WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield has thrown his support behind AEW American Champion MJF, who he believes is the ideal figure to represent the United States. Recently, MJF took to Twitter to share his respect for JBL. In a response, JBL said the world is lucky to have MJF representing the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Since capturing the AEW American Championship, MJF has fully embraced his role as a jingoistic heel, declaring the U.S. as the only country that matters. MJF took aim at Mexico ahead of his CMLL debut and called the United Kingdom a third-world country before competing for Rev Pro.

After winning the WWE United States Championship in 2006, JBL also became a pro-America heel and flaunted his patriotism in the face of his opponents. This angle would see JBL feud with then-World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio, who despite being from California, was seen as a representative of Mexican traditions. Mysterio defeated JBL on an episode of SmackDown to retire the Texan.

What’s next?

MJF is set to defend his AEW American Championship later this month against Will Ospreay at AEW All In: London 2024, in a rematch from their hour-long encounter from Dynamite 250. The winner will face PAC at AEW All Out 2024 two weeks after the Wembley show, as confirmed on this week’s Dynamite. AEW All In: London 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from MJF on the road to AEW’s biggest event of the year.

AEW All In 2025 will take place from the Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on July 12, 2025, it has been confirmed this week. The event will mark AEW’s first All In event in the United States. All In 2023 took place in London, England’s Wembley Stadium and the show will return to the UK capital later this month.

In addition to AEW All In: Texas, a series of events in Arlington are being planned leading up to the event. Fans eager to secure tickets for the event can sign up to the Globe Life Field newsletter to be the first to know about the event. News of this show comes mere days after it was reported that Arlington was a favorite to host a stadium event.

This event will be AEW’s first stadium-sized show in North America for Tony Khan’s promotion. Recently, AEW has been hosting episodes of Collision at Arlington’s E-Sports Arena as part of a lucrative deal between the promotion and the city. This deal also included the hosting of ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 in Arlington.

Globe Life Field is the home of the Texas Rangers and at maximum capacity, can seat 40,300 fans. Construction on the venue began in 2017 and its first events would take place in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another Stadium Event?

The Sporting News reported earlier this week 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.

The inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC convention takes place August 16-18 from the Javitz Center in New York City. The first-ever ‘immersive sports festival’ brings together the biggest stars from WWE, the world’s top pro sports leagues, including the NFL, MLB, UFC, NHL and more.

WWE is one of Fanatics strongest brand partners and will have a strong presence at this unprecedented event. WWE Superstars and Legends will participate in Photo Opportunity sessions, Autograph Sessions, stage shows and live podcasts.

Paul Heyman will grace Center Stage on a special edition of the NotSam Wrestling podcast and Peter Rosenberg hosts the ‘WWE: Ring Revolutionaries’ panel with Jey Uso, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.

WWE Talent Appearing

WWE Superstars and Legends appearing at Fanatics Fest NYC include:

• Bayley
• Bianca Belair
• CM Punk
• Cody Rhodes
• Drew McIntyre
• Hulk Hogan
• Jade Cargill
• Jey Uso
• LA Knight
• Liv Morgan
• Paul Heyman
• Rey Mysterio
• Rhea Ripley
• The Miz
• Tiffany Stratton

Charlotte Flair was initially advertised, but is listed as cancellation.

Appearance Schedule

Saturday, August 17

Hulk Hogan

• Photo Op Session: 12-1:40 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Autograph Session: 1:40-3:30 p.m. in Autographing Zone

Jey Uso

• Photo Op Session: 1-2 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Autograph Session: 2-3 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Ring Revolutionaries: 3-3:45 p.m. in The Theatre

CM Punk

• The Masked Man Show 1-1:30 p.m. in Center Stage
• Autograph Session: 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Fanatics Live: 2:35-2:45 p.m. in Center Stage
• Photo Op Session: 2:45-3:45 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone

Bianca Belair

• Autograph Session: 1-2 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 2-3 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Ring Revolutionaries: 3-3:45 p.m. in The Theatre

Jade Cargill

• Autograph Session: 1-2 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 2-3 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Ring Revolutionaries: 3-3:45 p.m. in The Theatre

Liv Morgan

• Fanatics Live: 2-2:30 p.m. in Center Stage
• Photo Op Session: 2:30-3:45 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Autograph Session: 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Autographing Zone

LA Knight

• Fanatics Live: 2:45-3:15 in Center Stage
• Autograph Session: 3:15-4:30 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 4:30-5:20 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone

Tiffany Stratton

• Fanatics Live: 3:15-3:45 p.m. in Center Stage
• Photo Op Session: 4-5 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Autograph Session: 5-6 p.m. in Autographing Zone

