Jade Cargill envisions huge things in her future as a WWE Superstar, with singles championship gold being just one accolade in mind. Speaking to Metro, Cargill gave her lofty prediction for her career trajectory in the promotion.

“I’m going to get the WWE Women’s World Title. That’s going to happen. Being a legend in this industry – that’s going to happen.”

Cargill also intends to be “a staple for the women’s division” in the future and hopes that working with the top women of WWE will allow her to continue to grow. The SmackDown Superstar is willing to let herself be “shaped and molded” as her career continues in WWE.

Jade Cargill In WWE

Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023, mere weeks after her tenure with AEW came to an end. From the very start, she has been presented as a huge draw and made her much-anticipated in-ring debut during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Cargill made it to the final three before being eliminated by Liv Morgan.

At WWE Backlash: France, Cargill and Bianca Belair captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, marking the Storm’s first taste of gold in WWE. The pair’s return to Europe would not be as successful as they lost the gold to the Unholy Union at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland. Nevertheless, expectations remain sky-high for Cargill and it may be a matter of time before her predictions of gold and status become a reality.

Ronda Rousey says she deeply regrets amplifying a conspiracy theory that the horrific 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting that took the lives of 26 people (including 20 young school children) was a “staged” event.

Rousey took time out of her UFC schedule to give credence to the notion that the US government faked the Sandy Hook school shooting in an effort to enact stricter regulations on firearms, and that the grieving parents were actually crisis actors. Rousey called this demented conspiracy, “extremely interesting” and told her millions of social media followers that one video detailing the conspiracy was a, “must-watch.”

Earlier this week, Rousey participated in a Reddit AMA fan Q&A session that was hijacked by people asking her about Sandy Hook. She’s taken this as an opportunity to finally issue a full-throated apology, 11 years later. She claims to be haunted by the mistake ever since, takes responsibility for her actions and expresses profound remorse for the pain caused.

Rousey urges others not to fall into the trap of conspiracy theories, emphasizing that such beliefs only lead to harm and isolation.

Ronda Rousey’s Sandy Hook Apology Statement

The former WWE & UFC Champion issued the following statement on social media:

“I can’t say how many times I’ve redrafted this apology over the last 11 years. How many times I’ve convinced myself it wasn’t the right time or that I’d be causing even more damage by giving it. But eleven years ago I made the single most regrettable decision of my life.

I watched a Sandy Hook conspiracy video and reposted it on twitter. I didn’t even believe it, but was so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead. I quickly realized my mistake and took it down, but the damage was done.

By some miracle it seemingly slipped under the media’s radar, I was never asked about it so I never spoke of it again, afraid that calling attention to it would have then opposite of the intended effect – it could increase the views of those conspiracy videos, and selfishly, inform even more people I was ignorant, self absorbed, and tone deaf enough to share one in the first place.

I drafted a thousandth apology to include in my last memoir, but my publisher begged me to take it out, saying it would overshadow everything else and do more harm than good. So I convinced myself that apologizing would just reopen the wound for no other reason than me selfishly trying to make myself feel better, that I would hurt those suffering even more and possibly lead more people down the black hole of conspiracy bullshit by it being brought up again just so I could try to shake the label of being a “Sandy Hook truther”.

But honestly I deserve to be hated, labeled, detested, resented and worse for it. I deserve to lose out on every opportunity, I should have been canceled, I would have deserved it. I still do. I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I am so so sorry for the hurt I caused.

I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’ve endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it. I’ve regretted it every day of my life since and will continue to do so until the day I die. And to anyone else that’s fallen down the black hole of bullshit. It doesn’t make you edgy, or an independent thinker, you’re not doing your due diligence entertaining every possibility by digesting these conspiracies.

They will only make you feel powerless, afraid, miserable and isolated. You’re doing nothing but hurting others and yourself. Regardless of how many bridges you’ve burned over it, stop digging yourself a deeper hole, don’t get wrapped up in the sunk cost fallacy, no matter how long you’ve gone down the wrong road, you should still turn back.”

WWE Superstar Ivar has undergone Stem Cell Therapy which he hopes will aid with his recovery from an injury that has kept him out for months. On Instagram, Ivar shared some photos from his recent visit to the Rejuvstem Clinic in Cancun.

Ivar has been out of action since May 2024 with his most recent match seeing him lose to Oba Femi at NXT Spring Breakin’ Week Two. On TV, Ivar’s absence was explained as due to an attack by Gallus. The faction attacked him on the May 14, edition of WWE NXT.

This setback has come at a pivotal time in Ivar’s career as his tag-team partner Erik is also out after neck fusion surgery. Rather than simply not use Ivar, as WWE has often done with tag team wrestlers who are on their own, Ivar continued to be used prominently during Erik’s absence. His performances reportedly earned him praise backstage and this singles push even saw him enter the Intercontinental Title picture.

