Rey Mysterio doesn’t have an exact date for when he’ll hang up his boots and mask but knows the exact circumstances when it’ll be time to walk away from the ring. 

At 49 years old, Mysterio is one of the oldest Superstars on WWE’s active roster and is well aware that his career is in the final legs of its journey. Speaking on Rampage Jackson’s JAXXON podcast, Mysterio didn’t give a specific date but believes he’ll retire if he ever stops worrying about giving his absolute best. 

“Every night [I worry about my performance] Even when it’s non-televised, I still get that jittering feeling like, ‘S***; I don’t want to f*** up. I want to make sure everything comes out right.’ I always tell myself, the day I no longer feel that, that’s the time to tap out.”

Rey Mysterio On Retirement

As a WWE Hall of Famer and arguably the most successful masked wrestler in WWE history, Mysterio has very little to prove in his remaining years in the ring. In March 2023, the Ultimate Underdog said he does not plan on wrestling past the age of 50. Rey will hit the milestone number this December. 

Though Rey’s career in the ring will be ending in the relatively near future, his time in WWE won’t be over after he hangs up his boots. Rey signed a five-year deal with WWE in 2023 that should keep him around until he is 54 years old. It is possible that Mysterio could wrestle past 50 and if not, WWE would no-doubt benefit from keeping Mysterio around in some kind of backstage role, possibly as a trainer in WWE NXT. 

Rey Mysterio began his professional wrestling career in Mexico at a very young age. His debut match took place in 1989 when he was just 14.

A fan of TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry has proven to be a man of their word by getting a tattoo of the popular Scottish wrestler. 

The fan, known as never_did on Twitter, said he would get a tattoo of Hendry if the man himself retweeted his post. When Hendry did just that, never_did wasted no time in booking an appointment at a local tattoo parlor. 

My @joehendry tattoo appointment has been made for next Tuesday. Cannot wait to truly believe. https://t.co/MeEz8uJKJq

— atMooncalf (@atMooncalf) May 7, 2024

True to his word, never_did got the tattoo which he revealed in an update on Twitter. While never_did initially planned to have the ink on his bicep, the artist suggested for it to be on his shoulder. This tattoo reveal also received a retweet by the TNA Wrestling star. 

As a man of my word, the healing process going well ??

I am a firm believer of @joehendry ??

(p.s. ik i said bicep but my artist suggested it'd look better higher up)#IBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/gbAEyiGU9A

— atMooncalf (@atMooncalf) May 17, 2024

I Believe In Joe Hendry

Hendry, a former TNA Digital Media Champion, has grown immensely popular with fans thanks in part to his popular self-produced songs that often parody his opponents, Hendry’s theme song I Believe in Joe Hendry recently dominated the music charts and made it to #1 on the UK iTunes charts, beating the likes of Hozier and Taylor Swift. 

• Joe Hendry Credits Success of Viral Theme Song to “A Series of Fortunate, Random Events”

Hendry’s success with his song can’t be denied, with non-wrestling fans growing increasingly aware of him. This will no doubt bode well for Hendry’s prospects in the ring, with TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray even stating that TNA would be wise to consider a title run given Hendry’s popularity. 

More has come to light about Viking Raider Ivar and why the former Tag Team Champion has been pulled indefinitely from all programming. 

With his tag-team partner Erik recovering from neck fusion surgery, Ivar has had an impressive singles run on Monday Night Raw and more recently WWE NXT. At the recent Spring Breakin’ event, Ivar challenged for the NXT North American Championship, his first singles title opportunity since coming to WWE in 2018. 

Ivar Pulled From Plans

During the taping of next week’s episode of WWE NXT, Ivar was not part of the triple threat number one contenders match he had been scheduled to participate in. Shortly after the taping, WWE revealed that due to an attack by Gallus, Ivar had been medically disqualified from competition and was out of action indefinitely. 

• Ivar Pulled From All Future Plans, Replacement Announced

Now, more has come to light about Ivar’s situation. On Twitter, the Andrews Sports Medicine account shared their appreciation to Ivar for placing his trust in the hands of their surgical team. The post also had the hashtag #Spine, suggesting Ivar has undergone surgery on his spine.

Thank you @Ivar_WWE for trusting in Dr. Andrew Cordover and his team to help you achieve #VictoryOverInjury!

#AndrewsSportsMedicine | #Spine#VictoryOverInjury I #TheVikingRaiders | #WWE | #WWENXT | #NXT pic.twitter.com/dHoYTAArJi

— Andrews Sports Med (@AndrewsSportMed) May 16, 2024

Andrews Sports Medicine

Ivar is certainly in good hands with Andrews Sports Medicine as some of WWE’s top Superstars have gone under the knife in the Alabama-based institute. Triple H, Cody Rhodes, and John Cena have all had surgery through Andrew Sports Medicine. In fact, Ivar’s tag-team partner Erik made the trip to Alabama last year for his neck fusion surgery. At this time, there’s no word on when either Viking is expected back in the ring. 

