Former WWE Superstar Mandy Rose won’t have to worry about paying the bills for some time thanks to just one fan who paid for her FanTime account.
Rose was released from WWE in December 2022, a day after she lost the NXT Women’s Champion to Roxanne Perez. Rose’s sudden release came after WWE officials learned of the explicit content shared on her website. Rose has stated that she was never given any warning to take her website down prior to her contract being terminated.
Mandy Rose’s Crazy Amount
Rose’s website has certainly granted the former NXT Superstar financial security. Within a month of her WWE departure, it was reported that the website had earned $1 million. Rose opened an OnlyFans account in September of last year.
Speaking on the ‘Power Alphas‘ podcast hosted by her fiancé Tino Sabbatelli, Rose recalled one fan who was willing to pay big money to see her exclusive content.
“I’ve had one person, I won’t say any names. One person, and this is on FanTime, spent $55,000 on me. One person. $55,000. So I’m like ‘Wow, what does he do for a living that he’s able to spend this kind of money on one person?’ $55,000. And it wasn’t even [over a long period.] It was definitely over a little time period. But it was definitely, yeah. Wild. So thank you! It is kind of crazy.”
Mandy rose says 1 person spent $55,000 on her onlyfans account
Speaking to TNT Sports at UFC 298, Ford was asked if he’d ever shown interest in stepping into the Octagon. The Street Profit made it clear that it is something he’s considered.
“100 percent. Now I do get nervous about messing up this pretty face. I do look better in person, I know the camera is a little different. But I will say I’ve always been a fan of it, always trained for it. It is something I was talking about in the last two years, about actually going over and having a match. Seeing CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, and even Bobby Lashley, the guy I’m with now, doing different promotions, doing those fighting promotions… It’s something I had interest in but it got shut down quickly by… ahem [gestures to Belair.]”
Bianca Belair on UFC
While Ford is itching for a chance in the cage, Bianca Belair doesn’t share her husband’s desire. With that said, Belair made clear that she’d love to train with MMA fighters to hone her skills.
“I would love to train and get the skills that they have. I’ve been in the ring with some women who have some of this background like Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler and they are tough. I would love to have some skills that they have. But as far as competing, I think I’m good in the WWE ring.”
WWE meets UFC ?
Is there an octagon appearance on the cards of either of these two superstars? @BiancaBelairWWE says no, but @MontezFordWWE didn't rule it out… ?
While not a UFC cage, Belair will step inside the Elimination Chamber later this week for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Belair will face Tiffany Stratton, Becky Lynch, Naomi, Liv Morgan, and another entrant. A battle royal featuring Shayna Baszler, Mia Yim, Alba Fyre, Zelina Vega, and Zoey Stark will take place on this week’s Raw to decide the final entrant.
Fans who attended the most recent Revolution Pro Wrestling event received a huge surprise in the form of reigning AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy.
Cassidy was part of a multi-man scramble match that saw the International title on the line at the company’s High Stakes show. He defended the gold against Sha Samuels, Spike Trivet, Richard Holliday, Cameron Khai, and TNA Wrestling’s Flash Morgan Webster. On Twitter, Rev Pro shared the moment Cassidy made his entrance and the electric response he received from the fans.
In a tweet of his own, Webster shared his delight at challenging for the AEW International Championship and believes it is a strong start to what will be an epic 2024.
Just wrestled for the @AEW International Championship in front of 2000 rapid @RevProUK fans.
While Cassidy’s appearance at the show was a surprise, it was no secret that the Freshly Squeezed wrestler was overseas in the United Kingdom. Cassidy, alongside AEW World Tag Team Champion Darby Allin, was seen with AEW President Tony Khan at a Fulham FC soccer game. Unfortunately for the AEW trio, Fulham lost 2-1 to Aston Villa.
Orange Cassidy in AEW
Cassidy is in his record-setting second reign as the AEW International Champion. His first reign with the title is the longest in the title’s history. Cassidy also holds the record for the most successful title defenses in AEW. Outside of singles competition, Cassidy is part of the Best Friends stable alongside Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, and Kris Statlander. Cassidy made his debut for AEW at their inaugural Double or Nothing event in 2019 and would sign with the promotion that same year.
