SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Swerve Strickland Paid Tribute To Late ROH Alum With Epic Marvel-Inspired AEW Dynasty Entrance

    Swerve Strickland Paid Tribute To Late ROH Alum With Epic Marvel-Inspired AEW Dynasty Entrance

    Swerve Strickland arrived to AEW Dynasty in style with an epic entrance that paid tribute to one of the most important names associated with Ring of Honor. 

    At Dynasty, Strickland dethroned Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship in an emotional main event. The win cemented Strickland as the eighth man to win the gold and the first black wrestler to capture the richest prize in AEW. 

    Strickland was dressed to impress in St. Louis and wore a black and gold attire for his entrance. Fans quickly recognized the look as inspired by Kilmonger, the antagonist of 2018’s Black Panther film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

    Swerve Strickland and Kilmonger. 

    Swerve Strickland’s ROH Tribute

    Kilmonger wasn’t the only notable name referenced during Swerve Strickland’s entrance at AEW Dynasty. Prince Nana was on hand to cover Strickland in a robe, which Excalibur noted belonged to Jimmy Rave. 

    Rave was part of Ring of Honor during the company’s early days and was part of The Embassy, a stable led by Nana. Rave’s heel work was so strong, that instead of throwing streamers for his entrance as was customary, fans threw toilet paper as he made his way to the ring. The ultimately led to toilet paper being banned from ROH show after Rave tried to attack a fan who threw a roll at him after his match. 

    Rave would make returns to ROH in 2009, 2011, and 2013. In November 2020, he announced his retirement after an infection in his left arm required amputation. An MRSA infection would cost Rave both of his legs less than a year later and he would die on December 12, 2021, at the age of 39. 

  • Will Ospreay Is Done Taking Shots At WWE After ‘Lowering’ Himself With Triple H Jibe

    Will Ospreay Is Done Taking Shots At WWE After ‘Lowering’ Himself With Triple H Jibe

    Will Ospreay doesn’t plan on taking shots at WWE again on AEW programming after recently taking aim at Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. 

    On an episode of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay spoke about the ‘grind’ and said that Triple H only reached the top of WWE due to ‘grinding’ on Stephanie McMahon. The dig was in response to comments made by the Game over WrestleMania week in which he said some wrestlers opt not to sign with WWE due to the ‘grind’ and choose a promotion with a lighter schedule. 

    Ospreay’s dig sparked a discussion as to whether he crossed a line given that Triple H hadn’t mentioned him and that his comment took place in front of Renee Paquette, a friend of both Triple H and Stephanie. Speaking on the AEW Dynasty media scrum, Ospreay shared his belief that Triple H’s comment was about him. 

    “If you throw a jab, I throw one back. And although I wasn’t mentioned by name, it was clearly about me.”

    Ospreay added that he’s finished with taking aim at WWE as he doesn’t feel such ‘tribalism’ is good for anyone involved. 

    “I don’t wanna do that anymore because I feel like I lowered myself to that standard. I don’t need to do that anymore… that’s the first time I’ve ever experienced true tribalism between the two. It’s not nice. It’s unnecessary.”

    Though Will is done taking aim at WWE, he does not regret what he said as Triple H’s comment did “piss me off.” Ospreay couldn’t help but take one last swipe, however, as he finished speaking on the matter, saying he doesn’t need to “f***ing f*** with guys below me.”

    AEW Dynasty saw Ospreay defeat Bryan Danielson in an instant classic that went over 30 minutes. Ospreay got the win after hitting the Tiger Driver 91 which led to a worrying scene after the match. 

  • Wrestling World Reacts to Swerve Strickand’s AEW World Championship Win At Dynasty

    Wrestling World Reacts to Swerve Strickand’s AEW World Championship Win At Dynasty

    The wrestling world has shared their support for Swerve Strickland following his AEW World Championship victory at AEW Dynasty. 

    Strickland dethroned Samoa Joe in the main event of the show to become the eighth man to have won the gold. The win also made Strickland the first black man to hold the AEW World Championship. 

    Wrestling World Reacts to Swerve Strickland’s Win

    Strickland’s victory has understandably had the wrestling world abuzz. On Twitter, Matt Hardy gave his congrats to Strickland and others who made an impression at AEW Dynasty. 

    WWE’s Cedric Alexander also gave his congrats to the new AEW World Champion. 

    Darby Allin made reference to Swerve’s catchphrase shortly after his victory in St. Louis. 

    WWE NXT’s Joe Gacy had nothing but love for Swerve Strickland. 

    Orange Cassidy was victorious in tag-team action on the All In Zero-Hour pre-show. The freshly squeezed had just one word after AEW Dynasty. 

    AEW’s Administration Co-Ordinator shared a photo with Strickland, Prince Nana, AEW COO Kosha Irby, and new AEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale to celebrate the historic show. 

    Kevin Knight was also pleased to see Strickland and Nightingale get the win and the gold at AEW Dynasty. 

    And as for Strickland himself, the new AEW World Champion had just a few words to give on social media. 

