Darby Allin won’t hold back with his feature film directorial debut which is set to begin production this fall.
In the ring, Allin is known for his risk-taking style which has resulted in multiple stints on the injured list for the former AEW TNT Champion. Sitting down with Fightful, Allin disclosed that he is set to make his filmmaking debut as a director this fall. Allin explained why he wouldn’t hold back with the project and recalled a time when he was told to do just that.
“I want to make a crazy violent film where it’s not like ‘Darby was playing it safe.’ I want to offend people. ‘F*** you. You’re not f***** with my art.’
“I was in film school and the teacher told me, ‘You cannot make movies like this.’ I said, ‘I’m over 18. There should be no rules to what your body of art should be, especially in film school, of all places.’ I told her, ‘I’m done.’ I dropped out and that’s when I started training to be a pro wrestler.“
Little is known about Allin’s film project but if it’s anything like the man behind the camera, fans can expect a violent, bloody affair from the ‘Pillar’ of All Elite Wrestling.
Darby Allin Out of the Ring
The AEW staple also plans on climbing Mount Everest though reaching the summit is proving easier said than done. Allin had intended to begin his climb this month but a foot injury derailed those plans. Despite this injury, and recently being hit by a bus in New York City, Allin intends to make the climb and document his journey.
Steve Lombardi isn’t outraged over being labeled a ‘jobber’ in wrestling as for him it signifies a lengthy career of having a job in the business.
Lombardi is best known for his work as ‘The Brooklyn Brawler’ though also worked under characters such as Kim Chee and Abe ‘Knuckleball’ Schwartz. As the Brawler, Lombardi lost the vast majority of his matches, earning him the label of a jobber; somebody who is used to make more established talent look better.
On the Insight podcast, Lombardi discussed the term and why it doesn’t bother him to be known as a jobber.
“They used to say the word ‘jobber.’ I don’t care because my comeback used to be ‘Everybody’s a jobber.’ Your boss is your jobbee. I mean a job just means you have a job.”
Lombardi also discussed the other terms used for wrestlers such as himself as the industry aims to move away from the stigma surrounding ‘jobber.’
“They call it an enhancement talent… then they called it [an] architect. Then they called it ‘ring general.’ They even called me a ring general on The Rock’s show. ‘Rock, he’s a ring general, listen to everything he says.’ I’m not a ring general. I’m the most humble guy that you know because all I want to do is make everybody look great.”
Lombardi wrestled for years as the Brooklyn Brawler.
While known for his work putting over other stars, Lombardi did score a handful of notable wins in his career including a SmackDown 2000 victory over Triple H (albeit due to interference.) His most recent WWE victory came at WWE TLC 2012 where he teamed with Alberto Del Rio and The Miz to defeat 3MB.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan may have locked lips on Raw but the two have had very different reactions to what has transpired.
On the May 27, episode of WWE Raw, Morgan retained the WWE Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch in a steel cage match. Morgan’s victory came about after ‘accidental’ interference by Mysterio who it seems had come out to help Lynch but ended up costing The Man. After the match, Morgan kissed Mysterio though the former North American Champion did not appreciate her affections.
Morgan has been relishing in yet again being the talking point on WWE Monday Night Raw. On Twitter, the WWE Women’s World Champion has been retweeting various clips and gifs of her kiss with Mysterio. Liv has even gone as far as to make the image of the kiss her timeline cover image.
Liv Morgan shocked fans with her kiss on Dominik Mysterio.
Dominik Mysterio on the other hand hasn’t been happy with the kiss, especially as he is part of an (on-screen) relationship with Rhea Ripley.
The kiss heard around the world has proven to be a talking point in the wrestling world. Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T was certainly surprised to see Morgan and Mysterio lock lips on Monday Night Raw.
Noelle Foley, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, was similarly shocked by what had transpired.
Not everyone was entirely surprised by what happened in the closing moments of Raw. WWE/TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray had predicted on Busted Open Radio weeks ago that a kiss was coming. On Twitter, Bully was pleased to have been proven right.
What’ll transpire next in Liv Morgan’s title reign now that she has kissed Dominik Mysterio? And what will Rhea Ripley have to say when she eventually returns to the ring? Keep checking in with SE Scoops for all the latest news and updates.
