SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Paul Heyman Tells All On Previously Turning Down the WWE Hall of Fame

    Paul Heyman Tells All On Previously Turning Down the WWE Hall of Fame

    Paul Heyman has shared why he turned down the WWE Hall of Fame ahead of his induction the night before WrestleMania 40. 

    Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year’s class on April 5. The honor is richly-deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns’ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company’s peak.

    Turning Down the WWE HOF

    While Heyman will be inducted this year, the Bloodline’s spokesman has turned the honor down in the past. Sitting down with TMZ Sports, Heyman explained his reasoning for why he didn’t want to be inducted years earlier during his run with Brock Lesnar. 

    “If I had accepted the award while I was The Advocate for Brock Lesnar and none of my work with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline was part of my Hall of Fame induction, then by now, we’d be sitting there saying, ‘Oh, how did we induct him five years ago and missed this whole chapter of his career.’”

    The only flaw of Heyman’s plan, as he pointed out in the interview, is that he has no plans on wrapping up his career despite his impending induction. 

    “Roman Reigns and I are not going anywhere. We plan on sticking around. He will continue to be the reigning defending Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion in the greatest title run of all time.”

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    Heyman will be part of what is shaping up to be a star-studded class of inductees. Bull Nakano will be inducted this year. The former WWF Women’s Champion had a successful run in and out of WWE and is currently the commissioner of Bushiroad. The US Express will also be inducted as part of this year’s class. 

  • Watch: Seth Rollins Triumphant in First Match Back From Torn MCL Injury

    Watch: Seth Rollins Triumphant in First Match Back From Torn MCL Injury

    Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins’ return to the ring proved to be a triumphant night for the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion. 

    In January, Rollins suffered an injury during a title defense on Monday Night Raw against Jinder Mahal. Despite this setback, Rollins has continued to appear on WWE programming. The Architect has become an ally of Cody Rhodes in the American Nightmare’s war with The Bloodline. 

    Seth Rollins Returns to the Ring

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rollins shared the news that he was very close to being cleared to wrestle. At last night’s WWE live event in Alexandria, LA, Rollins competed for the first time in close to two months. The World Heavyweight Champion teamed with Cody Rhodes to defeat Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. Rollins would pick up the win for his team with a stomp on Jimmy Uso.

    What’s Next? 

    Rollins will make up for lost time at WrestleMania 40 by competing twice at the Showcase of the Immortals. Rollins and Rhodes will team again to face Roman Reigns and The Rock on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. If Rhodes & Rollins win, there will be no Bloodline presence during the Sunday main event between Reigns and Rhodes. Should the Bloodline win, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’

    The next night, Rollins will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior and self-professed ‘savior’ of WrestleMania earned a title match by winning the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match.

  • Watch: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes Epic Undertaker Entrance At UFC 299

    Watch: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes Epic Undertaker Entrance At UFC 299

    UFC fighter Michael ‘Venom’ Page made quite the impression at UFC 299 with an epic tribute to WWE’s ‘Phenom’ The Undertaker.

    UFC 299 took place on March 9, 2024, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. To the backdrop of speculation about the much-anticipated UFC 300 show, UFC 299 was headlined by Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera. Though Vera won their first encounter at UFC 252 in August 2020, this week’s event saw O’Malley get the win a unanimous decision victory after five rounds. 

    Page’s Undertaker Entrance

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page, also known as MVP, arrived to his fight with Ken Holland to the iconic theme song of The Undertaker. While he didn’t don the Deadman’s trademark coat and hat, Page wore a black cloak for this portion of his entrance. You can see Page’s entrance down below. 

    Not only did Page make an Undertaker-themed entrance, but he also matched the Deadman’s dominance in the cage as he’d win the fight via decision in the third round. 

    Wrestling Themes and UFC

    At UFC 276, Israel Adesanya went one further, using an entrance based on The Undertaker. In addition to using the Phenom’s theme song, Adesanya wore an Undertaker-themed hat and solemnly walked to the cage with an urn. At that same event, Jessica Rose-Clark would walk to the cage for her fight to the theme of one of The Undertaker’s greatest rivals: Shawn Michaels.

    More recently, Chris Curtis used Adam Copeland’s theme at UFC 297.  When the UFC returned to Calgary, Alberta in July 2018, it was fitting that Ion Cutelaba walked out to Bret Hart’s WWE theme

  • The Heir Apparent! Michael Cole Sees Corey Graves As The Future of WWE Broadcasting

    The Heir Apparent! Michael Cole Sees Corey Graves As The Future of WWE Broadcasting

    Fans should get used to hearing Michael Cole on commentary for years to come, at least if Michael Cole is to be believed. 

