In recent years, WWE has expanded its Premium Live Events beyond North America with shows in Germany, Scotland, France, Australia, and beyond. These shows have been well-received and demonstrate that WWE is indeed in a new era post-Vince McMahon, but could the continent of Africa be next on the company’s radar?

During a recent interview with Scott Johnson on the Going Ringside podcast, Oba Femi made clear he certainly hopes so. Femi, whose record-long reign as NXT North American Champion ended this week, expressed his desire for a PLE in Africa.

“I would love to see a PLE in Africa. I feel there is a market there that has been unexplored for years. We have had live shows go to South African, but it’s much bigger than just South Africa. I feel the entire continent is riding hard for WWE.”

Femi admitted that hosting such an event won’t be easy for WWE, as he spoke of “culture shock” and a “fear of the unknown” among other factors the company will consider. Despite these issues, the Nigerian star remained confident that the crowd reaction will be worth it.

“Oh my God, I’m talking one of the hottest crowds the company has ever seen.They would go ballistic for their king [referring to himself], but they would go ballistic for everything for the product.”

Femi plans to bring up the idea to WWE management “once I gain the equity, the respect and credibility” to bring up such a topic. With Femi already making history in WWE NXT, its clear the company has big plans for him, meaning this discussion about an African PLE may be held sooner rather than later.

Ahead of tomorrow night’s AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view, Darby Allin and Aubrey Edwards were special guests at the Seattle Seahawks Vs. San Francisco 49ers game. Not only did the pair have fun at the game inside Seattle’s Lumen Field, but as seen in the footage, Allin ‘attacked’ a fan in attendance, leaving them laying on the ground after a single punch.

AEW was pleased to be represented at the game and shared the fan’s footage from the game. Unfortunately, Allin, fresh off crashing a child’s birthday party, wouldn’t prove to be good luck charms for Seattle as the Seahawks would lose to the 49ers 36-24.

AEW is in Washington for WrestleDream, which will take place at the Tacoma Dome. The show will be AEW’s second WrestleDream event, and the second pay-per-view from the company to come to the state (behind WrestleDream 2023 in Seattle.) On the card, Allin will take on Brody King as the House of Black member has answered the open challenge of the former TNT Champion.

AEW WrestleDream promises to be a monumental show for the All-Elite roster, with seven championship matches planned for the Tacoma Dome. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from AEW WrestleDream 2024, including breaking news and live results.

The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office announced that all claims brought by Jerry Lawler against Hardeman County officials, related to the death of his son, Brian Christopher Lawler, have been dismissed. Christopher, better known to wrestling fans as Grand Master Sexay, was arrested for DUI on July 7, 2018, and was found hanging in his cell on July 29, 2018.

Lawler had sued Hardeman County, Sheriff John Doolen, Leonard Brown, Judy Wiggins, Ellen Futrell, and William Gonzalez, claiming that authorities failed to provide treatment for his son’s drug and alcohol issues. He had also alleged that after Brian Christopher was injured in a fight, he was placed in solitary confinement, where he used shoelaces and bolts from his cell to take his own life. Such items should not have been available for Christopher to use, Lawler’s suit adds.

The WWE Hall of Famer has long disputed the idea that Christopher’s death was self-inflicted. During an interview with WMC-TV in January 2019, Lawler explained that in photos, marks on the side of Brian’s neck are visible but not at the front of his throat (where they would be if he died via hanging himself.) Lawler also stated that Brian’s fellow inmates have told him they don’t think Christopher took his own life.

In September 2022, claims against Sheriff Doolen and Brown were denied, but the suit against Hardeman County, Wiggins, Futrell, and Gonzalez was allowed to proceed. These remaining defendants appealed the ruling, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit later determined that Wiggins, Futrell, and Gonzalez were protected by qualified immunity, which shielded them from being sued by the WWE legend.

In September 2024, the same court reconsidered Lawler’s remaining claims against Hardeman County and granted the county’s motion for summary judgment, effectively dismissing all claims related to Brian Christopher’s death in the Hardeman County Jail.

On the eve of WrestleMania 39, Rey Mysterio brought back the Latino World Order and invited Santos Escobar and his Legado Del Fantasma allies to join. While Escobar is no longer part of the LWO and has feuded with the group as the leader of Legado Del Fantasma, the 40-year-old wrestler will never take his time with Rey for granted.

Speaking to Manchester World ahead of WWE’s upcoming tour of the United Kingdom, Escobar explained how much working with Mysterio has meant to him.

