WWE SmackDown’s Randy Orton hopes to be the next King of the Ring, but regardless of what happens in Jeddah, he will break a three-year streak. 

The Viper will compete in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament against Monday Night Raw’s GUNTHER. Orton secured his place in the finals with tournament victories over AJ Styles, Carmelo Hayes, and Tama Tonga. GUNTHER earned his place in the match with wins over old rival Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, and ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. 

Breaking the Streak

While Orton is predominantly known as a singles competitor, you wouldn’t know it based of his Premium Live Event appearances in recent years. The upcoming match will be the Viper’s first singles PLE match in over three years. Before his showdown with GUNTHER, Orton’s previous one-on-one match at a PLE saw him defeat ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 37 in April 2021. 

Over those three years, Orton was teaming with Matt Riddle and the popular RK-Bro tag-team would hold the Raw Tag Team Championships (now the World Tag Team Championships) on two occasions. Orton’s time with the Original Bro ended in May 2022 as a severe back injury forced the Legend Killer off of TV. 

• Randy Orton Was Told To Retire By Doctors During WWE Hiatus

Since returning to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, Orton has been part of multi-man matches. The November PLE saw him enter WarGames as part of Team Rhodes. At the Royal Rumble event, Orton competed in a four-way before being one of six men in February’s Elimination Chamber Match. WrestleMania 40 saw The Viper in a triple-threat match and Backlash France saw Orton and Kevin Owens lose to The Bloodline. 

What’s to Come? 

Should Orton win the King of the Ring crown then he will soon find himself in another one-on-one match at a Premium Live Event. The victors of both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will receive championship matches at WWE SummerSlam on August 3. 

WWE Superstar GUNTHER is somewhat surprised by how big he was following his dramatic weight loss over the past year. 

The Austrian powerhouse lost between 60 to 70 pounds after moving to WWE NXT and the main roster in 2022 and his transformation has not gone unnoticed by fans. Speaking to Aleister McGeorge of METRO, GUNTHER reflected on his weight-loss journey. 

“I was aware of how big I was, but now looking at the pictures, I’m surprised how big I was… obviously health-wise, it’s way better [now] and I feel better in the ring. It’s been a good thing doing it.”

GUNTHER was inspired to lose the weight by Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci, and his wife Jinny. Now at a lean 250lbs, GUNTHER added that keeping the weight off has been less of a challenge than losing the weight, but it’s still no easy feat. 

“That’s WAY easier, keeping if off. It really is, though. You want to get to a point physically, then you really have to stick to it for quite a long time and be very disciplined. Once you’re at a point where you’re comfortable, then it’s easier to manage to maintain that than getting there.”

GUNTHER’s dedication to fitness will no doubt be looked upon favorably by WWE’s higher-ups including Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. Many predict that GUNTHER will be entering the World Championship picture soon enough. The Ring General will compete against Randy Orton in the finals of the 2024 King of the Ring Tournament later today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

AEW’s Will Ospreay hopes that Ricochet will soon be ‘All Elite’ as he’s itching for a rematch with the inaugural WWE Speed Champion. 

In the 2010s the pair had an acclaimed series of matches that elevated both men in the wrestling world. The duo’s most recent match came for What Culture Pro Wrestling in August 2017 in a match won by the Aerial Assassin. From there the pair would part ways with Ricochet joining WWE in January 2018 while Ospreay would go on to become one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s top stars. 

• Logan Paul Says Ricochet “Made It Easy To Look Good” At SummerSlam

Sitting down with ComicBook.com, Ospreay discussed his legendary series of matches with Ospreay. The Aerial Assassin admitted that he does worry that Ricochet isn’t being treated right in WWE. 

“I keep up with him all the time and sometimes I get a little bit sad about it. I hope he’s not sad and I hope he’s real happy. I keep up with him as much as I can, but I feel like people are forgetting who Ricochet was once upon a time.”

It’s not hard to see why Ospreay may be concerned for Ricochet regarding his booking in WWE. On a recent Raw, Ricochet spoke about how he is always losing in a very self-deprecating promo. 

This comment made little sense given that Ricochet recently won the WWE Speed Championship and was victorious throughout an entire tournament to win the gold. In the interview, Ospreay added that WWE valuing Ricochet’s work for minutes at a time, referring to WWE Speed rules, was “appalling.”

Ricochet in All Elite Wrestling? 

While Ricochet has been the victim of stop-start pushes since joining WWE’s main roster in 2019, Ospreay has been a staple of AEW TV since he officially signed in November 2023. Ospreay isn’t sure when Ricochet could be a free agent, but certainly hopes that AEW will make an offer if the One and Only becomes available. 