Clark, better known to fans as Velveteen Dream, was part of a show earlier this month that marked the former WWE NXT Superstar’s return to wrestling. In 2020, Clark faced allegations of sending inappropriate messages to minors. WWE claimed that their investigation into the matter showed no proof of misconduct, though one of Clark’s accusers would state that WWE never reached out as part of their investigation. After massive fan backlash, Clark was released from WWE in 2021.
Terra Calaway on Dynasty Wrestling
Given the allegations Clark has faced as well as additional run-ins with the law, Dynasty’s decision to use him at their event has received a mixed response from fans. On Twitter, Dynasty defended using Clark, saying they wanted to give somebody a second chance to live out their dream.
This message caught the attention of Terra Calaway, a former member of the Dynasty Wrestling roster. In a tweet of her own, Calaway shared her disappointment and disgust at using Clark. Calaway, a victim of sexual assault, said that using Clark made it clear that victims are not safe at Dynasty Wrestling.
As a former member of your roster and a sexual assault victim, I am so beyond disappointed and disgusted.
Thank you for showing other victims they are not safe in your locker room or your crowd. https://t.co/p9HoWbKXVg
Clark recently emerged in Culpeper and spoke at a County Board of Supervisors meeting. The former WWE NXT Superstar urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of solar power. In a recent video, Clark apologized to WWE and Triple H for causing them problems but stopped short of admitting to any of the allegations against him.
Good morning, WXW Universe. Our wrestlers, staff, family, and fans are all heartbroken and reeling from the announcement last night from our beloved founder and Pops, Afa the Wild Samoan, that Saturday April 13th will be the last #WXWWrestling show.
“Instead of X-Treme War, that event will be called The Grand Finale. After 27 years, WXW will be opening our doors one last time. This news was not easy to hear last night.
“Due to Afa’s serious heart condition, his mild-moderate vascular dementia with Alzheimer’s, and other health complications, he felt that April would be the perfect time to take our final bows and close an amazing 27- year chapter. Being that he is the heart and soul of WXW, his family tearfully agreed, and his wrestlers, though very sad, support his decision.
“We’ll see you one more time in person, Saturday, April 13th for the Grand Finale super-show. There will be more matches, an earlier start time, and some big names from WXW’s incredible 27-year legacy. We love you all, thank you for all your support throughout these many years.”
In a separate statement, WXW’s COO and ‘Central Nervous System Vale Anoa’i added:
“I handled it the best I could last night, but I’m an absolute sobbing mess this morning. WXW has been the center of my universe for 27 years, I was 11 years old when we started WXW after closing down its predecessor, Trans-World Wrestling Federation.
“Now, on the verge of 39, I look back in wonder and astonishment at how much of an impact this company, this wrestling life, has made. How many people from all over the world were brought together for this one purpose? How many thousands of wrestlers, referees, managers, camera operators, ring announcers, music people, ring crew, students, editors, photographers, ticket takers, poster/flyer designers, commercial makers, food concession workers, bell ringers, etc. have been part of us through the decades. How many fans from near and far followed and supported WXW since the beginning. Most significantly, how many people learned something from my father?
“How some of the very biggest stars in wrestling history have been part of us. It’s an incredibly emotional time for me, my family, and all of WXW. So all I can say is thank you, I love you, and hopefully as many of us as possible will be together on April 13th to honor this astonishing legacy.”
At this time, no matches have been announced for The Grand Finale.
GUNTHER is aware that his dream match with Brock Lesnar is unlikely but he’s not ready to give up hope just yet.
The prospect of the Ring General Vs. The Beast has been of great interest to the WWE Universe for some time. In late 2022, it was reported that GUNTHER Vs. Lesnar was in the works for WrestleMania 39. That didn’t happen as Lesnar faced Omos in LA while the Intercontinental Champion retained against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.
GUNTHER On Brock Lesnar Match
Recently, Brock Lesnar was pulled from all WWE plans due to his reported ties to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon. While Lesnar isn’t mentioned by name, Miss Grant alleges that McMahon trafficked her to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion believed to be the Beast.
