SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Working Agreement Between WWE & Marigold Will See Years of Promotional Crossover

    Working Agreement Between WWE & Marigold Will See Years of Promotional Crossover

    WWE’s new era will see the company form a working relationship with Rossy Ogawa’s new Marigold wrestling promotion, it has been reported.

    Ogawa, the recently-fired founder of STARDOM is hoping to bring stars including IYO SKY and Kairi Sane to a Marigold event expected to take place this summer. Whether that happens or not, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that a working agreement will be in place between the two companies. 

    The main star who’ll benefit from this working agreement is Giulia, who is expected to sign with WWE in the near future. The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is expected to compete for both WWE and Marigold before an eventual move to the U.S. Giulia, who appeared at NXT Stand & Deliver alongside Ogawa, is expected to appear on a few big Marigold events per year in addition to her full-time WWE commitments. 

    Giulia is set to appear at Marigold’s debut event in May 2024 alongside a talented roster of women including NXT alum Sareee. Her WWE in-ring debut is expected to be at July’s NXT Heatwave event, possibly with championship gold on the line. 

    WWE forging a working agreement with Marigold, one that’ll seemingly last for multiple years, is a massive change from how the previous administration did business. In stark contrast to Vince McMahon’s ‘don’t play well with others’ approach, WWE is said to be exploring forging working relationships with other companies and Tony Khan has said that he’d be interested in a WWE-AEW partnership, under the right circumstances.

  • Cody Rhodes Believes WWE’s Success Will Lure The Rock Back Into The Ring

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes believes that the success of WWE’s product will help lure The Rock back into the squared circle. 

    Rhodes is currently in the UK as part of an ongoing tour by WWE, his first overseas tour as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Rhodes was asked about the possibility of a showdown with The Rock. 

    “I think it’ll really come down to can I be a good champion or a great champion, Roman Reigns was a great champion, and will that be enough to entice The Rock?”

    While Rhodes put a great deal of pressure on himself to be a champion worthy of The Rock’s return, he acknowledged that WWE’s success as a whole would play a factor. 

    “This run, it’s a whole new generation, a whole new locker room. Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, myself, Rhea Ripley, all these people. I think the more we keep this, the better we do, the more chances it lures Rock back into the fray.”

    The Rock and Rhodes were at odds during the build to WrestleMania 40 including an assault on the American Nightmare that left Cody battered and bloodied in Chicago. On the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw, the Final Boss vowed to return to WWE programming one day and is coming for Cody Rhodes. 

    If Cody believes that a successful WWE will bring The Rock back to the ring, then the Great One’s next match is all but guaranteed. WrestleMania 40 broke several records for the promotion and was critically well-received by fans. WWE, by its own admission, is in a ‘new era,’ one without Vince McMahon’s involvement. 

    WWE is certainly doing big business right now and that won’t go unnoticed by The Rock who is also a member of TKO’s board of directors. With those in WWE of the opinion that WrestleMania 40: Saturday was not The Rock’s last match, it appears Cody Rhodes will get his wish. 

  • Cody Rhodes Agrees With John Cena: ‘The United Kingdom Deserves A WrestleMania’

    Cody Rhodes Agrees With John Cena: ‘The United Kingdom Deserves A WrestleMania’

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was left standing tall after WrestleMania 40 went off the air, and now hopes to bring the annual mega-show to the UK. 

    Rhodes has been headlining WWE’s recent tour of the UK, which also features Becky Lynch despite rumors of time off. At an event in Birmingham, England, Rhodes marked his first title defense with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. 

    After the match, Rhodes spoke about keeping his promise to the fans after stating at a previous WWE event that the next time he’s in the UK, he would be a champion. Amid chants of ‘You Deserve It’ from the crowd, Rhodes said that the fans deserve a WrestleMania in the UK. 

    “If anybody deserves anything, I’m going to echo John Cena saying the United Kingdom deserves a WrestleMania.”

    While Rhodes, John Cena, and countless fans hope to bring WrestleMania to the UK, this monumental feat is easier said than done. The time difference between the UK and the United States would be a huge factor as PLEs in the UK air much earlier in the day States-side. 

    Despite WWE bringing more events overseas in recent years, it appears that WrestleMania won’t be making the move just yet. WWE President Nick Khan recently stated that the company’s big four events (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) will remain in North America for the foreseeable future. 

    WrestleMania’s Future

    The location of WrestleMania 41 has yet to be publicly confirmed, with Las Vegas and Minneapolis currently the front runners. While the Minnesotan city has been treated as a ‘lock’ for the 2025 event, some believe that WWE will head to Vegas following the chilly conditions of WrestleMania 40. 

    Burke Nihill, the President/CEO of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, has said that WWE has committed to bring WrestleMania 43 to Nashville in 2027. WWE has yet to confirm this. 

  • Lights Out: Something is Coming to TNA Wrestling At 4/20 Rebellion Event

    Lights Out: Something is Coming to TNA Wrestling At 4/20 Rebellion Event

    Something big is coming to TNA Wrestling, and fans won’t have to wait long to know what this ‘Lights Out’ message is related to. 

