SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Josh Barnett Has Spoken To CM Punk & Other WWE & AEW Talent About Wrestling For Bloodsport

    Josh Barnett Has Spoken To CM Punk & Other WWE & AEW Talent About Wrestling For Bloodsport

    Former UFC fighter turned pro wrestler and promoter Josh Barnett says he’s spoken with CM Punk and other names from WWE and AEW about competing for his Bloodsport promotion, which is affiliated with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).

    The upcoming Bloodsport X event over WrestleMania weekend will feature a special attraction match pitting WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler against TNA’s Masha Slamovich.

    Barnett wants to get more WWE (and AEW) contracted names to step into his league’s domain. During a recent appearance on the Under the Ring podcast, he revealed that he’s actually spoken with CM Punk about participating, as well as AEW star Malakai Black.

    Both Punk and Black have martial arts experience and their offensive styles would translate well to Bloodsports’ ‘shoot-fight’ presentation.

    Barnett also named Chad Gable, Born Breaker and Miro as grapplers he’d like to see fight in Bloodsport.

    Punk has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. The injury has robbed Punk of an opportunity to step in the ring at WrestleMania 40, but he still vows to make his presence felt. 

    CM Punk signed with the UFC in 2014 just months after leaving WWE. He wouldn’t make his debut until 2016 and lost in decisive fashion. Stephanie McMahon mocked Punk’s loss on WWE television, one of many examples of how bitter that relationship was for many years.

    Punk’s second and final UFC fight was another decisive loss to Mike Jackson. That loss was later overturned and the result ruled a ‘no contest’ due to Jackson failing a test.

  • Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix Present: Hit the Lights Lucha Libra Show For 6/1 At The Temple

    Fans of Lucha Libre in California will be in for quite the show this June, courtesy of Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix. 

    The Lucha Bros will be teaming up to host ‘ROL7: Hit The Lights’ which will take place at the historic ‘The Temple’ venue in Los Angeles, CA. The show will take place on June 1 and tickets will go on sale on March 22. There will be a 15% ticket price reduction for any fans who purchase seats for the show before April 1. 

    The Temple

    Fans of Lucha Underground will be familiar with The Temple, which is the venue of the Hit the Lights show. Lucha Underground’s four seasons were all filmed at The Temple, which features a distinct ‘run-down’ and ‘underground’ aesthetic. 

    The arena is in an amphitheater style, with the ring in the center and rising bench seats on opposite sides. When not being used as a wrestling location, The venue is known as SCS warehouse and has been used as a filming location for films and TV shows. 

    The Lucha Bros

    Rey Fenix has been out of action for some time, but he will be making a return to the ring soon. The former AEW International Champion has been booked for the House of Glory Wrestling event on May 5. 

    Alongside Fenix (and PAC) Penta is a former AEW Trios Champion. He and Fenix have also held World Tag Team gold in AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor, as well as in AAA. 

  • Yota Tsuji Vows to Bring Back Beloved IWGP Heavyweight Title By Dethroning Tetsuya Naito

    Yota Tsuji hopes to be the next IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but also hopes to be the final man to hold that particular piece of gold. 

    Tsuji, the winner of the New Japan cup, Tsuji will battle Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Sakura Genesis on April 6. Speaking to the press ahead of the much-anticipated title match, Tsuji shared his plans should he win the gold. 

    “I would want the 4th generation IWGP Heavyweight Championship. I want to make it exactly clear just how much IWGP means. That means I should take the IWGP World Heavyweight title, separate it again, officially retire the Intercontinental belt, and carry the IWGP Heavyweight.”

    The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

    The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created on March 1, 2021, with the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Naito won the title back in January of this year by dethroning Sanada at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

    IWGP World Heavyweight Title Issues

    In the three years since the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created, the title has seen a mixed-at-best response from fans. Many disagreed with the deactivation of the Intercontinental Championship, which had been held by the likes of Naito, Chris Jericho, and Shinsuke Nakamura.

    The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship got off to a rough start when the title eventually launched. A rather forgettable inaugural reign with Kota Ibushi was ended by Will Ospreay. The Brit would then suffer a neck injury, resulting in the title being vacated. Within three months of it being created, the title was on its third champion: Shingo Takagi.

    IWGP World Heavyweight Title Design

    Perhaps the biggest issue with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the title’s design. Many find the look of the title as ‘ugly’ especially compared to the IWGP World Championship. While Kota Ibushi said in 2021 that he was sure the title would grow on people, that’s yet to happen with many fans three years on. 

  • Well Deserved: Sting to Receive Cauliflower Alley Club’s Highest Honor After AEW Retirement

    Mere weeks after he retired undefeated in AEW, the legendary Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s highest honor in professional wrestling. 

    In the main event of AEW Revolution, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. The tag titles have since been vacated. An ongoing tournament will culminate with new champions being crowned next month at AEW Dynasty. 

    Sting’s Upcoming Honor

    Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, it has been announced. The award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a wrestler by the CAC. It is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. 

    The honor celebrates significant achievements across a career. Previous inductees include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk. 

    What is the Cauliflower Alley Club? 

    Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name. 

    The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.

    The 58th Annual CAC Reunion will take place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

    AEW Hall of Fame?

    Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 when it appeared his days in the ring were over. During a recent interview, Tony Khan said that if AEW was to have a Hall of Fame of its own, then the Icon would be the first name he’d like to see inducted.

