SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • WWE’s CM Punk, Jey Uso & Jackie Redmond Attend NHL Chicago Blackhawks Game

    WWE’s CM Punk, Jey Uso & Jackie Redmond Attend NHL Chicago Blackhawks Game

    CM Punk, Jey Uso, and Jackie Redmond all had a blast at a recent NHL game in Chicago, Illinois, following the March 25, episode of Raw in the Windy City. 

    On Raw, Punk shared a segment with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre ahead of their World Heavyweight Championship showdown at WrestleMania 40. Punk, who has had issues with both men, would reveal that he will be on commentary for their much-anticipated title match on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

    In the main event of the show, Jey Uso lived up to his ‘Main Event’ moniker with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. 

    WWE Stars at the Chicago Blackhawks Game

    The day after this week’s Raw in Chicago, Punk, Uso, and Redmond watched the Chicago Blackhawks in action against the Calgary Flames. Their presence didn’t go unnoticed by the Blackhawks as the trio appeared on the video screens. 

    Jackie Redmond, who is an interviewer and correspondent for Monday Night Raw, added that this game was Uso’s first time at a hockey game. 

    The trio of WWE talents clearly had fun at the Blackhawks game and will have been thrilled with the result. The Blackhawks got an early 2-0 advantage in the first third of the game and defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1. 

    Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40 

    Punk isn’t the only name who attended the Blackhawks game set for a major role at WrestleMania 40. Jey Uso will take on his brother Jimmy Uso at the show. This match comes months after Jimmy betrayed Jey at SummerSlam 2023 when Jey challenged Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat. 

    This will be the third sibling showdown at WrestleMania. Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart at WrestleMania X in 1994 while Matt Hardy bested his younger brother Jeff at WrestleMania 25 in 2009. 

  • Ace Steel Opening Foundation of Professional Wrestling School in April 2024

    Ace Steel Opening Foundation of Professional Wrestling School in April 2024

    Ace Steel will bring his decades of experience in the wrestling business to a new wrestling school that is set to welcome its first class next month. 

    The Foundation of Professional Wrestling will open its doors in April 2024 in the Orlando, Florida area, a press release recently confirmed. The school is described in its own material as “the most advanced Professional Wrestling school” in the United States. 

    Steel will serve as the school’s head coach. He has worked for several major organizations throughout his career including WWE, Ring of Honor, TNA, OVW, the NWA, and NOAH. 

    Ace Steel As A Trainer

    Steel is perhaps best known for being the original trainer of CM Punk, a fact that was made reference to on AEW programming in 2022. The Best in the World isn’t the only notable name to be trained by Steel. WWE Hall of Famer Lita, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, and Grayson Waller are among those trained by Steel. 

    Outside of the role as a trainer, Steel has served as a coach for the WWE Performance Center and as a producer for WWE NXT. After joining AEW, he served as a producer, coach, and as part of the creative team for the company. He currently serves as a producer and coach for TNA Wrestling. 

    Harley Race Inspiration

    The new wrestling school will bring a “no-nonsense approach” to training, bestowed upon Steel by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race. This brand of training inspired by the great NWA Heavyweight Champion is said to create “the most complete foundation meshing with a modern style that supports wrestlers carrying on to every major organization.”

  • Rhea Ripley On Taking it to The Men: ‘At School They Called Me The Nutcracker’

    Rhea Ripley On Taking it to The Men: ‘At School They Called Me The Nutcracker’

    Rhea Ripley isn’t afraid to take it to the male Superstars and her willingness to take it to all sexes has been a long-standing tradition for WWE’s resident ‘Mami.’

    Ripley hasn’t been shy when it comes to taking on male Superstars during her tenure with WWE. Before his inclusion in the Judgment Day, Dominik Mysterio often fell victim to attacks by Ripley in 2022. Superstars who have fallen victim to ‘Mami’ include AJ Styles, Matt Riddle, Akira Tozawa, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Luke Gallows, as seen in the video below. 

    Rhea Ripley: The Nutcracker

    Ripley’s toughness in the face of men is nothing new for the Judgment Day star. Speaking on an episode of Logan Paul’s ImPaulsive podcast, Ripley recalled holding her own during her younger years. 

    “I got the nickname in high school ‘Nutcracker’ for a reason. Because I used to hit people in the nuts.”

    Ripley added that it’s not just her adversaries who have to submit to ‘Mami’ but that she often gets ‘physical’ with her partner, AEW star Buddy Matthews. 

    “Being in the relationship that I am with my partner, we scrap a little bit. I normally start it and I finish it.” 

    Rhea Ripley Vs. Logan Paul?

    During the podcast, Paul joked that he and Ripley will one day have a match for the custody of Dominik Mysterio. Unfazed by the WWE United States Champion, Ripley said Paul can get ready to have his a** kicked. If it happened, the match would be the second ‘Custody of Dominik’ match in WWE history. Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero competed over a young Dominik at SummerSlam 2005 in a ladder match Rey won. 

    What’s to Come for Rhea Ripley? 

    Ripley’s next big match will see her face a ‘Man’ albeit one of a different kind. The Judgment Day member will put her WWE Women’s World Championship on the line at WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch. Lynch earned the title shot with a victory in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. 

  • AEW Hires Ex-WWE Live Events Director Kosha Irby As New Chief Operating Officer

    AEW Hires Ex-WWE Live Events Director Kosha Irby As New Chief Operating Officer

    Kosha Irby will work as All Elite Wrestling’s Chief Operating Officer from here on, a statement by the All-Elite promotion has confirmed. 

    Irby will oversee strategic planning and execution of Live Events, Marketing, Finances, Human Resources, Licensing, Consumer Products, and other major lines of business, the statement adds. AEW President Tony Khan shared his excitement for Irby to join the AEW fold. 

