SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Justin Gabriel: Vince McMahon’s Bats**t Crazy, But You Have to Be to Be a Billionaire

    Justin Gabriel: Vince McMahon’s Bats**t Crazy, But You Have to Be to Be a Billionaire

    Vince McMahon may be crazy, but perhaps craziness is what it takes to reach the heights he has reached, according to one former Superstar. 

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last week, 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 John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.”

    Justin Gabriel on Vince McMahon 

    One person who worked under McMahon for years as a WWE Superstar was PJ Black, better known as Justin Gabriel. On a recent edition of the Cafe de Rene podcast, Black was asked by Rene Dupree for when he realized McMahon was “bats**t crazy.”

    “From day one. I mean all billionaires, I work with a lot of billionaires and I know a lot of billionaires so you have to be crazy to think on that level, you know? But I mean there’s a fine line between crazy and genius. And at the end of the day he is a genius. Say what you want about him, he’s a genius. He’s a self-made billionaire. Anyone who’s a self-made billionaire is crazy and a genius and comes with a lot of different labels.

    “I’ve always had good interactions with him he’s he’s definitely a strange character, yeah. Bats**t crazy is the way to describe him. But you know like I there’s a good way to describe that and a bad way right I only saw the good sides of that so [I was]very fortunate. Very fortunate.”

    Justin Gabriel on John Lauriniaitis

    Former McMahon confidante John Lauriniaitis is also named in the litigation, though has claimed that he’s a victim in this situation, not a predator. On the show, Black recalled his relationship with ‘Johnny Ace’ and how his brothers once worked for the promotion run by Black’s father. 

    “He loved me. Because he’s the guy that signed me. He kind of knew who my dad was because his two younger brothers worked for my dad back in the day… they were big stars in South Africa. They looked great and my dad had them come to the ring with motorcycles and they had the badass metal music. They were just so over in South Africa and little did I know I was gonna get signed by their older brother one day.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESLgsHkbuC4

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

  • Swerve Strickland Praises Inspirational Wrestlers On AEW Collision for Black History Month

    Swerve Strickland Praises Inspirational Wrestlers On AEW Collision for Black History Month

    Swerve Strickland showed his appreciation to some of the exceptional black wrestlers who helped shape his career on this week’s episode of AEW Collision. 

    February is Black History Month, in which the accomplishments of black individuals are recognised, as they have often been overlooked in the past. AEW features some excellent black wrestlers on its roster, including Jay Lethal, The Acclaimed, Marq Quen, Keith Lee, and Lee Moriarty, to name just a few. 

    Swerve Strickland on Black History Month

    On this week’s episode of AEW Collision, Strickland addressed Black History Month during an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. Strickland referred to some of the black wrestlers who have inspired him and didn’t let his credit be reserved to just one promotion. 

    “Black History [Month], the celebration of the achievement of black people in all industries. All avenues, all walks of life, right?  Yeah, I’m noble enough to really show appreciation and recognize all the people who paved the way for me to have the opportunity to stand [in this ring] right here, right now and talk to you [Tony Schiavone.]

    “People you may know, such as a Ron Simmons. How about I shout out my friends who made Black history, you know, like a Kofi Kingston? What up Kof! And how about we keep it in house a little bit? We talk about some of the people that’s been one of the best wrestlers on the planet? Holding down a brand, for well over a year now, whoopin’ ass! I’m talking about the Ring of Honor Women’s [World] Champion Athena. What up sis?”

    Swerve Strickland hasn’t only been inspired by Black wrestlers… 

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

  • Matt Cardona Is Sick Of Part-Timers Taking Spots, Wants to Finish His Story… in GCW

    Matt Cardona won’t sit idly by while he watches some popular wrestler with a movie to his name take a spot from deserving talent, in Game Changer Wrestling. 

    At GCW’s Coldest Winter event, Cardona shared the ring with his former WWE nemesis Nic Nemeth. Cardona was feeling nostalgic for their 2011 program, as he was wearing Zack Ryder-themed attire for the face-to-face. Before their match, Cardona 

    “I am the face of GCW! I can’t just let some part-timer come in here and steal my spot! You think you’re The Rock or something, bro? So why don’t you do yourself a favor and just lay down, let me get the 1-2-3, so I can finish my story?”

    After this pre-match promo, Cardona and Nemeth would have an excellent match. During the bout, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion hammered his point home by hitting Nemeth with a Rock Bottom. 

    The Rock’s Controversial Return

    Cardona’s comments are of course about The Rock’s return to WWE this week. Fans have taken issue with the Brahma Bull’s comeback, given that it has cost Cody Rhodes a rematch with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE’s YouTube video of The Rock’s return has scored a record number of dislikes. Despite this, The Rock has said that his connection with the People can’t be broken. 