The WWE Universe could be seeing much more of Cody Rhodes out of the ring as he is being represented in Hollywood by a leading talent agency.
The Undisputed WWE Champion is being represented by William Morris Endeavor, PW Insider reports. Rhodes has been working with WME for about four weeks now. The American Nightmare has already landed a cameo role in the upcoming Naked Gun reboot that will star Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
As the name suggests, William Morris Endeavor is also known as Endeavor, the parent company of WWE. Endeavor finalized its $9 billion acquisition of WWE in September 2023 with the merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings. By teaming with Endeavor, Rhodes has become the first WWE Superstar to be represented by WME post the 2023 acquisition.
Cody Rhodes Out of the Ring
While Rhodes has yet to receive his breakout role in Hollywood, he does have some acting credits to his name. In 2010, Cody played ‘Kurt Smoller’ on an episode of Warehouse 13, and serves as the romantic interest for the show’s female lead Myka. Their date goes awry when Myka switches bodies with the show’s male lead Pete due to a magical idol the two had been investigating resulting with Pete-in-Myka going on the date instead.
From 2016 to 2018, Rhodes played the near-invulnerable Derek Sampson on Arrow, the CW’s take on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Rhodes would also feud with Green Arrow actor Stephen Amell in WWE with Amell ending up victorious in a tag-team match at WWE SummerSlam 2015.
Rhodes joins an impressive list of stars represented by WME.
Wrestlers and WME
Cody Rhodes is by no means the only name in pro wrestling to be represented by William Morris Endeavor. The acclaimed talent agency also represents high-profile names including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, John Cena, WWE United States Champion Logan Paul, and Ronda Rousey.
Becky Lynch was understandably emotional after this week’s Raw went off the air as rumors continue to circulate regarding her future as a WWE Superstar.
In the main event of the May 27, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, Lynch lost in a steel cage match to new WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan. The chaotic finish of the match saw Dominik Mysterio come out seemingly to help Lynch but inadvertently cost her the match. After her victory, the celebratory Morgan kissed ‘Dirty Dom.’
After Raw, Lynch was visibly emotional as the fans applauded her efforts in the show’s main event. The Man waved to the fans in gratitude before making her way to the backstage area.
Lynch was fighting back tears and that may be because this match was her last as a WWE Superstar. Lynch’s contract with WWE is set to expire mere days from now on June 1. While the two sides are said to be in negotiations it is not known where a new deal has been reached or is even close to being reached. Lynch has previously said that she would likely re-sign with WWE but her future with the company remains increasingly uncertain.
Lynch isn’t the only WWE Superstar who could find herself as a free agent very soon. WWE veteran Natalya reportedly is nearing the end of her contract and the former SmackDown Women’s Champion is said to be weighing up his options. The contract of Dijak is said to expire in just over a month. Dijak was called up to Monday Night Raw in the 2024 WWE Draft but he has yet to compete on the red brand.
Fans shouldn’t be seeing Bron Breakker on WWE TV for the foreseeable future after being suspended, but it’s proving tough to keep the ex-NXT Champion off TV.
On the May 27, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, Ricochet was seen in the trainers’ room. The One and Only spoke with Adam Pearce and asked for a match with Breakker only to be informed that Bron had been suspended due to his actions last week.
With Breakker not an option, Ricochet requested a match against Ilja Dragunov from Pearce. This request was granted, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans as this match had been advertised before Monday Night Raw went on the air. This was a rematch of the pair’s King of the Ring first-round match that saw Dragunov get the win.
During said match and despite being suspended, Bron Breakker appeared and speared both Ricochet and Dragunov, causing the match to be called off. Pearce stormed out and berated Breakker but stopped when he recognized that the two-time former NXT Champion might attack him next.
Breakker is expected to be a huge deal on the main roster with many seeing him as a future WWE World Champion. And while being suspended would in theory derail those plans, it seems keeping Bron out of the ring is proving easier said than done.,
The video uses several themes and motifs seen in previous QR code videos. These include the image of a raven and a reminder to “Remember Who You Are.” In the closing moments of the video, a figure can be seen removing a veil. Many believe this to be an incarnation of ‘Sister Abigail’ who was a fixture of Bray Wyatt’s lore for years.
