SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • ‘Scapegoat’ Jack Perry References AEW All In Fight with CM Punk at NJPW Windy City Riot

    Jack Perry’s AEW future remains uncertain, but the former Jungle Boy was able to poke fun at CM Punk during a recent appearance in Chicago, IL. 

    During the April 10, episode of Dynamite, AEW made the bold decision to air the backstage altercation between Perry and Punk from All In: London 2023. Many have criticized the move as unnecessary with many arguing releasing the footage has done more damage to AEW’s reputation than CM Punk’s. 

    At the NJPW Windy City Riot event in Chicago, Perry took on Shota Umino. Before the two locked up though, the self-professed ‘Scapegoat’ arrived with security and the flag of Chicago. Perry also wore a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER.’ It was this comment during his All In: London match with HOOK that led to Punk confronting him backstage. 

    As for the match, Perry would hold his own against Umino but was ultimately defeated by the Japanese wrestler who used a Death Rider. After the match, Perry offered Umino a handshake, which Umino accepted.

    What’s to Come for Jack Perry? 

    Some believe that releasing the All In: London footage could mark the start of Perry’s return to AEW programming. With that said, Tony Khan was recently said to still be mad at Perry over what transpired, with the belief that Perry ‘cost’ AEW CM Punk, who has since returned to WWE. 

    Khan may not be pleased with Perry referencing the backstage fight, despite it being Khan’s decision to release the footage this week in the first place. AEW has been flagging videos of the fight and having them taken down. Some believe this is a sign AEW & Khan are regretting airing the backstage altercation. 

    Outside of AEW, Perry has continued to make a name for himself as the ‘Scapegoat,’ which plays off the notion of him being unfairly blamed for All In: London. He has been appearing for New Japan as part of the House of Terror. 

  • Careless & Overbudget: AEW Fight Forever Team Thought Game Wasn’t Ready When Launched

    Careless & Overbudget: AEW Fight Forever Team Thought Game Wasn’t Ready When Launched

    AEW Fight Forever was released with ‘careless’ issues after going well over its intended budget, sources from within the game’s production have revealed. 

    Fight Forever, AEW’s first foray into the world of console gaming, hit shelves in June 2023 after experiencing significant delays to its release. The game received mixed reviews at launch with numerous glitches and error codes frustrating gamers. While the arcade style was praised, the shallow customization options were critiqued as was the small roster compared to other wrestling titles.

    AEW Fight Forever’s Issues

    Those within AEW and game developer Yuke’s believe the game should not have been announced as early as it was, Insider Gaming reports. As one source still attached to the game said, the early announcement led to long delays between updates, which led to mistakes being made. 

    “The longer we went without updating people, the more pressure we felt which led to, for some people, carelessness with what was being done.”

    Those working on the game did not feel the title was ready when it was released last June. Explaining the decision to release the game, another source said that the pressure was insurmountable as the costs continued to rise.

    “They (AEW) knew they were going to lose money on this game. But there was a lot of pressure to make money back solely because of how overbudget the game went.”

    Another source added that releasing the game when it did was an effort to “recoup” money from development. The budget fell between 1.5 to two times the original expected cost of development. The issues upon launch were addressed on Twitter by AEW EVP/Fight Forever development lead Kenny Omega. 

    What’s to Come for Fight Forever? 

    Nearly a year on from AEW Fight Forever, there’s been no word on a sequel game, with AEW instead using sporadic DLC updates. As a source explained, it’s unclear what the future holds for Fight Forever once Yuke’s contracted work on the game is complete. 

    “We know AEW wants a second game to be made, but as far as who will make it, that’s completely up in the air. Them (AEW) owning the game engine puts the ball in their court.”

    One feature fans were excited to hear about was cross-platform play though that has yet to be implemented. A source working on the game said that testing of the feature produced too many issues and there are plans to revisit the idea down the line. When asked what ‘down the line’ means, they said “Your guess is as good as anyone.” 

    AEW’s first console video game was not the hit many hoped it to be, especially compared to WWE 2K23 which was released mere months before Fight Forever. It remains to be seen if AEW will release a second game and if so, what lessons they’ll take from Fight Forever. 

  • AEW Gets Thousands of Dislikes For Omitting CM Punk All In Footage From YouTube

    AEW Gets Thousands of Dislikes For Omitting CM Punk All In Footage From YouTube

    Tony Khan may be regretting his decision to ‘stick it’ to CM Punk as footage of the All In London 2023 backstage altercation has been cut from AEW’s YouTube channel. 

    The April 10, 2024, edition of Dynamite featured the much-anticipated footage that shows CM Punk’s altercation with Jack Perry backstage in Wembley Stadium. Khan had claimed before the show that releasing the footage was simply in the best interest of entertaining the fans. Despite Khan’s claim, many have seen this decision as payback for the comments Punk made during the MMA Hour show. 

    Khan seems to have had second thoughts on releasing the footage given what is transpiring on AEW’s YouTube channel. A video of the Young Bucks’ segment in which they showed the footage has been uploaded but the ten-minute video does not feature the All In footage as you can see (or rather, not see) below. 