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear at an upcoming WrestleMania 40 press event, though there’s no word on whether Cody will be a part of the show. Cody will be at the Elimination Chamber: Perth event this month, a show neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected to appear at. Logan Paul has also been confirmed for the event.

  • The Rock On WWE Return: My Connection With The People Can Never Be Broken

    The Rock’s connection with the ‘People’ can’t be broken, according to the man himself, despite his recent controversial return to WWE. 

    On SmackDown, The Rock confronted Roman Reigns, teasing a match at WrestleMania 40. Many feel that this match comes at the expense of Cody Rhodes, who’s been essentially cast aside to give The Rock the match with Reigns. The consensus is that after last year’s loss to Reigns and all the work he does year-round, Cody deserves to finish the story by beating Reigns at WrestleMania. 

    The Rock Comments

    Taking to Twitter, The Rock didn’t refer to the negative response he’s received from the WWE Universe. Instead, he thanked the fans for the “explosive, insane reaction” and said the connection with the fans can never be broken. Rock also thanked Cody for the love, before ending with a warning to his cousin. 

    The Fans React

    In the comments of the tweet, the ‘People’ were hardly thrilled with the People’s Champion. Many fans expressed their support for Cody Rhodes, while some suggested that The Rock should retire. One fan suggested that this could be the start of a heel turn for the Brahma Bull, while a more sympathetic fan simply said “Pretend that these replies don’t exist Dwayne.”

    What’s Next?

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear at an upcoming WrestleMania 40 press event, though there’s no word on whether Cody will be a part of the show. Cody will be at the Elimination Chamber: Perth event this month, a show neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected to appear at. Logan Paul has also been confirmed for the event.

    So Cody is out and The Rock is in. But how did we get here…

  • Logan Paul Weighs In On The Rock’s WWE Return: “We Want Cody”

    Logan Paul Weighs In On The Rock’s WWE Return: “We Want Cody”

    WWE United States Champion Logan Paul has thrown his support behind Cody Rhodes following The Rock’s return to the promotion. 

    On SmackDown, The Rock confronted Roman Reigns, teasing a match at WrestleMania 40. Though fans have been eager to see the two face off for some time, this match comes at the expense of Cody Rhodes. Fans have taken issue with WWE essentially moving Rhodes to the side to give The Rock the match with Reigns. The consensus is that after last year’s loss to Reigns and all the work he does year-round, Cody deserves to finish the story by beating Reigns at WrestleMania. 

    Logan Paul Weighs In

    WWE’s YouTube video of The Rock’s return has scored a record number of dislikes in just one example of the WWE Universe’s opinion on this situation. At a recent live event, fans booed a video featuring The Rock, in what is a far cry from the usual response the fans give the People’s Champion. 

    The WWE Superstars, for the most part, have kept quiet about The Rock being shoehorned into Cody’s spot at WrestleMania 40. Taking to Twitter, however, Paul made his views clear on who should be facing the Tribal Chief in Philadelphia. 

    The Rock & Logan Paul 

    It’s quite something for Paul to side with Cody Rhodes over The Rock, given his past friendship with the Brahma Bull. The pair teamed up for several videos from The Maverick before Rock cut ties with Paul following the latter’s controversial video taken from Japan’s ‘suicide forest’ back in 2017. On a recent edition of his Insight podcast, Paul admitted that it greatly hurt for The Rock, a personal hero of his, to cut ties with him.

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear at an upcoming WrestleMania 40 press event, though there’s no word on whether Cody will be a part of the show. Cody will be at the Elimination Chamber: Perth event this month, a show neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected to appear at. Logan Paul has also been confirmed for the event. 

    Cody is out and The Rock is in. How did we get here… 

  • WWE Crowds Are Already Turning Against The Rock At Live Events (Watch)

    WWE Crowds Are Already Turning Against The Rock At Live Events (Watch)

    The Rock may be known as ‘The People’s Champion,’ but the people weren’t happy to see the Brahma Bull at a recent WWE event. 

    On this week’s SmackDown, Cody Rhodes, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, said that he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania. Reigns was immediately confronted by The Rock, teasing a showdown between the two at the April supershow. After the show, the two continued to face off before Reigns headed to the back with Paul Heyman. 

    The Rock Booed at WWE Live Event 

    This booking decision has been reviled by fans, who believe Cody’s story should finish by standing tall over Reigns at WrestleMania. Many feel that The Rock’s role as a TKO Board member helped influence this change of plans, costing the much more deserving Rhodes the right ending to his story. 

    The fans’ distaste for the ‘People’s Champion’ hasn’t just been playing out on social media. At a WWE live event in Knoxville, Tennessee, WWE aired a video of The Rock’s return to SmackDown. Contrary to the usual, this appearance by The Rock was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd. 

