SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Latest on Braun Strowman’s Health Status Nine Months After Neck Fusion Surgery

    It’s still unclear as to when Braun Strowman will compete again, but there is some good news for the Monster Among Men. 

    It was in June of last year that Strowman underwent neck fusion surgery which has kept the former Universal Champion out of action ever since. That same month, Strowman admitted he had been struggling to be away from the ring saying that the situation was hard for him mentally as well as physically. While Strowman teased returning as part of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, that did not transpire. 

    Latest on Braun Strowman

    During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp was asked about Strowman’s situation. Sapp was pleased to state that Strowman is doing better than one would anticipate for the SmackDown Superstar. 

    “Someone in January implied that he would be back soon and I was thinking ‘surely not’ but then I followed up and was told that “he’s doing way better than anticipated.”

    Braun Strowman Out of the Ring

    While Strowman hasn’t competed in close to a year, the Monster Among Men has been active outside of the ring, Strowman, among other Superstars, got tattoos in memory of Bray Wyatt in August of last year, in memory of the late wrestler who died aged 36. 

    More recently, Strowman surprised fans at the WWE Experience in Saudi Arabia. On social media, Strowman expressed gratitude to participate at the Riyadh event and said he was honored to make the trip.

  • Fan Reaction To Tiffany Stratton Has Caught Many In WWE By Surprise

    Fan Reaction To Tiffany Stratton Has Caught Many In WWE By Surprise

    Higher-ups within WWE are always on the hunt for the next top star, and have been surprised by the reaction to Tiffany Stratton. 

    The reaction to Stratton has come as a surprise to many within WWE, Fightful Select reports. It is added that WWE is anticipating the vocal response from the fans going forward with their events. 

    Tiffany Down Under

    Stratton’s popularity was hard to ignore during the WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 event from Perth, Australia. The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion competed in her first Chamber match at the event, and the fans were behind her from the get-go. 

    Fans chanted for Stratton while she was in her pod and her spots in the match, including a Senton off the top of a pod, were also impressive. Despite this, it was Becky Lynch who won the match, earning a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40. 

    Tiffany Stratton in WWE

    Stratton signed with WWE in August 2021 as the only woman in her class of recruits to the WWE Performance Center. After debuting on 205 Live in November, she would join WWE NXT the following month. 

    In May 2023, Stratton captured the NXT Women’s Championship in a tournament that saw her defeat Gigi Dolin, Roxanne Perez, and Lyra Valkyria. That same year, she entered a well-regarded feud with Becky Lynch that saw The Man capture the NXT Women’s title. 

    After an impressive outing in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Stratton was signed to SmackDown on the immediate episode of the blue brand. That same night, she defeated ‘Michin’ Mia Yim in her main roster debut. 

  • Jade Cargill Teases Involvement in WrestleMania 40 Feud After 3/1 SmackDown Appearance

    Jade Cargill Teases Involvement in WrestleMania 40 Feud After 3/1 SmackDown Appearance

    Jade Cargill made her presence felt on this week’s SmackDown and we may be seeing more of the impressive talent as we get closer to WrestleMania 40. 

    During this week’s SmackDown, Dakota Kai turned on Bayley and made clear that she was on the side of Damage CTRL. This came after Bayley and Kai challenged the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY delivered a sickening four-on-one attack on the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner.

    Jade Cargill Responds

    Jade Cargill was also a part of this week’s SmackDown and came face to face with IYO SKY. The inaugural AEW TBS Champion once again exhumed confidence as she has throughout her wrestling career. 

    Taking to Twitter after SmackDown, Jade Cargill said what happened on the show was not right and said that someone like IYO SKY shouldn’t be holding a “belt” for acting this way. Moments later, the ex-AEW star corrected herself, stating that the WWE Women’s Champion held by SKY is “MY belt.”

    Jade Cargill Involved? 

    Cargill’s comments certainly imply that she’s supporting Bayley in this feud. It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Cargill could get physical and back the Role Model up. It’d certainly be fitting for Cargill to have a role on the road to WrestleMania, given that WWE clearly sees her as a potential top star. 

    Jade Cargill on SmackDown

    Cargill appeared on SmackDown shortly after signing with WWE in 2023. During her segment, she came face-to-face with Charlotte Flair. At the time, it was speculated that a feud was being planned, potentially with a match at WrestleMania. If that was the plan, it’ll have been scrapped as Flair will miss most of 2023 due to a leg injury. 

  • The Rock: From the Bottom of My Heart, F*** Cody Rhodes’ Story

    The Rock: From the Bottom of My Heart, F*** Cody Rhodes’ Story

    Cody Rhodes may have a burning desire to finish his story at WrestleMania 40, but that doesn’t phase the Bloodline’s newest member The Rock. 

    Rhodes’ pursuit of a WWE World Championship has been the focal point of his return to WWE. Recently, the ‘We Want Cody’ movement led to WWE backing out of plans for The Rock to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. In response, The Rock has turned heel and has vowed to make sure Rhodes doesn’t finish his story this April. 