Stem Cells & Wrestling

Several names have turned to the Rejuvstem Clinic for Stem Cell Therapy, including Big E, who has been out of action since March 2022 with a broken neck. MVP underwent treatment earlier this year and said he hopes the treatment will extend his wrestling career.

Shotzi has also taken the trip to Rejuvstem to aid with her recovery from a torn ACL suffered earlier this year as well as years of back pain. WWE Hall of Famers including Rey Mysterio, Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam, and Adam Copeland have also undergone Stem Cell Therapy.

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. 

AEW President Tony Khan has given an update on Ricky Starks, close to five months since the former World Tag Team Champion last competed. Speaking on a media call ahead of AEW All In: London 2024, Khan was asked about Starks who last appeared in a tag-team loss on the March 30, edition of AEW Collision.

Khan called Starks a “great star” of AEW and someone who has had “great matches here.” The AEW President confirmed that Starks remains under contract with AEW and is “a well-regarded wrestler.” Khan stopped short of saying when fans should expect to see the former Tag Team and FTW Champion back in the ring.

Ricky Starks’ AEW Status

Khan’s comments come after multiple reports suggesting that Starks not only has one foot out of the door but is set to join WWE when the time is right. It has been claimed that AEW has been reluctant to use Starks as some within the company believe he is set to leave for WWE and therefore don’t want to invest in him.

The 34-year-old wrestler has reportedly drawn interest from WWE with NXT sources stating they hope to bring him to the gold brand. Starks is a good friend of WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and was spotted at last year’s Royal Rumble PLE. Rhodes is one of a handful of AEW alum to thrive in WWE, alongside Jade Cargill, NXT Champion Ethan Page, Lexis King, and Shawn Spears.

Ricky Starks is oblivious about the circumstances of why he’s spent most of 2024 on the sidelines in AEW. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Ricky Starks and whether his wrestling future is in AEW or elsewhere.

WWE’s resident A-Lister The Miz has once again shown off his acting chops, this time in the latest trailer for Part 3 of That ’90s Show. The Miz portrays a fictional wrestler called ‘Party Animal’ for an episode set in 1996, PW Insider reports. Given the timing of this particular episode, the show uses relevant posters of the time period, and includes references to the WWF ‘Winged Eagle’ title which was also used at the time. The episode also references Goldust, who had debuted in the WWF the prior year and who today is competing for AEW and Ring of Honor as Dustin Rhodes.

The Miz is no stranger to acting, which has been a key component of his WWE persona since 2012. From 2013 to 2018 he starred in four The Marine films as the series lead Jake Carter. His most recent film role came as part of 2020’s The Main Event where he cameod as himself.

Wrestling On That ’70s Show

As its name suggests, That ’90s Show is a spin-off from That ’70s Show, which ironically aired during the 1990s. The original show had its own wrestling guests stars as part of Season 1, Episode 15 ‘That Wrestling Show.’ Before making it huge in Hollywood, a young The Rock portrayed his father Rocky Johnson, who tangled with an unnamed grappler played by Ken Shamrock. This episode also features an uncredited appearance from The Hardy Boyz who wrestle one another.

With AEW All In: London just days away, Will Ospreay has called for unity among the roster following reports of backstage tension between MJF and Britt Baker. Speaking with the New York Post ahead of Sunday’s AEW All In: London pay-per-view, Ospreay was initially reluctant to speak on the matter as he didn’t know what had been reported. With that in mind, Ospreay said the issue between MJF and Baker had been “completely blown out of proportion.”

“I’m fully aware people don’t like each other backstage. I know there are people backstage that I don’t like. My whole thing is that going forward we all need to be a team. We all need to look after one another.”

What Happened?

The incident in question reportedly took place on Wednesday, July 17, and included MJF’s girlfriend and AEW broadcaster Alicia Atout. It’s claimed that after Baker ‘buried’ MJF’s hour-long match with Will Ospreay, she called Atout a “stupid f***ing b**ch” and claimed she’d have the interviewer kicked out of the locker room.

MJF, it is alleged, confronted Baker in a common area and reportedly punched a wall at some point, though MJF has said things were misreported. On-screen, Baker’s suspension was explained with a kayfabe suspension delivered by the Young Bucks at the request of Mercedes Mone. Baker and Mone had a (planned) altercation at San Diego Comic-Con.

What Has the AEW Roster Said?

Deonna Purrazzo, who debuted for AEW earlier this year, has said that the MJF-Baker altercation was a one-off and does not reflect her personal experience as an All-Elite talent. MJF himself has said that he doesn’t have to like all of his co-workers but remains excited for Baker’s match with TBS Champion Mercedes Mone at All In: London 2024. Tony Khan told Barstool Rasslin’ this week that he is excited to have Baker back but did not directly address the altercation or her suspension.

AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium in London, England on August 25, and will be the second All-Elite event hosted in the venue. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest from the event, including breaking news and live reports.