    Cole has been with WWE for close to three decades after joining the promotion in 1997 on the recommendation of Todd Pettengill. A former war correspondent, Cole’s career in WWE has seen him call the action at countless events, enjoy a brief heel run, and even get a win at WrestleMania 27. 

    The Heir Apparent

    With decades in the industry, Cole has developed a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t at the commentary table. In a recent interview with Awful Announcing, the veteran spoke about Corey Graves’ journey in WWE thus far and teaching him the proverbial ropes. 

    “[It was] a matter of giving him the opportunity to sit side by side for many years, to watch, learn, study, and see how I do things.”

    Cole added that he is pleased that Graves was given the opportunity and sees a very bright future for the SmackDown commentator.

    “And at the end of the day, when we gave him the shot? He’s been killing it. I believe he’s the heir apparent.”

    Corey Graves

    While Cole sees Graves as his heir, the 40-year-old is hardly a newbie to the commentary desk. After his in-ring retirement in 2014, Graves joined the NXT commentary team before being moved to the Raw desk in 2016. Graves current calls the action on SmackDown alongside Wade Barrett.

  • Eddie Kingston Doesn’t Regret His “Whatever” Attitude to WWE Tryout

    AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston may not have made it big in WWE, but the Mad King isn’t going to lose sleep over it. 

    Before AEW was launched in 2019, Kingston had an ultimately unsuccessful try out with WWE. Speaking to Inside the Ropes recently, Kingston recalled his ‘attitude’ when stepping foot in the Performance Center. 

    “A friend of mine hooked me up with it… but I went there with this attitude of ‘whatever f**k it, I don’t really care.’ I didn’t really care, I was like ‘they’re not looking at me anyway.”

    Kingston added that at the time, WWE were more interested in hiring female talent for the Mae Young Classic. The all-female tournament meant Kingston walked in believing he had slim chances of being signed. 

    Another WWE Offer

    Kingston didn’t receive a WWE talent contract, but the company saw something in him, as he was approached about being a coach. During the interview, Kingston explained that he turned the offer down as the role didn’t suit him. Kingston also recalled being approached by his old friend Kevin Owens and how that made a lot of people take notice. 

    “As soon as they saw me say hello to Kevin Owens and he gave me a hug, and a couple of other people that were there, next thing you know the next day everybody was my friend.”

    No Regrets

    Looking back on his try out, Kingston had no issue with how things went. He explained that he already had a number of independent bookings on the horizon that would have paid him good money. Things would work out for Kingston, who in addition to his AEW gold in the NJPW Strong Champion and the reigning ROH World Champion. 

    H/T – Wrestling Inc

  • WWE Files Trademark For Shawn Spears As Ex-AEW Star Continues to Make Waves in NXT

    WWE Files Trademark For Shawn Spears As Ex-AEW Star Continues to Make Waves in NXT

    WWE’s latest trademark filings have shown that the promotion is serious about keeping Shawn Spears around following his recent return to the promotion. 

    Spears returned to WWE last month as part of the NXT brand, five years almost to the day that he left the promotion in February 2019. Spears returned by attacking Ridge Holland. On this week’s episode of WWE NXT, Spears defeated Uriah Connors in the on-screen debut of the recently renamed Brogan Finlay. 

    Shawn Spears is Locked In

    WWE has now filed to trademark the Shawn Spears name, confirming that he will use this name going forward and ditch the Tye Dillinger moniker. The trademark filing covers the use of the Shawn Spears moniker for use at wrestling events and through broadcast media. It also covers the use of the name online in the field of ‘Sports Entertainment.’

    More Trademark Filings

    Shawn Spears isn’t the only WWE Superstar to get his name trademarked. WWE has also filed for the name of fellow WWE NXT Superstar Dijak. The former Retribution member has been making waves as part of the gold brand and is one of the more prominently featured Superstars appearing on Tuesday nights. 

    WWE has also filed a trademark for the name of WWE SmackDown Superstar Berto. The young wrestler has undergone several name alterations throughout his career. He debuted as Humberto Carrillo, which was later shortened to Humberto. He would later get his last name back before it was shortened again and has since be shortened further to just Berto. 

  • AEW Had A Different Original Plan For Sting’s Final Entrance At Revolution 2024

    AEW Had A Different Original Plan For Sting’s Final Entrance At Revolution 2024

    AEW rolled out the red carpet for Sting at Revolution 2024, but there was a different plan for the Icon’s final entrance as a professional wrestler. 

    In the main event of AEW’s pay-per-view, 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. 

    After the show, Sting spoke passionately to the fans in attendance and was grateful for all the support he has been shown during his retirement tour and throughout his professional wrestling career. 

    A Different Entrance for Sting

    For Sting’s entrance, the legend’s sons Steven and Garrett Borden accompanied their father to the ring. Steven was dressed in the red and black of nWo Wolfpac era Sting while Garrett wore the Surfer Sting attire worn at Great American Bash 1990. 

