More has come to light about Bryan Danielson’s AEW Word Championship victory that closed out AEW All In: London 2024. Danielson won the gold from Swerve Strickland inside Wembley Stadium in a match that also saw Danielson’s career on the line. After the match, the American Dragon celebrated in the ring with his wife Brie, and their children.

Bryan Danielson Wins The Big One

Danielson had “often and actively” pushed against the idea of becoming AEW World Champion, Fightful Select reports, but ultimately accepted the honor at the insistence of Tony Khan. The AEW President was said to be adamant on Danislon winning the world title eventually and wanted the win to be at All In: London.

The decision for Danielson to face Strickland was made at least by April, despite speculation among fans that Will Ospreay would be headlining All In instead. A source told Fightful that Ospreay would have chances to headline the show for years to come, while Danielson has made clear his career is coming to an end.

There were jokes of a “reverse Montreal Screwjob” taking place, that would ensure Danielson won the match even if he didn’t want to. Fightful’s report adds that Danielson has been working banged up in recent months.

What’s to Come?

Bryan Danielson is AEW World Champion but there are still questions about how long he’ll hold the gold. Bryan has said that he expects to have neck surgery later this year which would of course affect his title reign. On the post-show media scrum, Danielson said he hasn’t planned for the future but will be at this week’s AEW Dynamite in Champaign, Illinois.

Should he remain champion, Danielson will face Darby Allin at Grand Slam: Dynamite next month, amid reports of a World title run for the challenger. Danielson will also have to keep an eye out for Christian Cage. The self-professed great-father won the Casino Gauntlet at All In: London, earning himself an AEW World Title match at a time of his choosing.

Tony Khan is pleased that things are easier backstage these days in AEW, compared to the era of the company when CM Punk was around. Speaking on the AEW All In: London 2024 post-show media scrum, Khan shared that dealing with the AEW roster, especially those who are regulars on Collision, is proving to be a far easier task now compared to 365 days ago.

“I think it’s a lot easier flow between the two shows than it was a year ago. I think the locker room is in a much better place than it was a year ago, as evidenced by when we came up here versus what happened a year ago. And I think it’s a much easier job I have dealing. Because I had to deal with the people on Collision last year and it’s a much easier meeting process to put the TV together than it was a year ago at this time too.”

The ‘what happened a year ago’ Khan is referencing is the infamous backstage altercation at All In: London 2023 between CM Punk and Jack Perry. Rather than celebrate last year’s event, which remains AEW’s highest-attended show, Khan started the 2023 media scrum by addressing the backstage drama and made clear that he would not be taking questions on the matter.

AEW Collision was launched, in part, to keep Punk and The Elite separate, a necessary side-effect of Punk’s previous backstage drama from AEW All Out 2022. The Chicago-Made star was supposed to be the ‘face’ of the show, which has managed without him following his termination from AEW in September 2023.

Khan isn’t the only one to reference the backstage drama that overshadowed much of AEW All In: London 2023. Earlier this year, Punk, who returned to WWE last November, criticized AEW in an interview with Ariel Helwani, going as far as to say Khan isn’t a real boss. Shortly after, AEW would air footage of the backstage altercation from All In: London 2023 on AEW Dynamite. Khan justified the decision at the time, saying it was solely to give fans the best show he could.

AEW fans won’t have to wait long to see Ricochet in the ring following the One & Only’s debut for the promotion at All In: London 2024. Ricochet arrived in the All-Elite company as part of the Casino Gauntlet match which was won by Christian Cage. It had been reported in the days before the event that Ricochet had signed a multi-year deal with AEW and was traveling to London to be a part of the show.

Ricochet’s Singles Debut

Though he didn’t leave Wembley with an opportunity at the AEW World Championship, he did kick-off his first feud in the promotion. Backstage, Don Callis spoke about the arrival of Ricochet, who he plans to ‘feed’ to his family member Kyle Fletcher. Callis threw out the challenge to Ricochet to face Fletcher on Dynamite, and Fletcher agreed to ‘crush’ the dreams of fans excited to see the ex-WWE star.

When Ricochet told the two to shut up, Fletcher referred to Ricochet having a ‘sabbatical’ from wrestling. When Fletcher went even further, making reference to Ricochet’s time with WWE Speed, the inaugural Speed Champion questioned why his time with the X-exclusive show was seen as a bad thing.