“It was an honor. It was a year of changing and traveling with Rey Mysterio. Long hours on the road just talking, learning and listening. He’s a beautiful person and an amazing performer. To have the opportunity to be with him was a gift.”

Escobar turned on the LWO in late 2023 after he assisted Logan Paul in his U.S. title victory over Mysterio at that year’s Crown Jewel. Mysterio had won the gold back in August, filling in for Escobar who had been attacked by then-champion Austin Theory. Tensions between the two sides continued to boil all the way to WrestleMania 40, where Rey and Andrade defeated Escobar and Dominik Mysterio.

Working With Triple H

In both WWE NXT and on the main roster, Escobar has worked closely under WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. In the interview, Escobar had similar praise for the 14-time WWE World Champion.

“Triple H is always a pleasure. He’s a wise man, he knows everything. At least in my perspective, he’s been there and done that several times, so every time I have the opportunity to work with him, I just cherish it.”

With Mysterio and Triple H, Escobar has the chance to learn from two of WWE’s all-time greats, and is making the most of his opportunity. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Santos Escobar as he continues to develop in WWE, thanks to the assistance of the two former World Champions.

Since his stunning return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, CM Punk has made himself a regular at WWE NXT tapings, often being spotted behind the scenes if not on the show. Punk was part of last week’s The CW premiere in Chicago, and has been humbled by the response he’s received from the silver brand.

Speaking to O’Shea Jackson Jr. and the Rich Eisen Show’s TJ Jefferson on the ‘No-Contest Wrestling’ podcast, Punk reflected on his work with NXT, where he has often been found giving advice. Punk admitted that he’s often asked for tips (as well as autographs by the young talent he’s inspired,) a process that leaves the Raw Superstar welling up.

“I go home to my wife like just completely humbled and, emotional… when kids come up to me and they’re comfortable enough to be like ‘Hey look at this’ and it’s a picture of them when they’re little at an autograph signing and they tell me ‘Hey, you inspired me to do this.’ It’s just like me getting to tell Roddy Piper ‘Hey yeah, you’re the reason I do this.’ And I don’t know if it meant anything to him but it meant something to me.”

CM Punk certainly made an impression at WWE NXT’s premiere on The CW Network, as he crowned Trick Williams the new NXT Champion with a victory over Ethan Page. Punk also treated the fans to Pizza in the Windy City, further endearing him with his hometown crowd who were already thrilled to see him.

Punk was at the latest WWE NXT in Missouri, PW Insider reports, and traveled with the talent for the show, where he once again doled out pearls of wisdom. While the Best in the World is currently taking a break from WWE TV following the effects of his Hell in a Cell showdown with Drew McIntyre, fans can expect CM Punk to keep a close eye, a teary-eyed one in fact, on the roster of WWE NXT.

With her husband CM Punk referencing her on WWE RAW, fans are buzzing at the possibility of AJ Lee stepping back in the ring, as are several Superstars she inspired. While Lee has yet to lace up her Chuck Taylors (not to be confused with the AEW star,) the former Divas Champion has an exciting new comic book project in the works.

This week, AJ and Amiee Garcia launched the Kickstarter for the special edition of their four-part comic book series ‘Day of the Dead Girl.’ A description for the series reads:

Death is never the end of the story. Coroner Sam Castillo will learn this the hard way, when a supernatural serial killer targets her hometown just as she moves back. A skeptical woman of science, Sam butts heads with her spiritual mother Ana, a leader of a witch coven specializing in Brujeria. But when the coven’s Brujas start turning up murdered, Sam and Ana must work together to find the killer and save their town’s Day of the Dead festival from turning into an occult bloodbath. As if sharing a bathroom with her mom wasn’t hard enough.

Lee and Garcia are no strangers to teaming up, having provided the comic adaptation for GLOW and Dungeons and Dragons. With two creative powerhouses at the helm, the project has already smashed its Kickstarter fundraising budget, a testament to their talents. Lee is also a best-selling writer, with her memoir ‘Crazy Is My Superpower‘ entering the New York Times charts in 2017.

Lee was at LA Comic-Con last weekend promoting the project, which is being produced by Magma Comix, who describe Day Of The Dead Girl as The X-Files meets Dexter with a Latina twist. Stay tuned for all the latest from AJ Lee and her life both in and out of the world of professional wrestling.

Hurricane Milton is continuing to batter the United States and has tragically taken the lives of many in addition to affecting countless more. Now, Tropicana Field, which was once home to WWE’s Thunderdome and has held several Premium Live Events, has been damaged in the storm.

