SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Matt Hardy Blasts “Pathetic” Fans Creating Narrative That Jeff Isn’t A Good Wrestler

    Matt Hardy Blasts “Pathetic” Fans Creating Narrative That Jeff Isn’t A Good Wrestler

    AEW’s Matt Hardy has hit back at ‘haters’ who have taken aim at his brother Jeff following a mistake on the most recent episode of Rampage. 

    The January 5, edition of AEW Rampage saw the Hardyz team with Mark Briscoe for the first time in their careers. The trio of tag-team specialists proved to be quite the group as they defeated Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade. 

    Jeff’s Mistake & Matt Reacts

    During the match, Jeff attempted to jump off his brother’s back but slipped in an awkward moment. Many fans leapt onto this mistake on social media and have attempted to make it into a big deal. Not every fan has acted this way, however, and one sarcastically commented that the world was going to end because Jeff made a mistake. Replying to this tweet, Matt pointed out that mistakes are bound to happen. The veteran also had some choice words about those trying to create a ‘narrative.’

    Speaking about a Whisper in the Wind spot from Jeff’s return to AEW that was ‘botched’, Matt claimed that this was supposed to be messed up to show some ring-rust on his brother’s behalf. Matt also made it clear he’s extremely proud of what his brother has been doing. 

    Jeff joined AEW in 2022 following his controversial release from WWE the previous year. In June of 2022, Hardy was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The case against Hardy was later dropped due to unreliable breath test results and he returned to programming in April 2023.

  • Triple H Shares Generous Offer to NFL Legend & Wrestling Superfan Shannon Sharpe

    Triple H Shares Generous Offer to NFL Legend & Wrestling Superfan Shannon Sharpe

    Shannon Sharpe and the crew of the Nightcap Show are more than welcome to visit a WWE event anytime after the NFL legend shared his love for the wrestling business. 

    During a recent episode of the Nightcap Show, the topic of wrestling came up. Sharpe spoke about growing up watching Georgia Championship Wrestling and named some of the stars of the era he loved to watch. Sharpe recalled traveling across Georgia with his family to see the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Bobo Brazil, Ox Baker, Andre the Giant, Harley Race, and Nick Bockwinkel. 

    Taking to Twitter, Triple H was impressed by Sharpe’s love of the business. In a tweet, the Game appreciated Sharpe’s passion and said that he and the Nightcap Show crew are welcome to attend a WWE event any place any time. 

    Shannon Sharpe

    Regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, Sharpe is best known for his time with the Denver Broncos, who he played for from 1990 to 1999 and later from 2002 to 2003. Sharpe holds the record for the most receiving yards in a game by a tight end (214) and is a three-time Super Bowl Champion (twice with the Broncos and once with the Baltimore Ravens). 

    WWE & The NFL

    Despite Vince McMahon being the founder of the XFL, WWE and the NFL have close ties. Not only are several Superstars former football players, but WWE entered a multi-year licensing deal with the NFL last year to create team-themed titles. Last month, Liv Morgan gifted one of these titles to the Green Bay Packers ahead of their win over Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs. 

  • ESPN Responds After Pat McAfee Claims Executive “Rat” is Sabotaging Show

    ESPN Responds After Pat McAfee Claims Executive “Rat” is Sabotaging Show

    ESPN has responded to recent accusations by Pat McAfee stemming from alleged sabotage of his popular talk show. 

    In May 2023, McAfee signed a multi-million dollar deal with ESPN to bring his show to the sports channel. This deal saw McAfee leave a lucrative contract with FanDuel in which he was set to earn $120 million over four years.

    ESPN Responds to Pat McAfee

    During a recent episode of his show, McAfee claimed that some in ESPN were trying to sabotage his efforts. The WWE correspondent called out ESPN executive Norby Williamson, claiming he is a “rat” leaking false information. 

    In a statement, ESPN said the following: 

    “No one is more committed to and invested in ESPN’s success than Norby Williamson. At the same time, we are thrilled with the multi-platform success that we have seen from The Pat McAfee Show across ESPN. We will handle this matter internally and have no further comment.”

    Pat McAfee Show Controversy

    McAfee’s show recently saw criticism after Aaron Rodgers made baseless claims that Jimmy Kimmel would be named on the list of those who traveled to the island of Jeffrey Epstein. So far, no hard evidence has proven Rodgers’ claim, and several fake lists shared online have been debunked. McAfee made no effort to challenge Rodgers on his claim. 

    Corey Graves took it personally when Pat McAfee replaced him on SmackDown. Click here to find out more. 

  • Chris Masters Hopeful for Opportunity in WWE, AEW, or TNA Wrestling

    Chris Masters is ready to take his skills to a larger stage than the NWA and has set his sights on AEW, IMPACT, and WWE. 

    The Masterpiece is best known for his time with WWE from 2005 to 2007 and his subsequent run from 2009 to 2011. He has also competed in IMPACT Wrestling and the NWA and is a two-time NWA National Champion. 

    Chris Masters Wants To See What’s Out There

    In a video shared on his Instagram, Masters spoke about wanting to see what’s out there beyond the realities of the NWA. 