    F*** Your Story

    Taking to social media, the Brahma Bull had a message for Rhodes and his ‘crybaby fans. The Brahma Bull explained that Rhodes made a serious mistake by bringing up his family at the WrestleMania kick-off event. The Great One concluded with a clear message to Rhodes and his story. 

    “Fans wanted to see the biggest WrestleMania event of all time. You took it away. Now, you’re going to pay. Cody Rhodes, from the bottom of my heart, man to man, f*** your story.”

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock will be a part of tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Cody Rhodes will also be part of SmackDown as part of his stacked March schedule. It’s unclear if Rhodes will appear during the show as unlike The Rock, he isn’t being advertised for an on-screen appearance. 

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one before Seth Rollins stated it’s never so simple when it comes to The Bloodline. A tag match pitting Rock and Reigns against Rhodes and Rollins has been discussed for WrestleMania 40. 

  • John Cena Is Happy to Bring Peace to Mortal Kombat 1 With Peacemaker Inclusion

    John Cena Is Happy to Bring Peace to Mortal Kombat 1 With Peacemaker Inclusion

    John Cena is excited to bring ‘peace’ to the ultra-violent world of Mortal Kombat with the inclusion of Peacemaker to the series. 

    In July 2023, Peacemaker was announced for Mortal Kombat 1, which despite the name is the latest game in the popular fighting series. Recently, fans got a trailer of Peacemaker in the game, which is voiced by Cena. 

    https://twitter.com/MortalKombat/status/1760665781137031567

    In a tweet, Cena said that after three decades of brutal Mortal Kombat games, he was pleased to bring some peace to the game. 

    John Cena as Peacemaker

    The 16-time WWE World Champion first portrayed Peacemaker in 2021’s ‘The Suicide Squad,‘ a soft sequel to the 2016 ‘Suicide Squad‘ film. Diving deep into the character, Cena would often wear the full Peacemaker costume when making public appearances and when walking the red carpet.

    Peacemaker is also the subject of its own series from HBO Max (now known as just Max.) Peacemaker the series debuted in January 2022 and received solid reviews. A second season of Peacemaker was greenlit in early 2022. 

    Who is Peacemaker?

    Cena plays the jingoistic Christopher Smith, a character who believes in doing anything to achieve what he considers peace, even if it means killing men, women, and children. The first season of the Peacemaker TV series explored what drives the character to this dedication to ‘peace’, such as his fraught relationship with his father played by Robert Patrick. The Terminator 2 actor has a history with Cena as the pair shared the screen for 2006’s The Marine. 

    WWE and Mortal Kombat

    Cena isn’t the only name from pro wrestling to make their presence felt in Mortal Kombat. For Mortal Kombat 11, Ronda Rousey voiced series regular Sonya Blade. The Miz’s Hollywood A-Lister character has often been compared to Johnny Cage, another regular in the series. 

  • Frustrated AEW Stars Refusing To Carry Out Tony Khan’s Creative Plans

    Frustrated AEW Stars Refusing To Carry Out Tony Khan’s Creative Plans

    Members of the AEW roster are said to be “very frustrated” with management to the point that some are refusing to do what has been written for them. 

    Since launching in 2019, AEW has aimed to be an alternative to WWE, which saw plenty of chaos backstage during the Vince McMahon administration. During the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez shared that there’s growing resentment among the roster. 

    “A lot of people are very frustrated because they don’t find out the Tuesday before. Some people do, some people will know what they’re doing because there are a couple of matches usually advertised in advance. But most people are showing up the day of the show and finding out if they are doing anything or not.”

    Alvarez added that some AEW stars flat-out refuse to do what is requested on them and usually, Tony Khan relents, forcing plans to be changed at the last minute. 

    “People don’t want to do something and Tony doesn’t make them do it. There’s a lot of this… I hear about this every single day. Trying to put together these shows is just a whirlwind.”

    What’s Next for AEW? 

    AEW’s next major event will be this weekend’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina. This show has seen changes, with the Meat Madness match being put ‘on ice’ and replaced with the All-Star Scramble match. Tony Khan has said that the Meat Madness bout is postponed due to injuries. Lance Archer, Wardlow, and Powerhouse Hobbs were all announced for Meat Madness and will all compete in the All-Star Scramble. 

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Tony Khan: AEW Is Well-Equipped To Tackle Allegations of Misconduct

    Tony Khan: AEW Is Well-Equipped To Tackle Allegations of Misconduct

    AEW is well-equipped to handle any allegations of misconduct brought to its disciplinary committee, according to company President Tony Khan. 

    In the wake of Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, there has been a spotlight on how allegations of misconduct are handled in the wrestling industry. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused and trafficked by the 78-year-old billionaire. McMahon had denied all allegations but resigned from WWE in January of this year. 