The upcoming WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland event will see one of the nation’s top Superstars compete in a World Title match, it has been reported.

Clash At The Castle: Scotland will be the promotion’s first Premium Live Event in the country. The show will take place from the OVO Hydro arena on June 15, with a WWE SmackDown taping scheduled to take place at the same venue the previous evening. 

• UK Fans Slams Obscene Ticket Prices for WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland

Given his standing as a main event and with this event being in Scotland, many are anticipating a huge role for Drew McIntyre at the event. That will be the case as McIntyre will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship in his home country, Dave Meltzer reports. 

While not confirmed on WWE TV just yet, seeds are already being planted for a showdown between McIntyre and World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. On the May 13, episode of Raw, Priest and McIntyre came face-to-face in the ring. The segment ended with Priest promising McIntyre a title match. The pair did not specify when the match would take place. 

McIntyre vs. Priest

Of course, any plans for McIntyre to compete rely on him being cleared to wrestle. An elbow injury suffered during WrestleMania 40 has kept the three-time World Champion out of action and also resulted in McIntyre being pulled from the ongoing King of the Ring tournament. 

McIntyre Vs. Priest may indeed be the plan for Clash At The Castle: Scotland, but the World Heavyweight Champion isn’t the only person on Drew’s mind. Despite his torn triceps injury, CM Punk has continued his feud with Drew McIntyre and recently teased showing up to Glasgow (perhaps inside of a haggis) to confront McIntyre. Drew has responded by saying if Punk does show up to Clash At The Castle: Scotland, he won’t be leaving in one piece. 

AEW’s road to the company’s second-ever All In pay-per-view will see the roster stay in Arlington, Texas for a series of Collision tapings. 

In a statement released by AEW, it was confirmed that the city will host five Collision tapings at the Esports Stadium, starting with the July 20 show. Not only that, but the deal ensures that Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor 2024 will also happen in the Esports Stadium on Friday, July 26. 

AEW President and CEO Tony Khan was excited about the deal with Arlington. 

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Arlington for AEW’s first-ever events at Esports Stadium. This AEW summer series will add to the rich legacy of major professional wrestling events held in the great state of Texas and serve as the ultimate springboard for AEW: All In London.”

Arlington Sports Commission Executive Director Matt Wilson was similarly excited to host the Collision tapings in the city. 

“We are honored to team with Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling for this incredible opportunity. The ability to host TNT’s wildly popular AEW: Collision program is another milestone achievement to bring worldwide events to Arlington and shine a global weekly spotlight on our beautiful city.”

This is a much different move from AEW’s usual method of weekly touring and will mark the longest period that an AEW show has stayed in one place since the pandemic. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for All In: London 2024, but the show has already seen over 40,000 tickets sold for Wembley Stadium. 

More information about the upcoming AEW Collision episodes in Arlington, including how to purchase them, can be found at AEWTix.com

Sneaker fans worldwide will be able to acknowledge Roman Reigns and The Bloodline with a new set of shoes set to launch next year. 

The new shoes are black with blood-red stylings, according to mock-up photos shared by Sneaker News. The shows will be available at select Jordan Brand retailers in-store, online, and at Nike.com. The snazzy new footwear will retail for $200 USD. 

Roman Reigns & Sneakers

The Tribal Chief’s love of sneakers is no secret. In matches, Reigns often wears sneakers instead of traditional wrestling footwear. Speaking to Complex in 2021, Reigns recalled wearing Jordans when he announced that his leukemia was in remission in 2019. 

“I felt so much confidence… That was one of those situations where I was able to come out of the Roman character and just be Joe. And that’s why you saw me the way I was. That’s why I was wearing the Jordans. Just kind of a casual look. For the most part for the Roman character, especially earlier on I stayed in the fatigues and the boots and stuff like that. But from that moment, I took that character armor off and exposed the real me.”

Roman Reigns Out of the Ring

The former Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 but he’s not been taking it easy. The Tribal Chief has been shooting a heist movie that’ll include Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and others. 

• Roman Reigns Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

While Reigns is off WWE TV, his presence continues to be felt. In his absence, Solo Sikoa has become the new leader of a new Bloodline that includes Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Paul Heyman has been noticeably concerned about the change that Sikoa has claimed that the order to take leadership of the faction came from Reigns himself. 

Fans were in store for a stacked AEW Collision taping this week as the promotion continues on the road to AEW Double or Nothing. 

On AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin made his return to programming to be revealed as the fourth man for Team AEW at the upcoming pay-per-view. The quartet of Allin, Bryan Danielson, and FTR will face The Elite in Anarchy In The Arena at Double or Nothing. 

• Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match Set For AEW Double or Nothing 2024

AEW Collision Spoilers [5/18/2024]

Here are the spoilers for the May 18, edition of AEW Collision: 

• Will Ospreay defeated Shane Taylor. Post-match, Roderick Strong and The Undisputed Kingdom attacked Ospreay but he took out Mike Bennett and Matt Taven and escaped unscathed

• Bryan Danielson & FTR defeated Lance Hoyt and The Righteous. The Righteous attacked Dax Harwood with a steel chair after the match and Archer hit Blackout on a chair on Cash Wheeler. Danielson and Daniel Garcia made the save. 

• Orange Cassidy pinned Brother Zay. Trent Beretta was at ringside and was interviewed after the match. Trent challenged Cassidy to a ‘wrestling match’ at Double or Nothing, saying Cassidy had cheated to beat him in the past. Cassidy and Beretta scuffled before being pulled apart. 

• Hook defeated Johnny TV with Taya Valkyrie

• Katsuyori Shibata defeated Rocky Romero

Bryan Keith defeated Beefcake Boulder of the Iron Savages

• A segment took place that saw Jay White and The Gunns on the stage with a beaten PAC. 

• Serena Deeb defeated Anna Jay. ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm stole the flag for Deeb’s dojo and Storm undressed behind it, wrapping herself in it to disrespect Deeb.

• Nick Wayne defeated Jack Cartwheel

This was the order of the matches as they were taped. It is possible that they could air in a different order when AEW Collision goes on the air this Saturday. 

Tammy Sytch fears that her life will end behind bars due to an issue with her leg that those running the prison she’s at will allegedly not treat. 

Sytch, who is best known for her career as Sunny in the WWF, was sentenced to 17 years in a Correctional Institute for her role in the car crash that killed Julian Lasseter in 2022. Sytch had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against her but later changed her plea to no contest. That means she did not admit guilt but would not fight a conviction against her. 

• Tammy Sytch  Sobs After Being Handed 17-Year Prison Sentence

Despite being incarcerated, Sytch recently spoke with TMZ and shared concerning news about her health. The issue began when Sytch noticed a swelling in her left leg which ranged from the top of her knee to her toes. Sytch brought the issue to officials at the prison who reportedly did not treat her. 

Sytch could “barely walk on my leg” as of last week and after testing was diagnosed with a blood clot that requires blood thinners. Getting that medication into her body has been an ordeal however and she’s now fearing she’ll die because of the situation. 

“All that’s been going through my mind for the past three weeks is, ‘Oh, my God, I’m going to follow in [my ex-husband’s] footsteps and die of a blood clot just like he did because I can’t get medical treatment at this prison.'”

Sytch went on to say that the situation is “pretty bad” and that she will insist on care at an off-site hospital if things get any worse. She is not due to be released until January 2040. 

• Tammy Sytch Called As A Witness In Injury Lawsuit From DUI Vehicle Crash

Pro Wrestling NOAH and WWE could be working a lot more closely in the coming months, at least if the new president of CyberFight has his way. 

Yasuaki Okamoto has been appointed the new President of CyberFight Inc, the parent company of NOAH. During an introductory press conference, Okamoto shared that his goal is to strengthen the promotion’s relationship with WWE. 

New announcement regarding the appointment of the new president! ?

Target – “Strengthen relationship with WWE”#CyberFight#noah_ghc#WWE pic.twitter.com/LIcVUjaQw4

— PRO WRESTLING NOAH (@noahglobal) May 16, 2024

Okamoto’s appointment and goals with WWE wasn’t the only major announcement. In the press conference, it was confirmed that Keiji Muto has been appointed as a NOAH scouting advisor

? OFFICIAL – Keiji Muto has been appointed as a NOAH scouting advisor! @muto_keiji #CyberFight#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/kh2j8l3ACx

— PRO WRESTLING NOAH (@noahglobal) May 16, 2024

Muto competed for years for Pro Wrestling NOAH and is best known for his legendary tenure as The Great Muta. It’s fitting that Muto was part of the same press conference in which Okamoto shared his goals in relation to WWE. In January 2023, WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura was granted the opportunity to face Muta at a NOAH show as part of the latter’s retirement tour. 

• Shinsuke Nakamura Defeats The Great Muta at Pro Wrestling NOAH Event

WWE Working With Others

For a very long time, WWE refused to work with other companies though that stance has softened considerably in recent years. The 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble saw then-IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James while TNA Knockout World Champion Jordynne Grace was part of the 2024 match. 

Even the idea of AEW and WWE working together can’t be counted out, with Tony Khan being open to a ‘World Cup’ event featuring talent from both companies. WWE President Nick Khan is considering potential collaborations with other promotions though nothing is currently publicly confirmed to be in the works. 

Raw Superstar Liv Morgan was determined to “save” her family when she joined WWE, which led to the future Women’s Champion questioning all of her decisions. 

Morgan was hired by WWE after her job at Hooters put her in touch with a wrestling coach. Speaking on the Insight podcast, the Raw Superstar admitted that her early days in WWE were much different than what she expected. 