Fans of CM Punk will get to see the ‘Best in the World’ perform out of the ring in an upcoming comedy film titled ‘Let’s Start A Cult.’ The film will premiere on October 25, and features an ensemble cast including Stavros Halkias, Wes Haney, Eric Rahill, Katy Fullan, and Daniel Simonsen, with special appearances from Joe Pera, Ethan Suplee, and Tom Papa. Let’s Start A Cult is directed by Ben Kitnick.

A description of the film is as follows:

The story follows an obnoxious loser who, having missed out on his cult’s long-awaited ritual suicide, teams up with his former, now-discredited messiah to rebuild their doomsday commune. As they travel through middle America, this bickering duo recruits a military wannabe, a mentally unstable mom, and a mysterious foreign hitchhiker into their cult. Together, this family of outcasts must decide whether to fulfill their supposed transcendent destiny or find that life might be worth living after all.

This is the latest notable project for CM Punk who is no stranger to roles outside of the ring. Punk has previously appeared in television series such as Mayans MC and Heels, and has starred in independent films including The Girl on the Third Floor and Jakob’s Wife. Punk signed with Paradigm Talent Agency in June and is one of several WWE Superstars, including his rival Drew McIntyre, to do so.

What’s Next for CM Punk?

On WWE programming, Punk is in the midst of his feud with Drew McIntyre, and the two will collide at Bash in Berlin in a Strap Match. Punk competed in the stipulation against Umaga at Extreme Rules 2009 while McIntyre faced Karrion Kross in a strap match at Extreme Rules 2022. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on CM Punk in and out of the ring.

WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. will pay tribute to his late brother Terry in an upcoming match, and will also make history in the process. Funk will team with Osamu Nishimura in a tag-team match on August 24, to take on Atsushi Onita & Raijin Yaguchi. The match has been sanctioned by PWF President Yoshio Osumi and will be part of the official memorial show for Terry Funk who died one year ago tomorrow.

By competing at the event, Funk will become the oldest wrestler to compete in a match at 83 years of age. Funk made his in-ring debut in 1963, the same year that Buddy Rogers became the very first WWE World Champion. He is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and boasts the second-longest individual reign (behind Lou Thesz’s first reign that lasted 2,300 days.) For his efforts in wrestling, Dory, alongside his brother Terry and their late father Dory Sr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.

H/T to @PuroresuFlow for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.

This match will be Funk’s first bout in close to six years. He last stepped in the ring for the Tokyo Gurentai Tokyo Dream event in November 2018. That match saw him face Nishimura to a time-limit draw. His most recent victory came in an eight-man tag for All-Japan the previous year.

Funk, like his brother and father, mastered the art of mat wrestling during his heyday and is ready to lace up his boots one more time for his brother who died last August. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on the legendary Funk wrestling family.

Mariah May was encouraged to stop with public displays of affection with Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm by AEW, according to the British wrestler herself. Speaking on the Wrestling with Freddie podcast, May recalled the backstage reaction to her locking lips with her long-time tag-team partner Shirakawa during an episode of AEW programming.

“It was not pitched. We just did it. Mina and I are extremely close. We’ve always been very close in Stardom. We just did it. The next time around, they were like, ‘Hey, can you guys stop kissing?’”

May blamed the request on an “archaic view” of things, adding that it’s her choice who she kisses and she would say if she was not comfortable. The number-one contender for the AEW Women’s World Champion added that her kissing Mina earned gripes from “the usual suspects.”

“‘Oh my God. This is setting women’s wrestling back so much.’ It’s like, first of all, no one made us do it. We chose to do it... Like I said, if I don’t want to do something, I won’t.”

May and Mina kissed shortly after Shirakawa’s arrival in AEW earlier this year. The two also shared a three-way kiss with Toni Storm at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door after Storm retained her title against Shirakawa. Storm and May had previously kissed on AEW programming.

What’s To Come?

May has had little reason to kiss anyone ever since turning on Storm following her win in the Owen Hart Women’s Foundation Tournament. The former allies will face off at AEW All In: London 2024 this Sunday inside Wembley Stadium. The show will be a homecoming for May though she has yet to compete inside Wembley. The match will be Storm’s second match in the Stadium after competing at last year’s All In: London pay-per-view.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on AEW All In: London 2024 including breaking news and match results from this weekend’s event.

The future of the Anoa’i wrestling dynasty appears in good hands as Thamiko Fatu, the son of WWE legend Rikishi has been impressing in the ring. This week, Fatu has been going viral on social media as fans have been seeing just a taste of what the powerhouse can do in the ring.

Fatu’s display of power has quickly led to the young wrestler going viral and fans are already seeing a spot in WWE, and potentially in The Bloodline, in his future.

Meet Thamiko Fatu

Thamiko Fatu hails from the legendary Anoa’i family, a wrestling dynasty that has produced some of the most iconic figures in sports entertainment, including The Rock, Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Yokozuna, and the Usos. Thamiko is one of the sons of Rikishi, making him a brother of Sikoa and the Usos and a cousin of the Original Tribal Chief.