    The presence of the brothers made the match extra special but this entrance was nearly different. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Steven explained that he was originally going to portray the black and white ‘Crow Sting’ fans are most accustomed to. 

    “The plan actually until the very end… was for me to just do Crow Sting. So Garrett was going to be Surfer, I was going to be Crow…. There was never contention over who was going to do what.”

    Steven added that it was Darby Allin who pointed out that Sting was already in his black-and-white attire and believed the Revolution show proved the perfect time to mix things up. 

    “Darby actually made a point to my dad maybe a week or so before the match going, ‘well, you know, don’t you think if Garrett’s going to be Surfer, Steven’s going to be Crow, and then you’re also going to be Crow this is an opportunity to mix it up a little bit?’”

  • Stephanie Vaquer Wins NJPW Strong Women’s Title from Giulia Amid WWE Interest in Ex-Champion

    Stephanie Vaquer Wins NJPW Strong Women’s Title from Giulia Amid WWE Interest in Ex-Champion

    The NJPW Strong Women’s Championship reign of Giulia has come to an end amid speculation that the former champion could soon be heading to WWE. 

    At the second day of the STARDOM Cinderella Tournament event, Stephanie Vaquer defeated Gulia to win the gold. The finish of the match saw Vaquer catch Giulia with a DDT and snag the win, and the title, with a clutch pin. 

    This win was a long time coming for Vaquer, who competed in the tournament to crown the first NJPW Strong Women’s Champion in 2023. In that tournament, Vaquer, representing CMLL, would lose to Mercedes Mone in the semi-finals. 

    What’s Next for Giulia? 

    The end of Giulia’s record-breaking 249-day reign comes at an interesting time for the young wrestler. Giulia has made clear to NJPW that she will be leaving the promotion this month when her contract expires. It is believed that she will join WWE when the time is right. WWE is said to have a massive interest in adding Giulia to its women’s division. She was expected to attend a training session at WWE’s Performance Center in late 2023 but that didn’t ultimately happen. 

    Stephanie Vaquer: The Belt Collector

    This isn’t the only title that Vaquer currently holds. In CMLL, she is the promotion’s reigning World Women’s Champion and has held the title since September of last year. She is also one-half of the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Zeuxis. The pair are the inaugural champions and have also held the gold since September of last year.  

  • Otis Feared the Ring Would Collapse While Waiting for 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble Spot

    Otis Feared the Ring Would Collapse While Waiting for 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble Spot

    Otis was happy to save Mandy Rose during the 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble match but had serious concerns about being under the ring during the bout itself. 

    The match in question saw Rose enter from the #8 spot. After eliminating Mercedes Matinez, Rose herself was thrown over the top rope. Fortunately for the future NXT Women’s Champion, Otis, her on-screen love interest, was under the ring and she landed on him, meaning her feet didn’t hit the floor. 

    Otis On The Royal Rumble Spot

    Four years on, the spot is fondly remembered by fans as a unique, entertaining moment that has yet to be duplicated.  During an interview with Fightful, Otis recalled being under the ring during the match and fearing the worst was going to happen. 

    “I had never been under the ring before. I remember going like, ‘it sounds like it’s going to break.’ Our ring guy Nick goes, ‘Imagine when I’m down here and you’re up there buddy. Then it’s going to really break.’”

    For company, Otis had a monitor so he could track the match and know when exactly he needed to appear. Otis also had a ‘pee bottle’ while under the ring, stating that “you never know.”

    What Came Next? 

    Otis and Rose’s on-screen relationship reached its peak at WrestleMania 36 when the Alpha Academy member defeated Dolph Ziggler. Otis and his ‘peach’ would share a post-match kiss. 

    Unfortunately, the pairing would be short-lived after that. Rose would be moved to Raw that same year, ending her relationship with Otis in the process. The year would go from bad to worse for the big man, who would lose his Money in the Bank contract to The Miz after being betrayed by then tag-team partner Tucker.

  • AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament to Begin on 3/16 Collision

    AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament to Begin on 3/16 Collision

    The tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions will officially begin on next week’s episode of Collision, it has been confirmed. 

    At AEW Revolution 2024, Sting and Darby Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships. This match marked the final bout of Sting’s legendary career. During the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan announced that the titles had been vacated. This decision was reiterated during the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite in which Allin surrendered his AEW World Tag Team Championship. 

    AEW World Tag Titles Tournament

    It has been confirmed that the Young Bucks will be a part of the tournament, as well as Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta. On this week’s episode of AEW Collision, two-time former AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR also officially declared for the tournament. Tony Schiavone added that the tournament will begin in one week’s time on the March 16, episode of Collision. 