    “[I’m looking to] see what’s out there for me. The last couple years I’ve been at NWA, [I’ve been] trying to develop myself and kind of evolve my character in every way I possibly could. And now I’d like to bring that to AEW, Impact Wrestling, and of course, WWE.”

    Masters recently shared a video of himself making his entrance at an event. With the caption “and now the participant who drew number 2”, Masters was referring to a surprise return in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. 

    Chris Masters and Returning to WWE

    This isn’t the first time Masters has made his intentions to return to WWE very clear. In late 2022, Masters spoke about a potential feud with Bobby Lashley, which would see a battle of the Full Nelson submission hold. In January, Lashley said he’d love to face Masters, though a match has yet to happen. 

    Chris Masters was seriously worried about his reputation after his WWE debut match went horribly wrong. Click here to find out more. 

  • Matt Striker Regrets ‘Wrong’ & ‘Tone Deaf’ Defense of Matt Riddle

    Matt Striker Regrets ‘Wrong’ & ‘Tone Deaf’ Defense of Matt Riddle

    MLW commentator Matt Striker has responded to the backlash from comments he made during Matt Riddle’s first match back with the promotion. 

    At MLW’s Kings of Colosseum show, Riddle defeated Jacob Fatu. This was the former WWE United States Champion’s first match since being released from WWE in September 2023. After the match, the two men shared a sign of respect. 

    Matt Striker’s Comments

    Striker was commentating on the match and was impressed with what he was seeing from Riddle. During part of the match, Stiker said the following: 

    “How do you let this guy go? This guy is a star, a mega-million dollar star. I don’t care what he does. How do you let him go?”

    Many have taken issue with Striker’s comment about not caring what Riddle’s done. Riddle has faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct including from his ex-girlfriend Daniella Petrow. Riddle was also accused of sexual misconduct in 2020 by wrestler Candy Cartwright. While Riddle admitted to having an affair with Cartwright, he claimed it was entirely consensual. This affair led to Riddle’s marriage to his ex-wife Lisa ending. A legal case by Cartwright against Riddle and others was dropped in 2021.

    Later in the match, Striker doubled down on his comment about Riddle being able to do whatever he wanted. 

    “He can do whatever he wants, he can kick your ass. Anyone out there (has) got a problem with him, step to him out on the street, watch what happens. End of conversation.” 

    Matt Striker Responds

    Striker’s comments during the show have faced a backlash, with many taking issue with the notion that somebody accused of sexual misconduct can do “whatever he wants.” On Twitter, Striker reflected on what he had said. 

    https://twitter.com/MLBMattStriker/status/1744006398776627545

    At this time, MLW has not commented publicly on Striker’s comments or his subsequent tweet. MLW’s next major event will be Intimidation Games on February 29. 

    Matt Riddle recently showed up in New Japan and already has laid out a challenge to a huge star. Click here to find out more. 

  • Jinder Mahal Challenges The Rock to a Match in India After Showdown on Raw

    Jinder Mahal Challenges The Rock to a Match in India After Showdown on Raw

    WWE Superstar Jinder Mahal is eager to step into the ring with The Rock once again, after their collision on this week’s episode of Raw. 

    The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show, which at first appeared to be Mahal. The Modern-Day Maharaja ran down the United States before the return of The Rock, who had some choice words for his fellow former WWE Champion. The Rock then laid out Mahal with a spinebuster and his People’s Elbow. 

    Jinder Mahal Challenges The Rock

    The Rock may have handily dispatched of Mahal on Raw, but now the 3MB alum is ready for another shot at the Great One. Speaking to WWE Super Dhamaal, Mahal has praise for his own efforts on Day 1 Raw. 

    “I had many good points before Rock even came out. I was feeling confident until I was on the receiving end of, you know, Rock gave me a spinebuster. Up until then, I really believed that I had The Rock. You know, I had his confidence choked. I could see the look in his eyes. You know, I am the Modern Day Maharaja, he may be The People’s Champion, they were cheering him on. For someone who had no respect from the crowd, I think I did really well.”

    Mahal then made his intentions clear and challenged the Brahma Bull to a match. 

    “I want to issue a challenge to The Rock. Anytime in India, you can step into the ring with The Modern Day Maharaja.”

    After dealing with Mahal, The Rock teased going after Roman Reigns’ role as Head of the Table. Click here to check out the reaction from the Tribal Chief. 

  • PAC Expected Back Soon In AEW After Missing Months Of Action

    AEW star PAC is set to make his return soon after close to half a year out of action with an injury. 

    During a virtual signing for Highspots, Penta El Zero Miedo recently stated that PAC will be back in AEW soon. During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that the British wrestler is indeed expected to return in the not-too-distant future. 

    “He’s back soon, I know that.”

    PAC’s most recent match took place on the July 26, episode of AEW Dynamite, where he faced Gravity. In August, it was announced that PAC had suffered an injury, though it was unclear what sort of injury he was facing. This has been the latest setback for PAC, who was out of action from March to July of last year. That hiatus was because he needed to get a nose injury fixed. 

