The excitement didn’t stop at this week’s SmackDown from Worcester’s DCU Center after the latest episode of the blue brand went off the air.

The July 12, edition of WWE SmackDown saw the road to SummerSlam stretch on with matches set for the Biggest Party of the Summer. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa agreed to a showdown this August in Cleveland. LA Knight also has a contract for a U.S. title match with Logan Paul for SummerSlam but needs Paul to sign the paperwork to make it official.

After WWE SmackDown

The closing moments of this week’s SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton be laid out by Solo Sikoa and the Bloodline. Rhodes was forced to watch on as Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu delivered a triple powerbomb to Orton through the announce table. After the show, Rhodes, alongside WWE officials (including Jamie Noble and Hurricane Helms) helped Orton to the back.

SmackDown Dark Matches

Fans who stuck around in the DCU Center after SmackDown got to see much more than Orton be helped to the back. In a dark match, Braun Strowman made quick work of honorary Judgment Day member Carlito.

The fans were also treated to a rematch from WWE Backlash: France as World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest took on Jey Uso. Despite a valiant effort by Main Event Jey, it was Priest who once again left with the gold.

Priest will now have to turn his attention to SummerSlam where he will defend against WWE King of the Ring GUNTHER. The 37th annual SummerSlam will take place on August 3, from the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

The macabre Wyatt Sicks may not be to the taste of GUNTHER, but the 2024 King of the Ring believes the group is in safe hands given that Triple H is in control.

The group made its long-awaited debut on the June 17, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw by decimating several people at the show, including Chad Gable. During their debut segment, some fans believed that GUNTHER had been attacked backstage by the faction, though that has not been confirmed on TV. Both before and since their debut, the group has been featured in cryptic promos and segments, leaving fans to decipher clues about what’s to come.

Gunther On Vince McMahon’s WWE: ‘Not What I Enjoyed’

Speaking to Gorilla Position, GUNTHER admitted that the Wyatt Sicks is not to his taste, and that goes for much more than just pro wrestling.

“It’s not just wrestling, it’s also movies, like the genre, everything that has to do with spooky stuff or ghosts, or supernatural, that’s not my taste at all. I’m more documentary guy, I love history, and I like movies about a topic or happenings that really happened. So it’s hard to judge when it’s not your taste, but by the reactions of our audience, obviously, there’s a big interest in it.”

While the group is not GUNTHER’s proverbial cup of tea, the King of the Ring is confident that the group will do well with Triple H running creative.

“The big challenge is always getting that in the ring and keep the mysterious aura around it but also making it work. But I haven’t paid too much attention to it right now, how it’s handled, but I would think if there’s somebody that can make it work and have the right dose of the spooky stuff and then the guys still being real [people], I think Hunter will have a good handle on that.”

What’s Next?

Since arriving, the Wyatt Sicks has targeted Chad Gable which many believe is because of how Gable has treated his Alpha Academy allies. In promos, the faction have spoken about false leaders not treating the family right, which many believe is a nod to Gable.

As for GUNTHER, his future is more clear. Due to his King of the Ring win, GUNTHER has earned himself a World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. The Ring General will challenge Damian Priest at the August 3, event in Cleveland, Ohio.

CJ Perry’s time as part of All Elite Wrestling has come to an end with the manager being pulled from the company’s official roster.

Speaking to USA TODAY Sports at the 2024 ESPY Awards, Perry said her “time with them has just finished.” Perry made her AEW debut at All Out 2023, coming to the aid of her then-husband Miro. Perry hasn’t appeared at all for AEW in 2024 and now her time with the company is up.

Removed From The AEW Roster

AEW’s roster website no longer has Perry in any of its various categories, confirming her exit from the company. Miro, who similarly has not appeared in any capacity for AEW in 2024, still has his profile on the website.

CJ Perry As A Manager

Unlike her WWE run as Lana, Perry never competed for AEW and instead worked solely as a manager. In the interview, Perry said she’s now eligible to join any wrestling promotion and hopes to continue being a manager.

“I’m really focused on finding talent and cultivating them and helping them become the best wrestler, champion possible. I guess you could say I want to be the Paul Heyman.”

When asked to compare WWE and AEW, Perry said that AEW is much more sport driven and she appreciates how the company means more high-profile jobs in wrestling. With that said, Perry also had plenty of praise for WWE, calling the company “the greatest franchise in the world.”

The road to WWE SummerSlam 2024 will continue with tonight’s episode of SmackDown which will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. The show will also deal with the fall-out of last week’s Money in the Bank PLE in Toronto Canada.

Tonight’s advertised SmackDown card features these matches:

• Michin vs. Nia Jax
• Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews vs. Angel Garza & Humberto Carillo

An appearance from Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton has also been confirmed for the show. Stratton captured the covered briefcase at last week’s event and now has a golden opportunity in her hands.

WWE is also advertising that “Solo Sikoa’s Rise to Power Continues” on tonight’s edition of SmackDown. At Money in the Bank, Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga, defeated Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens.

What Happened Last Week?

Last week’s WWE SmackDown (July 5, 2024) saw the WWE Tag Team Titles change hands as DIY captured the gold from A-Town Down Under. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa made clear that he has his sights set on the Undisputed WWE Championship in a warning to Cody Rhodes. Sikoa went even further, as he dared Roman Reigns to try and take his place as the new Tribal Chief.