The match with Fletcher will be Ricochet’s first singles match since the July 7, 2024 taping of WWE Speed, where he lost the show’s title to current champion Andrade. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Ricochet now that the One & Only is officially an AEW All-Elite talent.

Nigel McGuinness shocked fans by making his return to the ring by competing at AEW All In: London 2024 inside Wembley Stadium.

McGuinness returned to action as part of the Casino Gauntlet Match. The bout marks McGuinness’ first official wrestling match since November of 2011. McGuinness’ in-ring career was cut short due to a diagnosis of Hepatitis B.

AEW All In: London 2024

There are a number of massive matches set to take place from the Wembley Stadium in London, England and they are as follows:

• Pre-Show Match: Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway vs. Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii
• AEW American Championship: MJF (c) vs. Will Ospreay
• Casino Gauntlet for future AEW world championship match
• AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
• Coffin Match for AEW TNT Championship: Jack Perry (c) vs. Darby Allin
• Last Chance Match for FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Hook
• AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Britt Baker
• Four-Way Ladder Match for AEW World Trios Championship: The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch and Nick Wayne) (c) vs. The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews) vs. Pac and Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta)
• Three-Way Tag Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) (c) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler)
• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Bryan Danielson

We’ll be covering all of the events from tonight’s PPV event, so make sure that you keep checking back to SEScoops for the latest on AEW All In.

HOOK is once again the FTW Champion after dethroning Chris Jericho to win the gold at AEW All In: London 2024 in Wembley Stadium.

This victory makes HOOK a three-time FTW Champion, with his second reign kicking off one year ago inside the very same arena. The match saw plenty of weapons used including a barbed wire board, as well as cricket balls and bat.

Hook Wins Gold at AEW All In London

HOOK got the win after his father Taz locked in the Tazmission on Bryan Keith, ensuring that Jericho’s lackey would no longer be able to interfere. HOOK locked in his own submission to win the gold.

There are a number of massive matches set to take place from the Wembley Stadium in London, England and they are as follows:

• Pre-Show Match: Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway vs. Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii
• AEW American Championship: MJF (c) vs. Will Ospreay
• Casino Gauntlet for future AEW world championship match
• AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
• Coffin Match for AEW TNT Championship: Jack Perry (c) vs. Darby Allin
• Last Chance Match for FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Hook
• AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Britt Baker
• Four-Way Ladder Match for AEW World Trios Championship: The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch and Nick Wayne) (c) vs. The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews) vs. Pac and Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta)
• Three-Way Tag Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) (c) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler)
• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Bryan Danielson

We’ll be covering all of the events from tonight’s PPV event, so make sure that you keep checking back to SEScoops for the latest on AEW All In.

AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door will take place in London, England for the first time ever next year, it has been confirmed. During the All In: London 2024 Zero Hour pre-show, it was confirmed that the roster of AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling will descend upon the UK capital on August 24, next year.

This news shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to some, as the event has been promoted outside Wembley Stadium in recent days. No venue has been announced for AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door 2025 as of this time.

AEW’s International 2025

Fans in the UK will get to see AEW and New Japan in action next year, but this will not be AEW’s only international event in 2025. In January, AEW will host its first Wrestle Dynasty event inside the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The event will feature talent from AEW, STARDOM, NJPW, Ring of Honor, and CMLL.

The following month, AEW will go down under for its first Grand Slam: Australia event. This show will take place at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. News of this event was also broken during the AEW All In: London 2024 Zero Hour kick-off event.

Plans for AEW All In

While AEW has hosted two All In events in London, that won’t be the case next year. Instead, the show will take place in Arlington, Texas, marking AEW’s first stadium event in the United States. The show will return to the United Kingdom in 2026.

Marvel Comics’ Deadpool and Wolverine were shown some love in Wembley as part of AEW All In: London 2024. During the event’s Zero Hour kick-off event, Dustin Rhodes, Sammy Guevara, Katsuyori Shibata, and The Von Erichs (Ross & Marshall) defeated Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) and Cage of Agony (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona).

For the match, Rhodes wore a red and black Deadpool-inspired attire, while his ROH World Tag Team Champions partner Guevara donned the yellow and blue of Wolverine.