Paul Heyman

• Not Sam Wrestling: 5-5:45 p.m. in Center Stage

Sunday, August 18

Cody Rhodes

• Autograph Session: 10-11:10 a.m. in Autographing Zone
• Fanatics Live: 11:15-11:25 a.m. in Center Stage
• Photo Op Session: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone

Drew McIntyre

• The Masked Man Show: 10-10:30 a.m. in Center Stage
• Fanatics Live: 10:45-11 a.m. in Center Stage
• Autograph Session: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 12-1 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone

Bayley

• Autograph Session: 10:15-11:15 a.m. in Autographing Zone
• Fanatics Live: 11:25-11:50 a.m. in Center Stage
• Photo Op Session: 12-1 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone

Rhea Ripley

• Fanatics Live: 11:50 a.m.-12:15 p.m. in Center Stage
• Autograph Session: 12:30-12:50 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 12:50-2 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Autograph Session: 2-2:30 p.m. in Autographing Zone

The Miz

• Fanatics Live: 11-11:15 a.m. in Center Stage
• Autograph Session: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 1-2 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone

Rey Mysterio

• Autograph Session: 1:15-2:15 p.m. in Autographing Zone
• Photo Op Session: 2:15-3:15 p.m. in Photo Ops Zone
• Not Sam Wrestling: 3:15-4 p.m. in Center Stage

Visit Fanatics Events to purchase tickets and for more information.

WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix recently sat down with the Insight podcast to discuss a variety of topics from her wrestling career. The Glamazon is a former WWE Women’s and Divas Champion and became WWE’s youngest Hall of Famer in 2017.

On One More Match

The Glamazon hasn’t competed for WWE since February 2023 where she teamed with her husband Edge to defeat Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley. On the podcast, Beth admitted that she doesn’t know whether another match will happen. The Glamazon added that it was difficult in 2012 to say she was ‘retired’ but knew at the time that being a WWE Diva and starting a family would’ve been a struggle.

“I give the age-old cliche answer that everybody hates, never say never. But it really just depends on the opportunities and what suits our family, that’s really it.”

On Becoming A Wrestler

Like many, Phoenix was a wrestling fan before stepping in the ring herself. Fans who have admired the Glamazon in the ring have two legendary Canadians to thank for inspiring the Hall of Faner.

“It was WrestleMania 10 seeing Bret versus Owen where I was like, I was just so stunned by the performance and the emotional aspect. It felt so real… whatever magic they created in the ring together was a lightbulb moment for me.”

On Breaking Her Jaw

Beth Phoenix made her WWE main roster debut in 2006 though her arrival did not go well. During her debut match on RAW against Victoria, Beth suffered a broken jaw that derailed all plans for her. This was a “worst-case scenario” for the Glamazon who felt her world “crumble” around her. Phoenix’s treatment included two days in hospital in which she reflected on how things had gone horribly wrong.

“I’ve ruined everything, I’ve sacrificed everything at that time, I really hadn’t had a chance to start making any money. I put my family second, everything my whole life, I had put all my eggs in the basket of wrestling and it blew up right in front of me.”

Victoria, Phoenix adds, felt horrible, though Beth blames herself for having her mouth slightly open when she took a move. After suffering the injury in June 2006, Beth would only return to the main roster in July of the following year.

On Glamarella

After returning as a heel and capturing the WWE Women’s Champion, Beth, an unrelenting powerhouse, formed an odd-couple duo with the comedic Santino Marella. The pair won the Women’s and Intercontinental Championships at SummerSlam 2008 and were known as ‘Glamarella’ a nod to Hollywood couples like Brangelina. On the podcast, Beth shared that she was the one to pitch the angle after watching Norbit.

“I wrote up a one-page pitch, and I walked into Vince’s office and I said, Vince, I have this idea. I didn’t even tell Santino…  It was super special. I think I was very good at being the straight man and he was very good at just doing everything he could in his power to make me crack.”

Phoenix named Glamarella, teaming with Natalya, and her appearances in the Royal Rumble matches as her favorite memories in WWE.

On Being in the 2010 Men’s Royal Rumble

In 2010, eight years before the women of WWE had a Royal Rumble of their own, Phoenix entered the Men’s Rumble. The act made Beth the second woman to enter a Rumble (following in the footsteps of Chyna.) On the podcast, Beth reflected on how it felt to follow the Ninth Wonder of the World.

“Glamazon was pretty much Chyna 2.0… to be the successor to her in that particular moment was just mind-blowing because it was very sentimental to me and special to me because of her.”

Beth kept her Royal Rumble role a secret for six weeks after being approached by Dean Malenko over the idea. The Glamazon said that if she had told anyone, she’s sure the idea would’ve been scrapped.

On Rhea Ripley

Before leaving for AEW in 2023, one of Edge’s final WWE programs saw himself and Phoenix take on The Judgment Day. The Glamazon was more than happy to be involved in the angle, not just because she got to work with her husband, but because she was able to watch the development of Rhea Ripley.