“I always was vocal about my dream match in the past, but that fell through now. I don’t know if we’ll see Brock again if that’s ever going to happen. But I’m wide open when it comes to that as of now.”
What’s Next?
Lesnar had been scheduled to face Dominik Mysterio at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth but that is no longer the case. Lesnar’s name is similarly not being brought up regarding plans for WrestleMania 40.
El Hijo del Vikingo’s immediate in-ring future is currently uncertain after the wrestler suffered what is feared to be a serious injury at a recent event.
On Twitter, Mas Lucha informed fans that Vikingo’s match at the López Mateos Arena had to be called off due to an injury to his right knee. Vikingo was assessed at the arena and there has been talk that he may have damaged a ligament. Mas Lucha also shared photos of Vikingo being tended to at the event.
“El Hijo del Vikingo could not finish the fight in the López Mateos Arena. He injured his right knee after a movement.
“After the first assessment in the arena, there is talk that it may be a ligament rupture.”
El Hijo del Vikingo no pudo terminar la lucha en la Arena López Mateos. Se lesionó la rodilla derecha después de un movimiento.
Tras la primera valoración en la arena, se habla de que puede ser una ruptura de ligamentos. pic.twitter.com/XBOShTRy9N
El Hijo del Vikingo is the current AAA Mega Champion in his first reign. He captured the title at Triplemanía Regia II in December 2021 in a five-way to win the vacant title. At over 800 days, Vikingo’s reign is the longest in the history of the title. He has the second most amount of collective days as champion, only behind El Texano Jr.’s 1,096 days across two reigns. Vikingo also holds the record for the most title defenses at 23.
Reality of Wrestling, the promotion run by Booker T & Sharmell Huffman, are in search for their next break-out star with their ‘Search for the Ultimate Athlete.’
In a statement, Booker T shared the following information about their search:
Embark on a Journey of Grit and Glory with “ROW Games: The Search for the Ultimate Athlete”
Reality of Wrestling (ROW), co-founded by WWE Hall of Famers Booker T and Sharmell Huffman, is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking competition series, “ROW Games: The Search for the Ultimate Athlete.” Hosted by the enigmatic Marty “The Boogeyman” Wright, this intense series will pit 20 of the country’s most promising athletes — 10 men and 10 women — against each other in a series of grueling physical challenges.
Over the span of six episodes, these competitors will test their limits, showcasing their strength, agility, and determination, all for the chance to be crowned the Ultimate Athlete and claim a grand prize of $5,000.00. The twist? Stars from Reality of Wrestling will not only serve as officials but also participate in the challenges, blurring the lines between competitors and the seasoned pros.
“ROW Games is not just another athletic competition; it’s the heart of what wrestling embodies — the blend of physical prowess, mental toughness, and sheer will to succeed,” says Booker T. “These athletes are about to face a challenge like no other, and only the best will make it to the end.”
Sharmell Huffman adds, “We’re looking for those who have the spark, the charisma, and the story that will inspire. It’s more than a competition; it’s about finding that star quality that shines even when the going gets tough.”
The Reality of Wrestling Games will be held at the Texas Entertainment Xperience (TEX), the largest indoor entertainment and gaming complex in the state of Texas located at 10000 Emmett F Lowry Expressway in Texas City, TX 77591. This top-tier venue is set to provide a spectacular backdrop for the physical prowess on display, ensuring an unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators.
Auditions are set to take place at the Texas City World Gym, with production slated to start on April 20th, 2024. The ROW Games will be accessible to its nearly 750,000 subscribers on the Reality of Wrestling YouTube Channel, bringing fans closer to the sweat, tears, and triumphs of these aspiring athletes. Check realityofwrestling.com
Searching For a Wrestler
It’s fitting that Marty Wright will have a role in the search for the ultimate athlete. Wright appeared on 2004’s edition of WWE Tough Enough but was ejected early on after he was found lying about his age to make the show’s limit.
TNA Wrestling has also had its share of competitions to find new talent. In addition to TNA Gut Check, the promotion also had two seasons of TNA British Boot Camp. The first season resulted in Rockstar Spud earning a contract with TNA, while Mark Andrews would secure a contract after winning season 2. Notable names from British Bootcamp include Kris Travis, Grado, Noam Dar, Alba Fyre, Nikki Cross, and Piper Niven.