    During the press conference for the April 20, TNA Rebellion show, a video teaser aired featuring cryptic imagery. The words ‘Lights Out’ were repeatedly shown as was the name of TNA’s upcoming event. For a split second, the video features four silhouettes, possibly suggesting that the upcoming event will mark the launch of a new faction in TNA Wrestling. 

    TNA Wrestling also shared the video on their Twitter page. The four silhouettes appear within the first couple of seconds of the video. 

    TNA Rebellion 2024

    TNA Rebellion 2024 hopes to capitalize on the promotion’s highly successful relaunch that kicked off with TNA Hard to Kill in January. That event marked the debut of Nic Nemeth who confronted Moose following the latter’s TNA World Championship win in the show’s main event. Moose and Nemeth will square off for the gold at TNA Rebellion. 

    Ten matches have been confirmed for TNA Rebellion, with three set for the pre-show. The event will see six title matches with the X-Division, World Tag Team, and Knockouts World Championships among those on the line. 

    The event will also mark the return of Full Metal Mayhem, which is TNA’s take on the classic Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. The match will be the 18th Full Metal Mayhem match and will see TNA veterans Eric Young and Frankie Kazarian face off. 

    TNA Rebellion will take place on April 20, from the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. Keep checking in with SE Scoops for results and more from the show. 

  • Matt Hardy Says AEW’s Backstage Issues Have Cost Company “Goodwill” With Fans

    Matt Hardy Says AEW’s Backstage Issues Have Cost Company “Goodwill” With Fans

    The backstage issues that have cast a dark shadow over AEW in recent years have caused the company to lose goodwill with fans, Matt Hardy believes. 

    For its initial years, AEW was virtually untouchable in the eyes of countless fans who appreciated there finally being a major competitor to WWE’s headlock on the wrestling industry. The company’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw wrestlers be a part of the socially-distanced crowd, was praised by fans in contrast to the silent pre-Thunderdome WWE events at the time. 

    AEW fans share their support for Tony Khan, AEW Grand Slam: Rampage 2021. 

    AEW’s honeymoon period, however, is a thing of the past, with the 2022 ‘Brawl Out’ and AEW All In: London backstage confrontations being seen by many as huge factors in this. Speaking on his Extreme Life podcast, AEW alum Matt Hardy addressed how fan opinion on Tony Khan’s first promotion has changed. 

    “I think through some of the stuff with Punk and The Bucks and the fights and the backstage stuff and Jungle Boy all this stuff, this hurt some of that goodwill. I feel like that probably deterred some people from their support of the company at the end of the day.”

    When asked about how to fix this situation, Hardy said that AEW has to appeal to more ‘casual fans’ which he admitted went against the mentality the promotion was built upon to cater to the hardcore fanbase many felt WWE was ignoring. While Matt believes putting on great matches is still massively important, his mentality is that AEW needs to have stars that a casual viewer can quickly become invested in. 

    Tony Khan will run AEW in the way he deems best, though some of his decisions have faced backlash from fans. Even the decision to air the All In fight has been criticized as petty and unnecessary and motivated by Khan wanting to ‘get back’ at CM Punk. Whether AEW adjusts its strategy remains to be seen, but given the massive success of WWE and their historic WrestleMania 40 event, there’s something to be said for trying to appeal to more than just the die-hard fanbase. 

  • Freddie Prinze Jr’s Promotion Won’t Look Like WWE or AEW But A Beloved Wrestling Show

    Freddie Prinze Jr’s Promotion Won’t Look Like WWE or AEW But A Beloved Wrestling Show

    Actor and former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr. has shared an update on his wrestling promotion, two years after the project was first announced. 

    Prinze, best known for roles in Scooby-Doo and I Know What You Did Last Summer, announced plans for a promotion in 2022. Prinze had high expectations at the time, as he had plans for a two-hour show and planned to launch within 18 months. 

    Two years later, fans are yet to see a single second of his promotion but Prinze hasn’t given up hope yet. On his Wrestling With Freddie podcast, Prinze shared how the new company will be presented. 

    “The look of it will be much different than AEW and WWE. There was a show called Lucha Underground, which utilized space really, really well, which had a cool look to it. I always liked that… it’s going to be the presentation of it that I hope makes it stand out.”

    Prinze added that the company would take elements from Lucha Underground, which blended professional wrestling and theatrical drama for its 127 episodes over its four seasons. The former WWE writer added that he’s currently shopping around his promotion with one place “still talking about it.”

    Prinze is eager to make something different from what is currently out there and is ready to use his background in the acting world to make things work. Prinze even reached out to Bray Wyatt for the promotion before the late wrestler’s return to WWE in October 2022. Ultimately, a new promotion means more opportunities for talented wrestlers, who’ll be able to show their wrestling skills and flex their theatrical muscles if Prinze’s project ever gets off the ground. 

     

  • Tony Khan: ‘TBS Told Me “Good Job” After AEW Dynamite With All In Fight Footage’

    The decision to air the infamous All In: London 2023 backstage fight may have been a controversial one but those at TBS seemingly had no problem with the call. 

    The footage was broadcast on the April 10, episode of Dynamite, mere days after CM Punk had given what turned out to be a relatively accurate recollection of the events of the day. Though Tony Khan has said airing the footage was solely to create the best show for fans, many believe it was an effort to ‘get back’ at Punk for critical comments made about AEW. 