  • Champions & Others Set To Leave STARDOM After Rossy Ogawa’s Shock Termination

    Bushiroad may come to regret firing Rossy Ogawa from World Wonder Ring STARDOM as some of its top talent are expected to leave very soon. 

    Ogawa, the founder of STARDOM, was fired last month in a shocking and unexpected move. Bushiroad is the parent company of both STARDOM and NJPW and in their statement, apologized to fans for any concerns over STARDOM’s future. A series of tweets from Tony Khan suggested that he was firmly on STARDOM’s side.

    Champions Say Goodbye

    In Bushiroad’s statement announcing Ogawa’s exit, it was reported that he had been poaching talent. While this has not been proven, it appears talent are eager to work with him, even if it means leaving STARDOM behind. 

    Some of STARDOM’s top wrestlers are set to leave the promotion in the wake of Ogawa’s exit, Tokyo Sports reports. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki all have contracts set to expire at the end of March and it is believed they’ll be leaving. 

    Hayashishita is a reigning Goddess of STARDOM Champion, a title she has held three times and currently holds alongside Saya Kamitani. She is a former World of STARDOM champion as well. 

    Tokyo Sports reports she has been speaking of a fresh environment, and wanting to start from scratch. MIRAI is a current Artist of STARDOM Champion alongside Akari and Ami Sourei. 

    What’s to Come? 

    It has been reported that the wrestlers are expected to join a new promotion that is to be created by Ogawa. At this time, Ogawa has not publicly confirmed plans for a new promotion. 

    Another Huge Arrival? 

    Another name who recently left Bushiroad is Giulia, who is expected to join WWE in the future. Before then though, it is believed she will join Ogawa’s new promotion and help the company get off the ground. Giulia recently lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title, signifying her split from Bushiroad. 

    Who Has Replaced Ogawa?

    Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager, will immediately take over as the bookers for STARDOM. Neither has any previous experience as bookers, though Okada was part of a pro wrestling club that held matches during his college days.

  • Adam Copeland Will Remember AEW TNT Title Triumph in Toronto Until His Dying Day

    Adam Copeland Will Remember AEW TNT Title Triumph in Toronto Until His Dying Day

    AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will never forget how it felt to win the title in front of his hometown crowd, in a match with his most personal of opponents. 

    On the March 20, episode of Dynamite, Copeland captured the TNT Championship for the second time in his career. The night proved to be an emotional one on many levels for the Rated-R Superstar. Not only did he win the title, but he did so against his former best friend Christian Cage in the pair’s hometown of Toronto, Canada. 

    Adam Copeland On His Win

    When AEW’s camera crew caught up with Copeland after the match, the TNT Champion was understandably reflective of what had transpired. Copeland said that this was a night he’d been dreaming of and would remember the show until his final breath.

    “Tonight was the kind of night that you dream of. When you first get into this, when you decide to dedicate your life to this, you dream of nights like this. You know your hometown, against a man that you have known for 40 years who, in my opinion, has lost his way. And to get that kind of match, that war.

    “It wasn’t even a match. To hear that audience, to hear them sing my music to me. Man, to have my family here, to have my buddies from school, my buddies from college. It’s just one of the nights that I will take me to the grave.”

    What’s to Come? 

    Copeland aims to prove himself a fighting champion now that he has reclaimed the TNT title. During the video, Copeland said he will resurrect his Cope Open on the March 30, episode of AEW Collision. The show will take place from London, Ontario, Canada. 

  • AEW Rampage Hits Year-Long Ratings High By Airing Immediately After Dynamite

    The March 20, edition of AEW Rampage proved to be a hit with fans, though that may be due to the unique placement of the show that traditionally airs on Friday nights. 

    Rather than air on Friday, AEW Rampage aired immediately after the March 20 Dynamite which aired from its usual Wednesday night spot. The shows aired from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. 

    Rampage’s Record Rating

    This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers. This is the highest rampage since the January 6, 2023 episode, which aired from its usual Friday spot. The show marked a 65% increase in viewers from the previous week’s episode (327,000.)

    This week’s show also succeeded in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The show scored a 0.27 in this demographic, the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022 episode of the show. 

    Worrying Trend

    While AEW Rampage did well for one episode, the show as a whole continues to see a worrying downward slide. The average Rampage number for the first quarter of 2024 has been 374,000 viewers, down from the 2023 Q1 number of 436,000 viewers. This trend is also the case when you compare March 2023 to March 2024. This month has seen an average viewership of 345,000, down from March 2023’s 394,000. 

    AEW Rampage Results – March 20

    The results for this week’s edition of AEW Rampage are as follows: 

    • The Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta) defeat the Don Callis Damily (Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs – AEW World Tag Title Tournament Match
    • Katsuyori Shibata defeats Kevin Matthews
    • Konosuke Takeshita defeats Rocky Romero
    • Julia Hart & Skye Blue defeats Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale – Street Fight

  • Bill Goldberg is Angry “Some Japanese Girl” Surpassed His WCW Winning Streak

    Former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg isn’t pleased that “some Japanese girl” eclipsed his WCW undefeated streak, in his latest shot against WWE. 

    During an interview with Nothing Left Unsaid, Goldberg was asked if there was any ill will towards him in WWE due to his time in WCW. Goldberg argued that the fact that WWE had Asuka surpass his undefeated streak proved there were some issues. 