UFC 298 saw some of the best fighters in the company step into the Octagon and also saw some notable names in the crowd for the night.
WWE SmackDown Superstars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford were acknowledged in the crowd during the event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The real-life couple wore matching outfits for the evening.
WWE’s power couple weren’t the only names from the world of Wrestling at the event. CM Punk was also referenced in the crowd. The Best in the World wore a Bret Hart hoodie for the show and was described by UFC’s name banner as a “Retired UFC Welterweight.”
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair could have had a fruitful career in politics had his prior controversies not intervened, according to the Nature Boy himself.
In wrestling, Flair had a long, lustrious career with 16 World Championship wins to his name, though the actual amount of World title wins is reportedly much higher. Speaking to FOX News recently, Flair was asked what he’d look for in a leader of the United States.
“I think we need someone who shows strength. We need somebody to say, ‘Hey, we are the United States. Kiss my ass!’”
Flair was then asked if he’d considered running for office himself. While the Nature Boy has never set his sights on the White House, he did recall a proposed run for Governor in 2001.
“No [I have not thought about running for President] but I should have run for Governor in 2001. But, they said I had too many skeletons in my closet. Imagine that! I’d make Trump look like a baby.”
Flair didn’t go into what skeletons caused him to reconsider. During a 2020 interview, Jesse Ventura recalled encouraging Flair to reconsider after Ric disclosed 143 speeding tickets.
Ric Flair And Politics
Flair has long supported Republicans in North Carolina politics. In 2008, Flair declared his support for the Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. In 2016, Flair endorsed Ted Cruz’s campaign.
Pro Wrestling and NFL legend Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael has been diagnosed with MRSA in the latest of several health battles.
On Twitter, Jarrett Payton, son of NFL icon Walter Payton and a former NFL star himself, gave an update on Mongo, who has been battling several issues.
Update on Steve McMichael:
Steve is currently getting a blood transfusion and has MRSA. We are asking for your prayers to get Steve through this difficult time. Steve, his family and close friends believe in the power of prayer. Thank you.
In April 2021, McMichael was diagnosed with ALS, six months after former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and broadcaster Tunch Ilkin, announced his own ALS diagnosis. The disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, results in the progress loss of neurons that control voluntary muscles. Earlier this week, McMichael was rushed to the emergency room with suspected pneumonia.
Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael
Mongo would first be introduced into wrestling in the build to WrestleMania 11, as he would be one of the NFL entourage backing Lawrence Taylor for his main event with Bam Bam Bigelow. That same year, he signed with WCW as a commentator, and earned the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s worst TV announcer award of 1996. Shortly after, he transitioned into an in-ring role the following year and captured the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1997.
McMichael is also known for his NFL career, where he played for 15 seasons as a defensive tackle. He would be part of the Super Bowl XX-winning Chicago Bears and would also play for the New England Patriots and for the Green Bay Packers before his career ended in 1994. Earlier this month, it was announced that McMichael will take his much-deserved spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year.
It’s been years since Ronda Rousey competed in a UFC cage, but WWE’s Ivy Nile is eager to step into the Octagon with the former Women’s Champion.
Rousey last competed for WWE at SummerSlam 2023, where she lost the first-ever MMA Rules match to Shayna Baszler. After Rousey informed WWE of her plans to finish up her career at SummerSlam, WWE fast-tracked her feud with Baszler. Rousey reportedly wanted to feud with her fellow MMA horsewoman to give her friend a singles spotlight.
Ronda Rousey Vs. Ivy Nile
Before her impressive WWE career, Rousey dominated in the world of UFC and was arguably the first female fighter to become a name in the mainstream. While Rousey hasn’t fought in close to a decade, Ivy Nile is interested in throwing down. Speaking with Fightful, Nile was asked who she’d like to face in MMA.
“Is Meisha Tate still in the UFC? I think the world of her. I love her. I’m a huge fan of Ronda Rousey too. I think I would do pretty well going toe-to-toe, I think we’re better off as allies.”
