SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Triple H Meets With Impressive Tryout Athletes Ahead Of WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Triple H Meets With Impressive Tryout Athletes Ahead Of WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will feature some of the company’s top stars, and a tryout could very well find the company’s next big name. 

    The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. While WWE has several Australian Superstars on its roster, only a couple will be featured on the show. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will defend her title against Nia Jax while Grayson Waller will host his talk show with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins as guests.

    Triple H Meets Tryout Athletes

    Like other Premium Live Events, WWE is hosting tryouts in Perth where athletes hope to show they are worthy of a contract with the promotion. Taking to Twitter, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque spoke about the impressive athletes that he and Matt Bloom have been watching. The Game also included some photos from the tryouts. 

    WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

    • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
    • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
    • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
  • Randy Orton Was in Awe Being Babysat By ‘Uncles’ Like Hulk Hogan & Andre The Giant

    Randy Orton Was in Awe Being Babysat By ‘Uncles’ Like Hulk Hogan & Andre The Giant

    Randy Orton had a blast being looked after by ‘uncles’ like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant before becoming a WWE Superstar himself. 

    A third-generation Superstar, Orton’s success in wrestling has far surpassed his father, uncle, or his grandfather. Orton returned from a lengthy injury at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, and is pleased with how he handled being upstaged by CM Punk’s return to WWE. 

    Randy Orton On His Uncles

    Before making it into the business himself, Randy Orton was a young kid who would follow his father’s career intently. Being at WWF events meant Orton was often surrounded by wrestlers who showed an interest in the future Legend Killer. Speaking to A&E Biography: Legends, Orton recalled being cared for by some of the biggest stars of the time. 

    “I was fortunate enough to travel with my Pop [WWE Hall of Famer ‘Cowboy’ Bob Orton] now and again… The few times that I did get to go with my father, I’ll never forget. Being in the locker room seeing the bigger-than-life guys walking around.

    “These were like my uncles. My dad’s close friends, I was in awe as a child when I did get to go with my dad. They treated me just wonderfully. I was there little buddy. 

    Orton also recalled that while he was surrounded by wrestlers from inside and outside of his own family, he never saw himself getting in the ring. 

    “Early on, people would always ask me, kids at school, teachers would ask me ‘Are you going to be a wrestler like your dad?’ But never, ever, was it something that I contemplated because I just didn’t see it in myself to do something like that.”

    Cowboy Bob Orton On Young Randy

    Randy’s father also weighed in during the sneak preview of A&E Biography: Legends. The 2005 WWE Hall of Fame inductee joked that he was fine leaving Orton in the care of the wrestlers as his matches rarely lasted too long. 

    “I didn’t take him [Randy] very often unless we were already pretty close to home. But yeah, those guys used to watch him when I was in the ring. So he got to know everybody when he was still pretty young.

    “I had no problem, you know, with them watching over him.  I knew I wouldn’t be gone too long from Randy. It didn’t take me long to win or lose [laughs.]”

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

  • ROH TV Champ Kyle Fletcher Unable To Compete in the U.S. Due to Visa Issues

    ROH TV Champ Kyle Fletcher Unable To Compete in the U.S. Due to Visa Issues

    One of Ring of Honor’s top stars is currently unable to compete in the ring in the United States due to ongoing issues with their visa. 

    Kyle Fletcher has not been able to compete for weeks in either Ring of Honor or All Elite Wrestling due to these issues, according to Fightful Select. The reigning Ring of Honor World Television Champion, Fletcher’s most recent match was against Chris Jericho on the January 31, edition of AEW Dynamite. Jericho would get the pinfall victory in this non-title match. 

    A Change of Plans

    Fletcher’s visa issues have led to all plans for the ROH World Television Champion being left up in the air. The report adds that Fletcher was poised for a program with Ethan Page over the ROH World TV title. It’s unclear if Ring of Honor will continue with this plan when Fletcher can compete again. 

    Backstage Perception

    AEW management has been very happy with Fletcher’s performance since he began competing for the company. As part of Aussie Open, Fletcher has been thrust into several high-profile spots, including matches with ally Will Ospreay. More recently though, Fletcher has been embarking on a singles run as his longtime partner Mark Davis has been sidelined with an injury. 

    Kyle Fletcher in Ring of Honor

    In addition to his current TV title reign, Fletcher is a former Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champion. In 2023, he won ROH’s Survival of the Fittest tournament to win the vacant ROH World Television Champion. Previous Survival of the Fittest winners include Bryan Danielson, Seth Rollins, Adam Cole, and Roderick Strong. 

  • Bronson Reed On Missing WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth: “Sometimes The Stars Don’t Align”

    Bronson Reed On Missing WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth: “Sometimes The Stars Don’t Align”

    WWE Raw Superstar Bronson Reed is disappointed that he will not be competing at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth, but this is not due to his wife. 

    The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. While WWE has several Australian Superstars on its roster, only a couple will be featured on the show. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will defend her title against Nia Jax while Grayson Waller will host his talk show with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins as guests. 