    “A girl beat my winning streak… beat my undefeated streak. Yeah, I can’t even remember… ‘A-soo-ka’ is her name. Some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak.”

    Goldberg added that when he returned to WWE in 2016, he also noticed a lot of wrestlers using the spear as a finisher, a move he also used. Goldberg insinuated that WWE management had something to do with this influx of spears. 

    Issues with Triple H

    During the interview, Goldberg suspected that previous issues with Triple H led to WWE choosing Asuka to surpass his streak and for the influx of spears. 

    “The fact that I didn’t get along with Paul Levesque (Triple H), which is Vince’s son-in-law, I think had everything to do with it.”

    Streak Vs. Streak

    Goldberg’s WCW streak began in September 2017 which saw Hugh Morrus become the future World Champion’s first victim. It ended at WCW Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash (though a cattle-prod-wielding Scott Hall certainly helped the former Diesel.) W

    Asuka’s undefeated streak began in late 2015 and would last for 914 days before she was defeated by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She surpassed Goldberg’s 173 wins at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017. While Goldberg isn’t happy that his streak was surpassed now, he was far more gracious when Asuka passed him 7 years ago. 

    Was Goldberg’s Streak Legit? 

    With wrestling websites dedicated to counting every match and appearance, there’s no doubt Asuka’s streak is anything but entirely legitimate. Given that Goldberg’s streak was during the 1990s, when such websites were not as common, there have been claims his streak was not all it appeared to be. 

    It has been claimed that WCW inflated the number of wins, with the figure rising dramatically from week to week. Goldberg had actually lost before the streak ever began. His final wrestling match prior to his WCW TV debut was a dark match defeat to Chad Fortune. 

  • And Still: GUNTHER Reaches New Milestone As WWE Intercontinental Champion

    And Still: GUNTHER Reaches New Milestone As WWE Intercontinental Champion

    WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has a new record to his impressive resume after reaching a milestone with Raw’s secondary piece of gold. 

    GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June 2022 by dethroning Ricochet. The title marked the first for GUNTHER on the main roster and his first title under his current name. He previously held the NXT UK Champion for over a year as WALTER. 

    A New Accolade for GUNTHER

    GUNTHER has proven to be a fighting champion since winning the Intercontinental gold, as his track record shows. Recently, GUNTHER reached 100 successful title defenses as WWE Intercontinental Champion. Superstars who’ve come up short against the Austrian include Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, and Jey Uso, among others. 

    GUNTHER’s toughest match (at least according to Cagematch statistics) took place on the October 2, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw. It took GUNTHER 22:53 to defeat Tommaso Ciampa in the match that finished via referee stoppage. The match earned 4.5 stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.

    What’s Next for GUNTHER? 

    GUNTHER’s next confirmed title defense will come at WWE WrestleMania 40 when he puts the title on the line against Sami Zayn. The Underdog got a controversial win a gauntlet match to earn a shot at the Austrian. Some fans hope to see Chad Gable added to the match as it’s been claimed that the Olympian’s shoulders were not fully down during the decisive fall in the gauntlet match. 

    Impressing the Phenom

    GUNTHER has impressed many fans and wrestlers alike and recently earned the praise of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker. The Phenom recently said that he sees a bright future for the Imperium leader who has a world of potential. 

  • When Haaland Met Cena: WWE Icon And Man City Striker Team In Hilarious New Video

    When Haaland Met Cena: WWE Icon And Man City Striker Team In Hilarious New Video

    Fresh off his viral Oscars 2024 moment, John Cena has yet again showcased his acting skills in another unique way with a video alongside soccer star Erling Haaland. 

    In a video call, Cena posed as the Norweigan striker, who currently plays for Manchester City. Cena went all out for the video as he donned a Man City shirt, scarf, and a long blonde wig to match the soccer star. Cena’s cosplay was complete with a glass of milk, which Haaland has claimed to be one of his favorite drinks. 

    In the video, the pair spoke about Manchester City’s upcoming tour of the U.S. that’ll kick off later this year. Haaland seemed far from impressed with John’s costume, telling the 16-time WWE World Champion “You have to stop doing this.”

    Who is Erling Haaland? 

    Haaland is considered one of, if not the best soccer stars currently playing. Last year, Haaland broke the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single season, with 36. 

    His athletic prowess on the pitch is hardly a surprise, given that he is the son of Alfie Haaland, who played soccer for Norway, and women’s heptathlon athlete Gry Marita Braut. His cousins Jonatan Braut Brunes and Albert Tjåland are also professional footballers.

    When Wrestling Met Soccer

    Cena’s video with Haaland is hardly the first time soccer and wrestling have come together. In 2015, Wayne Rooney appeared at a UK edition of Monday Night Raw and would slap Wade Barrett. 

    Jose Mourinho appeared on an episode of Raw in 2007. The then-Chelsea boss was spotted by Shane McMahon, who proceeded to mock the Portuguese coach. 

    In 2016, Tim Weise, a former German goalkeeper, retired from soccer to retrain as a wrestler. He’d debut for WWE not long after. 

  • AEW Hall of Fame: Tony Khan Knows Exactly Who He’d Want To Include First

    AEW Hall of Fame: Tony Khan Knows Exactly Who He’d Want To Include First

    AEW has yet to establish its own Hall of Fame, but Tony Khan has a clear image of who he’d like to see be the first two inductees. 