    “Kosha brings decades of experience within the sports, entertainment, and wrestling industries, alongside an incredible work ethic and passion for our brand. As Chief Operating Officer, he will be a phenomenal asset to AEW as we enter the next phase of the company’s ongoing business development and expansion.”

    Who is Kosha Irby? 

    Irby joins All Elite Wrestling after years as the Chief Marketing Officer for Clemson University’s athletics department. He has also previously held positions with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football and had been President of Professional Bull Riders. 

    The most notable role on Irby’s resume before joining AEW was his tenure with WWE. Irby was the Regional Director of Live Events for the promotion, a role he began in August 2011. Irby was with WWE for close to seven years before his exit in June 2018. 

    Other WWE to AEW Moves

    Kosha Irby isn’t the first notable name from WWE to make his way to All Elite Wrestling. Mike Mansury left WWE in 2020 and joined AEW in 2022 as the company’s Senior VP and Co-Executive Producer. 

    This move did not come without some controversy. One of Mansury’s first moves was to cut AEW’s former VP of Post Production Kevin Sullivan (not to be confused with the Taskmaster.) Many in AEW were shocked by the move, with some of the belief that Khan could have prevented Sullivan’s termination. 

    Last month, AEW hired Jennifer Pepperman, mere days after her exit from WWE was confirmed. Pepperman had been a Senior Writer & Producer for WWE. Pepperman is said to be close friends with Mercedes Mone and it is believed she is working directly on Mone’s creative direction in AEW. 

  • AEW’s Nigel McGuiness Felt “Perfectly Okay” When He Recently Got Back in the Ring

    AEW’s Nigel McGuiness Felt “Perfectly Okay” When He Recently Got Back in the Ring

    Nigel McGuiness has made quite the name for himself as a broadcaster in wrestling, but could the former ROH World Champion be gearing up for an in-ring return? 

    It was a Hepatitis B diagnosis that derailed McGuinness’ career in 2011 and led to his retiring from the ring. During an episode of AEW Unrestricted last year, McGuinness explained that WWE had opted not to sign him because of the diagnosis, and he did not wish to return to TNA Wrestling. 

    Back in the Ring

    Speaking to the Wrestling Weekly with Les Thatcher & Victor Sosa, McGuinness was asked about a potential return to action. The British broadcaster then revealed that he recently felt fine when he got in the ring.

    “I can still wrestle today, you know? I got in the ring last week and just felt perfectly okay. Sometimes, people say it’s a lot easier if you choose yourself to quit and I don’t think that it’s the case.”

    Returns from Retirement

    If McGuinness was to wrestle again, he would not be the first wrestler to come back from retirement. Saraya, Adam Copeland, and Bryan Danielson were all once told their in-ring careers were over but all three now wrestle for AEW. 

    Over in WWE, injuries forced Corey Graves to retire from the ring, which resulted in him becoming a commentator. Graves has since been cleared to compete again, though he’s yet to have an official match. 

    Plans For a Match? 

    McGuinness has said in the past that he would’ve relished the opportunity to face Bryan Danielson at last year’s AEW All In event inside Wembley Stadium. With AEW set to return to the UK this August, it seems more possible than ever that a match could finally happen. 

    H/T – POST Wrestling

  • Liv Morgan Saves The Day with Extreme Rules Skills After Fire At AEW Star’s Birthday Party

    Liv Morgan Saves The Day with Extreme Rules Skills After Fire At AEW Star’s Birthday Party

    WWE Superstar Liv Morgan was on hand to save the day after a small fire broke out at the birthday party for AEW star CJ Perry. 

    Perry celebrated turning 39 this past weekend. The AEW star celebrated at her home with close friends, including Morgan and Sonya Deville. 

    Liv Morgan to the Rescue

    On Twitter, Morgan shared that a small fire oven fire broke out at Perry’s recent birthday. Thankfully for the attendees, Morgan knew exactly how to operate a fire extinguisher and put out the blaze. 

    Morgan used a fire extinguisher during her match at Extreme Rules 2022 against Ronda Rousey. The then-SmackDown Women’s Champion caught Rousey by surprise during their Extreme Rules match. Unfortunately for Morgan, Rousey would get the win, kicking off her second reign as WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion. 

    Liv Morgan & CJ Perry

    Perry and Morgan are close friends and during a WWE storyline, were teased to be something more. During the final Raw in 2019, Perry (Lana at the time) was set to marry her on-screen partner Bobby Lashley. 

    The ceremony was interrupted when Morgan appeared and claimed she and Lana had been in a relationship, professing her love for Lana in the process. Despite online buzz over the segment and intrigue over the inclusion of LGBTQ+ storylines, the angle was quickly shelved. 

    What’s to Come for Liv Morgan? 

    With WrestleMania 40 less than two weeks away, Morgan is currently without a match on either night of the show. Some hope to see Morgan added to the Women’s World Championship match, given that she’s been feuding with Becky Lynch and was the last woman to pin Rhea Ripley. 

  • Becky Lynch Feared Being Fired By WWE After Learning She Was Pregnant in 2020

    Becky Lynch Feared Being Fired By WWE After Learning She Was Pregnant in 2020

    Becky Lynch was concerned that her WWE career would come to an end when she disclosed to Vince McMahon that she was pregnant in 2020. 

    Lynch announced her pregnancy during a May 2020 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw that also marked the end of her Raw Women’s Championship reign. In a heartfelt segment, Lynch revealed that Asuka would be the new Raw Women’s Champion as she had captured the Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase the night before. 

    Worried About Telling Vince McMahon

    Lynch’s pregnancy was great for the WWE Superstar but would cost the promotion one of its biggest names. In her new book The Man, Lynch recalls watching WrestleMania 36 at home but being more concerned about what she’d say to Vince McMahon. 