It wasn’t just the faces who are fans of the latest blockbuster from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brian Cage also wore a Wolverine-inspired attire. Cage’s love of the Canadian mutant is no secret as he has dubbed himself ‘Swoleverine’ in the past.

Stokley Hathaway’s MJ Tribute

It wasn’t just Deadpool and Wolverine who were shown love during the AEW All In: London 2024 Zero Hour kick-off event. For his mixed tag-team match, Stokely Hathaway arrived on a golden bed carried by men and wore a matching golden attire. On commentary, it was pointed out that this was a tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson from the late musician’s Remember The Time music video.

Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii defeated Hathaway and Kris Statlander, meaning Nightingale and Ishii will choose the stipulation for Willow Vs. Kris at AEW All Out. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from AEW All In: London 2024 pay-per-view, including breaking news and live results.

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter has made her return with a new look at All In: London 2024. During the event’s Zero Hour kick-off event, Saraya, joined by an entourage including her family members and Harley Cameron, attempted to hold the show hostage. Saraya refused to let the show go on due to her not being booked. The ex-WWE Superstar captured the AEW Women’s World Championship at last year’s All In: London pay-per-view.

Saraya claimed to be the best women’s wrestler to come out of England, a remark that brought out Hayter to the shock of the fans, Saraya, and her entourage. Hayter arrived with a striking new look and attacked Saraya, sending her fellow former champion running from the ring.

The appearance marks Hayter’s first appearance in AEW since last year’s Double or Nothing in May of 2023. At that event, she lost the AEW Women’s World Championship to Toni Storm. Since then, Hayter has been out with a shoulder injury and there was no timeline for her return as of February of this year.

Hayter had been AEW Women’s World Champion for over six months when her injury took place, and she has been with AEW full-time since August 2021. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Jamie Hayter and all the excitement of All In: London 2024.

AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will be staying with AEW after inking a new deal, just hours before the biggest match of his career. On the AEW All In: London 2024 Zero Hour show, footage was shown of Strickland inking a brand new contract which was also signed by AEW President Tony Khan.

Strickland signing a new AEW deal comes shortly before he defends the AEW World Championship at All In: London 2024. In the show’s main event, Strickland will put his gold on the line against Bryan Danielson. The American Dragon earned the title match by winning the Owen Hart Foundation 2024 Men’s Tournament.

Danielson has vowed to retire from in-ring competition if he does not win the AEW World Championship tonight. Ever the resilient champion, Strickland has said he has no issue with the idea of being the one to end the career of his immensely popular challenger. AEW All In: London 2024 will mark Danielson’s first time competing in Wembley Stadium and the second time for Strickland.

All Elite Wrestling will be heading down under next year with a stadium show in Brisbane, Australia, it has been confirmed. During the AEW All In: London 2024 Zero Hour pre-show, it was announced that Grand Slam: Australia will take place in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on February 15.

News of this massive event comes a week and a half after it was reported that AEW was planning a stadium show in Australia. Other venues that had reportedly been discussed include Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

Suncorp Stadium first opened its doors in 1914 and boasts a max capacity of 52,500 seats. Nicknamed ‘The Cauldron,’ Suncorp Stadium has already hosted several sporting events and is home to the Brisbane Broncos, the Dolphins, the Queensland Reds and the Queensland Maroons.

AEW’s Stadium Events

This will be AEW’s latest stadium-sized event and will come after two AEW All In pay-per-views in London’s Wembley Stadium. All In 2025 will take place in Arlington, Texas, marking the first stadium show for Tony Khan’s promotion in the United States.

Pro-Wrestling & Australia

Australia has been home to several large-scale events, including 2018’s WWE Super ShowDown. The event saw a (disputed) 70,309 fans fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground to see The Undertaker and Triple H compete in their final one-on-one match. In February of this year, WWE hosted its Elimination Chamber PLE in Perth, Australia. The show was headlined by Australia’s own Rhea Ripley retaining the Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax.

El Hijo del Vikingo has set his sights on the AAA Mega Championship after making his return to the promotion’s programming this week. On the latest episode of AAA Lucha Libre, Alberto El Patron and Konnan were in a backstage segment interrupted by the returning Vikingo.

Later on, El Patron was asked about Vikingo’s return and made clear he was in no mood to discuss the former champion.