    The Rock did not appear in person at the WWE live event in Knoxville. Cody Rhodes did, however, and defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the show’s Street Fight main event. The Rock and Roman Reigns will be at a WrestleMania 40 press event this coming week. There’s no word on whether the American Nightmare will be a part of the Thursday event. 

  • WWE Discussing Title Unification Win for Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

    WWE Discussing Title Unification Win for Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

    The WWE Universe may have to wait until SummerSlam 2024 to see Cody Rhodes dethrone Roman Reigns, in a match that could see huge championship possibilities.

    On this week’s SmackDown, Rhodes, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, said that he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania. Reigns was immediately confronted by The Rock, teasing a showdown between the two at the April supershow. This booking decision has been reviled by fans, who believe Cody’s story should finish by standing tall over Reigns at WrestleMania.

    Unification at SummerSlam? 

    Instead of Roman Reigns, it now appears that Cody will challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. PW Insider reports that there have been talks of Rhodes winning the title at WrestleMania 40, in the first of two huge title wins for the American Nightmare. The idea would be for Rhodes to challenge the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at SummerSlam in a title unification match.

    WWE’s Unifying History 

    If this goes ahead, it’ll come just over a year after WWE introduced the World Heavyweight Championship in May of 2023. The title’s inception came about due to Reigns’ dominant tenure as Champion and his part time schedule. WWE unified the WWE and Universal Championship at WrestleMania 38. In the main event of Night 2 of the April 2022 event, Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to unify the gold. 

    Randy Orton unified the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships at WWE: TLC 2013 with a victory over John Cena. At Vengeance 2001, Chris Jericho unified the WWF and World Championships by defeating ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night. 

  • CM Punk Recovering After Undergoing Surgery, Was Backstage at SmackDown

    CM Punk Recovering After Undergoing Surgery, Was Backstage at SmackDown

    WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk has wasted no time in going under the knife after suffering a torn triceps injury last month. 

    During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, CM Punk suffered a triceps injury which Drew McIntyre has taken full credit for. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40 due to the injury, and vowed to wrestle McIntyre when he’s able to make a return. 

    Punk’s injury has caused WWE to make a serious change of plans. While the initial WrestleMania card featured Cody Rhodes facing Roman Reigns, it now appears that The Rock, who returned on this week’s SmackDown, will face his cousin instead. 

    CM Punk Update

    The former WWE and AEW World Champion was backstage at last night’s episode of SmackDown in Birmingham, Alabama, PW Insider reports. Punk was spotted sporting a brace on his arm due to the triceps injury. Sources close to the situation have said that Punk has already undergone surgery to repair the triceps tear. 

    What’s Next? 

    While specific times may differ, a torn triceps injury requires considerable healing time, which is usually at least six months. That would put Punk’s return date around July or August, though there have been rumors he could be out of action for longer. 

    Punk’s warning to Drew McIntyre on this week’s Raw was a bold call, as the Scottish Warrior’s contract is ticking away. McIntyre’s current deal is set to expire around April and if he doesn’t re-sign, Punk may be teasing a match that’ll never happen. 

  • CM Punk, The Rock & McMahon: How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot Against Roman Reigns

    CM Punk, The Rock & McMahon: How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot Against Roman Reigns

    Cody Rhodes is on the Road to WrestleMania 40, but his final destination won’t see him face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

    On the February 2, episode, The Rock confronted his cousin Roman Reigns in the closing moments of the broadcast. Prior to this, Cody Rhodes spoke about what it means to ‘finish the story’ and added that though he’s coming for Roman Reigns, it won’t be at Wrestlemania 40.

    How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot

    On the forum board of F4W Online, Dave Meltzer explained that The Rock pushed hard for the match with Reigns. He added that the blockbuster showdown between the Hollywood megastar and the Tribal Chief will hopefully turn attention away from the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal. 

    “Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

    Meltzer added that Rhodes was supposed to face Reigns at WrestleMania in the original plan and that a showdown with The Rock was set to happen at a later date. It was also stated that CM Punk’s injury was a decisive factor in WWE’s change of plans.  

    “Cody was the plan. Dwayne was going to face him later, maybe next year’s Mania, maybe Saudi. Shit happens with Vince and Punk, the Vince thing ends up worse than they thought and they changed the plan. I literally didn’t know until yesterday that it could change and then I was told it’s under lock. But 100% it was Punk vs. Seth and Cody vs. Reigns until Punk got hurt.”

    This massive change of plans as seen on SmackDown has had the wrestling world talking… 

  • Brandi Rhodes & More React to The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ Spot at WWE WrestleMania 40

    The return of The Rock during this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown has certainly had the wrestling world talking about this unique booking decision. 

    On the February 2, episode, The Rock confronted his cousin Roman Reigns in the closing moments of the broadcast. Prior to this, Cody Rhodes spoke about what it means to ‘finish the story’ and added that though he’s coming for Roman Reigns, it won’t be at Wrestlemania 40.