    While WWE’s Hall of Fame opened its (hypothetical) doors in 1993 with the induction of Andre the Giant, AEW hasn’t created its own way of acknowledging talent of the past. It’s not hard to see why as, at five years old, the promotion is still relatively young. 

    AEW’s Hall of Fame

    Tony Khan addressed the possibility of  a recent interview with Comic Book, Tony Khan discussed a possible AEW Hall of Fame. While Khan didn’t confirm that any plans were in place, he did know who he’d like to see inducted. 

    “Certainly the first two people that come to mind that we would have to honor would be Sting and Mr. Brodie Lee. Two of the greatest champions and two of the greatest people we’ve ever had in AEW, and in very different circumstances.”

    Khan added that he’d like to see somebody inducted who never got the chance to compete in an AEW ring, that being Jay Briscoe.

    “He was my friend and was friends with a lot of people in the locker room. He was one of the greatest wrestlers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

    Potential Hall of Famers

    RIP Brodie Lee

    WWE’s Hall of Fame

    We don’t know when (if ever) AEW will set up a Hall of Fame, but WWE will induct it’s 2024 class in just over two weeks. Paul Heyman, the US Express, Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali have been announced for this year’s class. 

  • Throwing in the Towel: Vince McMahon’s Former Allies in WWE Have Given Up Defending Ex-CEO

    Throwing in the Towel: Vince McMahon’s Former Allies in WWE Have Given Up Defending Ex-CEO

    Vince McMahon no longer has any defenders in any form within WWE, close to two months after his resignation from the promotion. 

    Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and itsformer 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 has claimed that the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

    Throwing in the Towel

    During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed a shift in attitude regarding the former Chairman. Meltzer said that those who have previously defended McMahon have stopped, seemingly believing there’s no viable defense for him anymore. 

    “People who were even in a situation where they’d been defending other people in the company, nobody bothers to try and defend Vince. 

    “It’s almost like they’ve thrown in the towel on him. It’s like, ‘He’s gone and we can’t even try to defend him’.”

    Ronda Rousey’s Strong Words

    One name who certainly won’t be defending McMahon is Ronda Rousey. In her new memoir Our Story, the ex-Superstar says that McMahon is akin to Emperor Palpatine, the chief antagonist of the Star Wars movies. Rousey adds that it’s hard to know where the evil McMahon character ends and the actual person begins. 

    What Have WWE Superstars Said? 

    Rousey 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. 

  • Unagi Sayaka Gets Title Shot In Her MLW Debut at 3/29 War Chamber Event

    Unagi Sayaka Gets Title Shot In Her MLW Debut at 3/29 War Chamber Event

    Fans of Major League Wrestling will soon get to see Unagi Sayaka in action as the popular Japanese star is set to make her debut soon. 

    On Twitter, MLW shared a promo highlighting Sayaka’s impending arrival. Given the young star’s colorful costumes and personality, it’s fitting that the promo video was a bright, colorful affair. 

    MLW War Chamber

    Sayaka will make her in-ring debut at the upcoming MLW War Chamber event. Not only will she be competing, but she’ll be in action for the MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship. The card for the show is as follows: 

    • Janai Kai (c) (with Promociones Dorado (Salina de la Renta and Jesús Rodriguez)) vs. Unagi Sayaka: MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship
    • Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle
    • Alex Kane (with Mr. Thomas) vs. A. J. Franci$
    • Team MLW (CozyMax (Satoshi Kojima and Shigeo Okumura) and The Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders)) vs. World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday, and Josh Bishop) (with Mister Saint Laurent): War Chamber Match

    Matches for Star Jr. Mads Krügger, Kosei Fujita have also been announced but their opponents have not been named. MLW War Chamber 2024 will take place on Friday, March 29, from The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida.  

    Who is Unagi Sayaka?

    The 34-year-old Sayaka is currently working as a freelancer but is known for her time in STARDOM. She Is a former Artist of STARDOM champion and has also competed in Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and All-Japan Pro Wrestling. 

    Currently, Sayaka is the DDT-Pro Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, a title she has held on five occasions. The unorthodox title allows champions of any gender and multiple people can hold the title at once. 

    The gold goes even further than WWE’s Hardcore or 24/7 Championships as Animals and inanimate objects, including a pint of beer, a steel ladder, and Vince McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star have all been champions. Stefan the Dinosaur, a stuffed dino Sayaka often carries with her, is a former champion. 

  • ‘Evolving’ Drew McIntyre Puts Seth Rollins On Notice Ahead of WWE WrestleMania 40 Clash

    ‘Evolving’ Drew McIntyre Puts Seth Rollins On Notice Ahead of WWE WrestleMania 40 Clash

    The ‘evolved’ Drew McIntyre is focused on taking the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40 thanks to the return of his “killer instinct.”

    The Scottish Warrior will challenge champion Seth Rollins on April 7 as part of WrestleMania 40: Sunday. McIntyre earned the title match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match last month in Perth, Australia. The upcoming title match will be the third World Championship match for both Rollins and McIntyre. 

    Drew McIntyre Has Evolved

    McIntyre has undergone a character shift as of late with the Scottish Warrior once again embracing a heel role in WWE. McIntyre has taken credit for CM Punk’s injury and has claimed that he ‘saved’ WrestleMania by keeping Punk off the show. Sitting down with Evan T. Mack, McIntyre spoke about his evolution and how it differs from Seth Rollins. 