    AEW’s Allegations

    In late 2023, Chris Jericho was accused of acting inappropriately with Kylie Rae four years earlier, which allegedly led to her abrupt exit from AEW. At the following Worlds End event, Jericho faced hostile chants from fans addressing the allegations. Speaking on the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan he said he took accusations of sexual harassment seriously, though many felt choosing to wear Toni Storm’s silly glasses and hat undermined his point. 

    Tony Khan Comments

    Speaking on the media call ahead of this weekend’s Revolution pay-per-view, Khan addressed how AEW can handle allegations of misconduct. 

    “We have trained professionals on the disciplinary committee, including two attorneys and Bryan Danielson. And they’re different backgrounds, and that’s the idea to have people from different backgrounds. And different experiences in wrestling, which is certainly its own unique business with its own unique set of challenges. 

    “And they would be looking out against all misconduct claims, and we’ve tried to train them up to do their best. I think, to really whatever the situation is, in terms of misconduct, to do whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of the wrestlers, which is first and foremost here above everything else.”

    AEW Revolution will take place this Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

  • Cody Rhodes Shares Stacked WWE Schedule for March 2024

    Cody Rhodes will be one busy individual for the month of March as he continues on the road to WrestleMania. 

    At the two-night event, Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The bout will be the long-awaited rematch between the two following Rhodes’ emotional loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in April 2023. Rhodes earned this match by winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, becoming the fourth man in history to win back-to-back Rumbles. 

    Cody Rhodes’ March Schedule

    On Twitter, Cody Rhodes shared his schedule for March of 2024. Rhodes will be on every episode of Monday Night Raw this month and will be at the majority of SmackDown tapings. Rhodes will also compete at ten ‘Road to WrestleMania’ live events. 

    This is quite the workload for Rhodes, in stark contrast to his WrestleMania opponent. Cody will compete more in one month than Reigns did in all of 2023. In the comments of Cody’s tweet, fellow Raw Superstar Chad Gable was impressed by Rhodes’ work ethic, calling him “the standard.”

    Another WrestleMania Match? 

    Rhodes will be in for the fight of his life at WrestleMania, but the match with Roman Reigns may not be his only showdown in Philadelphia. At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one. Seth Rollins reminded Cody that it’s never one-on-one when it comes to The Bloodline. A blockbuster tag-team match has been discussed as WrestleMania 40: Saturday’s main event, which would pit Rhodes and Rollins against Rock and Reigns. 

  • WWE’s The Rock & Bad Bunny Among 2024 Academy Award Presenters

    Notable WWE names The Rock and Bad Bunny will be on hand to present Oscars at this month’s annual Academy Awards ceremony in LA. 

    The Hollywood Reporter notes that The Rock and Bad Bunny have been added to the list of presenters, alongside Michael Keaton, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney, and others. This group adds to the previously announced list of presenters which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Zendaya, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Yeoh, among others. 

    Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer led this year’s nominations with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things with 11, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon with 10 and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie with eight. The ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and take place on March 10 at 7 pm ET at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

    Bad Bunny in WWE

    Bad Bunny debuted in WWE in 2021 and immediately wowed fans with his in-ring ability. After competing at WrestleMania 37, Bunny was equally impressed in the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble match. At Backlash 2023, the Grammy Award-winning artist competed in his first singles match and defeated Damien Priest in the San Juan Street Fight.

    What’s Next for The Rock? 

    The Rock is back in WWE as a heel and has been confirmed as the newest member of The Bloodline. The Great One has vowed that he will prevent Cody Rhodes from finishing his story at WrestleMania. The upcoming two-night show could see The Rock in action as a blockbuster tag team match has been discussed for Night One of WrestleMania 40. The Great One will be on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

  • When Can Fans Expect to See Kazuchika Okada in AEW?

    Kazuchika Okada is reportedly on his way to All Elite Wrestling, and fans may not have to wait long to see his official debut. 

    Last month, it was confirmed that Okada’s contract with NJPW was set to expire. Okada worked the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Okada had been with New Japan for 17 years before his departure. 

    Joining AEW and WWE Interest

    At first, it appeared that Okada would be joining WWE and the idea was that he would be debuting in WWE NXT first. Speculation around his supposed WWE arrival grew to the point that Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER said Okada would be welcome in the company. 

    Last month, it was reported that AEW had beaten WWE and secured a deal with Okada. It was confirmed that WWE had spoken with Okada and that AEW had been “confident” in their offer to the Japanese wrestler

    When to Expect Kazuchika Okada

    The tentative plan is for Okade to be around for the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Fightful Select reports. During the AEW Revolution 2024 media call, Tony Khan spoke about something big coming to next week’s show in Atlanta, Georgia. 

    “There’s a lot of really exciting things coming. I’m very excited for Revolution and the shows after that. I can promise you I have something very exciting, I’m very excited about for the fans in Atlanta.”

    The timing of Okada’s expected debut is certainly interesting. The March 13, episode of AEW Dynamite will be the promotion’s ‘Big Business’ show and is expected to mark the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone. 