“You are in my locker room and come here to talk about Hijo del Vikingo, who looks like a member of Kumbia Kings? He comes in sandals, he probably doesn’t even know Spanish because I do not understand the dialect coming out of his mouth. I do not need to give an explanation to anyone, much less you.”

El Hijo del Vikingo held the AAA Mega Championship from December 2021 to March of this year and his 833-day reign is the longest in the title’s history. Vikingo’s reign came to an end due to an injury which he underwent surgery for in February.

In his absence, Nic Nemeth won the AAA Mega Championship at TripleMania XXXII: Monterrey in April of this year. The ‘Wanted Man’ lost the gold to El Patron at TripleMania XXXII: Mexico City last week, thanks to Konnan’s interference.

El Hijo del Vikingo had been making serious waves, both in and out of AAA before his injury. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on El Hijo del Vikingo and his quest to regain the AAA Mega Championship.

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia will sink her teeth into the world of competitive eating next month as part of an upcoming Netflix special. Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef will stream on Netflix on September 2 and will feature a stacked card of competitive eaters. Garica will be joined by actor/comedian Rob Riggle, broadcaster Cari Champion and sportscaster Chris Rose.

The titular showdown will see Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi face off in a battle to see who can eat the most hot dogs. The pair last went head to head in September 2009 and Kobayashi stomached 93 dogs to Chestnut’s 81.

The main event will be preceded by two undercards matches. Competitive eater, YouTuber and 2015 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest winner Matt Stonie will face an opponent yet to be announced, while another match will feature Guinness World Record holder for eating Leah Shutkever.

WWE On Netflix

The presence of the WWE Hall of Famer on a Netflix production is just a taste (pardon the pun!) of what’s to come for the streaming giant. This coming January, Monday Night RAW will move to Netflix, marking an end to over 30 years on broadcast television. John Cena has been confirmed for RAW’s premiere on Netflix as the WWE icon will kick off his retirement tour.

Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India. 

Japanese wrestling sensation Giulia has finished her time in the country, ahead of a reported run as part of the WWE NXT roster. In a gauntlet match, Giulia faced the entire Marigold roster, who were each given a minute in the ring with the WWE prospect. Giulia’s final opponent was Utami Hayashista in the first-ever singles showdown between the two STARDOM alum.

After the match, the entire roster emerged once more to celebrate Giulia and Rossy Ogawa presented her with a large bouquet of flowers. An emotional Giulia spoke of her love for the roster and the fans before ending with a message to “Shine forever, Marigold!”

What’s to Come?

Giulia announced earlier this year that she would be wrapping up her time competing in Japan but isn’t finished in the ring. It has been reported that she has signed with WWE and won’t just be part of the NXT brand, but will be a leading name in the women’s division, rivaling the impact of Asuka. WWE NXT’s next major event will be the No Mercy show that will take place next week on September 1.

Giulia appeared for WWE at NXT Stand & Deliver in April of this year and if she joins, will be the latest prominent woman to sign with WWE. Stephanie Vaquer signed with WWE earlier this year, mere days after competing at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door 2024. DELTA, who is said to have impressed at the Elimination Chamber: Perth tryouts, has reportedly signed with the promotion.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Giulia and her future in the ring now that her time competing in Japan is officially over.

Darby Allin isn’t holding back his feelings about Jack Perry and the infamous All In: London 2023 incident that reshaped Perry’s career. In an interview with Kenny McIntosh of Inside The Ropes, Allin didn’t mince words, calling Perry “ungrateful” for his actions at last year’s event.

“You think of 80,000-plus fans, and then you’re gonna go into business for yourself. There are literally people who would die for that opportunity, people who will never get to do that, and then you’re more focused on that.”

Perry’s ‘real glass’ comment during last year’s match with HOOK resulted in a backstage altercation with CM Punk that in the eyes of many, overshadowed AEW’s first stadium event. At the post-show media scrum, AEW President Tony Khan acknowledged that an incident had taken place but said he would not be taking questions on the matter.

Punk was released for his role in the altercation, and would return to WWE a few months later at Survivor Series in Chicago. While Perry was hit with a lengthy suspension, the incident has redefined the AEW TNT Champion as the ‘Scapegoat’ and his change of character has made him one of AEW’s top stars.