Thamiko, real name Jeremiah, began his wrestling journey in 2023, and his ring name translates to funerary in Greek. Despite being a relative newcomer to the squared circle, Thamiko has already competed for Oasis Pro where he has dominated the competition.

Thamiko is also on Instagram, where he has already amassed over 5,000 followers. He also has merchandise sold through his father’s website, though his shirt is currently not available. Those interested in booking Fatu can also get in touch through Rikishi’s website.

While it’s clear that Thamiko Fatu is still in the early stages of his career, the impact he’s already made has brought a lot of attention to him. With the Bloodline storyline seeing new members added this year, don’t count out Thamiko Fatu joining his family on WWE programming one day.

Former WWE commentator Mauro Ranallo will don the headset once more as part of Scott D’Amore’s new Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling promotion. On the Insight podcast, D’Amore tells Chris Van Vliet that Ranallo will be part of the promotion’s broadcast team.

“Mauro Ranallo has agreed to be the voice of Maple Leaf Pro. He’s the man. And Mauro has got a passion for wrestling… He loves wrestling. He’s the best. You turned on Showtime for any big boxing fight, or you turned on to watch a lot of the big MMA fights with Pride and everything, Mauro is that voice.”

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut events will take place in Windsor, Ontario on October 19-20, and will be streamed live on TrillerTV. Tickets for the two events will go on sale this coming Monday, August 26, at 10 EST.

Mauro Ranallo and Maple Leaf Pro

Ranallo is highly respected in the world of combat sports commentary so his involvement is a huge score for Maple Leaf Pro. The promotion is having no trouble attracting notable talent, including Raj Dhesi, Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, Konosuke Takeshita, Trevor Lee, KUSHIDA, and Kylie Rae.

His role with Maple Leaf Pro will mark his first time commentating on professional wrestling since TNA (then IMPACT Wrestling) Rebellion 2021. At the event, Ranallo called the Winner-Takes-All main event between IMPACT World Champion Rich Swanna and AEW World Champion Kenny Omega which Omega won.

Ranallo had previously been with WWE but parted ways with the company in 2017. While he’d allegedly been the subject of bullying by JBL, a statement released by Mauro at the time said his departure was nothing to do with the former WWE World Champion.

TNA Wrestling’s Rich Swann has entered a rehab program to combat substance abuse following being arrested and charged with public intoxication. Swann was arrested on June 8 in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and charged with disorderly public intoxication and causing a disturbance, a misdemeanor offense.

According to a public arrest report filed with Seminole County and obtained by POST Wrestling, Swann attempted to forcefully enter an apartment door at approximately 9:50 p.m. This was not Swann’s residence as made clear by the resident in a police report filed by by Officer Zane Hoskins of the Altamonte Springs Police Department.

“My son started yelling for me to come to the door. I came out of the bathroom, heard the banging, and went to my room to grab my handgun. I announced that I had a gun and told whoever was banging to leave.”

Swann allegedly began shouting, “This is my house” before the resident opened the door and displayed his firearm. The address he tried to enter is a short walk from the wrestler’s actual residence.

Later in the night, a second incident occurred when a woman in the neighborhood contacted police. According to the report, the woman had gone to her son’s apartment to collect Amazon packages when she encountered Swann. The wrestler began following her, but when she asked him to stop, he said “what do you mean, stop following you?”

“I started running, and he followed me up to my door, but I managed to get inside and lock it before he could enter.”

Officers located Swann and took him into custody. When Swann was taken to the first apartment, the resident confirmed via Facetime that this was the man who tried to force his way inside.

Officer Hoskins notes in his police report that Swann was incoherent and appeared intoxicated. When Hoskins asked the glassy-eyed Swann if he’d been drinking, he said he had drank “A lot” and that he began around 7 p.m.

Swann was transported to the John E. Polk Correction Facility in Sanford, Fla., about 10 miles from where he was arrested. He was released the next day on a $250 bond. On an affidavit, Swann appeared to indicate he was homeless, account to court records, though other records suggest he has a home address. He is being represented by a private attorney from Orlando’s Joshi law firm. A pre-trial conference for Swann’s case was scheduled for Wednesday in Sanford.

Despite being arrested on June 8, Swann competed at TNA Against All Odds on June 14 and the subsequent TV tapings. TNA first became aware of these incidents when POST Wrestling reached out for comment, their report states. In a statement, TNA said:

“TNA Wrestling takes any and all charges against its performers seriously. Rich Swann is responsible for his own personal actions.”

Swann has informed TNA that he is voluntarily entering into a substance abuse rehabilitation program. TNA Wrestling has suspended Swann, pending a complete investigation into the incidents.