11:19
The website’s URL also contains a connection to Bray Wyatt who tragically passed away in August 2023 at the age of 36. In 2019, fans noticed that clocks inside the Firefly Fun House with Wyatt himself ‘fixing’ Abby The Witch’s clock with a hammer so that it read 11:19
The URL for the site features 11-19, though it remains unclear what this is explicitly referencing. Some in 2019 believed the numbers referenced November 19, the date The Undertaker debuted for the WWE back in late 1990. Some felt it referenced the biblical verse Ezekiel 11:19 that speaks of God giving a new spirit in his followers.
Where Is This Going?
It is believed that all of these cryptic messages are building towards the return of Uncle Howdy as portrayed by Bo Dallas. The former WWE NXT Champion was rehired by WWE in 2022 and shared the screen with his brother Bray Wyatt before the latter was pulled from TV due to his health issues. Dallas is expected to return with a faction that will include Joe Gacy, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, and the recently rehired Erick Rowan.
Many have speculated that we are getting close to the big reveal behind this mystery. Thanks to the Twitch and WhatsApp takeovers, teases of what is to come have grown increasingly frequent in recent days. On WWE TV, it’s been teased that answers will be coming sooner rather than later.
WWE Superstar Shotzi is hoping that the usage of Stem Cell Therapy will help her undo a significant issue with her back that has bothered her for years.
Shotzi is in Mexico to get stem cell treatment and has said she’s been wanting the treatment for two and a half years after previously suffering a back injury. Shotzi tore her ACL during an episode of WWE NXT that has kept the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion on the shelf ever since. In a silver-lining moment, Shotzi’s time away due to her ACL injury has given her time to focus on healing her back.
Shotzi hasn’t competed since February 2024.
Stem Cells & Wrestling
Several notable names in wrestling have been aided with stem cell therapy. This list includes WWE Hall of Famers Rob Van Dam, Rey Mysterio, and Kevin Nash. This month, MVP shared that he was undergoing stem cell treatment in Mexico and made clear that he isn’t finished in the ring yet.
In 2019, shortly before his return to the ring, Adam Copeland said he had been looking into stem cell therapy. At the time Copeland was optimistic that he COULD return to the ring within five years but as we all know, he returned far sooner than that 2024 prediction.
Stem Cells: What Are They?
Stem Cells have two main features that make them valuable in treatments such as these: they are self-replicating and can become various types of cells. Stem Cells are also considered controversial as there have been debates as to the ethics of research involving the development and use of human embryos. Not all stem cell research involves human embryos.
Japanese wrestling sensation Giulia will go under the knife to repair her wrist which could put plans for her in WWE NXT on pause.
Giulia suffered the injury during a tag-team match which saw herself and Utami Hayashishita face Sareee and Bozilla. Despite the injury happening mere minutes into the match, Giulia continued to compete throughout the bout which lasted over 28 minutes.
The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion will have surgery on her wrist on May 28, Tokyo Sports report. Giulia told the publication that she had been advised that surgery was the best course of action.
“I was told that having surgery would be the quickest way to recover, and I made the decision because I wanted to be in top condition to wrestle against Saree.”
A match against Sareee has been announced for the Marigold Summer Destiny event on July 13. Giulia intends to wrestle at the event and is confident she will be healed in time for the event. In the meantime, Giulia is looking forward to taking things easy for the first time in a while.
“I’ll be away from home for three nights and four days, so it’s like going on a trip to the countryside. I won’t be able to move around, so I’ll spend my time watching movies for the first time in a while and watching various wrestling videos.”
Giulia is still hoping to compete at Marigold’s next event.
Giulia’s WWE Future
With this surgery, questions remain as to what the future holds for Giulia in WWE. The Japanese star appeared at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024 and remained in Philadelphia for the WrestleMania 40 festivities. Giulia is set to join WWE NXT later this year though this injury has caused doubts among fans as to when she’ll be joining.
WWE officials remain optimistic that Giulia will be healed in time to compete at the NXT Heatwave event on July 9. Giulia is expected to be thrust into the NXT Women’s Championship picture with one source claiming she’ll have an impact in NXT that rivals what Asuka achieved during her two years with the gold brand.