    “I’ve found myself at the right time because we need a savior of the industry. We have the savior of WrestleMania, the savior of Raw, and the savior of WWE and it’s Drew McIntyre, with my new evolved personality.

    “Evolved, not like Seth Rollins, where he changes his personality every eight months or something because he doesn’t know who he is. I’m the same guy. I’ve been for years. I’ve just evolved.”

    Seth Rollins’ Changes

    While McIntyre may be the heel, it’s hard to ignore the often dramatic changes in Rollins’ character. The Architect has changed drastically from his days in the Shield and his currently colorful persona is in stark contrast to his ‘Monday Night Messiah’ character from just a few years ago. 

    Drew McIntyre’s Killer Instinct

    Drew McIntyre, according to himself, hasn’t changed like Rollins, but he has shown a more vicious side on TV. In the interview, Drew was pleased that his ‘killer instinct’ is back. 

    “I was a little naive and a little too nice about [things.] The killer instinct I used to have… And it cost me for a couple of years. If you look at my past few years, very successful on television, but we came to those big matches and I think I lost about 12 in a row or something.

    “What it came down to, was I was making silly, silly mistakes relating to not having that killer instinct I used to have. Now it’s back.”

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

  • WWE 2K24 Ratings: Developer Explains How They Work & Address Controversies

    WWE 2K24 Ratings: Developer Explains How They Work & Address Controversies

    A WWE 2K producer has shared what exactly goes into the often controversial, much-discussed rankings of playable characters. 

    Earlier this month, WWE 2K24 was released and has proven to be another hit in the series. Once more, the game features rankings for the Superstars, which often appear on WWE programming. These rankings are often heavily-discussed and during an interview with the Squared Circle Pit, WWE 2K24 producer Bryan Williams spoke about what goes into an in-game ranking. 

    “For us on the design side, we’re really big on character differentiation and making sure that when you select a character that they are of their appropriate hierarchy on the card. Not everybody can be a Roman Reigns. You have people that are at the tippety top of the card and then you have people that are not, but there’s no slight on anybody.”

    Williams added that in contrast to previous years, WWE 2K24’s ratings were determined much more on what sort of year a Superstar has had since the previous game’s release. 

    “We kind of take all that into account to see, did they hold championships? Were they winning more than they were losing? Are they consistently pushed?”

    Controversial Ratings

    During the February 26, episode of WWE Raw, Michael Cole spoke about WWE 2K24. The veteran broadcaster said the character ratings in WWE 2K games are “always controversial.”

    Kurt Angle is in WWE 2K24 and many fans have been angered by his rating. The WWE Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist, King of the Ring, and World Champion has an 89 rating in the game. On social media, fans argued that this ranking was too low and pointed at Logan Paul’s 90 rating as proof Angle should be higher. 

    A Very Real Controversy

    Though fans often debate whether a Superstar should be ranked higher or lower than another, one Superstar this year sparked a controversy out of the confines of the ring. GUNTHER was given an 88 rating for WWE 2K24, which caused concerns among some fans. 

    88 is known as a Nazi dog whistle which allows Nazis to signal their beliefs to others covertly. A simple numeric alphabet code (A=1, B=2, etc) sees 88 translated into HH (Heil Hitler.) While WWE 2K did not address this directly, GUNTHER’s rating was changed to an 89. 

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

  • Adam Copeland: AEW Is A “Blank Canvas” for Myself & Mercedes Mone

    Adam Copeland is excited about the fresh opportunities that AEW provides for both himself as well as the recently debuted Mercedes Mone. 

    The former WWE Women’s Champion debuted for AEW at the Big Business episode of Dynamite. Mone had hardly been subtle in the run-up to the show, making clear to fans that she was in Boston, MA, her hometown and the host of Big Business, mere hours before the show.

    A Blank Canvas

    Copeland and Mone may have made their names (or rather their other names) in WWE, but now both ex-Superstars are seeking a fresh start under Tony Khan. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Copeland spoke about the ‘CEO’ and what her arrival in the All-Elite promotion means. 

    “For her, AEW is a blank canvas with a brand new palette of paint. For me, it was the same. I saw Swerve, The Young Bucks, Jon Moxley, Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, Claudio, FTR, all these names I’ve never crossed paths with.

    “It’s the same with Mercedes–think of how much fun she’s going to have here. Think of all the new opponents.”

    Mercedes Mone’s Possibilities

    There’s no shortage of new opponents for Mercedes Mone to face now she’s in AEW. Right now, it appears that Mone’s path is leading her to the Julia Hart and the AEW TBS Championship. Britt Baker certainly wants a piece of Mone, as she said last year she was “hoping and praying” that the ex-Superstar joined AEW. 

    Mone & Copeland on Dynamite

    Both ex-Superstars had huge roles to play on the March 20, edition of AEW Dynamite. Mone opened the show by talking about her journey to AEW before being cut off by Skye Blue and Julia Hart. Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander made the save for Mone, though Willow did have some issues with Mone. The pair faced off in May 2023 in the match that saw Mercedes suffer her career-threatening injury. 

    AEW Dynamite was much kinder to Adam Copeland, who captured the TNT Championship in the show’s main event. Copeland’s second win of the TNT title saw him defeat former friend Christian Cage in an I-Quit match. 