More on Ivy Nile
The first female champion of NBC’s “Titan Games,” Ivy Nile has a background in CrossFit, Jiu Jitsu, and weightlifting. In 2021, she joined the Diamond Mine in WWE NXT, which would put her in a team with Brutus and Julius Creed. Last year, the three were called up to the main roster and signed with Monday Night Raw.
WWE SmackDown Superstar Shotzi has shared her heartbreak after her recent injury robbed her of a potential spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
This injury meant that Shotzi could not compete at this week’s SmackDown, where she was set to compete in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Had Shotzi won this qualifier and won inside the Chamber, she would have competed for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
Taking to Twitter, Shotzi expressed her disappointment over being robbed of such a golden opportunity.
I don’t have much to say right now other than I am devastated. It’s heartbreaking to be missing my Elimination Chamber opportunity tonight. But I just wanted to wish all the women competing good luck. I’ll open up more about how I’m feeling and my injury later. @WWE
With Shotzi out of the picture, this week’s SmackDown saw Naomi and Tiffany Stratton qualify for the match with victories over Alba Fyre and Zelina Vega respectively. Naomi and Stratton now join Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Liv Morgan. A battle royal will determine the final entrant in the match.
Brogan Finlay’s WWE in-ring debut saw him share the ring with another multi-generational Superstar this week.
Finlaym the brother of New Japan’s David Finlay, signed with WWE in December of last year. He has been competing since 2021 and has worked for GCW, New Japan, Wrestling Revolver, Black Label Pro, and Blitzkrieg! Pro to name just a few companies.
At last night’s WWE NXT event in Tampa, Florida, Finlay added WWE to the list of promotions he has worked for. In his in-ring debut, he faced Charlie Dempsey. Unfortunately for Finlay, it was the No Quarter Catch Crew member who got the win.
It’s fitting that Finlay faced Dempsey in his WWE NXT debut, as the pair’s fathers also had some wars in the ring. Fit Finlay and William Regal feuded in WCW, with Finlay making his debut in the promotion with an attack on the Blackpool brawler. Years later, the pair would be forced to face off for Finlay’s U.S. title at Great American Bash 2006, after Bobby Lashley, Finlay’s original opponent, failed his medical test. Finlay bested Regal at the WWE pay-per-view to retain.
On Twitter, Finlay made reference to the fact that their fathers fought in the past.
Fans can expect a night of excitement during next week’s SmackDown as the show has been taped in advance.
Next week’s show, like this week’s episode, will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah. The show was taped following last night’s live episode, as WWE will be heading to Australia next week for Elimination Chamber: Perth.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will take place from Optus Stadium on February 24. The show will mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event down under since the 2018 Super Showdown event. four matches have been confirmed for the show, including two Elimination Chamber matches with WrestleMania-sized implications.
Here are the results of next week’s episode of WWE SmackDown:
Tiffany Stratton clinched victory over Liv Morgan using a small package
A vignette featuring Ashante Thee Adonis & Cedric is shown.
A segment featuring The Bloodline is shown.
Bron Breakker defeated Dante Chen.
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate defeated The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh)
Another Bloodline backstage segment
The Authors of Pain secured a victory against the Street Profits.
An Elimination Chamber package is shown on the screen.
The match between Drew McIntyre and LA Knight ended in a disqualification. After the match, the Men’s Elimination Chamber participants brawled with Randy Orton standing tall at the end
This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown went off the air with a huge addition to the Bloodline…
TNA Wrestling’s Tommy Dreamer has refuted the claim that he is now running TNA’s creative department following the dismissal of Scott D’Amore.
D’Amore was released as TNA President last week and has been replaced by Anthem Entertainment’s President Anthony Cicione. Anthem, TNA’s parent company, reportedly wanted to have a closer connection to the promotion, hence the appointment of Cicione.
“Oof. I’m so glad people know things about my life that I don’t know… Thanks for the promotion. I hope I get a raise with this fictitious position. Because if I was head of creative, you know Moose is losing the [TNA World] title to me at whatever the next show is.”