“I don’t know how much longer he has got in his contract, but I think it might be up soon, man, I don’t know. I want him to know that there are people here that genuinely appreciate his work and I want to wrestle him again. I want him back here.”

As for Ospreay’s more immediate future, the Essex-born wrestler will be a part of this weekend’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Ospreay is hoping to clinch his first taste of AEW gold when he challenges the International Champion Roderick Strong. 

• Will Ospreay ‘Bonded By Blood’ With AEW International Championship

Chad Gable may not be as evil as his WWE on-screen persona is, but the WWE Raw Superstar is aware that his on-screen work isn’t entirely different from the real him.

Since turning heel in April 2024, Gable has debuted a profound mean streak on WWE TV with his allies in Alpha Academy often bearing the brunt of his outbursts. The former Olympian has berated Akira Tozawa, Maxxine Dupri, and Otis multiple times and has made them pledge their support for his pursuit of the WWE Intercontinental Championship. 

• WWE Raw Tag Team Expected to be Paired with Chad Gable

Chad Gable On His Heel Turn

This heel turn for Gable has shown a vicious side to the Olympian that fans didn’t see even in the past when Chad has worked as a villain. Sitting down with TNT Sports, Gable reflected on his change of demeanor and how fun it is to be a heel. 

“It’s certainly easier, I’ll tell you that much. Most people identify with the fact that it’s easier to get people to hate you than it is to like you.” 

Gable then explained how this character has a lot more in common with the real him than fans may first expect. 

“This version of it, believe it or not, is probably the closest to my real personality than anything else I’ve done. Not to say that I’m a jerk but I am a very hard-nosed disciplined human being in real life.

“Ask anyone close to me and they will tell you the same. Now I don’t necessarily talk to them the way I talk to Alpha Academy right now but they do know that when it comes down to the things that I take seriously, training fitness, anything I apply that discipline to, they don’t interfere in that part of my life.”

"When I do promos, it comes so naturally. It doesn't feel like I'm working"@WWEGable shares what he enjoys most about being a heel ?

? Watch #WWERAW and #Smackdown on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/J7sZIO2hCb

— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) May 24, 2024

Gable hopes that this dedication will score him the WWE Intercontinental Championship. The former Olympian will challenge Sami Zayn for the gold at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring in a triple threat match that will include ‘Big’ Bronson Reed. 

• Kurt Angle Praises Heel Chad Gable As “A Rebirth Of Kurt Angle”

Actor Ibrahim Al Hajjaj will make his return to the world of pro wrestling with an appearance at the upcoming WWE King And Queen Of The Ring event. 

During the May 24, episode of WWE SmackDown, it was announced that Al Hajjaj will be a part of the Premium Live Event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The show will kick off later today from the Jeddah Superdome and will be the eleventh PLE to be held in the country. 

WWE King And Queen of the Ring won’t be Ibrahim Al Hajjaj’s first time appearing for the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. At WWE Crown Jewel in November 2023, the popular actor was a guest on Miz TV. After he and WWE’s resident A-Lister were interrupted by Grayson Waller, Al Hajjaj would hit a People’s Elbow on the Aussie Icon. 

Celebrities In Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Al Hajjaj’s involvement with WWE King And Queen Of The Ring is just the latest example of celebrity influence on the promotion’s endeavors in Saudi Arabia. At WWE Crown Jewel 2019, Boxing star Tyson Fury earned a count-out victory over Braun Strowman. That same night, UFC legend Cain Velasquez unsuccessfully challenged his old rival and then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. 

In 2022, social media star Jake Paul appeared in support of his brother Logan when the Maverick challenged then-Undisputed WWE Champion Roman Reigns. It’s hardly a surprise that WWE brings huge celebrities in for these events given how much the Saudi Sports Authority pays as part of this deal. Saudi Arabia also benefits from celebrity appearances at WWE events as these shows are part of ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ a government program with the goal of diversification economically, socially, and culturally. The program was launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman. 

Giulia’s immediate future in the ring remains uncertain at this time, but WWE has huge plans for the Japanese sensation once she joins NXT. 

The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is currently nursing a wrist injury she suffered during the inaugural event for Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold wrestling promotion ‘Fields Forever‘. This injury will see Giulia miss an upcoming tribute event for Hana Kimura and has put plans for her on pause. 

• Giulia Injured With Fractured Wrist At Marigold Event

Giulia in WWE NXT

It’s been believed for some time now that Giulia will join WWE NXT, an attitude galvanized when she appeared at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver in April. WWE is comfortable with Giulia healing while remaining in Japan, Fightful Select reports, and the promotion does not intend to interfere with any plans that were put in place for Giulia in Marigold pre-injury. 