    Strickland’s win clearly means a lot to a lot of people and for good reason. After the setback of his 2021 release from WWE, Strickland has pulled himself up to become one of the hottest acts in professional wrestling. As for how his reign goes remains to be seen but AEW is indeed Swerve’s house after the Dynasty pay-per-view. 

  • Drew McIntyre “Might Have Gotten Carried Away” By Taunting CM Punk At WrestleMania 40

    Drew McIntyre “Might Have Gotten Carried Away” By Taunting CM Punk At WrestleMania 40

    Drew McIntyre has admitted that he may have gone a tad too far with his goading of CM Punk at WrestleMania 40, but was able to prove that he is a man of his word. 

    McIntyre won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, his first World Championship win in front of a live WWE crowd. After goading CM Punk at ringside however, McIntyre was attacked by the Best in the World and Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest would capitalize on the attack. 

    As countless fans have pointed out, all McIntyre had to do was to avoid taunting CM Punk and he would have left Philadelphia as the World Heavyweight Champion. In a recent Twitter video, Drew justified his actions. 

    “This is everything I worked for, for 20 years. This was my moment, I earned it, I’m sorry I wanted to soak in every single second of it at WrestleMania, make the world title moment last an eternity. Oh to celebrate with my wife, or my fans who have been through much.”

    While McIntyre was pleased to have his moment, the contemplative former World Heavyweight Champion admitted that he may have gone a bit overboard.

    “I saw Punk. I might have gotten carried away a bit, but I told him I’d rub it in his stupid face and I’m a man of a word. I was within striking distance on purpose and he didn’t raise one finger until I was distracted and assaulted me like the coward he is.”

    Not only did Punk cost McIntyre at WrestleMania, but he also cost the Scottish Warrior in the number-one contenders match during the following Raw. While a match is expected between the two, that hinges on Punk being cleared and McIntyre signing a new contract with the promotion. 

  • Latest On Bryan Danielson After Injury Scare At AEW Dynasty

    Latest On Bryan Danielson After Injury Scare At AEW Dynasty

    There’s an update regarding Bryan Danielson’s condition following an injury scare after his all-out war against Will Ospreay at Sunday’s at AEW Dynasty pay-per-view. Danielson lost to Will Ospreay in an ‘instant classic’ that saw Ospreay put him away with the devastating Tiger Driver 91. Danielson appeared to take the move on his neck and was tended to after the match by AEW’s medical team. 

    Danielson appeared to be in very rough shape after the match, but the ‘American Dragon’ did not sustain any serious injuries. According to Fightful, everything ‘went as planned’ as much things can, and Danielson was just selling the effects of the match and the Tiger Driver. 

    Danielson was somehow fine after this bump

    Will Ospreay was concerned for Danielson after the match which will likely play into the ongoing storyline between himself and the rest of the Don Callis Family. For some time, there have been tensions in the faction with Ospreay showing too much respect for his opponents to be aligned with the group. On commentary during the match, Callis insinuated that Ospreay was a liar and stupid in another sign of growing tensions.  

    It’s certainly good news that Danielson wasn’t legitimately injured in the match, especially given his history of neck issues. It was in 2014 that Bryan was stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship due to a neck injury and his Intercontinental Championship reign the following year was also cut short due to neck issues. In 2016, Bryan would retire from the ring due to these setbacks and wouldn’t wrestle again until two years later. 

    What’s to Come? 

    It’s unclear when we’ll next see Bryan Danielson back in the ring but the American Dragon is currently in the midst of his final year as a full-time wrestler. This decision stems from a promise Danielson made to step away from the ring as a full-time talent in time for his daughter Birdie’s seventh birthday. While Danielson won’t be wrestling full-time, fans should expect to see him in the ring. He’s stated in interviews that he doesn’t plan to ever retire and will wrestle in front of small audiences if he has to until he physically can’t do it anymore.

    Danielson has certainly earned a more relaxed schedule in the ring but plans to stay active even as a part-time competitor. Thankfully, Danielson won’t have to miss time due to what transpired at Dynasty, despite what the events after his match may have made fans believe. 

  • Swerve Strickland Credits KofiMania As Inspiration Behind AEW World Title Pursuit

    Swerve Strickland Credits KofiMania As Inspiration Behind AEW World Title Pursuit

    Swerve Strickland’s historic AEW World Championship at AEW Dynasty may never have come about had KofiMania not taken wrestling by storm in 2019. 

    At AEW’s most recent pay-per-view, Strickland won the AEW World Championship from Samoa Joe and became the first black AEW World Champion in the process. On the post-show media scrum, Strickland spoke about how Kofi Kingston’s journey to the WWE Championship inspired him to think big.

    “Friends of mine, seeing friends like Kofi [Kingston]. The last five years was probably one of the biggest inspirational things you’ve ever seen. Not just in black history but in wrestling history period. And that’s motivating. That’s inspiring. And that makes me like ‘I want to do that for the next generation.’”

    Strickland added that he has big plans now that he is the champion and was pleased that it didn’t take long for another black champion to emerge following Kofi’s victory in MetLife Stadium. 

    “I don’t want to just do it once. I want to do it multiple times. And the fact that I was able to somewhat recreate a feeling like that in just a small amount of time, not like 20 years later, 15, 30, years later. That’s progress in my mind. And it’s not just me, it’s a team. Nana’s a part of that. My people, my family. All of them right here. None of this happens without any of these guys together. 