    To many, airing the footage appears to have backfired on Khan and damaged AEW’s reputation more than it did any harm to Punk. Speaking on the AEW Dynasty media call, however, Khan said the show was given a seal of approval from those at TBS. 

    “TBS called me and told me ‘good job.’ You have to remember, I’m responsible for everybody’s job in the company. It is really important for us to please the network and TBS was really happy with that show.”

    Khan’s eagerness to please those at TBS demonstrates that he is ultimately in the media business just as much as he is in the wrestling business. Whether fans agree with the decision or not, airing the All In fight did result in the April 10, Dynamite seeing an increase in viewers.

    With that in mind, AEW won’t be able to rely on airing the backstage footage again to see another boost in the ratings. It’s also unlikely that 2022’s ‘Brawl Out’ will ever see the light of day with reports of lifetime NDAs to those involved (though Punk has claimed he doesn’t have an NDA.) Nevertheless, Khan will have to tread carefully going forward as while TBS may have liked the decision to air the footage, the same can’t be said for many fans AEW relies upon. 

  • Ruby Soho Announces She’s Pregnant After 4/17 AEW Dynamite (Video)

    AEW’s own Ruby Soho revealed the joyous news that she is pregnant following the April 17, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite. 

    After the go-home Dynamite ahead of AEW Dynasty went off the air, Soho appeared in the ring alongside her real-life partner Angelo Parker. Soho discussed her wrestling career before telling Parker that she is pregnant. The revelation rightly earned a huge ovation from the crowd in attendance. An emotional Soho told Parker that she didn’t know how to tell Parker but was cut off mid-speech with a passionate kiss from the 2point0 member. 

    You can check out Ruby’s huge announcement down below. 

    This news of course means that Soho will not be competing in the near future as she prepares for the role of being a mother. It’s great to see that, in contrast to years gone by when a pregnancy threatened to derail a wrestler’s career, Ruby and Parker’s news can be celebrated by the wrestlers and fans. 

    Wrestling Moms

    Ruby Soho will soon join an elite club of wrestlers who prove themselves in the ring while also being incredible moms. In December 2020, Becky Lynch gave birth to her and Seth Rollins’ first child Roux, and returned to TV at SummerSlam 2021. The same year that Lynch returned, her former rival Ronda Rousey had a daughter with Travis Browne. Wanting to be a mom was part of Rousey’s decision to step away from WWE in 2019. 

    After previously suffering a miscarriage, Carmella gave birth to her and Corey Graves’ son in November 2023 after a 60-hour labor. Alexa Bliss would welcome her and Ryan Cabrera’s daughter Hendrix into the world that same month. 

    We here at SE Scoops would like to send our congratulations to Ruby and Angelo on this incredible news. 

  • Vince McMahon Remains In Contact with The Rock & John Cena Amid WWE Exit

    Vince McMahon Remains In Contact with The Rock & John Cena Amid WWE Exit

    Vince McMahon’s days in WWE may be a thing of the past, but the former Chairman remains in touch with some huge names from the world of pro wrestling.

    McMahon resigned from WWE for the second time in January 2024 and unlike his 2022 retirement, he is not expected to return. WWE has made a concerted effort to distance themselves from McMahon including launching a new ‘era’ with WrestleMania 40, the first ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ without McMahon’s involvement. McMahon recently listed the remainder of his stock in TKO for sale which if all is sold, would give him no shareholder influence over the company.

    Loyal Friends

    While WWE has avoided referencing McMahon on its programming, the billionaire remains in contact with TKO board member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, NBC News reports. The Brahma Bull was appointed to the board around the same time that the Janel Grant lawsuit against McMahon that resulted in his resignation came to light. 

    The 78-year-old billionaire also remains in contact with John Cena though there’s no word on what either man discusses with McMahon. This isn’t the first time Cena’s name has been linked to McMahon following his resignation. The 16-time World Champion’s recent comments about loving McMahon despite the allegations against him spawned a backlash for the wrestler-turned-actor. 

    As the top dog in professional wrestling for decades, McMahon built the careers of countless individuals so it’s hardly a surprise that some remain loyal to the controversial billionaire. While it’s been stated that nobody in WWE is defending McMahon, Ronda Rousey isn’t so sure and recently claimed that as long as Bruce Prichard is involved in WWE, McMahon has a direct line to influence decisions. 

    More Exits

    McMahon’s departure from WWE is arguably the biggest exit in company history but he isn’t the only veteran to leave the squared circle behind. Kevin Dunn left WWE after over four decades in late 2023 despite hopes within the promotion that he’d stay on until WrestleMania 40. He has been replaced as Head of Production by Lee Fitting. 

    Sue Aitchison is another long-time WWE name who has left WWE. Aitchison oversaw WWE’s outreach department and played an intrinsic role in nurturing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. For her efforts, she received the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award in 2019. 

    Right now, it’s hard to ignore the ‘changing of the guard’ atmosphere within WWE as those who ruled the company for decades are no longer in the picture. With that said it’ll still be some time until Vince’s people are fully phased out of the promotion’s internal workings. 