“It was overwhelming. I thought because I was a fan, I would be great right away, because I loved it so much. But it was so hard for me. I was very bad for a very, very, very long time.”

Morgan’s love of wrestling started in her youth and she was able to enjoy WWE programming despite her family struggling financially. On the podcast, Liv explained that she had a goal to help her family which resulted in a lot of self-imposed pressure.

“I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself because I’m like ‘I’m going to save my family. I’m going to make it to WWE and I’m going to change their lives.’ So I had all this pressure on me. I feel like anything I’m doing wrong, oh my gosh, I’m going to get fired… But eventually I, finally, improved and steady improvement. It was a journey. It was much harder than I’d thought.”

Morgan would eventually be called up to the main roster as one-third of Absolution in 2016, which is when she was able to recognize that she was talented and those talents were being recognized. Since then, she has become a Money in the Bank winner, a two-time Women’s Tag Team Champion, and a SmackDown Women’s Champion. Morgan is hoping to add more gold to her trophy cabinet at WWE King And Queen of the Ring. 

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

The state of Oklahoma is reportedly considering a rule change that’d allow transgender wrestlers to face those of their gender identity. 

In December 2023, AEW received a warning after Nyla Rose competed against Alejandra Lion at a taping in Oklahoma City. The motion made by Sports Commission member Larry Lovelace said that AEW would face “punitive action” if they allowed Rose to compete against women in the state. 

Now, it appears that those in the Sooner State are reconsidering their stance. Records obtained through a public records request show that Commission Administrator Jim Miller informed AEW SVP Chris Harrington that allowing Rose to wrestle violated state rules regarding matches “between males and females.” Miller’s email to Harrington adds: 

“For your information the Commission is currently in discussion to possibly change this rule. However if it is determined by the Commission that the rule should be changed it will have to go thru [sic] the legislative process for rule-making and would not be in effect until July 2024.”

Miller has since retired from his position as Commission Administrator and quietly exited the role in March 2024. He has since been replaced with Diana Fletcher who did not wish to comment on the matters related to the December 2023 match. 

AEW President Tony Khan expressed his support for Rose in April 2024 and said he was “disappointed” by the position and the warning. Khan was noncommital when asked if the statute will prevent future events in Oklahoma but to date no events in the state have been announced. Khan’s support for Rose is no surprise as AEW has various LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and has shown support for other LGBTQ+ wrestlers on its roster. 

Another Incident

This situation isn’t the first time that rights to compete have been discussed in the state of Oklahoma. In 2022, Konner Vaughn became a licensed wrestler in the state. He was subsequently banned from having any matches against fellow men as he transitioned from female to male years early. 

When Vaughn asked the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission to reconsider their stance, they did not return his emails. Vaughn is currently not involved in wrestling and said the “soul-crushing” statute by OSAC played a huge role in him hanging up his boots. Vaughn has said he hopes to return to wrestling in his home state if the rules are changed. 

Liv Morgan’s dream of becoming a WWE Superstar may have remained just a dream if not for her time behind the bar at the popular establishment Hooters. 

Since joining WWE in 2014, Morgan has become one of the company’s most popular women in addition to being a multi-time champion. On the Insight podcast, Morgan recalled how working at the right Hooters helped turn her in-ring dreams into a reality. 

“Everyone at Hooters knew I loved wrestling. I’d be doing my bar shifts, I’d put WWE on the TV… everybody knew it was my thing. Before my time [at Hooters] there was a wrestler who will not be named who used to manage this specific Hooters.”

• WWE Drops Clue Linking Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan

This unnamed wrestler clearly had a lot of love for his old job as he would also visit his specific Hooters whenever WWE was in town, which led to a meeting with Liv. 

“Me being the big WWE fan that I was, I saw this wrestler come into Hooters and I knew they were exactly and I introduced myself… I talked to this wrestler for a while and I was like ‘I want to wrestle!’ And they were like ‘Haha, yeah.’ And I just spit all my wrestling knowledge to them and ‘Okay, you really do love wrestling.’

“So they introduced me to this man Joe DeFranco. He’s a world-renowned strength and conditioning coach. He only trains professional athletes and he actually trained Triple H on a weekly basis so I went to his gym and he threw me right in with his NFL guys.”

Despite having no formal workout experience, Morgan’s tenacity impressed DeFranco, who would pass her name to those in WWE. By October that year, Morgan was under contract and made her debut as a Tyler Breeze fan during his NXT TakeOver: Rival entrance. The rest, as they say, is history, and now Morgan finds herself one of the top women in all of wrestling.

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

The roster of the new Marigold promotion will compete for a World Championship and a United National Championship once the first event takes place later this year.

Marigold, the brainchild of STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa, was confirmed in April 2024 after speculation that Ogawa was looking to make a new company. It was allegations that Ogawa was ‘poaching’ talent from STARDOM that led to his termination from parent company Bushiroad. 