    Strickland’s win is understandably huge for him and could mark the ushering of a new era, one that sees AEW leave the issues of the past behind. Whatever comes next, Swerve has done the work to elevate himself into the main event, and the future bodes well with him as AEW World Champion. 

  • The Rock Starts MMA Workouts For New ‘The Smashing Machine’ Movie

    The Rock Starts MMA Workouts For New ‘The Smashing Machine’ Movie

    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is stepping from the wrestling ring to the MMA cage as part of the intense training for his latest movie project ‘The Smashing Machine.’

    The Rock recently wrapped up his time with WWE but has threatened to return to confront Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Many fans are expecting a match between the two, possibly later this year or at WrestleMania 41. 

    Before that happens though, Johnson’s focus is on his new film. The Smashing Machine will focus on the life of fighter Mark Kerr and detail his rise in the world of MMA as well as his struggles with personal problems. Johnson will be portraying Kerr. 

    Taking to social media, Johnson reflected on his appearances at WrestleMania 40 and admitted he’s “banged up” but ready to go. The Final Boss added that his MMA workouts will be starting very soon and hopes that The Smashing Machine will serve as a love letter to those battling addiction, including the many friends he’s lost to addiction and mental health struggles. 

    The Smashing Machine is certainly a change from the norm for Johnson, who typically sticks to family-friendly films (Moana, The Jungle Cruise) or high-end blockbusters like The Fast and the Furious franchise.) Currently, there’s no confirmed date for when fans can expect The Smashing Machine in cinemas. 

    While the world of MMA is something new for the Final Boss, his athletic credentials can’t be denied. In addition to his exceptional wrestling career, Johnson played college football and has sculpted his physique with the passion of a bodybuilder. 

    Johnson has made himself a blockbuster megastar and it’s commendable that the 51-year-old is ready to try something new. As a prolific social media user who has one of the largest followings in the world, fans can expect plenty of updates about The Smashing Machine and WWE from the Final Boss. 

  • Jeff Hardy’s AEW Contract Is Up Far Sooner Than First Thought

    Jeff Hardy’s AEW Contract Is Up Far Sooner Than First Thought

    Jeff Hardy’s days with AEW could be numbered as the Charismatic Enigma’s deal with the All-Elite promotion is set to expire sooner than initially expected. 

    Hardy joined AEW in 2022 and wasted no time in aligning with his brother Matt. Originally, it was believed that AEW had extended Jeff Hardy’s deal into 2025, Fightful Select reports. This was believed to be the case to make up for time lost due to injuries and Jeff’s sabbatical following his 2022 DUI arrest. That isn’t the case as Jeff has been telling other talent at conventions that his contract is set to expire sometime in the spring of this year.

    It remains to be seen whether Jeff Hardy re-signs with AEW but the former World Champion has shown frustrations with the company in the past. In December 2023, Jeff appeared on his brother’s podcast and spoke about his AEW run. 

    “The last time I was in this extreme dimension of your podcast, I said in WWE I felt like I was a ghost just walking around backstage. Honestly, I kind of still feel like that at AEW just because I’m not being involved in something cool.”

    With his brother no longer in AEW, Jeff may seek to try his hand outside the promotion in which he feels he hasn’t been used to his fullest potential. Matt Hardy recently returned to TNA Wrestling and was immediately entered into a program with TNA World Champion Moose. With that said, Matt has not signed with TNA and remains a free agent at this time. 

    Ultimately, Jeff will have to make some difficult decisions about his future and the veteran wrestler will have to consider how long left he has in the ring. With his situation in AEW not ideal and his controversial release from WWE in late 2021, we’ll have to wait and see what Jeff Hardy does next. 

  • Afa Jr. Reviving WXW Promotion After Legendary Father Steps Down Over Health Concerns

    Afa Jr. Reviving WXW Promotion After Legendary Father Steps Down Over Health Concerns

    The WXW promotion will be reborn under the leadership of Afa Anoa’i Jr after his WWE Hall of Fame father closed the promotion down over health issues. 

    Afa Jr. made the announcement during an appearance for Battlefield Pro Wrestling. In addition to being the owner of the promotion, Afa added that he will be bringing WXW to cable television in the state of Pennsylvania. 

    This news comes two months after it was announced that WXW would be closing. This difficult decision was made as Afa Sr. had been dealing with some serious health issues, including a serious heart condition and mild-moderate vascular dementia with Alzheimer’s among other issues. 

    WXW’s ‘final’ event before Afa Jr’s announcement took place on April 13. It is unclear when the first WXW of the promotion’s revival will take place. 

    WXW, not to be confused with the German promotion of the same name, was launched in 1996 and has seen a litany of notable names step into the ring, including Batista. The film was also featured in 2008’s The Wrestler in which Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) fights Tommy Rotten (WXW wrestler Tommy Suede.)