This is just scratching the surface of what went down. Check out this video from WWE looking at the Top 10 Moments from the show:

AJ Styles is grateful for the opportunity to compete in Pro Wrestling NOAH this week, an opportunity he believes would not have been possible just a few years ago.

At NOAH’s Destination 2024 event, Styles will compete against three-time GHC World Champion Naomichi Marufuji. Despite a lofty career in Japan, the match will mark Styles’ NOAH debut and his first match outside WWE since January 2016.

Speaking to the press ahead of NOAH Destination 2024, Styles said that his match demonstrates how WWE’s new era is willing to work with others.

“This is showing the Triple H era of what WWE is all about. Because I’m not the only one that is wrestling in Japan tomorrow night. IYO Sky is also wrestling along with myself. And that just goes to show what Triple His trying to bring throughout the world and WWE. Whether it be in NOAH or somewhere else, having the opportunity to wrestle there, it’s big for everybody. And it just shows how we were willing and able to work together so that we all can make pro wrestling as big as we possibly can.”

IYO SKY In Marigold

As Styles alluded to in his speech, IYO SKY will be competing this weekend for Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold Wrestling promotion. The former WWE Women’s Champion will face Utami Hayashishita at the promotion’s Summer Dreams event. When asked about the match, SKY was similarly glad that she is now able to wrestle with talent outside WWE.

“When I signed with WWE, I didn’t think I would wrestle in a ring outside of WWE, so I am surprised to wrestle in a Japanese women’s promotion’s ring. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to Utami Hayashishita, Rossy Ogawa, and my boss Triple H.”

Opening The Prohibited Portal

WWE’s leadership under Triple H has certainly been more open to working with other companies than Vince McMahon. In January, Jordynne Grace competed in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. The reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion has also competed in WWE NXT as of late and challenged Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at Battleground.

Frankie Kazarian and Joe Hendry competed in an NXT battle royal not too long ago and Hendry made his return to the gold brand this week. The July 9, episode also saw TNA’s The Rascalz reunite with Wes Lee and set up a six-man tag for next week against Gallus.

What’s Next For TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry In WWE NXT?

Over in TNA, fans have seen the No Quarter Catch Crew bring the fight as Charlie Dempsey defeated Zachary Wentz this week. At TNA Against All Odds, Jordynne Grace retained her Knockouts Title against Taum Paxley and more recently retained against Izzi Dame.

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport has also been getting in on this crossover fun as Dempsey and Shayna Baszler competed at Bloodsport X in April. Baszler, who won her fight with TNA’s Masha Slamovich, will return to Bloodsport later this month where she’ll face Miyu Yamashita.

John Cena looks like he had the time of his life at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding celebration this past week in Mumbai, India. The 16-time World Champion was one of 1,200 guests in attendance for what’s being called India’s wedding of the year.

WWE’s G.O.A.T. flashed some of his signature poses for the media upon his arrival, including the the ‘You Can’t See Me’ hand gesture. Cena was also seen at the event being assisted by guests on how to wear a safa; a traditional turban worn by men at weddings in Northern India.

John Cena Meets Shah Rukh Khan at Ambani Wedding

John Cena described his experience at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding as “a surreal 24 hours” in his social media post. He expressed gratitude towards the Ambani family for their “unmatched warmth and hospitality.”

Cena mentioned meeting Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as one of the memorable experiences from the wedding. As someone who has inspired millions of people around the world for decades, it’s pretty cool to see Cena being so proud to personally tell Shah Rukh Khan about “the positive effect he has had on my life.”

Wedding Of The Year

The happy couple getting married are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. Ambani is the son of Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. Merchant is the daughter of Viren Merchant, the CEO of a healthcare company. The wedding festivities have been split between Antilia, the home of the Ambanis, and the Jio World Convention Centre. Given the size and scale of the event, it’s hardly a surprise that this had been dubbed India’s wedding of the year.

The Guest List

The couple’s guest list is a who’s who of notable figures around the world. In addition to John Cena, the ceremony includes Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Boris Johnson, and Tony Blair. Earlier this year, Rhianna was one of the A-Listers at a pre-wedding celebration held in March. At the event, Rhianna performed a full-length concert, her first in either years.

In May, the couple hosted their second celebration, a four-day cruise through the Mediterranean. Once again, the couple had a massive guest list. This included surprise performances from the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Pitbull.

John Cena’s WWE Plans

Cena appeared at WWE Money in the Bank earlier this month in Toronto, Canada, and shared that 2025 will mark his final year in wrestling. Cena has competed in at least one WWE match each year since making his debut on TV in June 2002. At this time, details are scarce about Cena’s impending retirement, though fans are hopeful WWE will give the 16-time World Champion a fitting sendoff.

WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul has reached a milestone with the title, though that’s hardly a surprise given his sporadic title defenses.

This week, Paul hit 250 days as WWE United States Champion, the second-longest reign of any U.S. Champion of the past decade (behind Austin Theory’s 257-day reign.) This milestone number has seen Paul leapfrog legends who held the gold including ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin (239 days,) Sting (232 days,) and the inaugural U.S. Champion Harley Race (181 days.)

While Paul is WWE’s longest-reigning current champion (and the only title holder to still have a title won in 2023) he’s hardly been a fighting champion. Since capturing the title at WWE Crown Jewel from Rey Mysterio, Paul has had just two title defenses. His first came at the Royal Rumble where he earned a DQ win over Kevin Owens. The second saw Paul defeat Owens and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 40.