In footage shared to social media, the venue can be seen being destroyed by the winds which have surpassed 120mph in certain areas.

Also known as The Trop, Tropicana Field played host to WWE’s Thunderdome from December 2020 to April 2021 when fans were unable to attend live due to Covid-19 restrictions. This also means that the venue hosted several Premium Live Events including 2021’s Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and Fastlane shows. It wouldn’t be until this year that Tropicana Field would host a WWE Premium Live Event with live fans with this year’s Royal Rumble.

Wrestling with the Weather

The effects of Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene have forced several changes in the world of professional wrestling. These include

• TNA Wrestling was forced to postpone a set of tapings from the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The tapings instead took place in Nashville, with proceeds going to the Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts in Spartanburg.
• MLW was forced to cancel its October 4, event due to Hurricane Helene, with ticket holders receiving full and immediate refunds.
• WWE NXT has rescheduled its live events planned for this week. Tickets purchased for the events will remain valid for the upcoming dates.
• A GoFundMe created by AEW’s Cash Wheeler has already raised over $70,000 to help with the efforts. Click here to find out how to donate.
• AEW’s Adam Copeland has been helping dig out the bodies of those killed by Hurricane Helene, according to Tony Khan.

Our thoughts remain with all those affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

At AEW WrestleDream, Swerve Strickland will return to our screens in his first appearance since his brutal loss to ‘Hangman’ Page at All Out last month. Anticipation is high for the return of one of AEW’s most popular wrestlers, but what does Swerve Strickland have in mind for this weekend’s pay-per-view?

Speaking to No Contest Wrestling with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson, Swerve addressed his impending return, and was pleased that fans are hooked on what he has to say over a month after his last appearance.

“I wasn’t even on camera. There’s a lot I can address there. There’s a lot I can address with the current. There is a lot I can address with the future. born. There is a lot I can go into. Maybe the people are so enthralled and emotionally connected to me that I don’t even have to say much.”

When pressed further on what fans can expect at WrestleDream, Swerve added:

“You can always expect the next evolution of me with the subtleties. Maybe my hair is different. Maybe my look is different. Something is different. You’ll feel something different in the air… people are anticipating a return of who I am, what I have to bring and what’s different, what’s new, and what old things I ‘I’m going to address.”

One man who’ll be very interested in what Swerve has to say upon his return is MVP, who has arrived in AEW with the intent of managing Strickland. MVP recently brought in Shelton Benjamin as his head of complaints, and a business card with the ‘Hurt Syndicate’ branding has indicated MVP is seeking to start a faction, presumably with Swerve involved. While Strickland has yet to return to AEW programming, he has made clear he’s at least interested in hearing what MVP has to say.

AEW WrestleDream 2024

AEW WrestleDream will take place on October 12 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, Swerve Strickland’s hometown. A stacked 10-match card, including seven title matches, will accompany Strickland’s return.

Fans in the US will have the choice of using B/R Live or Triller TV to watch WrestleDream, while fans outside the U.S. will use Triller TV. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from AEW WrestleDream including breaking news and live results.

In 2017, Kurt Angle made his long-awaited return to WWE, close to eleven years after leaving, to be inducted into that year’s Hall of Fame. Angle would wrestle a handful of times after his return, but never felt truly appreciated by the company during this run.

Speaking on Notsam Wrestling, Kurt reflected on his comeback and believes that leaving WWE in 2006 and subsequently joining TNA Wrestling was why he wasn’t appreciated.

“I just felt that my second time in WWE, I wasn’t so much appreciated. I think it has a lot to do with me leaving the company high and dry in 2006 and going straight to TNA. I was supposed to go back to WWE in six months. Vince [McMahon] wanted me to take six months off and come back. So literally, when I left his office and I quit, I called TNA and got a contract that day.“

Angle added that upon returning to WWE, management wanted to “teach him a little lesson” for opting to join TNA rather than return to WWE six months after his exit. In his TNA documentary DVD Kurt Angle: Champion, the Olympian said he asked for his release from WWE because he could not take time off and was working severely hurt.

Kurt’s WWE return saw him wrestle 19 times for WWE, amassing a 10-9 win/loss record before his WrestleMania 35 loss to Baron Corbin in 2019. While Kurt continues to make appearances, his return to the ring in WWE left a lot to be desired, and according to Angle, that’s all thanks to him making the choice to leave in the first place.

The WWE will return to the United Kingdom next week, bringing its roster of Superstars to the island both this month and in November.