Rich Swann’s Previous Issues

Swann was charged with the same offense in September 2022 after he allegedly caused a disturbance while intoxicated at his apartment complex. In 2017, Swann was arrested in Gainesville, Florida and charged with false imprisonment, a felony, as well as simple domestic battery, which is a misdemeanor. Those charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, but Storm was released from WWE two months later.

WWE icon John Cena is no stranger to rap, and has thrown out his picks for the four greatest artists worthy of Mount Rushmore. Speaking to Club Shay Shay, Cena recognized that his picks would be controversial and that “everyone has their bias.” Cena’s first three picks were Nas, JAY-Z and Rakim.

“But I was brought up in East Coast, boom bap. I love wordplay, I love poetry. It’s what I based my [WWE] character on.”

Cena’s fourth and final pick for the Mount Rushmore of rappers was Eminem, an artist that the 16-time WWE World Champion has been a fan of since the very start. Speaking to Esquire in 2022, Cena called the real Slim Shady ” one of the most gifted, prolific poets I’ve ever had the chance to listen to.” Cena added that Eminem would “put me to shame” if their music ever met.

Before he was a squeaky-clean babyface headlining PLEs, Cena’s wrestling career was saved by his love of rap. The story goes that Cena was set to be released by WWE in 2002 before he began delivering some freestyle barbs on a tour bus. After Stephanie McMahon caught wind of Cena’s skills, his character on TV was changed from a generic good guy to a trash-talking white rapper, and the rest is history.

Cena has broken out his doctorate in Thuganomics a handful of times in the years since leaving his rapper character behind. With Cena’s upcoming retirement tour approaching, don’t count out Cena resurrecting this character that helped make him a WWE icon.

Will Ospreay may use the Tiger Driver 91 again, after seemingly being granted the blessing of Bryan Danielson during AEW Dynamite in Cardiff. On the show, Ospreay and MJF had an in-ring segment that resulted in MJF hitting a brainbuster on the man who’ll face him at AEW All In: London. The segment ended with Ospready bleeding from the head as the AEW American Champion celebrated what he had done.

Backstage, Ospreay was seen being tended to by a member of AEW’s medical crew as Renee Paquette tried to get his thoughts. Before she could do so, Bryan Danielson had a tense face-to-face with Ospreay and told him to “do it.”

The ‘it’ being referred to is seemingly Ospreay’s Tiger Driver 91 finisher, a move that the Brit has been against using since facing Danielson at AEW Dynasty. After Danielson was left motionless in the ring, with fans worried he had suffered a serious injury, Ospreay said on the post-show media scrum that he was retiring the move.

Ospreay’s reluctance to use the move has played into matches, as there has been spots where he has instinctively gone for the move, only to stop, giving his opponent a window to take advantage. With Danielson’s blessing, Ospreay could add one of the most exceptional (and dangerous) moves back to his repertoire when he faces MJF at All In: London.

AEW All In: London 2024

AEW All In: London 2024 will take place this Sunday, August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be AEW’s second event from Wembley and hopes to follow on from the success of last year’s historic event. This weekend will mark Ospreay’s second time competing in Wembley Stadium as he defeated Chris Jericho last year. This weekend will be MJF’s third Wembley match as he competed on the pre-show and in the main event of last year’s event.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on AEW All In: London 2024, including full results at this weekend’s event inside Wembley Stadium.

Michael Oku and Amari Blair were on the scene at this week’s AEW Dynamite in Cardiff, Wales, with Oku wrestling in a dark match at the show. Oku faced Serpentico in the match, and Amira accompanied him to the ring. While the match did not air on TV, photos from Oku and Blair’s debut have surfaced on social media.

Oku recently challenged MJF for the AEW American Championship earlier this month at RevPro’s Summer Sizzler 2024 – Road to the Anniversary event in London. MJF retained at the event, which also saw an appearance by Will Ospreay. MJF and Ospreay will collide for the AEW American Championship this week at AEW All In: London 2024.

Michael Oku & Amira Blair

Oku and Miller didn’t appear on TV at this week’s Dynamite in Cardiff (the first TV taping outside North America) but that could easily change. Talent within RevPro shared their hope to Fightful earlier this month that Oku will be signed after his match with MJF. Oku is the current Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion, after defeating Great-O-Khan last month. The report adds that Blair could also be signed alongside Oku.

After Summer Sizzler, Oku told Stephanie Chase that there had been discussions between both he and Amira and AEW, and he has also teased appearing at All In: London. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on these two wrestlers and their quest to be ‘All-Elite.’

Stay tuned to SEScoops all weekend for our coverage of AEW All In 2024.

Darby Allin is reportedly being considered for a potential run with the AEW World Championship, mere days before he challenges for the TNT title. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that discussions about Allin holding the AEW World Title have taken place though the timing of this potential run remains unclear.

Allin will challenge for the AEW World Championship at the Dynamite: Grand Slam on September 25, a prize for winning this year’s Royal Rampage. The question now is whether Allin will challenge current champion Swerve Strickland or Bryan Danielson. The two will face off at AEW All In: London 2024 later this week in Wembley Stadium.