    “‘How am I going to tell Vince?’ I turned to Colby [Seth Rollins] realizing that beyond our immediate family, the most powerful man in wrestling needed to be the first recipient of our news.”

    While Rollins did his best to assure Lynch things would be fine, Lynch feared the worst would happen when she rang her then-boss. 

    Lynch: “You think he’s gonna yell at me? Fire me?

    Rollins: “I don’t think so. But he’ll probably be upset.”

    Other Options

    Hoping to potentially save her career, Lynch pitched possible ideas to Rollins that would allow her to remain with WWE in a non-competitive role. 

    “‘I’ll tell him [Vince] I can still keep working. You know, maybe I can… I could make a documentary about this. Or I could maybe be a consultant on the creative team or something?’… I scrambled for ways to save my job.”

    Telling Vince McMahon

    Lynch’s first effort to call McMahon would see her call go to his answering machine but he would immediately ring back, saying he had been in a meeting. In the memoir, Lynch vividly recalls the conversation she had with McMahon. 

    “I’m calling you because, well, we have a little bit of a problem… Sir, I’m five weeks pregnant and so I was thinking maybe we could…”

    While Lynch was terrified at the prospect of being let go, McMahon cut her off before she could say anything else. 

    “Congratulations! Oh my God Rebecca! That’s fantastic news. Wow! I’m so happy for you!”

    What Came Next? 

    Lynch would give birth to her and Rollins’ daughter Roux in December 2020. She returned to WWE programming at SummerSlam 2021. Her return would see her capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship in seconds from Bianca Belair, turning heel in the process. 

    Fired While Pregnant?!

    Lynch obviously was not fired due to her pregnancy, but not every woman in wrestling has been so fortunate. In 2005, Dawn Marie was fired while pregnant. Her final appearance for the company came at that year’s ECW One Night Stand event where she managed Lance Storm for his match with Chris Jericho. 

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

  • Update On Ivar After Being Pulled From 3/25 WWE Monday Night Raw

    The Viking Raiders’ Ivar wasn’t allowed to compete on the March 25, episode of WWE Raw, but fans shouldn’t expect to see him out of action for long. 

    In the run-up to the show, Ivar had been advertised to face Andrade in what’d be the second Raw match for the latter since his return to WWE. The former AEW star made his return to WWE as part of the Men’s 2024 Royal Rumble match that’d be won by fellow AEW alum Cody Rhodes. 

    Ivar Pulled from Raw

    Shortly before Monday Night Raw went on the air, General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Ivar had been pulled from the show. Noting that the card is always “subject to change,” Pearce said that Ivar was “medically unable to compete.” He was replaced by Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci. 

    The Latest on Ivar

    Ivar is said to be fine, according to sources who spoke to Fightful Select and he is expected to return to the ring soon. Sources did not reveal why the star had been taken out of competition in the first place. 

    Ivar as a Singles Superstar

    It’s a good thing that Ivar won’t be out for long, as he’s been on quite the role as a singles Superstar. With Erik out of action, Ivar has been kept on TV and used regularly. This is quite the change from WWE’s past attitude of pulling both members of a tag team from TV if one member is injured. 

    Ivar has been impressing the right people within WWE with an October 2023 ‘Viking Rules’ match with Kofi Kingston receiving particular praise. The match, and Ivar’s overall willingness to work without Erik, have left WWE open-minded to using Ivar in a singles capacity in the future.

  • Judge Withdraws From Ted DiBiase Jr. Welfare Fraud Case, Jury Trial Pushed Back

    Former WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. has seen his trial pushed back in relation to the largest case of welfare fund fraud in the history of the state of Mississippi. 

    DiBiase is charged with allegedly using two different companies to receive money from “at least five sham contracts.” DiBiase, according to litigation, received full or almost full payments regardless of whether sufficient, if any work, was carried out. 

    This is connected to a massive welfare scandal that involved several prominent names, including Ted’s father Ted Sr. Brett DiBiase, the brother of Ted Jr. has pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. 

    Judge Withdraws

    Judge Carlton W. Reeves has recused himself from the criminal trial against DiBiase, though the reasoning behind this decision is currently not publicly known. In their place, Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac will now oversee the trial. 

    Trial Pushed Back

    Because of this change, the trial against the former WWE World Tag Team Champion has been pushed back. He was originally set to face a pre-trial conference on June 21 and was scheduled to stand trial on July 16. Instead, DiBiase will face a jury trial on January 7, 2025. 

    What Has the DiBiase Family Said? 

    Ted DiBiase Jr. has pled not guilty to all charges against him and was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond. When asked for comment when leaving the court, he told WAPT-TV “Jesus loves you.”

    Ted Sr., who reportedly received a $250,000 check from the Family Resource Center in fraudulent funds, has hit out at the case. The WWE Hall of Famer said in June 2023 that the case is “garbage” and that his family is being made into a “scapegoat.”

    What’s Next? 

    If convicted, Ted Jr. faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count. He also faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering. 

  • Did You Spot Paul Heyman’s Suspicious Cameo on 3/25 WWE Monday Night Raw?

    Did You Spot Paul Heyman’s Suspicious Cameo on 3/25 WWE Monday Night Raw?

    The March 25, episode of WWE Raw was a truly stacked show, meaning fans may have missed a suspicious appearance by The Bloodline’s Paul Heyman. 

    Raw took place in Chicago, IL, less than two weeks away from WrestleMania 40. The show saw a surprise appearance from The Rock who left Cody Rhodes a bloody heap with an assault to close out the show. This attack has not gone unnoticed by others in the Rhodes family. 

    CM Punk’s Segment on Raw

    WWE Monday Night Raw also saw an appearance by CM Punk, who shared a segment with his two biggest rivals: Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. Amid personal digs, humorous quips, and a nod to Vince McMahon, it was announced that Punk will be on commentary when McIntyre challenges Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. An agitated Rollins delivered a stomp to McIntyre to close things out.