  • Ronda Rousey Had To Hide Her History of Concussions To Continue Competing

    Ronda Rousey Had To Hide Her History of Concussions To Continue Competing

    Ronda Rousey had to hide years of concussions in order to be allowed to continue competing, the former WWE Superstar recently revealed. 

    Rousey’s new memoir ‘Our Story’ is set to hit shelves next month and is expected to be a gripping read. In the book, the former WWE Superstar and UFC fighter doesn’t hold back and makes her views clear on Vince McMahon. 

    Ronda’s Concussion History

    Recently, Ronda Rousey appeared on the Never Before Told podcast to discuss her new book and her time in wrestling. When asked about a potential return to the ring, Rousey said that it’s not possible. The former Women’s Champion added that she had a history of concussions which she felt she had to keep a secret. 

    “My concussion history, I had to keep secret for years so I would be able to continue to compete and perform. That’s basically why I had to retire.”

    Ronda Rousey Post-WWE

    Rousey’s WWE tenure ended at SummerSlam 2023 when she lost to Shayna Baszler in the first MMA Rules match. While Rousey said in October that she was retired, she’d make a surprise return to the ring outside WWE later that month. In November, Rousey made an appearance for Wrestling Revolver and shocked fans by appearing for the Tony Khan-owned ROH. 

    What’s Next? 

    Ronda Rousey’s days in the ring are seemingly up, but the former champion hasn’t left the business behind entirely. Rousey will be appearing at WrestleCon in Philadelphia next month where she will be meeting fans and signing copies of her book. 

    More Reading Material

    Rousey’s book isn’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her ‘The Man’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

  • AEW’s Britt Baker Hits Back At “Dumb” False Claims Of Issues with Mercedes Mone

    AEW’s Britt Baker Hits Back At “Dumb” False Claims Of Issues with Mercedes Mone

    Britt Baker and Mercedes Mone may both want to be the top woman in AEW, but that doesn’t mean there’s heat between the pair of former champions. 

    Mone arrived in AEW during the Big Business episode of Dynamite, following weeks of speculation that she’d be joining. Mone had hardly been subtle in the run-up to the show, making clear to fans that she was in Boston, MA, her hometown and the host of Big Business, mere hours before the show.

    Mone’s Recent Comment 

    Mone is poised to do big things in AEW though a recent comment by the CEO has raised some eyebrows. Shortly before her debut, Mone spoke about her WWE run as Sasha Banks and said she is confident she will wrestle for WWE again one day. 

    Britt Baker’s Response

    Mone’s comment has reportedly led to some heat within AEW as many felt it was a poor move for her to speak about returning to WWE shortly before her All-Elite arrival. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer was the first to report of Mone’s comment not going down well with those in the company. 

    When a Twitter account insinuated that Britt Baker had spoken with Meltzer and was his source, the former AEW Women’s World Champion made clear this was not the case. 

    The account in question doubled down on their claim that Baker had been the source for Meltzer. When they said this was an example of a woman fighting harder against the success of another woman, Baker responded yet again. 

    Britt Baker & Mercedes Mone

    It’s ironic that this account is claiming that Baker spread news of the roster being unhappy, as the DMD has been wanting to see Mercedes join AEW for some time. Last August, Baker went as far as to say she was hoping and praying Mone would join AEW following her in-crowd appearance at All In. 

  • Who Was Carmelo Hayes’ Masked Man On 3/19 WWE NXT?

    Who Was Carmelo Hayes’ Masked Man On 3/19 WWE NXT?

    The identity of the masked man who aided Carmelo Hayes on the March 19, episode of WWE NXT isn’t a secret anymore. 

    During the show, Trick Williams was ready to fight Hayes but was confronted by Melo’s henchman. A figure then appeared on stage, pretending to be Hayes, which allowed the former NXT Champion the distraction to jump his former ally. 

    Masked Man Revealed

    The figure who appeared on the stage was none other than head WWE NXT referee Darryl Sharma, aka Adrian Butler, Fightful Select reports. Sharma and the masked man could be seen wearing identical shoes during the show. 

    Sources within WWE NXT also confirmed to Fightful that Sharma was the man in question. 

    Who is Darryl Sharma? 

    Before donning the stripes as a WWE NXT official, Sharma wrestled under the name ‘Hornet’ around the world. He is a student of the Battle Arts Academy, owned by WWE alum and current TNA name Santino Marella. At the academy, he trained in both wrestling and MMA. He ranked #437 in the PWI 500 ranking in 2016 but joined WWE in November that same year to be a referee. 

    Sneak Attacks

    Carmelo Hayes is hardly the first Superstar to use subterfuge to get the upper hand. As seen in the video below, several wrestlers have used disguises and other tactics to take out their opponents. 

    What’s Next? 

    Melo and Trick will face off at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6, mere hours before WWE WrestleMania 40. The show will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, less than a mile away from the Lincoln Financial Field that’ll host WrestleMania. 

  • Emperor Palpatine: Ronda Rousey Shares Damning Opinion of Former WWE Boss Vince McMahon

    Emperor Palpatine: Ronda Rousey Shares Damning Opinion of Former WWE Boss Vince McMahon

    Ronda Rousey held nothing back in her recent estimation of Vince McMahon, following the ex-Chairman’s resignation from WWE. 