While Danielson is the favorite to win the AEW World Championship, his reign may not be a long one. Bryan recently shared that he expects to undergo neck surgery this year which would make a potential AEW World Title reign a brief venture. Between that and Bryan openly discussing ending his full-time in-ring career, some fans believe that Grand Slam: Dynamite would be an ideal coronation of Allin as World Champion.

Allin will also be in action at All In: London 2024. The 31-year-old will challenge TNT Champion Jack Perry in a Coffin match in Wembley Stadium. Allin already holds the record for the longest title reign (186 days) and most combined days overall (214 days.)

Darby Allin & The AEW World Championship

Allin has had three opportunities at the AEW World Champion so far in his career, including on the third episode of Dynamite in October 2019. The first TV defense of the gold saw inaugural champion Chris Jericho retain in a Street Fight.

Allin’s next opportunity would again be on Dynamite, this time in July 2020 and saw him come up short against Jon Moxley. His most recent shot at AEW’s richest prize was at Double or Nothing 2023, where MJF retained in a four-way that included Jack Perry and Sammy Guevara.

There’s never been a more exciting time for All Elite Wrestling and its fans, according to AEW President Tony Khan. Ahead of this weekend’s AEW All In: London 2024 pay-per-view, Khan shared his excitement in an interview with Barstool Rasslin.

“It’s a really exciting time for the company and I think it’s the most exciting time in the history of the company right now. We’re coming up, we’ve got, this massive event we’re just days away from. AEW All In: London, Wembley Stadium. It’s a huge, huge event… There’s a lot of cool things happening in the company right now.”

AEW certainly has plenty in the works, including their first stadium event in the United States. AEW All In: Texas 2025 will take place in Arlington and will mark the latest development in AEW’s relationship with the city. Khan has confirmed that All In will return to the UK in 2026.

The promotion is also finalizing a new broadcast rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery which appears to be going well for Khan and his promotion, according to recent reports. Khan has often spoken highly of AEW’s relationship with WBD and David Zaslav, and intends to work with the broadcaster for a long time to come.

On-screen, AEW continues to produce hours of wrestling content every week with Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, and will host its first TV show outside North America with tonight’s Dynamite from Cardiff, Wales.

While AEW may have plenty in the works, there will be fans who disagree with the stance that now is the most exciting time, at least in terms of the on-screen product. AEW has seen a dip in viewership across all three of its shows as of late, with Rampage recently hitting an all-time low (admittedly against the Paris Summer Olympics.) While Khan is excited about the now and the future, the task remains for the AEW President to get fans who’ve since stopped tuning in regularly just as amped up.

John Cena’s days as a WWE Superstar may be coming to an end, but the wrestling icon will remain with the company for a long time to come. Speaking with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, Cena shared that he will remain with WWE after next year’s retirement.

“I have such a trustworthy relationship with them [WWE] over two decades. I am a champion of the brand. I love the company. It is my home. They are my family. Even after 2025, I’ve already signed an extension to remain a member of the WWE family for the near, mid, and long-term future. I don’t think there will be a beat of my heart where WWE blood doesn’t come out of it.”

2025 will mark the end of John Cena’s in-ring career, as the legend shared at WWE Money in the Bank 2024 in Toronto, Canada. The 16-time WWE World Champion will make approximately 30-40 dates and will be at significant PLEs including Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 41. Several wrestlers have put themselves forward as potential opponents including The Miz, Bron Breakker, Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam, Matt Cardona, and TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry.

Cena’s contract extension is certainly good news for those at WWE, as the Hollywood A-Lister has always been willing to speak highly of the company outside of the ring. Not only that, but Cena continues to be a top merchandise seller, earning WWE a tidy profit from dedicated fans. Earlier this month, Cena said he intends to be an ‘ambassador’ for WWE after his career in the ring comes to an end.

UFC legend/WWE alum Cain Velasquez will not stand trial after pleading no contest to the charges against him regarding a 2022 incident. Velasquez was charged with first-degree attempted murder, multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting an occupied motor vehicle, among other charges. As part of his plea, Velasquez “will be convicted but not subject to a mandatory life sentence after premeditation allegations were dropped in accordance with a plea agreement with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office,” the East Bay Times reports.

Velasquez was arrested after opening fire at a vehicle carrying Harry Eugene Goularte, driven by his stepfather, Paul Bender. Bender was struck by a bullet fired by Velasquez and was hospitalized with non-threatening injuries. Goularte had been charged with molesting an underage relative of Velasquez at a home daycare center run by his mother. This case is ongoing.

Cain Velasquez And Pro Wrestling

After retiring from MMA in 2019, Velasquez turned his attention to wrestling and worked a few Lucha Libre AAA shows before signing with WWE that year. Velasquez’s sole WWE match saw him lose to UFC rival Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel 2019. Lesnar, who had won the WWE Title shortly before the event, lost to Cain at UFC 121 in October 2010.