    Bronson Reed on WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Bronson Reed, a native of Adelaide who is billed from the Black Forest, is among those Aussie Superstars who won’t be competing at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. Online, there has been speculation that this could be because Reed’s wife is currently pregnant. 

    In a tweet, the former WWE NXT North American Champion made clear that his wife’s pregnancy did not play a role, simply stating that sometimes the stars do not align. Reed also used a gif of Will Smith, encouraging fans to keep his wife’s name out of their mouths. 

    WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

    • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
    • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
    • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
  • Watch: Wrestling Match Breaks Out At Screening of The Iron Claw in Brazil

    Watch: Wrestling Match Breaks Out At Screening of The Iron Claw in Brazil

    Moviegoers who attended a screening of The Iron Claw in Brazil got more than they bargained for when a real wrestling match happened live.

    The biopic delves into the lives, careers, and many tragedies of the Von Erich family. Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich alongside Jeremy Allen White (Kerry) and Harris Dickinson (David). Several wrestlers appear in the film including MJF (as Lance Von Erich), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Ed ‘The Sheik’ Farhat), and Ryan Nemeth (Gino Hernandez).

    Match at The Iron Claw

    During a screening of the biopic in Brazil, a wrestling match broke out in a video clip that has gone viral on social media. The moviegoers in Brazil were certainly surprised by the match but cheered for both wrestlers. It’s currently unclear which wrestler won the match.

    Cut Role

    In the run-up to the release of The Iron Claw, much was said about MJF, who was confirmed to have a role as Lance Von Erich. MJF would even reference the role during his post-World Championship win appearance after Full Gear 2022. When the film hit screens though, fans learned that MJF’s role had been greatly reduced. While initially planned for three scenes, MJF has no dialogue in a blink-and-you-miss-it role.

    The Iron Claw

    The Iron Claw was snubbed in the Academy Award nominations but has been a hit with audiences. Music sensation Adele had high praise for The Iron Claw, calling it her favorite film of 2023. One aspect of the film fans didn’t like was the portrayal of Ric Flair which wrestling fans felt was nothing like the actual Nature Boy. 

  • John Cena Still Loves Vince McMahon Despite ‘Super Unfortunate’ Accusations – “I’m Also A Big Advocate Of Accountability”

    John Cena, like many, has been shocked by the allegations against Vince McMahon but will continue to love the ex-WWE head.

    Last month, McMahon resigned from WWE due to the allegations made by Janel Grant in her damning lawsuit. Miss Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon during her tenure with the promise of a high role in the company. 

    Grant alleges that she was trafficked by McMahon other men in WWE. John Lauriniatis and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion (believed to be Brock Lesnar) are also mentioned in the suit.

    The accusations against McMahon have put a spotlight on many in WWE and how the business ensures safety for women on and off camera. 

    John Cena Weighs In

    The 16-time WWE Champion appeared on the Howard Stern Show on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, Stern brought up the disturbing scandal involving McMahon, other executives the company itself.

    “I’ve openly said, I love the guy, I have a great relationship with the guy, and that’s that. It’s largely my construct of operating with honesty and communication. The whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks. It deals with an individual I love and an entity I love.”

    Cena also made clear that while he loves his former boss, there must be accountability McMahon is found to have acted inappropriately. 

    “I can say this, I’m a big advocate of love and friendship and honesty, and communication, in the same breath, I’m also a big advocate of accountability,” Cena said.

    “If someone’s behavior lies so far outside of your value system that the balance shifts of, ‘I can’t operate in a world where this works.’ That’s the end result of being accountable.”

    This isn’t the first time Cena has addressed allegations of misconduct by his former boss. Following McMahon’s retirement in 2022, Cena said that when you love somebody, you take their imperfections. Cena was also seen with McMahon for a 2022 birthday dinner, mere weeks after his initial resignation from WWE. 

    McMahon, Laurinaitis & Lesnar

    Vince McMahon has denied all claims of misconduct and has stated that Janel Grant’s lawsuit is rife with fabrications. 

    John Lauriniatis has stated that he is a victim in this difficult situation, not a predator. 

    Brock Lesnar has been pulled from all WWE plans and has not commented publicly on the matter.

  • IYO SKY Reaches Impressive Milestone As WWE Women’s Champion

    IYO SKY Reaches Impressive Milestone As WWE Women’s Champion

    WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY hopes to remain with the title for a long time to come after reaching a milestone this week. 

    Sky captured the title at WWE SummerSlam 2023 by defeating Bianca Belair. The EST had captured the title from Asuka before SKY cashed in her Women’s Money in the Bank contract that she won last July in London. The title win marked SKY’s first taste of singles gold on the main roster. 