After some laughs, Dreamer made clear that he had not been promoted to Head of Creative.
“It’s the same deal as always before. It really and truly is. Nothing has changed within the creative process. Thank you very much.”
The TNA locker room isn’t going to let D’Amore go without a fight…
There has been frustration growing within AEW as the roster can’t help but notice the decreasing crowd sizes since the start of 2024, it has been claimed.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that there’s frustration from “a lot of circles” as talent comes to shows and sees small crowd sizes. The report adds the feeling within AEW is that the popularity in the product is declining overall.
AEW President Tony Khan consistently paints a positive picture about the company’s standing. Khan often looks points to increased revenues or positive ratings as a sign of the company’s good fortune.
The Hard-Cam
AEW is known to have fans moved to the side of arenas facing the hard-cam, giving the illusion that a venue is jam-packed. While this tactic works when it comes to TV, images often emerge of AEW events with throngs of empty seats, despite what things look like on TV.
It should be noted that this tactic isn’t exclusive to All Elite Wrestling. Other promotions have made sure that the majority of fans appear on the hard-cam to give the best look to fans watching worldwide. Part of the issue is that AEW continues to book venues far bigger than their average crowd size.
After graduating high school in 2017, Faith Jeffries began training under Selina Majors and would debut for Women of Wrestling as ‘Faith the Lioness.’ In 2021, she attended a WWE tryout and would sign with the company that summer.
Jeffries, now Nikkita Lyons, made her debut on the New Year’s Eve edition of 205 Live in a loss to Amari Miller. Her NXT debut would come in February 2022 and saw her beat Kayla Inlay (now Kiana James.)
While she has yet to capture gold in WWE, Lyons has worked with several top names. In June 2022, Lyons earned a DQ win over then NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose. That same year, she and Zoey Stark would unsuccessfully challenge for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships.
A Problem with Training?
Lyons’ injury will once again raise questions as to the training that takes place at the WWE Performance Center. In April 2023, it was reported that people in WWE had blamed a series of injuries over the strength training at the center. In addition to Lyons, Sol Ruca and Arianna Grace have also recently been taken out due to injuries. Ruca only recently returned to action.
Kevin Patrick’s days with WWE may be over, but the Irish broadcaster has landed on his feet in a much different sport.
Patrick was released from WWE last month, mere days after he was pulled from SmackDown’s commentary team. The belief backstage that his tenure on the blue brand just wasn’t working. He has since been replaced by Michael Cole on SmackDown, who Patrick had replaced just a few weeks prior to his exit.
Patrick was said to be well-liked by those in the company. In addition to his commentary duties, he was the co-host of the After the Bell podcast with Corey Graves.
Kevin Patrick’s New Role
While Patrick is out of WWE, he will remain a part of sports broadcasting. Major League Soccer has announced that Patrick, under real name Kevin Egan, will be part of the panel for the second season of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. MLS Season Pass features expansive coverage including every match of the regular season, Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the MLS All-Star Game, and Leagues Cup matches.
Egan will be joined by returning accomplished studio talent and renowned professional soccer players Sacha Kljestan, Kaylyn Kyle, and Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Irish broadcaster previously did commentary for Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United home games on Apple TV+.
More on Kevin Patrick
Patrick studied journalism at Ireland’s Griffith College Dublin, and worked as part of the RTÉ Sport team covering the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He left Ireland for the United States in 2009.
Kevin Patrick isn’t the only notable member of his family. His father Liam was an All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer. While Kevin played for Raheny GAA, an injury would cut his athletics career short.
AJ Styles’ days with TNA Wrestling may be a distant memory, but the Phenomenal One was referenced on this week’s episode of iMPACT!
Styles joined TNA when the company launched in 2002 and was one of the company’s most accomplished stars before his exit in 2014. After leaving, Styles would join New Japan Pro Wrestling before making his WWE debut as part of the 2016 Royal Rumble match.
AJ Styles Referenced in TNA Wrestling
At TNA Hard to Kill, Joe Hendry and AJ Francis began their feud with both men showcasing their musical talent. Hendry’s parody songs of wrestlers have proven to be immensely popular and this week’s TNA iMPACT! proved to be no different.