    FTR’s promo would be interrupted by The Infantry. The pairing of Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean also alluded to potentially being in the tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions. 

    The AEW World Tag Team Titles

    FTR and the Young Bucks share the record for the most AEW World Tag Team title reigns with two each. The Bucks hold the record for the longest individual reign, with their first lasting an impressive 302 days. The Bucks also hold the distinction for being the lightest champions, weighing in collectively at 350lbs. 

    Sting and Darby Allin’s 25-day reign with the titles is the shortest in AEW history and the Icon holds the distinction of being the oldest champion (at 64.) Four decades his junior, Jungle Boy became the youngest champion at 24 when he and Luchasaurus won the gold in January 2022. 

  • Watch: John Cena Reveals VERY Guilty Pleasure Movie In Hilarious New Interview

    Watch: John Cena Reveals VERY Guilty Pleasure Movie In Hilarious New Interview

    WWE’s own John Cena had a lot of fun during a recent interview in which he disclosed a very guilty pleasure of a movie he’s seen. 

    The interview in question saw Cena and his Ricky Stanicky co-stars Zac Efron and Jermaine Fowler discuss whether a film can be classed as a ‘guilty pleasure.’ While Efron suggested Finding Nemo, Cena, and Fowler argued that the animated flick is a great movie and Zac has nothing to feel guilty about.

    Cena then gave his suggestion of a guilty pleasure movie which was ‘Behind the Green Door.’ Cena watched on to see if anyone knew what he was talking about though neither Efron, Fowler, nor the interviewer were aware of the film. That’s probably for the best as a member of the filming crew who googled the title learned that ‘Behind the Green Door’ is a 1972 hardcore pornography film. As the crew laughed, John defended himself as a fan of the ‘classics.’

    John Cena’s Raunchier Side

    While John was a clean-cut babyface during his days as a full-time WWE Superstar, the 16-time World Champion has been able to show a more risque side in recent years. To promote Ricky Stanicky, John Cena launched an OnlyFans page which is free for fans to subscribe to. John is having fun subverting expectations on the page, as those eager to see him be creampied, engage in teabagging, and more may be disappointed with the literal take he has given these sexual acts. 

    Ricky Stanicky was released this week on Amazon Prime. 

  • Paramore At WrestleMania? Hayley Williams Gives WWE Star Permission to Use Song

    Paramore At WrestleMania? Hayley Williams Gives WWE Star Permission to Use Song

    WWE WrestleMania 40 could see music from rock sensations Paramore if the band’s lead singer Hayley Williams has her way. 

    WrestleMania 40 will take place in just four weeks time from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The show will be the fifth-annual WrestleMania to take place across two nights, a tradition that bean thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

    Paramore and WrestleMania? 

    Last month, A movement began on social media for Paramore to perform at WrestleMania 40. This caught the attention of Bayley, who expressed her support for the fan campaign.

    Now, the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner has once again taken to social media, this time with a message from the band itself. Bayley shared a video of Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams who made clear that she was aware of wrestling fans wanting Paramore at WrestleMania. Williams gave the Role Model permission to use the band’s hit ‘Simmer’ for her entrance next month. 

    ”Bayley says ‘Dude, I wanna play Simmer for my entrance at WrestleMania.’ You have our permission, that’s sick, holy s***.”

    Bayley and Paramore

    The Role Model is a huge fan of Paramore and has made no secret of her devotion. In 2018, Bayley wore a Paramore-themed attire for WWE Evolution, the company’s first (and to date, only) event to feature an all-female card. Bayley teamed with Sasha Banks and Natalya to defeat the Riott Squad at the event. 

    Bayley at WrestleMania 40

    Paramore or no Paramore, Bayley will compete for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40. The Role Model will challenge former Damage CTRL ally IYO SKY who has held the title since SummerSlam 2023. This will mark Bayley’s first singles match at the Show Of Shows. 

  • McKenzie Mitchell’s Musical Move: Ex-NXT Name Lands Role in ‘The Last Match’ Show

    McKenzie Mitchell may no longer be a part of WWE, but the former interviewer has landed on her feet with a new musical role. 

    Mitchell was released from WWE in December of last year in a shock to fans as she had been a regular presence on programming right until her exit. WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels would later say he was sad to see her cut and that he hadn’t been part of the decision. WWE Superstars also shared their support to Mitchell, the wife of WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph. 

    McKenzie Mitchell’s Musical Move 

    Mitchell will be a part of ‘The Last Match,’ a new rock musical centered on professional wrestling. On Twitter, Mitchell, in character as commentator Scarlett Sublime, shared her excitement for the project.

