New WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax has shared her gratitude to Triple H following her title victory at WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland. On the post-show press conference, Jax reflected on becoming champion after not being with WWE this time last year
“It’s pretty incredible. A year ago, it was a different position for me. But I am so grateful to Triple H for taking a chance on me. Not just a year ago but ten years ago when he hired me here. So, it’s been an incredible journey and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Jax captured the title from Bayley at WWE SummerSlam 2024. The win marks the Queen of the Ring’s first taste of singles gold in WWE since 2018 when she held the RAW Women’s Title. Though Tiffany Stratton teased cashing in her contract, this proved to be a distraction that would play a role in Bayley losing the title she had held since WrestleMania 40. Stratton appeared on the post-show press conference with Jax and was excited for the Queen of the Ring’s championship victory.
As a leading voice in WWE’s creative team, Triple H is certainly putting his faith in Jax as the premier woman on WWE SmackDown. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from WWE SummerSlam and the reign of the brand-new WWE Women’s Champion.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Roman Reigns has made his return to WWE programming as part of the Bloodline Rules main event that took place at SummerSlam 2024.
The return of the Original Tribal Chief had been expected by the WWE Universe for weeks in the run-up towards SummerSlam. Reigns hadn’t been seen in WWE since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
Roman Reigns Returns
In the Undisputed WWE Title match between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa, The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa) came to the aid of Sikoa. As promised by Arn Anderson, Rhodes had backup of his own in the form of Randy Orton and Kevin Owens.
In the ring, Rhodes leveled Solo Sikoa with a spear and a Superman punch. Donned in an OTC shirt (Original Tribal Chief), Reigns shared a look with Rhodes, but opted not to attack the man who beat him at WrestleMania 40. Rhodes would then hit a Cross Rhodes to get the win and retain his title.
Here are all of the matches taking place at SummerSlam tonight from Cleveland, which you can watch back on demand on WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Women’s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
Singles Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as special guest referee
Bloodline Rules Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
Whether you’re at home or on the go, here’s how you can stream SummerSlam 2024 on different devices:
Streaming on Mobile Devices
Peacock App (U.S. viewers): Available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app, sign in with your subscription details, and start streaming.
WWE Network App (International viewers): Also available for iOS and Android. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth viewing experience.
Hall of Famer Arn Anderson made his return to WWE at SummerSlam 2024 in a backstage segment alongside his friend Cody Rhodes. Ahead of Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship match with Solo Sikoa, Anderson appeared and spoke of the threat of the new Bloodline. Anderson then vowed that Rhodes would have some backup of his own and that his help in the Bloodline Rules match was on its way.
Here are all of the matches taking place at SummerSlam tonight from Cleveland, which you can watch back on demand on WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Women’s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
Singles Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as special guest referee
Bloodline Rules Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
Whether you’re at home or on the go, here’s how you can stream SummerSlam 2024 on different devices:
Streaming on Mobile Devices
Peacock App (U.S. viewers): Available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app, sign in with your subscription details, and start streaming.
WWE Network App (International viewers): Also available for iOS and Android. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth viewing experience.
WWE Hall of Famers the Steiner Brothers are celebrating following Bron Breakker’s coronation as Intercontinental Champion at SummerSlam 2024. At the Biggest Party of the Summer, Breakker captured the gold from Sami Zayn, marking Bron’s first title since arriving on the main roster. In the Cleveland Browns Stadium, Rick and Scott Steiner were very pleased to see their kin win the gold and were joined by ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page.
Breakker’s victory marks the first singles title win on the main roster for any member of his family. While Scott and Rick held tag gold in WWE and singles titles outside the promotion, neither man held a singles championship during their time as WWE Superstars.
WWE SummerSlam Matches
Here are all of the matches taking place at SummerSlam tonight from Cleveland, which you can watch back on demand on WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Women’s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
Singles Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as special guest referee
Bloodline Rules Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
Whether you’re at home or on the go, here’s how you can stream SummerSlam 2024 on different devices:
Streaming on Mobile Devices
Peacock App (U.S. viewers): Available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app, sign in with your subscription details, and start streaming.