• Marigold Wrestling Launches: Rossy Ogawa, Roster & First Event on 5/20

Tokyo Sports gave fans their first glimpse at two of the championships that will be defended under the Marigold banner. The Marigold World Championship features a red strap with silver plates while the United National Championship features a white strap with silver plates. It is currently unclear how the inaugural champions will be decided. 

These won’t be the only titles that the roster of Marigold will compete for. There will be two more titles to be introduced, according to the report, but there is no word yet on what those titles will represent. 

Marigold Fields Forever

Marigold’s first event will come on May 20 and will take place at the iconic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. This inaugural event will be broadcast on WRESTLE UNIVERSE and will offer both English and Japanese commentary. The show will feature Giulia, who despite reports that a WWE move is guaranteed, will make a handful of appearances for Marigold per year. The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion will team with Utami Hayashishita to face WWE NXT alum Sareee and Bozilla. 

The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble and possibly WrestleMania 42 could take place in Saudi Arabia if higher-ups with the Middle Eastern Kingdom have their way. 

During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast, Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh was asked about plans for the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania to happen in Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh explained that “we are talking around 2026-2027.”

Alalshikh’s hopes for the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania in 2016 are hardly unfounded. A recent report revealed that Saudi authorities are hopeful that both shows will take place in the nation in the future. If so, it’ll be the first time either the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania has taken place outside of North America. 

Events In Saudi Arabia

Talk of WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia comes at an interesting time in the event’s history. Both John Cena and Cody Rhodes have advocated for the first non-North American WrestleMania to happen in the UK, an idea that has been supported by recently-reelected London Mayor Sadiq Khan. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. 

• London Mayor Sadiq Khan: We Want WrestleMania!

As for the Royal Rumble, WWE held its ‘Greatest Royal Rumble’ in 2018 with the titular 50-man match being won by Braun Strowman. The event sparked controversy given that no women were allowed at the event though Saudi Arabia has since gotten rid of this ban. 

At the time, it was reported that Saudi authorities had requested Yokozuna and The Ultimate Warrior for the Rumble match despite both having been dead for years at that point. Though it wasn’t Yokozuna, WWE did involve sumo-wrestler Hiroki Sumi into the match. 

WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia will be King And Queen of the Ring. The May 25, event will see the finals of the two titular tournaments as well as various title matches. 

The results are in for the May 21, episode of WWE NXT which was taped following the May 14, episode of the gold brand. 

The double-taping has occurred due to the upcoming WWE King And Queen Of The Ring PLE that will take place on May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. WWE wants certain producers and agents that work weekly NXT shows to make the trip to Jeddah for the latest event in WWE’s lucrative deal with Saudi Arabia. Rather than a live WWE NXT without many of the brand’s producers and agents, WWE felt it was better to have the full staff on board and tape the show in advance. 

WWE NXT Spoilers – May 21

Here are the spoilers for the May 21, episode of WWE NXT: 

Fallon Henley defeated Thea Hail in a NXT Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match qualifier. Chase U were at ringside for the match but were ejected after Ridge Holland was spotted with a chair that Henley had introduced into the equation. Post-match, Jazmyn Nyx came out and attacked Thea while Fallon looked on from the entrance.

Wes Lee and Joe Coffey were declared co-winners in a triple-threat North American Championship qualifier which also included Josh Briggs. Interestingly, Coffey was in the match replacing Ivar but there’s no word on why he wasn’t in the match. Oba Femi was on commentary. 

Axiom and Nathan Frazer defeated Luca Crusifino and Channing Lorenzo (with Tony D’Angelo and Adriana Rizzo) to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship. The No Quarter Catch Crew came in through the crowd to attack D’Angelo, distracting Crusifino and Lorenzo. 

Jaida Parker defeated Brinley Reece to advance to the ladder match for the NXT Women’s North American title at NXT Battleground. 

Lexis King came to the ring and talked about how it is great to be him and mentioned how he has been on a winning streak as of late. He then lost to Dante Chen who celebrated with Mr. Stone after the match. 

NXT Champion Trick Williams spoke about being attacked two weeks ago and how Noam Dar was attacked last week. Trick made clear he did not attack Dar but Meta-Four (except for Lash Legend) didn’t believe him. Joe Coffey appeared and said they are likely wondering why someone who will challenge for the North American Title is out there. Wolfgang and Mark Coffey attacked Trcik from behind and attacked Je’Von Evans who tried to help Williams. 

Natalya and Karmen Petrovic defeated Lola Vice and Shayna Bazler. Post-match, Vice attacked Baszler, but the Queen of Spades caught her and locked in the Kirifuda clutch. Referees came out to separate the two and NXT GM Ava announced they’ll face off in an NXT Underground match at NXT Battleground. 