    AEW may have tried to embarrass CM Punk by releasing this footage but if so, that plan has backfired spectacularly. Not only have fans and those in the industry criticized AEW for airing the footage, but the YouTube video has scored thousands more dislikes than likes. 

    The segment (sans All In footage) has not been met well by fans on YouTube. 

    Ultimately, the decision has been made to air the footage and that can’t be undone now, despite AEW flagging several videos online showing the All In altercation. While Khan may have done this to get to CM Punk following his comments to Ariel Helwani (another individual Khan has had issues with) it looks like this situation has done more harm than good for All Elite Wrestling. 

  • WWE’s Shayna Baszler Obtains Black Belt Ranking in Judo

    Shayna Baszler has proven yet again that she’s not somebody to mess with after achieving the rank of black belt in Judo. 

    The news was shared by the Tampa Florida Judo Academy on Instagram that Baszler had achieved her black belt ranking by martial arts expert Dr. Rhadi Ferguson. Baszler was described as “one of the most accomplished athletes in the world of combat sports.” 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5mxsycMI7K

    Baszler’s accomplishment in Judo shows her dedication, skill, and pursuit of excellence in the world of combat sports. This hard work has evidently paid off for the ‘Queen of Spades’ who is considered one of the most legitimate fighters in WWE today. 

    Shayna Baszler: The Real Deal

    Shayna Baszler’s toughness cannot be denied whether in the world of professional wrestling or in combat sports. In WWE, she is a two-time NXT Women’s Champion, a three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and the 2020 Women’s Elimination Chamber winner. 

    Outside of the squared circle, Baslzer competed in the UFC after winning the 2013 reality show The Ultimate Fighter. She is also trained in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 

    Her MMA training would come at the hands of former UFC fighter Josh Barnett. It’s therefore fitting that Baszler mixed her love of wrestling and MMA at Barnett’s Bloodsport X event where she earned a hard-fought victory over TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. 

    Away from combat sports, Baszler has competed in roller derby, a sport that sees plenty of scrapes and injuries to its competitors. It’s therefore for the best that Baszler, the head coach for the Sioux Falls Roller Dollz, is also a certified EMT. 

  • Changes to Raw & SmackDown Stages Here to Stay As WWE Prioritizes Fan Attendance

    Changes to Raw & SmackDown Stages Here to Stay As WWE Prioritizes Fan Attendance

    A significant production change we saw earlier this week on WWE Smackdown and WWE Raw will continue.

    WWE utilized scaled-down productions setup for last week’s SmackDown, the night before WrestleMania Saturday, and Monday’s post-WrestleMania edition of Raw. Instead of a large stage, screen and ramp, the company opted to use a format that allowed the company to sell more tickets to the events. According to PWInsider, this approach will be “the norm moving forward.”

    This slimmed-down production setup is expected to be used on the June 28, episode of WWE SmackDown from Madison Square Garden.

    Changes to WWE Production

    This is the latest change in a broader overhaul to WWE’s approach to production. Following the departure of longtime production head Kevin Dunn, WWE appointed Lee Fitting for that position. The changes have been remarkable and unanimously well-received.

    WWE events will also look different in the ring moving forward. As fans saw at WrestleMania 40, the PRIME Energy logo was emblazoned on the ring mat in a historic first for WWE. This logo will feature on the mat for future Premium Live Events, a significant reversal of longstanding policy.

    WWE’s on-screen product will undergo its biggest change in January 2025 when Raw is moved off of broadcast television and begins streaming on Netflix. The $5 billion dollar deal will help the company remain at the cutting edge of TV and live event production.

  • Logan Paul Surprised IShowSpeed With A Tesla Cybertruck After WrestleMania RKO

    Logan Paul Surprised IShowSpeed With A Tesla Cybertruck After WrestleMania RKO

    IShowSpeed may still be feeling worse for wear after WrestleMania 40, but the popular YouTuber will have no problem getting around with his new Cyber Truck. 

    On YouTube, Speed shared a video of himself being gifted the vehicle by the Maverick. Paul said the truck was a gift for Speed’s help at WrestleMania which saw him take an RKO from Randy Orton on the English-commentary announce table. Speed was overjoyed with the gift and took the truck for a test drive and accidentally ran over the bow. 

    IShowSpeed Gets an RKO at WrestleMania

    Speed was dressed as the PRIME Energy mascot at WrestleMania 40 and aided Paul in his triple-threat match against Orton and Kevin Owens. The spot was similar to WrestleMania 39 which saw PRIME Energy co-founder KSI dress in the costume and try and help Paul out. Like IShowSpeed, that would backfire and he’d be sent through the announce table. 

    PRIME & WWE

    WWE and Prime Hydration struck a record-setting global partnership deal in March 2024 to make PRIME the company’s Official Hydration Drink Partner. The agreement also extends to the UFC, WWE’s ‘partner’ company as part of TKO Group.

    At WrestleMania 40, the synergy was on full display. Randy Ortton delivering an RKO to influencer IShowSpeed dressed in a PRIME Energy bottle costume went viral on social media. 

    Wrestling fan also couldn’t miss the PRIME Energy logo emblazoned on the WWE ring mat, a historic first that we’ll see plenty more of in the future. TKO executives have spoken about their plans to continue ramping up the sponsored branding the ringside area. 