WWE Network App (International viewers): Also available for iOS and Android. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth viewing experience.
Nia Jax has won the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2024 against Bayley tonight from Cleveland.
Jax won the opportunity to challenge for the title after winning the Queen of the Ring tournament in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
WWE SummerSlam 2024: Nia Jax Beats Bayley
Despite their size difference, Bayley was able to hold her own against the Queen of the ring. During the match, Tiffany Stratton emerged and teased cashing in her Money in the Bank contract but did not.
In the end, it took three Annihilators for Jax to win the gold. This marks Jax’s first singles championship on the main roster since her reign as Raw Women’s Champion in 2018.
Here are all of the matches taking place at SummerSlam tonight from Cleveland, which you can watch back on demand on WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Women’s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
Singles Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as special guest referee
Bloodline Rules Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
Whether you’re at home or on the go, here’s how you can stream SummerSlam 2024 on different devices:
Streaming on Mobile Devices
Peacock App (U.S. viewers): Available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app, sign in with your subscription details, and start streaming.
WWE Network App (International viewers): Also available for iOS and Android. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth viewing experience.
The Bloodline once again holds tag team championship gold after Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga won the WWE Tag Team Championships on SmackDown. On the go-home show before WWE SummerSlam, the two teams competed in the main event of the show which also happened to be in Johnny Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
As seen in previous Bloodline matches, this bout saw interference as Solo Sikoa hit Ciampa with a Samoan Spike at ringside while Gargano was trying to fight off everyone else. In the end, it was Fatu who got the win for his team to bring The Bloodline its first taste of gold since WrestleMania 40.
This marks the end of DIY’s time as WWE Tag Team Champions. The pair had held the gold since the July 5, edition of SmackDown where they dethroned A-Town Down Under. Ciampa and Gargano had just one successful title defense, that being against A-Town Down Under on the July 12, episode.
With the WWE Tag Team Titles now with the Bloodline, all eyes are on Solo Sikoa and tonight’s Undisputed WWE Championship match. Sikoa has vowed to win the gold Cody Rhodes captured at WrestleMania by defeating Roman Reigns. On this week’s SmackDown, it was announced that their title match will be under Bloodline Rules, and Sikoa once again had some choice words for Roman Reigns, calling his cousin “weak.” Comments like these and others have led many to speculate that Reigns will return tonight at SummerSlam.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced.
Mere days ahead of his long-awaited return to the ring, CM Punk stopped by the WWE SummerSlam 2024 tryouts in Cleveland, Ohio. Attending the tryouts, Punk spoke about learning the fundamentals of running the ropes, stating that it’s akin to learning how to swim. Punk also enjoyed a chat with WWE SVP of Talent Development Shawn Michaels and had some words of encouragement to those trying out for the company.
WWE has hosted several tryouts over the years in its effort to fill the company’s roster with the best athletes in the world. In 2021, WWE held tryouts over SummerSlam weekend in Las Vegas. Several notable names were recruited following these tryouts including Nikkita Lyons, Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe, Javier Bernal, and Monday Night Raw’s Maxxine Dupri.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced. In addition to in-ring action, SummerSlam weekend will see Damian Priest: Live, which will include the premiere of his WWE: 24 episode and a live panel from El Campeon.
Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from these upcoming talent tryouts as well as the Biggest Party of the Summer.
Matt and Jeff Hardy have been working with WWE to produce interviews for upcoming documentaries, Fightful Select has reported. In addition to interviews, other content with the brothers has reportedly been filmed that will be rolled out on WWE’s digital media platforms in the future. WWE sources reportedly told Fightful that fans shouldn’t read too much into this situation, but that an eventual appearance by the brothers wouldn’t be out of the question.