    PAC in AEW

    After his tenure with WWE as Neville ended in 2018, PAC joined AEW on January 8, 2019, one week after the promotion was announced. At AEW’s inaugural rally, PAC confronted ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, setting up a match for Double or Nothing. That match wouldn’t take place however as it was scrapped due to “creative differences.” 

    In June 2022, PAC became the first AEW All-Atlantic Champion, which is today known as the AEW International Championship. He is also part of Death Triangle with Rey Fenix and Penta. He is a former AEW World Trios Champion and the first AEW star to be a double champion. 

  • NJPW Talent’s Contract Set to Expire Later This Month

    NJPW Talent’s Contract Set to Expire Later This Month

    A prominent name will be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling at some time this month, until a new deal can be reached very soon. 

    The contract of Alex Coughlin is set to expire this month, Fightful Select has reported. Coughlin is a current member of the Bullet Club and joined the faction in June of last year. 

    Alex Coughlin in New Japan

    At NJPW Independence Day 2021: Night One, Coughlin teamed with Gabe Kidd to capture the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships. The pair defeated Bishamon to win the titles, the first taste of New Japan gold for either man. The pair would hold the gold until October’s Destruction in Ry?goku where they lost the titles to Guerrillas of Destiny.

    Coughlin Outside of New Japan

    In addition to his work with NJPW, Coughlin is known for his work with Ring of Honor. After appearing a few times in 2019, Coughlin returned to ROH in April 2023 and would team with Katsuyori Shibata, to defeat The Workhorsemen. After the match, Coughlin pointed at Shibata’s ROH Pure Championship, teasing a future match. That match would happen in June and saw Shibata retain the Pure Championship. 

    Coughlin has also appeared for AEW. He made his debut on the May 10, 2022, edition of Dark . He and other members of the LA Dojo would save LA Dojo’s The DKC and Kevin Knight from a post-match attack by The Factory. At the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door Buy-In show, Coughlin teamed with Yuya Uemura, The DKC, and Kevin Knight in a losing effort to Max Caster, Billy Gunn, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn.

  • Mariah May Affected by Fire, Interesting Name at Collision, Kurt Angle Cameo & More

    Mariah May Affected by Fire, Interesting Name at Collision, Kurt Angle Cameo & More

    New AEW Trademark Filing

    The fans of AEW will have a chance to ‘Get the Feeling’ thanks to a new trademark filing by the promotion. This week, AEW filed a trademark for the phrase for its use on merchandise, as well as at professional wrestling events. At this time, there’s no word on what ‘Get the Feeling’ will mean for the on-screen product. 

    Interesting Name at AEW Collision

    The January 6, 2024, edition of AEW Collision featured some top names, including Adam Copeland, Ric Flair, and Sting, but a different WWE Hall of Famer remained backstage. PW Insider reports that former NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA was backstage at the Collision taping in Charlotte, NC. 

    Kurt Angle’s AEW Cameo

    Kurt Angle has made it clear he’s a WWE guy, but that didn’t stop the Olympian from making a cameo for AEW this week. On Twitter, Stokely Hathaway shared a Cameo featuring Angle, in which he claims that Hathaway is a changed man to Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander. It seems Kurt didn’t stop recording when he should have, as the video ends with Angle asking Stokely where’s his money. 

    Mariah May Home Affected By Fire

    Mariah May looked to set the wrestling world on fire during her AEW in-ring debut this week before the debuting Deonna Purrazzo interrupted. On Twitter, May shared that the place she lives suffered a fire. Fortunately, everyone is okay and the hunky firefighters proved to be a silver lining for the British wrestler. 

  • Unique Reason Why Most Serious Charge Against Liv Morgan Was Dropped

    Unique Reason Why Most Serious Charge Against Liv Morgan Was Dropped

    A unique technicality was crucial for the most serious drug-related charge against WWE Superstar being dropped this week. 

    Morgan was arrested on December 14th in Sumter County, Florida, following a traffic stop and was charged with possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoids. She was also charged with marijuana possession, not exceeding 20 grams, and possession of drug equipment.

    Why the Charge Was Dropped

    This week, the possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoids charge was dropped against Morgan, which will come as a huge relief to the Superstar. This was the most serious charge against the former SmackDown Women’s Champion. 

    The decision to drop the charge came as a surprise to many, but there is a reason for this. An Assistant State Attorney in Sumter County told KOMO News that to prove the charge, the State is required to prove that the THC came from synthetic sources and was not derived from plant sources. No labs in the State of Florida perform such tests, so it was remanded to county court as possession of cannabis. 

    With no labs to perform the test, this charge was dropped. In a statement to The Messenger, Morgan’s attorney Jack Goldberg said: 

    “We are extremely pleased that the State Attorney’s office made the correct decision to not purse felony charges against Gionna [Morgan].”

    What’s Next? 

    The charge of possession of marijuana, less than 20 grams, is a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida. It can be punishable by up to one year in jail or on probation, along with a $1,000 fine. Conviction of possession also results in a six-month driving license suspension, random drug testing, and the reimbursement of all fees related to the sentence. There is no heat on Morgan for this arrest within WWE. 