“I was super excited because I’d watched Rhea come up. I was just super excited, even if that was all we did. I just wanted the opportunity to kind of get in there with her and get to be face-to-face.”

The road to AEW All Out has officially begun with the first title match being announced for the upcoming pay-per-view from Chicago, Illinois. On the August 14, edition of AEW Dynamite, PAC shared his frustrations that Will Ospreay will challenge AEW American Champion MJF at AEW All In: London 2024. PAC pointed out that he is the “real” number one contender and is ready for his title match.

PAC will challenge the winner of the Ospreay Vs. MJF at AEW All Out for the AEW American Championship. PAC was the first holder of the gold, which was originally known as the AEW All-Atlantic Championship and held the gold for 108 days from June to October 2022. The title was rebranded the AEW International Championship in March 2023.

How To Watch AEW All Out

AEW All Out 2024 takes place on September 7, 2024 from the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It’s the the sixth installment of the annual event, the fourth from the Now Arena and the first to take place outside the Labor Day holiday weekend.

In the United States, All Out will be available to stream on Bleacher Report at 8pm ET. The event can be purchased and streamed directly through the Bleacher Report Live platform. All Out can also be ordered through local cable or satellite providers. Check with your provider on how to purchase the pay-per-view. For international viewers, the event will be accessible on FITE TV. A 1-hour Buy-In kickoff show begins at 7pm ET.

All Elite Wrestling will feature on the front of the shirts for the Fulham FC women’s team, in a crossover deal between two of Tony Khan’s projects. The AEW logo will adorn Fulham Women’s shirts during the 2024/25 season. In a statement, Khan said:

“Both Fulham Football Club and All Elite Wrestling hold a special place in my heart, and the partnership established here represents not only an elevation of both organisations on the global stage, but also a reminder of our investment and commitment to furthering women’s creative and athletic endeavours at all levels. Come on Fulham!”

Steve Jaye, Fulham Women’s Head Coach, added that significant progress had been made for FFC Women in recent seasons and he is grateful for AEW’s support. Jaye described having AEW as the front-of-shirt sponsor for the upcoming season as “a massive forward step” for the club. Fulham Women will get their 2024/25 campaign underway this Sunday at Craven Cottage when they welcome Barking.

AEW In The UK

News of this partnership comes mere days ahead of AEW’s return to the United Kingdom for All In: London 2024. The show will see the All-Elite roster compete inside Wembley Stadium with nine matches confirmed across the pre-show and main card. Before All In: London 2024, AEW will host its first Dynamite outside North America from Cardiff, Wales. On this week’s Dynamite it was announced that a Coffin match will take place at All In: London 2024 that will see TNT Champion Jack Perry face Darby Allin.

Billy Clements, an actor in MARVEL’s latest blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, has responded to criticism by WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash. Clements plays The Russian, an adversary of The Punisher in the new film, a role that Nash played in 2004’s The Punisher film. On a recent edition of his Kliq This podcast, Nash critiqued Clements’ portrayal of the character.

“That doesn’t even … that looks nothing like the character I played. That looks nothing like the Russian. It looks like they gave somebody a favor.”

On Instagram, Clements responded to Nash’s critique. The English actor suggested that thanks to multiverses being all the rage in MARVEL films (and a key plot point in Deadpool Vs. Wolverine) his The Russian could be a different individual than the one Nash played.

“There are lots of different Wolverines in there [the film.] My character is obviously a different variant [of The Russian.] Y’know, different Deadpools, Bulseye’s different. So to say obviously ‘you don’t look like your character, I thought maybe it’s not right for the MARVEL Universe, but there are different universes. That’s the reason why.”

Despite their differences, Clements had plenty of praise for Nash’s role in The Punisher which saw Big Daddy Cool share the screen with The Punisher, as played by Thomas Jane.

“I thought your character was amazing in your scene, when you played it, I thought it was brilliant. I’ve seen it a hundred times. I thought it was a great scene.”

Nash’s criticism aside, Deadpool & Wolverine has been a runaway success and has crossed the coveted $1 billion box office threshold. The hit film has also made its way into WWE 2K24, meaning Nash (or his video game equivalent) could play the Russian again. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Kevin Nash in and out of the world of wrestling.

The wrestling world is mourning the passing of Dennis Brent, an influential figure who held significant roles with both WWE and World Championship Wrestling. PW Insider reports that Brent passed away aged 73 after a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis and that his services were held this week in Dallas, Texas.

In 1989, Brent was hired by Turner Broadcasting and worked closely with World Championship Wrestling. Among his responsibilities, Brent handled press requests, oversaw the WCW 900 hotline, and worked as a ringside photographer. His name was regularly mentioned on WCW programming. Brent left WCW in 1994.

