Austin holds the record with three Rumble victories. He is retired but returned to action for one more match in 2022.
1999: Vince McMahon: McMahon won by last eliminating Steve Austin. He resigned from WWE in 2024 amid legal controversies.
2000: The Rock: The Rock won by eliminating Big Show. He is a successful actor and makes occasional WWE appearances, including on this week’s Raw and WWE NXT.
2002 & 2016: Triple H: Triple H won his first Rumble in 2002 and his second in 2016, where he also secured the WWE Championship. He is currently WWE’s Chief Content Officer.
2003 & 2022: Brock Lesnar: Lesnar won his first Rumble in 2003 and his second in 2022, continuing his dominant presence in WWE. He was pulled from all plans last year due to being tied to the Janel Grant lawsuit.
2004: Chris Benoit: Benoit won by last eliminating Big Show. He died in 2007 and WWE avoids mentioning him due to his horrific acts.
2005 & 2014: Batista: Batista won his first Rumble in 2005 and returned to win again in 2014. He is now a successful actor and retired from wrestling.
2006: Rey Mysterio: The WWE Hall of Famer won by last eliminating Randy Orton, dedicating his victory to Eddie Guerrero. He is still active in WWE.
2007: The Undertaker: The Undertaker won by eliminating Shawn Michaels. He retired in 2020 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022.
2008 & 2013: John Cena: Cena won his first Rumble in 2008 and his second in 2013. In 2024, he announced he’d be retiring this year, and kicked off his farewell on this week’s Raw.
2009 & 2017: Randy Orton: Orton won his first Rumble in 2009 and his second in 2017. He remains with WWE but is out of action due to an attack by Kevin Owens.
2010 & 2021: Edge: Edge won his first Rumble in 2010 and made a remarkable comeback to win again in 2021. He is now with AEW where he wrestles as Cope.
2011: Alberto Del Rio: Del Rio won what was at the time, the largest Rumble in history, featuring 40 participants. He is no longer affiliated with WWE and has faced legal issues.
2012: Sheamus: Sheamus won by last eliminating Chris Jericho. He is still an active WWE Superstar and hopes to win the Intercontinental Championship.
2015: Roman Reigns: Reigns won by eliminating Rusev. He remains a top star in WWE and has been announced for this year’s Men’s match.
2018: Shinsuke Nakamura: The King of Strong Style won in 2018 by elimiantion Roman Reigns. He is the reigning U.S. Champion.
2018: Asuka: The Empress won by eliminating Nikki Bella. She is currently out of action due to an injury.
2018: Braun Strowman: Strowman won the largest Royal Rumble in history with 50 wrestlers. He was released from WWE in 2021 but brought back in 2022.
2019: Seth Rollins: Rollins won by eliminating Braun Strowman. He is an active competitor in WWE where he’s been feuding with CM Punk.
2019: Becky Lynch: Lynch used her win to headline WrestleMania 35 in the first-ever women’s main event. She left WWE in 2024 but is expected to return.
2020: Drew McIntyre: McIntyre won by eliminating Roman Reigns. He remains a prominent figure in WWE.
2020: Charlotte Flair: Flair made history by challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. She has been out of action since 2023 due to a leg injury.
2021: Bianca Belair: Belair won by eliminating Rhea Ripley. She is currently one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
2022: Ronda Rousey: Rousey won by last eliminating Charlotte Flair. She parted ways with WWE in 2023 and recently welcomed her second child into the world.
2023 & 2024: Cody Rhodes: Rhodes’ back-to-back wins saw him finally finish the story at WrestleMania 40. He is the current Undisputed WWE Champion.
2023: Rhea Ripley: Ripley’s win wouuld see her capture the SmackDown Women’s Title at WrestleMania 39. She won the Women’s World Title at this week’s Raw debut on Netflix.
2024: Bayley: The Role Model won the 30-woman match by last eliminating Liv Morgan. She won the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T proved he’s still got ‘it’ by defeating Zilla Fatu this week in Booker’s first singles match in over half-a-decade. The six-time World Champion got the win at the latest event for Reality of Wrestling, the promotion owned and operated by Booker and his wife Sharmell Huffman.
This win was Booker’s first singles match since a Reality of Wrestling event in January 2019 which saw Booker defeat Rex Andrews. The WWE NXT commentator’s most recent match for WWE was as part of the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match won by Cody Rhodes.