    IYO SKY’s Milestone

    As of today, SKY has reached 200 days as WWE Women’s Champion. The Damage CTRL member has now held the title for longer than some of WWE’s top stars who held the title when it was the Raw Women’s Champion. Superstars SKY has surpassed include Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Nikki Cross/A.S.H, Bayley, and current WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

    IYO SKY’s Title Reign By the Numbers

    Since capturing the gold at SummerSlam, SKY has defended the title 28 times. Six of these matches have taken place on TV or Premium Live Events with the rest being at untelevised live events. SKY’s most recent televised title match saw her retain against ‘Michin’ Mia Yim on the New Year’s Revolution edition of SmackDown last month. 

    What’s Next? 

    IYO SKY will defend the WWE Women’s Championship against former ally Bayley at WrestleMania 40. The Role Model chose to face SKY during a segment earlier this month which also marked Bayley’s exit from Damage CTRL. Bayley won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble to earn the right to choose her WrestleMania opponent. 

  • Raquel Rodriguez Shares Fight with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in Emotional Video

    WWE Raw Superstar Raquel Rodriguez has shared her battle with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in an emotional video online.

    During this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, Rodriguez returned to action to win a Women’s Battle Royal. This win secured the former NXT Women’s Champion the final spot in this weekend’s Women’s Elimination Chamber Match at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth.

    Raquel Rodriguez’s Emotional Video 

    Rodriguez returned this week after spending a month out with MCAS. Taking to Twitter, Rodriguez shared her battle with the disease. The WWE Superstar’s skin was red and swollen in most of the clips, but they were gradually getting better. Raquel made it clear that her fight isn’t over and had some words of support for others facing hardship.

    What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome?

    MCAS is 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.

    What’s Next?

    Rodriguez will face some steep competition this weekend at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. She will be joined inside the Chamber by Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi. The winner will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

    That title will also be on the line at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. Current champion Rhea Ripley will no-doubt receive a thunderous response from her fellow Australians when she defends against Nia Jax. 

  • Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Plans On Delivering “Amazing Spring Football” With Inaugural UFL Season

    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Plans On Delivering “Amazing Spring Football” With Inaugural UFL Season

    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is excited about the excellent action and the opportunities that the new United Football League will provide. 

    In December 2023, the Brahma Bull announced that his XFL would be uniting with the USFL to form the UFL, which aspires to cement the future of spring football. It is hoped that the joining of the leagues will improve the quality of football and give a better product to fans and players. 

    Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia acquired the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the world of professional football was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, it was confirmed where the new teams will be based. 

    Amazing Spring Football

    The UFL’s inaugural season will kick off on March 30, less than two months after an explosive NFL Super Bowl LVIII that saw WWE and AEW stars in attendance. Taking to Instagram this week, Johnson shared his excitement for the UFL which he hopes will deliver exciting football as well as opportunities for the players. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3l4umHrByA

    What’s Next for The Rock?

    The Rock is expected to be on several WWE shows on the road to WrestleMania 40. With that said, neither Rock nor Roman Reigns are being advertised for this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. Outside of the ring, The Rock recently launched the ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ brand of his ZOA Energy drinks.

    One thing fans shouldn’t expect from The Rock is a match with Triple H. Following the chaotic scenes at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, The Rock had a tense staredown with the WWE CCO. While some have suggested that this would lead to a match, Triple H remains retired after suffering a cardiac event in 2021 and will not be wrestling The Rock. 

  • Francine On Segment Where She Was Nearly Blinded: “Nothing Compares To The Original ECW!”

    Francine On Segment Where She Was Nearly Blinded: “Nothing Compares To The Original ECW!”

    ECW alum Francine has reflected on a moment from the company in which she nearly lost her sight, stating nothing compares to the original promotion. 

    Francine was a staple of the original ECW and was one of the most featured women in the promotion’s history. This week marked 25 years since one of ECW’s most dominant tag teams, the Impact Players was formed. The duo of Lance Storm and Justin Credible. 

    During their formation, Credible and Storm brawled with Shane Douglas, who was being managed by Francine at the time. During a shocking moment (even by ECW standards!) Credible swung for Douglas with a cane but clocked Francine in the face. Taking to Twitter, Francine recalled nearly being blinded by the shot and named Paul Heyman as someone who told her not to block. 

    What Came Next for Francine? 

    By the time ECW closed its doors in 2001, Francine was managing Justin Credible, though was not signed to the WWF as part of the Invasion angle. Instead, Francine debuted for NWA: TNA in June 2002 and would feud with fellow ECW alum Elektra. 

    In 2005, Francine appeared for WWE as part of the ECW One Night Stand event, where she was attacked by Beulah McGillicutty. The next year, she signed with WWE as part of the revamped ECW brand. After competing in house show bikini contests, Francine would face Ariel to a no-contest on the September 26, 2006, edition of ECW on Sci-Fi before being released the next month. 

    In July 2021, Francine appeared in a backstage segment in Impact Wrestling via a video call with Brian Myers. 

  • Watch: Heartbreaking Moment Shotzi Suffers Torn ACL Injury On 2/20 WWE NXT

    Watch: Heartbreaking Moment Shotzi Suffers Torn ACL Injury On 2/20 WWE NXT

    WWE opted to air the heartbreaking moment Shotzi suffered an injury on this week’s NXT which resulted in her match being called off. 