In 1998, Brent would join the WWF where, much like in WCW, he would oversee a variety of roles. Brent oversaw magazine publications, including RAW magazine, and served as Director of Talent Relations from 2002 to 2004. This role saw Brent travel to developmental territories to scout and hire talent and if necessary, fire prospective wrestlers.

Brent’s tenure in the role saw him closely work with Jim Ross, who paid tribute to Brent after his passing. In the comments, Hurricane Helms spoke of Brent always being good to him and Vince Russo offered his condolences.

Brent also co-wrote the Steve Austin memoir ‘The Stone Cold Truth’ as well as Jim Ross’ cookbooks. Even after being diagnosed with MS, he remained a consultant with WWE for some time. Outside of the industry, Brent was an avid Nolan Ryan memorabilia collector and attended several golf tournaments in Alvin, Texas.

We here at SE Scoops would like to extend our condolences to Brent’s family, friends, and those who knew him at this sad time.

All Elite Wrestling shared a touching tribute to Bryan Danielson on this week’s Dynamite, mere days away from what could be his final match. To Green Day’s Good Riddance, the video looked back on Danielson’s AEW arrival, some of his most important matches, and his time in Ring of Honor during the promotion’s formative years.

Danielson will challenge AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at AEW All In: London 2024 in a title vs. career match. The match will mark Danielson’s fifth shot at the gold since arriving in AEW at All Out 2021. Previous matches have seen the American Dragon come up short against Kenny Omega, MJF, and Blackpool Combat Club ally Jon Moxley.

Swerve Strickland Attacks

This tribute video wouldn’t be Danielson’s only role during the August 14, edition of AEW Dynamite. In the main event, Swerve Strickland defeated Wheeler Yuta (another BCC ally of Danielson) as the referee stopped the match when Yuta couldn’t fight back. Strickland continued his attack and Danielson, who’d been at ringside, tried to stop him. Strickland blindsided his Wembley opponent and Dynamite went off the air with Swerve mocking Danielson’s ‘YES’ chants.

Strickland has held the AEW World Championship since Dynasty in April of this year, where he captured the gold from Samoa Joe. He has retained against Claudio Castagnoli, Christian Cage, Roderick Strong, and Will Ospreay. Danielson may prove to be Strickland’s toughest opponent to date however, especially with Bryan fighting with his career on the line. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest in this rivalry and all the news coming from AEW All In: London 2024.

Michael Oku may not have captured the AEW American Championship from MJF last weekend, but the two may share the ring again in due time. At Rev Pro Summer Sizzler on August 11, Oku challenged MJF for the gold. The jingoistic champion didn’t hold back in the run-up to the match, as he described the UK as a third-world country among other taunts.

Oku is close to signing with AEW, sources within Rev Pro told Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan this week. Sources within AEW didn’t confirm these claims, but said they would not be surprised to see Oku end up on the UK AEW shows. It has previously been reported that Oku is expected to work the AEW Dynamite taping in Cardiff, as well as AEW All In: London later this month.

Talent within RevPro shared their hope to Fightful that Oku will be signed, with several touting how deserving he is of the opportunity. Oku is the current Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion, after defeating Great-O-Khan last month.

Another Signing?

Amira Miller is another talent on the RevPro roster who could soon be appearing for AEW. Fightful’s report adds that like Oku, Amira is expected to work the two AEW UK events and that she is also close to being signed. After Summer Sizzler, Oku told Stephanie Chase that there had been discussions between both he and Amira and AEW.

AEW has a roster full of some of the most talented wrestlers in the world today, and now Michael Oku and Amira Miller could be joining that roster. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on these two wrestlers and their quest to be ‘All-Elite.’

WWE Superstar Raquel Rodriguez has given an update on her health, months after her most recent appearance in the ring. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Raquel shared that she was getting some work done to make sure she was okay.

“Hey guys we are in Therma, Florida today at the Alliance Regenerative Center. We are getting some bloodwork done, just to make sure everything is still functioning good, hormones, thyroid, a full panel.”

Rodriguez shared some positive news about her condition, adding that she’s not felt as good as she currently does in quite some time.

“So, Alliance Regenerative is actually partnering up with RejuvStem down in Mexico for cellular therapy, something that I have did to help my skin, and guys, I am being honest with you, my skin has not looked and felt this great in months.”

Rodriguez has been dealing with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) a condition in which the patient experiences repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as allergies. These episodes may include hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and severe diarrhea. High levels of mast cell mediators are released during those episodes.

Due to her battle with MCAS, the former WWE NXT Women’s Champion has been out of action since February, with her most recent match seeing her defeat Chelsea Green. Last month, it was reported that Rodriguez could be back on the active roster soon, but that has yet to happen. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Raquel Rodriguez and her work towards a return to the ring.