AEW aired the footage of the backstage altercation in April of this year, days after Punk made unflattering comments about AEW on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. On TV, the decision to air the footage was explained as the Young Bucks justifying their 2023 loss to FTR, saying they’d been distracted by the backstage ordeal.

What’s to Come?

Jack Perry will defend the AEW TNT Championship against Darby Allin later today at AEW All In: London 2024. The pair will collide in a Coffin Match in what has become one of the most personal and intense rivalries in AEW today. AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium in London, England. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from the show including breaking news and live results.

Former Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn has joined a line of WWE Superstars to undergo Stem Cell Therapy to aid his health and career. On Instagram, The RejuvStem Medical Center shared a video of Zayn and Viking Raider Ivar at their premises in Cancun.

“You never know who is going to show up here at RejuvStem Cancun! Today we have WWE Superstar @samizayn joining WWE Superstar @ivar_wwe to receive stem cell therapy for a career’s worth of nagging injuries.

“Each superstar has spent over 20 years respectfully performing all around the world. At this stage of their respective careers, both IVAR as well as SAMI recognize the importance of taking care of their bodies so they can continue performing for the WWE Universe for years to come.“

As reported earlier this week, Ivar underwent Stem Cell Therapy to aid with a career of injuries. Ivar hasn’t competed since May of this year, when he unsuccessfully challenged North American Champion Oba Femi at NXT Spring Breakin’ (Week Two.) He was promptly written off TV with an attack by Gallus. Zayn hasn’t wrestled on WWE TV since his two-out-of-three-falls defeat to Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker on the August 12, RAW.

ReJuvStem

Ivar and Sami Zayn are just the latest WWE Superstars to work with the RejuvStem Medical Center. Rey Mysterio has also worked with the center as has Big E, who has been out of action since March of 2022 with a broken neck. More recently, Shotzi has been working with the RejuvStem team to heal up from her ACL tear suffered earlier this year. Ivar’s tag-team partner Erik, who underwent neck fusion surgery last year, has also worked with RejuvStem.

Stem Cells: What Are They? 

Stem Cells have two main features that make them valuable in treatments such as these: they are self-replicating and can become various types of cells. Stem Cells are also considered controversial as there have been debates as to the ethics of research involving the development and use of human embryos. Not all stem cell research involves human embryos. 

WWE Hall of Famer John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield shocked fans by appearing for Game Changer Wrestling at the promotion’s Homecoming event. In the main event, Mance Warner retained the GCW World Heavyweight Championship in a triple-threat ladder match with former champion Joey Janela and Blake Christian.

The finish of the match saw Matt Cardona, GCW’s General Manager, try to insert himself in the match but he was taken out by 1 Called Manders. When Effy arrived to try and stop Warner from winning, JBL emerged from the crowd to take him out. Bradshaw took down Effy with a punch before delivering a duo of Clotheslines from Hell.

With Effy disposed of, Warner was able to capture the GCW World Heavyweight Championship. Warner has held the gold since June of this year after cashing in his Do or Die contract, guaranteeing him a title match with Janela.

JBL Outside of WWE

This is just the latest promotion outside of WWE that the former WWE World Champion has appeared for. Earlier this month, JBL was at AAA TripleMania XXXII: Mexico City. JBL accompanied fellow WWE alum Nic Nemeth for his AAA Mega Championship match with Alberto El Patron.

Although his days competing are very much in the past, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield remains a huge name in the world of professional wrestling, as seen at GCW Homecoming. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on JBL and where the self-professed Wrestling Gold appears next in the industry.

Mariah May and Toni Storm haven’t waited for AEW All In: London 2024 to get their hands on one another as the pair brawled at the All In Celebration. At the Wembley Park event, May was taking part in an interview with RJ City when Toni Storm made a surprise appearance to attack the woman who’ll challenge for her AEW Women’s World Title.

The confrontation escalated quickly, with Storm even attempting to throw a stool at May before they were separated. Grabbing the mic, Storm asked if May was prepared to die and said that her life will be very different in 24 hours, after their match.

May Vs. Storm – The Story So Far

Mariah May shocked the wrestling world by turning on Toni Storm after winning the 2023 Owen Hart Women’s Foundation Tournament. Storm was left a bloody mess due to the attack the feud has only intensified since then, with Storm even going so far as to ask May if she is “ready to die.”