WWE remains hopeful that Giulia will still be able to compete at the WWE NXT Heatwave event on July 7. The Japanese star will be thrown in at the deep end with her debut match expected to be for the NXT Women’s Championship that is currently held by Roxanne Perez. The Prodigy has had issues with WWE NXT General Manager Ava in recent weeks and it may be the fourth-generation star who officially brings Giulia in as an opponent for Perez. 

Giulia and Asuka

Giulia will be presented as “the female face of the brand” once she joins NXT, which may be a sign that Perez’s title reign will be ended by the Japanese star. One source even went as far as to say that Giulia’s role in NXT will surpass what Asuka achieved during her tenure. The Empress of Tomorrow went entirely undefeated in WWE NXT and her 510-day reign as NXT Women’s Champion remains a record to this day. 

WWE’s QR code mystery continued on the May 24, edition of SmackDown with fans being taken to a bizarre website full of unique clues. 

During the entrance of WWE Tag Team Champions A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) a QR code flashed on the screen. This code takes fans to an archive website full of letters and poems. One poem reads: 

I know it’s you.

On your way back home.

The hair shall light your path.

I will be waiting on the other side. 

This hare could be about the ‘White Rabbit’ mystery of 2022. Similar to the ongoing QR code mystery, the White Rabbit would leave clues on WWE TV with fans left to decipher what it means. The White Rabbit mystery culminated with the return of Bray Wyatt at WWE Extreme Rules 2022. Another poem reads: 

Do NOT lie to me.

Do NOT lie to yourself.

We’ve worn our maks long enough, brother.

Revel in what you are.

The phrase ‘Revel in what you are’ again suggests a link to Bray Wyatt, who used this phrase upon his 2022 return. The reference to masks and ‘brother’ will lead many to continue believing that this is all building towards the return of Uncle Howdy, as played by Wyatt’s brother Bo Dallas. 

The very retro-looking website has the title ‘Kintsugi.’ This is the traditional Japanese art form of repairing a broken bowl with gold. The idea behind Kintsugi is that something can become more beautiful because it has been broken rather than if nothing had changed. 

Where Is This Going? 

Howdy/Dallas is not expected to return alone to WWE TV. It is reported that a faction consisting of Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, the recently rehired Erick Rowan, and Nikki Cross will also be in the faction. There’s no confirmed date as for when this faction will appear though with these clues growing more frequent over the past week, some feel it won’t be much longer until answers are revealed on WWE TV. 

Some of the very top names in WWE were adamantly against the notion that The Rock would win the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania, it has been claimed. 

On the post-Royal Rumble edition of SmackDown, Cody Rhodes teased that he would not be facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This was in spite of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner making clear just days earlier that he intended to challenge the Tribal Chief. Rhodes’ segment on SmackDown also saw The Rock return and strongly suggested that he’d be facing his cousin in Philadelphia. 

• Cody Rhodes: ‘WWE Told Me Of The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns The Day I Won the Royal Rumble’

Against The Rock’s Title Win

For a handful of days after this segment, it appeared that The Rock would face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania while Cody Rhodes would challenge then-World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins. Even if Rock-Reigns had taken place, it’s unlikely that the Final Boss would’ve been the one to end Reigns’ historic title reign. 

Some of the top names in WWE rejected the idea of The Rock being the one to end the four-year title reign of the Head of the Table, Dave Meltzer reports. WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and Roman Reigns himself were said to be against the idea of The Rock winning. It’s not stated why they were against the idea but it’s possible that they believed having a part-timer ended Reigns’ run as champion would have been poorly received by fans. 

What’s Next? 

With the might of the ‘We Want Cody’ movement, Rhodes was reinserted into the title picture and captured the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. On the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock vowed to return to WWE and confront Rhodes once he is done shooting his latest movie The Smashing Machine. 

‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey is pleased to be a part of the TNA Wrestling roster as the promotion encourages talent to be themselves in the best possible way. 

Since arriving in TNA, Bailey has quickly asserted himself as one to watch with two X-Division championship reigns to his name. Not only that, Bailey’s Bound for Glory 2023 epic with Will Ospreay would for a time be the highest-rated match from TNA Wrestling, earning 5.25 stars from Dave Meltzer. 

Bailey has evidently done well in TNA and is pleased to be a part of a company that seeks to help others find themselves. Speaking to SE Scoops as part of the TNA Press Pass, the Canadian addressed how TNA helps amplify the real-life personalities of its roster. 

“The art of professional wrestling is a great tool for self-betterment. I have a lot of students that I have seen really discover themselves as people, not just as pro wrestlers, but through amplifying their own personalities in the ring and gaining confidence. [They have become] better versions of themselves through professional wrestling. Ultimately, that’s the goal. To inspire people.

“And I think where that ties into TNA is that it’s been a platform where pro wrestlers come in and are allowed to be themselves. They’re allowed to be who they are and TNA amplifies that. And I think that, philosophically, is a beautiful thing.”