    This week’s episode of WWE NXT was actually filmed last week to allow NXT higher-ups time to travel to Australia for this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth premium live event. During the taping, Shotzi’s match with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria was called off and it was reported that she’d suffered a severe injury. 

    Shotzi’s Injury

    With this week’s NXT being taped in advance, there were questions as to whether WWE would air the spot in question or even the match. During last night’s show, those questions were answered as the match did air. The unfortunate spot saw Shotzi bounce from the ring to the outside and immediately clutched her foot, proving that it doesn’t take some high-risk move in wrestling for an injury to happen. 

    A Replacement Match

    Shotzi’s match had to be called off due to the injury. WWE NXT General Manager Ava announced that the fans deserved to see a title match and made an open challenge. This was answered by Lash Legend who had competed earlier in the show. Despite having no prep time, Legend and Lyra Valkyria put on a fine match that saw the Valkyrie retain her title. 

    What’s Next? 

    Taking to Instagram after WWE NXT, Shotzi confirmed her injury and said she suffered a torn ACL. This injury will keep the popular Superstar out for an estimated nine months. This is a huge blow for Shotzi, who will be forced to miss WrestleMania 40. Shotzi has said that she is devastated that this injury caused her to miss her WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth qualifying match. 

  • Rhea Ripley’s Trainer Weighs In On Her Rise Ahead of WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Rhea Ripley’s Trainer Weighs In On Her Rise Ahead of WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Mat Basso, the head trainer of Riot City Wrestling could not be happier for the success of his former student Rhea Ripley as a WWE Superstar. 

    After signing with WWE in 2017, Ripley has become one of the company’s top stars. Not only is she the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, but her star power has also extended to social media with 2.6M followers on TikTok and another 3.4M on Instagram.

    Rhea Ripley’s Rise to the Top

    This weekend, Ripley will return to her native Australia as part of the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. The Women’s World Champion will get a thunderous ovation from her native Aussies when she defends against Nia Jax in Optus Stadium. Speaking to ABC Australia, Basso addressed Ripley’s success. 

    “We always knew that there was a possibility for her because she had that special spark and that magic to her… Her rise through the ranks has been crazy and I just couldn’t be happier for her. She’s absolutely going to be a future Hall of Famer.”

    Basso also recalled Ripley’s time with RCW, which she continues to visit when she’s back home and helps new talent. 

    “That’s one of my favorite things about her, she’s still a girl from Adelaide… She was essentially a toned-down version of what she is now. While she was with us, she was still finding her feet a little bit.”

    What’s Next for Rhea Ripley? 

    Ripley is the heavy favorite to retain her title when she faces Nia Jax at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. If she wins, Ripley will go on to WrestleMania 40 and defend against the winner of the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Ripley is also set to be one of the cover stars of WWE 2K24 when the game releases next month. 

    WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place this Saturday. 

  • How Much Would The Rock’s $500 Shirt From The Attitude Era Cost In 2024?

    The Rock made a point of donning $500 shirts during the Attitude Era, but how much does such a garment cost in today’s prices? 

    On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, the Brahma Bull brought back his iconic heel look and berated the fans in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rock mocked the fans for wanting Cody Rhodes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania and vowed that he would do all he could to ensure that this does not happen. The Rock was also officially recognized as a member of the Bloodline. 

    The Rock’s $500 Shirts

    During the Attitude Era, The Rock made sure to let fans know that he was wearing $500 Versace shirts as a sign of his affluence and arrogance. Given inflation though, those shirts cost much more in 2024. When adjusted for inflation, a shirt that cost $500 in 1998, a year that saw The Rock’s first WWF title win, would cost $946 in 2024.

    The Rock’s heavyweight paychecks more than keep up with inflation

    The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.48% per year between 1998 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 89.21%. While Versace’s shirts should cost close to $950, items listed on Versace’s website are going for $1,500. 

    Dressed to Impress

    The Rock’s Versace look would become a staple of the Brahma Bull’s presentation when he exploded in popularity during the Attitude Era. While the look was initially introduced when he was a heel, The Rock continued to dress well as a face, a sign of how much the Versace clothes had become associated with the Great One. 

    Some of The Rock’s looks from his time on top of the Attitude Era. 

    What’s Next for The Rock? 

    The Rock is expected to be on several WWE shows on the road to WrestleMania 40. With that said, neither Rock nor Roman Reigns are being advertised for this weekend’s Elimination Chamber: Perth event. Outside of the ring, The Rock recently launched the ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ brand of his ZOA Energy drinks. 

    One thing fans shouldn’t expect from The Rock is a match with Triple H. Following the chaotic scenes at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, The Rock had a tense staredown with the WWE CCO. While some have suggested that this would lead to a match, Triple H remains retired after suffering a cardiac event in 2021 and will not be wrestling The Rock. 