    Prime Product Placement

    Logan Paul

    As for Logan Paul, his U.S. Championship reign remains intact with fans wondering what’s next for him. Paul was chosen to reveal that WWE SummerSlam 2024 will take place this August in his native Cleveland, Ohio. 

    Paul didn’t waste any time drumming up attention for the event by calling out one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, NBA kingpin LeBron James:

  • CM Punk, Young Bucks & More React As AEW Airs All In London Backstage Altercation

    CM Punk, Young Bucks & More React As AEW Airs All In London Backstage Altercation

    The wrestling world has made its views clear following the airing of backstage footage showing last year’s altercation between Jack Perry and CM Punk. 

    The April 10, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite saw the Young Bucks air the much-anticipated footage from All In London 2023 that saw Perry and Punk get physical. The altercation led to both men being suspended from AEW and Punk being fired a week later. 

    The Wrestling World Reacts

    Unsurprisingly, the airing of this footage has caused quite a stir among those in professional wrestling. On his Instagram Stories immediately after the segment, Punk shared an image of President George W. Bush with the message “Mission Accomplished.”

    The Young Bucks took to Twitter to speak about being petty Executive Vice Presidents of All Elite Wrestling. 

    Shawn Spears, an AEW alum who has since returned to WWE as part of NXT, suggested that releasing the footage had backfired for Tony Khan. 

    Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, who previously made up a fictional altercation with Punk, used a gif of himself to express his surprise. 

    Eric Bischoff, who has been critical of AEW and Tony Khan, believes releasing the footage proved that Khan is a ‘clown,’ a term Punk used to describe him post-fight. 

    AEW’s Danhausen, a friend of CM Punk, was amused to see what unfolded, as a gif of ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper showed. 

    WWE/TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray said it was “no bueno” for AEW that fans were chanting for Punk at Dynamite. 

    Bully also addressed the matter further on his Busted Open Radio: After Dark podcast. 

    “This is not on the talent. This is not on the locker room. And most of the time, it never ever is across the board. It’s on creative. It’s on the booker. It’s on the matchmaker. This company needs help. At this point, I hope even you diehards realize that.”

    Ultimately, Punk will continue to be a source of controversy within AEW even after his release from the company. As far as these reactions and those by fans go though, it appears airing the footage may not have done AEW or Tony Khan any favors. 

  • Sumo Wrestling Legend & WWE WrestleMania 21 Performer Akebono Dead Aged 54

    Sumo Wrestling Legend & WWE WrestleMania 21 Performer Akebono Dead Aged 54

    Akebono Taro, a prolific sumo wrestler who also competed in the world of professional wrestling, has passed away at the age of 54 years old. 

    Japanese media outlets confirmed his death after he was rushed to a hospital in Tokyo, Japan. His cause of death has been listed as heart failure. On Twitter, Rahm Emanuel, the official U.S. Ambassador to Japan, paid tribute to Taro. 

    Taro was born Chadwick Haheo Rowan in Hawaii and had a legendary career as a sumo wrestler. After moving to Tokyo in the 190s, he would go on to win 11 titles with over 560 victories. His multiple victories would earn him the status of yokozuna (not to be confused with the WWE star,) which is the highest title for a Sumo wrestler. 

    Akebono in Pro-Wrestling

    Akebono Taro also had an accomplished career in professional wrestling and made his WWE debut in March 2005. At WrestleMania 21 the following month. Akebono defeated The Big Show in a sumo match via koshinage (throwing the opponent entirely out of the ring.)

    With a taste for pro-wrestling, Akebono joined All Japan Pro Wrestling that same year and would win Tokyo Sports’ Newcomer Award for 2005 as well as the Best Tag Team Award (with Keiju ‘Great Muta’ Mutoh.) He debuted for New Japan in 2006 but would return to All Japan in 2008 where he would remain for the next seven years of his career. 

    Akebono also competed for DDT Pro-Wrestling, Dragon Gate, and Pro Wrestling Zero1, and would become the World Heavyweight Champion with the latter promotion. 

    We at SE Scoops would like to offer our condolences to his friends and family at this sad time. 

  • CM Punk Chants Breaks Out As AEW Airs Previously Unseen All In London Footage

    CM Punk Chants Breaks Out As AEW Airs Previously Unseen All In London Footage

    CM Punk did indeed start the physicality between himself and Jack Perry at AEW All In, footage aired during the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite has proved. 

    During the broadcast, the Young Bucks appeared and discussed their upcoming AEW Dynasty showdown with FTR. The AEW EVPs then showed the much-anticipated backstage footage from last August’s event in London’s Wembley Stadium. 

    The footage shows Punk speaking with Perry, presumably after the latter’s “Real glass” line during his pre-show match with Hook. Punk proceeds to shove Perry twice and get a choke on Jack before Samoa Joe and others intervene. The two are then kept in opposite corners of the room. 

    It’s unclear if the release of this footage will change anything in the grand scheme of things. After all, during Punk’s interview on the MMA Hour, he said that he didn’t punch anybody but “choked him a little bit” as the footage shown on AEW Dynamite proves.