  • Hammerstone Signs With TNA Wrestling, Says It’s “Time to Get to Work”

    Hammerstone Signs With TNA Wrestling, Says It’s “Time to Get to Work”

    TNA Wrestling is pleased to welcome Alex Hammerstone as the newest member of its roster in a move that was made official this week. 

    On Twitter, TNA confirmed that Hammerstone has signed with the promotion. Responding to the tweet, Hammerstone made it clear that it’s time for him to show what he can do in a TNA ring. 

    Hammerstone in TNA Wrestling

    Hammerstone made his debut for TNA at Hard to Kill 2024 last month in a match against Josh Alexander. In the sixth match on the main card (and ninth overall), Alexander defeated Hammerstone. The pair are scheduled to compete in a rematch at TNA Sacrifice. That show will take place on March 8, 2024, from the St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

    While Hard to Kill was Hammerstone’s TNA debut, he had briefly worked for the promotion once before. In January 2019, he competed on IMPACT Wrestling’s Xplosion show and earned a victory over Nick Brubaker. 

    Hammerstone In the Ring

    Hammerstone made his debut in the wrestling business in 2013 and is best known for his success in Major League Wrestling. Joining the promotion in 2019, Hammerstone quickly became part of The Dynasty, a faction that would include Richard Holliday and AEW’s MJF. 

    That same year, he became the first MLW National Openweight Champion, and in 2021, defeated MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu in a title-for-title match. 

    Outside of MLW, Hammerstone competed for Pro Wrestling Noah in 2019. In February 2016, he did extra work for WWE and appeared on screen as a bodyguard for Tyler Breeze. 

  • Ex-WWE Writer Claims They Were Punished For Challenging Racially Insensitive Content

    Ex-WWE Writer Claims They Were Punished For Challenging Racially Insensitive Content

    A former WWE writer lost their job for challenging the company’s racially insensitive content the company was producing, it has been claimed. 

    On LinkedIn, Michael Leonardi shared two videos explaining his exit from the company in 2016. He explained that the Muhammad Hassan character proved to be pivotal in his firing from WWE. 

    “Back then, there was a character by the name of Muhammad Hassan. In July of 2005, while in the build-up to a PPV match with the Undertaker, WWE aired a controversial segment that made national news as hitting a little too close to home with the ongoing “war on terror.

    “Shortly thereafter, the london bus bombings occurred which brought more attention to the angle and the concern amongst UPN.”

    Leonardi, who was assigned to oversee the Hassan Vs. Undertaker match at that year’s Great American Bash, made clear to WWE that he did not feel comfortable with the angle. 

    “I told my boss that I had a problem being associated with the project (I felt strongly that it was just wrong of us to keep going with it) and asked if I could be assigned to one of the other matches (which I was) Eddie vs. Rey (with little dominick, which is crazy to see where he is now!)”

    The former WWE writer then explained how he felt the company punished him for taking a stance against the controversial character. 

    “I was then promptly stripped of all my responsibilities as an associate producer and given grunt work. A week or so later, UPN put enough pressure on WWE that the character was eventually wiped from WWE programming after the PPV and never seen again.

    “I was then given back my responsibilities. As much as I loved working there, I thought it was F’d up that the situation was handled that way and soon thereafter put in my notice.”

    Other Claims

    Leonardi isn’t the first former WWE employee to claim they were punished for challenging racially insensitive content. Last year, Britney Abrahams claimed she was fired by WWE after she challenged shocking story ideas, including one that would see Mansoor be responsible for 9/11. Abrahams alleged that she was fired for taking a WrestleMania chair home, despite other employees being allowed to do the very same. She voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit last August. 

  • WWE 2K24 & Snickers Confirmed As WrestleMania 40 Presenting Partners

    WWE 2K24 and Snickers will serve as the Presenting Partners of WrestleMania 40, which will take place from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field this April.

    This marks the third consecutive year that WWE 2K and Snickers have teamed up as the Presenting Partners of WWE’s annual supershow. In a statement, Martin Terwilliger, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley, was excited to continue the partnership.

    “SNICKERS is proud to return to WrestleMania, bringing a satisfying solution to WWE fans around the world. We look forward to showing up for the passionate fanbase with WWE 2K24 as presenting partners for WrestleMania XL, bringing fans what is sure to be one of the most exciting sporting events of 2024.”

    Dennis Ceccarelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports at 2K, was also pleased to be a presenting partner of WrestleMania 40

    “While fans can relive forty years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K24, we’ll once again tag-team with SNICKERS to co-present WrestleMania XL. We’ll be cheering on our cover Superstars: Rallying Cody Rhodes to ‘Finish the Story,’ rooting for Rhea Ripley to defend her title, and looking forward to Bianca Belair putting on the ‘EST’ WrestleMania performance of all.”

    Grant Norris-Jones, EVP & Head of Global Partnerships, TKO, addressed the size of WrestleMania 40 with great fervor.