Bailey has big plans for his future in TNA Wrestling. During the Press Pass, Bailey added he plans to regain the X-Division Championship alongside winning the World Tag Team and TNA World Championship. Bailey will certainly be one to watch especially with TNA Slammiversary coming to his native Canada in Montreal this July. 

The winners of the King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments will receive much more than a crown, Triple H has confirmed. 

The ongoing tournaments will conclude at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring which will take place on Saturday, May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Taking to Twitter, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared that the victors of both tournaments will also receive a title opportunity at WWE SummerSlam on August 3. 

The stakes just got even higher.

The winners of this Saturday’s King and Queen of the Ring Tournament Finals will each secure a championship opportunity at #SummerSlam. #WWEKingAndQueen pic.twitter.com/Ts1FZSGU8G

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 23, 2024

Who’s In the Tournaments? 

One name who could be going to SummerSlam is GUNTHER who will compete in the King of the Ring finals in Jeddah. The longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in history will face either Randy Orton or Tama Tonga at the PLE. The Viper and the Bloodline’s MFT will face off in a tournament semi-final match on the May 24, edition of WWE SmackDown. 

For the Queen of the Ring tournament, Lyra Valkyria advanced to the finals on this week’s Monday Night Raw with a victory over IYO SKY. The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion will face either Bianca Belair or Nia Jax in Jeddah. Those two will face off in a tournament semi-final match on the May 24, edition of WWE SmackDown.

• See The Crowns To Be Worn By WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring

WWE King And Queen Of The Ring

Here is the card as it stands for WWE King And Queen Of The Ring: 

• Gunther vs. SmackDown bracket winner (WWE King of the Ring Tournament Finals)

• Lyra Valkyria vs. SmackDown bracket winner (WWE Queen of the Ring Tournament Finals)

• Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (WWE Women’s World Championship)

• Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable (with Otis) vs. Bronson Reed (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

• Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (Undisputed WWE Championship)

The first-ever two-night edition of WWE SummerSlam will take over Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 1 and August 2 in 2026. 

The event will take place at the U.S. Bank Stadium which, among other events, is the stadium of the Minnesota Vikings. Taking to Twitter, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared the news that the Biggest Party of the Summer has just gotten even bigger. 

The Biggest Event of the Summer is getting even bigger. The first-ever two-night #SummerSlam comes to @usbankstadium in Minneapolis, MN on August 1-2, 2026. pic.twitter.com/6jk7uX2O6N

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 23, 2024

WWE SummerSlam 2026 will be the promotion’s second Premium Live Event to be hosted across two nights and follows in the footsteps of WrestleMania. The first two-night WrestleMania took place in 2020 and was a precaution in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. After fans responded favorably to the idea, WWE has kept WrestleMania as a two-night event despite all Covid-related restrictions being lifted. 

WWE in Minneapolis

SummerSlam 2026 will quite literally be the biggest wrestling event in the history of Minneapolis but it won’t be the first. Notable WWE shows to come to the City of Lakes include SummerSlam 1999, Judgment Day 2005, Bragging Rights 2010, and WWE TLC in 2017 and 2019. 

Minneapolis will host SummerSlam 2026 but the city had until recently had its sights set on WrestleMania 41 in 2025. For a time, those in the city were confident that the show would be theirs and were working under the assumption it was a done deal. Instead, WrestleMania 41 will take place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19 and April 20.

TKO, the parent company of WWE and UFC has taken another step towards synchronicity with the merging of the Live Event teams of both companies. 

WWE and UFC will have their live events overseen by one unit, described in a statement as “one of the strongest live events portfolios in all of sports and entertainment.” Andrew Schleimer, Chief Financial Officer of TKO, shared what this merger hopes to achieve. 

“The newly integrated TKO Live Events Strategy Team will focus on creating operational efficiencies and developing strategies to leverage the broader economic benefits we bring to host cities, including partnering with local governments and maximizing revenue opportunities from site fees.”

• TKO Reports 2024 Q1 Revenue of $629.7 Million as WWE Outperforms UFC

The merger is just the latest sign of WWE and UFC being connected now that both are under the TKO umbrella. WWE Superstars can often be found at UFC events with CM Punk, Montez Ford, Bianca Belair, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton all being spotted since the merger in September 2023. Similarly, UFC fighter Michael Chandler appeared on the February 19 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw and used his time on the show to call out Conor McGregor. 

Next month, WWE SmackDown and UFC Fight Night will be held in succession in Louisville, Kentucky with a ticket deal available for a weekend of TKO Group Holdings action. WWE NXT Battleground will be held at the UFC Apex on June 9, the first time any WWE event has been held at the venue. 