The wrestling world has let its voice be heard about the various huge moments from the recent AEW Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view.
The latest major event from All Elite Wrestling took place at the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada and marked the sixth-annual Double or Nothing event. The show saw The Elite triumph in Anarchy in the Arena while Mercedes Mone made a successful in-ring debut for AEW by capturing the TBS Championship.
Reactions to AEW Double or Nothing 2024
During the TNT Championship match, Gangrel appeared to aid his Brood ally Adam Copeland during his match with Malakai Black. On Twitter, Matt Hardy (another Brood alum) was pleased to see the vampiric wrestler help Copeland overcome the might of the House of Black.
WWE Superstar Zelina Vega, who is married to Malakai Black, was understandably not a fan of the match that saw her husband choked out with barbed wire.
Mark Henry was pleased to see MJF make his return to AEW at Double or Nothing. The former World Champion confronted his former friend Adam Cole at the event.
AEW Double or Nothing was certainly a show that displayed a wide selection of styles for fans to enjoy. Now, attention turns towards this week’s AEW Dynamite and the upcoming AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door crossover event next month.
The Elite proved to live up to that moniker at AEW Double or Nothing 2024 after defeating four of AEW’s top names in the Anarchy in the Arena match.
The quartet of The Young Bucks, AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry met FTR, Bryan Danielson, and Darby Allin in the show’s violent main event. The crowd were electric from before the match started, thanks in part to Bryan Danielson using The Final Countdown for his entrance.
As predicted, the match kicked off with intense action as the eight men took their battle all over the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada. During one spot, Allin attempted to down Jack Perry in a bucket of cold water in the parking garage while the Bucks hit Shatter Machine on Dax Harwood but only garnered a two count.
This was a match where high-action spots became the norm and all eight men were given an opportunity to deliver. In one spot, Perry emerged and walked through Gorilla to grab Tony Khan but the camera cut away. Another spot saw Darby Allin light Perry’s legs on fire before the flames were extinguished by the Bucks.
The finish of the match saw all but Bryan Danielson taken out and the Elite hit their finishers on the American Dagon. Jack Perry got the win for his team over Danielson and AEW Double or Nothing goes off the air with The Elite standing tall with Perry on their shoulders.
The AEW World Championship reign of Swerve Strickland is going strong after retaining the gold against Christian Cage at Double or Nothing 2024.
In the penultimate match of the night, Strickland and Cage met with Swerve having Prince Nana in his corner while Cage had the might of the Patriarchy. With the numbers advantage in his favor, Christian took the early advantage. Things went from bad to worse for the champion after interference from Nick Wayne resulted in Prince Nana being ejected from the ringside area.
They always get the second guy! Nick Wayne's underhanded tactics get Prince Nana ejected!
Despite this, Strickland was able to fight back and withstand all that Cage was able to deliver. The finish of the match saw Swerve hit his patented Swerve Stomp and Swerve’s House to get the win and retain the gold.
After retaining the title, Strickland had quite the celebration and even shared the screen with boxing legend (and WWE WrestleMania 24 competitor) Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.
With the AEW World Championship still in his possession, Swerve Strickland will now look ahead to his next title match which will come at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view. On the May 29, edition of AEW Dynamite, a Casino Battle Royale will determine Strickland’s opponent at the upcoming crossover event. At this time, no names have been confirmed for the battle royale.
AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 will on Sunday, June 30, 2024, from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. It will be the third annual Forbidden Door event and once again see AEW talent and stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling face off. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the news regarding AEW and the Forbidden Door show.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson continues to impress outside of the ring as the Final Boss of WWE now has two Guinness World Records to his name.
Johnson shared the news on Instagram in a video to the tune of Also Sprach Zarathustra, better known to wrestling fans as the theme of Ric Flair. In the video, the Brahma Bull shared that he is now the most followed actor on TikTok with 77.4 million accounts (and counting) following the TKO board member.
This isn’t the only record that Johnson can lay claim to. In the video, he reveals that he is the most followed man from the United States on TikTok. This accolade puts the WWE megastar ahead of the likes of Will Smith, the Jonas Brothers, Lil Nas X and others. In the caption for his video, Johnson reflected on his World Records and had some tips to remain humble in spite of success.