    It’s been just under two months since McMahon’s second exit from wrestling’s top federation, this time due to Janel Grant’s damning lawsuit. Grant alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon during her tenure with WWE. He has denied all allegations. 

    Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon

    Our Fight by Ronda Rousey is the ex-Superstar’s second book and is due to be released next month. The former WWE Women’s Champion does not hold back in her take on the 78-year-old billionaire. 

    In the memoir, Rousey calls McMahon the ‘Emperor Palpatine’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. She adds: 

    “It’s hard sometimes to know where the evil, unethical, slimeball character of Vince McMahon played out for the cameras ends and the actual questionably ethical, many times sued, and multiple times accused of sexual misconduct Vince McMahon begins.

    “That blurred line between character and reality is a recurring theme within the WWE Universe.”

    Restricting Women

    As an athlete who redefined what women could do in the world of MMA, the treatment of women is understandably an important theme in the book. When discussing WWE’s Premium Live Events, Rousey suggested that the ultra-conservative views of Saudi Arabia are something McMahon would like to replicate. 

    “[PLEs are] held in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, as well as now twice a year in Saudi Arabia, a nation that restricts the rights of women in a way that I’m certain Vince McMahon wishes he could.”

    Positive Thoughts

    While McMahon is lambasted in Rousey’s memoir, that doesn’t extend to everyone in the family. Rousey has much more positive words for McMahon’s son-in-law Triple H. 

    “In addition to being my in-ring WrestleMania nemesis, he is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in history and one of the better people on the business side.”

    More Reading Material

    Rousey’s book isn’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her ‘The Man’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

  • “Sky’s The Limit!” The Undertaker Sees Big Things In GUNTHER’S Future

    “Sky’s The Limit!” The Undertaker Sees Big Things In GUNTHER’S Future

    WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker sees a bright future for GUNTHER, who continues to impress the Deadman each week. 

    The Ring General has certainly proven to be dominant since coming to WWE. GUNTHER is one of the a handful of men to have held two championships for over one year, a group that includes Randy Savage, Pedro Morales, and Roman Reigns. 

    The Undertaker on GUNTHER

    On a recent edition of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker gushed about GUNTHER, who he believes has plenty to show in WWE. 

    “The sky’s the limit for him. I think he’s a little bit of a throwback to a different era, but has the ability to work and tell stories.”

    The former WWE World Champion spoke about GUNTHER’s recent match with Dominik Mysterio and praised the Austrian for remaining a heel without turning ‘Dirty Dom’ face in the process. 

    GUNTHER Vs. The Undertaker? 

    By the time GUNTHER made it to the main roster, The Undertaker had long retired from action, robbing fans of what’d be an epic showdown. Speaking about how such a match would go down, the Phenom predicted that they’d descend into a fistfight after two chops. 

    What’s Next? 

    GUNTHER will defend the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40 against Sami Zayn. The Underdog earned the match with a controversial gauntlet win. Many fans have argued that Chad Gable’s shoulders were not fully down for the decisive fall. On WWE TV, Gable has taken the Gauntlet match loss especially hard. 

    More Gold? 

    GUNTHER has no plans on losing the Intercontinental title, but fans may have to wait before they see him in a World Championship picture. Last year, GUNTHER said the time was not right for him to add another title to his collection. 

  • Silas Mason Vacates NWA National Title, Sets Sights On EC3’s World Championship

    Silas Mason Vacates NWA National Title, Sets Sights On EC3’s World Championship

    NWA wrestler Silas Mason has surrendered the promotion’s National Championship to keep himself focused on EC3’s NWA World Championship. 

    On the March 19, episode of NWA Powerrr, Mason relinquished the title and stated he was coming for the gold held by EC3. NWA President Billy Corgan then announced a tournament to determine the next NWA National Champion. The eight-man competition will see two finalists advance to a title match at NWA Hard Times. 

    The NWA National Title Tournament

    Paul Burchill, Thom Latimer, ‘Magic’ Jake Dumas, Carson Drake, AJ Cazana, Blake Troop, Bryan Idol, and Zyon were announced for the tournament. In the main event of NWA Powerrr, Troop defeated Idol to qualify for the next round. 

    Silas Mason’s Title Reign

    Mason captured the title at the NWA 75 anniversary event in August of last year. Ironically, Mason won the title which had been vacated by EC3. The reigning NWA Worlds Champion gave up the gold in order to challenge (and later defeat) Tyrus to become NWA World Champion. 

    Mason held the title for a collective 205 days. His reign surpasses several notable names in the NWA including Ted DiBiase Sr., Paul Orndorff, Terry Taylor, and Tully Blanchard.

    Silas Mason’s Setback

    Mason is focused on becoming NWA Worlds Champion, which comes at a unique time in his life. Earlier this month, Mason’s home was destroyed by a fire. On Twitter, the NWA brought awareness to the tragedy and shared a GoFundMe for fans who want to help. Generous fans have already raised over $16,000, far surpassing the initial $10,000 goal. 

    NWA Hard Time 4

    Mason will challenge EC3 at NWA Hard Times 4. The show has already been filmed at the  Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama. The show was initially announced as a pay-per-view but will instead air as a special NWA Powerrr episode. 

  • Trish Stratus & Lita Eyeing Up WWE Women’s Tag Titles, Vow to Beat the Title ‘Curse’

    Trish Stratus & Lita Eyeing Up WWE Women’s Tag Titles, Vow to Beat the Title ‘Curse’

    Trish Stratus & Lita, affectionately known as ‘Team Bestie’ have their eyes on the WWE Women’s Tag Titles and breaking the ‘curse’ that often befalls champions. 