    “WrestleMania XL is shaping up to be the biggest event in WWE history and we are excited to take our partnership with 2K and Snickers to new heights as the brands unite for a third consecutive year.”

    WrestleMania 40

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night event, a tradition established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The card for the show as it currently stands is as follows:

    • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
    • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

  • The Rock Gives Big to Foundation After Couple Loses Daughter to Cancer

    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has opened his heart and his wallet to a couple who are grieving the loss of their daughter. 

    In an emotional video shared on his Instagram account, Johnson spoke about Esperenza and Edwin, who recently lost their daughter Lily Rose to cancer. The couple have started a foundation in her name to help families who went through the same trauma they are experiencing. 

    In the video, Johnson explains how Lily Rose was a big fan of Maui, his character from the Disney hit Moana. The Brahma Bull then gave the pair a $50,000 donation to their foundation. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C37SMF_Lve4

    The Rock’s Generosity

    This is by no means the first time that Johnson has shown his generous side. In June of last year, The Rock bought a home for WWE’s Tamina Snuka, and has previously bought a car and other massive purchases for his mom. Last September, he ensured that a fan who a U.S. serviceman who received a fake autograph received a genuine one, among other gifts. 

    What’s Next?

    The Rock will be a part of this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, and will be on the subsequent two weeks of programming. The newest member of The Bloodline, The Rock is expected to have a significant role at WrestleMania 40. 

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one on one. Seth Rollins reminded Rhodes that it’s never one-on-one with The Bloodline. It is believed a tag match, pitting Rhodes & Rollins against Rock & Roman Reigns could headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday.

  • R-Truth On Shawn Michaels: ‘I See A Lot Of Shawn Michaels In Him’

    R-Truth has been wowed with what he’s seen from Shawn Michaels, who Truth believes could be the next, well, Shawn Michaels. 

    On social media, WWE shared a clip of Truth gushing praise to an unseen individual. Truth was clearly under the impression that he was speaking to Johnny Gargano. 

    “Johnny Gargano, Johnny Wrestling. Hey dawg, DIY is blowing up right now. Y’all hot. I’m telling you, just from me, I see a lot of Shawn Michaels in you, yes I do. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you could be the next Heartbreak Kid.”

    The camera then pans to reveal that Truth was speaking to the actual Shawn Michaels. The bewildered head of NXT closes the door on Truth who said he needs to speak with Ciampa.

    What’s Next?

    Truth’s comedy antics have proven to be a hit with the WWE Universe, many of whom hope to see the veteran rewarded with a WrestleMania spot. Some believe Truth could challenge Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER soon enough given comments by the Austrian on Raw. Others believe that a tag match would be more fitting, pitting Truth and The Miz against Truth’s ‘allies’ in the Judgment Day.

    As for Shawn Michaels, his future will see him continue to lead WWE NXT as its creative head. The gold brand will host its Roadblock special episode next week. In April, WWE NXT will host its Stand & Deliver event the same day as WrestleMania 40: Saturday. No matches have been announced for the latter show at this time. 

  • AEW’s New Trademark May Have Spoiled A New Pay-Per-View And The Return of a Huge Star

    A trademark filing by All Elite Wrestling may have revealed the promotion’s next pay-per-view which would join the company’s growing list of annual events. 

    AEW has filed a trademark for the term ‘AEW Dynasty.’ The filing cites the following uses: 

    “AEW: DYNASTY trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing multimedia program featuring wrestling distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling.”

    A New Pay-Per-View? 

    According to Fightful Select, the trademark is connected to a pay-per-view/special show, which is potentially slated for April. AEW has yet to host a pay-per-view in April but holds Revolution in March and Double or Nothing in May. 

    A Returning Star? 

    The AEW Dynasty name has raised some eyebrows, with some believing it could mark the return of a former AEW World Champion. Outside of AEW, MJF was part of The Dynasty, which included himself, Alexander Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, and others. Holliday, who overcame cancer last year, was backstage at a July 2023 edition of AEW Collision. 

    AEW’s Growing Schedule

    When AEW launched, it did so with four annual events: Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, and Full Gear. Since then, the company has doubled that number with the introduction of AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door, All In, WrestleDream, and Worlds End. 

  • CMLL Stars At Risk As 20 U.S. Work Visas Set To Be Canceled By Government

    CMLL Stars At Risk As 20 U.S. Work Visas Set To Be Canceled By Government

    A situation involving work visas in the United States could prove catastrophic for CMLL and its partnership with All Elite Wrestling. 

    PW Insider reports that the U.S. work visas for 20 CMLL performers in Mexico are in the process of being canceled by the U.S. government. If this happened, it could be months before new visas to go through the approval process and be issued. 