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland hopes to end his war with The House of Black at Double or Nothing in the confines of a barbed wire-clad Steel Cage. 

The match was made official on the May 15, episode of AEW Dynamite and comes after weeks of feuding between the two sides. Copeland will face Malakai Black at the upcoming pay-per-view. He has previously retained his title against both Buddy Matthews and Brody King. 

• AEW TNT Title Reaches Historic Milestone On 5/11 Episode of Collision

Copeland had made the challenge following last week’s AEW Collision, where he retained the title against Kyle O’Reilly. On Dynamite, the Rated-R Superstar was mentally and physically tormented by the faction and both he and Reilly were attacked by the House of Black. 

Kyle O'Reilly tries to make the save!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@RatedRCope | @MalakaiBlxck | @SNM_Buddy | @BrodyXKing | @KORCombat pic.twitter.com/CwDD4ecxr1

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 16, 2024

Backstage, Black accepted the challenge and accepted Copeland’s request for a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match. The Rated-R Superstar could lose more than his title though, as Black revealed that should he beat Copeland, the WWE Hall of Famer would bend his knee to the House of Black.

AEW Double or Nothing 2024

Here is the card for AEW Double or Nothing 2024 as it currently stands. 

• Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné (AEW TBS Championship)

• Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay (AEW International Championship)

• “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb (AEW Women’s World Championship)

• Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) (AEW World Championship)

• The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry and The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson)) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, FTR (Cash Wheeler, and Dax Harwood), and Darby Allin) (Anarchy In The Arena Match)

• Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black (AEW TNT Championship, Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match)

Darby Allin will replace Eddie Kingston in the upcoming Anarchy in the Arena match following the attack on Kingston by The Elite. 

The Mad King was ambushed by The Young Bucks and Jack Perry at NJPW Resurgence after Kingston had lost the Stong Openweight Championship to Gabe Kidd. The attack marked the first time in five years that the Bucks had appeared for New Japan. 

• Young Bucks Returns To NJPW After Five Years, Attacks Eddie Kingston

After the attack, it was reported that Kingston had suffered a legitimate leg injury during his battle with Kidd. During the May 15th edition of AEW Dynamite, The Elite took center stage to announce Kingston’s withdrawal from the match. In a heated segment, the AEW World Tag Team Champions attacked Dax Harwood, leading to Cash Wheeler and Bryan Danielson rushing to his aid. 

Despite their efforts, they were outnumbered until Darby Allin intervened, attacking The Elite with his skateboard. The former TNT Champion was then confirmed as Team AEW’s new fourth member. 

DARBY ALLIN RETURNS to become the fourth member of Team #AEW for Anarchy in the Arena at #AEWDoN against The Elite!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@DarbyAllin | @DaxFTR | @CashWheelerFTR | @BryanDanielson pic.twitter.com/TG6P4utQcV

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 16, 2024

Double or Nothing 2024 will feature the third-annual Anarchy in the Arena match, with all three bouts happening at the annual AEW event. 2022 saw The Jericho Appreciation Society defeat the Blackpool Combat Club, Eddie Kingston, and Sanata, while last year’s match saw the BCC victorious over The Elite. 

This year’s match will also mark the return to the ring of Allin, who has been out of action since the Big Business edition of Dynamite in March. The risk-taking wrestler suffered a broken foot at the event that (among other issues) led to him postponing his attempt to climb Mt. Everest. Allin has said he fully intends to do the climb but it is unclear when it will happen. 

AEW fans and gamers alike can now play a brand new mobile wrestling game as part of a collaboration between the All-Elite promotion and TNT Sports. 

AEW: Figure Fighters is available now in the United States and is available for download from the App Store and Google Play. The free-to-play game was announced in June 2023 and features AEW’s stacked roster. An ‘autobattler format’ which allows players to level up their wrestlers via a series of game modes and challenges. 

The new game features some of AEW’s top names, including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm, and FTW Champion Chris Jericho. Darby Allin and Kris Statlander were also confirmed for the game, a statement from AEW about Figure Fighters revealed. 

AEW: Figure Fighters marks the latest effort from the promotion to expand into the world of gaming. In July 2021, AEW Elite: General Manager launched on iOS and Android, allowing players to step into the shoes of Tony Khan. Last year saw AEW’s first console video game, Fight Forever, hit shelves, and the game has consistently seen updates in the form of DLC. In addition to game, AEW recently launched its own gaming podcast hosted by Adam Cole and Evil Uno. 

The development of AEW: Figure Fighters furthers TNT Sports’ commitment to innovation in web3 technology, supported by an ongoing partnership with Immutable X. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has previously used web3 to host its own trivia quiz in which fans can win prizes for watching WBD content. This was part of the partnership with Immutable X. 

In its five years since opening its doors, AEW has become a hit with fans. With the release AEW Figure Fighters, expect that fanbase to grow more involved about the wrestlers they get to play as in the new mobile game.