    With decades of legacy, it’s a good thing that WXW will continue on, even without the involvement of the legendary Wild Samoan. More promotions mean more opportunities for wrestlers in Florida where WXW typically operates. As for Afa Sr., he’s earned himself a retirement from running WXW and will hopefully see his son take the promotion to new heights

  • Xyon Quinn Says The Comeback Will Surpass the Setback After WWE Release, Superstars Respond

    Xyon Quinn Says The Comeback Will Surpass the Setback After WWE Release, Superstars Respond

    Xyon Quinn is ready for the next chapter of his wrestling career which he is confident will surpass the setback of being released by WWE. 

    Quinn was among those cut by WWE in the first wave of talent releases following the launch of the promotion’s new era. Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xia Li were also let go by the company as part of what’s been reported as ‘budget cuts.’

    Taking to Instagram, Quinn shared a video of himself recalling his first fight. In the caption, the ex-NXT Superstar made clear that what’s to come will surpass his WWE release. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C6ARubiM3IU

    Quinn’s video caught the attention of WWE Superstars. In the comments, WWE staple Natalya said “LFG” (Let’s F***** Go!) while Shotzi encouraged Quinn to “Take the world!” WWE NXT’s Jakaro Jackson shared her support for Quinn’s post-WWE endeavors through a series of emojis while Damon Kemp gave a salute to the former Superstar. 

    On Twitter, Natalya had the following to say about Quinn. 

    Quinn is eager to show his worth outside of WWE which seems more possible than ever before thanks to the many promotions out there. As Cody Rhodes, Matt Cardona, and others have shown, parting ways with WWE can often be a blessing in disguise and give wrestlers the opportunity to reinvent themselves on their own terms. For Quinn, he will have to wait out a 90-day non-compete clause before he can appear and compete elsewhere. Quinn is the husband of Harley Cameron who makes appearances for AEW and Ring of Honor. 

  • Cody Rhodes Celebrates Fan’s Marriage Proposal At WWE Live Event in Belfast

    Cody Rhodes Celebrates Fan’s Marriage Proposal At WWE Live Event in Belfast

    One fan at a recent WWE live event didn’t expect to be proposed to at the show, nor did she expect Cody Rhodes to be there when the question was popped. 

    Rhodes has been headlining at WWE’s recent tour of the UK, his first since capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. Belfast, Northern Ireland marked the final night of the tour which went off with a bang. 

    In footage shared online, a fan can be seen asking his girlfriend to marry him while Cody watches on and asks if she’ll say yes. The fan being proposed to does indeed say yes much to the delight of her fiance, the fans around them, and the American Nightmare. 

    Cody Rhodes’ Live Event Adventures

    This is hardly the first time Rhodes has gone the extra mile to make a show special for a fan. Last year, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding.

    When competing in Extreme Rules matches at WWE live events, Rhodes has been gifting tables to fans in attendance and has also been giving away his signature weight belt. Cody also recently had a special entrance with a young fan who was dressed like the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion. Rhodes’ antics off of TV continue to endear him with the fans which certainly bodes well for his future in WWE’s new era. 

  • R-Truth Finally Stopped and Smelled the Roses with WWE WrestleMania 40 Victory

    R-Truth Finally Stopped and Smelled the Roses with WWE WrestleMania 40 Victory

    R-Truth was able to stop and smell the proverbial roses by taking in his Tag Team Championship win alongside The Miz at WrestleMania 40.

    Truth and Miz captured the Raw Tag Team Championships in Philadelphia which also marked Truth’s first victory at a WrestleMania. The titles underwent a serious rebranding during the April 15, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

    Outside of his many 24/7 Championship reigns, this title run marks Truth’s first taste of championship gold since 2019. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Truth was asked about his win and said he was pleased that he was able to appreciate the moment which is a rarity given his busy profession. 

    “We live life so much, we be lifin’ so much we don’t take time to stop and smell the roses… That time I did. And I had my son there, that was a little baby when I first got into the business… and for him to say ‘Dad, man, I’m so proud of you. I haven’t seen you wrestle in so long.’

    “It was so many things that were going through my head at that moment. Me and Miz, I mean I’m getting emotional now… Miz has had my back in this business. It was just a moment that was, it was a surreal moment.”

    What’s to Come? 

    The Awesome Truth’s victory at WrestleMania evidently means a great deal to Truth but the pair are now the target of every tag team on Monday Night Raw. During the April 15, episode, DIY earned a title match by emerging victorious in a triple-threat tag-team match that included the Creed Brothers and the New Day. 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

  • Cody Rhodes Pays Tribute to Seth Rollins As Ex-World Champion Recovers from Knee Surgery

    Cody Rhodes Pays Tribute to Seth Rollins As Ex-World Champion Recovers from Knee Surgery

    Fans won’t be seeing Seth Rollins in the ring for some time, but Cody Rhodes was able to pay tribute to his friend and former rival during a recent WWE live event. 

    At WWE’s recent event Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rhodes headlined the show with an Undisputed WWE Championship match against Shinsuke Nakamura. For his entrance, Rhodes wore a ring jacket that featured both his logo and Rollins’ logo. Given that Cody hadn’t worn this particular jacket at previous nights of the tour, it appears this was in response to the news that Seth is currently recovering from knee surgery. 