Johnson is currently working on The Smashing Machine, a biopic about the life and struggles of Mark Kerr, a pioneer in the world of MMA. The film is being produced by Johnson’s Seven Bucks company and will be distributed by A24.
In the world of wrestling, The Rock is currently absent but has confirmed that he will be returning. During the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock confronted Cody Rhodes and vowed to return to confront the WWE Champion. It is unclear when the Final Boss will be back but it has been reported that there are no major plans for Rhodes until Rock and Roman Reigns return to TV.
MJF has made his return to AEW programming and big things are in store for the All-Elite promotion’s resident ‘Scumbag.’
The former AEW World Champion shocked fans at the May 26, event to confront his former tag-team partner Adam Cole. MJF then stated that there would be no more friendships for him in wrestling and that he’s not leaving AEW.
MJF’s return to AEW had been in the works for some time, Fightful Select reports, with AEW Double or Nothing earmarked as the target date. Preparations had been made in advance to ensure his comeback was executed perfectly.
Fans will have been surprised to see MJF appear at Double or Nothing given that he had been wearing a brace as of late. This turned out to be a ruse by the former AEW World Champion who did NOT undergo shoulder surgery as some had believed. while MJF did suffer an injury in the run-up to AEW Worlds End, it did not require surgery and the brace was worn to mislead fans about his condition and potential return.
AEW composer Mikey Ruckus prepared several new themes for MJF, including the orchestral version featured in his promo and a piano version. Significant creative plans are in place for MJF to be involved in a top-tier feud now he’s back.
Big plans are in place for the returning MJF.
Nixed Plans
The injury suffered by Adam Cole forced AEW to alter plans fo the pair. At one time a match was planned to take place between the two in 2023 but that obviously didn’t happen. It’s unclear when the former ROH World Tag Team Champions will face off but the fact that Cole got physical during MJF’s return segment is a good sign.
Mercedes Mone is ready to take on all-comers in AEW and that could result in her stepping in the ring once again with Saraya.
The pair last competed in December 2017 as part of a WWE live event under the names of Sasha Banks and Paige. It was a dropkick by Mone that resulted in Saraya suffering a neck injury that would force her into retirement. Saraya, who has never blamed Mone for what she has called a freak accident, would only wrestle again after joining AEW in 2022.
With Mone and Saraya now both All-Elite talent, there has been speculation of a feud between the pair given their history. When asked about a possible match by The New York Post, Mone was more than ready for the challenge.
“I’m here to face everybody, every woman here. So if she [Saraya] wants to be on the list, she’s more than welcome to wrestle me.”
Could Saraya and Mercedes Mone face off in AEW?
What’s to Come?
It remains to be seen if Mone and Saraya lock horns in AEW but the CEO’s more immediate future will see her compete later today. At AEW Double or Nothing, Mone will make her AEW in-ring debut when she faces TBS Champion Willow Nightingale. Ironically, it was Mone who suffered an injury the last time she faced Nightingale which cost her a year of competition.
Their grudge match is being billed as one of three main events for AEW Double or Nothing 2024. Mone Vs. Nightingale is being promoted alongside Anarchy in the Arena and AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland Vs. Christian Cage.
All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Double or Nothing 2024 tonight, Sunday, May 26, live from the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
The show will see some of the top names in All Elite Wrestling compete as the company marks the fifth anniversary of its inaugural Double or Nothing event in 2019. The show will also be AEW’s first pay-per-view since the retirement of Sting who retired undefeated in AEW at the Revolution pay-per-view in March 2024.
Swerve Strickland will defend against Christian Cage tonight.
Match Card
A total of 12 matches are scheduled for AEW Double or Nothing, All Elite Wrestling’s latest PPV of the year:
Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazzo (pre-show)
Daddy Ass & The Acclaimed vs. Cage of Agony in a trios match (pre-show)
Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin & FTR vs. Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry (Anarchy in the Arena)
Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage (AEW World Championship)
Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné (TBS Championship)
Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb (AEW Women’s World Championship)
Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black (Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match, AEW TBS Championship)
Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay (AEW International Championship)
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator)
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Hook vs. Katsuyori Shibata (FTW Championship)
Bang Bang Gang (c) vs. Death Triangle (Unified World Trios Championship)
Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta in a straight-up wrestling match
How to Watch
The Zero Hour pre-show for AEW Double or Nothing 2024 will be streaming live from 6:30 pm Eastern and fans around the globe can catch it for free on AEW’s official YouTube channel and Bleacher Report.