During Hendry’s entrance for his match, Francis appeared on the titantron and mocked the Scottish wrestler. Francis made it clear he doesn’t believe in Joe and mocked Hendry for getting jumped at Hard to Kill.
Not to be outdone, Hendry revealed his song for Francis later in the show. Referring to another AJ, Hendry used the TNA theme song of Styles to poke fun at Francis. Referencing Francis’ infamous, though life-saving botched dive in WWE, Hendry said that the former Top Dolla nullifies TNA Wrestling’s insurance whenever he goes sailing over the top rope.
Hendry didn’t stop there, as the song claimed that Francis was “banned from diving.” The Scottish wrestler shared footage of Francis partying with some attractive women who may be fine spending time on his boat “but they all laugh when you hit the top rope.”
Fans will have plenty to look forward to at the upcoming TNA No Surrender event…
The President of the CW Network is very excited to begin airing WWE NXT when the gold brand moves to the network next year.
Last year, it was announced that NXT would be moving to the CW in the biggest deal yet for WWE’s developmental brand. The show will move from the USA Network to the CW in October 2024. NXT premiered on the USA Network in September 2019 and would go head-to-head for its first year with AEW Dynamite. Prior to this, WWE NXT had been exclusive to the WWE Network.
CW Network President Praises WWE NXT
In a recent interview with Deadline, CW President Dennis Miller addressed the NXT deal and shared his excitement to welcome the gold brand. Miller added that signing such a deal shows the value of the NXT brand and touted the show’s impressive figures.
“We feel really good about having grabbed that before the big folks stepped up and wrote monster checks. It was some validation of the value of the franchise there. The ratings on NXT have continued to grow as we watch them before they come to the network. So, I think on that level, great.”
Stephanie McMahon was fully aware of the alleged assault of Ashley Massaro in Kuwait, according to the best friend of the deceased WWE diva.
Before taking her own life in 2019, Massaro had alleged that she was the victim of sexual assault during a WWE tour of a U.S. military base in Kuwait. Massaro claimed that a man posing as a doctor assaulted her and while WWE apologized, they persuaded her to not report it to the appropriate authorities. Following her death, WWE claimed they had never been informed of the allegations.
Addicted to Painkillers
Given Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, there has been a renewed spotlight on the ex-WWE Chairman’s handling of women during his time in command. Speaking to News Nation, Cara Pipia, a friend of Massaro, claimed that the rigors of wrestling and WWE’s willingness to share muscle relaxants led to a battle with addiction.
“When Ashley first started working for the WWE, she told me that in the locker room, they handed out Soma like it was candy. Soma, it’s a muscle relaxant. So it is what they’d give the wrestlers when they were injured because there was no not wrestling. You had a broken arm, you take a soma and you wrestle.
“And at that point [when the assault happened] she had become addicted to Somas. So she was already in this state, and whatever they administered to her rendered her helpless. Her body was useless to her but her mind was there and she saw what was happening.”
Left in Kuwait
During the interview, Pipia recalled Massaro telling her that WWE had left her in Kuwait after the alleged assault. Pipia said that while WWE did eventually get Ashley home, it was not the company’s priority.
“They got her a flight, days after everyone was already home. She was left alone. Because they had to go back to work. Vince wanted them back in the USA because they had work to do.”
Stephanie McMahon Knew of Assault
“She spoke with Vince McMahon many times. Vince had his daughter [Stephanie] take his place because she was a female, a woman, and to make Ashley comfortable. And they just played with her. They played with her because everything that Stephanie said made her feel comfortable. Safe. As soon as they walked into this board room meeting, Ashley was on her own completely. And she was threatened, and there was no… there was no compassion. There was no sympathy. There was nothing.”
Cara also mentioned that Ashley had some support within WWE but those who were sympathetic to her had no notable power to stop WWE from pressuring her to keep quiet.
“Right before she walked into that boardroom, she talked to the locker room doctor who was aware of everything and she was actually very sympathetic to her but he had no pull. He gave her the advice that he could, but that was it.”
“It’s about time somebody had a conscience. Because there was never a single moment of time that I didn’t believe a word that Ash had told me.”