WWE’s search for its next roster of Superstars continued this week but you probably won’t know any of the names who performed at the tryout. 

The promotion held a tryout of some kind at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this week, PW Insider reports. The latest WWE tryout reportedly consisted primarily of athletes from outside of the wrestling industry instead of names from the independent scene. 

These athletes were extended an invitation from WWE to attend, a sign that the promotion has already had its eyes on them. At this time it is unknown who tried out for WWE at the Performance Center though it is expected that more information will be known within the coming weeks. 

• Ryan Nemeth Recalls WWE Tryout Experience With Bray Wyatt

WWE Tryouts

Trying out for WWE can take several days and result in multiple visits to WWE training facilities, as seen in 2019’s Fighting With My Family which chronicled the WWE career of Paige (now All Elite Wrestling’s Saraya.) 

These latest tryouts are hardly the first time that the Sports Entertainment juggernaut has sought athletes without professional wrestling experience. Some of WWE’s top Superstars today came to the company with backgrounds in athletics but not professional wrestling. These include Charlotte Flair, Braun Strowman, and reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair. 

In 2021, WWE introduced its NIL Program which aids young athletes to hone their young careers and understand the value of ownership over their Name, Image, and Likeness. The Next-In-Line program also allows WWE to keep an eye on these young athletes should they consider a future in the ring. WWE’s first NIL signing was Gable Steveson who was released from WWE in May 2024. 

Viking Raider Ivar was among a multitude of people unhappy with the ‘Viking Experience’ name but that didn’t matter as “one man” was on board with the name. 

Ivar, alongside Erik, had established themselves as War Machine and the War Raiders for years before being called up to the main roster in 2019. The move from WWE NXT to Monday Night Raw saw the pair rechristened the ‘Viking Experience’ which was met with a backlash from fans who felt the name was goofy.

Ivar On The Viking Experience

Shortly after the Viking Experience was revealed, a compromise was reached for the team to be named the Viking Raiders, a nod to their previous name. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Ivar discussed how the name came about.

“Vince [McMahon] loves Vikings. So he found out there was a team in NXT that were Vikings. ‘Yes, I want them.’ And he wanted Viking in our name and they couldn’t pass anything through legal. There’s already a Vikings football team, there’s already a Vikings TV show. So none of the names they were trying, whatever they were, were getting through.

“And then somebody, I won’t say who, it was asked in a meeting ‘What are they? Describe them!’ And somebody describes us as ‘they’re this, they’re that. They’re like a Viking… Experience.’ That’s it! They’re the Viking Experience. And not one person was happy or okay with that except for the one man. So we were stuck.” 

WWE changing the name amid fan backlash was an example of the company listening to the fans at a time when it felt like that wasn’t happening. Since then, the Viking Raiders have gone on to hold the Raw Tag Team Championships and have established themselves as one of the top teams on WWE’s main roster. 

Drew McIntyre is hoping that the World Heavyweight Championship shot promised to him will take place at a show where the crowd is extremely in his favor. 

McIntyre, already a three-time WWE World Champion, lost the title to Damian Priest at WrestleMania after Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Amid his war of words with CM Punk, McIntyre has insisted on receiving a rematch. On the May 13, episode of Raw, Priest promised the Scottish Warrior a rematch. 

McIntyre On WWE Clash At The Castle

Though McIntyre has been promised a title shot neither he nor Priest shared when the match will take place. Sitting down with PW Insider, McIntyre shared his hope that the match will be at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland. 

“I would love to have that title match if he [Priest] is still the champion in Scotland and finally have that moment with the title and actually keep the title. I could never have imagined it could potentially be in Glasgow. That’s my dream scenario.”

The upcoming June 15, show will be WWE’s second Clash At The Castle show and the first-ever Premium Live Event to come to Scotland. Understandably, McIntyre is excited that his country will soon have the eyes of the WWE Universe upon it. 

“This is something beyond a dream, you know, I talked about for years… I’ve been asking since the day I was in WWE and I always heard the logistics excuse, this and this, then suddenly we’re doing shows all across the world places like Australia, they’ve got the craziest time difference.”

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.

• Drew McIntyre Threatens To Tear CM Punk Apart At WWE Clash At The Castle 

Darby Allin will compete at this weekend’s Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view, but his involvement was a very last-minute deal. 

The former AEW TNT and World Tag Team Champion will team with Bryan Danielson and FTR to take on The Elite (The Young Bucks, Jack Perry, and Kazucika Okada) at the sixth-annual Double or Nothing pay-per-view. The two sides will meet in the Anarchy In The Arena match in what will be Allin’s first time competing under the stipulation. 