    The Fans Chant

    In fact, some fans who attended Dynamite chanted for Punk after seeing him attack Jack Perry. There was also a thank you chant near the end of the footage as seen in the video clip from Dynamite below. 

    These chants did not go unnoticed by Bully Ray, who took to Twitter to respond: 

    While a portion of the audience at Dynamite appeared to be on Punk’s side, this footage isn’t a favorable look for Punk. The Chicago-Made star is a veteran with decades of wrestling to his name who should have known better at the time.

    Ultimately, Punk is gone from AEW and seems much happier in WWE, where his conduct has been exemplary so far. With that said, the Best in the World proves to be quite the talking point with his former employer. 

  • Damian Priest: The Judgment Day Is In The Conversation of the All-Time Best Factions

    Damian Priest’s stunning victory at WrestleMania 40 solidifies The Judgment Day as one of the all-time great factions according to the World Heavyweight Champion.

    On Night Two of WWE’s annual mega-show, Priest successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre, who had dethroned Seth Rollins mere minutes earlier. Appearing on WWE The Bump, Priest discussed his win and how it further elevates the legacy of The Judgment Day. 

    “Winning the World Title means a lot of us. I mean, it solidifies our group. We have Rhea, the Women’s World Champion [and] me, the Men’s World Champion. I think if you look at the history of factions, where does that put the Judgment Day now?

    “We’ve had Undisputed [Tag Team] Titles. We’ve had North American Titles. Now we have World Titles. I don’t see how we’re not in the conversation for one of the best factions of all time.”

    WrestleMania 40 was also a big night for Rhea Ripley who retained her Women’s World Championship. The ‘Mami’ of the faction successfully defended the gold against Becky Lynch in the opening match of the two-night event. 

    The Judgment Day

    Priest’s comments ring true given how many championships The Judgment Day has accumulated in its two-year run. The faction had a shaky start when launched by Edge in 2022 as fans struggled to boo the Rated-R Superstar following years of his forced retirement.

    The group began to hit its stride when it ejected the WWE Hall of Famer in a segment that saw Finn Balor added to its ranks. The faction reached new heights at Clash at the Castle 2022 when Dominik Mysterio betrayed his father and joined. In addition to championships, The Judgment Day has been represented in the main event of shows such as WWE Survivor Series 2023 and WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. 

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

  • AEW Dynamite Preview [4/10]: All In Footage To Be Aired, World Title Eliminator Match

    AEW Dynamite Preview [4/10]: All In Footage To Be Aired, World Title Eliminator Match

    All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS live from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia. 

    The show will see AEW continue on the road to AEW Dynasty on April 21. Here’s what’s on tap for tonight’s show: 

    AEW All In Footage to Be Aired

    In one of the boldest moves AEW has made in its five years, Dynamite will see The Young Bucks present backstage footage from AEW All In. This footage will seemingly show what happened in Wembley Stadium between CM Punk and Jack Perry that resulted in Punk being fired from AEW in September 2023. 

    Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo – AEW TNT Championship

    AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will once again prove he’s a fighting champion when he puts the gold on the line against Penta El Zero Miedo. While a former AEW Trios & World Tag Team Champion, Penta hopes to win his first singles title tonight. 

    Mariah May vs. Anna Jay

    The understudy of ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm has been on a roll as of late and hopes to keep that going when she faces Anna Jay. Storm will have her own special role on AEW Dynamite. 

    ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm to Toast Thunder Rosa

    It was announced on Rampage that Toni Storm would ‘toast’ Thunder Rosa with some Charleston Championship Champagne during Dynamite. The two will face off for Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship at AW Dynasty. 

    Six-Man Tag-Team Action

    Anthony Ogogo has officially joined Shane Taylor Promotions and the Olympic Bronze medalist hopes to prove his worth. That’ll come easier said than done as Ogogo, Taylor, and Lee Moriarty will face the formidable trio of Chris Jericho, HOOK, and Katsyori Shibata. 

    Samoa Joe (c) Vs. Dustin Rhodes – AEW World Championship Eliminator

    Mere days after his brother Cody finished the story at WWE WrestleMania 40, Dustin Rhodes will face Samoa Joe with huge stakes. A win for Rhodes will earn the Natural a future AEW World Championship match though it’ll be far from easy when he faces the Samoan Submission Machine. 

    SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage later tonight from AEW Dynamite.

  • The Studios At WWE: Massive New Complex to Take “Productions to the Next Level”

    The Studios At WWE: Massive New Complex to Take “Productions to the Next Level”

    WWE has marked the launch of a new era with a new studio complex to help lead the company’s production side of things in the future. 

    The 30,000-square foot studio complex is called ‘The Studios at WWE’ and features several studios. The studio is based at WWE’s new headquarters in Stamford, CT. 

    The main studio is an impressive 5,000-square-foot center. There is also a 1,500-square-foot Cyclorama studio and a 1,500-square-foot volumetric LED studio set to open this spring. The complex also features a 1,000-square-foot photo studio and two insert stages that are approximately 600 square feet each. 

    The Studios at WWE is the first U.S. facility to install Crystal LED Verona, with 150 cabinets across its main wall. Joe Solari, WWE VP of Studio Operations shared his enthusiasm for the new complex when speaking to Sports Video. 