Velasquez was released from WWE in April 2020 as part of ‘budget cuts’ stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Velasquez returned to pro wrestling in 2021, working a match at Lucha Libre AAA’s Triplemania Regia event in December of that year. Velasquez also wrestled in December 2022 but has not competed since.

Note: This article contains spoilers for the August 27, edition of WWE NXT

A WWE NXT Superstar was left a bloodied mess at the recent tapings of WWE NXT for the episode that will be broadcast next week. In a tag-team match, Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne took on Meta-Four’s Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend. During the match, Henley suffered a nose injury, Corey Brennan of Fightful reports.

Henley was “bleeding badly” from her nose but was able to finish the match. The match saw interference by Jazmyn Nyx and Henley and Jayne hit a double-team move on Lash Legend to win the match. On this week’s WWE NXT, the trio of Jayne, Nyx, and Henley spoke about their alliance and were dubbed ‘Fatal Influence.’ WWE filed a trademark on the term earlier this month.

This injury is an unfortunate setback for Henley, who has been a part of WWE NXT since 2021. She turned heel for the first time in her career during April’s Spring Breakin’ event earlier this year, attacking Thea Hail after her victory over Jayne. Henley’s turn has been explained as like Jayne, she has taken exception with ‘rookies’ getting opportunities in NXT, though the pair have made an exception for Nyx.

Henley is a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion as she and Kiana James won the gold at NXT Vengeance Day in February 2023. The pair held the gold until NXT Stand & Deliver that April, where they lost to Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.

Premier League soccer team AFC Bournemouth is stepping in the ring with WWE 2K in an epic collaboration between the two parties. In the coming weeks, fans can expect AFC Bournemouth-themed content to debut in WWE 2K24. Rob Mitchell, Commercial Director at AFC Bournemouth, shared his excitement about the partnership:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with our fans through a new, innovative platform. The synergy between WWE 2K’s engaging gameplay and the vibrant spirit of Premier League football is sure to create an unforgettable experience.”

Bryce Yang, Senior Director of Franchise and Partnerships Strategy at 2K, echoed this enthusiasm:

“The partnership between WWE 2K and AFC Bournemouth represents a dynamic fusion of two exciting sports worlds. We’re excited to see this collaboration succeed and confident it will bring a new level of entertainment to fans.”

Wrestling & Soccer

WWE isn’t the only major wrestling promotion to form a partnership with a Premier League soccer team. News of this collaboration with AFC Bournemouth comes mere days after AEW reached a deal with Fulham Women FC to serve as the front-of-kit sponsor of the team.

Fulham is owned by Tony Khan’s father Shahid Khan and the AEW President has a prominent executive role with the team. With the new season kicking off earlier this month, AFC Bournemouth will face the men’s Fulham team on December 29, and once more on February 12, 2025.

Want to stay in the loop about all things WWE 2K as well as other video games? Check out our Gaming hub to make sure you don’t miss a second of the action!

Joe Hendry is heading to NXT No Mercy to face WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page after winning a high-stakes triple threat match this week. Hendry emerged victorious over Pete Dunne and Wes Lee to earn the title match at the upcoming NXT PLE.

At ringside, Ethan Page went to great lengths to avoid facing Joe Hendry, including pulling the referee out of the ring when Hendry appeared to have the match won. Later, after Hendry slammed Wes Lee onto the announce table and delivered another Standing Ovation to Pete Dunne, Page actively prevented a second referee from entering the ring.

The match’s finish saw Dunne Hendry with a Bitter End, but Trick Williams ran into the ring and hit a Trick Shot knee on Dunne. Hendry would follow up by getting the pinfall and the title match with Page.

This upcoming match will mark the first time a male TNA-contracted competitor will challenge for a WWE Championship in the main event of a WWE Premium Live Event. Earlier this year, Jordynne Grace (already the TNA Knockouts World Champion) challenged NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground.

WWE NXT No Mercy

NXT No Mercy will take place on September 1, 2024, from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, the day after WWE Bash In Berlin. The show will be the second NXT No Mercy event and the 15th No Mercy show in WWE history. The card as it stands is as follows:

• Ethan Page (c) vs. Joe Hendry (NXT Championship)

• Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Jaida Parker (NXT Women’s Championship)

• Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Wendy Choo (NXT Women’s North American Championship)

• Oba Femi (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo (NXT North American Championship)

• Chase University (Andre Chase and Ridge Holland) (c) vs. Nathan Frazer and Axiom (NXT Tag Team Championship)

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on WWE NXT No Mercy.

WWE RAW announcer Pat McAfee wasn’t afraid to share his gratitude at what will be his final episode of the Red brand for a while. From atop the announcer’s desk, McAfee said thank you to those who built the set for RAW, those in the production truck, the make-up crew, the Superstars, those in Gorilla, and “the greatest of all time” Michael Cole.