    The pair of WWE Hall of Famers were at Monopoly Events’ ‘For the Love of Wrestling’ convention that took place this month. During a Q&A with the fans in Manchester, England, the pair were asked about winning the tag titles, which Lita was all for. 

    “People like to talk about this imaginary curse of the [women’s] tag titles, but I think that if Trish and I were tag champs, that somehow the curse would magically disappear.”

    Stratus was similarly enthusiastic at the notion of challenging for the titles, warning the Kabuki Warriors “You’re not ready for Team Bestie.”

    The Curse of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles

    While Lita described the ‘curse’ as imaginary, it’s hard to ignore the setbacks that various champions have faced. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later. 

    In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which has kept WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar out ever since. 

    Another Injury

    This curse has shown no sign of slowing down, as we’ve learned in recent days. Four-time and current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka is dealing with an injury and was recently pulled from live events. It’s unclear how extensive the injury is, but with WrestleMania 40 growing closer, this could not come at a worse time for the Empress of Tomorrow. 

  • WWE Had Plans for Mercedes Mone Vs. Megan Thee Stallion, Claims Ex-Superstar

    WWE once had plans for a blockbuster match pitting Mercdes Mone against Megan Thee Stallion, according to WWE alum Mojo Rawley. 

    Rawley was in attendance for the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards and was there to support Mone, who presented alongside Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The All-Elite talent presented the Best Slice of Life Award and was spotted with Megan Thee Stallion. 

    Megan Thee Stallion Vs. Mercedes Mone

    Appearing on Mandy Rose & Tino Sabatelli’s Power Alphas podcast, Mojo Rawley spoke about meeting Megan Thee Stallion, who was also at the awards ceremony. The former WWE 24/7 Champion then shared that WWE had something planned for her at a previous year’s SummerSlam.

    “She was going to do something with Mercedes at WWE SummerSlam in years previous, and it just never materialized and fell through for one reason or another. We all know how those situations can go.”

    Mojo added that Stallion was “cool” and far taller than he first thought. He didn’t give a year as to when she was going to be involved with WWE. It was reported in 2021 that WWE had planned to have Stallion do something, though that never materialized. 

    Mercedes Mone Today

    Mone never had her match with Megan Thee Stallion in WWE, and left the promotion in 2022. She joined AEW earlier this month at the Big Business Dynamite and is reportedly the highest-paid woman in wrestling. Despite her AEW arrival, Mone has said she’s sure she’ll compete for WWE again one day, which unsurprisingly went down poorly with those in AEW. 

    Mojo Rawley Outside WWE

    Rawley, the winner of the 2017 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, was released from WWE in 2021. The following year, he got engaged to Gracie Tracy and the couple married in Florence, Italy that October. 

    Rawley has remained in the public eye outside WWE and appeared in the G.I. Joe prequel film, Snake Eyes. He is currently a co-host for TMZ Sports which airs on Fox Sports FS1. 

    Celebrity Matches

    While Stallion never competed for WWE, several artists have stepped between the ropes over the years. Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny has competed multiple times in WWE, while Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan appeared on ECW on TNN in 1999, years before he acquired the NWA. For TNA’s first event, country singer Toby Keith got physical with Jeff Jarrett and delivered a vertical suplex to Double-J. 

    H/T – Fightful

  • Sammy Guevara Grateful for Fan Support Amid Latest Suspension from AEW

    AEW’s Sammy Guevara has expressed his gratitude to fans who have shown their support amid his ongoing suspension from the All-Elite promotion. 

    Guevara was suspended earlier this month from AEW for going against protocol during a match with Jeff Hardy. Hardy would suffer a broken nose during the match and was suspected to have suffered a concussion. While Jeff did not suffer a concussion, Guevara did not stop the match like he should have to allow for immediate testing, resulting in his suspension. 

    Sammy Guevara Speaks

    In his latest Vlog, Guevara shared some of the highlights of his life outside of the ring, including spending time with his wife Tay Melo, and their child. At the end of the video, Guevara shared a message of appreciation to the fans. 

    “To the people who support me, whether it be at the beginning or in the beginning it in the middle or maybe this is your first video you’ve watched of mine, I just want to say thank you.”

    Guevara added that he acknowledges he has made mistakes, but is trying to be better. 

    “I understand that I am a person who has made mistakes but I am also a person who has tried to be better.

    “‘Roll with the punches’ is a saying that I truly understand now at 30 years old. Life will throw a lot at you. But it’s how you deal with those adversities that make you who you are. I know who I am and I know what I’m going after.

    “See you at the top.”

    Guevara’s Past Controversies

    The incident with Jeff Hardy is hardly the first piece of notoriety for Guevara in AEW. Back in 2020, a chairshot from Guevara who used the wrong type of chair resulted in Jeff’s brother Matt requiring 13 staples. Hardy also took a nasty spill during a forklift spot at All Out that September.

    In June 2020, Guevara was suspended for comments made in 2016 in which he said he wanted to “go r*pe” Sasha Banks. Guevara underwent sensitivity training and his salary at the time was donated to the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. Guevara would apologize publicly and in private to Banks, who recently joined AEW as Mercedes Mone.