WWE Superstar CM Punk has taken a break from beefing with Drew McIntyre to appear at a Rancid concert in his native Chicago. As seen in footage shared online, Punk embraces the band, consisting of Tim Armstrong, Matt Freeman, Lars Frederiksen, and Branden Steineckert, and poses with Armstrong.

The show was just the latest stop of the band’s ongoing tour of North America which will see Rancid perform in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Atlanta in the coming days. As for Punk, his future could be in Germany, as it has been reported that a rematch with Drew McIntyre could happen at WWE Bash in Berlin on August 31.

Wrestlers Outside of the Ring

Punk’s involvement at the Rancid concert is hardly the only wrestler to make waves at a gig recently. Over in AEW, Darby Allin (Punk’s first All-Elite) opponent, was launched into the crowd during a concert from Brody King’s band God’s Hate.

In June, WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan showed her skills outside the ring when she threw the opening pitch at a Boston Red Sox game. Last week, Randy Orton also threw out a first pitch, this time at a game for his local St. Louis Cardinals. Clearly, WWE Superstars have appeal outside of the squared circle, and appearances in other forms of entertainment have proven especially popular. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on CM Punk, both in and out of the ring.

John Cena’s announcement of his in-ring retirement may have only come recently, but it’s something that the WWE icon has been working on for some time. Speaking to Denise Salcedo at the premiere of his new movie Jackpot, Cena addressed his impending exit from the squared circle.

“It’s something I’ve been preparing for, for a long time. If you backtrack interviews, I started talking about that in maybe 2019 so I’m ready for it and I think now is the perfect time to do it.”

Cena went on to share his appreciation to WWE who have been “awesome” working around his schedule. While some will be sad to see the 16-time WWE World Champion step away from the ring, John himself is feeling immensely positive about what’s to come.

“I feel great. It’s a happy thing. I’m not going to tell anyone how to feel because I don’t believe in that but I am going to approach it with an upbeat attitude.”

John Cena’s Retirement Tour

As one of the biggest names in wrestling history, it’s hardly a surprise that several wrestlers have put themselves forward for Cena’s farewell tour. 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.

New 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. Talent outside of WWE are also interested with Matt Cardona wanting a match while WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam is hoping for a One Night Stand 2006 rematch with Big Match John.

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

All Elite Wrestling could be heading down under next year with a stadium show in Australia, it has been claimed this week. The Sporting News reports 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 (max capacity of 42,500), Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium (56,347), and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium (52,500). Entertainment company TEG is believed to be supporting the event. AEW talent from Australia include Buddy Matthews, Mark Davis, and Kyle Fletcher.

AEW and Stadiums

AEW will host its second stadium show, All In: London 2024, later this month from England’s Wembley Stadium. Last year’s event will also soon receive a showcase, thanks to the upcoming AEW Stories episode that will give a behind-the-scenes look at All In 2023.

AEW has yet to host a stadium-sized event in the U.S. though fans are hoping that changes. When asked about such an event during the ROH Death Before Dishonor media scrum, Tony Khan said not to underestimate the promotion and that it could happen in the future.

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.

Australia is also home to its own promotions, including Riot City Wrestling. Popular wrestler DELTA recently wrapped up her time with the promotion amid reports that she has signed with WWE. DELTA recently shared a photo of her suitcase from Adelaide airport and a message of goodbye, as she prepares to embark on the next chapter of her career in the United States of America.

A series of trademarks filed by WWE has given wrestling fans a hint at what the promotion may have planned in the coming weeks and months. Over the past week, WWE has filed trademarks for ‘The Wyatt Sicks,’ ‘The Pure Fusion Collective,’ ‘Pure Fusion’ and ‘Fatal Influence.’ The terms have been filed for the use in entertainment services and broadcast media.

The Wyatt Sicks

WWE has already been using the term The Wyatt Sicks for some time now as the Uncle Howdy-led faction has proven to be a force to be reckoned with so far. The group recently made its in-ring debut with a win over the Creed Brothers and Chad Gable. The Olympian was ‘killed’ by the faction during its arrival in June and has been at odds with the group ever since. Outside of WWE, The Wyatt Sicks has also been targeting The Pat McAfee Show.

The Pure Fusion Collective

The Pure Fusion Collective is the name of the new faction consisting of Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville, and Zoey Stark. So far, the group has feuded with Damage CTRL and an attack on Dakota Kai has written her off TV. The Kiwi Superstar is dealing with a torn meniscus and could miss up to ten weeks of action.

Fatal Influence

So far, WWE has not used the term Fatal Influence on TV, leaving fans to speculate if it is a new faction, an event name, or something else entirely. The name does highlight WWE’s new era contrasting with its previous administration under Vince McMahon. The former WWE CEO reportedly had strict rules against certain words, including anything that made reference to killing or a loss of life.