  • “F*** Them! Show Them!” Mustafa Ali Says He Was Told No-One Would Chant His Name in Emotional Promo

    “F*** Them! Show Them!” Mustafa Ali Says He Was Told No-One Would Chant His Name in Emotional Promo

    Mustafa Ali is ready to prove all his doubters wrong as he made clear during his first promo at a wrestling event following his WWE exit. 

    Ali was among those cut from WWE in September 2023, as part of the first wave of talent cuts following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Ali’s release came as a surprise given that he was in the middle of a storyline in WWE NXT. There had been plans for Ali to win the NXT North American Championship before being cut. 

    Mustafa Ali Post-WWE Promo

    After waiting out his 90-day non-compete clause, Ali made his return to action this weekend as part of an event at the APC 20th Anniversary event in Nanterre, France. Speaking to the fans after the match, Ali addressed what he’s been told in the past and made clear he’s ready to prove his doubters wrong. 

    “For more than the past 90 days [I’ve thought], what’s the first thing I want to say? And it’s as simple as this and if I tear up I apologize from the bottom of my heart. Every upper management that I have ever worked for in this industry has told me to my face that no one will ever cheer for someone named Mustafa Ali. [Fans boo, one says “f**k them!”] No, even better than f**k them, show them!

    “And if those people are watching, right now I’m in a sold-out house in APC. And every single person in this building is chanting Mustafa Ali! I’m going to leave the ring with one more point. This is what I want in the industry. I want change in the industry. I want guys that are a certain level to reach down and pull people up.

    “The young man, the young man that I just shared the ring with, let me tell you something. I have shared the ring with Rey Mysterio! I have been in the ring with AJ Styles! Name them, I’ve been in the ring with them and you my good man are just as good as them. It was an absolute honor to perform here. I landed this morning and I have not slept and I don’t give a s**t because this gives me life! Thank you all, good night, I love you.”

    Where will Mustafa Ali compete next? Click here to find out more about the former Superstar’s massive schedule. 

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

  • Cody Rhodes Just Agreed to be the Best Man at a WWE Fan’s Wedding

    Cody Rhodes Just Agreed to be the Best Man at a WWE Fan’s Wedding

    Cody Rhodes is focused on ‘finishing the story’ and becoming Undisputed WWE Universal Champion but will make time out of his schedule to be a fan’s Best Man. 

    At a WWE live event in Spokane, Washington, Rhodes picked up a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. After the match, Rhodes spotted a fan’s sign, asking the American Nightmare to be the Best Man at their upcoming wedding. Cody agreed, much to the delight of the Washington crowd. 

    Cody’s Connection with the Fans

    This is hardly the first time that Cody Rhodes has made a unique connection with a member of the WWE Universe. For the final live Raw of 2023, Rhodes gifted a fan an entire Christmas tree which had been part of the stage. This generosity came mere weeks after Rhodes purchased WWE tickets for a family of fans to ensure they saw him in action live. More recently, Rhodes has shared his generosity with the kids of the popular ‘The Wrestling Club.’ Rhodes recently purchased tickets and a hotel for the club of KIPP AMP Middle School students to attend WrestleMania 40. 

    WWE Live Event – Spokane, WA

    Here are the results for the WWE live event in Spokane, Washington:

    • LA Knight defeated Jimmy Uso (w/Solo Sikoa)
    • Brutus Creed defeated JD McDonagh
    • Bianca Belair, Shotzi, and Becky Lynch defeated Damage Ctrl (Asuka, Kairi Sane, and WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky)
    • Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (Street Fight)
  • Watch: Hook is Coming for Samoa Joe & the AEW World Championship

    Watch: Hook is Coming for Samoa Joe & the AEW World Championship

    Hook may already be the reigning FTW Champion, but the second-generation wrestler feels it is now time to add the AEW World Title to his collection. 

    This week’s AEW Collision was the first of the new year and the first episode following last weekend’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view. At that event, Samoa Joe won the AEW World Championship from MJF, ending the latter’s record-breaking reign. After the match, Adam Cole would be revealed as the Devil with Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow as his minions. 

    Hook is Coming for Samoa Joe

    During this week’s AEW Collision, FTW Champion Hook appeared and pointed out that his win/loss record in the promotion is second to none. Hook added that it’s time for him to go after another championship. Hook went on to say that thanks to ‘personal connections’ he’s had a close eye on the person he has his crosshairs on. Hook ended his promo by making it clear he’s coming for Samoa Joe and his AEW World Championship. 

    Hook in AEW

    Hook debuted for AEW in 2020 and wasted no time in aligning himself with his father Taz as part of Team Taz. It wouldn’t be until December of 2021 that Hook made his in-ring debut, besting Fuego Del Sol on an episode of Rampage. 

    Hook is a two-time FTW Champion, a title introduced by his father in the original ECW. Hook’s current reign began with his victory over Jack Perry during the AEW All In Zero Hour pre-show. 

  • Tyler Bate is “Here to Stay” After Making WWE SmackDown Debut

    Tyler Bate is looking forward to a lengthy future on SmackDown after arriving on the scene during this week’s episode. 

    The January 5, 2024, episode of SmackDown was the show’s New Year’s Revolution special and was the final show of WWE’s stacked first week of 2024 programming. In the show’s main event, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight competed for a shot at Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Thanks to interference from The Bloodline, no winner would be determined, and Nick Aldis’ announcement of a fatal four-way match would infuriate the Tribal Chief. 