    As McMahon prepares for possibly the biggest fight of his life, at least legally speaking, the fact that some of WWE’s top names have kept in touch with him is an interesting development, and suggests that McMahon could indeed have an interest in WWE greater than what those in the promotion are letting on.

  • WWE’s Piper Niven Hopes to Inspire ‘Bigger Kids’ to Stand Up For Themselves Against Bullying

    WWE’s Piper Niven Hopes to Inspire ‘Bigger Kids’ to Stand Up For Themselves Against Bullying

    WWE Raw Superstar Piper Niven hopes that she can be a role model to ‘bigger kids’ and show them that it’s okay to stand up for yourself against bullying.  

    While the Scottish Superstar has made quite a name for herself, her call-up to the main roster saw her be rebranded ‘Doudrop.’ The name has some unfortunate definitions online and Niven has spoken about not being fond of the name in the past. 

    Niven got her original WWE name back during the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match and the former Women’s Tag Team Champion hasn’t looked back since. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Niven spoke about what the Piper name means to her. 

    “For me, Piper was always the person that I wanted to be when I was younger. I wasn’t allowed to be angry, I wasn’t allowed to fight and stand up for myself. Piper was that person that I always wanted to be.”

    Niven added that she hopes that her work on TV can help inspire kids who may be heavier than the norm to realize their own worth in the face of bullying. 

    “I know that there’s a lot of kids that are bigger kids, maybe they get picked on. I hope that when they see Piper, she makes them feel that they can stand up for themselves as well.”

    Niven’s goal is admirable as there’s no place for bullying in the world. Niven and Chelsea Green scored their first win as a tag team in months on Raw with a victory over Katana Chance & Kayden Carter. 

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

  • NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 Preview: Title Matches, Updated Card (4/23)

    NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 Preview: Title Matches, Updated Card (4/23)

    WWE NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 is mere days away and the first night of the gold brand’s annual event is set to have massive ramifications. 

    This will be the first major event for WWE NXT of the promotion’s ‘new era’ which launched with WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, PA. Here is what the fans can look forward to on Night 1 of WWE NXT Spring Breakin’.

    No Quarter Catch Crew Vs. The D’Angelo Family

    It’ll be faction warfare at NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1 when the serious trio of Myles Borne, Damon Kemp, and Charlie Dempsey face the ever-resourceful ‘family’ of Tony D’Angelo. The two sides got physical on the April 16, episode of WWE NXT as tensions are boiling to the surface. 

    Roxanne Perez (c) Vs. Lyra Valkyria Vs. Tatum Paxley (WWE NXT Women’s Championship)

    Tatum Paxley has made clear she’s only interested in the NXT Women’s Championship and will do whatever it takes to possess it. With former champion Lyra Valkyria in the mix, the odds do not look good for two-time/current champion Roxanne Perez mere weeks after she won the title at Stand & Deliver.

    Sol Ruca Vs. Blair Davenport (Beach Brawl Match)

    It’ll be no peaceful day at the beach for Blair Davenport who as the NXT parking lot attacker cost Sol Ruca months of action. Now, Ruca is back and is ready for revenge on the 2023 Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner.

    Natalya & Lola Vice Sign Their NXT Underground Contract

    Lola Vice’s targeting of Karmen Petrovic has incurred the wrath of Natalya and the WWE veteran is looking to make Vice pay in the hellacious NXT Underground. Seven days before the Hart Dungeon graduate and the 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament winner collide, they’ll sign the contract for their match. 

    Ilja Dragunov (c) Vs. Trick Williams (WWE NXT Championship)

    In a rematch from NXT Vengeance Day, Trick Williams hopes to realize his dream and become the new NXT Champion at Spring Breakin’ While the fans are on the side of Trick, reigning champion Ilja Dragunov won’t make this easy. 

    SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage in the coming days for WWE NXT Spring Breakin’ Night 1.

  • Mick Foley Gives Positive Update After ‘Wake-Up Call’ Concussion Nixes Planned Final Match

    Mick Foley won’t be wrestling in a final match due to a concussion but the Hardcore Legend and WWE Hall of Famer has been able to see the silver lining in all this.

    The three-time WWE World Champion recently revealed that he was calling off plans to have one final match after suffering from the effects of a concussion he couldn’t even recall experiencing. Foley had wanted to compete in one last death match for his 60th birthday and hoped the match would motivate him to lose weight. 

    In his latest YouTube video, Mick gave some great news about his current health. 

    “When I resumed my work schedule, I was a little out of it. But over the next three days, wow, really felt the fog lifting. It’s kind of like coming to the surface after you’ve been swimming.” 

    Mick added that he was happy in a way that this situation has been a ‘wake-up call’ for him to recognize that he isn’t the young man that he once was.

    “I am no longer going to be taking on the deadly duo of Father Time and Mother Nature, because they commenced to kicking my butt, and it’s not a rematch I’m looking to have.”

    While it would’ve been interesting to see Mick lace up his boots one final time, it wasn’t meant to be. Given the health complications that arose during Ric Flair’s last match, it’s for the best that Mick does not wrestle again if he is to prioritize his health. Nevertheless, Mick had an incredible career in the ring, one that he can be proud of. 