• AEW Double or Nothing 2024: World Title Match Set

How Darby Allin Entered Anarchy In The Arena

Allin is replacing Eddie Kingston in the Anarchy in the Arena match after the Mad King suffered a leg injury during his NJPW Resurgence match with Gabe Kidd. Speaking to Fightful, Allin revealed that he was in the process of helping his dad move into his new home when he heard of Kingston’s situation. Allin himself contacted Tony Khan to see if he could be placed into the match. 

Khan told Allin that he had to be cleared to be in the match, a feat easier said than done given Allin’s litany of injuries in recent months. In addition to a foot injury suffered during AEW Big Business, Allin is also nursing a nose injury and was recently struck by a bus in New York City. 

• Darby Allin Hit By A Bus in New York, Makes It To Broadway Show

Despite his setbacks, Allin was able to get cleared and called Khan while he was at Yellowstone National Park with his dad. Allin added that anyone surprised to see him in the match should be given how last-minute his return to AEW programming has been. The popular wrestler may be cleared, but added that the remains in a lot of pain. He has yet to take a bump since his injury but has been training Steve ‘Son of Sting’ Borden Jr. how to wrestle.

The ongoing QR code mystery that has played out on WWE TV has now turned to WhatsApp with more to be revealed very soon. 

Since the Raw after WrestleMania 40, several QR codes have appeared on WWE programming and scanning them has led fans to cryptic videos with clues to decipher. More recently, WWE’s Twitch channel shared an hour-long video inundated with clues and hidden meanings.

 WWE’s Mystery On WhatsApp

This mystery recently played out on WWE’s Twitch channel and now it has invaded the official WWE WhatsApp page. A series of cryptic images were shared to WWE’s WhatsApp including the message “Remember Who You Are.” Small text can also be found on the images and when connected, this reads “8 PM EST THURSDAY TWITCH.”

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. 

• Bo-Lieve Reference Revealed In QR Code Mystery

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. 

The in-ring future of WWE’s Big E remains uncertain, but fans will soon be able to see him as part of the upcoming Peacock comedy series Laid.

Laid follows a woman who learns that her former lovers are dying in strange ways and must go through her ‘sex timeline’ to learn the reason for these grisly scenes. The series is written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan (Totally Killer, Young Rock) and Sally Bradford McKenna (Son of Zorn).

Big E has an unspecified role in the show but was not the only name revealed by Deadline this week. Other names attached include Andre Hyland (Barry), Olivia Holt (Totally Killer), David Denman (The Office), Finneas O’Connell (Academy Award and Grammy Winning Singer/Songwriter), Chloe Fineman (SNL), Indya Moore (Pose), Ettore “Big E” Ewen (WWE Superstar) and John Early (Would it Kill You to Laugh).

It’s no wonder why Peacock has selected Big E for the upcoming comedy series. As part of The New Day, the former WWE World Champion has been flexing his comedic muscles (in addition to his actual muscles) and he has proven to be a hit with the WWE Universe. 

The Future Of Big E

This new show is a huge opportunity for Big E who hasn’t competed in a WWE ring in over two years. A broken neck suffered during a March 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown has derailed Big E’s in-ring career with questions looming as to whether he’ll be able to wrestle again. While Big E isn’t sure what the future holds, he is remaining his usual positive self and is thinking positive. 

The Superstars of WWE have been having fun in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ahead of the WWE King And Queen Of The Ring Premium Live Event. 

The May 25 event will be WWE’s latest event in Saudi Arabia as part of the lucrative decade-long deal between the two parties. The show will also serve as the first Premium Live Event bearing the name of the tournament since WWE King of the Ring 2002. In addition to the King And Queen of the Ring event, the May 24, episode of WWE SmackDown will also take place in Jeddah, which will be a first for WWE. 

WWE Superstars in Jeddah

With two stacked nights of WWE programming to come, the Superstars have already arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On Twitter, the official WWE account shared several videos of the Superstars making their arrival. 

Could we be looking at the 2024 KING OF THE RING? ?#WWEKingAndQueen pic.twitter.com/vqJNkZ2iiC

— WWE (@WWE) May 22, 2024

DING DONG!

Hello WWE Women's Champion @itsBayleyWWE! pic.twitter.com/t4JeKyFsoV

— WWE (@WWE) May 22, 2024

?????? pic.twitter.com/kzjPhIUv4i

— WWE (@WWE) May 22, 2024

WWE SmackDown Superstar Chelsea Green shared what her day has been like in Saudi Arabia so far. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion will face Bayley at WWE SmackDown. 

Woke up this morning in beautiful Riyadh!
Ate my high protein breaky, brushed my luxurious extensions & headed for a lift that @itsBayleyWWE could NEVER complete!
Life is so good when you’re me ?????
See you in 2 days Bad juju Bayley. xo pic.twitter.com/Lhrp1R9IdW

— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) May 22, 2024

Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair, alongside Liv Morgan and ‘Michin’ Mia Yim were having fun in the sun at Oia Beach ahead of this weekend’s festivities. 