    Tyler Bate is Here to Stay

    On this week’s SmackDown, Bate made his debut as the mystery tag-team partner of Butch. The pair of former WWE United Kingdom Champions proved to team together seamlessly and got the victory over Pretty Deadly. 

    In a post-match interview, Bate shared his thoughts on finally making it to the blue brand. The Big Strong Boi also stated that he was here to stay after making his debut. 

    ”Finally, it’s been a long time coming but the big strong boi has finally arrived on SmackDown, and I am here to stay!”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1vkGjsMo00

    Tyler Bate on The Main Roster

    Bate’s arrival this week shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to fans. Last month, it was reported that WWE was considering bringing Bate to the main roster. While Bate is smaller than many on the main roster, his size isn’t considered as big a deal now with Vince McMahon no longer running WWE’s creative department. It is stated that WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque is far more open-minded as to who can be a top star.

  • Dutch Mantell Lucky To Be Alive After “50/50 Chance” of Surviving Medical Emergency

    Dutch Mantell Lucky To Be Alive After “50/50 Chance” of Surviving Medical Emergency

    ‘Dirty’ Dutch Mantell is fortunate to be alive after being given bad odds of surviving a recent medical emergency. 

    Mantell began his career in wrestling in the 1970s and would achieve success in various promotions, including the NWA. For more modern-day fans, Mantell is best known for his role as a manager. During WWE’s New Generation, he managed the Blu Brothers as Uncle Zebekiah and would manage Jack Swagger in the 2010s as Zeb Colter. 

    Dutch Mantell is Lucky to be Alive

    On the most recent episode of his Storytime podcast, Mantell spoke about being unable to stay awake during his recent birthday and said his daughter Amanda noticed other signs something was wrong. 

    “She said I kept giving her gibberish answers that made no sense. She was looking at me funny and this continued for like an hour or two. Finally, she said there’s something wrong and she called 911 and they came and picked me up and I don’t even remember that.”

    Mantell explained that he was battling E. Coli and sepsis and made it clear that if he hadn’t gone to the hospital, he would not be alive today. Mantell’s condition, which also included a fever, meant he struggled to remember much of what happened, but knew his odds of survival weren’t great. 

    “I was given medicine every three hours. This is what I don’t remember. I was given a blood transfusion. I don’t remember that, so it had to be serious. They did give me, I think I remember they said a 50/50 chance. I think. Don’t mark me down on that being the truth. I could have just imagined that.”

    Mantell concluded by saying he was given a large selection of medicines and instructions on what to take and when. Mantell added that he believes part of the illness may have been self-induced as he has not been taking care of himself. Mantell said he’s hoping to avoid making the same mistake and is currently feeling good. 

  • Pat McAfee Says Some in ESPN Are Sabotaging His Show, Calls Executive a “Rat”

    Pat McAfee Says Some in ESPN Are Sabotaging His Show, Calls Executive a “Rat”

    Pat McAfee has taken aim at Norby Williams, dubbing the ESPN executive a “rat” who leaks false information to sabotage Pat’s show. 

    In May 2023, McAfee signed a multi-million dollar deal with ESPN to bring his show to the sports channel. This deal saw McAfee leave a lucrative contract with FanDuel in which he was set to earn $120 million over four years. 

    Pat McAfee Accuses Norby Williamson

    On his show, McAfee spoke about having a positive relationship with ESPN for the most part. The WWE correspondent then aimed at those attempting to make the show worse and called out Williamson. 

    “I believe, Norby Williamson is the guy who is attempting to sabotage our program. Now, I’m not 100 percent sure. That is just seemingly the only human that has information, and then that information gets leaked, and it’s wrong, and it sets a narrative of what our show is.

    “Are we just gonna combat that from a rat every single time? Somebody tried to get ahead of our actual ratings release with wrong numbers 12 hours beforehand. That’s a sabotage attempt. It’s been happening this entire season from some people who didn’t necessarily love the old addition of ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ to the ESPN family. There’s a lot of those.”

    It’s certainly a bold move for McAfee to call out Williamson like this. Calling out executives rarely works out well, as we’ve seen in the past in the world of wrestling. McAfee’s show recently saw criticism after Aaron Rodgers made baseless claims that Jimmy Kimmel would be named on the list of those who traveled to the island of Jeffrey Epstein. So far, no hard evidence has proven Rodgers’ claim and several fake lists shared online have been debunked. 

  • The Rock Thanks “Sacred Connection” With Fans After WWE Raw Return Shatters Record

    The Rock Thanks “Sacred Connection” With Fans After WWE Raw Return Shatters Record

    WWE may be happy to credit the recent record-breaking views on social media to The Rock, but the man himself believes that the ‘people’ deserve the credit. 

    The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show. During his promo, The Rock asked the fans if they’d like to see him as Head of the Table, alluding to taking the spot held by Roman Reigns. Reigns had quite the reaction to his cousin’s threat on social media.