The Hardy Boyz separately parted ways with AEW earlier this year and both have since been working with TNA. It has been reported that both men are working in TNA without official contracts meaning WWE would be able to offer them a deal if they wanted.
Matt and Jeff’s last return to WWE took place at WrestleMania 33 and the pair won the RAW Tag Team Championships in one of the most exciting returns in recent history. Matt left WWE in 2020 while Jeff would be controversially released the next year after refusing to enter rehab. It was later revealed that the behavior that made WWE insist on Jeff entering rehab was not due to drugs.
Could A Return Happen?
Fans reportedly should not read too much into the Hardyz filming WWE content, but there are those eager to see the legendary brothers make a full-term return. Last month, Matt Hardy told fans to “never say never” and teased that the Hardy Boyz could return as part of the ongoing NXT-TNA crossover. The elder Hardy pointed out that the WWE NXT Tag Team Championships are a set of titles that the pair are yet to win and teased that could change.
This tease came shortly after Matt said on Busted Open Radio that his “best case scenario” would see the pair have “a hell of a run” in TNA before doing “something small” in WWE followed by a Hall of Fame induction. Jeff has said he only wants an induction if he goes in with his brother. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Matt & Jeff Hardy and a potential WWE return.
At WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Roman Reigns’ 1,316-day run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion ended, marking the finish to one of the greatest stories in modern WWE history. Not long after this monumental moment, it became apparent that Reigns would not be appearing anytime soon, leaving fans all the more eager to see him again.
The stage is set. The challenge laid out. Next weekend, Our Tribal Chief Roman Reigns returns to WWE. Bloodline warfare is upon us folks and I could not be more excited. #SmackDown#SummerSlampic.twitter.com/nGzypKotQx
It’s worth remembering that Reigns has a history of huge moments at the Biggest Party of the Summer. It was in 2018 that Reigns ended the 504-day reign of Brock Lesnar as Universal Champion, a reign that now pails in comparison to the Head of the Table. Just two years later, Reigns would return from a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’d be just one week later that he’d capture the Universal Title.
But what would a Roman Reigns return look like at SummerSlam 2024? If he does make an appearance, it’ll almost certainly be in the Undisputed WWE title match between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa. In Reigns’ absence, Sikoa has laid claim to being the Tribal Chief and has made a series of remarks about Reigns himself. From claiming Roman Reigns will never return to essentially daring Reigns to show-up, stating in a promo that if Reigns has a problem with Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline, he knows where to find him.
The Bloodline Civil War of the summer of 2023 proved popular with fans, and the Cleveland Browns Stadium could be the epicenter of a second conflict. With the recent arrivals of Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu, there are more family members than ever before, ensuring a much wider conflict than what fans saw last year.
Of course, the question then is who would Reigns recruit to his side, especially given his past treatment of his own kin. While Jimmy Uso (a victim of Sikoa’s Bloodline) may fall back in line with Roman, it’s hard to see Jey Uso returning to SmackDown and aligning with the brother and cousin who did him wrong. Interestingly enough, Zilla Fatu, the son of Umaga, is reportedly in Cleveland, with some speculating his debut could come with Reigns’ return.
But there’s also another option that few have considered; that Reigns isn’t returning to confront Sikoa and his allies, but to align with them. After all, Sikoa will be facing Cody Rhodes, the man who ended Reigns’ run on top, a fact that the former champion will not have forgotten.
Will Roman Reigns return at WWE SummerSlam this weekend, and if so what role will he play in the fate of the Undisputed WWE Championship?
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the Tribal Chief.
Hollywood A-Lister Ben Affleck is reportedly interested in playing Hulk Hogan in an upcoming film based on the infamous Gawker lawsuit. PW Insider reports that Killing Gawker is currently being set up with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Artist Equity and hopes to launch production in January 2025.
Affleck is reportedly “eyeing” the leading role as Hulk Hogan, while Damon is said to be interested in playing venture capitalist Peter Thiel. A screenplay was reportedly written by Charles Randolph based on Ryan Holiday’s book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue.