McAfee didn’t stop there, as he saved his final thank-you to the WWE Universe, and ended by saying he’ll see everyone in January. Check out this exclusive footage of McAfee’s address, shot by longtime SEScoops correspondent Noah Mark Blaustein.

McAfee will be stepping away from the WWE RAW commentary table to rejoin the ESPN College GameDay team for the upcoming season which will start this week. McAfee’s departure will come as a blow to his fans as his enthusiasm at WWE events has proven to be infectious.

While McAfee will be off WWE TV for a handful of months, he won’t be leaving the world of wrestling entirely behind. This Saturday’s edition of ESPN College GameDay will air live from Dublin, Ireland, and will fittingly see the country’s own Sheamus serve as the celebrity guest picker.

The RAW commentary team will undergo another major change soon enough when Joe Terristore joins the red brand in September 2024. Terristore’s involvement with WWE was announced back in July and he comes with a lengthy background at ESPN. As to who will fill in for McAfee on next week’s RAW remains to be seen, though The Miz filled in for Pat earlier this year when McAfee was off dealing with a family situation. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Pat McAfee from in and outside of WWE.

Randy Orton would love to step in the ring with John Cena one final time before the 16-time WWE World Champion hangs up his jorts for good. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Orton addressed whether he will be part of Cena’s retirement tour.

“I have spoken with him…  I would love to wrestle John. But as far as pushing for that match, that’s never been my style.”

Pushing for the match isn’t Orton’s ‘style’ but will come down to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and his creative team. Fortunately for Orton, having the Game in charge bodes well.

“He [Triple H] is listening to the crowd. He knows where everything needs to end up… And if the fans want John Cena and Randy Orton to face each other at some point, maybe even at Wrestlemania, then this is their last chance.”

Orton encouraged fans who want the match to happen to let their voices be heard on social media and at WWE events. Orton ended by reiterating that if fans really want one final showdown between himself and Cena, then he is confident it’ll happen.

John Cena Vs. Randy Orton

John Cena Vs. Randy Orton was a feud that defined an era in WWE, with both men often competing in pay-per-view main events with World Championships on the line. The pair’s first encounter would come in developmental in July 2001, a year before either man would be on the main roster. That OVW show saw Cena (then Prototype) and Rico Constantino defeat Orton & Bobby Eaton, though Orton got the win in their first singles match the next month.

Cena and Orton last shared the ring in singles action on the July 2, 2017 edition of SmackDown in a match that Cena would win. With Hell in a Cell, Iron Man, and Street Fights in their past, fans are eager to see what the pair would do in their final encounter.

Get In Line

Orton is itching for a chance to face John Cena on his retirement tour, but he is by no means the only ghost from Big Match John’s past CM Punk hopes to team with John before the latter calls it a career while The Miz is hoping to get one last match with Cena after previously headlining WrestleMania 27 in 2011. RVD, who faced Cena at ECW One Night Stand 2006, is also ready for a rematch with the WWE icon.

There’s no shortage of talent who are ready to face Cena for the first time. Matt Cardona has thrown his name in the hat after previously sharing the screen with John in 2012. WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker is ready to defend his title against Cena next year. The title in question is one of the few accolades John has not obtained in WWE and the only title Cena needs to complete the Grand Slam. 

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on John Cena and his final year in the ring.

AEW President Tony Khan is aiming high with All In: Texas 2025, which will be the promotion’s first stadium event in the United States. Speaking to the Dallas Morning News, Khan spoke about possibly breaking the attendance record in Globe Life Field.

“We think we have a chance to set the all-time attendance record. That would be pretty cool.”

Country artist Morgan Wallen currently holds the attendance record for Globe Life Field when 43,958 fans came to watch him perform in 2022. Globe Life Field is the home of the Texas Rangers and opened its doors in 2020.

All In: Texas 2025 will mark AEW’s first time hosting the event outside of London, England. In the interview, Khan shared his excitement about bringing the massive show to Arlington.

“AEW All In is such an important event in sports and it’s one of the most marquee nights in pro wrestling… The location is very special to us and Arlington, Texas. It’s a very special place.”

AEW has quickly become familiar with the city of Arlington as recent episodes of Collision have taken place in the Texan city. ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 was also held in Arlington as part of Khan’s ‘Summer Series’ of events.

AEW All In: London

Before Khan and the All-Elite roster can set sights on Texas, the promotion will host its All In: London 2024 event in Wembley Stadium this weekend. The show will be headlined by AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defending against Bryan Danielson. Danielson has vowed to retire from in-ring competition should he come up short in London. AEW All In will return to London in 2026, Khan has confirmed.

Another Stadium Event?

The Sporting News reported earlier this month that AEW is planning on hosting a stadium event in Australia in 2025 and that plans are already in motion. Venues reportedly being considered for the show include Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.