  • Matt Cardona Pulls From Events After Suffering Torn Pectoral Injury

    Matt Cardona, the self-professed Indy God, will not be competing on the independent scene or elsewhere for the time being after reportedly suffering a torn pectoral.  He’s set to undergo surgery, which will keep him out of action for the remainder of the year.

    This is a huge setback for Cardona who has been on fire since being released from WWE in April 15, 2020. With Zack Ryder deemed ‘dead,’ Cardona has had success as a heel in various promotions and is a former GCW and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. Cardona recently reflected on the four-year anniversary of his release. 

    A Possible WWE Return? 

    Cardona has done huge things since leaving WWE but he isn’t against making a return to the promotion, under the right circumstances. Matt has made clear that if he was to return, it wouldn’t be as Zack Ryder, and has told fans to “never say never” to seeing him as a WWE Superstar again.

    Matt’s wife Chelsea Green knows all about making a successful return to WWE. After being released in April 2021, Green returned as part of the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble and had a historic run in the match, albeit for the wrong reasons. Green believes that Cardona will return to WWE one day when the time is right. 

  • Latest On Giulia: WWE In-Ring Debut, Championship Opportunities, Marigold Plans

    Latest On Giulia: WWE In-Ring Debut, Championship Opportunities, Marigold Plans

    Giulia could not only be a WWE Superstar, but could also be a champion with the promotion within a matter of months, a new report has revealed. 

    Giulia appeared at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver over WrestleMania 40 weekend and earned a thunderous response from the fans in attendance, her appearance comes after months of reports that she is set to join WWE’s women’s division. 

    WWE is hoping to see Giulia report to the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida in late June or early July, per Fightful. She was supposedly set to have a personal tryout in late 2023 though that ultimately didn’t transpire. She did however appear at the Performance Center during her recent sting in the United States. 

    Giulia is expected to keep her current name (which was used at Stand & Deliver) but there are no plans at this time for WWE to obtain the rights to her theme song. As for when fans can expect Giulia in the ring, the belief in NXT is that she’ll make her debut at NXT Heatwave on July 7. 

    Giulia is expected to compete for a women’s championship at the event which will be either the NXT Women’s Title held by Lyra Valkyria or the recently-announced NXT Women’s North American Championship. The new title was announced during WrestleMania 40 weekend.

    A Brief Detour

    Before Giulia is officially a WWE Superstar, she is expected to make a “handful” of appearances for Marigold, the new promotion founded by Rossy Ogawa. Giulia has already been announced for the promotion’s debut event this June that will include NXT alum Sareee. 

    Acquiring Giulia is a huge win for WWE whose women’s roster is considered one of the best in the world today. Expectations are high for the former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion as her star power is expected to grow once she joins wrestling’s biggest promotion. 

  • Drew Gulak Removal From TV Explained On 4/16 WWE NXT After Ronda Rousey Allegations

    Drew Gulak Removal From TV Explained On 4/16 WWE NXT After Ronda Rousey Allegations

    The situation surrounding Drew Gulak was given a unique explanation during WWE NXT as his future with the company remains uncertain. 

     Gulak was pulled from programming following allegations made by Ronda Rousey. The former Women’s Champion alleged that Gulak pulled on the drawstring of her sweatpants and made her feel uncomfortable. Gulak has said it was an accident and apologized at the time. 

    Drew Gulak’s Absence Explained

    On the WWE NXT after Rousey’s claim came to light, Gulak didn’t appear alongside the No Quarter Catch Crew and his name had been removed from the group’s titantron. This understandably raised questions as to his future as part of the group and in WWE.

    On this week’s NXT, the No Quarter Catch Crew (again sans Gulak) had an in-ring segment with Tony D’Angelo’s family. During the segment, D’Angelo noted that Charlie Dempsey had The Family “take care” of a member of the group, seemingly Gulak. Dempsey responded by saying it was for the good of the business and that the “trash” had to be taken care of. 

    This is another worrying sign for Gulak and demonstrates the seriousness of the situation regarding what transpired between himself and Rousey in 2022. Gulak has reportedly been pulled from all plans and there are no creative plans for him. He was also not backstage as of last week’s episode of WWE NXT and it’s unlikely he was at this week’s event. 

    Gulak has been with WWE since 2016 and in addition to eight 24/7 Championship reigns is a one-time Cruiserweight Champion. For all his past accomplishments though, Gulak’s WWE future remains hanging in the balance

  • Tony Khan Says Airing All In Fight Made A Lot Of Sense, Makes No Reference to CM Punk

    Tony Khan Says Airing All In Fight Made A Lot Of Sense, Makes No Reference to CM Punk

    Airing the infamous backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry made a lot of sense, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed. 

    The footage was broadcast on the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite and was presented as The Young Bucks explaining why they lost to FTR at All In 2023. Many believe that the footage was actually aired in response to Punk’s comments made on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. Punk was hardly complimentary of AEW during his appearance on the show. 

    Whatever the reason for the footage being aired, it seems to have backfired on Tony Khan. Many believe that the decision to air the footage has done more damage to AEW’s reputation than anything shown in the clip regarding Punk’s behavior. 