This alarming statistic will no doubt spark debate as to whether Paul’s reign has gone on too long. In the past, WWE has used a 30-day rule, mandating a title defense once a month or else the champion is stripped of the title. In recent years though, this unwritten rule has quietly been scrapped and champions like Paul can go months without a match.

Proponents of Paul will argue that fans outraged at his sporadic title defenses are only making Paul into a more loathsome heel, a role he has excelled in since arriving in WWE in 2021. For as much ‘heat’ as Paul’s reign has gotten though, there will be plenty who argue that a full-time member of the roster is more deserving of a reign with the gold.

What’s to Come?

In recent months, Paul has been feuding with LA Knight, and a title match between the two is expected. While not confirmed, many expect said match to come at SummerSlam 2024 next month. The August 3, event will take place from the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of the Maverick.

SummerSlam Tickets Nearly Sold Out 2 Months In Advance

Whether Paul’s title reign ends at SummerSlam or not, the YouTuber-turned-Superstar has his sights set on a richer prize. Paul is confident he can become WWE Champion one day, if he commits fully to wrestling. Paul has challenged twice for the Undisputed WWE Championship but failed on both occasions.

AEW President Tony Khan would love the chance to host his brand of pro wrestling in the Hammerstein Ballroom, which he believes would make a lot of sense.

Speaking to SportsGrid, Khan was asked if AEW would be interested in hosting an event that for years was synonymous with Extreme Championship Wrestling.

“I think that’s a very interesting idea. I’ve never been to the Hammerstein Ballroom. I’d love to do it. I’ve seen great shows there. I think it’s a great venue. I’ve never been. We also have these amazing relationships around New York. For the right event, on the right night, it could make a lot of sense. I’d imagine it would sell out very quickly because it’s not the biggest room, but it is a fascinating setup and a cool looking room. It has great acoustics and is a lot of fun from everything I’ve seen on television. I’d love to check it out in person. It’s a great idea. The Hammerstein Ballroom could be a cool venue sometimes. I haven’t thought much about it, but it’s an awesome idea.”

The Hammerstein Ballroom

The Ballroom was opened in 1906 and renovated in 1997 and has become synonymous with professional wrestling. ECW held several events at the venue including the company’s final two pay-per-views, Massacre on 34th Street in December 2000 and Guilty as Charged in January 2001. When WWE revived ECW, the 2006 and 2006 One Night Stand events were held at the Ballroom.

RVD Explains What Made Iconic John Cena Match Special

The venue has also played host to events from Ring of Honor, including Death Before Dishonor 2008 and 2011, as well as most Final Battle events. In 2014 and 2017, ROH teamed with New Japan for their ‘War Of The Worlds’ event inside the famous arena. More recently, GCW hosted its The Wrld On GCW event in January 2022, and the event set a record attendance for the Hammerstein Ballroom.

AEW and ECW

Khan’s idea of running a show making sense rings true given that AEW has often been compared to ECW. With its more envelope-pushing levels of violence, AEW has proven to be quite the alternative to WWE, just as ECW was to the WWF before and during the Attitude Era. It remains to be seen whether AEW will enter the Ballroom, but if so, expect a raucous New York crowd should that event take place.

Bully Ray Says AEW Reminds Him Of ECW

Jeff Jarrett the former tag-team partner of Owen Hart has been able to get a little bit of closure this year by competing in the 2024 Men’s Tournament.

AEW recently concluded its third-annual Own Hart Foundation Tournament which saw Bryan Danielson and Mariah May emerge on top. Jarrett competed in the tournament but was eliminated in the first round. Speaking this week, an emotional Jarrett addressed what the tournament has meant to him.

“More the 25 years ago when I sat in that seat in St Louis and to gather my thoughts, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would get this opportunity… I miss him each and every day but tonight not only helps me have a little closure but it gives me extreme pride and I’m incredibly grateful for AEW, for Tony Khan, and for you Martha for persevering, for carrying on the spirit of Owen.”

Oje Hart, Owen’s son, was also present for the interview, and spoke about how much the tournament has also helped him process the loss of his father.

“A lot of time has gone by since he’s gone but I’ve actually never felt closer to him since doing these things. So it’s good for me too it’s really hitting hard, really hitting me.”

Jarrett may not have won the tournament, but merely being able to compete has done the veteran wrestler a world of good. And even 25 years later, it’s clear that the legacy of Owen Hart and all he achieved as a wrestler and a person will never be forgotten.

Fans shouldn’t expect to see Samoa Joe on AEW programming for the foreseeable future, but there’s a very good reason for that.

During the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, Joe faced Chris Jericho in a ‘Stampede Street Fight.’ Jericho’s use of a forklift would result in Joe no longer being able to compete and the match was called off with the Learning Tree being declared the winner. Joe was seen being taken away in an ambulance later in the show.

With this attack, Samoa Joe has been written off TV but there’s a very good reason for that. This attack will give the former AEW World Champion the necessary time off to film Twisted Metal’s second season, PW Insider reports. Filming will start later this month and last until October. However it’s reported that there will be breaks during shooting meaning Joe may return before the October date.

Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal is based on the popular vehicular combat video game series of the same name and premiered in July 2023. Joe plays series favorite Sweet Tooth, while Will Arnett (Bojack Horseman, The LEGO Batman Movie) provides the voice of the character.

WWE Auditions

Samoa Joe is the only pro-wrestler attached to the show but that was nearly not the case. WWE’s very own Omos, Cedric Alexander, and Apollo Crews auditioned for the role of Axel in the show, PW Insider reports. Axel made his game debut in Twisted Metal 2. The show is moving ahead without any WWE talent being cast for the role.