  • Initial WWE Raw Plans Had Jey Uso Winning The Intercontinental Championship from GUNTHER

    Initial WWE Raw Plans Had Jey Uso Winning The Intercontinental Championship from GUNTHER

    GUNTHER is still the Intercontinental Champion, but many in WWE were confident that the title would be changing hands this week.

    On the January 19, 2024, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, GUNTHER put his title on the line against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. The Austrian retained thanks to a distraction by Jimmy Uso, who would lay out his brother after the match. The match marked Jey’s first shot at the workhorse title.

    A Possible Title Change? 

    Jey Uso didn’t win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, which will have come as a surprise to some in WWE. Wrestle Votes reports that “multiple people” within WWE were under the impression that Jey would be ending GUNTHER’s historic reign.

    As far as 6 pm, several internal rundowns for Raw stated that Jey Uso was going to be winning the title. With that said, it cannot be counted out that WWE were using false rundowns to avoid the actual match result getting out. With this win, GUNTHER now holds the record for the most collective days as Intercontinental Champion.

    What’s Next? 

    The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia. Due to strict immigration regulations, GUNTHER is currently unable to leave the United States, which could mean he misses the recently- announced WWE live event in Vienna, Austria.

    As for Jey Uso, this week’s Raw has led to speculation that a match against Jimmy is an inevitability. After Jimmy betrayed his brother at SummerSlam 2023, it was reported that WWE was considering a match between the pair for WrestleMania 40.

  • Nyla Rose is “Serious” About Voicing An Iconic TMNT Villain in the Mutant Mayhem Sequel

    Nyla Rose is “Serious” About Voicing An Iconic TMNT Villain in the Mutant Mayhem Sequel

    AEW wrestler Nyla Rose has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the ring, and she now wants to take her shot at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

    Taking to Twitter, Rose shared her experience watching last year’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and was moved by a scene in which the humans helped the Turtles leader Shredder. In a follow-up tweet, Rose shared her hope to play TMNT staple baddie Krang in the sequel. 

    It has been confirmed that Mutant Mayhem will receive a sequel though details remain scarce on the plot. A TV series about Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo is also in the works. 

    Who is Krang? 

    An alien being from Dimension X, Krang first appeared in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated show as part of the second episode. His first comic book appearance was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures vol. 1, #1, published by Archie Comics in August 1988. Krang is often seen working alongside Shredder, another staple villain of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. 

    While not physically imposing, Krang possesses an impressive intellect and some psychic powers. He can often be found piloting an android body which provides him with great strength. 

    Wrestling and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    Should Rose be selected as the voice of Krang, she’ll join former WWE Champion John Cena who voiced Rocksteady in Mutant Mayhem. Sheamus played the same character in the 2016 live-action film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows. 

     

  • What Does the Hourglass Mean? TNA Wrestling Roster Come Together with Cryptic Message

    What Does the Hourglass Mean? TNA Wrestling Roster Come Together with Cryptic Message

    The TNA Wrestling roster has left fans scratching their heads with the use of a single emoji, an hourglass, in a series of tweets. 

    On Twitter, several wrestlers in the company shared the context-free tweet, leaving fans to speculate in the comments as to what this means. Some fans speculated that the talent were counting down until their contract expired, perhaps in response to the controversial decision by Anthem Entertainment to remove Scott D’Amore. D’Amore had been part of TNA for years and was a pivotal part of the company’s relaunch earlier this year which was a hit with fans. TNA’s roster recently issued a letter to Anthem expressing their support for D’Amore. 

    You can check out some of the tweets from the TNA Wrestling roster below. 

    What’s Next for TNA Wrestling? 

    TNA will now be overseen by Anthony Cicione, who is the company’s new President in addition to being Anthem Entertainment’s President. The promotion’s next big event will be this week’s No Surrender pay-per-view. The card for the upcoming show is as follows: 

    • The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) (with Alisha Edwards) vs. Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kushida and Kevin Knight)
    • Chris Sabin (c) vs. Mustafa Ali (TNA X-Division Championship)
    • Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Gisele Shaw (TNA Knockouts Championship)
    • Decay (Havok and Rosemary) (c) vs. MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly) (TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships)
    • PCO vs. Kon
    • Josh Alexander vs. Simon Gotch
    • ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) vs. Grizzled Young Vets (James Drake and Zack Gibson) (TNA World Tag Team Championships)
    • Moose (c) (with Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) vs. Alex Shelley (with Kevin Knight and Kushida) (No Surrender Rules Match, TNA World Championship)
  • Paul Roma: WWE Higher-Ups Pressued Male Talent To Do “Sexual Things” with Other Men

    Paul Roma: WWE Higher-Ups Pressued Male Talent To Do “Sexual Things” with Other Men

    Multiple WWE higher-ups allegedly pressured male talent to perform sexual acts with other men, according to ex-Superstar Paul Roma. 