    You can check out Cody’s jacket in the video below which also sees the WWE Champion give some lucky young fans a special moment. 

    Latest on Seth Rollins

    Rollins’ knee surgery was disclosed by his wife Becky Lynch during an episode of RTE One’s The Late, Late Show. This revelation came after it was reported that Rollins would be taking time off following WrestleMania 40, an event that saw Seth in action on both nights. Earlier this year, Rollins suffered an MCL tear and partial meniscus tear during his match with Jinder Mahal but was able to avoid having surgery. 

    At this time, there’s no confirmation as to how much time Rollins will miss due to his surgery. Typically, surgeries for MCL tears can take anywhere between six to twelve months to fully heal. After a 316-day reign as Champion though, Rollins has earned himself some time off and we’re wishing him a full and speedy recovery. 

  • ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy Returns to TNA, Confronts World Champion Moose at 4/20 Rebellion

    ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy Returns to TNA, Confronts World Champion Moose at 4/20 Rebellion

    TNA Rebellion 2024 went off the air with the reveal of the ‘Lights Out’ mystery as ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy made his stunning return to the promotion.

    In the days running up to Rebellion, a mysterious video teased that something known as ‘Lights Out’ would be appearing at Rebellion. The video left fans trying to decypher clues to learn of what was behind the eerie video.

    In the main event of Rebellion, TNA World Champion Moose retained his title against Nic Nemeth. As Moose celebrated while The System watched from the stage, the screens flickered as fans awaited the arrival of ‘Lights Out.’

    Hardy’s signature laugh then aired and when the lights came up, the ‘Broken’ version of Matt was in the ring with Moose and leveled the World Champion with a Twist of Fate. Matt ended the show by holding the TNA World Championship.

    In a backstage video, The System was unhappy with Matt’s return and Moose spoke about never having things go right for him in Vegas. The champion is referring to his title victory at Hard to Kill in January in Paradise, Nevada, which saw his post-match celebration interrupted by Nic Nemeth. 

    Hardy’s TNA return comes mere days after it was confirmed that he had left All Elite Wrestling following a four-year run with the promotion. It had been rumored that Matt would be returning to WWE, given that he had been teasing involvement with the ongoing QR code mystery, believed to be the return of Uncle Howdy.

    Instead, Matt has returned to TNA, the promotion in which he has his greatest singles success. Matt is a two-time former TNA World Champion and seems set on adding a third title to his collection. 

    More Returns

    Matt wasn’t the only notable name to return to TNA Wrestling at Rebellion 2024. During the show, fellow AEW alum Mike Santana returned to face Steve Maclin. Santana had been with TNA from 2017 to 2019 before he departed to join AEW. 

    Sami Callihan also made his TNA return at Rebellion. The former World Champion returned as part of the chaos surrounding the TNA Knockouts World title match. After The Good Hands and Kon interfered on Steph De Lander’s behalf, Callihan and PCO came out to even the odds. Jordynne Grace retained her title soon after. 

  • Sanga Addresses Lack of Indian Representation In WWE Despite Massive National Fanbase

    Sanga Addresses Lack of Indian Representation In WWE Despite Massive National Fanbase

    Former WWE Superstar Sanga has shared his disappointment over the promotion’s lack of Indian representation considering how popular WWE is in the country. 

    Sanga, alongside Veer Mahaan, Jinder Mahal, Xia Li, and Xyon Quinn, was released from WWE as part of the first wave of cuts under the promotion’s new era. Sanga had been with WWE since 2018 and left without winning any championship gold in the promotion. 

    In a video shared to Twitter, Sanga said that he, Veer, and Mahal are all keeping positive despite what has happened. Sanga then shares his disappointment that WWE wants viewers from India, especially on social media, but when it comes to pushing Indian talent, they won’t do it.

    https://twitter.com/Sanga_WWE/status/1781719820314030164

    Sanga understands that creative differences happen but pointed out that India has a population of 1.4 billion people who love WWE and want to see national talent on an international stage. That’s why Sanga is so disappointed that WWE rejects pushing Indian talent and said fans can look at the history of the company to see that. 

    The ex-Superstar made clear that he’s not specifically talking about himself, but that somebody from India should be up there. He adds that there is no Indian employed by WWE and the company will have to answer to the Indian fanbase one day.

    Sanga ends on a positive note, stating that God has given him opportunities before and he will again. He concludes by saying that his fans are positive people and he hopes that remains the case, and he will not let India’s pride be hurt in any way.

    Sanga is obviously very proud of his national background and feels strongly about a lack of representation within WWE. Whether his strong words for WWE change things remains to be seen, but if the company does push an Indian Superstar to the top, it likely won’t be Sanga himself. 

  • WWE Talent Sympathetic to Jinder Mahal & Xia Li Following Release of Underutilized Stars

    WWE Talent Sympathetic to Jinder Mahal & Xia Li Following Release of Underutilized Stars

    The WWE roster will miss Jinder Mahal and Xia Li and many believe that the two were not given fair opportunities on the main roster. 

    Mahal and Li were released from WWE in the first wave of talent cuts in this ‘new era.’ Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xyon Quinn were also let go. The talent will have to wait out 90-day non-compete clauses before they can take bookings elsewhere. 