All Elite Wrestling and DC Comics will prove to be quite the dynamic duo in an upcoming partnership set to be announced at San Diego Comic-Con.

San Diego Comic-Con 2024 will kick off from the ‘City in Motion’ on July 25 and run until July 28. AEW will make its presence felt at the event with a panel on July 25. A description for AEW’s Ride Inside The Ring And Beyond reads:

“After record-setting attendance inside Wembley Stadium and their biggest year ever, All Elite Wrestling continues to rise from the seeds of a wrestling revolution sewn in 2019 to a powerhouse global phenomenon that’s now home to some of wrestling’s biggest names. This year Comic-Con will be the intersection of major announcements across different fandoms, including a DC Comics partnership and an Adult Swim on-the-ground brand integration. In celebration of their five-year anniversary, AEW stars Swerve Strickland, “Timeless” Toni Storm, Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy, Britt Baker, and Darby Allin take you inside the ropes for an all-access look at the evolution from a renegade upstart to one of the most watched weekly programs on television.”

At this time, there’s no word on what this partnership with DC Comics will entail, though some are predicting a line of comic books based on AEW talent. The panel in question will take place in Room 6BCF on Thursday, July 25, 2024 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm PDT. More information about the panel and other SDCC events can be found here.

AEW Stars Come to Archie Comics with New Variant Covers

AEW & DC Comics

In 2019, AEW and DC Comics teamed up, thanks in part to both companies being partners of Warner Bros. Discovery. This partnership saw artist Howard Porter (The Flash) draw several AEW talent. Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus, Nyla Rose, Cody and Brandi Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega. and Awesome Kong all received the comic-book treatment as part of this partnership.

Professional Wrestling & Comic Books

With wrestlers donning colorful outfits and fighting for good, evil, or somewhere in between, it’s no surprise that the worlds of wrestling and comic books have often been linked. Before realizing that with great power comes great responsibility, Peter Parker tried to make his name as a pro-wrestler before becoming the heroic Spider-Man.

Several wrestlers have been the subject of comic books including The Undertaker, Mankind, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Chyna, and The Rock. The Attitude Era staples were part of WWF’s team-up with the now-defunct Chaos! Comics publisher. In the early 1990s, WCW had its own deal with Marvel while The Ultimate Warrior published his own line of comics under his own ‘Warrior Productions’ label. In more recent years, WWE published their own series of comic books with BOOM! Studios.

WWE Women’s Champion Bayley was thrilled to turn heel in 2019 as she felt at the time that her career in the company had hit a serious stand-still.

Speaking on Cody Rhodes’ new show ‘What Do You Wanna Talk About?’ Bayley reflected on her heel turn, and why she was more than ready at the time.

“I was nervous because I thought what if it didn’t work, but I was also in the spot where that character, the bubbly babyface, wasn’t working either. So I was at a crossroads of ‘If I never try this I’ll never know’… So turning to a bad guy was my decision because I felt that I was going nowhere and the fact that they [WWE] wanted to go with it, it was perfect timing.”

Bayley’s Heel Turn

After years as a bubbly, lovable babyface, Bayley turned heel by helping Sasha Banks attack Becky Lynch with a steel chair. While Bayley justified her role as simply helping a friend, her villainous role was confirmed in the weeks that followed.

In her first pay-per-view match post-aiding Lynch, Bayley retained the SmackDown Women’s Title thanks to the use of an exposed turnbuckle. Again, Bayley played innocent and chalked the use of the turnbuckle on sheer coincidence and not intentional. After losing the title to Charlotte Flair at Hell in a Cell, Bayley regained the gold on the following SmackDown. A new look and theme song made Bayley’s heel turn apparent, as did her butchering of the ‘Bayley Buddies.’

Bayley’s heel turn would work out for the former Hugger who became a highlight of WWE TV, especially during the crowd-less days of the Pandemic. Ironically, Bayley’s work as a heel would become so popular with fans, that it has turned the WWE Women’s Champion into a face, albeit a much different one than before.

Bayley Comments On Her Face Turn After WWE Royal Rumble Win

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

WWE Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell may not have had a traditional road to professional wrestling, but her time as a dancer helped prepare her for a life in the ring.

Before joining WCW in late 1998, Sharmell had a career in professional dance which saw her spend over three years working with the legendary James Brown. Speaking to McKenzie Mitchell on Threads, Sharmell was asked how much of her dance career was she able to bring into professional wrestling.

“All of it. [Laughs] Dance is choreography, it’s timing it’s rhythm and you have to have all of that when you’re in the ring with your opponent. Timing is key, rhythm is key so they’re very similar. You always hear the boys say ‘This is not ballet’ and it is not. It definitely is not but there is a certain rhythm and flow that dancers [follow] It’s even when you see football players taking ballet it’s to get that rhythm and that footwork and that type of thing being light on your feet. So I did bring all of that into wrestling.”

Sharmell certainly put her dance background to use upon joining WCW where she initially worked as ‘Storm’ as part of the Nitro Girls dance troupe. As the dancers became more active in storylines, Storm became ‘Paisley’ and became the valet of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea.