Zilla Fatu is the son of the late, great, Umaga, and expectations have been high for the Bloodline family member. In August 2024, Fatu was spotted at WWE SummerSlam, though despite speculation, he did not get involved at the event beyond being a spectator.
WWE Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green has made her views clear on Tessa Blanchard, branding the TNA Wrestling star a “racist bully.” Much has been said about Blanchard since her return to TNA last month, with many taking issue at her comeback. Responding to a fan who aruged that people are simply petty and jealous of Blanchard, Green shared her strong response.
This isn’t Green’s first time sharing her honest opinion on Blanchard. Following the initial controversy in 2020, Green shared her support for Blanchard’s accusers. Last August, the WWE Superstar shared that Blanchard had yet to show proper remorse for her alleged actions.
I don’t wish self-harm or thoughts of suicide on anyone and hope she has found peace. However, a simple 'I am sorry' goes a long way. We haven't heard that yet. Accountability matters, and a redemption tour of interviews won't erase the actions of an egotistical bully.
A second-generation wrestler, many had high hopes for the talented Blanchard. Here is a timeline of what happened an how Tessa Blanchard fell from grace:
In January 2020, Blanchard was accused of using a racial slur during an altercation with a fellow wrestler, La Rosa Negra, in a 2017 incident.
Other wrestlers later alleged that Blanchard had been a bully to various women. Blanchard denied several allegations.
That same month, Blanchard made history by winning the Impact World Championship, becoming the first woman to win a men’s world title in a major promotion.
In June 2020, Blanchard was stripped of the Impact World Championship and her contract was terminated days before it was set to expire.
In 2021, Blanchard was announced as a key name in the relaunch of WOW – Women of Wrestling but would leave the company after a falling out.
In 2023, Blanchard and La Rosa Negra shared a smiling photo together, suggesting that their issues were a thing of the past.
In August 2024, Blanchard shares that the collapse of her wrestling career had previously left her feeling unable to go on living.
At Final Resolution 2024, Blanchard returned to Impact Wrestling, now TNA, and entered a feud with Jordynne Grace.
Bronson Reed has shared an update on his future in the ring, and hopes to be cleared for action by July of this year. On X, Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Naomichi Marufuji shared his desire to compete in NOAH’s 25th anniversary tournament. This caught the attention of Reed, who shared that he wants to face Marufuji again and hopes to be cleared by July.
July … Hopefully, I am cleared. It's been a long time, let's do it again!
Reed suffered a severe ankle injury at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames, where he teamed with Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline to face the OG Bloodline and CM Punk. Reed recently clarified that he shattered his talus bone completely in half, and he reqired surgery to have fragments taken out and screws to repair the damage. This injury will force the former NXT North American Champion to miss major events such as Raw’s Netflix premiere, the Royal Rumble, and most unfortunate of all, WrestleMania 41.
Missing out on these huge events is a setback for Reed after he established himself as a major force on Monday Night Raw in 2024. Nevertheless, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner is focued on healing up and getting back in the ring, both in WWE and Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bronson Reed as the powerhouse continues to work hard on his recovery.
Fans and video gamers alike can expect some huge updates on WWE 2K25 within a matter of weeks as excitement around the new game continues to grow. The Microsoft Store listing for WWE 2K25 states that more details on the game will be shared on January 28.
“ANNOUNCEMENT INCOMING—WWE 2K returns bigger, bolder, and better than ever in a breakthrough year for the franchise! We’re preparing to charge down the ramp with game-changing features, iconic Superstars, and all the authenticity and action fans love from the best in sports entertainment. More details on January 28th, 2025.”
These details will come one day after the January 27, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, set to take place in Atlanta, Georgia. At WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix, Roman Reigns was confirmed for the show and it was teased that an announcement about WWE 2K25 will be made.
WWE 2K25 will be the 25th installment in the series, and the eleventh game under the WWE 2K banner. The game is expected to release in early 2025, the same time window as recent installments in the WWE 2K franchise.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WWE 2K25 as excitement continues to grow for the next entry into WWE’s esteemed library of video games.
Kurt Angle enjoyed an illustrious career, but it may be a very long time before fans see him in any capacity in pro wrestling again. During an appearance on Story Time with Dutch Mantell, Angle was asked about a potential non-active role with WWE, and shared that he’s in no rush to do more with WWE or any other promotion.