    “It gives us new tools and a new canvas to push the limits of what we do here at the WWE. We can take our productions to the next level and really increase our fan engagement. I don’t think that there is anything in Connecticut right now that even comes close to what we built here.”

    Production Changes

    The Complex at WWE comes at an interesting time for WWE with several changes being made to the company. With the departure of Kevin Dunn, WWE has appointed Lee Fitting as the promotion’s head of production. Changes to the on-screen product have been received well by fans so far. 

    Perhaps the biggest change to WWE’s on-screen presentation will come in January 2025 when Raw moves to Netflix. The five-billion-dollar deal will see the red brand hosted on Netflix for ten years, though the timeframe can change based on the show’s performance. Those outside the U.S. will also receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. 

  • Cody Rhodes Joins Elite Club, Makes Triple-Crown History with WWE Universal Title Win

    Cody Rhodes Joins Elite Club, Makes Triple-Crown History with WWE Universal Title Win

    Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship win at WrestleMania 40 continues to make history as the new champion has joined a very exclusive club.

    Rhodes ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns in an emotional main event to WrestleMania 40: Sunday on April 7. With this win, Rhodes becomes the fourth wrestler in history to have held the WWE World Championship and the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. He joins an elite club of talent that includes the inaugural WWE Champion Buddy Rogers, 16-time World Champion Ric Flair, and the Phenomenal AJ Styles. 

    This fact was pointed out on social media by Brian R. Solomon, an author of several wrestling books. In 2022, his book ‘Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik’ won the Wrestling Observer’s ‘Best Book’ award for the year. His next book, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, is scheduled to be released in 2024. 

    Triple Crown History

    Rhodes didn’t just join the exclusive club of WWE/NWA World Champions, but he also made history by becoming the first person in his own unique club. With his win, Rhodes became the first man to have held the WWE, NWA, and Ring of Honor World Championships. Rhodes won the NWA title from Nick Aldis at 2018’s All In show. His Ring of Honor World Championship win would come the year prior with a victory over Christopher Daniels at Best in the World 2017.

    The American Nightmare is certainly riding high with his victory at WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The fans are clearly behind Rhodes who also achieved a new personal record over WrestleMania week. 

  • Bron Breakker Bids Farewell to NXT Ahead Of 2024 WWE Draft

    Bron Breakker Bids Farewell to NXT Ahead Of 2024 WWE Draft

    Bron Breakker has wrapped up his time as part of WWE NXT after he and Baron Corbin lost the brand’s Tag Team Championships to Nathan Frazer & Axiom. 

    In a WWE Digital Exclusive after the show, Corbin spoke about Breakker being an incredible competitor and “one hell of a friend.” Corbin was also confident that Bron is going to become a WWE World Champion on the main roster. 

    Amid chants of “Thank you Bron,” Breakker thanked the fans for their support and reflected on his time as part of WWE NXT. 

    “I got my start right here in this very building from day 1 back in NXT 2.0. Right here in the WWE Performance Center since day 1 all of you guys have been on this journey, on this ride with me the whole time, so I can not thank you enough.”

    Breakker thanked Shawn Michaels, the staff at WWE NXT, the roster he’s worked with, and Corbin for being both a friend and rival. Breakker concluded by saying this isn’t goodbye (as fans will soon see him on the main roster) before taking photos with fans and making his way to the back. 

    What’s to Come for Bron Breakker? 

    Breakker was signed to SmackDown in February of 2024 but was allowed to remain with NXT during his run as a Tag Team Champion. With his farewell to WWE developmental, he’s a sure thing for an imminent main roster call-up. 

    Expectations are high for Breakker, a former two-time NXT Champion, as the second-generation Superstar is set to take WWE by storm in the coming years.

    We’ll see if he goes back to SmackDown, or if he’s shifted to Raw, where he’d also have plenty of fresh competition. 

  • Damian Priest Takes Huge Step to Build His Profile Outside of Pro-Wrestling

    Damian Priest Takes Huge Step to Build His Profile Outside of Pro-Wrestling

    New WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest is looking to expand his brand outside of professional wrestling by signing with the Paradigm talent agency.

    Paradigm will work to build Priest’s business across books, acting, marketing, unscripted appearances, and more, Variety reports. Paradigm will look to find Priest work outside of the squared circle in what is expected to be a huge shift for him and a sign that big things are coming in the future of the Puerto Rican Superstar. Perhaps a future in music is in the cards for Priest, who provides the vocals for his new theme song that debuted on the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw. 

    Priest is hardly the first Superstar to sign with a talent agency. In August 2022, Bianca Belair signed with William Morris Endeavor to build her brand outside of wrestling. WME also represents Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and John Cena. 

    This signing comes at a pivotal time for Priest, who captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. The Judgment Day member cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre mere minutes after the Scottish Warrior dethroned Seth Rollins. Priest had held the Money in the Bank contract since capturing the briefcase in July 2023 and had failed to cash in multiple times. 

    What is the Paradigm Talent Agency? 