    The CMLL stars at risk include: 

    • Volador Jr.
    • Hechicero 
    • Mascara Dorada 
    • Blue Panther
    • Dulce Gardenia
    • El Sagrado
    • El Suicida
    • Electrico
    • Espiritu Negro
    • Euforia
    • Fugaz
    • Gemel
    • Diablo 1
    • Diablo 2
    • Magico
    • Robin
    • Sangre Imperial
    • Soberano
    • Templario
    • Referee Sagaz

    Why the Visas Are at Risk

    Sources close to the situation said that visa blowup is a result of Texas independent wrestling promotion Full Blown Pro Wrestling, which had sponsored the group visas for CMLL talent, running into issues with CMLL management. CMLL head Salvador Lutteroth had placed other employees, one of whom was heading up the legal department for CMLL but has since left the promotion, in charge of the visa process.

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security contacted FBP2 promoter Jerry Cadena with questions regarding the visas. He was informed that he could be accused of fraud if the vias were flagged. Cadena then contacted CMLL about working together to iron out the problem but CMLL’s side claimed they would take care of the issue via the United States Embassy in Mexico.

    What’s Next? 

    Unless something massive changes very soon, the aforementioned talents won’t be able to legally perform in the U.S. until a new work visa is acquired. This could take months to iron out, and could be as long as a year. 

    Several CMLL talents have matches booked for WrestleMania week in Philadelphia. Of course these matches would have to be scrapped in the event of their visas no longer being legal. There’s also the question as to what this would mean for AEW. Volador Jr., Hechicero, and Mascara Dorada have all competed for AEW as of late and this situation will impact which CMLL stars AEW can call upon to work events. 

  • Watch: Sting Brings Back Classic Entrance For Final AEW Dynamite Appearance

    Watch: Sting Brings Back Classic Entrance For Final AEW Dynamite Appearance

    The legendary career of Sting will end this week, but the Icon is going out in style as seen with his appearance on this week’s Dynamite. 

    The February 28, edition of AEW Dynamite served as the go-home show before Revolution 2024. The event saw AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Hangman Page, and Swerve Strickland collide ahead of their title match this Sunday. 

    Sting’s Epic Entrance

    During AEW Dynamite, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were on the hunt for Sting but couldn’t find the WWE Hall of Famer anywhere. During the show, they were blindsided by Darby Allin but were able to overcome the AEW World Tag Team Champion thanks to their numbers advantage. 

    Even when Ric Flair showed up to help Allin, he was outmatched by the AEW EVPs. That is when Sting’s music hit and the Jackson brothers made their way to the ramp, ready to attack the Icon. 

    The pair hadn’t counted on Sting descending from the rafters in WCW fashion, earning a huge pop from the fans in attendance. With his signature black baseball bat, Sting sent his challengers packing in an epic moment from Dynamite. 

    What’s Next? 

    Sting will compete in his final match this weekend at AEW Revolution 2024. He and Allin will defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against the Young Bucks. The show will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Darby Allin has a special entrance planned for Sting at the show. 

  • Matt Riddle Says Cocaine, Not Weed, Led to Failed WWE Drug Tests

    It wasn’t weed that led to Matt Riddle violating WWE’s wellness policy, despite what some may believe, but instead the use of cocaine, the ex-Superstar has revealed. 

    Riddle, alongside other wrestlers, was released from the promotion in September of last year, mere days after WWE parted ways with over 100 staff members from their offices in Stamford. Riddle was one of the biggest names released from WWE, a list that includes Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, and others. 

    Matt Riddle On Using Cocaine In WWE

    During his time on WWE’s main roster, Riddle was subject to stop-start pushes, which many fans at the time suspected was due to the usage of drugs. Speaking on the MMA Hour this week, Riddle said he failed wellness tests in WWE after testing positive for the usage of cocaine. 

    “I went to the strip club and did cocaine a couple times. I failed a drug test for that. That was for all of them, it was cocaine each time.”

    Riddle added that WWE did not indicate as to when talent would be tested. After failing two tests in short succession, Riddle vowed to clean up his act. True to his word, Riddle’s next tests came back negative, but after he decided to celebrate with some partying, a random test came back positive. Later in the interview, he addressed his time in rehab. 

    “They can’t make you do anything, but it’s ‘go or…’ ‘Okay, I’ll go.’ I went for the 30 days, I left, and when I left, they made a recommendation that they wanted me to stay for another 30 days and I was like, ‘I said I would do 30 days, I don’t want to do another 30 days.’ I missed Christmas and New Year’s. I learned my lesson.”

    What’s Next for Riddle?

    Though he’s no longer with WWE, Matt Riddle has bounced back nicely. The Original Bro debuted in New Japan last month and very recently captured the NJPW World Television Championship. Riddle has also returned to Major League Wrestling. He will be a part of tomorrow evening’s Intimidation Games event, where he will defend his NJPW World TV Title against Big Bad Tito.

    H/T – Fightful

  • Wrestlers Share Condolences & Tributes After Mike ‘Virgil’ Jones’ Death Aged 61

    Wrestlers Share Condolences & Tributes After Mike ‘Virgil’ Jones’ Death Aged 61

    The wrestling world has shared its condolences and memories of Mike ‘Virgil’ Jones, who passed away earlier today at the age of 61. 