There is always discussions about unionizing in professional wrestling, according to ECW alum Francine, who believes that for all this talk, talent may be scared to do so. On her Eyes Up Here podcast, Francine discussed the possibility of whether a union in wrestling will ever happen.

“There’s always been somebody saying, ‘you know we really should start a union.’ and it never ever happens. It never happens.”

Francine recalled being approached recently by “somebody who has a bit of clout” about possibly forming a union. The ECW alum was approached as this ‘somebody’ wanted names to support the idea. Since then, Francine hasn’t heard anything about this latest attempt to unionize and isn’t entirely surprised.

“I don’t know if the boys are scared to do it because they might not get work, but I don’t know it’s a touchy subject.” 

Wrestling & Unions

Jesse Ventura tried to forge a union in professional wrestling in an act that ultimately cost him his job in the WWF. For years, including on a recent media appearance, Ventura has claimed that Hulk Hogan ‘tattled’ on him to Vince McMahon and that the Hulkster was opposed to unionization benefitting others.

In 2020, talk of unionization sprang up again as WWE clamped down on talent engaging in third-party deals without their involvement. Mere minutes after Zelina Vega shared her support for unionization, she was released from WWE in a move that spawned backlash among fans. Vega was rehired by WWE the following year and remains employed to this day.

When Freddie Prinze Jr. shared intentions to launch his own wrestling promotion, he claimed that talent would be welcomed into the SAG-AFTRA union for actors. In the years since then though, Prinze’s promotion has yet to launch, though the former WWE writer continues to give updates on a planned broadcast deal.

A new trailer from Netflix has given wrestling fans their first look at The Queen of Villains, a new project about the life and career of Dump Matsumoto. The Queen of Villains will premiere on September 19, on the streaming juggernaut. You can check out the trailer below.

This project was announced back in July with a teaser poster showing Matsumoto’s iconic facepaint and chain with some blood splatter for good measure.

Who is Dump Matsumoto?

Matsumoto terrified Japanese women’s wrestling as a heel during the 1980s and was world-renowned for her brutal style in the ring. With her larger-than-life persona as a villain, Matsumoto became a leading figure in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and she would become something of a cultural phenomenon.

Matsumoto led the notorious Atrocious Alliance stable, which introduced fans to wrestlers such as WWE Hall of Famer Bull Nakano. Her rivalry with the popular Crush Gals, particularly Chigusa Nagayo, remains the stuff of legend and Matsumoto is still regarded as one of the most influential in the history of Japanese women’s wrestling.

Pro-Wrestling and Netflix

The Queen of Villains is just one of Netflix’s forays into the world of professional wrestling. For years, the popular GLOW series gave fans a look into the iconic women’s promotion and the glamorous and not-so-glamorous side of 80s wrestling.

Next year, WWE RAW will move to Netflix as part of a ten-year deal estimated at approximately $5 billion. At this time, the only name confirmed for the debut RAW on Netflix is John Cena, as the show will mark the first stop of his retirement tour.

A new show from All Elite Wrestling will give fans a deep-dive look into last year’s All In mega-show, ahead of the promotion’s return to London. AEW Stories will premiere on AEW’s YouTube channel this coming Monday and promises to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the promotion’s largest event to date.

All In: London 2023 took place on August 27, from Wembley Stadium in London, England and saw over 75,000 fans fill the venue for AEW’s first show outside North America. The event saw Saraya win her first championship in close to a decade, while MJF retained the AEW World Championship in the main event against Adam Cole.

AEW All In: CM Punk & Jack Perry

The show was unfortunately overshadowed to some degree by a backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry. After Perry made a comment about using real glass for his match with HOOK, Punk confronted him and the pair got physical. Punk would later compete against Samoa Joe but both he and Perry would be suspended after the event. Punk would be fired mere days later while Perry’s suspension would only come to an end in 2024. It remains to be seen to what extent, if any, AEW Stories will address this situation which was aired on an episode of Dynamite earlier this year.

Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on AEW Stories as the All-Elite promotion prepares to return to the UK for its second All In pay-per-view.

The latest episode of WWE NXT saw the gold brand receive a dramatic shake-up with not one but two titles changing hands on the broadcast. The show marked NXT’s return to the USA Network after two weeks of hosting its Great American Bash special on SyFy.

WWE NXT Title Changes

In our opening contest of the night, Tony D’Angelo put his Heritage Cup on the line against Charlie Dempsey. This match was secured by Wren Sinclair, who earned the opportunity for the No Quarter Catch Crew last week with a victory over Kendal Grey (a victory that also earned her a spot in the faction.)

D’Angelo got the first pinfall of the contest in round two, but Dempsey fought back. Once again, Sinclair paid dividends for the NQCC as it was her interference, knocking D’Angelo off the top role that allowed Dempsey to get the decisive third pinfall of the match.