    Founded in Beverly Hills, CA, in 1992, Paradigm has more than 200 agents representing clients in various aspects of the media. The future looks bright for Priest as Paradigm is a four-time winner of Pollstar’s ‘Booking Agency of the Year’ award. Notable names represented by Pollstar include author Stephen King, actor Sydney Sweeney, director James Wan, and musician Billie Eilish. 

  • Roman Reigns Breaks Silence, Has Finished Mourning WrestleMania 40 Loss

    Roman Reigns has finished ‘mourning’ his recent defeat and has taken the first step to rising to the very top of WWE once more. 

    The now-former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion lost the title to Cody Rhodes in the main event of WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The title change marks the end of a historic 1,316-day reign for Roman Reigns who had dominated for three-and-a-half years. 

    Taking to social media, the Head of the Table made clear that he has mourned for his title loss and has embarked on ‘Day 1’ of the next chapter of his career. 

    What’s to Come for Roman Reigns? 

    Reigns is expected to take a break from WWE programming and is not expected to appear at WWE’s next Premium Live Event, Backlash: France. Reigns is similarly not being advertised for the upcoming WWE Clash At the Castle: Glasgow event that will see the roster return to the UK. He is expected to appear at WWE SummerSlam this August in Cleveland, Ohio. 

    While Reigns won’t be appearing on TV for some time, there are said to be big things in the works for the Tribal Chief. On the post-WrestleMania 40: Sunday press conference, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said that a “whole new story” for Reigns is coming that will take him “to a whole ‘nother level.”

    Reigns has also earned praise from Cody Rhodes despite their on-screen issues. On the Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes called Reigns an “exceptional champion” and hopes he “can be half the champion Roman Reigns was.”

  • Tony Khan On Airing AEW All In Backstage Footage: ‘We’re Putting On The Best Show’

    Tony Khan On Airing AEW All In Backstage Footage: ‘We’re Putting On The Best Show’

    Airing backstage footage from All In 2023 is all in the interest of the fans who want to see the best show possible, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed.

    On the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite, behind-the-scenes footage of AEW’s largest-ever event will be aired. While not confirmed, many believe this will be footage of the Jack Perry-CM Punk altercation that would result in Punk being fired a week later. 

    Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Tony Khan said that this will not be a bait-and-switch and that AEW has a history of delivering on its promises. Khan also said the decision to air the footage is simply in AEW’s best interest.

    “This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

    The Young Bucks will also discuss the footage that is to be aired on Dynamite. Khan added that the AEW EVPs should explain why this is relevant ahead of AEW Dynasty.

    Why is the Footage Really Being Aired?

    The decision to air this footage has been met with criticism, despite Khan’s insistence that this is all to give fans the best show. Many have argued that AEW is using the much-anticipated footage as a ratings ploy in the wake of the highly successful WWE WrestleMania 40 event.

    There’s also an argument to be made that AEW should seek to move on from the backstage incidents that have often overshadowed their production. CM Punk was also part of the infamous All Out 2022 backstage fight that led to himself, The Elite, and others being suspended.

    CM Punk’s recent interview with the MMA Hour has likely also played a role in Khan’s decision. The WWE Raw Superstar was critical of AEW on the show in which he stated that Khan isn’t a real boss and that AEW isn’t a real company focused on making money. 

    Punk also gave his take on the All In brawl. In his recollection of events, Punk said he didn’t punch anybody but “choked somebody a little bit.” Punk stopped when Samoa Joe told him to before telling Khan “You’re a clown. I quit.”

  • Dakota Kai Backs Up Kairi Sane After Mark Henry Claims Japanese Star ‘Disrespected the Business’ at WrestleMania 40

    Dakota Kai has shared her support for her Damage CTRL ally Kairi Sane following criticism by WWE Hall of Famer & AEW correspondent Mark Henry. 

    At WWE WrestleMania 40, Sane, Kai, and Asuka lost to Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Jade Cargill. During the entrance for the faces, Sane remained in the ring a few seconds longer than Asuka and Kai. You can check out hew delayed exit from the ring in the video clip below. 

    On Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry shared that he was livid watching WrestleMania 40 when he saw Sane taking slightly too long to exit the ring for his liking. The World’s Strongest Man even went as far as to say the Pirate Princess had shown a level of disrespect to the wrestling business. 

    “She should have got out the f*cking ring. I was so mad. You got to respect the business first. And she didn’t, but she would if I would have been in the ring.”

    In a tweet, Dakota Kai didn’t address Henry’s comments directly but made it clear that she supports Sane who has a deep respect for the wrestling business. The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion responded by she loves and respects Kai and was thankful for everything her Damage CTRL ally has done for her.

    In a follow-up tweet, Kai added that she wanted to focus on positivity moving forward. She again did not mention Henry by name. 

    Ultimately, Sane would not have intended to have come across as disrespectful and it appears only Henry felt her actions at WrestleMania were out of line. In the comments, many supported Sane and some pointed out times that Henry has remained in the ring during the entrance of opponents. 

  • Damian Priest & Jey Uso Sound Very Ready For Their Upcoming Showdown

    Jey Uso will be the first man to challenge Damian Priest for his new World Heavyweight championship, but the Judgment Day big man isn’t sweating it.