“I’m at a point in life where I’m okay. I don’t need to do that anymore. I don’t need to prove who I was or add anything to my legacy.“
Angle has not competed in a wrestling match in close to six years, with his final bout taking place against Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Since then, he has made a handful of guest appearances for WWE, but hasn’t had an official on-screen role with the promotion. His most recent appearance for WWE came at the Raw is XXX in January 2023.
Though Kurt’s days in the ring are over, the Olympian remains active. Currently, two biopics are in the works about Angle’s life and career. The Olympian recently shared on Talk Is Jericho that the first film will document his journey to Olympic success while the second will focus on his career in professional wrestling. Though neither film has received a release date, fans are excited to see the WWE/TNA Hall of Famer’s life and career brought to the big screen.
X, formerly Twitter, has provided some key context to a recent statement by Vince McMahon, in which the former WWE CEO addressed his settlement of over $1.7 million. This week, the SEC determined that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements when failing to disclose payments tied to sexual assault allegations.
On X, McMahon issued a rare public statement, opening with the assertion, “The case is closed.” However, many users on the platform were quick to point out that while McMahon’s dealings with the SEC have concluded, his legal troubles are far from over. X’s Community Notes service has since added clarification to McMahon’s statement.
“Vince McMahon settled with the SEC without admiting/denying its findings, this was exclusively about the hush money charges. Janel Grant’s civil suit will go forward and use these findings as evidence according to her attorney.“
Grant alleges that she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion. She further claims that she was “offered as a service” to Brock Lesnar to incentivize him to re-sign with WWE—a claim that has led to Lesnar being removed from all WWE plans. McMahon has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that their relationship was consensual. Despite these denials, he stepped down from WWE in January 2024.
In addition, McMahon is named in a separate lawsuit filed by five former WWF ‘ring boys,’ who allege that he and others were aware of sexual abuse by Mel Phillips but failed to take adequate steps to prevent it. These cases remain ongoing. While the SEC’s investigation into McMahon has concluded, his legal challenges are far from over, contrary to the impression some may have taken from his recent statement.
Ann Callis, the legal representative of Janel Grant, has weighed in on Vince McMahon’s recent $1.7 million fine, stemming from the ex-WWE CEO’s financial misstatements. In a statement to NBC, Callis said:
“During his time leading WWE, Vince McMahon acted as if rules did not apply to him, and now we have confirmation that he repeatedly broke the law to cover up his horrifying behavior, including human trafficking. The SEC’s charges prove that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, and therefore her case must be heard in court. While prosecutors for the Southern District of New York continue their criminal investigation, we look forward to bringing forward new evidence in our civil case about the sexual exploitation Ms. Grant endured at WWE by Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis.”
McMahon has reached a settlement with the SEC that’ll see him pay a $400,000 civil penalty and a $1.33 million reimbursement to WWE. In their report, the SEC states that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in the company’s financial reports for 2018 and 2021. McMahon has agreed to the settlement, though did not admit to or deny the SEC’s findings.
This payment comes amid Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, in which she alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion, McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024, though claims their relationship was entirely consensual. This is a developing story and we aim to provide updates as they become available.
New WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will have her hands full in her first title defense against one of WWE’s most decorated female Superstars of all time. On the latest episode of WWE SmackDown, a fatal four-way was made between Bayley, Nia Jax, Bianca Belair, and Naomi. Despite the interference of Candice LeRae, it was Bayley who stood tall, earning the win and the title match after hitting a Rose Plant on Naomi.
In a backstage promo after the match, Bayley spoke about Stratton taking a chance on herself last week when she cashed in her Money in the Bank contract. The Role Model promised to take a chance on herself in their title match, which was confirmed for next week. The match will mark Stratton’s first title defense given that WWE are currently not hosting any untelevised live events.
Bayley is no stranger to gold, having held titles on Raw, SmackDown, and WWE NXT, including the WWE Women’s Champion Stratton now possesses. Like Stratton, Bayley is a former Miss Money in the Bank and cashed in succesfully to win the SmackDown Women’s Title in 2019. Now, the veteran aims to put a swift end to Stratton’s reign with the gold, while the new champ aims to prove that ‘Tiffy Time’ is here to stay.
Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, has shared his love for Vince McMahon. On X, Alalshikh shared a photo of the former WWE Chairman/CEO with a series of heart emojis.