    Jones, who also competed as Vincent in WCW, passed away peacefully in hospital, according to family friend Mark Charles III. He had been battling health issues for some time before his death. Jones was diagnosed with dementia in 2022 and also suffered two minor strokes that year as well.

    Tributes to Mike ‘Virgil’ Jones

    Several wrestling names have shared their tributes to the former Million Dollar Champion following his death. On Twitter, Jake Roberts said he was shocked and saddened by the news of Jones’ passing. 

    Teil Rhodes of the famed Rhodes wrestling family shared a story of being the subject of a ‘rib’ by Virgil and Ted DiBiase Sr. 

    Matt Cardona also shared his tribute to Virgil on Twitter. 

    Marc Mero said he was sorry to hear of the death of his fellow former WWE Superstar. Mero also included a photo of himself and Virgil. 

    Shane ‘Hurricane’ Helms recalled watching the long-suffering Virgil turn on DiBiase in early 1991. Helms would channel the moment in his own wrestling career years later. 

    Matt Hardy had fond memories of the “funny, unique” Jones who was always “cool” to him in the business. 

    WWE’s Kayla Braxton never had the chance to know Jones but issued her support for those who knew him and loved him. 

    ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan called Jones a good man and performer who was able to leave his mark. 

    Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake shared a fun selfie with Jones taken at an event and gave his tribute to the late wrestler. 

    We here at SE Scoops would like to add our condolences to those listed above. Our thoughts are with Jones’ friends and family at this sad time. 

  • Young Bucks: We’re So Happy for Cody, AEW’s Founders Have a Lifetime Bond

    Young Bucks: We’re So Happy for Cody, AEW’s Founders Have a Lifetime Bond

    The AEW EVPs share a bond that cannot be broken, no matter if one leaves and joins the promotion’s chief competition.

    Alongside Tony Khan, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks oversaw the creative of AEW, which was officially announced on January 1, 2019. Since then, AEW has risen dramatically to become the biggest rival to WWE since the demise of WCW in March 2001. 

    The AEW EVPs Unbreakable Bond

    Currently, Matt and Nick Jackson are the only EVPs currently appearing on AEW TV. Kenny Omega remains absent due to his diverticulitis while Cody Rhodes parted ways with AEW in February 2022. 

    Since then, Rhodes has returned to WWE and is poised to capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania. Speaking to SI, the Bucks were pleased to see Cody do well in WWE and addressed the bond they share. 

    “Cody is the face of the WWE now, and it’s cool to see because we always knew how much of a star he was,” said Nick Jackson. “The founders of AEW will always have a lifetime bond with each other because we all know what we did for wrestling. We talk every week and in a weird way him leaving made us grow more as friends.”

    Matt Jackson had similar praise for the American Nightmare and former AEW EVP.

    “We’re proud of the things we accomplished with Cody and happy to see him rising to the occasion. We’re all rooting for each other.”

    What’s Next? 

    Cody will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania. There’s also the possibility he’ll pull double duty at the event. A tag match, pitting Rhodes and Seth Rollins against Reigns and The Rock has been disccused as a Night One headliner. 

    The future is more clear for the Young Bucks. They will challenge AEW World Tag Team Champions Sting and Darby Allin this weekend at AEW Revolution. The match will be the last of Sting’s career. 

  • Special Entrance Planned For Sting’s Final Match at AEW Revolution 2024

    Special Entrance Planned For Sting’s Final Match at AEW Revolution 2024

    ‘The Icon’ Sting will be going out in style this weekend at AEW Revolution, with a special entrance planned for his last match.

    In October 2023, Sting announced that he would retire in 2024 at the Revolution pay-per-view. It was at Revolution 2021 that the Stinger made his wrestling debut for AEW, after arriving in the company the previous December. 

    Special Entrance For Sting

    For his final match, Sting and Darby Allin will put their AEW World Tag Team Championships on the line against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. Sting was initially against the idea of winning the titles (or even challenging for them) but was talked into the idea. 

    AEW is expected to go all-out (pardon the pun!) for Sting’s final match and give the wrestling legend a proper send off. Speaking to Fanatics View, Darby Allin spoke about plans for his tag-team partner. 

    “I got a special thing planned for Sting’s final entrance that I’ve been working on. So, we’ll see how everything plays out in Greensboro.”

    AEW Revolution 2024

    AEW Revolution will take place on Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum from Greensboro, NC. Here is how the card currently stands. 

    • Sting and Darby Allin (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
    • Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) (AEW International Championship)
    • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (AEW Women’s World Championship)
    • Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson (Continental Crown Championship, If Bryan loses, he must shake Kingston’s hand)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
    • Christian Cage (c) (with Killswitch, Mother Wayne, and “The Prodigy” Nick Wayne) vs. Daniel Garcia (AEW TNT Championship)
    • Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer (Meat Madness)
    • FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli)
    • Samoa Joe (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) (AEW World Championship)
  • TKO’s Mark Shapiro: We’re Not Having Any Talks With Vince McMahon

    TKO’s Mark Shapiro: We’re Not Having Any Talks With Vince McMahon

    TKO Group Holdings is not in contact with former Chairman Vince McMahon, according to TKO COO Mark Shapiro.