    Paul Heyman’s Cameo on Raw

    During a backstage segment featuring the New Day and DIY, Paul Heyman could be seen in the background, speaking to Drew McIntyre. On Twitter, the WWE on TNT Sports account brought attention to this interesting development. 

    Drew McIntyre & The Bloodline

    McIntyre’s issues with The Bloodline are well-documented, as it was the debuting Solo Sikoa who cost the Scottish Warrior his shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle in 2022. McIntyre would also stand against The Bloodline in that year’s Men’s WarGames match, but would once again come up short. 

    With that said, Drew has a lot to gain by forming a pact with The Bloodline. One day before McIntyre challenges Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion will team with Cody Rhodes to face The Rock and Roman Reigns. McIntyre will no doubt be hoping that The Bloodline softens up the Architect ahead of their title match on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

  • Rhodes Family Bites Back: The Rock Made “His Worst Mistake” with WWE Raw Assault on Cody

    Rhodes Family Bites Back: The Rock Made “His Worst Mistake” with WWE Raw Assault on Cody

    The Rock’s assault on Cody Rhodes did not go unnoticed by the American Nightmare’s family, who are looking for revenge on the ‘Final Boss’ of WWE. 

    The March 25, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw saw a surprise appearance by the Brahma Bull in Chicago, Illinois. In the closing moments of the show, The Rock delivered a vicious beatdown on Cody that left the popular Superstar a bloody mess. 

    The Rhodes Family Responds

    Immediately after WWE Raw went off the air, the Rhodes family had some choice words for The Rock. In a tweet, Dustin Rhodes didn’t mention the Great One by name but made his views abundantly clear. 

    Brandi Rhode suggested that The Rock could be the victim of an assault himself after this week’s Raw and said he should keep security tight at WrestleMania 40. 

    Teil Rhodes, the sister of Cody, made clear that The Rock had made a grave error with his bloody beatdown on the 2023 & 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner. 

    More Reactions

    The assault was also noticed by those within wrestling outside of the Rhodes family. On Twitter, Alexa Bliss shared her reaction to the attack via an emoji. 

    Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest was left wondering where the security was as The Rock assaulted Rhodes. 

    What’s to Come? 

    The Rock will be on next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Brooklyn, in what’ll be the go-home show before WrestleMania 40. 

    At WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes and Rock will be opposing teams, as they’ll team with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns respectively. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Title match between Rhodes and Reigns. 

    No matter if it’s ‘Bloodline Rules’ or if the Bloodline is banned, this will be Cody’s final shot at the Tribal Chief, an edict made by The Rock as a TKO board member. 

  • 4/6 AEW Collision To Air At Later Time To Avoid WrestleMania 40 Showdown

    4/6 AEW Collision To Air At Later Time To Avoid WrestleMania 40 Showdown

    The April 6, edition of AEW Collision will air at a later time than usual to avoid being decimated by the viewing might of WrestleMania 40.

    TNT’s programming schedule reveals that the show will air at 11:30pm EST, much later than the usual 8pm EST slot. This will likely prevent it from going head-to-head with WrestleMania 40: Saturday, which is set to start at 7pm EST. 

    Not only that, but the April 6, edition of Collision will be taped in advance. The show will be taped following the April 3, edition of AEW Dynamite. Both shows will take place at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

    Currently, no matches have been announced for the April 6, edition of AEW Collision. 

    A Change from the Norm

    This strategy marks a change for AEW Collision. In the past, the show has aired head-to-head with WWE Premium Live Events, including this year’s Royal Rumble that featured AEW alum Cody Rhodes & Jade Cargill. AEW Collision also went head-to-head with  WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 last month. 

    AEW Collision

    Collision was launched in 2023 and marked CM Punk’s return to AEW programming following his first suspension. Punk was immediately presented as the focal point of the show and was said to have a say in picking talent for the show. After Punk’s firing from AEW in September 2023, this soft brand split was relaxed. 

    WWE WrestleMania 40

    WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth-annual WrestleMania to take place across two nights. Currently, ten matches have been announced for the show. The event will mark the in-ring return of The Rock, who hasn’t wrestled for WWE since 2016. 

  • Minneapolis Officials Working Under The Assumption WrestleMania 41 is Theirs

    Minneapolis Officials Working Under The Assumption WrestleMania 41 is Theirs

    WWE WrestleMania 41 will be heading to Minneapolis according to the latest reports, especially if those in the Minnesotan city have their way.

    WWE has yet to publicly confirm the location of their biggest event of 2025, in a break from tradition from the norm. In recent years, WWE has given plenty of advance notice regarding the date and location of their annual Showcase of Immortals.

    As we’ve been reporting in recent months, Minneapolis has been the front runner to host WrestleMania 41 in 2025. City officials all but confirmed this during public hearings and an official announcement is expected to be made in the next week or two, as is customary with this year’s WrestleMania coming up. 

    The U.S Bank Stadium would likely be the home of WrestleMania 41 if the show does indeed go to Minneapolis. The home of the Minnesota Vikings, the stadium was opened in 2016 and hosts a max capacity of 73,000. 

    Political Hints

    Minnesota officials have been loose-lipped when it comes to WrestleMania 41 coming to the state. In April 2023, officials let ‘slip’ that they were a finalist for the show. While this has gotten fans talking about the show being in Minneapolis, the report says it’s cost the city ‘leverage’ in discussions rather than create buzz. 

    Governor Walz said last week that “this is the place to be” and listed several events, including the U.S. Gymnastic Trials and the U.S. Junior Hockey Championships. Walz then mentioned WrestleMania before speaking about a potential $20 million boon to the economy. 

    Another Option? 