Alalshikh’s post spawned a variety of comments both supporting and opposing McMahon. Some even called for Alalshikh to bring McMahon in for a reported new boxing league in the country. The league will be overseen by TKO, the parent company of WWE and UFC.
Alalshikh’s support for McMahon demonstrates that there are still some on the 79-year-old’s side, despite the controversies that have been spotlighted in recent years. McMahon began working closely with the General Entertainment Authority in 2018 when WWE began hosting high-profile Premium Live Events in Saudi Arabia. The lucrative decade-long deal has seen WWE host 12 events in the Middle Eastern nation so far.
McMahon has plans to launch his own entertainment production company once his legal issues have been settled, though it’s not believed that a new wrestling promotion is in the billionaire’s future. With Alalshikh’s backing though, fans can’t count out McMahon working with the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority once again, despite the controversies that continue to follow the former WWE leader.
Brodie Lee Jr. could have a very bright future ahead of him in wrestling, as he’s earning rave reivews in his in-ring training.
On X, Scott Fishman of SEScoops/TVInsider shared his admiration for Lee’s work in the ring and his respectful nature towards others.
Tonight I witnessed Brodie Jr. working in the ring firsthand. I can’t believe how good he is already…coming up the right way with @TJWilson and @NatbyNature. And so articulate and creative too. Look out. @MandaLHuber
Brodie Jr. is the son of Jon ‘Brodie Lee’ Huber, who also competed as Luke Harper for years in WWE. The elder Lee tragically passed away in December 2020 of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A former TNT and Intercontinental Champion, Huber was 41 years old.
Within days of Brodie’s passing, Tony Schiavone revealed that AEW had signed Brodie Jr. (also known as Negative-One) to a contract, and will be taking care of the Huber family. Brodie’s mother Amanda later clarified that Brodie Jr’s contract will only become valid on his 18th birthday if he chooses to wrestle.
Brodie Jr. is certainly getting a full education in wrestling from Natalya and TJ Wilson, both graduates from the Hart Family dungeon. Although the original dungeon has since closed its doors, the WWE couple opened their own facility last year where they train with stars from WWE and the wider wrestling world.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Brodie Lee Jr., as fans shouldn’t count out seeing Negative One in the ring as a professional wrestler.
Ex-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will pay over $1.7 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle charges related to undisclosed payment agreements tied to sexual assault allegations.
In their report, the SEC Notes that McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in the company’s financial reports for 2018 and 2021. Though McMahon did not admit to or deny the SEC’s findings, he has agreed to a $400,000 civil penalty and a $1.33 million reimbursement to WWE.
Thomas P. Smith Jr., Associate Regional Director in the SEC’s New York Regional Office had the following to say:
“Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the company’s control functions and auditor.”
McMahon failed to disclose a $3 million payment to a fortmer WWE employee, the SEC alleges, as well as a $7.5 million payment to a female independent contractor in exchange for their agreement not to file claims against him. These payments came to light in 2022 when The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon had paid a total of $12 million over 16 years to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct.
This payment comes amid Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, in which she alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time with the promotion. Though McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and claimed their relationship was consensual, he stepped down from WWE in January 2024.
McMahon is also named in a lawsuit by five former WWF ‘ring boys’ who claim that he and others knew of alleged sexual abuse by Mel Phillips, but did not make a sufficient attempt to stop it. These cases are ongoing.
The second three-hour edition of WWE SmackDown takes place tonight from Portland, Oregon at Moda Center. The hype for this show will focus on the build towards the 2025 Royal Rumble, set to take place on February 1, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The show will see Cody Rhodes face Kevin Owens in a Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Tonight’s show will also see an exciting United States Championship match, with Shinsuke Nakamura set to defend the gold against the man he took the title from at Survivor Series: WarGames: LA Knight. Will the Megastar be able to become a two-time champion tonight, or will this demented side of Nakamura prove that his victory last November was no fluke?
What happened last week on SmackDown
Last week’s 1/3 edition of SmackDown saw the show move to three hours and WWE delivered a show to remember. Highlights of the show included
Tiffany Stratton cashed in her Money in the Bank contract on Nia Jax to become the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Michin sought to earn a shot at Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green with a win over Piper Niven.
The New Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu) beat the OG Bloodline (Sami Zayn and the Usos.)
Drew McIntyre confronted Cody Rhodes, leaving some to speculate that McIntyre and Kevin Owens are in cahoots.