Former WWE Superstar Gene Snitsky proved that the years haven’t dulled his punting skills with a surprise appearance at The Last Match musical experience. 

The 54-year-old Snitsky appeared at the show associated with The Last Match stage show. Snitsky confronted ‘Mother’ (played by fellow WWE alum Mickie James) a character in the show that is never far apart from her baby. After taking hold of the (thankfully plastic) child, Snitsky showed that he could still punt a baby with the best of them. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6-FOqzxTDF

The spot in question was a follow-up from an infamous segment from a late 2004 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. After Lita suffered a (kayfabe) miscarriage due to a collision with Kane that Snitsky caused, Gene confronted the future WWE Hall of Famer. Snitsky, who constantly reminded fans “IT WASN’T MY FAULT” would arrive with a doll of a baby that he would punt into the crowd. 

The Last Match

Mickie James is just one of several big names on the cast of The Last Match. TNA Wrestling broadcaster Matthew ‘Aiden English’ Rehwoldt plays ‘The Boss’ while recent-NXT departure McKenzie Mitchell plays broadcaster Scarlett Sublime. Bull ‘Dempsey’ James plays Sam The Barbarian while Afa Anoa’i Jr. portrays The Surgeon/Son of Stalin. Popular YouTube personality plays the show’s main antagonist Alexander Swagger. 

The Last Match tells the story of Ben Vengeance, a journeyman wrestler who prepares to step in the ring for what will be his titular last match. Vengeance’s final match sees the veteran face BTD Heavyweight Champion Alexander Swagger. The show has proven to be a hit with audiences and you can check out the official SE Scoops review below. 

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shared the official Road to SummerSlam 2024 live events tour that’ll happen before the August PLE. The tour kicks off this Friday, May 1 with WWE SmackDown live from Jacksonville, Florida. 

This year’s Road To SummerSlam Tour includes eleven weeks of Raw and SmackDown TV tapings, several non-televised live events and five Premium Live Events, which are bolded in the schedule below. WWE live event tickets for this tour are available at Ticketmaster.

WWE Summer Tour 2024 Schedule

May 2024

• 5/17: Jacksonville, FL (SmackDown)
• 5/20: Greensboro, NC (RAW)
• 5/24: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (SmackDown)
• 5/25: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (King & Queen of the Ring)
• 5/27: Savannah, GA (RAW)
• 5/31: Albany, NY (SmackDown)

June 2024

• 6/01: White Plains, NY (Supershow Summer Tour)
• 6/02: Binghamton, NY (RAW)
• 6/03: Hershey, PA (RAW)
• 6/07: Louisville, KY (SmackDown)
• 6/09: Las Vegas, NV (NXT Battleground)
• 6/10: Toledo, OH (RAW)
• 6/14: Glasgow, Scotland (SmackDown)
• 6/15: Glasgow, Scotland (Clash at the Castle)
• 6/17: Corpus Christi, TX (RAW)
• 6/21: Chicago, IL (SmackDown)
• 6/22: Bloomington, IL (Supershow Summer Tour)
• 6/23: Kalamazoo, MI (Supershow Summer Tour)
• 6/24: Indianapolis, IN (RAW)
• 6/28: New York, NY (SmackDown)

July 2024

• 7/01: Boston, MA (RAW)
• 7/05: Toronto, ON (SmackDown)
• 7/06: Toronto, ON (Money in the Bank)
• 7/07: Toronto, ON (RAW)
• 7/08: Ottawa, ON (SmackDown)
• 7/12: Worcester, MA (RAW)
• 7/13: Mexico City, Mexico (Supershow Summer Tour)
• 7/14: Monterrey, Mexico (Supershow Summer Tour)
• 7/15: Dayton, OH (RAW)
• 7/19: Omaha, NE (RAW)
• 7/22: Green Bay, WI (RAW)
• 7/29: Saint Paul, MN (RAW)

August 2024

• 8/02: Cleveland, OH (SmackDown)
• 8/03: Cleveland, OH (SummerSlam)

WWE SummerSlam 2024

SummerSlam 2024 will take place at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. News of the event’s location was shared on Logan Paul’s ImPaulsive podcast and as pointed out at the time, the show will mark the first time that SummerSlam has taken place in Cleveland since 1996.

With the event over two months away, no matches have been confirmed yet. With that said, Paul, a proud Clevelander, has teased facing NBA legend Lebron James at the Biggest Party of the Summer. 

If Paul is serious about competing at SummerSlam, then he may have more than the U.S. Championship to defend. The Maverick will challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at King And Queen Of The Ring. 

One name fans could be seeing at SummerSlam 2024 is CM Punk who has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps injury during January’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. A recent report shared a positive update on Punk’s recovery with SummerSlam being (theoretically) possible for him. Despite his injury, Punk has been feuding with Drew McIntyre on Monday Night Raw. 