    ‘Main Event’ Jey won a four-way match on Monday’s WWE Raw to become #1 contender. He survived Bronson Reed, Ricochet, and Drew McIntyre to win the match. Uso scored the win with a little help from CM Punk. McIntyre was on the verge of victory, but Punk was a thorn in his side once again, ramping up the tension between these two yet another notch.

    WWE has released backstage promos from both men after Raw went off the air. Each of them shows respect for the other, but are confident in their own chances. Uso says he’s been studying Priest for a long time. He respects his game and isn’t taking him lightly.

    Priest says he’s impressed by what he’s seen from the former Bloodline member. He congratulated him on earning the title shot, but also dropped an ominous threat. Priest vows to to “beat the YEET” out of Uso when they share a ring.

    “Jey Uso. Let me be the first to congratulate you on earning the first shot at my World Heavyweight Championship. But don’t get carried away with the celebration. Because when the match happens, I’m going to beat the YEET out of you.”

    WWE has yet to announce when the match will take place. The next premium live event headed our way is WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4.

    Coming out of a very eventful WrestleMania 40, wrestling fans have two exciting rivalries to  look forward to in Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk.

  • Trish Stratus Loved Bayley’s WrestleMania 40 Win: ‘No One Deserved That Spot More’

    Trish Stratus Loved Bayley’s WrestleMania 40 Win: ‘No One Deserved That Spot More’

    WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus was pleased to see Bayley get her proverbial flowers as part of the second night of WWE WrestleMania 40. 

    At WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Bayley captured the WWE Women’s Championship from IYO SKY in a moment of payback for the Role Model on her former ally. The match marked Bayley’s first championship victory at WrestleMania and her first singles match at the event. 

    Taking to Twitter, Stratus reflected on her time at WrestleMania and called Bayley’s victory a highlight of the night for her. Trish added that no one deserved the spot or the adulation of the crowd more than the Role Model and was pleased that Bayley and IYO SKY “crushed it” on WWE’s grandest stage. 

    Trish Stratus And Bayley

    Stratus and Bayley were on opposite ends of a six-woman tag-team match at WrestleMania 39. The match saw Stratus team with then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Lita & Becky Lynch to defeat Bayley, SKY, and Dakota Kai. 

    This isn’t the first time that the new WWE Women’s Champion has earned props from Status, a seven-time Women’s Champion in her own right. During a 2023 interview with SHAK Wrestling, Stratus put Bayley on her Mt. Rushmore of women’s wrestling, alongside herself,  Lita, and All Elite Wrestling’s Mercedes Mone

    In the build to the WrestleMania 39 match, Bayley shared her appreciation for Stratus and Lita coming back after having legendary careers on an episode of the Masked Man Show.

    “They came back and they agreed to face us, which I think is a huge compliment and just something that we shouldn’t take for granted.”

  • Cody Rhodes: ‘MJF’s My Boy! He’s Got A Huge Future Ahead’

    Cody Rhodes is excited to see what’s to come in the future for MJF and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion sees big things ahead for the ‘Scumbag.’

    Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes’ interview was interrupted by a crowd chant for MJF. Acknowledging the moment, Rhodes put over the former AEW World Champion. 

    “His ex-girlfriend painted that picture of me getting busted open by The Rock. Yeah, and The Rock bought it.

    “You got to stand by your guy, though. You know what I’m saying? You stand by your boy. MJF is my boy. Shout out to MJF. Wonderful kid. Huge, huge, huge future.”

    Rhodes and MJF are no strangers. In AEW, MJF acted as a protege of Rhodes before betraying the American Nightmare during Cody’s sole AEW World Championship opportunity. The pair would later feud with MJF coming out on top at AEW Revolution 2020. 

    What’s to Come? 

    On the post-WrestleMania Raw, Rhodes basked in his victory at the Premium Live Event before being interrupted by The Rock. The Final Boss admitted that he’s going away for a while but will be coming for Rhodes when he returns. He also handed Rhodes something and warned him not to break his heart again. 

    As for MJF, he continues to be out of action and was last seen in the ring at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. While MJF was recently seen backstage at AEW Dynamite, there’s still no confirmation as to when fans can see him. Whenever he appears next, it’ll be for AEW as it was reported last year that MJF had signed a new contract with AEW despite teasing leaving for WWE.

  • Mick Foley Calls Off Planned Final Match with Family’s Urging After Suffering Concussion

    Mick Foley Calls Off Planned Final Match with Family’s Urging After Suffering Concussion

    WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley no longer plans on competing in one final match after recognizing the symptoms of a concussion he unknowingly experienced. 

    In February, Foley expressed his desire to have one final death match to mark his 60th birthday, saying it’d be a good motivator to lose weight. Foley announced the following month that he planned to document his journey back to the ring. 

    Unfortunately, that match is no longer in the cards. Taking to YouTube, Mick explained why he is no longer planning on having one more match. 

    “I had to miss a couple of weekend appearances because of dizziness and lightheadedness. After consulting a couple of doctors and also using my own experience with concussions, the symptoms, seem to point to a concussion that I did not even know I received.”

    Foley added that he experienced lightheadedness after a recent workout, which he was hoping would go away, and said he’d done “a little bit” in the ring. Given how even a small bit of wrestling affected him this badly, Mick said it was in his best interest to not compete. 