WWE Superstar and GHC Tag Team Champion Omos is enjoying his time in Japan and recently opened up about his experience overseas. This week, the Nigerian Giant was stopped for an impromptu interview in which he gave insight into his time abroad.
Favorite Thing: Omos appreciates how people in Japan have been “super nice” to him since he arrived in the country.
Dealing With Food: It took Omos some time to handle the Japanese cuisine given that this is his first time in the country. Omos is now “beginning to figure it out” and now loves yakiniku. The term refers to bite-size pieces of meat and vegetables that are grilled.
Culture Shock: The biggest shock for Omos has been that there are a lot of social rules in Japan compared to his time in the U.S. Adapting to Japan’s gyms, which feature both indoor and outdoor facilities, has also proven to be different for the seven-foot wrestler.
Omos’ time with NOAH demonstrates the current management of WWE being far more open to working with other promotions. It remains to be seen when we’ll next see Omos in a WWE ring, but the GHC Tag Team Champion is certainly making waves in Japan.
The debut episode of WWE Raw on Netflix currently available on the streaming juggernaut is not the same as the episode fans saw live this week. Fans who watch the show on Netflix now are greeted with a message, noting that this show has been “Edited from a previous live stream.”
One significant change made is that explicit language has been scrubbed from the show. During his opening promo, The Rock cursed, but these words have been removed. Similarly, the “F*** you Solo” chants inside the Intuit Dome have also been edited out of the broadcast.
The edited Raw is also far shorter than the live show fans saw this week. While the live version of the show clocked in at just over three hours (not including the post-show press conference) the edited version is around 2 hours 20 minutes. This is because commercial breaks have been removed.
Previously, the unedited version of the Raw premiere but it has now been replaced with this edited version of the show. Nevertheless, fans will be able to enjoy the epic moments from this week’s historic debut on Netflix, even if what they’re seeing isn’t entirely what happened.
Former WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin is embracing her future outside of wrestling with new music coming next month. To celebrate her birthday, Irvin took to Instagram to share that her newest musical project will be released on Valentine’s Day (February 14). Irvin’s announcement also saw birthday wishes in the comments from the likes of Nia Jax, Saraya, and more.
Irvin parted ways with WWE in October 2024, and shared shortly after that she planned on pursuing her career as a musician. Though she has no interest in returning to wrestling as an announcer, Irvin has teased being a manager. The role is one WWE wished to hold in WWE, and realizing that the company never saw her as anything more than a ring announcer played a role in her decision to leave.
Irvin is no stranger to music, with notable highlights of hers including.
2011–2015: Performed as the lead female vocalist in the Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller – Live.
2015: Competed in season 10 of America’s Got Talent, auditioning with Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”; advanced to the semi-finals.
2015: Headlined the show Home at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford, showcasing her talents in singing, whistling, dancing, storytelling, and flute playing.
2016: Released an EP titled 27Underground, featuring the debut single “Jump High,” with backing vocals from her siblings.
2016: Played the role of Betty Rizzo in a production of Grease at the New Bedford Festival Theatre.
2020: Appeared on FOX’s I Can See Your Voice, performing Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” while playing the flute.
Irvin continues to make waves in entertainment, even with questions remaining about her future in the wrestling industry. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Samantha Irvin and her projects in and out of the ring.
Black Bart, a veteran of the wrestling business has died at the age of 76. On social media, Bart’s wife Linda shared the sad news of his passing.
“You might know him as Black Bart but to me he was my husband Ricky. He left us this morning . He was pronounced at 5:26 this morning. He is Resting In Peace.”
Bart shared on Facebook in March 2023 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Last month, Dutch Mantell shared on his storytime podcast that Bart was back at home after a stay in hospital, as his insurance had ran out. It was also shared that Bart would no longer be undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Scott Norton, JBL, and Black Bart (right) at The Big Event fan fest in November 2021.
Bart began his career in the 1970s and competed across the territories and in Japan. In 1990, Bart arrived in the WWF, where he faced several names, including a young Dustin Rhodes in what’d be the future Goldust’s WWF debut. A year later, he joined WCW, where he’d formed the ‘Desperados’ stable alongside Mantel and Deadeye Dick.
After retiring from the ring in 2022, Bart wrestled one more time in 2006 but spent his post-in-ring career as a trainer. His most notable trainee is WWE Hall of Famer John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, though he also trained former ROH star Necro Butcher.
Our thoughts are with Bart’s family and those who knew him at this sad time.