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

    Paul Roma on WWE’s Accusations

    With the Grant lawsuit, McMahon’s practices with WWE Superstars have been under severe scrutiny over the past month. Speaking on News Nation, Paul Roma said you would hear talk of McMahon being inappropriate on a regular basis. 

    “Yes. It was pretty regular. You heard it on a regular basis for the most part. Then you wouldn’t hear it for a while. Then it would come full circle. But it wasn’t so much Vince, as it was people that he had surrounding him. You’re talking about an industry where you have young, good-looking well-built men in the ring. Half naked, three-quarters naked actually. So yeah it left a door open. 

    “He had a lot of people around him. Vice Presidents and bookers that were very much into that. And they put you in a really bad situation. Especially once you started making some money. You kind of get comfortable with that. Then you find out that your job’s on the line. Do it or get fired. And I witnessed quite a few walk away. The money wasn’t worth it.”

    When asked to clarify what the male talents were asked to do that led to some walking away, Roma said that he saw talent being pressured to perform sexual acts. 

    “They were asked to do things, sexual things, with other men, that they did not want to do. My former partner being one of them. I was actually in a cab ride in Washington, and we were coming back. The gentleman next to me kept saying it’s not worth it. It’s not worth the Benjamins… The next day we were filming for our second TV taping and he was gone. He jumped on a flight and went back home and never showed up again to wrestle.”

    Roma was asked if the person in the cab ride with him was coerced by a member of management and said there would be no one else in the company who’d do such a thing. 

    “Let’s leave it this way. That’s all it could be. If somebody is going to give you money, it has to be that. There is nothing else. It’s not going to be one of the boys that you’re wrestling with. They’re not going to offer you money.

    “Even my former partner. They offered him money, drugs. ‘Just lay on your back you don’ have to do a thing.’ And he came running right to me when I came to TV and I said ‘Dude. What are you going to do?’ He told me ‘I’ve already spoke to Arnold.’ And I say ‘Well why would you do that? You just killed our team. What do you think he’s going to do? He’s going to go to the people who propositioned you.’”

    When the host Ashleigh Banfield spoke about a prior interview with Mario Mancini, she reiterated a claim that there is at least once incident from years ago that are worse than any allegations in the Grant lawsuit. Roma said he was aware of the claim but did not feel it was his role to speak publicly on that specific situation. Roma added that the alleged victim may have their reasons for not coming forward. 

    “We’re surprised no-one has come forward but on the flip side, I think that they’re of an age now. They may be married and have kids and they don’t want to open Pandora’s box. And I don’t blame them. And I said that to Mario. Can you blame them?” 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

  • Potential Spoiler Of Which City Will Host WWE SummerSlam 2024

    Potential Spoiler Of Which City Will Host WWE SummerSlam 2024

    The citizens of Cleveland, Ohio could be flocking to Municipal Stadium later this year for WWE’s annual SummerSlam, if recent reports are to be believed. 

    The Columbus Dispatch reports that WWE will be receiving a $1.676 million tax credit from the state of Ohio this year. This is part of Ohio’s $44 million credit that will be awarded to television and film productions happening there in 2024.

    No major WWE event has been announced for Ohio yet, despite this $1.676 million tax credit. With that said, there has been speculation that the tax credit could be tied to rumors of Cleveland hosting SummerSlam. Fightful Select reported in October of last year that ‘The Forest City’ was the front-runner to host the Biggest Party of the Summer. 

    WWE & Cleveland

    WWE has a rich history of hosting Premium Live Events in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. WWE’s first PLE in the city was SummerSlam 1996 which saw then-WWF Champion Shawn Michaels retain his gold against Big Van Vader. Other WWE events hosted in Cleveland include No Mercy 1999, Survivor Series 2004, Unforgiven 2008, and WWE TLC 2014. 

    The promotion’s most recent PLE in Cleveland was Fastlane 2019 which saw The Shield defeat Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre in a six-man tag-team match. The bout marked the first match featuring the Shield following Roman Reigns’ return from his second victory over leukemia. 

    Several WWE Superstars are also native to Cleveland. While The Miz now calls Los Angeles home, the WWE A-Lister was born and raised in Cleveland, as was Johnny Gargano. 

  • “Love You Brother”: The Rock Gives Tribute to Man Who Changed His Life at Daytona 500

    “Love You Brother”: The Rock Gives Tribute to Man Who Changed His Life at Daytona 500

    Dwayne Johnson has become a huge megastar in the world of entertainment, but that wouldn’t have happened if not for the influence of a very special person. 

    This week, The Rock served as the Grand Marshal of the Daytona 500. The Brahma Bull had been scheduled to kick off the annual race last weekend before severe weather delayed plans. 

    The Rock’s Tribute

    The Rock had a great time at the Daytona 500, which was covered on Twitter by the FOX: NASCAR account. During the video shared online, The Rock can be seen being interviewed by somebody, and looking up to the sky saying “Rest in peace, I love you brother.” In a tweet of his own, The Rock gave context, revealing that he was speaking about somebody who changed his life. 