This month, fans can see their favorite Superstars at the following locations:

• Sunday, October 13, 2024 – Utilita Arena in Cardiff, U.K.
• Monday, October 14, 2024 – M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, U.K.
• Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – Utilita Arena in Newcastle, U.K.
• Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – Co-op Live in Manchester, U.K.

WWE will also return to the UK and Ireland in November at the following locations:

• Sunday, November 3, 2024 – 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland
• Monday, November 4, 2024 – The O2 Arena in London, U.K. Tuesday,
• November 5, 2024 – Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, U.K.
• Wednesday, November 6, 2024 – Utilita Arena in Sheffield, U.K.

With some of WWE Raw’s top names set for the October 14, event in Liverpool, WWE opted to tape next week’s edition of the red brand in advance. Click here to check out all the spoilers from next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.

Who’s On The Card?

WWE isn’t holding back with its latest UK tour. While the card is always subject to change, Superstars being promoted for the tour include:

• Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
• WWE United States Champion LA Knight
• WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax
• Bayley
• Randy Orton
• AJ Styles
• The Bloodline
• The Street Profits

The UK and Ireland are known for their raucous audience, so much so that some of WWE’s very top stars have been calling for WrestleMania to come to London. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE’s plans in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including any potential future Premium Live Event

Two WWE NXT live events have been postponed in Florida as the state continues to be ravaged by Hurricane Milton:

• The Friday, October 11, NXT live event at the St. Petersburg Armory has been rescheduled to Friday, December 20 at the same venue.
• The Saturday, October 12, NXT live event has been moved to Saturday, November 2.

All tickets that were already purchased for this weekend’s shows will be honored on the rescheduled dates.

Wrestling with the Weather

These moved NXT live events are the latest wrestling shows to be impacted by ongoing harsh weather battering the United States. Last month, TNA Wrestling was forced to postpone a set of tapings from the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The company’s ‘Road to BFG’ tapings instead took place in Nashville, with proceeds going to the Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts in Spartanburg. MLW was forced to cancel its October 4, event due to Hurricane Helene, with ticket holders receiving full and immediate refunds.

The stars of professional wrestling are doing what they can to help those affected by the weather. A GoFundMe set up by Cash Wheeler has reached over $69,000 in donations with huge amounts given by Tony Khan, Chris Jericho, Bayley, Orange Cassidy, and others. On Busted Open Radio, Adam Copeland shared that Tony Khan has been aiding the Asheville Police Department by sending Starlinks to help in the rescue of those in need.

The recent Hurricanes in Florida have sadly cost lives and devastated countless individuals. While fans would love to see the NXT roster in action this week, ultimately, the safety of the roster and the fans come before anything else.

The card of AEW WrestleDream 2024 continues to grow with exciting two-out-of-three falls match set to take place this weekend. On Twitter, Tony Khan shared that Hologram will take on the Beast Mortos at WrestleDream. Hologram was attacked by the Beast Mortos and the new LFI on this week’s Dynamite and hopes to get a manner of revenge this Saturday.

AEW WrestleDream 2024

AEW WrestleDream will be the promotion’s second WrestleDream event and take place from the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. The show will be the second AEW pay-per-view in the state of Washington, after last year’s WrestleDream in Seattle.

Here is the card for AEW WrestleDream 2024:

• Mark Briscoe (c) vs. Chris Jericho (with Big Bill and Bryan Keith) (Ring of Honor World Championship)
• Darby Allin vs. Brody King
• Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos (2 Out of 3 Falls)
• Jack Perry (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata (AEW TNT Championship)
• Will Ospreay (c) vs. Ricochet vs. Konosuke Takeshita (AEW International Championship)
• The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) (c) vs. Private Party (Zay and Quen) (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
• Mariah May (c) vs. Willow Nightingale (AEW Women’s World Championship)
• “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jay White
• MxM Collection (Mansoor and Mason Madden) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster)
• Bryan Danielson (c) vs. Jon Moxley (with Marina Shafir) (AEW World Championship)

Swerve Strickland will also make his return to AEW programming in his first appearance since his brutal loss to Swerve Strickland at All Out. MVP has shown interest in managing Strickland who is expected to give a response to the Hurt Syndicate leader.

Fans in the US will have the choice of using B/R Live or Triller TV to watch WrestleDream, while fans outside the U.S. will use Triller TV. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from AEW WrestleDream including breaking news and live results.

Invincible Fight Girl, a brand new show all about professional wrestling, is coming to Adult Swim’s Toonami block with a two-episode premiere on November 2.