The pair had previously been allies on TV with May helping Storm in her efforts to remain AEW Women’s World Champion. This weekend’s match will mark May’s first time competing inside Wembley Stadium and the second for Storm who wrestled at All In 2023.

AEW All In: London 2024

AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium on August 31, and will be AEW’s second event inside Wembley Stadium. Currently, ten matches have been announced for the evening, including eight title matches. The show will begin at 5:00 pm British Standard Time, which is 1:00 pm PT.

AEW All In will not return to London in 2025, and will instead take place in Arlington, Texas, marking AEW’s first stadium event in the United States. AEW All In will return to London in 2026. Fans in the UK are expected to receive AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door next year.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from AEW All In: London 2024, including breaking news and live results from tomorrow’s show.

AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone feels truly seen as part of Tony Khan’s first promotion and has said that hasn’t always been the case in her career. Writing for The Independent ahead of this weekend’ AEW All In: London 2024 event, Mone spoke of the respect she is shown as an ‘All Elite’ talent.

“In WWE you have no idea what you’ll be doing week to week, but here I have space to be heard. Along with Tony Khan and with my friend and personal writer Jennifer Pepperman, there’s time to sit down and really plan out the kinds of stories we want to tell.

“I’m treated with genuine respect, and I really feel seen in a way I sometimes haven’t before. I love it so much here.”

Mone joined AEW at the Big Business: Dynamite show in March of this year, close to two years after she and Naomi walked out of WWE in May of 2022. Mone would subsequently join New Japan Pro Wrestling where she is a former IWGP Women’s Champion.

What’s To Come?

Mone will put her TBS Championship on the line at AEW All In: London 2024 against Britt Baker, a match fans have been itching to see long before Mone was ‘All Elite.’ On this week’s Dynamite, Baker addressed Mone’s past as ‘one of four’ (a nod to her role in WWE’s Four Horsewomen) while the DMD sees herself as one-of-a-kind.

AEW All In: London 2024 will take place tomorrow, August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on All In: London 2024, including live results.

WWE’s hunt for the first-ever WWE Speed Women’s Champion got underway after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Washington, D.C. The title was announced earlier this month and comes after Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque confirmed that women’s matches were coming to the X-exclusive program.

The Tournament Begins

The first-ever WWE Speed Women’s Champion will be decided in a tournament. This week, fans got their first look at the Superstars who have the chance to etch their name in the history books.

Fans at this week’s SmackDown didn’t have to wait long to see WWE Speed women’s division matches. During a dark match, Lyra Valkyria took on IYO SKY. The tournament will begin airing on X on September 4.

WWE Speed consists of three-minute matches meaning Superstars have to waste no time in order to score a victory over their opponent. Matches for the Men’s WWE Speed Championship are granted a five-minute limit. Ricochet was the first WWE Speed Champion but he has since lost the gold to current champion (and longest reigning champion) Andrade.

WWE’s Fastest Matches

Three minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but there are some matches that more than fit this time limit. On the September 4, 2000, episode of Raw, Chris Jericho and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler defeated Tazz and Mideon, with Lawler getting the roll-up over Tazz and his team winning in three seconds. 

Aliyah scored a 3.17-second win over Natalya during a January 2022, edition of SmackDown. WWE would lean heavily into the win, with the now former Superstar receiving an ‘Aliyah 3:17’ shirt to celebrate her victory. Aliyah was released from WWE in 2023 though, so don’t expect her to be racking up wins on WWE Speed.

Sting and Lex Luger, who were once one of the most impressive tag-teams of their generation, were able to reunite at the 58th annual reunion of the Cauliflower Alley Club. On Twitter, Sting shared a photo of himself and his friend and former tag team partner.

Sting attended the reunion to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, the highest honor awarded by the club. The award is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. Previous recipients include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE RAW Superstar CM Punk. Several notable names attended this year’s reunion, including ‘Bowl Cut Kid’ from WWF and WCW pay-per-views in the 1990s.

Sting & Lex Luger

Sting and Luger first began teaming in April 1988 when Luger was without a partner for the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. Luger had previously been teaming with Barry Windham, who had betrayed Luger to join the Four Horseman. Despite not being an established team, Sting and Luger would go the distance and defeat Arn and Tully Blanchard in the finals.