    While Minneapolis is expected to host the show, there had been reports that Las Vegas could be in line for WrestleMania 41. When Fightful asked their WWE sources. They said that if this was the plan, then the show would’ve been announced at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event that took place in Las Vegas.

    WrestleMania Overseas

    Many fans across the pond had hoped for WrestleMania 41 to come to London, England. While John Cena told the crowd at Money in the Bank 2023 that he intends to bring the show to the English capital, there’s no word yet on whether there are any plans for an overseas WrestleMania.

  • Seth Rollins Bites Back After The Rock Takes Credit for Making Wrestling Cool Again

    Seth Rollins Bites Back After The Rock Takes Credit for Making Wrestling Cool Again

    Seth Rollins hasn’t taken kindly to The Rock taking credit for making wrestling cool again, staying the claim is some “dumb s**t ”

    Since returning to WWE, the Bloodline member has done all he can to establish himself as a heel, a tall order given his immense popularity both in and out of the world of professional wrestling. Recently, The Rock took credit for making wrestling cool again, and had some strong words for Michelle, the mother of his WWE adversary Cody Rhodes.

    Seth Rollins Responds

    At a WWE event in Rockford, Rhodes and Seth Rollins got some practice in ahead of the WrestleMania tag team match when they defeated Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa.

    After their main event win, Rollins grabbed the mic and brought up The Rock’s return to WWE to a chorus of boos from the Illinois crowd. The fans punctuated the sentiment with a chant of “Rocky Sucks.”

    Rollins then addressed the “dumb s**t” that The Rock has been saying as of late, and argued that the worst comment was that The Rock had made wrestling cool once again. This earned more boos and a “bulls**t” chant from the fans which Rollins would take notice of.

    When Rhodes gave his suggestion for who has made wrestling cool again, naming Byron Saxton, Rollins admitted that Saxton was part of the answer. Growing more impassioned, Rollins then said that it’s everybody who has been “busting their ass” for years who should be acknowledged as part of the “revolution” that has made wrestling cool again.

    Rollins made sure to acknowledge the role of the fans in this revolution. Seth noted that the fans are just as much a part of this movement and that as the ‘WHOA’ gets louder in Rhodes’ theme each week, it’s got nothing to do with The Rock.

    What’s to Come?

    The Rock will make his return to the ring at WrestleMania 40 as part of the main event of Night One. The Great One will team with Roman Reigns to face Rhodes and Rollins. The match will determine the stipulation for the following nights Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Reigns and Rhodes.

  • Heartwarming: The Rock Sings You’re Welcome For Brave Young Fan Fighting Brain Disorder

    Heartwarming: The Rock Sings You’re Welcome For Brave Young Fan Fighting Brain Disorder

    The Rock may be the ‘Final Boss’ and a villain on WWE programming, but the Great One proved he has a heart of gold in a video to a very young fan. 

    On Twitter, The Rock shared a video of himself singing ‘You’re Welcome’ from Disney hit film Moana. The Brahma Bull explained that this song was for Naomi, a two-year-old who is currently in hospital fighting a brain disorder. 

    The Rock spoke about the importance of bringing positive energy into the world at a time when there’s a lot of negativity out there. 

    The Rock’s Kindness

    This is hardly the first example of The Rock showing immense kindness to others. Last month, the TKO board member donated $50,000 to a foundation. The foundation in question was created by a couple called Esperenza and Edwin, whose daughter Lily-Rose had died and aims to help parents struggling with the loss of a child. 

    In June 2023, The Rock bought a home for WWE Superstar Tamina Snuka. In his social media post at the time, Rock praised the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion as someone who always makes it through tough times. 

    Last September, a U.S. Navy serviceman shared some of the signed items they had received from The Rock after losing his leg in combat. The Rock had to break the bad news that these autographs were fake but vowed that he would send him the genuine article. 

    What’s Next?

    The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring at WrestleMania 40. On the Saturday portion of the show, The Rock will team with Roman Reigns to face Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes. The match will determine the stipulation of the following night’s main event for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

  • Shayna Baszler Pleads For Rhea Ripley’s Stinkface At WWE Rockford Live Event

    Shayna Baszler Pleads For Rhea Ripley’s Stinkface At WWE Rockford Live Event

    Shayna Baszler was hoping to get up close and personal with Rhea Ripley after a stinkface from the WWE Women’s World Champion went viral online. 

    At an event on March 23 in Springfield, IL, Ripley avoided taking a stinkface from Nia Jax during a title match triple threat that included Baszler. After escaping the corner, Ripley hit a stinkface of her own on the Irresistible Force, much to the delight of the crowd. 

    Shayna Baszler Wants A Stinkface

    The next night, the three women had the same match, as WWE live events often use the same card in different cities. Once again, Ripley was poised to hit Jax with the finishing move of WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi. This time, however, Baszler interjected and placed herself in the corner, eager to be hit by the move. 

    Unfortunately for Baslzer, who has dated both men and women in the past, it wasn’t meant to be. Nia Jax would interrupt before Shayna’s face got well-acquainted with the buttocks of the Australian Superstar. Ripley would go on to retain the title. 

    Buddy Matthews Weighs In

    Ripley has some flirty fun in the ring, but she is happily engaged to AEW star Buddy Matthews. After her stinkface on Nia Jax went viral, Matthews said it was a regular occurrence for him. 

    What’s Next? 

    Rhea Ripley will defend the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch. The Man earned the title match by winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber last month. The match will be Ripley’s second time defending a title at WrestleMania. She previously failed to retain the NXT Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36,  

  • Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes Honor Bray Wyatt At Springfield, IL WWE Live Event

    Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes Honor Bray Wyatt At Springfield, IL WWE Live Event

    Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins honored Bray Wyatt at a recent WWE live event in a touching tribute to the late WWE World Champion.