    “Crazy moment here. You’ll see at the end, I’m shooting a cellphone vid for a guy – he gets my attention, by yelling my old high school in Pennsylvania (Freedom) and mentioning my high school football coach, Jody Cwik.

    “The last time I got arrested at 15, Jody said “hey stop getting arrested and come play football for me”.

    “I did.

    “And it changed my life.

    “He changed my life. You’ll see me look up and point, and and say “rest in peace, I love you brother”

    “Amidst the adrenaline and beautiful chaos of #DAYTONA500 this moment was the last thing I expected.

    “I’m grateful it did.

    Who Was Jody Cwik? 

    Cwik passed away in 2006 at the age of 51. A graduate of Philipsburg High School, he would later study at Kutztown University, earning a BS in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. Later, he received his Master’s Degree in Education also from Kutztown University. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife and their one daughter Lauren. 

    Dwayne Johnson has often spoken highly of Cwick and the profound effect he had on his life. In 2016, the former WWE Champion recalled shaking hands with Cwik and how his grades and attitude improved at school when he began playing football. Johnson said in an interview with Oprah’s Master Class that to this day, he tries to see the best in kids who have been written off by others. 

  • GUNTHER Breaks Pedro Morales’ Record for the Most Combined Days As WWE Intercontinental Champion

    GUNTHER Breaks Pedro Morales’ Record for the Most Combined Days As WWE Intercontinental Champion

    GUNTHER will go down in history as the WWE Superstar who has held the Intercontinental Champion more than any other. 

    The Austrian captured the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown in June 2022 with a victory over Ricochet. Since then, GUNTHER has retained against a litany of different opponents. At WWE Clash at the Castle 2022, GUNTHER would retain in a five-star classic against Sheamus, who only needs the IC title to complete the Grand Slam. 

    Smashing the Record

    In September of last year, GUNTHER broke the record for the longest individual reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion. That record had been held for decades by the Honky Tonk Man, though GUNTHER wasn’t surprised to surpass the WWE Hall of Famer. 

    Now, GUNTHER has another accolade to his name. As of today, the Imperium leader has surpassed Pedro Morales’ collective 619 days across two reigns to now hold the record for the most collective days with the gold. Morales held the title from December 1980 to June 1981 and later from November 1981 to January 1983. 

    What’s Next? 

    On last night’s Raw, GUNTHER put his title on the line against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. The Austrian retained thanks to a distraction by Jimmy Uso, who would lay out his brother after the match. The match marked Jey’s first shot at the workhorse title. The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia. 

    One thing fans shouldn’t expect to see next from GUNTHER is a pursuit of a WWE World Championship. Last August, GUNTHER expressed his hesitation at being a double champion and said it was not the time for him to pursue a World Championship. 

  • Watch: The Rock Teams With Dwayne Johnson In ZOA’s ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ Commercial

    Watch: The Rock Teams With Dwayne Johnson In ZOA’s ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ Commercial

    Consumers of The Rock’s new energy drink will experience ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ according to a new ad campaign from the Bloodline member. 

     BDE is the newest beverage from ZOA Energy, which is the sports drink company owned by the Brahma Bull. In a statement, Chief Visionary Officer Dany Garcia had this to say about BDE: 

    “At ZOA Energy, we are illustrating that everyone has access to “Big Dwayne Energy” – this intangible concept of fearlessly owning who you are and unapologetically sharing your one-of-a-kind self with the world. By embracing this mindset and fueling the body with ZOA, people not only feel energized but confident, bold, and determined to reach their full potential.”

    The Rock, who is the company’s ‘Chief Energy Officer,’ also weighed in on the impact of ZOA Energy: 

    “When someone with a great, radiating energy enters the room, people feel it. ZOA Energy helps you be that best version of yourself and positively influence those around you – confidently owning your authentic self, having fun and doing your best to live life to the fullest. Before you know it, everyone is hooked on ZOA.”

    ZOA Energy has also released a new video promoting BDE which shows consumers (literally) experiencing Big Dwayne Energy. The humorous commercial ends with modern-day Dwayne Johnson sharing the screen with his 90s counterpart. 

    The Rock’s Other Ventures

    In addition to ZOA, The Rock has his own award-winning Tequila brand which was launched in October of 2019. The Brahma Bull is also a co-owner of the United Football League. The UFL was confirmed last year and saw Johnson’s XFL merge with the USFL.

  • Roman Reigns’ Latest WWE Milestone Puts His Unrivaled Dominance Into Perspective

    Roman Reigns has surpassed almost every other WWE Superstar when it comes to his dominant title run, and the Tribal Chief has even surpassed an entire era. 

    Reigns’ historic tenure as champion began on August 30, 2020, at that year’s Payback event. Reigns, who had returned to WWE TV the week prior at SummerSlam, defeated ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a triple-threat match to capture the gold. Reigns entered the match near the closing moments of the bout, signing a contract to make his participation in the bout official mere moments before his title victory. 