    McMahon stepped down from WWE one month ago due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. 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.

    Mark Shapiro On Vince McMahon

    During TKO’s recent 2023 fourth quarter earnings call, Mark Shapiro was asked about the McMahon situation and a potential impact on TKO. Shapiro made clear that TKO has continued to distance itself from the 78-year-old McMahon.

    “He’ll do whatever he’s going to do, and we’re all on the sideline. We’ll have a look, we’ll see. We have no idea on timing. We’re not having any discussion with him. He’s given us no point of view on his motive or his plans to sell or not sell, or if he does, how much. So, we’re going to wait around and find out just like you.”

    Shapiro did not specifically address the allegations against McMahon. Ari Emanuel, the CEO of both Endeavor and TKO Group Holdings, did not comment on McMahon. 

    What’s Next for TKO?

    With McMahon gone, Ari Emanuel has replaced the 78-year-old as the Executive Chair of TKO. Emanuel already serves as the company’s CEO. Steven R. Koonin has been appointed the Lead Independent Director of the McMahon allegations and how it relates to TKO. Both appointments came into effect as of February 22. 

    H/T – Deadline

  • RVD Says Vince McMahon Must Have Mob Ties That Allowed WWE In New York

    RVD Says Vince McMahon Must Have Mob Ties That Allowed WWE In New York

    Could Vince McMahon have ties to the mob which led to the Chairman’s dominance in New York City for decades? Rob Van Dam believes so. 

    During the territory days, McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation was based in New York. It was from the Big Apple that McMahon launched his ‘aggressive expansion’ that resulted in McMahon domination of the United States and subsequently the world of professional wrestling. 

    Vince McMahon & The Mob? 

    With Madison Square Garden in the heart of the city, McMahon could not have picked a better home for his base of operations than NYC. On a recent edition of his 1 of a Kind podcast, however, Rob Van Dam had a theory as to how McMahon was allowed to operate in the city that never sleeps. 

    “I am expecting to hear something about Vince and the mafia eventually, you know. Yeah, you know he’s got to be tied up in the mafia.

    “There were certain years you couldn’t do anything in New York without working with them, his dad worked with them they ran the Arenas and the and the entertainment business pretty much everything you know at one point, so I know there’s some stories there yeah.”

    Van Dam also referenced the alleged text messages sent by McMahon, which he believes were referencing the mafia instead of lawyers. 

    “When he was like, ‘Hey you can’t give me any problems on this. I have phone numbers on speed dial, I have contacts on speed dial in my phone, they solve problems instantly. 

    “Things of that nature and at the time I was thinking it read like I thought he met like big ass High powerful lawyers but now I’m thinking [imitates gun] someone will knock her off.”

    Responses to Janel Grant’s Lawsuit

    McMahon has denied all allegations of misconduct and has claimed that Janel Grant’s lawsuit is rife with fabrications. 

    John Laurinaitis, who is named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit, has claimed he is a victim in this situation and not a predator. 

    Brock Lesnar has been pulled from all WWE plans. Grant’s lawsuit claims she was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

  • Ex-Divas Champion Wishes She Was A Part Of WWE 2K24 Video Game

    Ex-Divas Champion Wishes She Was A Part Of WWE 2K24 Video Game

    WWE 2K24 will see one of the series’ largest-ever rosters, but one former Superstar wishes that she was a playable character in the new game.

    WWE 2K24 will be the latest game in the 2K series of games that began with the release of WWE 2K14 a decade ago. The Standard Edition of WWE 2K24 will be released on March 8, while the Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania Editions will be released three days earlier on March 5. Earlier this week, fans caught their first glimpse of gameplay footage from WWE 2K24. 

    Kelly Kelly and WWE 2K24

    With 4 decades of WWE being on display in WWE 2K24, not everybody can be featured in the upcoming video game. Recently, Kelly Kelly’s name was trending on social media as fans rallied for her to be included. Responding, Kelly said that she wishes she could be a part of WWE 2K24. 

    WWE 2K24 Omissions

    When WWE 2K recently revealed its roster for the upcoming game, fans noticed how several notable names were missing. Two-time WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, who will compete for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, was among those missing. In a statement, 2K said this was a simple error and has since included McIntyre and others in updated rosters. 

    Kelly Kelly in Video Games

    Kelly appeared in six video games during her run with WWE and made her in-game debut in SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008. From there, she appeared in SVR 2009, 2010, and 2011. After the game series rebranded, she appeared in WWE ’12 and WWE ’13. In Mexico, a videogame store sold an exclusive cover of WWE ’12 featuring Kelly Kelly on the cover.