    On the Chris Russell Show, Khan was asked whether he regrets airing the footage in hindsight and believes that bringing the altercation to light was the right call. 

    “I think it made a lot of sense… We’ve seen the Young Bucks change a lot. We saw them get really dark during the retirement run of Sting. They’ve only gotten darker and more twisted. That’s why they felt like they should play the tape.”

    Khan also brought up Jack Perry who hasn’t appeared for AEW since All In but has used his suspension to reinvigorate his career as the ‘Scapegoat.’

    “It was fascinating to see after the tape played, the reaction Jack Perry got at New Japan. He got the reaction of a superstar. That is not altogether unexpected and it’s something very interesting, perhaps a side effect of this.”

    One name Khan didn’t bring up when discussing the footage is CM Punk himself. The backstage fight would see Punk be suspended from AEW for the second time in under a year and was ultimately released. 

    Punk has since returned to WWE where his conduct is said to be exemplary as he’s been eager to get involved and help at the WWE Performance Center. And while Khan doesn’t want to bring Punk up by name, it’s clear that the memory of the Best in the World remains with AEW.

  • Roman Reigns Spotted Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

    Roman Reigns Spotted Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

    It remains to be seen when Roman Reigns will be in the ring again, but the Tribal Chief is keeping busy with a new major filming project.

    The former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The loss marked the end of Reigns’ historic 1,316-day title reign and marked the dawning of a ‘new era’ in WWE which has been referenced several times since WrestleMania. 

    It’s unclear when Reigns will appear on WWE TV again, but he is working on some kind of project with Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer. Taking to Instagram, Palmer, an actress and singer who worked on several acclaimed projects including Jordan Peele’s Nope, shared an image of Reigns as part of an upcoming production. 

    Roman Reigns has dabbled into the world of acting before so this new project isn’t entirely foreign territory for the former World Champion. In addition to several WWE Studios projects, Reigns appeared alongside his cousin The Rock in 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. He has also made multiple appearances on TV in animated roles. 

    What’s to Come? 

    When Roman Reigns eventually returns to WWE, he’ll find a promotion that’s much different from the one he’s left behind. With Reigns gone, Solo Sikoa has taken it upon himself to lead the Bloodline and was dubbed the Tribal Chief by the recently debuted Tama Tonga. 

    Some fans believe that a feud within The Bloodline is coming that’ll see Reigns lead a team against Sikoa’s faction. It’s also been suggested that Reigns will be a face upon returning (though not like he was before.) Cody Rhodes and others have given Reigns his proverbial flowers since WrestleMania with a ‘Thank You Roman’ chant breaking out during the post-WrestleMania 40 episode of Raw.

  • WWE Next Gen Star Julian Baldi Signs with Promotion, Has Been On A “Crazy Ride”

    WWE Next Gen Star Julian Baldi Signs with Promotion, Has Been On A “Crazy Ride”

    Fans can expect to see much more of Julian Baldi as the young athlete has publicly confirmed that he has signed a contract with WWE. 

    Taking to Instagram, Baldi shared the news and shared about his difficult journey to WWE. Visa issues kept Baldi from competing after he was offered a contract and moved to Florida. This led to Baldi “surviving barely on savings” but he is now ready to “make some news” and represent his beloved Italy. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5v3KaJublS

    Baldi was part of the WWE: Next Gen series which airs on The Roku Channel. The show chronicles the journey of young athletes trying to make it to WWE. 16-time WWE Champion John Cena is an executive producer on the show. 

    Baldi has also been competing at WWE NXT live events. His most recent match took place at the April 13 event in Venice, Florida which saw him on the losing end of a six-person tag-team match against Joe Gacy, Dion Lennox, & Drake Morreaux.

    Before coming to WWE, Baldi played Football for Valdosta State University. In 2021, he played in all 14 games for the team and would lead VSU to the program’s sixth national championship game and third-straight Gulf South Conference title. 

    Like many before him, Baldi is ready to trade in his football career for a future in a wrestling ring. As seen in the clip above, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque believes that the next Roman Reigns could be among the crop of talent as part of WWE Next Gen. As for whether Baldi reaches the heights of the Tribal Chief, that remains to be seen. 

  • Philadelphia Would Love to Host WrestleMania Again, Will Have Conversations with WWE

    Philadelphia Would Love to Host WrestleMania Again, Will Have Conversations with WWE

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will not be the last time that Philadelphia hosts the annual two-night mega-show if those in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ have anything to say about it. 

    The April 2024 Premium Live Event marked the launch of WWE’s ‘new era’ and has proven to be a hit with fans. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, Larry Needle, executive director of the PHL Sports division shared his eagerness to see WrestleMania return to the city. 

    “We know there’s a long line of cities clamoring to host, and that’s just the reality of an event of this magnitude. But needless to say, we would be thrilled to have WrestleMania back, and at the right time we will engage in those conversations with the WWE.”

    It’s hardly a surprise that those in Philly would love to host WrestleMania once again. The show is estimated to have made as much as $200 million for the city, local tourism officials told Axios prior to the event. 