The show follows Andy (Sydney Mikayla, The Gabby Douglas Story), a young girl aspiring to become the world’s greatest professional wrestler in a world where wrestling is everything. Andy’s dreams fly in the face of her parents who wish for her to pursue a career in accounting.

Along the way, viewers will be introduced to Mikey, Andy’s friend and a wrestling analyst who helps her along her journey. Aunt P (Rolanda Watts, Return to Babylon, Rolanda), a retired former wrestling champion, agrees to train Andy in her journey that will see her take on much bigger and tougher opponents.

The show features anime-inspired action, judging by the trailer, with several moves showcased alongside Invincible Fight Girl’s brand of humor. The show is the creation of Juston Gordon-Montgomery (DC Super Hero Girls) and was showcased during San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year.

Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen was excited for the show’s future, as he shared in a statement:

“This series is a testament to Juston’s creativity and talent, with a series that’s funny and thrilling, and also super inspiring.”

As wrestling fans know, it’s often the smallest, most unlikeliest of grapplers who rise to the top of the mountain, which is what Andy seeks to do in this ‘follow-your-dreams’ animated adventure. The first two episodes will air at midnight on November 2, and will stream the next day on Max.

Major League Wrestling has established itself in the world of wrestling with a roster of talented individuals and tag teams from all walks of life. Now, MLW is stepping in the ring with the iconic Galoob brand to bring fans brand-new action figures.

According to Lan Pitts of Gamespot, MLW is now re-entering the toy market, teaming up with Power Town through the “revitalized” Galoob brand. MLW has stated that this new line will be “the biggest offering” of their roster to date and while no release date is currently confirmed, Pitts reports that the figures are expected to be released in 2025.

Major League Wrestling previously partnered with Boss Fight Studios to release action figures, but the line faced heavy criticism. Reports of in-house issues led to some figures being delayed, with the figure of Killer Kross (now WWE Superstar Karrion Kross) only hitting shelves after he’d already parted ways with MLW.

Galoob Action Figures

In the world of wrestling, Galoob is best known for its release of WCW figures in the early 1990s with top names like Ric Flair, Sting, and Arn Anderson being immortalized in plastic. As the figures were made of a solid, molded plastic, there was no mobility or articulation with the figures, though each figure came with its own championship.

Galoob also released accessories, including a ‘Slam Action Wrestling Arena’ and matching ‘Action Ring.’ Now, fans of Major League Wrestling can look forward to a burst of nostalgia, courtesy of these figures that will prove to be popular when they release next year.

On the October 8, edition of WWE NXT, Randy Orton returned to St. Louis to battle Je’Von Evans, in only Orton’s second-ever match as part of the brand. In the end, the Viper was able to drop the Young OG with an RKO in a high-profile match that was part of NXT’s head-to-head efforts with AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday.

In a WWE NXT Digital Exclusive, Orton shared his excitement to be back in his hometown and was thrilled he had the chance to work with Evans.

“I got to work with an incredible talent tonight, only 20 years old. You know him, he’s bouncy, Je’Von Evans. Dude, I’m very excited to see where he goes in the future. He’s gonna be around for as long as he wants to be.”

Despite their very different in-ring styles, Orton shared that he and Evans have a lot in common when asked for advice for the Young OG.

“I think that he needs to keep doing what he’s doing. But what I noticed first and foremost after meeting him for the first time today, he’s incredibly humble, he has nothing but respect for the business and the guys like me, the old fuddy-duddies that have been here for over 20 years, and you know what, that means a lot.”

Evans may not have won this week, but sharing the ring with a 14-time former WWE World Champion is another feather in the cap of the 20-year-old NXT prodigy. With high-profile matches already under his belt, and now Orton’s endorsement, the future, however long it may be, certainly looks bright for Je’Von Evans.

AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson had plenty to say after this week’s Title Tuesday of AEW Dynamite went off the air in Spokane, Washington.

In the main event of the show, Danielson and Wheeler Yuta defeated Pac and Claudio Castagnoli, continuing Danielson and Yuta’s feud with their former Blackpool Combat Club allies. After the match, Danielson fought Jon Moxley to the back but reemerged to save Yuta from a beatdown by Pac, Castagnoli, and Marina Shafir.