    The Rock Reacts to Raw Record

    The return of the Brahma Bull has proven to be a hit with fans, as the figures on social media prove. WWE recently disclosed that in its first few days, The Rock’s return has racked up over 171 million views across multiple platforms, a record for any WWE moment during such a timeframe. Taking to Twitter, The Rock was grateful to the fans who he argued were the ones breaking the record. 

    In a separate tweet, the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment spoke about his “sacred connection with the people.” The Rock added that while he’s had some loud crowd pops in his time, the one he received on this week’s Raw simply hit differently from the rest. 

    What’s Next? 

    With what transpired on Raw, many feel that the long-awaited dream match between The Rock and Roman Reigns will finally happen this year. Many predict the match will happen at WrestleMania 40, though this hasn’t been confirmed This will come as bad news to fans of Cody Rhodes, who hoped he’d ‘finish the story’ and dethrone Reigns after his loss at WrestleMania 39. While WrestleMania 40 is seen as the ideal location by many, there are other events that WWE could choose for the Rock-Roman match if not WrestleMania 40. 

  • How Did AEW Subtly Reference Adam Copeland’s Pre-WWE Days on Rampage?

    How Did AEW Subtly Reference Adam Copeland’s Pre-WWE Days on Rampage?

    Adam Copeland wasn’t at this week’s episode of AEW Rampage, but the company did give a nod to the Rated R Superstar’s days before joining WWE. 

    Copeland joined AEW at WrestleDream in October 2023 and has been feuding with Christian Cage ever since. The two competed over the TNT Championship during a December episode of Dynamite which saw Cage retain the title. At AEW Worlds End, Copeland won the title, marking his first championship win in nearly 13 years. Unfortunately, his reign would be short-lived as thanks to Killswitch, Cage was able to reclaim the title moments later. 

    AEW’s Tribute to Sexton Hardcastle

    Before he was known as Edge in WWE, Adam Copeland worked under the infamous name of Sexton Hardcastle on the independent scene in his native Canada. While fans didn’t see Sexton Hardcastle on Rampage, they did see Kennedi Hardcastle compete in a tag-team match. 

    While some may have seen this as a mere coincidence, further investigation shows that this was a deliberate reference by AEW. Kennedi Hardcastle’s real name is Kennedi Copeland, and though she shares the same last name as the former World Champion, the two aren’t related. On Twitter, Kennedi confirmed this wasn’t a coincidence and admitted to being a huge fangirl of the WWE Hall of Famer. 

    AEW Rampage Results: January 5, 2024

    Here are the results for the January 5, 2024, edition of AEW Rampage: 

    • The Hardys and Mark Briscoe defeated The Butcher, Blade, and Kip Sabian.
    • Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale defeated Kennedi Hardcastle and Notorious Mimi
    • Hikaru Shida defeated Anna Jay
    • Wheeler Yuta (c) defeated Komander (Ring of Honor PURE Championship)
  • Look At This Photograph! Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger At This Week’s WWE SmackDown

    Look At This Photograph! Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger At This Week’s WWE SmackDown

    The first SmackDown of 2024 saw some of WWE’s top names on the broadcast and also saw quite a notable name behind the scenes. 

    The January 5, 2024, SmackDown saw a fatal four-way be confirmed for the Royal Rumble event, as Roman Reigns will defend against AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and LA Knight. In the finals of the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament, Kevin Owens defeated Santos Escobar. The Prizefighter will challenge U.S. Champion Logan Paul at the Royal Rumble PLE. 

    Nickelback at SmackDown

    For all the Superstars at SmackDown, one of the biggest names in entertainment at the show remained backstage. On Twitter, Triple H shared a photo with Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and made reference to their popular track ‘Photograph’. 

    Nickelback and Professional Wrestling

    While Kroeger and his bandmates haven’t competed in the ring, Nickelback has close ties to the world of professional wrestling. In 2009, their song ‘Burn it to the Ground’ became the official theme of Monday Night Raw. The theme would be used until Raw 1,000 in July 2012. 

    Music from Nickelback has been used for several WWE Premium Live Events. Their track ‘This Means War’ was used for the Elimination Chamber 2012 event, while ‘Edge of a Revolution’ was used for Survivor Series 2014. The group also performed live for the Tribute to the Troops event in 2011 with a rendition of ‘Burn it to the Ground’. 

    One of WWE’s most promising young Superstars competed before SmackDown went on the air. Click here to find out more. 

  • “I Think It’s About Time” – Kota Ibushi Teases Retirement After Latest Injury Setback

    “I Think It’s About Time” – Kota Ibushi Teases Retirement After Latest Injury Setback

    The career of Kota Ibushi may be coming to an end sooner than later judging by a tweet from the Japanese wrestler. 

    At the Pro Wrestling NOAH event on January 1, Ibushi was transported to a hospital after injuring his ankles. The Japanese star, who signed with AEW last year, reportedly walked into the match with a broken ankle but still wrestled the 30-minute main event against Naomichi Marufuji. This match understandably made his injury situation worse and itsbeen confirmed that Ibushi will undergo surgery. 

    Kota Ibushi Teases Retirement

    In a tweet translated from Japanese, Ibushi teased that his days in the ring may be numbered. 