    Mahal’s release was something of a surprise given that 2024 started for him with a segment with The Rock and a high-profile feud with then-World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. A handful of talent believe that when it comes to his work with The Rock, Mahal nailed his side of things only for WWE to never follow up with anything substantial for him, PW Insider reports. Perhaps that is why Mahal gave a curt announcement regarding his release, stating that he’d quit WWE. 

    Mahal’s early 2024 also saw him ‘feud’ with AEW President Tony Khan, who had some choice words regarding Mahal’s World Heavyweight Championship push. The running joke amongst some WWE talent is that Mahal will be feuding with Khan on AEW Dynamite during this summer. 

    For Xia Li, there is a feeling that she suffered because of her stop-start pushes on the main roster. Li, the first Chinese female Superstar, was called up to the main roster in 2021 though arguably didn’t have her first actual storyline until two years later. 

    Given how infrequently she had been used, Li’s 2023 feud with Becky Lynch met a cool response from fans as audiences didn’t believe Li would get the better of one of wrestling’s biggest stars. Talent also believe that Li being introduced in the Vince McMahon era did not help her chances either. 

    Li and Mahal were said to be extremely well-liked within WWE, as demonstrated by the positive messages from the remaining talent. It’s never easy to lose a job, especially one from the biggest professional wrestling promotion in the world, and now Mahal, Li, and the rest will have to forge the next chapter of their careers outside of WWE.

  • Sporting Stars Wayne Rooney & Anthony Joshua Attend WWE Live Event in London’s O2

    Sporting Stars Wayne Rooney & Anthony Joshua Attend WWE Live Event in London’s O2

    The stars were out at a recent WWE live event in the UK as the promotion’s ‘new era’ continues to be a hit with audiences around the world. 

    On Friday evening, WWE hosted an event in the O2 Arena in London, England, which served as the host of WWE Money in the Bank 2023. As seen in the photos below, some huge names from the world of sport were in attendance. Soccer legend Wayne Rooney was spotted in the crowd while boxer Anthony Joshua was able to meet Natalya and the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. 

    This event in the O2 isn’t Rooney’s first foray into the world of WWE. In 2015, Rooney attended an event in London and was confronted during the show by King Barrett. Undeterred by the former Nexus leader, the Manchester United alum delivered a swift slap to Barrett. 

    As for Joshua, he hasn’t competed since his knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March but has plans to fight again this September. While the Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time World Boxing Champion has yet to step into a WWE ring, Joshua said in 2021 that he wanted to try his hand at pro wrestling. 

    The two celebs watched on as Natalya beat Shayna Baszler while Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. If WWE’s recent wave of momentum is anything to go by, the pair had a great show at the O2, and it may not be the last time we see these names and other celebrities at a WWE event. 

  • Bars, Buses & Breweries Benefit From the Impact of WWE Royal Rumble 2024 PLE

    Bars, Buses & Breweries Benefit From the Impact of WWE Royal Rumble 2024 PLE

    Officials in St. Petersburg, FL will be hoping to see WWE return as more details have come out about the highly successful Royal Rumble 2024 event. 

    The January 27, show saw Cody Rhodes win his second Royal Rumble match and become the fourth man ever to achieve this feat back-to-back. On the women’s side of things, Bayley won the Women’s Royal Rumble match with a record-breaking performance in the bout. 

    The show generated $47,047,401 in overall economic impact with $28,337,038 of that coming from direct spending, a new economic impact study has revealed. There was also $2,923,664 million tax dollars generated by the popular Premium Live Event. 

    Ferg’s Sports Bar, which is located near Tropicana Field, did seven times its usual business during the day of the Royal Rumble PLE. Fans were indeed ready to enjoy the show with a drink as Green Bench Brewing Company saw a 10-15% increase in custom over a typical Saturday in the city. 

    Fans in Florida weren’t just there to drink and watch wrestling. For those able to survive the post-Royal Rumble hangover, the Imagine Museum had a 25 percent increase in attendance the day after the Royal Rumble. The Sun Runner bus had a 95 percent increase in ridership on the day of the Royal Rumble.

    The Royal Rumble is always a popular event and that was no exception this year. The event gave fans what they wanted to see to kick off the WrestleMania season and these immense figures make the ongoing success of WWE on all metrics hard to ignore.

  • Kyle O’Reilly’s Injury Taught Him He’s Better At Being A Father Than A Pro-Wrestler

    Kyle O’Reilly’s time away from the ring was tough on the AEW star but helped teach an important lesson about himself as a father. 

    O’Reilly returned to AEW programming at the Revolution 2024 event in March. This return came close to two years after he underwent neck fusion surgery for an injury that’d kept him out of action since June 2022. 

    Spending over a year away from the ring was understandably difficult for the veteran wrestler, but there has been a silver lining to his hiatus. As he explained to Fightful, his injury led to O’Reilly spending more time at home, which led to him learning more about himself. 

    “My daughter, who was six months old when I got hurt, and now I’m going back and she’s over two. I got to spend all that quality time at home with her and playing that stay-at-home dad role. I found that I’m a better dad than I ever was a wrestler.”