It wouldn’t be until 2005 that Sharmell began working with her husband Booker T in wrestling. The following year, Sharmell became ‘Queen’ following Booker’s victory in that year’s King of the Ring tournament. Booker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2019 while Sharmell, a former Miss Black America, took her place by her man’s side in 2022

Dancers In Wrestling

Sharmell is not the only dancer to put their skills to use in the world of professional wrestling. Cassie Lee (fka Peyton Royce) danced for years before stepping in the ring, as did AEW’s CJ Perry. The former Lana graduated from Florida State University with a degree in dance and acting and demonstrated both during her WWE tenure.

Before joining WWE in 2009, Naomi worked as a dancer for the Orlando Magic for two years and also worked as a dancer for WrestleMania-theme provider Flo Rida. Her fellow SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella also danced professionally as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots and the LA Lakers. In 2013, Carmella put down her pom-poms and followed her father into the family business of professional wrestling.

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

Ex-WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey is more than happy to see WWE succeed in its ‘new era’ as she believes anybody would be a better alternative than Vince McMahon.

Speaking to CBS Sports, the former Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion didn’t hold back when asked for her stance on WWE’s changes in leadership this year.

“I think anyone’s better than Vince McMahon. The only place you can go is up. I really enjoy Triple H and working with him, and honestly, I haven’t been watching, but I saw something from Nattie [Neidhart] saying that they had a card recently that had just as many women on it as the men.

“That’s what I would really like to see. The women equally represented with not just matches on the card, but time on the show. I feel there’s no place they could go but up and I’m really, really happy for all the women still there and thriving under the new regime.”

Vince McMahon’s Banishment

The 78-year-old McMahon parted ways with WWE for the second time in January 2024 following Janel Grant filing a lawsuit against both himself and WWE. The lawsuit alleges that McMahon was abusive to Grant during their relationship and that he trafficked her to other men in WWE. McMahon’s legal team has denied all claims against him and have stated that Grant’s lawsuit is the action of a bitter ex.

Since parting ways with McMahon, WWE has done all it can to keep the ex-Chairman’s name away from their own. When asked about McMahon during the Money in the Bank post-show, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said he could not comment on an ongoing legal matter. In addition to the Grant lawsuit, McMahon is also facing a federal investigation.

Team McMahon Responds As DOJ Launch Probe Into Ex-WWE Chairman

Ronda Rousey On Vince McMahon

Rousey’s stance on McMahon is hardly a new one as the UFC Hall of Famer has been outspoken against him and WWE for some time now. In her book Our Fight, Rousey calls McMahon the ‘Emperor Palpatine’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. Rousey adds that it is difficult to tell where the “evil, unethical, slimeball character” of Mr. McMahon ends and where Vince McMahon begins.

Speaking to News Nation in April 2024, Rousey said the allegations against McMahon are “not surprising.” She added that any would-be good samaritan in WWE is “being held hostage” by the risk of being punished if they speak out against McMahon. Nevertheless, McMahon’s time with WWE has ended and it’s unlikely we’ll ever see his famous strut ever again.

Britt Baker may have her sights set on AEW TBS/NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone, but Nikki Garcia has her eyes on the DMD.

Baker made her return to AEW programming at Forbidden Door by confronting Mone following her win over Stephanie Vaquer. On the subsequent Dynamite, Baker shared the serious medical issue that has kept her out of the ring since September of last year. Baker also made clear that she plans on challenging Mone though the CEO isn’t keen on the idea.

Mercedes Mone Offers Open Challenge To Everyone Except Britt Baker

Nikki Garcia Wants Britt Baker

Prior to her recent hiatus, Baker had established herself as one of the top women in AEW. When Britt appeared on the Nikki & Brie Show, the conversation turned to a possible match between Baker and the former Nikki Bella.

Britt: It’s right here for you. Do you want it? Because I’m right here, if you need an opponent. 

Nikki: I would come out of retirement for you. 

Britt: I would love nothing more. 

Nikki: You know what? This is my one thing: Doing a comeback, because I do wanna do a comeback in a few years…

Nikki’s most recent match was as part of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble which was won by the returning Ronda Rousey. Whilst the WWE Hall of Famer hasn’t competed since then, she has shown interest in joining AEW in the past. Of course, it would be up to Tony Khan whether a deal is offered to Garcia, but if that is the case, Baker is waiting for the longest-reigning WWE Divas Champion.

In the meantime, Garcia will continue to grow her media profile outside of the squared circle. The WWE Hall of Famer was recently announced for season three of the hit series The Traitors U.S. in which celebrities will try and decide which members aren’t telling the truth. Garcia has also appeared on Dancing With The Stars (where she met her now husband) and it remains to be seen if one more match is in her future.

All Elite Wrestling isn’t holding back with their 250th episode of Dynamite with a stacked card already announced for the July 17, show.

Close to five years after the first episode of Dynamite in October 2019, AEW will celebrate its milestone figure next week from the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The crowd will not only get to watch the 250th episode of Dynamite, but AEW will also tape the July 19, edition of Rampage at the show.

MJF Vs. Will Ospreay

On the July 10, edition of Dynamite, MJF, fresh off last week’s heel turn, had some verbal barbs for Will Ospreay. MJF belittled the “flippy guy” and said he’s seen countless wrestlers like Ospreay come and go throughout his career. MJF then announced his plans to challenge Ospreay for the AEW International Title next week. Ospreay, who was in the ring, accepted the challenge.

Swerve Strickland Vs. Kazuchika Okada

It will be champion vs. champion next week when AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland faces AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada. Strickland appeared following Bryan Danielson’s victory in the Owen Hart Men’s Tournament and spoke about his challenger for AEW All In.