    The Last Match

    Mitchell won’t be the only notable name on stage for The Last Match. Popular Wrestling YouTube personality Simon Miller will be portraying Alexander Swagger. In addition to his work online, Miller has also gotten in the ring from time to time, including at IMPACT Wrestling’s Turning Point show last year. 

    The show’s inaugural performance will take place on April 26, from the Temple in Rochester, New York. The show tells the story of Ben Vengeance who is walking into his final wrestling pay-per-view event to challenge for the BTD Championship held by Swagger/Miller. 

    For more information about The Last Match, including news on tickets and how to buy them, click here. 

  • “The Best is Yet to Come!” Mike Santana Grateful to Fans & Ortiz After AEW Exit

    Mike Santana has shared his gratitude to the fans, Ortiz, and others following the Inner Circle alum’s exit from AEW.

    Earlier this month, . The tag-team specialist had been with the company since 2019 and had been a regular fixture of programming during the days of the Inner Circle. 

    Mike Santana is Grateful

    Taking to Twitter, Santana reflected on his exit from AEW. The wrestler was immensely grateful for the opportunities he received in the company. 

    ”Took a few days to reflect and I can’t tell you how truly blessed and grateful I feel. It’s been 5 years full of ups and downs, but above all it taught me so much about myself and this business. I’m thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of history at the ground level. I can say that I’ll forever be a part of that legacy right at day one. But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself. We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks.

    You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in “When one door closes, a bigger door opens”, and im so excited for what the future holds for me. With that being said, I want to thank God and my father for continuing to guide me. My family for their endless support.”

    ”All the fans who have backed me endlessly no matter what. To Ortiz, for the years. And AEW for the knowledge and opportunity.

    “I TOLD YOU THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

    While Santana is gone from AEW, fans can still find him in other promotions. He is the current House of Glory World Champion. 

  • Who Made the Call for Kazuchika Okada to Debut As A Heel in AEW?

    Who Made the Call for Kazuchika Okada to Debut As A Heel in AEW?

    Kazuchika Okada is in AEW and is a heel, and this creative direction came from those at the very top of the company. 

    The Rainmaker made his much-anticipated debut as an AEW wrestler on this week’s edition of Dynamite. While it has been rumored that he’d be joining WWE and potentially starting in NXT, it was reported last month that Okada had signed with AEW. His arrival on Dynamite came less than a month after Okada finished his lengthy career with New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

    Kazuchika Okada Joins The Elite

    Okada’s debut this week saw him tease aligning with Eddie Kingston who was on the show to confront the Young Bucks. Instead, Okada attacked Kingston, certifying his role as a heel and shook hands with the AEW EVPs. With Kenny Omega fired as a member of The Elite during the same segment, Okada has seemingly replaced the absent former World Champion. 

    There was no hesitation in bringing in Okada as a heel, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. All parties involved, that being the Bucks, Okada, and Tony Khan agreed that being a heel was the better fit, especially given his original big run in Japan being as a playboy heel. The idea that he should start as a heel came directly from Khan. Multiple sources confirmed that Okada has immense trust in the AEW President’s vision. 

    What’s Next?

    Okada competed in a six-man-tag at this week’s AEW Collision tapings, which will air tonight. SI reports that all indicators are that Okada will feud with Kenny Omega once the Canadian wrestler is ready to wrestle again. 

  • Jim Ross Says “It’s Time To Move On” From Vince McMahon Amid Disturbing Allegations

    It’s time for the wrestling world to move on from Vincent Kennedy McMahon, at least according to AEW commentator and ex-McMahon employee Jim Ross. 

    McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon and was trafficked to other influential men in the company. Brock Lesnar is suspected to be one of the alleged men, resulting in the Beast being pulled from all WWE plans. 

    Vince McMahon’s Response

    McMahon has claimed that the litigation is rife with fabrications and has claimed he is completely innocent. Former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who is named in the suit, has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation. Brock Lesnar has not commented publicly on the allegation against him. 

    Jim Ross Weighs In

    Ross worked closely with McMahon for decades and in addition to being a commentator, served as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations for years. On a recent edition of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross spoke about McMahon’s sullen exit from the company he created. 

     “I’m tired of it. It’s embarrassing in a lot of ways that it’s happened this way. It’s affected a lot of innocent people. That’s my take on it.”

    Ross added that he hopes the wrestling world can look to the future and leave the alleged activity of McMahon in the past. 

    “It’s time to move on. It’s time to move on and cause some rest and peace for some people and it’s time to move on in my opinion.”

    H/T – POST Wrestling

  • Teil Rhodes, Amanda Huber & More Fire Back After The Rock Brands Cody “A Mistake”

    Teil Rhodes, Amanda Huber & More Fire Back After The Rock Brands Cody “A Mistake”

    Teil Rhodes, the sister of Cody, has fired back at The Rock following scathing comments from the Bloodline member made on this week’s SmackDown.