    In the interview, O’Reilly added that patience was key in his lengthy recovery process, as was staying positive in spite of what had happened to him. The Undisputed Era alum admitted that recovering took longer than first expected as complications prolonged his comeback period. 

    It’s great that O’Reilly was able to spend quality time with his daughter as the wrestling business unfortunately often leads to parents being on the road for a long time without seeing their kids. Fatherly instincts aside, O’Reilly will be all business at AEW Dynasty when he challenges for the AEW International Championship. 

  • Kenny Omega: Rossy Ogawa Puts Underage Girls In Swimsuit Calendars, Talent Refuse to Work with Him

    Kenny Omega: Rossy Ogawa Puts Underage Girls In Swimsuit Calendars, Talent Refuse to Work with Him

    Kenny Omega has spoken against Marigold founder Rossy Ogawa who is set to embark on a working relationship with WWE. 

    Ogawa was present at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver alongside Giulia who is set to officially join WWE later this year. Giulia will be a part of Marigold’s first event and is set to make occasional appearances for the promotion after becoming a fully-fledged WWE Superstar. 

    During a recent Twitch stream, Kenny Omega didn’t hold back with his comments about Ogawa, who he dubbed an ‘e-drone.’ Omega went further and said that women in wrestling are wise to keep away from Ogawa and his business practices. 

    “There are a lot of people who refuse to work for him for the very same reason. Some of those people are in WWE. Some are in AEW. They have a very good reason.”

    Later in the stream, Omega said that Ogawa “puts underage girls in very revealing swimsuit calendars.” The AEW EVP insinuated that there were even worse actions being committed but didn’t want “lawyers barking at my door.”

    Omega ended his comments by wishing Marigold performers look and that he’d be “very hesitant” if he was in their shoes. Omega also said that he’s ‘with’ Asuka and that the pair of them are ‘bros.’ The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has previously stated that Ogawa created STARDOM to defeat her. 

    These are certainly some shocking claims against Ogawa, ones that WWE should take seriously when looking at their impending working relationship with Marigold. While fans are excited to see WWE partner with other promotions in their new era, the deal with Marigold could be under serious scrutiny given Omega’s claims. 

  • QR Code Teases Continue On 4/19 SmackDown: Decoding The Symbols Behind Latest Video

    QR Code Teases Continue On 4/19 SmackDown: Decoding The Symbols Behind Latest Video

    A new QR code that aired on the April 19, episode of SmackDown has once again left fans sifting through the symbols and clues to find out what’s to come. 

    WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was at this week’s SmackDown in his latest efforts to demonstrate the promotion’s new era. Mere days after new titles were introduced on Raw, The Game and Nick Aldis revealed new WWE Tag Team Championships to A-Town Down Under. 

    During Triple H’s entrance, however, a QR code appeared for a brief moment, the latest in a bizarre string of instances ever since the post-WrestleMania 40 Raw. Users who scanned the QR code were taken to a website featuring a mysterious hooded figure dressed in black. 

    Who is this mysterious figure?

    This website also contains a hidden link. Clicking it takes you to an image and coordinates (45.7455 N, 13.4674 E.) Following these coordinates takes you to a cave in Slovenia. This cryptic site also has the following video. 

    Decoding the Message

    Following on from the coordinates, the video in question features cave imagery, which was pseudo-prevalent for the video fans found by deciphering the clues on this week’s Raw. That video featured imagery to the philosophical works of Plato, specifically his allegory of the cave. 

    Plato argued in his work Republic that man spends his time looking at a cave and what we see are mere shadows of the real world cast by an outside light. The shadows that appear on the wall are man’s reality, they are not accurate representations of the real world and are merely a fraction of the actual reality. The text in the SmackDown video that alludes to ‘opening eyes’ adds more credence to the overall theme of perception of reality. 

    The video also includes an image of a crow or raven, both of which are birds associated with darkness. Both birds are scavengers and are generally associated with dead bodies. A group of crows is called a ‘murder’ while a group of ravens is an ‘unkindness.’

    A unique symbol also appears in the SmackDown video and also appeared in the Raw video. This symbol of a circle inside a bisected cup is the symbol of the dwarf planet Pluto, and has been since 1933. In astrology, Pluto is associated with secrets and monumental changes experienced over a lifetime. 

    What’s to Come?

    Many believe these teases are building to the return of Uncle Howdy, previously played by Bo Dallas who has been under contract since 2022. WWE teased the return of Uncle Howdy following their Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. WWE also used QR codes and unique marketing for the ‘White Rabbit’ angle that resulted in Wyatt’s return at Extreme Rules 2022. 

  • New WWE Tag Team Championships Introduced, SmackDown Tag Titles Retired

    New WWE Tag Team Championships Introduced, SmackDown Tag Titles Retired

    The WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship belts have officially been retired, with the new WWE Tag Team Titles being introduced on the 4/19 WWE SmackDown. 

    WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was on the show to introduce the new titles to A-Town Down Under, who won the SmackDown Tag Titles at WrestleMania 40: Saturday. This reveal wasn’t a massive surprise, however, as the Game had revealed the new World Tag Team Titles on Raw mere days earlier. 