In our main event, the NXT Tag Team Championships were on the line as Nathan Frazer and Axiom defended against Andre Chase and Ridge Holland of Chase U. In the end, it was Holland who got the win for his team after planting Axiom with Northern Grit.

Chase U rushed the ring to celebrate with Chase and Holland as confetti filled the arena. This ends the title reign of Frazer and Axiom at 126 days. This is the second reign for Chase, who previously held the gold with Duke Hudson in a reign that lasted 21 days. This is Holland’s first NXT Tag Title reign and first taste of any WWE gold since joining the promotion in 2018.

SE Scoops’ very own MuscleManMalcolm has taken his next step in the wrestling industry after making his debut as an in-ring competitor. Malcolm competed at the MCW Dynamo Runs The Show event this week which took place at the RJ Meyer Arena at Joppa Grand Market in Joppa, MD. In footage shared on Facebook, Malcolm can be seen holding his own against two opponents, and using some unique offense after declaring “I’m gonna hit them with my butt!” Malcolm also hits an impressive-looking Samoan drop in the footage recorded at ringside.

Speaking in a YouTube video ahead of the show, Malcolm shared how he went from ring-side attendee to in-ring talent. After being confronted by some heels at a previous MCW event, Malcolm played a role in the pair losing a match, setting up a tag-team encounter at MCW Dynamo Runs The Show.

Malcolm may have triumphed during his in-ring debut, but he is best known in the world of wrestling for his insightful interviews with top wrestling names. Carmelo Hayes, Tiffany Stratton, Chad Gable, and Otis are just some of the names to have been interviewed by Malcolm over his years in the industry.

What’s to Come?

After making a successful in-ring debut, fans can expect to see Malcolm back in the ring within a matter of days. Malcolm will face TNA Digital Media Champion in a Special Attraction Match at the Battle Club Pro Jobber Slam IV event. The show will take place in Brooklyn, New York on August 24.

WWE icon John Cena has revealed how many appearances for the promotion he will make next year as he embarks on his retirement tour. Speaking to Collider, Cena said that work on his Peacemaker series will keep him busy for the rest of 2024, but he has fully committed 2025 to WWE.

“It’s gonna be right around 36 dates around the world to pay thanks and gratitude to the WWE audiences around the world. So, that’s what I’m doing in 2025.”

Cena confirmed at the WWE Money in the Bank 2024 PLE that he will be retiring from in-ring competition next year and no amount of money will change his mind. This isn’t the first time John has spoken about his farewell tour being an international matter as he hopes to compete in the United Kingdom at least one more time before calling it a career.

John Cena’s Retirement Tour

As one of the biggest names in wrestling history, it’s hardly a surprise that several wrestlers have put themselves forward for Cena’s farewell tour. 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.

New 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. Talent outside of WWE are also interested with Matt Cardona wanting a match while WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam is hoping for a One Night Stand 2006 rematch with Big Match John.

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

WWE RAW Superstar Chad Gable recently sat down with the Insight podcast to discuss a variety of topics. Gable re-signed with WWE earlier this year and has been a prominent player on Monday Night Raw throughout 2024.

On The Wyatt Sicks

As of late, Gable has run afoul of the Wyatt Sicks and was seen motionless and bleeding from the head when the group arrived on the main roster. This led some to joke that Gable had been killed off. On the podcast, Gable said the reaction from fans was “insane” and recalled a young fan approaching him about being ‘killed’ while at church.

“He’s like ‘Where did it [the wound] go?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I mean, I fixed it bud, I went to the hospital and stuff, it was bad.’ And he’s like ‘What did they do to you?’ I’m like, ‘You’ll have to tune in tomorrow night.'”

On Bray Wyatt

The Wyatt Sicks is obviously inspired heavily by Bray Wyatt who tragically passed away in August of last year. Gable recalled working with the the three-time WWE World Champion upon joining WWE’s main roster in 2016.

“I learned a lot from Bray in that time and just gained the utmost respect for him. Because he’s one of those guys that when he speaks his mind or gives you feedback you listen. Nothing he says feels like he’s just saying it.”

On Not Having A Bad Match

Gable has been commended among fans and his peers as a reliable athlete who is seemingly incapable of having a bad match. This “feather in my cap” is one Gable takes immense pride in as he intends to give his best no matter his position.

“[A match] could only be like 90 seconds or two minutes at times. Some people might write that off and be like, well, it’s just a two-minute match, let’s just go do it. It’s like no, man, I have two minutes tonight, let’s see just how good we can make two minutes.”

On Kurt Angle Comparisons

With a background in Olympic wrestling and an unbridled intensity in the ring, Gable has often found himself being compared to Kurt Angle. Speaking on the podcast, Gable said it was an “honor” to have his name mentioned alongside WWE’s first Olympic Gold Medalist.

“Kurt is the man dude, he’s been so cool. throughout everything we’ve done with him. I got to wrestle him, which was insane.”