Strickland also revealed that he will be on Team AEW against the Elite for the upcoming Blood & Guts match. Strickland ended his promo by challenging Okada for a match for Dynamite 250 that has been made official, and added that All In will be Bryan Danielson’s ‘final countdown.’

Mercedes Mone In Action

At Forbidden Door, Mercedes Mone became a double champion and the CEO is ready to take on (almost) all comers. On Twitter, Mone said that she will defend her titles in an open challenge on AEW Dynamite 250. This challenge can be accepted by anyone, with the exception of Britt Baker.

Stephanie Vaquer’s first attempt to make it in WWE was not successful, but it did teach her a lot about what she needed to do to succeed in the ring.

This week, it was reported that Vaquer would be leaving CMLL and NJPW in order to join WWE. On Twitter, WWE’s SVP of Talent Development Shawn Michaels welcomed Vaquer into the WWE ‘family’ seemingly confirming her arrival and suggesting she will start in NXT (where Michaels also leads.)

More On Stephanie Vaquer Joining WWE On Multi-Yeal Deal

Stephanie Vaquer On Her WWE Tryout

While Vaquer is expected to begin competing for WWE in the coming months, she did have a tryout for the company back in 2018. Speaking to Denise Salcedo, Vaquer reflected on her tryout and not feeling ready for a role in WWE at the time.

“It was a very difficult test. I feel that I didn’t have the experience to do a test with them yet. I had very little time fighting, I was not an athlete. Maybe I did not have the physical condition to perform at 100% but that experience taught me a lot… I started to train physically, I started to do conditioning and become an athlete. I didn’t place in the event, but it really was, I think it was a plus to say ‘Ok, I have to change all this because this is what I have to do from now on.’ It helped me a lot and it was an experience that I will take with me forever.”

While Vaquer did not secure a deal with WWE, the Chilean wrestler appreciates the extra effort WWE made for her so that she could see her family.

“I remember WWE asking me a lot. I hadn’t seen my family for a long time. I was already living in Mexico and they gave me two more days so I could go see my family before the tryout. I will always thank them for that.”

The lessons Vaquer learned in 2018 clearly paid off for her as she has gone on to hold titles in CMLL, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and elsewhere. Now, the Chilean star is returning to WWE and is ready to achieve what she felt she couldn’t six years ago.

Stephanie Vaquer: What You Need To Know About WWE’s Signing

The latest tapings of AEW Collision saw some huge developments, including some champions in the All-Elite company being stripped of their titles.

The Collision taping took place after the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite. That show saw the finals of the Men’s and Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments. In the men’s tournament, Bryan Danielson earned a shot at the AEW World Title at All In by defeating ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. In the women’s tournament, Mariah May defeated 2023 winner Willow Nightingale, earning a shot at the Women’s World Championship. After the match, May attacked Toni Storm and left her ‘mentor’ in a bloodied heap on the stage.

AEW Collision Spoilers [7/13/2024]

Here are the spoilers for the July 13, edition of AEW Collision: 

• Konsuke Takeshita defeated ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington. Post-match, Don Callis welcomed Billington into the family only to get a “Kiss my Ass!” in response. Callis’ family attacked Billington before FTR made the save.
• Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Juice Robinson defeated three enhancement talents (London Lightning, Michael Allen Richard Clark, and Shaun Moore). Acting EVP Christopher Daniels then stripped the Gunns and Robinson of the Unified Trios Titles, not allowing them to use Robinson instead of the injured Jay White. Christian Cage came out and expected that he, Nick Wayne, and Killswitch would be awarded the titles. Instead, a match for the vacant titles will take place at a later date.
• Roderick Strong (w/Matt Taven, Mike Bennett) defeated Dalton Castle (w/Truth Magnum, Turbo Floyd). There was an unfortunate botch near the end of the match as Strong caught Castle with a knee to the face. The referee hesitated with his count even though Castle did not kick out and the match was awarded to Strong. The Undisputed Kingdom seemed unsure what was happening and Castle was motionless in the ring for ten seconds after the pin, with some fearing he was knocked out.
• Nyla Rose beat local wrestler Ava Lawless
• “Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin (w/Action Andretti) beat Lee Moriarty and Anthony Ogogo (w/Shane Taylor).
• Skye Blue defeated Harley Cameron
• Matt Taven and Mike Bennett defeated Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly. Trent Beretta attacked Cassidy after the match.

Mariah May is on the road to Wembley after winning the Owen Hart Women’s Cup, and has split from Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm.

In the finals of the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament, May defeated last year’s winner Willow Nightingale on Dynamite. May advanced to the finals by defeating Saraya in the first round and Hikaru Shida in the semi-finals, both of whom are former AEW Women’s World Champions. Willow’s path to the finals saw her defeat Serena Deeb in the first round and her former ally Kris Statlander in the semis. Statlander and Stokley Hathaway would get involved in the finals to try and cost Willow the match.

With this victory, May has earned herself an AEW Women’s World Championship match against ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm at AEW All In. After the match, Storm seemed happy for her ‘understudy’ to win, seemingly predicting an easy title defense next month. On the ramp, May attacked Storm with the Owen Hart Foundation Championship and Luther also took a beating from the British wrestler.

On commentary, it was suggested that this had been May’s plan the whole time and that her loyalty to Storm was never genuine. Whatever the case may be, May now has a golden opportunity next month in her home country.