The Hulk Hogan-Gawker Lawsuit
In October 2012, Gawker posted a sex tape of Hogan with Heather Clem, the wife of Bubba The Love Sponge. In response, Hogan sued the company and several employees and affiliates who had shared portions of the tape. Hogan sought $100 million in damages and in March 2016, a jury of four women and two men voted in his favor. The wrestling legend was awarded $115 million in compensatory damages, which included $60 million for emotional distress. Three days later, Hogan was awarded an additional $25 million in punitive damages.
Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal, paid $10 million to help finance lawsuits against Gawker, including Hogan’s litigation against the company. In 2007, Gawker had published an article outing Thiel as gay without his consent.
Gawker attempted to file an appeal, but in June 2016, three months after the Hogan verdict, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and put itself up for sale. Gawker CEO Nick Denton would also file for personal bankruptcy.
Hulk Hogan And Films
Killing Gawker isn’t the first film project to be tied to the two-time WWE Hall of Famer. In 2020, it was announced that Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Cabin in the Woods) would portray Hogan in a biopic of his life. Four years later though, the film has not been made and Hemsworth has admitted that he isn’t sure what is happening.
Some of the top players for the Manchester City soccer team made a surprise appearance at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando this week, mere weeks after the launch of an exclusive WWE x ManCity merchandise collaboration at WWE Shop. The team shared photos of the players at the state-of-the-art training facility:
The team met with some of the top names in WWE NXT, including Trick Williams, Thea Hail, Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, and North American Champion Oba Femi. England’s very own Robbie Brookside, who now works as a trainer in the PC, was also in attendance.
WWE and Manchester City
This meeting of WWE and the soccer team comes mere weeks after the two sides signed an agreement that has seen exclusive merchandise created. CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin have all seen Man City-themed merchandise created and the original announcement also named Becky Lynch, who has since parted ways with WWE.
The highly successful club is currently on a tour of the United States with a kit that features the WWE logo and a red outline to signify the red swipe of WWE’s branding. The tour was announced via a video of WWE icon John Cena and Man City megastar Erling Haaland.
WWE’s merchandise collaboration with Manchester City is a unique agreement but one that has made fans of both entities very happy. It remains to be seen who WWE will collaborate next, but clearly, the promotion’s merchandising efforts won’t be confined to just the wrestling industry.
Don’t miss any news about wrestling merchandise in and out of WWE by checking in with our Merchandise hub right here on SE Scoops.
WWE Women’s Champion Bayley believes there is work to be done with the Women’s Tag Team Titles before WWE looks at introducing a mid-card championship. On Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast, Bayley said would “love” for women on the main roster to have a mid-card championship of their own, believing it would help “a lot of other women shine.” Before then though, the Role Model feels more needs to be done with the already-established Women’s Tag Team Titles.
“As proud as I am of the Women’s Tag Team Titles, they also don’t always get that time. They don’t always get those matches… I just feel like they need a little more TLC (tender loving care), a little more love because so many women have been able to hold them but we haven’t been able to like have that match yet where it’s like ‘Okay, we solidified the women’s tag team division, now it’s bringing in another one.'”
Bayley’s support for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships is hardly a surprise. The Role Model was one of the more vocal proponents for introducing the titles during the late 2010s. In 2019, she and Sasha Banks (now Mercedes Mone) became the first-ever Women’s Tag Team Champions and would hold the gold again the following year.
The ‘Curse’ of the Women’s Tag Team Championships
Many have said that the Women’s Tag Titles are ‘cursed’ thanks to a mix of stop-start focuses on the division as well as other unfortunate factors. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later and Aliyah would vanish from TV before her release the next year.
In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which ended WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar first title reign in her nine years with the company.
Raquel Rodriguez, who has held gold in both WWE NXT and the main roster, said in 2022 that she was pushing for a mid-card title for women. In July 2024, it was reported that the idea has been discussed within WWE and that a number of talents have pushed for titles over several years. It was also stated, however, that at this time, plans are not in motion for women’s mid-card titles on the main roster.