    The event in Springfield, IL saw Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins get some training in a a tag-team ahead of WrestleMania 40. The pair united to defeat The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso.

    After the match, Rhodes pointed out that there were a lot of ‘fireflies’ in the arena, which sparked more fans to join in. Rollins went on to say that while fans love singing his song, he wouldn’t mind if they sang “for Windham.” This led to a rendition of ‘He’s got the Whole World in His Hands’ by the fans.

    WWE’s Wyatt Tributes

    This tribute to Bray Wyatt was not the first, nor will it be the last celebration of the late wrestler. Last December, Rollins paid tribute to Bray at a WWE live event. He also paid tribute to Brodie Lee, who died in December 2020.

    Following Wyatt’s passing in August 2023, Rollins fixed Bray-inspired sideplates to his World Heavyweight Championship. Wyatt became a three-time World Champion before his untimely death. 

    A new documentary about the life and career of the late wrestler will release next month. You can check out a trailed for what’ll no doubt be a gripping documentary below. 

    WWE in Springfield, IL

    Here’s the results for WWE’s live event in Springfield, Illinois. 

    • Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair & Naomi defeated IYO SKY, Kairi Sane and Dakota Kai
    • Sami Zayn defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
    • WWE Intercontinental Title Match – Gunther (c) retains over Jey Uso
    • Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) defeated Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh via DQ
    • Awesome Truth and The New Day def. The Judgment Day
    • Omos defeated Odyssey Jones
    • WWE Women’s World Title Match – Rhea Ripley (c) retains over Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler in a Triple Threat match
    • Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso
  • Ronda Rousey Says ‘All-Around Dirtbag’ John Laurinaitis Was a ‘60-Year-Old Fratboy’ in WWE

    Ronda Rousey Says ‘All-Around Dirtbag’ John Laurinaitis Was a ‘60-Year-Old Fratboy’ in WWE

    Ronda Rousey continues to not mince her words when it comes to WWE and has taken aim at former Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. 

    “He looked and acted like an entitled sixty-year-old former frat boy… Whereas Triple H looked for talent and potential in NXT prospects, it appeared John Laurinaitis looked for f*ckability.”

    Rousey goes on to describe Laurinaitis as an “all-around dirtbag.” The former Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion is heavily critical of Laurinaitis and Vince McMahon morphing WWE NXT into NXT 2.0 following Triple H’s health scare in 2021. 

    John Laurinaitis Latest

    Laurinaitis is named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. The former Raw & SmackDown GM has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation. More recently, Laurinaitis waived his right to be served, making clear that he is aware of the litigation.

    Ronda Rousey on Bruce Prichard

    In the book, Rousey admits that she loves the majority of people in WWE, but that love doesn’t extend to Bruce Prichard & John Laurinaitis. Rousey, in her own words, says the pair can “go f*** themselves.” 

    This isn’t the only time Rousey has hit out at Prichard. Following Vince McMahon’s resignation in January 2023,  Rousey claimed that as long as Prichard was with WWE, McMahon would always have a significant role in decisions.

    Rousey on Vince McMahon

    Rousey compares Vince McMahon to Emperor Palpatine, the antagonist of the Star Wars franchise, in her book. She adds that it’s hard to differentiate between the evil Mr. McMahon character and the man himself, especially in light of the allegations against McMahon and WWE in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. 

  • The Rock Surprises Memphis Target Customers to Promote Papatui Line of Products

    The Rock Surprises Memphis Target Customers to Promote Papatui Line of Products

    Customers who shopped at a Target in Memphis, TN probably didn’t expect to see Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson walking the aisles while they were on the hunt for deals. 

    The Brahma Bull was at the store to mark the launch of his new Papatui brand of men’s healthcare products. In the caption for the video, The Rock discusses starting his wrestling career in Memphis and being able to come back and see his “big ass head” on every TV in Target. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C44eHSirrEe

    Papatui

    The line of products includes a collection of hair, body and tattoo care products, and is available on papatui.com as well as at all Target stores. 

    The name comes from Johnson’s love for his family. The Tui part of the brand comes from a granted him by his grandfather ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia. The Papa part comes from The Rock’s devotion to his family and children, including WWE NXT General Manager Ava. 

    The Rock’s Future

    When not promoting Papatui, The Rock can be found appearing on WWE programming. At WrestleMania 40: Saturday, The Rock & Roman Reigns will face Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. If the Bloodline wins, the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’ Should Rollins and Rhodes win, the title match will be free of Bloodline interference. 

    Other Ventures

    Papatui is hardly the first venture that Johnson has committed to. In addition to his work in WWE and in Hollywood, Johnson also has his own brand of Tequila called Teremana. Johnson also has his own brand of ZOA energy drinks and recently launched his ‘Big Dwayne Energy’s line of flavors.

  • Big Departure: TNA Knockout Finishes With Promotion At Recent Taping

    Big Departure: TNA Knockout Finishes With Promotion At Recent Taping

    One of the big names on TNA’s Knockouts roster finished her time with the promotion very recently, it has been reported. 

    Killer Kelly finished up her run at the recent TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view, PW Insider reports, though news of her exit is only now getting out. At the event, MK Ultra (Kelly and Masha Slamovich) lost the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships to Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat.) 

    Killer Kelly in TNA Wrestling

    Kelly made her TNA debut in November 2020, back when the promotion was still IMPACT Wrestling. She would team with Renee Michelle in an tournament to crown the new Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champions. The duo were defeated by Jazz and Jordynne Grace in the first round. 

    In 2022, she returned to the promotion and would compete at that year’s Bound for Glory. At Slammiversary, she and Slamovich won the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles. They’d lose the titles at TNA Hard to Kill in January 2024 but won the gold back a month later. 