The AEW Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view starts at 8 pm ET live from Paradise, Nevada. The event can be purchased and streamed on Bleacher Report and traditional PPV means in the US. For international audiences, the show will be made available through Triller TV.
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland hopes to one day have a creative mind for wrestling that matches that of the late Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda.
Rotunda died in August 2023 at the age of 36. He had been pulled from WWE programming earlier that same year due to health issues. Before then the three-time WWE World Champion had been feuding with Bobby Lashley and a match had been planned for WrestleMania 39 in SoFi Stadium.
Swerve Strickland on Bray Wyatt
Rotunda’s tragically young passing came less than a year after his return to WWE in October 2022. In the weeks before his return at the Extreme Rules PLE, WWE teased something with their popular ‘White Rabbit’ mystery. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez, Strickland reflected on the White Rabbit.
“It was small things and it was layered and sprinkled out… Bray was just patient with that and he was meticulous and he was calculated.”
The AEW World Champion admitted to being very impressed with the White Rabbit, and hopes he can have a similarly creative mind for the business.
“Everything that he did, it came from him. I was always appreciative of that. For me, I would hope to have such a deep mind like that.“
What’s To Come?
While Rotunda is no longer with us, the enigmatic White Rabbit mystery has been revitalized with the ongoing QR code mystery. It is believed that the series of clues is building to the return of Uncle Howdy, as played by Bo Dallas. The former NXT Champion is expected to return alongside a faction consisting of Nikki Cross, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, and Dexter Lumis.
As for Strickland, he will defend the AEW World Championship later today at Double or Nothing 2024. Strickland will defend the title against Christian Cage in the champion’s first title defense on pay-per-view.
The days of Becky Lynch being ‘Big Time Becks’ are officially over as World Wrestling Entertainment has abandoned its trademark on that particular term.
On May 24, WWE filed paperwork to abandon the trademark for ‘Big Time Becks,’ a former nickname of the popular Raw Superstar. WWE first filed for the term in September 2021 but was opposed nine days after the initial filing. The filing was opposed by James K. Duck, who has a trademark on “Bigtime” when it comes to the world of professional wrestling. Legal proceedings were ongoing as recently as April 1, 2024 over the term.
It’s not a huge surprise to see the ‘Big Time Becks’ name go to the history books. Upon her return to programming at SummerSlam 2021, Lynch established herself as a heel and would develop a vain ‘Big Time’ persona who believed she was the biggest thing in women’s wrestling history. This heel turn saw Lynch at odds with Bianca Belair who dethroned ‘Big Time Becks’ at WrestleMania 38 to win the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
These days, Lynch is once again a babyface and while she remains one of the top women in WWE (if not wrestling as a whole) she doesn’t feel the need to rub it in the faces of the fans or her fellow Superstars.
Lynch’s Trademark Issues
This isn’t Lynch’s first trademark issue as she/WWE were in a battle with Ric Flair for some time over ‘The Man.’ Lynch began using the term in 2018 though Flair believed that the term was his given his “To be the Man, you’ve got to beat the Man” catchphrase.
Megan Bayne could soon be back on AEW programming after her tenure with the company so far has seen her compete more outside the All-Elite promotion.
Bayne has been under contract for years with AEW and made her in-ring debut for the All-Elite promotion in a loss to Big Swole on Dark in April 2021. Unfortunately, she was sidelined with an injury that derailed her role in AEW. After healing up, Bayne was encouraged by AEW management to seek out bookings and has become a standout in STARDOM.
Now, Bayne could finally be making her way back to AEW programming. Creative pitches have been made for Bayne backstage, Fightful Select reports, with one idea being for a ‘re-debut’ in the promotion. Early indications suggest that Bayne will be a heel once she resurfaces on TV. Her most recent match in an AEW ring since a dark match in 2023.
The 25-year-old Bayne has been back in the United States for several months now and has been taking bookings at with GCW, Limitless Wrestling, and other independent promotions. There has been interest in her possibly joining other companies but it is unclear if any offers have been made at this time.