2024 King of the Ring GUNTHER is ready to walk into Bash in Berlin as World Heavyweight Champion and believes doing so will be an all-time career high. During a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri for CBS Sports, GUNTHER addressed what it’d mean to return to Germany as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
“It’d be the biggest achievement of my career. I think that’s quite obvious. It’s the world’s heavyweight championship. It’s the biggest prize there is to win in this sport. That would be a huge accomplishment but also a big responsibility and challenge.”
WWE Bash in Berlin will take place on August 31, from the Uber Arena in Germany’s capital, and will mark WWE’s first PLE in the European country. GUNTHER has close ties to Germany as he competed for Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) from 2007 to 2020, when he would join WWE. As part of the German promotion, GUNTHER became a three-time Unified World Wrestling Champion and four-time World Tag-Team Champion, with one of those reigns being with future NXT UK rival Ilja Dragunov.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on GUNTHER’s quest to become World Heavyweight Champion and all the latest on WWE Bash in Berlin.
Fans who attended a recent AIW event were surprised to see the WWE Tag Team Champions #DIY made an appearance during the show. At AIW’s Against The World on August 1, the WWE Tag Team Champions surprised fans and earned a loud ovation from those in Cleveland. The show also featured the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) who are reportedly set to join WWE after finishing with TNA earlier this year.
Johnny Gargano & Ciampa showed up at AIW Wrestling
Gargano started with AIW in 2005 and was a mainstay for the promotion for years before joining WWE in 2016. During his tenure, he won the AIW Absolute Championship once and the Intense Championship twice. It was during his AIW tenure that Gargano would feud with future WWE names including Tyler Black (now Seth Rollins) and AEW’s Bryan Danielson.
#DIY will defend the WWE Tag Team Championships on tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown against The Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu.) The Bloodline earned the title opportunity by winning a gauntlet match during last week’s edition of the blue brand and marks the first title shot for both Tonga and Fatu since joining WWE earlier this year. Gargano and Ciampa have held the gold since dethroning A-Town Down Under on the July 5, edition of SmackDown.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa and for results and more for tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown.
WWE may be more willing than ever to work with other promotions, but fans shouldn’t expect a crossover event with AEW wrestlers anytime soon. Speaking to the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch, Chris Legentil, WWE’s executive vice president of talent relations and head of communications, was asked about whether an event with AEW talent could be in the works.
“No interest. I just want to make clear. There is definitely a variety of excellent talent that don’t currently reside in WWE. There is no shot there that is being fired.It’s just to say, the answer to your question is no conversation has been had in relation to that.”
While AEW isn’t on WWE’s list, 2024 has already seen the Sports Entertainment juggernaut forge partnerships with various promotions. Bloodsport, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Marigold Wrestling and TNA Wrestling have all featured WWE talent and fans have been able to see TNA stars appear at NXT TV tapings and PLEs.
WWE & AEW
Though Tony Khan’s first promotion has been WWE’s biggest competition since the demise of WCW, the two sides have put their differences aside in the past. In 2019, Billy Gunn was allowed to attend the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony to be inducted as part of D-Generation X. In 2022, AEW talent, including Paul Wight, Chris Jericho, and Bryan Danielson, appeared via videos on RAW to celebrate John Cena on the 20th anniversary of his main-roster debut.
AEW and WWE won’t be hosting a crossover event (at least not yet,) but such a show would feature some of the best names working in the business today. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from both companies.
Pharaoh the Dog, the beloved pet of Cody & Brandi Rhodes and Very Good Boy, is taking his final work road trip this weekend. The Undisputed WWE Champion shared on Instagram that the 13-year old husky is still thriving, but slowing down a bit and is content living a more domesticated life at home.