The genuine friendship of Sting and Luger was no secret in wrestling, even when the pair found themselves on opposing sides in WCW. In fact, it was a phone call between the two in 1995 that resulted in Luger returning to WCW. Luger made his comeback on the debut edition of WCW Monday Nitro despite being offered much less than what he was making when he previously worked for the promotion.

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.

Bobby Lashley has explained his recent comments about WWE’s leadership, which some took as a swipe at the current regime of Triple H. Earlier this month, Lashley said that Vince McMahon “understood me” and that the former WWE Chairman “looked at me like a star.” Lashley went on to say that he hasn’t had “too much of a connection with Hunter.”

Some fans took Lashley’s comments as a swipe at the Game, as he hadn’t appeared on WWE programming for months before this interview. Speaking more recently to The Bo and Them Show, Lashley made clear that he is not someone who speaks ill of others.

“I never bad mouth anyone, I never bad mouth the business. I left WWE in 2008. You can’t see any article where I said anything bad about the people there.”

Lashley added that “everyone was going after” him for speaking highly of his relationship with McMahon. The former WWE Champion simply stated the facts that he had more conversations with McMahon when he was in charge compared to Triple H.

“I had a different relationship with Vince. When Triple H came on, we never really had a chance to sit down. He didn’t get a chance to get to know me.”

Lashley’s profile was recently moved to the Alumni section of WWE.com following reports that his time with the promotion has come to an end. It has been stated that Lashley has attracted interest from AEW and that a Hurt Business (now dubbed the Hurt Syndicate) reunion with MVP and Shelton Benjamin remains possible.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Bobby Lashley and where his wrestling career takes the former WWE and TNA World Champion next.

TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace is ready and willing to put her gold on the line in any promotion, amid TNA’s ongoing partnership with NXT. At ViolenceXSuffering’s Arrival 2 event this week, Grace defended her gold in an open challenge that was answered by Megan Bayne. Speaking after her match to SE Scoops correspondent Muscle Man Malcolm, Grace made clear her title is open to all challengers.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it a million times over. I’ll defend the TNA Knockouts World Championship anywhere, at any company, against anyone.”

This reign for Grace, her third overall, began at TNA Hard to Kill 2024 when she knocked off Trinity. Grace would retain in the pair’s rematch which also marked Trinity’s final TNA match before returning to WWE as Naomi. The Glow returned during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match that also saw a surprise appearance by Grace.

What’s to Come?

Grace’s comments will have fans speculating on where she could appear next, and whether a return to WWE NXT could happen for the Knockouts Champion. While Grace appeared for WWE’s gold brand earlier this year, she did not put her title on the line, and instead challenged for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship. Grace has defended her own gold against NXT’s Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley, though those matches happened at TNA events.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Jordynne Grace and her title reign that will see her compete against anyone brave enough to face the Juggernaut.

On August 23, 2023, the wrestling world was rocked by the passing of one of the industry’s most notable legends: Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed away at the age of 79 after years of several health issues, including being diagnosed with dementia in 2021.

The Legacy of Terry Funk

Born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana, Terry Funk was destined for the wrestling world. The son of Dory Funk Sr., a revered wrestler and promoter, Terry and his brother, Dory Funk Jr. were quite literally raised in the sport.

Terry debuted in 1965, quickly making a name for himself in his father’s promotion, Western States Sports, based in Amarillo, Texas. His early style was a reflection of his father’s influence—technical and hard-hitting. It would be a decade later that Funk’s crowning achievement came as on December 10, 1975, he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating the legendary Jack Brisco. Funk held the gold for 14 months and his technically sound bouts proved why he was the right man to hold the 10 pounds of gold.

The Reinvention

In the 1980, Funk did what few wrestlers can, or rather, want, to do; he reinvented himself. Moving away from the pure technical style of his early career, Funk embraced a more violent, unhinged persona. His work in promotions including All Japan and later ECW showcased a different, more violent side, complimented nicely by his technical savvy in the ring. Funk’s feud with Ric Flair in 1989, particularly their brutal “I Quit” match at WCW Clash of the Champions IX continues to be considered one of the pivotal matches of the career in both men.