A Message to Vince McMahon
When asked what she’d say to Vince McMahon, Pipia made her point perfectly clear.
“‘Shame on you. How do you look at yourself?’ Obviously, he’s got problems. Obviously, he’s a sexual deviant. He needs help, he’s not well. The problem is that people with that kind of sickness and that mindset are power, why do they thrive for so long?
“Why doesn’t anybody stand up? Why are there so many people in that company aware of what’s going on to all these women? Women who keep committing suicide year after year after year. And nobody stands up and says anything. Nobody tries to protect these young women? Why? Because it’s not just Vince, it’s the whole frickin’ company!”
In her final question, Pipia was asked if she believes the alleged assault on Massaro contributed to Ashley’s suicide and said “99%. Absolutely.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The WWE Experience is part of the latest Riyadh Season, which is an annual state-funded entertainment and sports festival. Riyadh Season starts in October and ends towards March during winter and spring in the Saudi Arabia capital.
Inside the WWE Experience
While the WWE Experience will only exist in Riyadh, fans around the world have been able to get an in-depth look at the center. On Twitter, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared his excitement for the WWE Experience and a video from inside. This video comes from the area celebrating the championship history of WWE, which features several, titles as well as photographs of some of the great champions in the company’s history.
One of my favorite things about @WWE… its rich history. This championship title display is beyond impressive.
The WWE Experience also includes a ‘Become a Superstar’ experience which allows attendees to make their own unique entrance. Fans are encouraged to test their wits in an escape room where they must depart The Undertaker’s graveyard before they join the countless souls the WWE Hall of Famer has claimed. There is also a Hall of Immortals which features some of WWE’s all-time greats.
WWE and Saudi Arabia
In 2018, WWE marked the start of its lengthy deal with the Middle Eastern kingdom with the Greatest Royal Rumble show. At the time, WWE faced heavy criticism for signing a deal with the nation, given the country’s stance against LGBTQ+ people and women’s rights. Many found the deal to be in opposition to WWE’s ‘Women’s Revolution.’
In stark contrast to Roman Reigns, Rollins has proven to be a fighting champion and had 99 matches in 2023 to Roman Reigns’ eleven bouts. Speaking on a recent edition of WWE’s The Bump, Big E addressed the harsh comments Rollins has had for Roman Reigns and his title reign.
“He speaks for, in many ways, the locker room of guys who are there week in and week out, who are there on a nightly basis. That grind, it really builds a certain camaraderie and a certain respect for each other.”
Despite this, Big E doesn’t fault Roman Reigns or The Rock for accepting the very lucrative roles both are in.
“Who could ever blame a Roman or The Rock for being in a position like that… we all want to be in that Rock/Roman position, too, but you also have a certain love for the guys with you who are grinding.”
Big E has his own history with Roman Reigns. At Survivor Series 2021, the two faced off in Champion Vs. Champion action which saw Reigns defeat the then-WWE Champion.
WWE NXT management was left “in a panic” after Shotzi suffered an injury during next week’s taping of the gold brand.
The February 20, 2024, episode was taped this week as WWE wants several notable people around for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth next week. During the tapings, Shotzi challenged NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria.
Unfortunately, Shotzi suffered a knee injury while attempting her apron DDT. This resulted in the match being stopped midway. It was later confirmed that, unlike Ridge Holland and Ilja Dragunov, this injury is not a work.
Update on Shotzi’s WWE NXT Injury
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed Shotzi’s injury and said those at the taping were left in a panic when her situation arose.
“They were in a panic. They were stalling to try to figure out what to do. And maybe nobody else was ready. And she had just wrestled. Maybe she was in her gear. Maybe nobody else was in their gear.”
Meltzer added that Shotzi has been pulled from the Women’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match on this week’s SmackDown she was supposed to be a part of. He added:
“I don’t know the severity of the Shotzi injury. But I do know that she left the building on crutches. And it was a knee injury.”
There’s no word on when fans can expect to see Shotzi back in the ring. We at SE Scoops would like to wish her a full and speedy recovery.
Shotzi recently got married in Las Vegas and celebrated in a very WWE way…