Bryan Danielson Wins 2024 Owen Hart Tournament, Earns AEW All In Title Shot

AEW All In 2024

AEW All In 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be the second AEW All In event, and the third All In event overall. Tickets for the show went on sale on December 1 and the event will be AEW’s second pay-per-view to take place outside the U.S. AEW All In 2024 was confirmed immediately following last year’s AEW All In event.

Bryan Danielson is officially on the road to Wembley after winning the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament this week.

During the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, Danielson defeated ‘Hangman’ Adam Page in the finals of the tournament. Danielson reached the finals by defeating Shingo Takagi in the first round and besting PAC in the semi-finals. Page’s road to the finals saw him defeat Jeff Jarrett in the first round and Jay White in the semis. At 25:45, this was the longest match in the tournament and the longest match in the history of the Owen Hart Cup.

After the match, AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland appeared on the ramp for a stare-down with Danielson. By winning the tournament, Danielson has earned a World Championship opportunity against Swerve that will take place at AEW All In.

Danielson missed last year’s All In pay-per-view due to a fractured forearm injury he suffered at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2023. In November of last year, it was confirmed that Danielson would be competing at All In 2024 and now fans know what exactly the American Dragon will do in Wembley Stadium.

AEW All In 2024

AEW All In 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be the second AEW All In event, and the third All In event overall. Tickets for the show went on sale on December 1 and the event will be AEW’s second pay-per-view to take place outside the U.S. AEW All In 2024 was confirmed immediately following last year’s AEW All In event.

MSK, aka The Rascalz, are back together on WWE NXT programming, and this has been quite the journey for all members of the group.

On this week’s WWE NXT, Wes Lee was in a somber mood as he reflected on his loss to North American Champion Oba Femi at Heatwave. Just as it appeared Lee was ready to say goodbye to NXT, Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz emerged to loud T-N-A chants from the crowd. The duo reflected on their past with Lee and were able to convince him not to leave NXT behind. On the contrary, Lee, Miguel, and Wentz will face Gallus on next week’s show.

Before WWE NXT

MSK’s history dates back to December 2015 when Lee (known as Dezmond Xaiver at the time) first teamed with Wentz. After teaming for years and holding gold in CZW and AAW, the duo added Trey Miguel and Myron Reed into the group in April 2018 and dubbed themselves ‘The Rascalz.’ That same year, the group, minus reed, joined Impact Wrestling with their names shortened to Dez, Trey, and Wentz. The group became a staple of the tag-team scene though the Tag Team Championships continued to allude them. In November 2020, it was revealed that the group would be leaving Impact amid interest from both WWE and AEW.

Arriving In WWE NXT

Xavier and Wentz debuted in WWE NXT in January 2021, now under the names of Wes Lee and Nash Carter respectively, while Miguel would later return to Impact. It was during this run that Wes and Carter were dubbed MSK and wasted no time in establishing themselves as a top team in the brand. A month after their debut, MSK won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and by April had become the WWE NXT Tag Team Champions.

The pair held the titles for six months and would dispatch of teams like Tommaso Ciampa &Timothy Thatcher and Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch along the way. Their reign would end at the hands of Imperium at NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2022.

The Nash Carter Release

Around the time of MSK’s second tag title win, Nash Carter’s ex-wife Kimber Lee publicly claimed that she had been abused by the NXT wrestler. At the time, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE did not find Lee’s claims to be credible which is why they did not back out of plans to put the titles on the tag-team. After Kimber Lee shared a photo of Carter parodying Adolf Hitler though, the decision was made to release him and MSK was stripped of the tag titles.

Now, Nash, once again known as Zachary Wentz, is back, alongside Trey Miguel. With the WWE NXT-TNA Wrestling crossover proving a hit so far, fans can expect many more exciting moments from the trio moving forward.

Wrestling fans can expect to see more of Drew McIntyre outside of the ring in the years ahead. According to Joe Otterson for Variety, the three-time WWE World Champion, known as the ‘Scottish Warrior,’ has signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency.

McIntyre recently signed a new multi-year WWE contract, but this new relationship indicates he’s eager to explore opportunities in the entertainment industry, such as television and film. Paradigm represents several other WWE superstars, including Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest, and McIntyre’s on-screen rival, CM Punk.

McIntyre is currently serving a storyline suspension from WWE after putting his hands on Adam Pearce at Money in the Bank. The WWE RAW GM has promised to meet with him this coming Monday. If he isn’t reinstated, McIntyre has teased returning to TNA Wrestling.

Drew McIntyre in The Killer’s Game

Paradigm will undoubtedly open doors for Drew McIntyre in Hollywood, but he’s already getting his feet wet in that regard. McIntyre is set to co-star in WWE alum Dave Bautista’s next film, The Killer’s Game, which hits theaters on September 13. The film also stars Terry Crews, Pom Klementieff, and Ben Kingsley.

Synopsis

A veteran assassin is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and authorizes a kill on himself. After ordering the kill, an army of former colleagues pounce and a new piece of information comes to light. Insanity ensues.

Trailer

Chilean wrestling sensation Stephanie Vaquer has signed with WWE, as first reported by Record Mexico. Other outlets, including PWInsider, corroborated the report before WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels gave the official confirmation.

Shawn Michaels Welcomes Stephanie Vaquer to WWE

Michaels, WWE’s SVP of Talent Development, officially welcomed Vaquer to the family.

Wanted by WWE and AEW

Stephanie Vaquer and Mercedes Mone delivered a show-stealing performance at last month’s AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 pay-per-view. Mone was victorious, but it was Vaquer who received most of the buzz coming out of the show. Despite holding championships in Mexico, including the (since-vacated) CMLL World Women’s Championship, she received strong interest from both AEW and WWE.