As a pivotal figure in hardcore wrestling, it is fitting that Funk became ECW World Heavyweight Champion at the extreme promotion’s first pay-per-view, Barely Legal 1997. Having Funk be a part of the promotion proved to be pivotal for the rag-tag promotion that was looking to make its mark in wrestling, as the legacy and prestige of Funk proved impossible to deny.

An Influencer

Terry Funk’s impact on professional wrestling extends beyond his in-ring accomplishments. He was a mentor to countless wrestlers, including Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and Tommy Dreamer, all of whom credit Funk with helping them shape their careers. In the foreword of Funk’s book More Than Just Hardcore, Foley recalls being under a ring for over an hour as part of a planned spot involving Funk, stating that despite the cramped and uncomfortable area, he’d do anything for his mentor.

Funk’s influence also reached Hollywood, where he appeared in several films, including Road House and Over the Top, often playing the tough guy that mirrored his wrestling persona. This allowed Funk the chance to share the screen with top Hollywood names like Patrick Swayze, further etching his legacy in the media in and out of the ring.

Terry Funk Honored

In 2009, Terry, alongside his brother Dory Jr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a fitting induction given that it took place in the pair’s native Texas. Their induction also came the same night that ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, one of many names inspired by Funk, took his place in the annals of wrestling greats. Following his passing, WWE paid tribute to Funk and Kevin Owens, whose in-ring style bears a striking similarity to the Funker, wore a shirt of the legend for a Payback 2023 Street Fight.

The Funker may be gone, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of wrestling fans forever. The wrestling world will always remember him as a man of many roles: A champion, a pioneer, a symbol, and of course “middle-aged and crazy!”

A trio of WWE Superstars paid tribute to Olympic Champion Simone Biles on the latest edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX. During the show, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Bianca Belair united to take on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) and Blair Davenport. The two sides have been at odds for some time and Davenport has helped the champion retain their gold against Cargill and Belair.

Belair, Cargill, and Naomi wore a series of colorful attires for this week’s WWE SmackDown which aired from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that these attires were all inspired by attires Biles has worn in gymnastics.

The Biles-inspired team got the win on SmackDown. The Unholy Union and Davenport isolated Belair until The EST finally made the tag to Cargill, who emerged as a one-woman wrecking crew. Naomi got the win for her team after hitting a split-legged moonsault on Blair Davenport.

What’s To Come?

The Unholy Union will defend their WWE Tag Team Championships at WWE Bash in Berlin against Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair. The challengers have so far had a mixed experience at WWE PLEs in Europe as they won the gold at Backlash: France and lost the titles to the Unholy Union at Clash At The Castle: Scotland.

WWE Bash In Berlin will take place on August 31, and will air from the Uber Arena in the German capital. The show will mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event from Germany and the latest in a string of shows that have seen WWE travel beyond North America. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from WWE Bash in Berlin, including breaking news and live results next weekend.

On This Day – Triple H Wins The Big One

This day is a special one for WWE’s resident CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, as it was 25 years ago today that he captured his first of 14 WWE World Championships. On the post-SummerSlam 1999 edition of RAW, The Game defeated new champion Mankind to etch his name in the history books.

Lillian Garcia On Her WWE Debut

This week also marks 25 years since the debut of Lilian Garcia in WWE, who served as the promotion’s chief ring announcer for years. Speaking with SE Scoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Lilian recalled her first day with the promotion.

“It was such a blur… 20 minutes before I was live on the air they told me no cue cards. I remember terror if I could put it in one word. To know, that 14 million people were watching around the world and 20,000 in the arena. It was intense.”

Sheamus Pulling Pints

Sheamus will be a special guest picker for Pat McAfee on tomorrow’s episode of Pat’s show that’ll take place in Dublin, Ireland. After landing in the Emerald Isles, Sheamus and McAfee wasted no time in getting a drink at the JR Mahons pub.

Wyatt Sicks: “Repent”

The Wyatt Sicks have proven to be must-see since arriving in WWE and have been at odds with Chad Gable and American Made. In the group’s latest cryptic post, the faction makes clear their issues with Gable’s group aren’t over year.

Remembering Terry Funk

Today, August 23, marks one year since the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed at the age of 79. His brother Dory Funk has returned to the ring for a match as part of a tribute show to Terry, an act that will make Dory the oldest professional wrestler to compete.