    During the March 8, episode of the blue brand, The Rock and Roman Reigns came face to face with Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, in the first confrontation between the four since the explosive WrestleMania 40 kick-off event. Amid a barrage of insulting comments, The Rock questioned why there is a 20-year age difference between Cody and his older brother Dustin Rhodes (it is actually a gap of 16 years.) The Rock concluded that such a gap shows that Cody was an unplanned child or a “mistake” as the Brahma Bull put it. This infuriated Rhodes who slapped The Rock to close the show. 

    Teil Rhodes on The Rock’s Comment

    The Rock’s comment against Rhodes would catch the attention of Teil, who often weighs in on storylines surrounding her brother. Taking to Twitter, Teil reminded The Rock that there is only a three-year difference between herself and Cody. 

    Teil, the EVP of Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, also responded to a fan who questioned why Rhodes didn’t bring her up on SmackDown. 

    More Responses

    Teil Rhodes wasn’t the only woman connected to Cody to have a strong response to what The Rock has had to say. AEW’s Amanda Huber questioned the Great One’s comment about an age gap, considering the notable gaps in his own family. 

    Not satisfied with just mocking Cody, The Rock has had some insulting comments about Rhodes’ dog Pharoah. In a tweet, Brandi Rhodes made it clear she’s ready to fight for her beloved pet. 

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock didn’t just insult Rhodes this week, but also flexed his muscles as a TKO board member. On SmackDown, Rock announced that if Rhodes loses to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, he’ll never get another opportunity at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

  • And New: Former WWE Duo Wins First Titles After September 2023 Release

    And New: Former WWE Duo Wins First Titles After September 2023 Release

    A former WWE tag team has scored their first taste of championship gold following their release from the promotion in September of last year. 

    September 2023 saw the first wave of talent releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings that same month. These releases came shortly after WWE cut over 100 employees from its corporate offices. These cuts were made as part of synchronization efforts with UFC to ensure that there was as little unnecessary staff in TKO. 

    New Champions

    Mace and Mansoor, collectively known as the Maximum Male Models, were among the names cut from WWE in September of last year. Now the pair have captured championship gold. At an event for Beyond Wrestling, the pair won the promotion’s tag titles. WWE NXT Superstar DIJAK was in attendance at the show to commemorate the win for the models. 

    In WWE, neither Mace nor Mansoor won championship gold. Mace’s only title opportunity in WWE came at a 2020 WWE NXT live event where he unsuccessfully challenged NXT Champion Adam Cole. Mansoor would never even get an opportunity at a title in WWE, with his biggest win being the 51-Man battle royal victory at WWE Super Showdown 2019. 

    Championship Releases

    Notable names cut at the time included Matt Riddle and Nic Nemeth, both of whom have gone on to capture championship gold in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nemeth is the current, and second-ever IWGP Global Champion while Riddle is currently the NJPW World Television Champion. 

    Mustafa Ali has gone on to join TNA Wrestling and is the reigning TNA X-Division Champion. The Retribution leader captured the title, his first championship in a major wrestling promotion, in the main event of TNA No Surrender. 

  • WWE Hall of Fame 2024: US Express To Be Inducted This April

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024: US Express To Be Inducted This April

    The US Express will take their place as WWE Hall of Famers next month as part of this year’s class of inductees.

    The legendary team consisted of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham and wowed fans with their dynamic offense during the 1980s. One of several highlights of the team’s run saw them defend the WWF World Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 1. Unfortunately for the pair, they’d lose the gold to The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, marking the first title change in the show’s history. 

    Despite the patriotic nature of the team, the pair were introduced to each other in a Toronto dressing room in 1982. The pair would work for various NWA territories before coming to the WWF. 

    Family Ties

    The pair’s bond extended beyond the ring though. Rotunda would marry Windham’s sister Stephanie. The pair would welcome two children, Taylor (Bo Dallas) and the late Windham (Bray Wyatt) Rotunda. 

    Seeing Double

    This induction will be the second for Windham. He was inducted in 2012 as part of the legendary Four Horsemen stable. Ironically, Windham’s first induction marked the first-ever two-time induction, as Ric Flair had become a WWE Hall of Famer four years prior. 

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    The US Express is the first tag team announced for this year’s class of indcutees and the third announcement overall. Earlier this month, Paul Heyman was announced as an inductee after turning down the honor in the past. More recently, Bull Nakano was announced as a WWE Hall of Fame inductee. The Japanese star is a former WWE Women’s Champion and is currently the commissioner for the all-women’s Sukeban promotion. 

    The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will stream live on Peacock directly after WWE SmackDown on April 5.