    The Wrestling World Reacts

    Cody and The Rock shared an embrace during SmackDown, in what many have seen as confirmation that Rock will face Reigns at WrestleMania instead of Rhodes. Many online have disagreed with the idea, given Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to Reigns last year and how his story has always been about winning the WWE Championship (now part of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship) that his father never captured. 

    On Twitter, Brandi Rhodes referred to her husband as a quarterback, indicating that he is a reliable hand that WWE can count on. 

    Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest of the Judgment Day found the situation interesting and is excited for WrestleMania 40. 

    Danielle Moinet, better known to WWE fans as Summer Rae, was far from pleased, stating that after two years of build, this twist doesn’t make sense. 

    Amanda Huber, who worked with Cody in AEW, used Dr. Cox from Scrubs to make her views clear on this twist. 

    Echoing Cody’s comment about taking everything from Reigns, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful said that this storyline is doing much more harm to the American Nightmare. 

    Drew McIntyre used an old GIF of Cody to share his take on the situation. 

    Filthy Tom Lawlor suggested another way Cody could finish his story. 

    Hopefully, we all get a clearer picture on this situation on next week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

  • Sami Zayn: People Talk About the Good Ol’ Days. They’re Right Here, Right Now!

    Sami Zayn: People Talk About the Good Ol’ Days. They’re Right Here, Right Now!

    The WWE Universe is living in the best of times right here and now, according to an impassioned Sami Zayn who spoke after this week’s SmackDown. 

    This week’s SmackDown saw plenty of excitement, including the return of The Rock, who confronted his cousin Roman Reigns. This staredown closed the show after Cody Rhodes said he was coming for the Tribal Chief, but not at WrestleMania 40. 

    The Good Ol’ Days Are Right Now

    After competing in a dark match following SmackDown, Sami Zayn spoke to the crowd in Birmingham, Alabama. The former NXT, Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion stated that those who reminisce about the ‘good ol’ days’ should stop and see how good things are right now. 

    “It’s awesome to have The Rock. We’re lucky to have him. But you know, The Rock is lucky to have the WWE, too. Because we are living in the best time with the best superstars in the WWE.

    “We have constantly listened to people talk about the good ol’ days. The good ol’ days. The good ol’ days. Well I’ve got news for you. Tonight, 10,000 people sold out this building in Birmingham! To see the best crop of performers in the world so I have news for you and for everybody! The good ol’ days are right here, right now!

    “And I want to thank you for letting me be a part of it, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you for being a part of it with us. Thank you so much, we are all feeling something special right now! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you, thank you very much. 

    Zayn’s promo and match wasn’t the only highlight after SmackDown went off the air… 

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

  • CM Punk: WWE’s Locker Room is Everything the Wrestling Business Should Be

    CM Punk: WWE’s Locker Room is Everything the Wrestling Business Should Be

    WWE’s locker room of talented Superstars is everything the professional wrestling business should be, according to Monday Night Raw’s CM Punk. 

    It’s been just over two months since Punk’s shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames. Since then, the former World Champion has been one of WWE’s most featured performers and appeared on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT before exclusively signing with the red brand.

    Everything Wrestling Should Be

    During the Men’s 2024 Royal Rumble match, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps injury. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that the injury will cost him a match at WrestleMania 40. In a recent WWE Chronicle that covered Punk’s injury and aforementioned announcement, the former World Champion fought back tears as he spoke about what his time with the WWE roster has meant to him so far. 

    “Just certain looks from certain people I get, and then I start crying again. And Cody’s one of them. He’s a great dude. This locker room is everything the business is supposed to be. It’s everything the business was sold to me as being and it’s remarkable, and that’s why I’m so sad. I’m not sad I hurt my arm, I’m sad I’m temporarily out of this amazing situation.”

    What’s Next? 

    With CM Punk out of the picture, WWE has shifted their plans for WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins, Punk’s original ‘Mania opponent, has been trying to convince Cody Rhodes to face him at the April supershow instead of Roman Reigns. On this week’s SmackDown, Rhodes said he’s still coming for Reigns, but not at WrestleMania. SmackDown also saw the return of The Rock, who confronted his cousin, teasing a showdown this April. 

  • Winner Takes All? Cody Rhodes Interested in Massive Triple Threat WrestleMania Match

    Winner Takes All? Cody Rhodes Interested in Massive Triple Threat WrestleMania Match

    Could WrestleMania 40 go off the air with Cody Rhodes holding both the World Heavyweight Championship and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship? 

    While it’s known that Cody will challenge for a World Championship at WrestleMania 40, there has been plenty of speculation as to which champion he’ll face. Ever since his loss at WrestleMania 39, it was expected that Cody would face Roman Reigns this year and get his win back, ending the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion’s historic run in the process. When The Rock returned during the Day 1 Raw, he teased coming for Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table. 