Bayne has faced Nyla Rose and Thunder Rosa during her AEW career.
If Bayne is to rejoin AEW programming she will be part of a much different roster than when she debuted for the company in 2021. At this time, ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm and Willow Nightingale dominate AEW’s Women’s division as the Women’s World Champion and TBS Champion respectively. Other notable names to have arrived in recent months include Mina Shirakawa, Mariah May, and Mercedes Mone.
The GCW World Championship reign of Blake Christian has come to a controversial end thanks to GCW General Manager Matt Cardona.
At GCW Take A Picture, Cardona appeared in the ring and spoke about Christian’s title reign. The self-professed Indy God said that Christian was scheduled to defend his title against Joey Janela at GCW Tournament of Survival. That match will not go ahead as Christian would not make the event due to his participation in NJPW Best of Super Juniors.
As Christian would not make his scheduled title defense on June 1, Cardona announced that he had stripped Christian of the gold and that the title is currently vacated. Janela confronted Cardona and said the decision was wrong. Cardona announced that Janela would still get his title shot, but it would be in the Matt Cardona Gauntlet of Survival.
The ninth GCW Tournament Of Survival event will take place on Saturday, June 1, from the Showboat Hotel Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Names promoted for the event include Big F’n Joe, Brandon Kirk, Hideyoshi Kamitani, John Wayne Murdoch, Shunma Katsumata, UltraMantis Black, Yuki Ishikawa. The show will be available to watch on Triller TV
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s President Hiroshi Tanahashi stunned fans this week by making an appearance and competing on the May 25, episode of AEW Collision.
Tanahashi was revealed as the mystery partner of Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia in a trios match that saw them face Lance Archer and The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch.) The match ended with Tanahashi hitting Vincent with his signature Sling Blade, followed by the High Fly Flow, to get the win for his team.
The forbidden door has been opened as Hiroshi Tanahashi joins Castagnoli & Garcia.
This marked Tanahashi’s first match in AEW since his appearance at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023. At that event, Tanahashi unsuccessfully challenged then-AEW World Champion MJF. The Trios match was also Tanahashi’s second match on AEW Collision. His last bout on the show saw him defeat Swerve Strickland on the June 24, 2023 episode.
Tanahashi’s involvement with the show won’t be the last time fans see names from New Japan Pro Wrestling on AEW programming. On June 30, 2024, the two promotions will team up to hold the third annual Forbidden Door crossover event. The show will take place in Elmont, New York from the UBS Arena.
So far, the only match confirmed will see the AEW World Championship defended against the winner of the Casino Battle Royale match that will take place on the May 29, edition of AEW Dynamite. Participants for that match have yet to be confirmed.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has spoken about the controversial finish to the 2024 King of the Ring tournament.
At WWE King And Queen Of The Ring, GUNTHER claimed the crown in the Men’s Tournament finals with a hard-fought win over Randy Orton. GUNTHER made it to the finals with wins over Sheamus, Kofi Kingston and ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso before dispatching of the Viper in Jeddah.
The match ended in controversy as Orton’s shoulder was not fully on the mat during the decisive pinfall. On Twitter, Levesque addressed the questionable result.
“I was out there. My vantage point was very difficult to see. Coming back here and seeing it back, I saw what everybody saw. Didn’t even seem very controversial to me, just seemed like Randy Orton’s shoulder wasn’t down. But I’ll say this, referee’s decision is final and GUNTHER is your King of The Ring.”
While GUNTHER’s victory is final, the Game added that he would love to see the two face off again to ensure there is a clear winner.
“Randy Orton deserves to have another shot at that and I think GUNTHER will want to have another shot at that to take the controversy out, to take the asterisk off the page where it says King of The Ring.”
With his (albeit controversial) victory, GUNTHER has earned himself a World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE SummerSlam on August 3. Currently, the Austrian is expected to face either current champion Damian Priest or Drew McIntyre, depending on who wins their title match at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland.
Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship reign continues to go strong after retaining the title against Logan Paul in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The American Nightmare and the Maverick met in the main event of WWE King And Queen Of The Ring. The two were easily matched before Paul took the lead with a pair of brass knuckles supplied by a member of the PRIME Hydration Station.