Pharaoh has appeared on both WWE and AEW programming during his time on the road. On the June 26, episode of WWE Monday Night RAW, the husky was with Cody in a backstage segment that saw Rhodes challenge Damian Priest to a match. Pharaoh’s popularity even resulted in him receiving his own plushie on WWEShop.com.
Pharaoh’s appearance in AEW was not as pleasant, as pyro during Cody’s entrance at All Out 2019 spooked the dog. Rhodes later said on an episode of WWE’s The Bump that he did not intend for pyro to be used during this particular entrance.
Like much of Cody’s family, Pharaoh would become a target of The Rock’s barbs in the build-up to WrestleMania 40. The Final Boss even went as far as to call the good boy a “s***head“, infuriating fans and dog owners alike. Cody would get his revenge in the end though as he’d win the Undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania 40, ending Roman Reigns’ 1,316-day run with the gold.
McMahon attempted to return to WWE programming after WrestleMania 39, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio. It was said that people in charge of WWE “have no interest in him,” and there’s still “a lot of negativity” surrounding McMahon in WWE. Shane was infamously let go after reportedly creating chaos backstage at the 2022 Royal Rumble PLE.
Meltzer argued that this opposition to Shane within WWE could change if they believe he’s joining AEW. Meltzer added that it would not be a surprise if his meeting with Khan was a “leverage” play on McMahon’s behalf to make a WWE return happen. Tony Khan has spoken publicly on his respect for Shane as both a performer and an executive as there’s clearly a lot of respect between the two.
Could Shane McMahon join AEW? Or will his recent meeting convince WWE higher ups to give him the return he reportedly has been pining for? Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on this developing situation.
More has come to light around the main event of TNA Slammiversary 2024 which saw the coronation of Nic Nemeth as the company’s top star. Nemeth won the gold in a six-man elimination match that featured former champion Moose, Joe Hendry, Josh Alexander, Steve Maclin, and Frankie Kazarian. This win fulfilled a promise by Nemeth to win the title shortly after he arrived in TNA at January’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view.
While this was a monumental win for Nemeth, the Wanted Man was not originally planned to win the gold, Fightful Select reports. Instead, it’s claimed that the plan back in May was for Josh Alexander to win the title at Slammiversary. Alexander, the longest reigning TNA World Champion, was forced to vacate the gold due to a torn triceps injury in March 2023.
Some expected Joe Hendry to win the title, given his immense popularity in both TNA and WWE NXT. It’s reported that TNA feels that Hendry and Alexander’s current feud was strong enough to not need the title, and thus Nemeth was crowned the champion. Hendry eliminated Moose in the title match, guaranteeing a new World Champion, before being eliminated by Alexander who turned heel in the process.
AEW TBS/NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone will step foot in an NJPW ring this month for the first time since suffering a career-threatening ankle injury. On Twitter, the New Japan account shared that Mone will compete at the Capital Collision show on August 30, in Washington, D.C. An opponent for Mone has not been named at this time.
This will be Mone’s first match in NJPW since her Resurgence 2023 match with Willow Nightingale in which she suffered an ankle injury. The injury forced plans to change and Nightingale won the Stong Women’s Championship that had reportedly been created with Mone in mind. The injury would also cost Mone over a year of action before returning to the ring at AEW Double or Nothing in May 2024, where she’d win the AEW TBS title from Nightingale.
NJPW Captial Collision will feature other top names including NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd, who’ll defend against Lio Rush. Zack Sabre Jr. Trish Adora, Fred Rosser, and Tom Lawlor have also been announced the the upcoming event.
Mercedes Mone’s Future Plans
It isn’t just in New Japan that fans will get to see Mone in action. The CEO will defend her AEW TBS Championship at All In against Britt Baker. On this week’s Dynamite, Mone claimed that “my EVPs” the Young Bucks had suspended Baker following an altercation between the DMD and Mone at San Diego Comic-Con. Baker and Mone will collide inside Wembley Stadium on August 25.