  • Sonya Deville Reveals Touching Reason Bianca Belair Had A Guest Role At Her Wedding

    Sonya Deville Reveals Touching Reason Bianca Belair Had A Guest Role At Her Wedding

    Sonya Deville was pleased that Bianca Belair could have a role at her wedding, considering the role the EST has had on her life. 

    Deville married her now-wife Toni Cassano earlier this year at The Legacy Castle in New Jersey. The happy couple was surrounded by friends, family, and WWE Superstars. Charlotte Flair, Andrade, Bayley, Montez Ford, Liv Morgan, Matt Cardona, Chelsea Green, Mandy Rose, Vic Joseph, and McKenzie Mitchell all attended. 

    Bianca Belair’s Special Role

    Belair, a former Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Women’s Champion did more than just attend the ceremony. The EST of WWE also served as a flower girl to the surprise of many in attendance. On her Instagram Stories, Deville explained that Belair was there when her relationship with Cassano began so it is fitting she had a role at the wedding. 

    “Bianca Belair is the best. She was a surprise flower girl at my wedding because she was with me the night I met my wife (on our first date) and yelled ‘I’M GONNA BE THE FLOWER GIRL AT YOUR WEDDING ONE DAY!’ So her and [Toni] made it happen! And it was the greatest surprise ever.”

    Another Notable Role

    Bianca wasn’t the only notable name to have a significant role at the Deville-Cassano wedding. Entertainment personality Maria Menounos officated the ceremony and is a close friend of both Deville and her bride. Menounos is also a huge wrestling fan and competed at WrestleMania 28. The following year, she inducted Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

  • Kevin Kelly Fired: AEW Cuts Collision Commentator Over Twitter Outburst

    Kevin Kelly Fired: AEW Cuts Collision Commentator Over Twitter Outburst

    Announcer Kevin Kelly has been fired by All Elite Wrestling following a series of tweets in which he shared frustrations within the company. 

    This news, as first reported by PWTorch, comes shortly after wrestling fans noticed that his profile was was removed from the roster page of the AEW website.

    Kelly was absent from Thursday’s AEW Collision tapings from Atlanta, which was another ominous sign about his ‘All Elite’ status. Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuiness called the action for the show, which airs Saturday night on TNT.

    Kelly’s Twitter Outburst

    Kelly Kelly’s posts on social media last weekend cost him his job, sources confirmed.  The commentator gained attention for his series of tweets in which he claimed his career was being sabotaged. 

    He added that ROH announced Ian Riccaboni had libeled him and that he was being “pushed aside” in Tony Khan’s promotion.

    You can read all about the ‘Twitter meltdown’ that precipitated the end of his stint working for Tony Khan:

    Kevin Kelly

    Kelly was brought to AEW last year to serve as the lead commentator for AEW Collision. His start in the company did not go well as he came across as being unfamiliar with AEW’s product and the history of the wrestlers. Within months of his arrival on Collision, Tony Schiavone was brought in to serve as lead play-by-play commentator though Kelly would remain at the desk. 

    Outside of AEW, Kevin Kelly worked for WWE from 1996 to 2003 and was present for the infamous ‘Pillman’s Got A Gun’ segment that nearly saw Monday Night Raw thrown off the air. Later on, he would be the subject of ridicule from The Rock and has been critical of the company’s corporate policies and creative direction since his release. 

    He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. His time with both of these promotions earned him a lot of favor prior to his signing with AEW last year.

  • No Timetable for Kenny Omega’s Return Despite Being Advertised for Canada Taping

    Fans should not expect to see Kenny Omega back any time soon, despite the Cleaner being referenced on this week’s Dynamite. 

    The former AEW World Champion has been out of action since late 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis. This situation forced AEW to change plans as Omega and Chris Jericho had been in line for an AEW World Tag Title shot before the Cleaner’s hiatus. Instead, Jericho teamed with his Inner Circle alum Sammy Guevara in a losing effort.

    Kenny Omega Advertised

    In January, Omega was advertised for upcoming AEW Dynamite tapings that will take place this month in Toronto, Canada. While fans took this as a good sign, Tony Khan made clear that fans shouldn’t expect to see the Cleaner at the tapings when he spoke at the AEW Revolution 2024 media scrum. 

    “I don’t think it would be fair to create the expectation that Kenny Omega would be cleared by then… I don’t know the exact date.”

    Latest on Kenny Omega

    With that in mind, there is still no timetable as to when fans should expect Kenny Omega, according to Fightful Select. During this week’s AEW Dynamite, Omega was ‘fired’ as a member of The Elite and has been replaced by Kazuchika Okada. Fightful adds that the plan is for Okada’s inclusion in the Elite to set up Omega’s return and feud with the group. 

  • Rush Shares Family Tribute to Akira Toriyama After Dragon Ball Creator’s Death Aged 68

    AEW’s Rush has shared a touching scene in tribute to Akira Toriyama following the manga titan’s death this week at the age of 68.