    CM Punk’s Injury

    During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps. Punk has confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40, leaving World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins without an opponent. On this week’s Raw, Rollins encouraged Rhodes to challenge him at WrestleMania 40. After Rhodes told Rollins he’d think about it, the Architect continued his campaign on social media. A Rhodes-Rollins match would in theory leave Reigns free to face his cousin. 

    Winner Takes All? 

    While it’s expected that Rhodes could challenge for one championship in Philadelphia, the American Nightmare wouldn’t say no to leaving with both titles. When a fan on Twitter suggested a ‘Winner Takes All’ stipulation featuring Reigns, Rollins, and Rhodes, Cody made it clear he was interested in the idea. 

    Cody Rhodes will appear on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown. The American Nightmare has also confirmed a role at this month’s Elimination Chamber event. 

  • Mick Foley Knows Exactly What He Wants For His 60th Birthday: One Last Deathmatch

    Mick Foley Knows Exactly What He Wants For His 60th Birthday: One Last Deathmatch

    WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley is hoping to mark his upcoming 60th birthday with one final match, over a decade after he last competed. 

    During the latest edition of his Foley is Pod podcast, the Hardcore Legend’s birthday came up in the conversation. It was then that Mick shared the news that he is eager to step back into the ring for a very special kind of match. 

    “60’s right around the corner. I’m thinking about doing one final match, for my 60th birthday.  Deathmatch. I’m not kidding. I think it’ll be a great incentive to drop those hundred big ones [lbs]. And I think it might be fun.”

    When asked if the match would happen in a WWE ring, Foley was sure that the promotion wouldn’t wish to host the level of violence and gore that he had in mind. 

    “No, no, I don’t think so. Because I think it’d be a pretty gory spectacle. [I’m] just thinking about it. I put it out there to my kids and they were like ‘Would you get hurt?’ Yeah probably.”

    Mick Foley in the Ring

    If Foley does indeed have this one final match, it’ll be the first match for the three-time World Champion in close to a decade. Foley’s most recent match to date took place in February 2015 and saw him defeat Mickey Gambino at an event for OMEGA Wrestling, the promotion founded by Matt & Jeff Hardy. This match was Foley’s first in three years, with his previous contest being the 2012 Royal Rumble match won by Sheamus. 

    Did WCW make the biggest error by spoiling Mick Foley’s WWF title win… 

  • Brock Lesnar Merch Moved to Sale Section Amid Vince McMahon Trafficking Lawsuit

    Brock Lesnar Merch Moved to Sale Section Amid Vince McMahon Trafficking Lawsuit

    WWE’s own merchandise online shop may have given the biggest clue to date regarding Brock Lesnar’s future (or lack thereof) in the promotion. 

    Last week, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon, alleging that she has been abused and trafficked by the former Chairman. While McMahon has denied all allegations against him, he stepped down from WWE/TKO shortly after Slim Jim suspended its sponsorship deal with the wrestling promotion. John Lauriniatis, who is named in the lawsuit, has stated that he is a victim in this disturbing situation and not a predator. 

    Brock Lesnar Update

    While Brock Lesnar isn’t named in the lawsuit, the paperwork alleges that Grant was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, believed to be the part-time Superstar. Lesnar was subsequently pulled from the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event as well as the WWE 2K Supercard game. There are reportedly some in WWE who believe that Lesnar is finished with the company due to the scandal.

    Now, WWE has given arguably their biggest signal to date that Lesnar’s WWE career is over. PW Insider reports that the vast majority of Brock Lesnar merchandise has been moved to the sale section of WWEShop.com. While this shouldn’t be seen as confirmation of an exit, WWE typically reduces the price of merchandise they have released from the company. 

    WWE sources who spoke to PW Insider added that right now, Lesnar is “off the table” when it comes to creative pitches. Brock Lesnar has not publicly commented on the allegations in Miss Grant’s lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon.

  • Cody Rhodes Set for Elimination Chamber: Perth, Rhea Ripley Wants Title Chamber Match

    Cody Rhodes Set for Elimination Chamber: Perth, Rhea Ripley Wants Title Chamber Match

    Cody Rhodes’ road to WrestleMania will see the American Nightmare travel to Perth, Australia for this month’s WWE Elimination Chamber event. 

    The February 24, show will be WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Australia in over five years. The Optus Stadium will play host to the event, though no matches have been confirmed at this time. On Twitter, Rhodes shared his schedule for February and confirmed that he will be at Elimination Chamber: Perth. 

    Fans hoping to see Rhodes earlier than Elimination Chamber won’t have to wait long. Despite being a Raw Superstar, the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner is being advertised for tonight’s episode of SmackDown in Birmingham, Alabama. 