    I came here with the goal of being able to do it for 20 years, and I think it’s about time. There are still a lot of things left on my contract, but I want to complete them!

    “I try not to talk too darkly or think about the future, but I have to take care of my mother and other things, so I’ll talk about it when the time comes! Don’t miss a match. 

    Is Kota Ibushi’s Career Ending? 

    This isn’t the first time that Ibushi has addressed leaving the wrestling ring behind. Last month, Ibushi said that he’d considered retirement after suffering a shoulder injury during the NJPW G1 Climax in 2021. In the interview, Ibushi said that he doesn’t know when he’ll be finished, saying it could be tomorrow, next year, or ten years from now. 

    As of this writing, there is no word on when Ibushi will return to the ring. We at SE Scoops are continuing to wish him the best in his recovery. 

  • Watch: Roman Reigns’ Furious Reaction After Royal Rumble 2024 Scheme Backfires

    Watch: Roman Reigns’ Furious Reaction After Royal Rumble 2024 Scheme Backfires

    Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is far from thrilled after his efforts to prevent a challenger for his title backfired immensely on SmackDown. 

    The January 5, edition of the blue brand was the ‘New Year’s Revolution’ episode of SmackDown and concluded WWE’s stacked first week of programming in 2024. In the main event, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight competed with the winner earning an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship opportunity. 

    Roman Reigns Reacts

    Before the match could reach a decisive finish, Roman Reigns and The Bloodline interfered and attacked all three potential challengers. Unhappy with this, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis informed Paul Heyman that Reigns would defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at the Royal Rumble in a fatal four-way match. 

    Backstage, Heyman was given the daunting task of informing Reigns about the upcoming title match. The Special Counsel was clearly terrified when telling Reigns of what Aldis had told them. Reigns was infuriated but refrained from shouting and simply demanded that Heyman “fix this.”

    This match will be the first time in over two years that Reigns has not defended his title in a singles contest. Reigns’ most recent match which saw multiple challengers was at WrestleMania 37 where the Tribal Chief bested Edge and Daniel Bryan. This will be Reigns’ first time defending his title in a fatal four-way match. 

    WWE Royal Rumble 2024

    Reigns’ fatal four-way match will be part of a stacked event on January 27. The show will also feature the two titular Rumble matches. So far, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Bobby Lashley have been announced for the Men’s Match. Bayley, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, and Bianca Belair have been announced for the Women’s Match. U.S. Champion Logan Paul will defend against Kevin Owens at the event. 

    What happened after the New Year’s Revolution edition of SmackDown went off the air? Click here to find out. 

  • Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling Announced, 5 Nations to Share Resources

    Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling Announced, 5 Nations to Share Resources

    The Asia Pacific Federation of Wrestling, a collective effort of promotions and countries, seeks to ensure the future of Asian wrestling worldwide. 

    At a press conference held this week, the APFW was formally announced, with the following names representing the group: 

    • Japan: NJPW (Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi, Yuji Nagata), STARDOM (CEO Taro Okada, Mina Shirakawa)
    • China: DFW (Wang Bin)
    • Taiwan: PUZZLE (Touyu)
    • Thailand: Setup (Pumi)
    • Singapore: GrappleMax (Gregory Ho)

    The Goals of APFW

    The Asia Pacific Federation of Wrestling has three main goals that it hopes to achieve. With Japanese promotions leading the way in terms of talent, the first goal will see Japanese promotions loan talent to various Asian countries. The next goal will be for all promotions to have more showcase matches, thanks in part to the sharing of talent. The third goal is for an improvement in wrestling training, with the Federation aiming to send wrestlers to Japan for further training.

    The APFW Comments

    Representatives from all six promotions would speak at the press conference. You can check out their comments (courtesy of NJPW1972.com) below: 

    “Over the last ten years, we’ve been able to hold events in Singapore and Taiwan, twice in each country. In all the venues, the reactions from the fans were huge and our wrestlers absolutely want to be back there very soon. We’ll be giving all we have to make this project successful.” – Naoki Sugabayashi

    “There are a lot of people in Asia, a lot of them English-speaking, but in recent years NJPW has been focused on America when it comes to international expansion. I think we’ve been looking past a great opportunity in Asia, and I’m happy for us to take that opportunity.” – Yuji Nagata

     “We [STARDOM] recently passed one million YouTube subscribers with a lot of those views coming from Asian countries. Just as NJPW has built familiarity through TV, we’ve built a presence through videos and shorts. I hope we can continue to broaden the appeal of pro-wrestling and STARDOM in particular.” – Taro Okada.

    “We at STARDOM aren’t really able to fly out rings to these countries, so to have the help of SETUP in Thailand and GrappleMax in Singapore was so important and made everything possible. I hope this alliance can help us bring women’s pro-wrestling onto a bigger global stage.” – Mina Shirakawa

    “Thank you for the invitation to this alliance. PUZZLE has a history of wrestler exchange with other countries and companies, but I think in particular to have NJPW’s guidance to lean on is a massive step up for us. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity, and to work with NJPW on this first step of an event in April.” – Touyu

    “Antonio Inoki taught the Chinese people about Japanese wrestling culture. That inspired me to bring that culture to Japan. I feel we’ve been able to grow the population of wrestling fans in China from 200,000 to 10 million. I think there are 2 million NJPW fans in China, but that’s out of a population of 1.4 billion. This alliance will, I feel bring the pro-wrestling audience in China to the tens of millions, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Thank you.” – Wang Bin

    “This partnership is not just about talent exchange, but the chance to share and learn from the best wrestling promotions in this world. Thai pro-wrestling has more than 15 years of history, so I think this is important for us. As you know with Muay Thai, Thai wrestling has a long history in combat sports, so I want to grow the culture of pro-wrestling in Thailand.”  – Pumi. 