On Shorty G

In 2019, Gable’s character was dramatically changed and much was made of his height. The unpopular changes also saw Gable’s name be changed to Shorty G, a name change that on-screen was presented as Gable’s own idea. The storyline came at a “low point” for Gable, who at the time was desperate for any opportunity on WWE TV. Thankfully, Gable’s time as Shorty G would end, and he believes it showed WWE that he was a team player.

“I did the most I could with it. I think what it showed was that I am willing to contribute in whatever manner, if it’s down here, or up here, I’m willing to contribute whatever I can and whatever is asked of me.”

On Not Holding Singles Gold

For all his years with WWE, Gable has yet to hold a singles championship, a fact alluded to during his IC Title pursuit and feud with GUNTHER. The Olympian is hopeful that singles gold will soon be his and is disappointed that it didn’t happen during his program with Sami Zayn.

“We’ve got one piece of the puzzle left to fill in… it’s still on the table.”

AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has released a brand new album, mere days ahead of arguably the biggest match of his career. Strickland’s eleven-track album ‘Motion Sickness‘ features Flash Garments and is hosted by DJ Whoo Kid. The album also features his Big Pressure Trill Mix with Westside Gunn and Bun B.

Strickland’s release comes mere days ahead of his AEW World Championship match with Bryan Danielson at All In: London 2024. For Strickland, the first male African American AEW World Champion, the match will be his biggest title defense to date with tens of thousands of fans expected to fill Wembley Stadium.

Bryan Danielson has promised to retire if he does not win the gold in London. Danielson’s contract with AEW expired earlier this month though he has continued to make appearances for the promotion. Last year, Danielson embarked on his final year as a full-time talent in the ring. AEW President Tony Khan has said he hopes for Danielson to remain with AEW for a long time to come.

Swerve Strickland’s Music

When not making history in the ring, Swerve Strickland performs as part of the hip-hop group Swerve City and also performs solo as Swerve the Realest. Earlier this month, Strickland released a music video for Big Pressure Trill Mix. The video blends Strickland’s passion for music and wrestling and sees the reigning AEW World Champion with his title.

Strickland’s multi-faceted efforts in entertainment have enamored him to wrestling fans and hip-hop fans alike. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Swerve Strickland

The first WWE Bad Blood PLE in over two decades could be a night of surprises if Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is to be believed. The show will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be WWE’s fourth Bad Blood event and the first show under the name since June 2004.

Speaking with Variety, Rhodes shared his excitement for Bad Blood, which will mark WWE’s first PLE in Atlanta since Day 1 2022, and Rhodes’ first PLE in his hometown since returning to WWE. The American Nightmare also teased some surprises in store for the October event.

“Atlanta has always influenced culture… Bad Blood could be the biggest Premium Live Event since WrestleMania and we have some surprises in store.”

The announcement of WWE Bad Blood 2024 saw Rhodes share the screen with music artist Metro Boomin and the pair engaged in a ‘stakeout.’ In the interview, Boomin shared his excitement for WWE Bad Blood 2024 and gushed over getting to work with the American Nightmare.

“As a lifelong fan of the WWE it was an honor to work with the legend and undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes… Cody’s story is inspiring to me, as I’m sure it is to millions of others.”

No matches have been confirmed for WWE Bad Blood 2024, though many fans are predicting a Hell in a Cell match. The three previous events in the show’s history have all featured matches in the barbaric structure with Triple H winning two of those three matches (and having an outside role in the other.) Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on WWE Bad Blood and the career of Cody Rhodes as WWE’s top name.

It’s been over 20 years since the original ECW closed its doors, but Paul Heyman still remembers his time with the promotion very fondly. Speaking to Newsweek this week, the WWE Hall of Famer and former owner of ECW recalled his time leading the tribe of extreme.

“Every single day of it was just an honor and a blessing and a dream job.”

Heyman’s tenure with ECW turned the promotion from an Eastern-based territory to a violent, counterculture, cult-followed entity that was among the three biggest promotions in its heyday. In 2001, ECW closed its doors in the face of immense financial strain. Heyman would depart the company shortly before the company went under and would appear as a WWF commentator, replacing Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.

Paul Heyman Today

These days, Heyman remains part of WWE and his influence has bolstered talent from CM Punk to Brock Lesnar to Roman Reigns. Speaking about what’s to come in wrestling, Heyman was optimistic about the future.

“An era more of continued transparency. Intelligent discussion of the product itself. Authenticity, in terms of the characters. And just great stories.”

Heyman hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since being attacked by Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, though he was backstage at SummerSlam and was seen conversing with Roman Reigns. This has led fans to speculate that Heyman’s return is imminent, though Reigns was by his own on last week’s SmackDown. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Paul Heyman as the ECW magnate continues to be am important figure in wrestling.