    Rhea Ripley Wants an Elimination Chamber Match

    Few Superstars will receive a bigger reaction when WWE travels down under than Rhea Ripley, who is a proud Australian. In a recent interview with Sam Roberts, Ripley spoke about the possibility of defending her WWE Women’s World Championship inside the Elimination Chamber.

    “I’d be down for it. I’ve done it before. Let’s be honest here. I love a bit of brutality. Give me some steel. Give me some weapons. Give me some pods. I don’t care. I love all that stuff. I live for this.”

    Ripley does have a small history inside the Elimination Chamber. She competed inside the barbaric structure in 2022, but failed to win the match. The Eradicator would eliminate former ally Nikki A.S.H. in the match before being eliminated herself by eventual winner Bianca Belair. 

  • TNA World & Knockouts Championship Matches Set for No Surrender 2024

    TNA World & Knockouts Championship Matches Set for No Surrender 2024

    There’ll be no shortage of gold on the line when TNA Wrestling hosts its No Surrender event this month. 

    TNA No Surrender will take place from the Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana on Friday, February 23. The show will be TNA’ second major event since its relaunch, which officially came into effect with last month’s Hard to Kill show. 

    TNA Knockouts Championship Match

    On this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! it was announced that Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will defend her gold at No Surrender against Gisele Shaw. Both women have been building momentum as of late. Grace captured the title at Hard to Kill last month and shocked the world by competing in the 2024 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble Match. 

    Gisele Shaw earned her shot at Grace at Hard to Kill by winning a Knockouts Ultimate X match. She defeated Alisha Edwards, Dani Luna, Jody Threat, Tasha Steelz, and Xia Brookside in the show’s opener. 

    TNA World Championship Match

    At Hard to Kill, Moose captured the TNA World Championship from Alex Shelley. During this week’s TNA iMPACT! Shelley officially informed Moose that he’d be utilizing his rematch. Moose accepted the challenge and warned Shelley that he was going to learn how “The System” works. The System is the name of Moose’s faction, which consists of himself, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, and Alisha Edwards.

    Whoever wins this TNA World Championship match could soon be sharing the ring with Nic Nemeth, who made his TNA debut at Hard to Kill. After close to two decades in WWE, Nemeth is ready for a fresh start in TNA and has set his sights on the top of the card… 

  • Becky Lynch Was Told to “Move Like A Girl” Early Into WWE NXT Run

    Becky Lynch may be ‘The Man’ in WWE, but the former Women’s Champion was encouraged to move like a girl early into her career. 

    Lynch joined WWE as part of NXT in 2013 and made her TV debut in June of 2014. Lynch’s arrival is infamous for her character that leaned heavily into her Irish nationality, complete with green attire and ‘Irish jig’ in her entrance. Lynch would later drop the Irish character and became one of NXT’s top women before her call-up to the main roster in 2015. 

    Moving Like a Girl

    Lynch’s arrival in WWE came at an interesting time for women in the promotion. After years of the Divas era, 2013, 2014, and most notably 2015, would see WWE shift away from its previous portrayal of women and focus more of stories and wrestling than sex appeal. Speaking on her new “Never Before Told” series with Seth Rollins, Lynch recalled the awkward advice she was given early on in her WWE career. 

    “Coming into WWE, I had one very specific goal and that was to main event WrestleMania and make women’s wrestling the coolest thing on TV, and to change the game and to be seen as equal. Even in my early stages in NXT, it was weird and confusing because you were told that women can’t punch and you can’t use things like steps and you can’t use the post. Are we supposed to just hair pull and slap each other? It’s very confusing. I even remember being told, ‘Move like a girl.’ What, I am a girl, what do you mean? It was all so very confusing.”

    What Came Next? 

    By 2016, WWE had significantly changed its portrayal of women. At that year’s WrestleMania, Lynch would compete for the new WWE Women’s Championship, which marked the end of the Divas Title. The match also saw the Divas moniker be dropped when describing women, who have been called Superstars alongside their male counterparts ever since. 

    Fans shouldn’t expect to see Becky Lynch in AEW or TNA anytime soon… 

    H/T – Fightful

  • AEW’s Jim Ross Doing Well After Undergoing Cancer Surgery This Week

    AEW’s Jim Ross Doing Well After Undergoing Cancer Surgery This Week

    AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is doing well after undergoing cancer surgery this week. 

    Taking to Twitter, the AEW broadcaster confirmed the news of his surgery, which took place on his right hip, JR said that all went well and thanked everyone for their support. 

    In the comments, several names from the world of professional wrestling shared their best wishes with the wrestling commentary legend. Former AEW wrestler Joey Janela encouraged JR to “feel better” while Rob Van Dam, who appeared on this week’s Dynamite, shared a hands in prayer emoji. Chris Van Vliet of the popular Insight podcast added that he was wishing Jim a very speedy recovery. 

    Ross’ current contract with All Elite Wrestling expires on February 14th. He’s been very open about wanting to re-sign so he can “finish up his career in AEW.”