    Toriyama suffered an acute subdural hematoma, which is a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio reported following his death. Toriyama is best known for creating manga hit Dragon Ball, which has spawned shows, movies, video games and more. The main series follows Goku and his efforts to collect the titular Dragon Balls to protect the Earth. 

    Rush’s Tribute

    Taking to Twitter, Rush shared that he had begun re-watching the series, this time with his new-born son. Rush was grateful to Toriyama for making him happy in his childhood and is grateful he can now share Dragon Ball with his son. 

    Pro-Wrestling and Dragon Ball

    Rush is hardly the only professional wrestler to have their life influenced by Toriyama and his hit manga series. For WrestleMania 32, the New Day donned armor similar to the Saiyan alien species from Dragon Ball. In 2020, Rhea Ripley wore a Vegeta-themed attire for her WrestleMania debut against Charlotte Flair in the crowd-less WWE Performance Center. 

    WWE Money in the Bank 2023 saw not one but two references to Dragon Ball. For her Women’s Tag Team Championship match, Ronda Rousey wore an attire based on Majin Vegeta, the darker version of the series staple. Zelina Vega, who has cosplayed several manga characters in the ring, wore an attire referencing series villain Frieza. The power of the Dragon Balls wasn’t with either Superstar as Rousey would lose her title match while Vega failed to capture the Women’s  Money in Bank briefcase.

  • Kevin Kelly Absent from 3/9 Collision Taping In Latest Sign of AEW Friction

    Kevin Kelly Absent from 3/9 Collision Taping In Latest Sign of AEW Friction

    Fans tuning into this week’s Collision will not be greeted by Kevin Kelly in the latest development in his issues with AEW. 

    Earlier this week, Kelly took to social media to claim that he was being sabotaged within the promotion. Kelly added that in AEW he is being “pushed aside” but that nobody is better than him as a broadcaster.

    The veteran broadcaster added that he had been libelled by ‘Ian’, believed to be Ian Riccaboni, a broadcaster for AEW, ROH, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He later stated that Ian’s attempts to tie Kelly to a”fringe conspiracy theory that everyone knows is bullsh*t” was libellous. 

    Missing AEW Collision

    Following his comments on social media, Kevin Kelly was removed from AEW’s roster section of its website. Many have taken this as a sign that his time with the company is ending, if it hasn’t already. 

    Now, there has been another sign of Kelly’s exit from the company. This week’s episode of AEW Collision was filmed following this past Wednesday’s live edition of Dynamite. Kelly did not appear at the Collision taping, leaving Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone to call the action as a duo. This is particularly alarming given that Kelly was hired to AEW last year with the explicit reason being for him to commentate on Collision. 

    Kevin Kelly

    Outside of AEW, Kevin Kelly worked for WWE from 1996 to 2003 and was present for the infamous ‘Pillman’s Got A Gun’ segment that nearly saw Monday Night Raw thrown off the air. Later on, he would be the subject of ridicule from The Rock and has been critical of the company’s corporate policies and creative direction since his release. He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

  • WWE’s Pat McAfee & Stephen A. Smith Have ‘Explosive’ Argument Over ESPN Plans

    WWE’s Pat McAfee & Stephen A. Smith Have ‘Explosive’ Argument Over ESPN Plans

    WWE Raw’s Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith have seemingly patched things up following a heated exchange between the two. 

    The New York Post reports that things got heated during a private conversation between the pair from several weeks ago which was described as an “explosive argument.” Things escalated to the point that McAfee branded Smith a “motherf****r.” The Post adds that following the spat, Smith banned McAfee from his ‘First Take’ show on ESPN. 

    Source of the Issue

    Their issues arose from creative differences involving a yet-to-be-announced project that Stephen A. Smith is executive producing. The show will be produced by Mr. SAS Productions and will air on ESPN. A specific airdate is not known at this time.

    Issues Quashed

    Both sides have told the New York Post that their animosity has been resolved. In a text message, McAfee said that he was unaware of any ban. 

    “I think I’m still welcome on ‘First Take’? I was scheduled through football season to join on Tuesdays, hopefully next year that’ll happen as well.”

    Smith similarly made clear the positive impact McAfee has had on First Take thanks to his experience as a football star.

    “We are No.1 and he has absolutely contributed to us remaining No.1. McAfee was asked to come on each Tuesday through the Super Bowl and he did just that, kicking ass each time.”

    Pat McAfee and ESPN 

    This is hardly the first time that McAfee’s name has been at the center of controversy for ESPN. In January, McAfee claimed that Norby Williamson had been sabotaging his show and went as far as to call  the ESPN executive a “rat.”  Days later, ESPN responded said that Williamson was committed to making the show a success.