Vaquer had been a part of CMLL since 2019 and was positioned as one of the top women in the company. She made her NJPW debut in 2023 as part of the tournament to crown the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s World Champion (won by Willow Nightingale.)

While she came up short in that tournament, Vaquer would win the gold in early 2024 from Giulia, another top female name fans can expect to see in WWE very soon.

Leaving CMLL & New Japan

On Wednesday, Lucha Libre CMLL and New Japan Pro Wrestling issued a joint CMLL-NJPW Special Announcement stating that Vaquer has informed them she will not participate in her next scheduled match due to “personal reasons.” As a result, she’s no longer associated with either promotion and been stripped of the CMLL World Women’s Championship.

“We want to inform you that Stephanie Vaquer has abruptly informed us that she will not participate, for personal reasons, in her next fight at FantasticaMania USA. As of today, he also no longer belongs to the CMLL and NJPW talent.”

A new CMLL World Women’s Champion will be crowned at FantasticaMania USA in an inter-promotional trios match. Lluvia, representing CMLL, will face Viva Van of NJPW and AEW’s Willow Nightingale for the gold. CMLL apologized to fans for the abrupt departure.

Vaquer’s Farewell

Though these moves may come as something of a surprise, suspicions grew that Vaquer was parting ways with CMLL after what would become her final match for the promotion. After a recent match, Vaquer appeared emotional and embraced her opponent Tessa Blanchard

Logan Paul has already captured the WWE United States Championship, but the Maverick sees a richer prize waiting for him if he fully ‘commits’ to wrestling.

Since arriving in WWE in 2021, Paul has impressed fans with both his character work and his skills in the ring. At WWE Crown Jewel 2023, Paul captured the U.S. Championship from Rey Mysterio, albeit under controversial circumstances thanks to the use of his signature brass knuckles. At close to 250 days, Paul’s reign is the second-longest U.S. title reign of the past decade, and he is the longest reigning champion of any current title-holder in WWE today.

Logan Paul On The WWE Championship

With Paul excelling as U.S. Champion, it’s hardly a surprise that some have speculated whether more gold could be in his future. On his ImPaulsive podcast, the Maverick addressed the possibility of becoming WWE Champion.

“I’m going to do it, bro. I think I could become [WWE] champ if I just put my mind to it and commit. I like it.”

While Paul has yet to win a WWE World Championship, that’s not for lack of trying. At WWE Crown Jewel 2022, Paul came up short against then-Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and suffered an injury in the match. He would return to action in the following January’s Men’s Royal Rumble match that was won by Cody Rhodes.

A year later, Paul shared the ring with Rhodes at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring for Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship. Paul’s return to Saudi Arabia would not go like his U.S. title victory as he would fall short against the American Nightmare.

WWE Champion Logan Paul: Could It Happen?

The idea of putting a World Championship on Logan Paul would certainly be controversial given the lineage of the title he’d be winning. Fans will immediately point to David Arquette’s doomed WCW World Heavyweight title win in 2000 which hurt the company and the title more than it helped. Arquette, a prolific wrestling fan, was against the title change but went along with it under the hope it’d help garner interest (and money) in the Ready to Rumble film.

Unlike WCW-era Arquette, Paul has more than proven he belongs in the ring and even his most ardent of critics can’t deny his skills. As a natural heel, Paul relishes in getting fans to hate him, and having him win the title would certainly do just that. Whether WWE would be willing to withstand a potential real backlash against the company in their efforts to have Paul be a top heel, however, is the $64,000 question.

WWE talent have hardly been surprised by the perceived high level of injuries that have occurred in AEW, it has been reported.

While injuries are a work hazard for any professional wrestler, many have pointed at Tony Khan’s promotion for having a higher rate of injuries than other companies of its size. Currently, top names including Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, and Jamie Hayter are all out of action with injuries. Bryan Danielson has seen much of his AEW run disrupted due to injuries and similar setbacks also caused issues throughout CM Punk’s All-Elite tenure.

Riho Confirms Arm Injury After AEW Return Match

WWE Talent On AEW Injuries

Talent in WWE have not been surprised by the apparent high rate of injuries in AEW, Mike Johnson of PW Insider reports. The belief is that instead of lowering the risk of injuries, AEW’s more relaxed schedule which sees talent compete maybe once or twice a week is actually making their situation worse. The reasoning is that with long breaks between matches, AEW talent aren’t able to callus their bodies which has resulted in bumps and moves hurting more. In contrast, WWE hosts events almost every night of the week which keeps talent toughened up in the long term.

WWE Superstars were forced to wrestle much less during the COVID-19 pandemic when events happened behind closed doors, either at the Performance Center on inside the Thunderdome. The report adds that talent felt “off” by a few steps after touring resumed in July 2021 but were pleased that they would finally be able to compete more and therefore callus their bodies.

Bayley was an unfortunate victim of this situation as mere weeks before touring resumed, she suffered an injury during training. The Role Model, who had been considered a highlight of the Pandemic Era, would miss a year of in-ring action before returning to TV at SummerSlam 2022.

While it may seem antithetical, it appears wrestling more is decreasing the chances of injuries, at least when it comes to WWE talent. While AEW has flirted with untelevised shows in the past, it remains to be seen if the promotion will ever have a schedule close to WWE.

Chuck Taylor’s Career-Ending Injury Reportedly Legitimate