    TNA Exits

    Killer Kelly may not be the only name to be leaving TNA Wrestling. It has been reported that Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, also known as the Motor City Machine Guns, could be leaving soon as their contracts are due to expire. The pair recently filed trademarks for the MCMG name, suggesting that they are ready to take the name outside of TNA.

    Killer Kelly Outside of the Ring

    It’s unclear what Kelly’s future holds in the ring, but the TNA alum will soon be flexing her acting muscles. She and Matt Rehwoldt are set to appear in the upcoming horror short film Arachnid. Kelly has a starring role in the film, while Rehwoldt plays a therapist in a supporting role. The film will also feature Lacey Creighton, who portrayed Tammy Sytch on an episode of Dark Side of the Ring. 

  • Bayley: Why Can’t The Women Headline Both Nights of WrestleMania 40?

    Bayley: Why Can’t The Women Headline Both Nights of WrestleMania 40?

    Bayley is mere weeks away from a golden opportunity at WrestleMania 40 and has questioned why the women of WWE can’t headline both nights of the event. 

    In an interview with the Daily Mail, Bayley spoke about her upcoming match with WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY. In a message to Rhea Ripley, who will be challenged by Becky Lynch next month, Bayley suggested that both Women’s Championships could headline this year’s show. 

    “You guys can have the first night and I’ll take the second night. You know, we can do that. You never had two women main event both shows at WrestleMania. Why can’t it be this year?”

    While Bayley’s aspirations are admirable, it’s unlikely either night will end with a Women’s title match. The Rock’s return to the ring in the tag-match pitting The Bloodline against Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins is virtually guaranteed to headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday. Similarly, Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns is expected to headline WrestleMania 40: Sunday.

    Women at WrestleMania

    Currently, two women’s matches have had the honor of closing out WrestleMania. In 2019, Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey to capture the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships. Two years later Bianca Belair would win the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37: Night One. 

    Women in the Main Event

    While not considered a Premium Live Event, NXT TakeOver: Respect in October 2015 was the promotion’s first major event that saw women in the main event. That event saw Bayley retain the NXT Women’s Championship in an Iron Man match against Sasha Banks. 

    A year later, WWE Hell in a Cell 2016 saw the first women’s main event on the main roster. The bout saw Charlotte Flair win the Raw Women’s Championship from Sasha Banks. 

    The 2017 Mae Young Classic and 2018 WWE Evolution event both unsurprisingly saw female main events, given that both were all-female shows. The women would also headline the 2018 Royal Rumble event that saw Asuka win the inaugural Women’s Rumble match (as well as the debut of Ronda Rousey.)

    Other events to see women close out the show include WWE TLC 2018 and 2019, as well as Elimination Chamber 2020, which was WWE’s final PLE with a live crowd before the COVID-19 pandemic. WWE’s most recent female main event came last month and saw Rhea Ripley defeat Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber 2024. 

  • Alex Coughlin Retired: 30-Year-Old NJPW Star’s Career Comes To An Abrupt End

    Alex Coughlin Retired: 30-Year-Old NJPW Star’s Career Comes To An Abrupt End

    The Bullet Club’s Alex Coughlin will never compete again after announcing that his time in the ring has come to an abrupt end. 

    On Twitter, Coughlin confirmed his retirement, adding that it sucks that he has had to hang up his boots. He added that he still has some wrestling merchandise available for purchase. 

    https://twitter.com/AlexCoughlin93/status/1771738988732199148

    Coughlin wrestled 197 matches over his career, according to stats from Cagematch. His final match took place on February 24 at NYWC Psycho Circus 21. At the event, he teamed with Sean Wachter to defeat QGTM (Jey Mesias & Pat Fitzpatrick.)

    Alex Coughlin

    Coughlin made his wrestling debut in April 2018 and entered the NJPW LA Dojo that same year. He trained under Katsuyori Shibata in a class that included Karl Fredericks (WWE NXT’s Eddy Thorpe) and Clark Connors.

    Known as ‘The Android’ for his strength-based style, Coughlin’s time in New Japan would see him become part of the Bullet Club. At NJPW Independence Day 2023: Night 1, he and Gabriel Kidd captured the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships with a win over Bishamon. The pair held the gold until October 2023 when they lost to current champions Guerrillas of Destiny. 

    Coughlin Outside New Japan 

    As part of his New Japan run, Coughlin competed a handful of times for ROH in 2019 as part of the ‘War of the Worlds’ shows. In 2023, he teamed with Shibata to defeat the Workhorsemen. He would later challenge Shibata for the ROH Pure Championship in a losing effort.

    Careers Cut Short

    Coughlin is not the first wrestler to see their in-ring career cut short. Some wrestlers, such as Saraya, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Copeland, were all forced to retire due to injuries, only to receive second chances. All three are now part of AEW. 

    Others have not been so fortunate. Jason Jordan’s last match took place in early 2018 and he retired due to injuries. The former Tag Champion has since made a name for himself as a WWE producer. Tyson Kidd can also be found backstage as a producer after his career was ended in 2015 due to a botched Muscle Buster. 

  • Becky Lynch on Shocking Vince McMahon Allegations: “I Don’t Know That Person”

    Becky Lynch has said that the Vince McMahon she worked with is far different than the McMahon others had to face according to the allegations against WWE’s ex-CEO. 

    Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and its former chairman alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and claims the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

    Becky Lynch on Vince McMahon

    Sitting down with Marc Haynes of the Irish Independent, Becky Lynch was asked about the McMahon allegations. Lynch admitted that it’s been hard for her to cope with the allegations, given how McMahon treated her in WWE. 

    “I don’t know that person… We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but especially in my last run with him there, and when I told him I was pregnant, he was so good to me.”

    Lynch said she has McMahon to thank for “my dream” of becoming a WWE Superstar, a role that would also see her meet Seth Rollins and result in the pair having a child. 