    “It just seems like the wisest move and one that’s strongly supported by my family is to call off that final match. If I can get concussed from something I’m not even aware of, and some of the things that I was thinking of doing and hoping of doing in a big match would not be smart. So with my family’s urging and after careful thought, I’ve decided there will be no final match.”

    This comes as a huge blow for Foley who had been eager to have one final match. It also serves as a reminder that injuries faced in wrestling, no matter how big or small, are not to be taken lightly. 

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

  • Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Mask Was Created By Horror Effects Veteran

    Cody Rhodes’ entrance at WrestleMania 40 saw the involvement of a legend of the masks and effects industry to make his time in Philadelphia extra special. 

    Ahead of his emotional Undisputed WWE Universal Championship victory over Roman Reigns, Rhodes entered Lincoln Financial Field with his wife Brandi. Rhodes also bore a skull mask that was designed around his ‘American Nightmare’ insignia. 

    On social media, it was revealed that Jason Baker was the one behind Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40: Sunday mask. Rhodes shared a backstage selfie wearing the mask as a test and made sure to tag Baker in the picture. 

    Rhodes modeling his mask, created by Jason Baker. 

    Who is Jason Baker? 

    Baker, a protege of horror movie effects legend Tom Savini, is no stranger to working with WWE. He previously created the Fiend mask for Bray Wyatt and also was heavily involved in Wyatt’s presentation upon returning to WWE in late 2022. He was also close friends with Wyatt.

    In 2021, it was reported that Baker and Wyatt were working on a film together, which was set to be produced in-house by Baker’s Calloseum Studios. Unfortunately, that film will not come out now given Wyatt’s passing in August 2023. 

    While best known for his work with Wyatt, Baker has also created masks for other Superstars including Asuka and Finn Balor. He was also responsible for Triple H’s ‘Skull King’ mask that the Game wore at WWE WrestleMania 30 in 2014. The Game would arrive with masked women (Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss) and opened the show with a loss to Daniel Bryan.  

  • WWE & Nick Khan Exploring Potential Collaborations With Other Wrestling Promotions

    WWE is more open to the idea of working with other wrestling promotions than ever before, with Nick Khan at the helm to make this a reality. 

    In contrast to other, smaller promotions, WWE has almost always refused to work with other companies, especially any it sees as direct competition such as All Elite Wrestling. Justin Barrasso of SI reports, “one of WWE’s potential explorations is to engineer a collaboration with other professional wrestling promotions.” 

    Khan is certainly more open to working with others compared to the four decades of the Vince McMahon era. CM Punk recently disclosed that it was Khan who reached out to him in late 2023 which led to his return at Survivor Series in November. Khan also reached out to TNA Wrestling in early 2024 which resulted in Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace competing in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match.

    Playing Nice

    While WWE almost never works with other companies, there have been some rare instances of the Sports Entertainment juggernaut aligning with other promotions. In 2022, then IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts World Champion competed as part of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. James (like Grace would two years later) would wear her Knockouts Championship to the ring. 

    In June 2022, John Cena reached the 20th anniversary of his debut for WWE. To celebrate, WWE shared videos of several of Cena’s former rivals praising ‘Big Match John.’ Among these were Daniel Bryan, The Big Show, and Chris Jericho, all of whom are with AEW. 

    In 2012, WWE reached a deal with TNA that allowed for Ric Flair to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Four Horsemen, a move that made the Nature Boy the first two-time WWE Hall of Famer. As part of the deal, WWE granted TNA use of Christian who inducted Sting into TNA’s Hall of Fame. 

  • Cody Rhodes Says “Validating” WWE Universal Title Win Was Willed Into Existence By the Fans

    Cody Rhodes Says “Validating” WWE Universal Title Win Was Willed Into Existence By the Fans

    Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes will never forget that it was the fans who helped make his historic victory at WrestleMania 40: Sunday a reality. 

    At the April 7, event, Rhodes ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns to become the new champion. Rhodes’ desire to ‘finish the story’ and capture a WWE World Championship (a feat his father never reached) has been pivotal to his career since returning to WWE in 2022. 

    Speaking on The Today Show, Rhodes reflected on his historic victory inside Lincoln Financial Field. 

    “Oh, it feels just so sweet. And it’s validating, because this main event yesterday, WrestleMania 40, it was totally willed into existence by the fans. We were going to go one way, we were thinking Rock Vs. Roman Reigns. They made it clear they wanted something else and we got to the finish line.”

    We Want Cody

    Rhodes’ win may have never happened if not for the WWE Universe. Despite Cody’s victory in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, WWE teased a match between Reigns & The Rock during the following SmackDown. 

    Outraged at the prospect of the Hollywood star taking the opportunity from Rhodes, the WWE Universe responded in droves both at events and on social media. Chants of ‘Rocky Sucks’ would fill WWE events, a stark contrast to the usual reaction to the ‘People’s Champion.’ 

    Realizing a change was needed, WWE had The Rock turn heel and Rhodes was thrust back into the Universal title picture. According to The Rock though, the plan was always for Rhodes Vs. Reigns, despite what was teased on-screen.