    Thank you to Bushiroad, NJPW and STARDOM for this invitation. I’m very happy to represent Singapore. We’ve always been very close to Japanese wrestling… As part of this Federation, I look forward to working with the members, learning from NJPW and STARDOM and working with the amazing partners here to really grow the wrestling culture.”  -Gregory Ho.

    This news comes after the announcement of the United Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. Click here to find out more. 

  • Gable Steveson Competes Before 1/5 Episode of WWE SmackDown

    WWE’s second-ever Olympic Gold Medalist was in action before this week’s episode of SmackDown went on the air. 

    The January 5, edition of the blue brand was the ‘New Year’s Revolution’ episode of SmackDown and concluded WWE’s stacked first week of programming in 2024. In the main event, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight competed with the winner earning an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship opportunity. After Roman Reigns and The Bloodline interfered, Nick Aldis announced a fatal four-way at the Royal Rumble on January 27. 

    Gable Steveson at SmackDown

    Before the show went on the air, the fans in Vancouver were able to see Gable Steveson in action. The Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics Gold Medalist faced Cedric Alexander and got the win over the Hurt Business alum. You can check out Steveson’s entrance in the video below. 

    This was Steveson’s 13th match since signing with WWE in 2021. Steveson currently boasts a 12-0-1 record, with the only blemish on his record being a count-out draw against Baron Corbin in July 2023. 

    Another WWE NXT Appearance

    Gable Steveson wasn’t the only name associated with WWE NT to be at this week’s SmackDown in Vancouver. For his tag-team match with Pretty Deadly, Butch had to find a tag-team partner, which turned out to be Tyler Bate. The Big Strong Boi and his fellow NXT UK Champion would get the win over Elton Prince and Kit Wilson. 

    Why is it unfair to compare Gable Steveson to Kurt Angle? Click here to check out what the WWE Hall of Famer has to say. 

  • The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns Could Happen Outside WrestleMania (Report)

    Will The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns, the most anticipated dream match of a generation, take place on a show other than WrestleMania 40? 

    The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show, and after a fakeout with Jinder Mahal, The Rock returned. During his promo, The Rock asked the fans if they’d like to see him as Head of the Table, alluding to taking the spot held by Roman Reigns. Reigns had quite the reaction to his cousin’s threat on social media.

    Not Happening at WrestleMania? 

    With the tease on this week’s Raw, many have predicted that The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns will at long last take place at this year’s WrestleMania. This has come as bad news to fans of Cody Rhodes who hope that his story will be finished this April with a victory over Reigns, something Rhodes failed to do at WrestleMania 39. 

    In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is made clear that everyone in WWE is “tight-lipped” about the possible Rock-Roman showdown. Dave Meltzer noted that the match could happen as soon as WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The local government has reportedly requested the Brahma Bull for the February 24 event. 

    There’s also the possibility that the match could happen at one of WWE’s high-profile events in Saudi Arabia. While no dates have been announced, two Saudi events are expected this year. Meltzer noted that the Saudi government pays “ridiculous money” to have high-profile shows. It was added that bringing The Rock in “could possibly negotiate a bonus that would make it the biggest money event in company history.”

  • Matt Riddle Arrives in New Japan to Challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi

    Matt Riddle Arrives in New Japan to Challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi

    Former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle could be poised to make his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut very soon as part of the upcoming New Year Dash event. 

    In a video shared on social media, Riddle can be seen donned in a gi and training intensely. The video also features clips of Riddle arriving in an expensive car in his signature flip-flops. In a promo at the end of the video, Riddle made his challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi. 

    “Konichiwa New Japan! Let me introduce myself. My name is Matthew Riddle, the King of Bros. And I’ve got my sights set on Tanahashi-san, the Ace of New Japan. I’ll see you soon, bro.” 

    In the clip below, you can see Tanahashi’s response to the challenge. The NJPW President said he’s ready to wrestle anytime, but has no idea who Riddle is. 

    Matt Riddle 

    Riddle was released from WWE in September 2023 as part of the first wave of talent releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Riddle, a former U.S. Champion, Raw Tag Team Champion, and NXT Tag Team Champion, was one of the biggest names cut. 

    Since being released, Riddle has signed with Major League Wrestling and will compete at their event this week. The former Superstar recently spoke about changing up his style and wants to showcase his serious skills in the ring in contrast to his WWE ‘goofball’ persona. 

    Riddle isn’t the only ex-Superstar coming to NJPW. Nic Nemeth made his debut at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Click here to find out more about the rebrand of the Show-Off.