    WrestleMania’s Future

    If Philadelphia does host a WrestleMania in the future, it is unlikely to be next year. Minneapolis is said to be the favorite to host WrestleMania 31 at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings.

    Fans in the United Kingdom are hoping to see a WrestleMania in their country at some point in the future. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance and shared his intention to bring WrestleMania to London. If successful, it’ll be the third WrestleMania outside of the United States and the first outside of North America. 

  • Gable Steveson & Tamyra Mensah-Stock Qualify For Paris Olympics, Not Expected to Compete

    Gable Steveson and Tamyra Mensah-Stock have qualified for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team but that doesn’t guarantee that fans will see them in Paris this summer.

    Both WWE signings have qualified for the upcoming games though neither are listed as competing, the Wrestling Observer Daily Update reports. It’s added that neither competitor was expected to compete given their WWE standings. While Mensah-Stock hadn’t shown any public interest in competing at the upcoming games, Steveson had suggested that he was seriously considering a role at the events in Paris, France. 

    Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 shortly after his gold medal victory at that year’s games in Tokyo. That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, becoming the first Superstar to be drafted without having a match. 

    After having no matches as a Raw Superstar, Steveson would eventually make his in-ring debut as part of NXT Great American Bash 2023. That show saw a much-criticized double count-out draw against Baron Corbin though he has been picking up wins at live events. 

    Mensah-Stock signed with WWE in May 2023 and made her in-ring debut with the promotion in March 2024 at a WWE NXT live event. While Steveson’s development was slower than WWE had hoped, the same can’t be said about Mensah-Stock.

    Training for the Olympics would have required the whole focus of Steveson and Mensah-Stock and would have put any WWE training or plans by the promotion on pause. By opting not to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, it appears both are making clear that they are committed to their roles as WWE Superstars in the making. 

  • Hope For Coyote Vs. Acme? WBD Says Claim John Cena Film Is A Tax Write-Off Is “Inaccurate”

    Hope For Coyote Vs. Acme? WBD Says Claim John Cena Film Is A Tax Write-Off Is “Inaccurate”

    Movie-goers may still yet see Coyote Vs. Acme after a Warner Bros. Discovery source rejected the notion that the film had been destroyed as a tax write-off. 

    In November 2023, it was confirmed that WBD had nixed the project despite filming having been completed for some time. This led to a ton of backlash against WBD and efforts by audiences for the film to be released in some format either in cinemas or online. 

    While it had been rumored that the final cut of the film had been destroyed, that no longer appears to be the case. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery told The New York Times that claims the notion that the film is being destroyed to facilitate a tax write-off is “inaccurate.”

    In December 2023, it was reported that Netflix and Paramount had made formal bids to try and gain the rights for Coyote Vs. Acme. WBD is said to want more than $70 million for the project which would cover the cost of the initial tax write-off. Amazon is said to be mulling over the project. 

    Coyote Vs. Acme

    The much-anticipated film features Wile E. Coyote of Looney Tunes fame hiring a lawyer to sue Acme, the creator of his many gadgets and traps that often backfire. John Cena was set to play Coyote’s former boss at Acme.

    Coyote Vs. Acme wasn’t the only film WBD nixed, supposedly for tax write-off reasons. Other projects that were canned include a Scooby-Doo animated film that was finished, as well as a live-action Batgirl film that was set to feature Michael Keaton’s return to the role of Batman. 

  • Becky Lynch Pokes Fun At Time-Off Rumors Ahead Of WWE European Tour

    Becky Lynch Pokes Fun At Time-Off Rumors Ahead Of WWE European Tour

    Becky Lynch is excited to be a part of an upcoming WWE tour of Europe, despite what some on social media would have you believe. 

    Following Lynch’s loss to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania, some online suggested that she would be taking time off. These rumors were galvanized after it was reported that Lynch’s husband Seth Rollins would be taking time off following his own loss at WrestleMania 40. 

    Taking to Twitter, Lynch poked fun at the notion that she is going to be out of the ring for a significant amount of time. When the WWE UK promoted Lynch for an upcoming tour, Lynch feigned surprise given that “the internet” had said she was taking a break. 

    Becky Lynch’s Contract Status

    While Lynch doesn’t plan on taking a break from the action (regardless of what the internet may have to say) her time with WWE is ticking away. The former Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Women’s Champion recently disclosed that her current deal will expire within a couple of months. She also revealed that she is confident that WWE will come up with a new deal for her to consider. 

    As one of the biggest female wrestling stars in history, WWE would be wise to keep Lynch on board. There’s no word publicly on whether Tony Khan has his sights set on the man though acquiring The Man would be quite the acquisition to AEW’s women’s division. 

    Lynch will ultimately do what’s best for her and has said that she doesn’t think a full-time role in the ring will be for her when her daughter Roux starts school. Wherever The Man goes next, fans should enjoy her while they can.

    Becky Lynch’s future may be uncertain, but you can find all about her incredible journey in wrestling and life so far.

  • Artist Rob Schamberger Excited For A New Chapter In His Career After Revealing WWE Exit

    Rob Schamberger, the artist behind many epic pieces of WWE artwork, is looking forward to the future after wrapping up his time with the promotion. 