Speaking after AEW Dynamite with Tony Khan by his side, Danielson appreciated the incredible audience in Spokane. Bryan asked the crowd if they like Wheeler Yuta, which earned a huge cheer, as did his question about whether they want to see him beat Moxley at WrestleDream. The loudest cheer was saved for Bryan’s final question as he asked the fans “Do you want to see me kick Jon Moxley’s f***ing head in?!” which earned a ‘YES!’ chant from the audience.

Moxley and Danielson will do battle over the AEW World Championship at WrestleDream this Saturday. Moxley and the BCC (sans Yuta) turned on Danielson at AEW All Out with Moxley attempting to suffocate his former friend with a plastic bag. With the AEW World title (and potential free comic books for fans) on the line, expect Danielson and Moxley to hold nothing back in their efforts to obtain the richest prize in All Elite Wrestling.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from AEW WrestleDream including breaking news and live results from this Saturday’s event in Tacoma, Washington.

Before the Fifth Anniversary edition of AEW Dynamite, Taz announced he’d be stepping away from the commentary booth to undergo total knee replacement surgery, following an ambush in a parking lot. In actuality, this is a procedure Taz has been putting off for some time, but the Human Suplex Machine has at last gone under the knife.

On Twitter, Taz gave fans an update, sharing that the surgery went well but “now the work begins.” The veteran wrestling personality shared his dismay that he wasn’t given room 13, his signature number. Taz also promoted the ‘Title Tuesday’ edition of AEW Dynamite.

With Taz still out of commission, Jeff Jarrett filled in during this week’s Dynamite, one week after Nigel McGuinness filled in for Taz on the Fifth Anniversary of Dynamite. Dynamite also saw HOOK backstage say he’s tired of chasing whoever attacked his father. Just then, Kip Sabian stumbled into HOOK, quickly denying any involvement before walking off.

Moments later, Christian Cage, accompanied by Nick Wayne and his mother, approached HOOK. Cage remarked that they’re both family men and that he recently lost Killswitch to a serious medical situation and offered HOOK condolences regarding Taz’s injury. As Cage and his entourage walked away, HOOK was left fuming.

A promo with Cage aired last week immediately after HOOK’s, and this, alongside Cage’s history of attacking father figures has left many to point the finger of suspicion at the Canadian. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on this mystery and to learn whether it was Cage who attacked Taz or if somebody else did the dirty deed.

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam made a surprise return on the September 13, episode of SmackDown, as part of the blue brand’s premiere on the USA Network. Interestingly, The Whole F’n Show” has made sporadic appearances in AEW since last year, despite being under a WWE Legends deal.

On the February 21, episode of AEW Dynamite, Van Dam teamed up with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and HOOK to face Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Brian Cage. His most recent AEW match took place on the April 20 edition of AEW Collision where he won a four-way elimination match against Isiah Kassidy, Lee Johnson, and Komander.

In a recent interview on the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Rob Van Dam confirmed that despite his AEW appearances, he is under a WWE Legends deal. The former WWE & ECW Champion added that this deal will naturally limit his involvement with AEW.

“The first time that I talked to Tony Khan about doing this (working with AEW), a factor was that I still have a WWE Legends deal. So, my use to AEW would be limited as far as they can’t put me on video games, action figures, stuff like that and so, you could say it’s limited on both ends or you could say I got both ends going, best of both worlds or you could just say RVD does whatever he wants.”

Rob Van Dam joins a growing list of wrestling legends, including DDP, Victoria, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura, and Armando Estrada, who have recently signed WWE Legends contracts. Fans are eager to see when the high-flying icon will make his next WWE appearance.

Janel Grant has asked WWE to waive nondisclosure agreements with other former and current employees and talent so that they can potentially come forward with allegations of misconduct under the promotion’s watch. The Associated Press reports that a lawyer for Grant emailed a letter making the request on Monday evening to attorneys representing WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis.

The e-mail, as sent by Grant’s attorney Ann Callis, states that “WWE continues to protect former CEO Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis by silencing survivors of sexual abuse, harassment and workplace violence.” It goes on to state that WWE is unable to move on from its “sordid past” while “victims remain silenced” by these nondisclosure agreements. It adds:

“We urge WWE to quickly and proactively release its current and former employees and contractors from any obligations under any WWE-executed NDA that would prevent them from discussing sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault during their time at WWE without delay. WWE wants people to believe the company has changed—this is its chance to prove it.”

When approached, Curtis Vogal, a spokesperson for McMahon, declined to comment. WWE and Laurinaitis did not immediately return emails seeking comment and contact to Endeavor and TKO Group Holdings were not returned immediately. McMahon has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the relationship he had with Grant was between two consenting individuals.