    JR’s Cancer Battle

    JR has battled skin cancer multiple times in his life. He first underwent a skin procedure in 2016 and two years later, shared that the cancer had been completely removed from his shoulder. The WWE Hall of Famer was diagnosed with skin cancer again in October 2021. After this diagnosis, Bret Hart, who has battled and beaten cancer himself, was one of the first people to reach out to Ross. On December 29, of that year, he would share the news that he was cancer free.

    We here at SE Scoops would like to wish Jim Ross a full and speedy recovery.

  • First WWE-UFC Combo Tickets On Sale Since the Launch of TKO Group Holdings

    Fans of both WWE and UFC will be able to secure their first combo ticket since the blockbuster launch of TKO Group Holdings 

    With the merger of WWE & UFC, TKO Group Holdings was launched last September. This came months after it was first announced that Endeavor would be acquiring WWE for the sum of $9.3 billion. Endeavor’s influence has already been felt in WWE, with Ari Emanuel himself pulling Vince McMahon from creative, essentially ‘knighting’ Triple H as the unquestionable leading figure when it comes to storyline decisions. 

    TKO’s Combo Ticket

    On the website of the Honda Center, fans can purchase a combo ticket for the price of $285. This ticket guarantees a seat for UFC 298: Volkanovski v. Topuria, which will take place on February 17. After that show, fans will also be able WWE Monday Night RAW on February 19, which will be the go-home episode of Raw before the Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event in Australia. This marks the first UFC and WWE combo ticket since TKO Group Holdings was launched last year. 

    Strong Ticket Sales

    This episode of Raw will be the first televised WWE event inside Anaheim’s Honda Center since the September 16, 2022, edition of SmackDown. While that show had a NXT North American Title match and Logan Paul on the show, the upcoming episode of Raw has already sold more seats. 10,648 tickets have already been distributed for the February 19, Raw, with just 52 remaining, far more than the 8,437 who attended the September 2022 SmackDown. 

  • WWE Bringing Several Top NXT Stars To Friday’s SmackDown

    This week’s SmackDown will have an NXT flair to it with several gold brand Superstars set to be present at the upcoming show.

    Tomorrow’s SmackDown will be the first episode of the blue brand following last weekend’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. The show will take place at The BJCC Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. 

    WWE NXT Superstars at SmackDown

    NXT’s Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, and Trick Williams are all slated to be at this week’s SmackDown, PW Insider reports. It’s interesting that these three men have been selected, as speculation grows considering potential call-ups. Hayes has been competing on SmackDown as of late, including on last week’s episode. Last week’s show also saw Trick Williams earn a massive pop from the fans as he made the save for Hayes who was being attacked by Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. 

    Bron Breakker has yet to arrive on SmackDown but that could change very soon. On this week’s Raw, Andrade signed a contract with the red brand, much to the delight of Adam Pearce. Pearce and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis would trade some barbs before Aldis took a phone call from the two-time former NXT Champion. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiREJ6KwLgs

    WWE SmackDown – February 2

    These NXT Superstars will be just part of a stacked first SmackDown on the road to WrestleMania 40. 2024 Womens Royal Rumble winner Bayley will be on the show alongside her Damage CTRL allies. Bayley will reveal which challenges she will face at WrestleMania 40. Her current options are Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or WWE Women’s Champion (and Damage CTRL sister) IYO SKY.

    Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes will also appear on SmackDown, as will Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul is also set to appear. LA Knight, Bianca Belair, and IYO SKY are also advertised. 

  • Netflix Chief Distances from Vince McMahon Amid Trafficking Lawsuit: “He’s Gone”

    Netflix Chief Distances from Vince McMahon Amid Trafficking Lawsuit: “He’s Gone”

    Vincent Kennedy McMahon is gone from WWE, and the company’s new partners at Netflix have wasted no time in distancing themselves from the former Chairman.

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last week, 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 John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.” 

    Netflix’s CEO Comments on Vince McMahon

    The allegations against McMahon surfaced shortly after WWE reached a massive deal with Netflix to move Raw to the streaming juggernaut. Given the seriousness of the allegations, there had been speculation that this $5 billion could have been in jeopardy had WWE/TKO not taken action against McMahon.

    This week, Netflix staged its press event, dubbed Next on Netflix, at its Tudum Theater in Hollywood. When asked about McMahon and the potential impact the lawsuit could have on WWE’s deal with Netflix, content chief Bela Bajaria asserted that McMahon will not be a factor going forward.

    “He’s gone. So he’s not there. He’s gone.”

    The Netflix-WWE Deal

    Brandon Reign, Netflix’s VP of nonfiction was also at the press event. When asked about the deal with WWE, Reigg commended the combined efforts of the WWE Universe and Netflix’s subscribers.