    Surpassing An Era

    Roman Reigns has dominated WWE for years, and now has surpassed the much-beloved Attitude Era. In WWE, the famed era is considered as lasting from Survivor Series 1997 (the Montreal Screwjob) to WrestleMania X-Seven in April 2021. This period of time spanned over 1,239 days. Recently, the Tribal Chief’s Universal title reign surpassed this figure. Roman Reigns is currently enjoying day 1268 of his historic tenure as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. 

    What’s Next? 

    Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. While Reigns intended to face The Rock this April (ensuring the title remained within his family) Rhodes’ decision to face Reigns has ruined the Bloodline’s plans. On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, The Rock officially joined the Bloodline. In his first heel promo in years, The Rock mocked Cody’s ‘crybaby’ fans and vowed that his goal at WrestleMania is to ensure Rhodes doesn’t finish his story in Philadelphia. 

    Paul Heyman has been by his Tribal Chief’s side for years, but who could be next for the legendary manager… 

  • Netflix’s Vince McMahon Docuseries Possibly Delayed Over Allegations

    Netflix’s Vince McMahon Docuseries Possibly Delayed Over Allegations

    It may be some time yet before fans see Netflix’s docuseries on the life of Vince McMahon, due to the allegations against him. 

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

    Netflix Docuseries Delayed? 

    In 2020, a docuseries focusing on McMahon was announced, though a lot has changed since this project was first revealed. While it was reported in 2022 that the project was scrapped, it was later confirmed that this was not the case. 

    On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the future of the Netflix project. Meltzer said that while the project was set to be released soon, the resignation of McMahon may have resulted in the project being delayed. 

    “I haven’t heard anything about [the release of] the doc. This changes the whole doc 100%… They were done. It was going to be out very, very soon. I don’t know how it can possibly be out very, very soon now.”

    WWE And Netflix

    It’s unclear when this project will be released, but WWE is set to have close ties with Netflix in due time. In January of next year, WWE Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix as part of a five billion dollar deal with the streaming service. Fans outside the U.S. will also receive SmackDown, and WWE NXT, as well as Premium Live Events. 

  • Dakota Kai Trains With UFC’s Israel Adesanya Amid WWE Injury Hiatus

    Dakota Kai Trains With UFC’s Israel Adesanya Amid WWE Injury Hiatus

    The recovery of Dakota Kai has seen the former WWE Women’s Tag Champion train with UFC fighter and TKO ally Israel Adesanya. 

    In May of last year, Kai suffered a torn ACL that has kept her out of action ever since. While Kai hasn’t been competing, she has remained a presence on WWE programming as part of Damage CTRL. Recently though, Kai sided with Bayley upon the Role Model’s exit from the faction. Bayley will challenge WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at WrestleMania 40.

    On a recent episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Kai was spotted out of her knee brace, raising speculation that she was healed. Kai would later explain that she simply forgot her brace for the show. On Instagram this week, Kai shared a photo of her training session with UFC’s Israel Adesanya, and was once again sans knee brace. The pair trained together at the City Kickboxing event in Kai’s native New Zealand.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3g-LOmLfPa

    Israel Adesanya

    While he’s yet to compete for WWE, Adesanya’s love for pro wrestling can’t be denied. For UFC 276 in 2022, Adesanya made an Undertaker themed entrance that caught the attention of the WWE Hall of Famer. Adesanya has also been open to competing for WWE but believes such a match would be a one off.

  • WWE World: Fanatics To Power 5-Day Fan Experience Over WrestleMania Weekend

    WWE World: Fanatics To Power 5-Day Fan Experience Over WrestleMania Weekend

    Fans attending WrestleMania 40 will be able to enjoy a time like no other as part of the ‘WWE World’ experience.

    In a statement, WWE announced their partnership with Fanatics to produce WWE World, which will serve as a successor to the popular WrestleMania Axxess. 

    Scott Zanghellini, WWE’s Co-Head of Revenue Strategy & Development, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Fanatics:

    “Fanatics has a phenomenal ability to customize offerings for fans and we’re excited to partner with them on this first-of-its-kind experience for the WWE Universe at WrestleMania XL.”

    Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events, shared Zanghellini’s enthusiasm about the collaboration. 

     “Through unique content, Superstar access and immersive experiences, we look forward to curating a captivating event for all fans who are in Philadelphia for WWE’s marquee event.”

    WWE World: What to Expect

    Tickets for WWE World will go on sale this Thursday at 10 AM Eastern, with prices ranging from $30 to $300. Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of attractions, including roundtable discussions with top WWE Superstars, a WWE 2K24 gaming tournament, live podcast recordings, and direct memorabilia and autograph sales facilitated by Fanatics Live.

    WWE World will be a five-day event, scheduled for April 4 to April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event will also feature a WWE Superstore filled with merchandise. 

    WWE WrestleMania 40

    WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, and mark the promotion’s fifth two-night event. The card for the show so far is as follows: 

    • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes
    • WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY (c) Vs. Bayley