When approached by Wrestlenomics, McMahon’s team referred to attorney Jessica Rosenberg’s prior statement:

“Ms. Grant’s claims are false, defamatory and entirely without merit. We intend to vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident that he will be vindicated.”

Following Grant’s lawsuit being filed, Ann Callis said that she had been “frankly overwhelmed” by the number of others that have come forward with similar accusations. McMahon is reported to have paid over $12 million to four women in exchange for their silence over his extramarital affairs. Grant alleges that McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship so that she could keep her job and later directed her to have relations with others in WWE, including Laurinaitis.

Grant did not appear in Netflix’s recent Mr. McMahon docuseries, though her claims against the billionaire make up much of the series’ final episode. Callis has said that the six, hour-long episodes only scratch the surface of McMahon’s alleged criminal behavior. This is an ongoing situation and SEScoops will continue to monitor this case for further updates.

In August 2021, Bronson Reed was released from WWE NXT, mere weeks after holding the brand’s North American Championship. Shortly after his exit, it was reported that Vince McMahon didn’t see him as a main roster talent, and therefore felt he had no reason to keep the Australian around.

16 months, and a massive change in management, later, Reed returned to WWE and has been a force to be reckoned with ever since. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Reed shared that he always had faith that he’d be a WWE Superstar again.

“I had a lot of faith that when I was released that I would end up back in WWE. I didn’t think it would be so soon… I was planning maybe three or four years, maybe I could get a good run in Japan for a couple of years and then be back in WWE.”

Reed’s return saw him align with The Miz and help the A-Lister win a Ladder match with Dexter Lumis, a somewhat odd return for the Australian. On the podcast, Reed admitted that this unconventional return was hardly what he had in mind.

“I think this sort of happens at times. Obviously, I’d been rehired, they want to use me. They don’t really know what to do with me. So they sort of just rush something.”

Despite an auspicious return, Reed has become a major player in recent months, thanks in part to his attack on Seth Rollins that saw him level the Visionary with six Tsunamis.

“I spoke with Hunter right afterwards and he said that’s a moment that will last forever, they can replay that as much as possible. It’s nowhere near as good… but it’s like Stone Cold at King of the Ring doing the 3:16 line, that promo, you instantly remember it, and you instantly remember a switch and his character and where it went from then.”

Reed’s attack on Rollins came back to haunt him recently when the Visionary returned to attack Reed in the Last Monster Standing match. While he may not have bested Braun Strowman, who is now out with a groin injury, a budding program with Seth Rollins, one of WWE’s very top names, certainly bodes well for the future of Bronson Reed.

Under the watch of Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, WWE’s main roster has undergone several changes, with one of the biggest coming to the PLE cards. Once stacked with matches, most modern-day PLEs now have five matches, in a decision that has divided opinion. While some appreciate these shorter, more concise PLEs, there are those who feel that deserving talent are missing out and are having their biggest matches relegated to TV.

WWE has a variety of reasons for sticking with five matches for Premium Live Events, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports. The shorter card has significantly reduced the costs of these events, as fewer Superstars mean fewer travel costs. Wrestlers not booked for these events now enjoy an extra day off, a rarity to many considering WWE’s weekend house shows, though TKO intends to scale back on WWE live events.

While the five-card shows mean fewer Superstars are traveling, there are still some who attend a PLE even if they’re not competing. WWE has been using backstage segments to get people on the show, which also includes the use of legends, as seen at WWE Bad Blood 2024. WWE has started producing packets for younger wrestlers to let them know the legends in attendance if they want to ask questions or seek advice.

The WWE Universe can expect more changes in January of next year when WWE Raw moves to Netflix as part of a lucrative, decade-long deal. With Triple H being unsure about the duration of Raw on Netflix, fans will have to stay tuned to see what’s to come in the future for WWE and its broadcasts.

WWE SummerSlam will come to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey next year, in the first two-night edition of the Biggest Party of the Summer. This is a blockbuster venture for the state, which used Covid relief funds to secure WWE’s second-largest annual Premium Live Event.

New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority approved a resolution to allocate $7.125M to be used to assist MetLife Stadium with “securing and hosting the WWE SummerSlam,” North Jersey reports. The money is part of the American Rescue Plan; funding that the state received from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money can be used to “respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.”

The resolution expects WWE SummerSlam to generate over $80 million in “total economic impact for the region,” making the initial $7.125 million a sound investment. The state was given $6.24 billion in federal pandemic relief funding back in May 2021.