    Speaking about her own experiences with McMahon, Lynch said they were positive and wished everybody could say the same. 

    “I would always love my interactions with him, and that becomes very, very difficult, especially as a woman who has been so driven in changing the way that women are treated in wrestling and making sure that it is a safe space.”

    What Have WWE Superstars Said?

    Becky Lynch isn’t the only notable name to weigh in on McMahon. After McMahon’s resignation, Triple H said he had not read Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

    At the same Royal Rumble 2024 press conference, Cody Rhodes called the McMahon situation a dark cloud over WWE.

    Seth Rollins was disgusted with what was claimed in the lawsuit. The World Heavyweight Champion has said if the claims are true, he hopes everyone gets what they deserve.

    John Cena has taken a different approach. Cena has made clear he still loves McMahon, despite what has happened. While Cena did speak of the importance of accountability, his comments did spark controversy for how glowing he was of the ex-chairman. 

    Ronda Rousey had no issue with taking it to McMahon. In her new book Our Fight, Rousey compares McMahon to Star Wars villain Emperor Palpatine. She adds that it’s hard to distinguish between the evil McMahon character and the real man. 

  • Axiom & Nathan Frazer Impressing WWE Officials, Concern Other Stars Can’t Keep Up

    Axiom & Nathan Frazer Impressing WWE Officials, Concern Other Stars Can’t Keep Up

    Two of the young, rising Superstars of WWE NXT are impressing all the right people backstage with their work in the ring. 

    Nathan Frazer and Axiom have been drawing praise behind the scenes, Fightful Select reports. The duo have been praised for their agility and speed in matches. Some NXT officials are said to be concerned about Frazer’s opponents being able to keep up. 

    Nathan Frazer

    Frazer joined WWE in December 2020 and would join the NXT UK brand the following month. In June of last year, he defeated Oro Mensash, who was wrestling on behalf of Noam Dar, to win the NXT Heritage Cup. His agility in the ring shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, given he was trained by Seth Rollins. 

    Axiom

    Axiom, as A-Kid, signed with WWE in October 2019 and like his future tag-team partner, was assigned to the NXT UK brand. In October 2021, he challenged then NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov in a losing effort. 

    It was in July 2022 that A-Kid was repacked as Axiom. He is the inaugural NXT Heritage Cup winner and made his SmackDown debut last November in a loss to Dragon Lee. 

    What’s to Come? 

    On this week’s WWE NXT, Frazer and Axiom defeated the No Quarter Catch Crew (as represented by Myles Borne & Charlie Dempsey.) The win means that Frazer & Axiom have advanced to the Number 1 Contender Triple Threat Match. 

    They will face the Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) as well as The O.C. on next week’s WWE NXT. The winners of that match will earn a title shot against NXT Tag Team Champions Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker. 

  • WWE Slammys 2024: Classic Award Ceremony Returning for WrestleMania 40 Weekend

    WWE Slammys 2024: Classic Award Ceremony Returning for WrestleMania 40 Weekend

    WWE Superstars are hoping to win big next month at WrestleMania 40, and some could be leaving Philadelphia, PA with their own Slammy award. 

    WWE has announced that the Slammys will return on April 7, the same day as WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The ceremony will be hosted by Big E and Cathy Kelley but fans should expect special appearances by WWE Superstars. 

    The Slammys: Fan Choice Awards will take place at the WWE World convention center. For those not in Philadelphia, they’ll be able to watch the show on WWE’s social channels. 

    And the Nominees Are

    Male Superstar (Vote Here): 

    • Cody Rhodes
    • Roman Reigns
    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins
    • Gunther
    • Logan Paul

    Female Superstar of the Year (Vote Here):

    • Rhea Ripley
    • Bianca Belair
    • Bayley
    • IYO SKY
    • Becky Lynch

    Best Entrance (Vote Here): 

    • Cody Rhodes
    • Roman Reigns
    • Bianca Belair
    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins
    • Rhea Ripley
    • Becky Lynch
    • The Rock
    • Dominik Mysterio (WrestleMania 39)

    Return of the Year (Vote Here): 

    • CM Punk
    • The Rock
    • Nia Jax
    • Randy Orton
    • Naomi

    Faction of the Year (Vote Here): 

    • The Judgment Day
    • Alpha Academy
    • Imperium
    • The Bloodline
    • Damage CTRL

    Rivalry of the Year (Vote Here): 

    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
    • “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio
    • Bianca Belair vs. Damage CTRL
    • Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes
    • R-Truth vs. The Judgment Day

    NXT Superstar of the Year (Vote Here): 

    • Ilja Dragunov
    • Carmelo Hayes
    • Lyra Valkyria
    • Tiffany Stratton
    • Bron Breakker

    Match of the Year (Vote Here): 

    • Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest – San Juan Street Fight (Backlash 2023)
    • Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn (Elimination Chamber 2023)
    • Gunther vs. Chad Gable (Raw 9/4/23)
    • Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair (SummerSlam 2023)
    • Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 39)

    OMG Moment of the Year (Vote Here):

    • Rey Mysterio punches “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio (SmackDown 3/24/23)
    • CM Punk returns to WWE (Survivor Series 2023)
    • IYO SKY cashing in the Money in The Bank Contract (SummerSlam 2023)
    • The Rock slaps Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania XL Press Conference)
    • Damage CTRL turns on Bayley (SmackDown 2/2/24)
    • Cody Rhodes slaps The Rock (SmackDown 3/8/24)

    Social Star of the Year (Vote Here):

    • Grayson Waller
    • Logan Paul
    • Drew McIntyre
    • Chelsea Green
    • Liv Morgan

    Breakout Superstar of the Year (Vote Here): 

    • Jey Uso
    • Tiffany Stratton
    • Pretty Deadly
    • Dragon Lee
    • LA Knight