    “I think we’re all really bullish on it, but we know that has an incredibly consistent audience for the last several decades. And so that’s really first and foremost where we’re starting at and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

    Monday Night Raw begins streaming on Netflix in January 2025.

  • Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

    Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

    The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event was a special night for the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, both in and out of the ring. 

    Rhodes won this year’s match from the #15 spot, last eliminating CM Punk to score the hard-earned victory. With this win, Rhodes becomes the fourth man in WWE history to have won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

    Cody’s Special Royal Rumble Night

    Cody was the last man standing in the Men’s Royal Rumble match and also proved to be on top when it comes to merchandise. Fightful Select reports that Rhodes was the top-selling superstar at the WWE Superstore at Tropicana Field. Cody’s ‘Rumble Winner’ shirt was also the top seller on WWEShop.com. 

    Despite speculation by some fans, Cody was always scheduled to win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. This puts to bed any rumors that Punk was going to win but his torn triceps led to the pair calling an ‘audible.’

    What’s Next? 

    Before this year’s Royal Rumble, Cody’s path was obvious: win the Men’s match and dethrone Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40. On this week’s Raw, however, Seth Rollins confronted Cody and stated Rhodes should challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins’ originally scheduled opponent for WrestleMania, CM Punk, will miss this year’s two-night mega show in Philadelphia. Cody told Rollins he’ll think about it. 

    This segment from Raw was a change of plans for WWE and was specifically caused by CM Punk’s injury. It is unclear when Cody will declare his plan for WrestleMania 40. 

    Is a victory for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania written in the stars…

  • Chelsea Green on LGBTQ+ Royal Rumble Attire: ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Quiet Ally’

    Chelsea Green won’t let herself be a quiet ally of the LGBTQ+ community, as made clear by her Royal Rumble attire. 

    Green was the #14 entrant in last weekend’s match which was won by Damage CTRL’s Bayley. While Green broke the record for the shortest time in a Women’s Rumble last year, the 2024 match was much better for the Canadian. Though Green didn’t score an elimination, she lasted 17:32, making her the eleventh-longest entrant in this year’s match. 

    Chelsea Green on Her Attire

    Green entered Tropicana Field with an LGBTQ+ themed attire, which Michael Cole described on commentary as “unique.” In an interview with Steve Fall of Wrestling News, Green spoke about the importance of being an outgoing ally of the LGBTQ+ community. 

    “What can I do to make it obvious? What can I do to really put it in people’s faces? I don’t want to be just a quiet supporter of the community. I want to be out there, supporting on the front lines, you know, with Sonya Deville [who is openly lesbian.] With Piper Niven [who is openly bisexual.] With all the girls that represent the community in WWE.

    “So that’s when I decided I was going to get the flag and I was going to put the flag on my skirt. I was going to make sure I didn’t do my regular pose, that I turned around and that I flashed it to the crowd. And even if they didn’t understand in that moment, I know we all look at social media after the Rumble so I made sure I got those photos and that they were ready to be posted once I exited the Rumble.

    “I was able to post them and double down on the fact that I was coming to Florida, being in the Rumble and supporting my LGBTQ+ community.”

    Green’s tag-team partner Piper Niven had her own LGBTQ+ themed attire, but as she explained on Twitter, it didn’t arrive in time for the event. 

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

  • Tony Khan Set to Make “Big Announcement” On 2/7 Episode of AEW Dyanmite

    AEW President Tony Khan will have something big to share with fans during next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. 

    On this week’s episode of Dynamite, it was quietly shared that Khan will make a “big announcement” on the upcoming show. No details were given as to what this announcement will entail. 

    Fans have already been speculating about what Khan’s announcement could be. Some believe it could be confirmation that Mercedes Mone has signed with AEW. Khan is expected to land Mone after talks with WWE broke down over money.  Some fans have suggested it will be the announcement of new AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. Some more cynical fans have suggested the announcement will be that an announcement will be made at AEW Revolution next month, poking fun at Khan’s perchance for announcing plans. 

    Tony Khan’s Big Announcements

    This won’t be the first time Khan has had an announcement lined up, and it likely won’t be the last. Previous announcements include the reveal of All In in London, as well as the announcement of the date tickets go on sale for this year’s show.

    Khan was also on hand to announce the launch of Collision, and the post-suspension return of CM Punk. The AEW Continental Classic was also announced by Khan, as have other important aspects of the product. 

    AEW Dynamite – February 7

    Khan’s announcement isn’t the only confirmed news for next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The show will also see Chris Jericho face off against Don Callis family member Konosuke Takeshita. 

    Sting and Darby Allin will challenge Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. With Sting’s career ending at Revolution on March 5, this could likely be the final championship opportunity for the Icon. The February 7, episode of AEW Dynamite will take place in Phoenix, Arizona. 

    News of this announcement comes mere days after a previous announcement by Tony Khan…