WWE Superstars are having fun in the sun at Oia Beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ahead of #SmackDown & #WWEKingAndQueen! pic.twitter.com/rGv242xQxu

— WWE (@WWE) May 22, 2024

WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque tweeted his excitement for the SmackDown and King And Queen of the Ring shows, alongside a photo of himself boarding the WWE jet. 

Next stop…Riyadh. Excited to kickoff a great weekend in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ahead of #SmackDown and #WWEKingandQueen in Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/KcHQhCxxEx

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 22, 2024

We here at SE Scoops will have all the news and results from WWE SmackDown and WWE King And Queen Of The Ring so keep checking in for all the latest updates. 

WWE SummerSlam tickets are selling fast with more than two months to go until the Biggest Party of the Summer. SummerSlam 2024 takes place Saturday, August 3 from  Cleveland, Ohio from the historic Cleveland Browns Stadium. United States champion and Cleveland native Logan Paul went into hype mode as soon as the event was announced and called out one of most famous athletes in the world to face him in the ring at SummerSlam.

According to WrestleTix, WWE has distributed approximately 46,000 tickets, approaching 90% sold from the current total available (52,679). WWE should have no problem filling another 7,000 seats with 73 days until bell time.

WWE & Cleveland

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

Randy Orton’s devastating RKO may never have come to exist had it not been for a discussion with the matter of the ‘Ace Crusher’ John Laurinaitis. 

For over two decades, Orton has put opponents away with the move whose name is crafted from the Viper’s initials (Randy Keith Orton.) The Viper has used the move to capture WWE World Championships and it has taken out top names including The Undertaker, Mick Foley, Triple H, and many more. 

Speaking to Bill Apter of WrestleBinge, Orton shared the origins of his iconic maneuver. 

“Diamond Dallas Page had the Diamond Cutter, but John Laurinaitis had the Ace Crusher. At the time [the RKO was being invented] he was the Head of Talent Relations and we were trying to think of something that I could do to everybody no matter how big or how small they were. And the RKO was the move.”

While the move has seen countless opponents dispatched of (outta nowhere!) Orton did address the key issue with hitting the RKO. 

“Unfortunately it requires me to take a bump every time I give the yeah so yeah, there’s that.”

Orton was interviewed at the St. Louis Hall of Fame ceremony where he inducted his father Bob Orton Jr. The elder Orton had plenty of praise for his son and described the RKO as a “beautiful move.”

What’s to Come? 

Randy Orton will look to continue hitting RKOs on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown where he will face Tama Tonga in the King of the Ring semi-finals. The winner will advance to face GUNTHER for the crown at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite will be one to watch as the All Elite roster sprints to the finish line at Sunday’s Double or Nothing 2024 PPV from Las Vegas. This go-home show will feature in-ring action from top stars including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, ‘birthday boy’ Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay. Plus, we’ll hear from Mercedes Moné, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moley and World Trios champions Bullet Club Gold. 

Nick Wayne vs. Swerve Strickland

AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will get a taste of what awaits him at Double or Nothing when he faces off against Nick Wayne on Dynamite. Strickland will put the title on the line this weekend against Christian Cage. 

Bryan Danielson vs. Satnam Singh

In a battle of two very different opponents, Bryan Danielson will take on Satnam Singh. Danielson will compete at AEW Double or Nothing in the Anarchy in the Arena match but Singh could get the biggest win of his career tonight. 

HOOK vs. Bryan Keith vs. Katsuyori Shibata

With Chris Jericho on commentary, these three wrestlers will face off for a shot at the FTW Championship on the line. The victor will go on to face Jericho at AEW Double or Nothing. 

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Malakai Black

Black hopes to gain momentum heading into Double or Nothing when he faces Kyle O’Reilly. This weekend, Black will challenge O’Reilly’s ally AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland in a barbed wire steel cage match.

Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. Saraya & Harley Cameron

Ahead of her Women’s World Title match with Serena Deeb, ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm will team with Mariah May to face Saraya and Harley Cameron. Storm and Saraya are no strangers as they were part of the Outcasts with Ruby Soho. 

Will Ospreay & Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta & Roderick Strong

Ospreay will face Roderick Strong for the AEW International Title at Double or Nothing while Cassidy and Beretta will face off in a “wrestling match.” Tonight, the two sides will be at odds in a tag-team match. 

Final Hype for Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale

In a rematch a year in the making, Mercedes Moné will face AEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale at Double or Nothing. With tensions at their highest between the two, fans will get a preview of their upcoming match on Dynamite. 