    The new championship designs are a throwback to the original WWE Tag Team Championship design that proved immensely popular with fans. No doubt this new championship design will only help solidify that this is a new era, one in which the fans feel they are being listened to. 

    While A-Town Down Under were pleased to receive the new gold, they pushed their luck with Triple H. The pair continued to taunt the Game which resulted in SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis stepping in and threatening to deal with the pair personally. 

    New Challengers

    With new WWE Tag Team Championship titles, there was also a need for new challengers. Immediately after this presentation, a four-way tag-team match saw The Street Profits overcome New Catch Republic, Legado del Fantasma and The Authors of Pain to become the No. 1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Titles. The Profits are one of three teams to have held the Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Tag Team titles are are now eager to add another pair of belts to their collection. 

  • Seth Rollins Recovering After Recent Knee Surgery

    Seth Rollins Recovering After Recent Knee Surgery

    Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins will be out for the foreseeable future as he is recovering from knee surgery. 

    Rollins hasn’t appeared for WWE since his loss to Drew McIntyre at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday. During an appearance on RTE One’s The Late, Late Show, Becky Lynch was asked about how she and Rollins handle wrestling and being parents and disclosed her husband’s recent surgery. 

    “So he just got surgery on Tuesday, he had knee surgery. He tore his meniscus a little while before WrestleMania. His rehab, I suppose, is running after a little 3-year-old now. That’ll be great for his knee.”

    News of Rollins’ surgery shouldn’t come as a massive surprise to fans. In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, much had been said about the physical condition of the then-World Heavyweight Champion. Post-WrestleMania, it was reported that Rollins would be taking a break from programming. 

    While an initial report said that Rollins wouldn’t miss much time at all, this surgery will have presumably extended the length of his hiatus from the ring. Rollins suffered a partial meniscus tear during a match on Raw in January and opted to rest so that he could still wok both nights of WrestleMania 40. 

    After a 316-day reign on top that saw Rollins lead the way in the absence of Roman Reigns, Seth has certainly earned some time off and can hopefully make a full recovery. At this time, it’s unclear when fans can expect him back but we’re wishing him all the best.

  • Cody Rhodes Vs. AJ Styles Set for WWE Backlash: France in First-Ever Showdown

    Cody Rhodes Vs. AJ Styles Set for WWE Backlash: France in First-Ever Showdown

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will put the title on the line against AJ Stlyes at Backlash: France, in what’ll be a first-time showdown between the two. 

    Styles became the number one contender for the title on the April 19, episode of WWE SmackDown with a victory over LA Knight. The previous week, Styles had qualified for the number one contenders match by winning a triple threat that included Kevin Owens and Rey Mysterio. 

    Rhodes didn’t appear in person during WWE SmackDown as he has been in the UK as part of his first overseas tour as Undisputed WWE Champion. In a video promo from London’s O2 Arena, Rhodes spoke about Styles and dubbed him the modern-day ‘Excellence of Execution.’ Rhodes added that his fellow ‘Georgia Boy’ rarely misses, but he doesn’t miss either and he’s looking forward to the showdown in Lyon, France.

    Despite the lengthy careers of both men, this’ll be the first time that Rhodes and Styles face off in singles action. It would only be a handful of months after Styles joined WWE in January 2016 that Rhodes left the company under the bbeleif that he could become something bigger outside WWE. 

    Though AJ and Cody have yet to go one-on-one, Styles knows what it’s like to step into the ring with a Rhodes. In October 2003, Styles faced the American Dream Dusty Rhodes in TNA Wrestling for Styles’ NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The Phenomenal One left with the gold that night and hopes to do the same at Backlash: France when the Undisputed WWE Championship is on the line. 

  • The Rock Calls WrestleMania 40 ‘Chapter 1’ of His Story As WWE’s Final Boss

    The Rock is ready to do much more as the ‘Final Boss’ of WWE following the historic WrestleMania 40 Premium Live Event. 

    WrestleMania 40: Sunday went off the air with Cody Rhodes standing tall as Undisputed WWE Champion, despite the efforts of The Rock and The Bloodline. On the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock made clear that he’ll be back one day and that he’s coming for the American Nightmare. 

    The Rock is expected back on WWE programming, and his return could happen before 2024 is up, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. It’s said that there is a chance of The Rock doing a match later this year, with fans speculating that a Saudi Arabia show could be in his future. 

    Whether The Rock wrestles again in 2024 or not, his focus remains on Cody Rhodes. The report adds that a match with Rhodes has been tentatively penciled in for WrestleMania, though whether Cody is the champion or not by then will play a factor in booking decisions. 

    Whatever comes next, The Rock’s metamorphosis into the Final Boss has been a hit with fans and is seemingly here to stay. Taking to Instagram, The Rock deemed WrestleMania 40 merely the first chapter of what’s to come with this character. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C582jMOxCOz

    With The Rock part of the TKO board of directors, his connection to WWE is arguably the strongest it’s been in decades. There are still some questions remaining, including where the long-rumored showdown with Roman Reigns will take place. The Tribal Chief is also off of WWE programming for the time being, but for The Rock, his return isn’t an if, but when.