Keep tuned in to SE Scoops for all the latest on Mercedes Mone and her journey to AEW All In: London 2024 later this month.
A wrestler who once was a part of WWE Tough Enough is back with the company in a behind-the-scenes role, it has been reported. Eric Watts, not to be confused with the son of the legendary Bill Watts, has joined WWE full-time as a writer, Fightful reports. Watts will reportedly be working with the SmackDown side of things going forward.
Watts competed on the 2011 edition of WWE Tough Enough, a show that also featured Ariane Andrew (also known as Cameron) and Ivelisse. Watts was eliminated in week 6 with a lack of improvement being cited as the reason for being cut. The season was ultimately won by Andy Leavine who was given the name Kevin Hackman in WWE. Despite his victory, Leavine was released from WWE in April 2012, less than a year after his victory.
Eric Watts In The Ring
Although Watts will reportedly be working behind the scenes in WWE going forward, he does have plenty of experience in the ring. After his Tough Enough elimination, Watts worked for several promotions, and was part of a tag-team match at Impact Wrestling’s Unbreakable event in 2019, where he teamed with Chris Bey. The following year, Watts was back in tag-team action, this time on AEW Dark, but he and Ray Rosas lost to Jurassic Express.
CM Punk wasn’t a fan of the ‘ugly’ AEW All In footage being aired, but believes it showed that he remains a top draw in that promotion. The footage in question was broadcast on the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite and sparked debate among fans and wrestling insiders as to whether it was the right call.
“It felt really ugly, but then I was like, showing that footage isn’t going to help them or hurt me, so whatever. Being a top draw in two different companies is pretty wild. Thanks, guys.”
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson breakdown their history with FTR.
At the time, Tony Khan said that airing the footage was all part of an effort to give a great show for the fans. Many found the claim dubious, believing that Khan’s real motivation was payback after Punk’s comments on AEW during the MMA Hour, in which he claimed Khan was not a “real boss.” The kayfabe reason behind the footage being shared was that the Young Bucks wanted to justify why they lost to FTR at All In, and shared that they’d been distracted by dealing with the backstage altercation.
The footage did prove to be a boon for AEW in terms of ratings, as the April 10, Dynamite 819,000 viewers, a 9% increase over the previous week and the highest Dynamite rating of 2024 since February. However, airing the footage could not see AEW cross the 1 million viewer threshold, leaving fans to still question whether sharing the footage had been worth it after all.
Wrestling fans and gamers alike have gotten their latest look at the new Call of Duty season which features three of WWE’s top Superstars. This unlikely collaboration features Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Rey Mysterio entering the hit shooting/war game franchise.
In the newest trailer, fans can see the trio of Superstars use guns, as well as some of their signature moves. While Rhodes and Mysterio are available to purchase and play, Ripley is available as part of the Call of Duty Season 5 Battle Pass.
The game’s fifth season kicked off on July 24 with more than just new playable characters. Slam Deathmatch is a unique twist on traditional Team Deathmatch, focusing on finishing moves. While weapons can down enemies, points are only earned by executing Finishing Moves, which will be randomized WWE Finishing Moves in upcoming matches. This particular mode is exclusively during the in-game WWE SummerSlam event, that started on July 31.
Working with Call of Duty is a huge collaboration for WWE which has allowed three of its Superstars to flex their muscles outside of your standard WWE 2K video game. Even Arn Anderson has been pleased by the crossover, as the WWE Hall of Famer is pleased to see the in-game Cody taking his viral ‘pulled out the glock’ promo to heart.
Want to keep up to date with all the latest from the world of video games? Check out our Gaming channel on SE Scoops so you never miss a story!
Shane McMahon has given a statement on his meeting with Tony Khan after the pair were spotted together in a meeting in Arlington, Texas. It has been reported that the pair met to discuss possibilities moving forward and that Khan has been open to speaking with McMahon for some time.
On Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray delivered a statement from Shane on the meeting:
“Tony and I were connected through a mutual friend and we had a great meeting. We talked about many things, but mostly about our shared love for the business and the rewards and challenges of working with family. I congratulated him on the five year anniversary of AEW and look forward to how he evolves the business moving forward.”
A photo of Shane and Khan have been shared online. On Twitter, AEW TBS Champion/NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone took credit for the viral image.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) July 31, 2024
Shane McMahon And AEW
It was claimed by Conrad Thompson earlier this year that McMahon had spoken to some in AEW about the possibility of joining Tony Khan’s first promotion. It was later clarified that Shane was not making a formal pitch to join AEW and was simply stating that it would be an interesting moment in wrestling. Tony Khan has said he has a lot of respect for Shane and appreciates his work as both an in-ring performer and an executive.
McMahon hasn’t been seen on WWE television since WrestleMania 39 when he made a surprise appearance for an impromptu match against The Miz. This was McMahon’s return match to WWE after being fired the previous year for reportedly causing backstage chaos at the 2022 Royal Rumble event.
Could Shane McMahon be All-Elite after all? Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on this developing story.
Seth Rollins wouldn’t change a thing about betraying the Shield over a decade ago, as what he did on that June 2, 2014 RAW changed the face of wrestling. After the Shield defeated Evolution at the previous night’s Payback pay-per-view, Rollins betrayed his brothers with a steel chair and aligned with Triple H.
Since then, all three Shield members have gone on to become huge names in wrestling as well as all holding World Championships. When asked on ESPN SportsCenter if he’s reflected on the paths his betrayal caused, Rollins admitted that he wouldn’t change a thing about what he did.
“I’ve been asked about it a lot. Obviously, that’s the one thing if you’re a fan of Seth Rollins or the Shield or Jon Moxley or Roman Reigns, that’s the one thing that sits with you. Over the course of the last ten years, essentially. And I get asked about it all the time and I’ve thought about it. ‘Would you go back? Would you change it? Would you do something different?’ And my answer is unequivocally no, I wouldn’t.
“Because where we’re at now, the business as a whole is healthier than its ever been and that moment of time shifted everything. That’s what put us all on our separate paths. Our goal in the beginning was to run the show. To run the business, to change it, to make it better. And here we are, a decade later, and I dare say that it was accomplished with the swing of that steel chair.”
That steel chair shot certainly changed the landscape of WWE and Seth got a taste of his own medicine at WrestleMania 40 this past April when Roman Reigns delivered a chair shot of his own to the Architect. Ironically, this chair shot would cost the Tribal Chief, as picking Rollins over Cody Rhodes gave the latter the opening to hit three Cross Rhodes’ and end Reigns’ tenure as Undisputed WWE Champion.
Reigns, Rollins, and Moxley may be on separate paths, but the Shield will live on as one of the greatest factions in WWE. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Seth Rollins and his Shield brothers as they continue to dominate the wrestling business.
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WWE’s latest venture into the world of gaming will see the company produce three themed slot machines with supplier Games Global. Three slot machines will be produced over three years, a statement confirmed this week, with the first, WWE Bonus Rumble: Gold Blitz, being releasedthis August. Andy Booth, Chief Product Officer at Games Global, shared his excitement over the partnership.
“Games Global is thrilled to step into the wrestling ring with WWE and deliver powerhouse content that will appeal to our audiences around the world. Some of the most iconic WWE® superstars will bring our three titles to life and ensure players are immersed in the exciting world of sports entertainment.”
Booth added that partnering with WWE is “monumental” for Games Global and that he is looking forward to the release of WWE Bonus Rumble: Gold Blitz.
This isn’t WWE’s first foray into the world of slot machines. Developer All For One Studios has multiple slot machine games including WWE Legends: Link & Win as well as WWE: Clash of the Wilds. The question now is whether these new slot machines will receive much, if any promotion on WWE programming, as given the company’s PG rating, it could be considered as advertising of gambling to minor fans.