Paul’s action would outrage Michael Cole as Paul had previously vowed to not use any brass knuckles. A confrontation between the commentator and the Maverick allowed Rhodes to take control.
The two would continue to trade control with Paul targeting the injured ribs of the American Nightmare. The fight would go to the outside again and Rhodes would hit the ‘Cody Cutter’ on the table.
Rhodes had the match won at this point but stopped the referee’s ten-count as he wanted Paul to ‘learn.’ Capitalizing on this, Paul would recover and hit a splash on Rhodes through the Arabic announce table, but a second splash in the ring garnered only a two count.
During one spot, the referee was taken out and Paul wasted no time in going for the brass knuckles again. As he went to use them however, guest ring announcer Ibrahim Al Hajjaj stopped him and Rhodes would deliver three Cross Rhodes to put the Maverick down for the three count.
The American Nightmare triumphed in Jeddah.
What’s to Come?
With another successful title defense to his name, Rhodes’ attention will turn towards WWE’s next Premium Live Event WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland. The event will be WWE’s first PLE in the UK since Money in the Bank 2023 where Rhodes defeated ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio. WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will take place on June 15 in Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena.
Drew McIntyre will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at an event where the Scottish Warrior will certainly have the crowd on his side.
At WrestleMania 40, McIntyre’s brief World Heavyweight Championship reign was ended by Damian Priest who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Priest’s successful cash-in came after CM Punk attacked McIntyre who had won the title from Seth Rollins moments earlier.
Since then, McIntyre has been focused on getting another shot at the title. Priest, in an effort to prove himself as a fighting champion, told McIntyre on a recent episode of Monday Night Raw that he would receive a title match in the future.
During the WWE King And Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared that McIntyre has been cleared to wrestle after suffering an elbow injury at WrestleMania. The Game also shared that McIntyre will receive his promised title match at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland.
McIntyre will have the home-field advantage in Glasgow.
The Scottish Warrior will certainly have the home-field advantage when he faces Priest in Glasgow. McIntyre had previously said he hoped the title match would be at the OVO Hydro. This will be McIntyre’s second time competing for a WWE World Championship at a Clash At The Castle show. At the inaugural event in 2022, McIntyre unsuccessfully challenged then-WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
A CM Punk Problem
While McIntyre would love nothing more than to dethrone Priest in Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, the Judgment Day member isn’t the only star on Drew’s radar. Since CM Punk’s return to WWE, McIntyre has made clear his issues with the former AEW World Champion who essentially cost McIntyre the title at WrestleMania. Punk has teased showing up in Glasgow (perhaps disguised as a haggis) to confront McIntyre while the Scottish Warrior has made clear what awaits Punk if he tries to interfere at Clash At The Castle: Scotland.
A young couple has proven that they believe in Joe Hendry by naming their child after the popular star from TNA Wrestling.
The baby boy, Micah Gene Hendry Roberts, was welcomed into the world by Micalah and Lucas Roberts. Speaking to the Daily Star, Lucas shared that the couple split the naming duties with Micalah choosing the first name and Lucas choosing the middle name of the child. The pair, who are fans of the TNA star would quickly grow to love the Hendry name for their child.
“The name Hendry quickly grew on us and we decided to include it when naming our son. When we found out Micah would be sharing the same birthday as Joe, we knew we made the right choice.”
The ‘Gene’ part of Micah’s name was also a choice that was made by Lucas. Rather than coming from Gene Snitsky or WWE Hall of Famer ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund though, this name was in tribute to Lucas’ father.
Baby Micah (left) shares part of his name and his birthday with TNA’s Joe Hendry.
I Believe In Joe Hendry
It’s hard to ignore the popularity of Joe Hendry in recent months as the Scottish wrestler continues to win over fans both new (in this case VERY new) and old. Hendry’s theme song I Believe in Joe Hendry made it to #1 in the iTunes charts in several countries, even beating the likes of music sensation Taylor Swift. Hendry’s other songs in which he pokes fun at his opponents have also proven popular.
Hendry’s success with his songs can’t be denied, with non-wrestling fans growing increasingly aware of him. This will no doubt bode well for Hendry’s prospects in the ring, with TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray even stating that TNA would be wise to consider a title run given Hendry’s popularity.