    Taking to Instagram, Schamberger shared the news that he has parted ways with WWE and was appreciative of the opportunities the promotion had provided him. He also shared his excitement for the new chapter of his life that is set to begin.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5zf-KYrTBi

    Schamberger was the official ‘WWE Artist in Residence’ but was still allowed to work outside the promotion. While Schamberger operates an independent store, most of his WWE artwork was purchased by the company to be sold through their official channels. Schamberger also hosted the Canvas 2 Canvas show on the WWE Network and the promotion’s YouTube channel in which he’d unveil portraits of past and current Superstars. 

    WWE Departures

    Schamberger is the latest notable name to part ways with WWE as of late. In recent days, Dan Ventrelle left the promotion after years as WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. He had been associated with Nick Khan and Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. 

    The same day as Ventrelle’s exit, Trent Wilfinger, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development also left the promotion. He had been with WWE since the summer of 2021. 

    One of the most notable names to leave WWE recently was Sue Aitchison who had been with the company since 1986. Aitchison was a key figure in WWE’s community outreach efforts and played a pivotal role in developing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. She also appeared at WWF Backlash 2001 as the ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ for a match between William Regal and Chris Jericho in which the Duchess’ rules greatly favored the British wrestler. For her (non-Duchess) work, Aitchison received WWE’s Warrior Award in 2019. 

  • Tony Schiavone Wasn’t Upset At All In Backstage Footage, Says Idiots Compare AEW to WCW

    Tony Schiavone Wasn’t Upset At All In Backstage Footage, Says Idiots Compare AEW to WCW

    Tony Schiavone was not upset that the backstage fight at AEW All In: London 2023 was aired, despite what some insist to be the case. 

    The infamous footage was broadcast during the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, seemingly in response to CM Punk’s comments about the incident during Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. After the footage was shown by the Young Bucks, Schiavone looked dejected at the commentary table with fans believing this reaction was genuine. 

    On his What Happened When podcast, Schiavone acknowledged his reaction but made clear that he wasn’t genuinely mad at the decision to air the footage. 

    “My facial reaction is trying to put more heat on the Bucks being assholes… I was not upset at the promotion, I was not upset at Tony Khan. I was not p***ed off with what we had shown. I was trying to be fully in the moment of the angle.”

    In kayfabe, the footage was aired by the Young Bucks to justify their loss at AEW All In: London. The pair’s reasoning was that because of the backstage issues, they were unable to sufficiently prepare for their match with FTR at the event. 

    Though Schiavone does not have an issue with the footage airing, many have said it backfired on AEW and did more damage to the company’s reputation than it did to Punk. Some have even gone as far as to deem it a cheap ratings ploy akin to the dying days of WCW, a claim that Schiavone also rejects. 

    “Social media is about idiots coming together and making up their own ideas… There’s absolutely no way you can compare us to WCW… I was there at both, you were not”

    Ultimately, the decision was made to air the footage and AEW can’t un-open that can of worms. After giving up a portion of their show to showcasing of WWE’s most popular Superstars though, it remains to be seen how this development plays into FTR Vs. The Young Bucks for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships at AEW Dynasty. 

  • Rossy Ogawa Hopes To Bring WWE Stars to Marigold, Says Promotion Could Be a “Ranch”

    Rossy Ogawa Hopes To Bring WWE Stars to Marigold, Says Promotion Could Be a “Ranch”

    Rossy Ogawa is hoping to bring some of the top women of WWE to his new Marigold promotion in what could be the start of a long-term partnership.

    Marigold was officially launched earlier this week and comes mere months after Ogawa’s departure from STARDOM, which he also founded. Ogawa has denied the claim from STARDOM’s parent company Bushiroad that he was ‘poaching’ talent from the all-female promotion. 

    In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Ogawa spoke about WWE and how the company is host to some of the names he worked with in STARDOM including Kairi Sane and IYO SKY. Ogawa added that he’d like to invite names from WWE to do something with MARIGOLD down the line. WrestleMania week was not kind to SKY or Sane as the former lost the WWE Women’s Championship to Bayley while the latter was on the losing-side of a six-woman tag-team match.

    Ogawa even went on to tease that Marigold could become a feeder system for WWE in the future. He stated that perhaps Marigold will be a “ranch” for talent ahead of a move to WWE. 

    The idea of WWE and Ogawa working together isn’t all that farfetched. After all, Ogawa was present at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver and was seen alongside Giulia, who shared a photo of herself shaking hands with Triple H backstage. The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is expected to join WWE, but she will be appearing for Marigold first to help the company get off the ground. 

    Playing Well With Others

    For decades, WWE was vehemently against working with other promotions but that attitude has considerably softened in recent years. From Mickie James and Jordynne Grace being in Royal Rumble matches to talent like Charlie Dempsey, Shayna Baszler, and Shinsuke Nakamura being allowed the chance to compete outside of WWE’s confines, there is certainly a new stance on working with other companies. 

    WWE President Nick Khan is said to be seriously considering potential collaborations with other promotions, though nothing has been publicly confirmed just yet. Even AEW President Tony Khan isn’t against the idea as he told ComicBook.com that collaborating with WWE is an “interesting thought” and would “depend on the circumstance.”