WWE SummerSlam won’t be New Jersey’s first event to see funding from the American Rescue Plan. Last year, UFC 288 took place in Newark’s Prudential Center with $3.5 million in pandemic relief funds being used to secure the event. In 2026, MetLife Stadium will play host the the FIFA World Cup Finals, with the entire tournament set to take place across the United States.

As for SummerSlam, it’ll be up to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and his creative team to fill the show’s two nights and Liv Morgan already has a dream mixed tag-team match planned for her home state. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest in the build to the Biggest Party of the Summer on August 2, and August 3, next year.

On January 6, 2025, Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix as part of a decade-long, blockbuster deal estimated at $5 billion. With months to go before the move, expectations are high, and WWE plans on providing an episode of the red brand unlike any other, according to Fightful Select.

One source told the outlet “The show is likely to be one of the biggest episodes of RAW in history, from the standpoint of buzz.” They added that the Netflix deal could be among the most significant in WWE’s history and compared Raw’s debut on Netflix as akin to a Premium Live Event. WWE is opting not to host a PLE in January 2025, with the first major event of the new year coming on February 1, with the annual Royal Rumble.

WWE Raw on Netflix: What Do We Know?

With just under two months before Raw goes live on Netflix, little has been confirmed for the much-anticipated show. John Cena has confirmed his role on Raw as the WWE icon will be kicking off his retirement tour. There still remains questions about how long Raw on Netflix will be, with Paul Levesque saying it’s still yet to be decided when asked during the post-Bad Blood press conference.

Those outside the United States will get much more for their buck when Raw moves to Netflix. In addition to the red brand, international viewers will receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, PLES, documentaries, and original projects. WWE has already hosted its first PLE on Netflix, and that trend will continue very soon for fans outside the States.

It took Sami Zayn weeks of pleading and goading to convince World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER to put his title on the line during this week’s WWE Raw. In a rematch from WrestleMania 40, albeit for a richer prize, the two delivered another epic match, but this time, it was the juggernaut of Vienna, Austria, who was standing tall by the end of the show.

Both men held nothing back in their efforts to leave WWE Raw as World Heavyweight Champion, with Sami Zayn even kicking out of GUNTHER’s powerbomb at one count. In the end, GUNTHER trapped Zayn in a sleeper that the Canadian couldn’t escape to get the win and retain the gold.

After the match, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes interrupted GUNTHER’s celebration and stared down the man he’ll face at WWE Crown Jewel on November 2. The two will do battle to crown the first Men’s WWE Crown Jewel Champion, a title introduced by Triple H at WWE Bad Blood 2024.

Not Being At Bad Blood

With such a high-stakes match between two Superstars who have history, many have questioned why this match happened at WWE Raw rather than the recent Bad Blood Premium Live Event. It was reported by Dave Meltzer that WWE felt that Bad Blood didn’t need another match and that the bout was better served hyping up the latest WWE Raw.

GUNTHER was able to retain on this night, and while his title won’t be on the line at WWE Crown Jewel. He’ll be in for the fight of his night next month in Riyadh. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE Crown Jewel including breaking news and live results.

CM Punk went through a war inside Hell in a Cell to defeat Drew McIntyre, marking the end of the pair’s rivalry that has dominated WWE screens in 2024. With the Scottish Warrior in the rear-view mirror, Punk’s future remains uncertain, but fans may not be seeing the former World Champion in the ring anytime soon.

Punk opened up the October 7, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw by slowly making his way out, just far enough to speak to the audience. Punk explained that he was so banged up, he couldn’t walk all the way to the ring. The Best in the World was taped up in multiple places, and added that he’s as banged up as he’s ever been in his life.

CM Punk confirmed that he’s going to go away for a while, and isn’t sure when he’s going to come back. Before his segment ended, Punk had a staredown with Seth Rollins, teasing a match that has been on the minds of fans since Rollins’ volatile reaction to Punk’s return back at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023.

Punk’s hiatus will likely see him miss WWE Crown Jewel on November 2, which doesn’t come as a surprise given his past comments about WWE’s relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Responding to a video of The Miz from WWE Backstage in January 2020, Punk told the A-Lister “Go suck a blood money-covered d**k in Saudi Arabia you f**king dork.”

There’s no word on when CM Punk will return, but Seth Rollins is clearly eager to face him when he’s back. On Raw, NXT’s Ethan Page was also on the show and teased a future program with his fellow AEW alum. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on CM Punk as the Best in the World prepares to heal up after his war at WWE Bad Blood.