Here’s the latest Control Center for a more in-depth look at what we can expert when AEW comes through Bakersfield, California:

SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling. Stay tuned over the next few days for our comprehensive coverage of AEW Double or Nothing 2024.

Brandi Rhodes is recovering from Endometriosis surgery and hopes her story can inspire others to listen to their bodies when they know something is wrong.

The former wrestling executive shared details of her personal health journey on social media this week. Rhodes explained that she’s been experiencing painful symptoms for years, but had no idea what exactly was wrong. She was ultimately diagnosed with stage four Endometriosis, a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. She shared a photo of herself after undergoing surgery for the condition and now seeks to help others.

3 years of pain with no answers. @MaryseMizanin 's story encouraged me to press on. Many appts later, we found the answer. Stage 4 endometriosis. Successful surgery today. Ladies, listen to your bodies. We don't have to live with pain. Advocate for yourself. Finally on the road… pic.twitter.com/oQwoLVMz0Y

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) May 22, 2024

Rhodes was inspired by fellow WWE alum Maryse, who recently shared her own story with a rare pre-cancerous condition that affects the ovaries. The two-time WWE Divas Champion underwent laparoscopy surgery earlier this year during which doctors found and removed eleven implants located around her uterus, ovaries, and connective tissues in her abdominal cavity. 

Endometriosis: What Is It? 

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms include pain in the lower stomach or back, period pain that prevents normal activities, pain when urinating or defecating and pain during or after sex. 

Brandi had stage four endometriosis, the most serious level of the condition. Causes of endometriosis can include genetics or a problem with the immune system though it is often a condition caused by a combination of different factors. 

Lower versions of endometriosis can be treated with painkillers or hormone medicines but more severe forms can lead to surgery (such as in Rhodes’ case.) While Rhodes just needed the implants removed, the worst cases can result in surgery to remove part or all of the organs affected by endometriosis. 

Dominik Mysterio is maintaining his innocence amid speculation that he and Liv Morgan may be getting ‘close’ now that Rhea Ripley isn’t around. 

In recent weeks, there have been clues on WWE TV that Morgan and Mysterio may be a lot chummier than it first seems. The pair were seen leaving the same room backstage during an episode of Raw. More recently, Liv was seen leaving a vehicle, and later on, Dominik’s Judgment Day ally Finn Balor exited the same car. Speculation of the pair has run rife on social media, especially after Morgan shared a photo of herself with Dominik’s signature bandana. 

Innocent Until Proven Guilty!

Given Mysterio’s (kayfabe) relationship with Rhea Ripley, many have been highly suspicious of how close he and Liv have seemingly been getting. When confronted about the rumors on the Ringer Wrestling Show, Mysterio took a legal approach to the accusations. 

“I think at the end of the day, everyone is innocent till proven guilty. And I’m just… I’m here protecting Mami. And I’m trying to make sure she’s good when she comes back and that everything is all set in order.”

Rhea Ripley has been out of action since April after she suffered an injury at the hands of Morgan during a backstage attack. This injury led to Ripley vacating the WWE Women’s World Championship, a fact that Morgan (the last woman to pin Ripley) has relished in.

Could Morgan’s ‘revenge’ tour see her try and replace Rhea Ripley, not just as Mysterio’s partner but also as a member of The Judgment Day? Time will tell… 

WWE had no intention of having one man leave Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with two championships, but that didn’t stop them from teasing the idea. 

On the May 10, edition of WWE SmackDown, Paul, the reigning United States Champion, was revealed as the next challenger for Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Immediately, fans speculated that their match at WWE King And Queen of the Ring would see both titles on the line. On Twitter, Cody would tease going for the United States Championship.

2 belts

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) May 11, 2024

During the May 17, edition of SmackDown, Rhodes spoke of his desire to capture the coveted ‘Grand Slam’ and is only missing the U.S. title from his collection. Despite these teases, it was confirmed during the contract signing later in the night that the upcoming match would ONLY be for Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship. 

Why WWE Teased Title For Title

WWE never had any intention of having both titles on the line, despite what was being teased on TV and social media, Dave Meltzer reports. The reason behind the teases is that it was WWE’s way of getting extra ‘heat’ on Paul. The idea is that after fans were led to believe both titles would be on the line, Paul ‘backtracking’ by ensuring he wouldn’t be at risk of losing his gold would rile up the fans against him. On SmackDown, it was made clear that Paul’s lawyers had drafted the contract that means only Rhodes’ title will be on the line. 

What’s Next? 

Paul and Rhodes will face off this weekend at the WWE King And Queen of the Ring PLE. The show will be Rhodes’ second title defend his title at a Premium Live Event after defeating AJ Styles at Backlash France. The match will also be Paul’s second World Championship opportunity after facing then-Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel 2022.