• Drew McIntyre Vows To Tear CM Punk Apart in  WWE Clash At The Castle Tease

The WWE Universe has another mystery on its hands thanks to a strange segment that played out on the May 14, episode of WWE NXT. 

Coming back from a commercial break, the screen was entirely black and some breathing could be heard before the sound of an iPhone alarm broke the silence. 

THE ALARM HAS SOUNDED WENDY CHOO BACK ON NXT TV SOON LET'S GOOOOO#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/SOuvt69xJN

— CrispyWrestling (@CrispyWrestlin) May 15, 2024

Up next was a segment in which Jazmin Nyx tried to have people sign a get-well card for Jacy Jayne. The only person who signed was Lexis King signed it and he dedicated it to “Jackie.”

It’s unclear who or what this alarm vignette is building to though some have speculated that it is building to the return of Wendy Choo. The well-rested Superstar recently returned to action after a year out with an injury. With her love of naps and staying comfy, an alarm clock would certainly fit the motif of Choo’s character. 

This is hardly the first time a mysterious vignette has left fans wanting answers. Lexis King debuted in WWE NXT after a series of cryptic videos that played into his status as a second-generation wrestler. Ironically, King has forgone his real name of Brian Pillman Jr. as he has made clear he wants to establish himself as his own man in WWE NXT. 

• Lexis King Was Excited To Drop The Brian Pillman Jr Name For WWE NXT

Another Cryptic Message

Mysterious vignettes aren’t just a thing in WWE NXT but are also part of the main roster as well. In recent weeks, a series of cryptic glitches and QR codes have left fans believing that the return of Uncle Howdy is coming, presumably with a faction by his side. The latest message teased something happening on May 16. 

Lilian Garcia’s appearance on the May 13, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw was something of a last-minute call, according to the former ring announcer. 

Garcia appeared on the show and was introduced by current Raw ring announcer Samantha Irvin. Together, the pair introduced a King of the Ring quarter-final match with Irvin introducing GUNTHER while Garcia introduced Kofi Kingston. 

Two signature voices throughout #WWERaw history share a special moment in the ring when @SamanthatheBomb welcomes back @LilianGarcia! pic.twitter.com/2QPB0AyKaD

— WWE (@WWE) May 14, 2024

Taking to her Instagram Story, Garcia shared all about her appearance on Raw. The announcer shared that at first she was only at the show to say hi and catch up with friends before plans changed. 

“I just stopped by to say hi to everybody. Next thing you know, I was on the show. It was so much fun. Triple H, thank you so much for including me in the show. Doing that with Samantha was so awesome.”

Garcia was also grateful for the response the WWE Universe gave her and admitted that she misses the weekly roar of the crowd. 

“The fans and the reception that I got, you guys are amazing. I miss you. I’m just so glad that I can pop in every now and then. I hope you guys had fun tonight because there’s nothing like a live Raw event. Until next time, I love you.”

Garcia was with WWE from 1999 to 2009 but made a one-off return in April 2020 after the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption left Justin Roberts overseas. She returned full-time in 2011 before departing again in 2016 and has made sporadic appearances for the company ever since. 

Fans can expect to see Erick Rowan on WWE TV soon enough, especially after the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion was spotted at the Performance Center. 

Rowan was seen at WWE’s state-of-the-art facility in Orlando, Florida over the week, PW Insider reported. It is not clear what exactly Rowan did while at the Performance Center. In May 2024, it was reported that Rowan had been re-signed by WWE which came after he had to cancel independent show appearances due to a new contract. 

• Erick Rowan Cancels Indie Wrestling Appearance Due to “Contractual Issues”

It hasn’t been confirmed by WWE what the plan is for Rowan though the prevalent theory is that he will be part of the rumored Uncle Howdy-led faction. Since the post-WrestleMania Raw, glitches and QR codes have sowed seeds about Howdy’s return, possibly with a faction by his side. The most recent QR code takes fans to a website with 121212 in its URL, a reference to December 12, 2012, the date that Erick Rowan became part of the Wyatt Family. 

• Hidden Wyatt Family Reference Unearthed In Latest QR Code Mystery

Rowan was with WWE from 2011 to 2020 and is best remembered for his time with the Wyatt Family alongside Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper/Brodie Lee, and Braun Strowman. He later teamed with Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson before being cut from the company in April 2020. He appeared a handful of times for AEW and appeared on the August 25, 2023, SmackDown which was dedicated to Wyatt after his passing the day earlier. 

More Names For The Faction

Rowan isn’t the only name attached to this rumored Howdy-led faction. Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Nikki Cross are all said to be involved. At this time, there’s no word on whether Alexa Bliss will be involved despite the Goddess’ previous ties to Wyatt. Bliss hasn’t competed since January 2023 and gave birth to her daughter last December. 

A very subtle reference to the Wyatt Family has been discovered not in the video from the latest QR code, but in the URL for the video itself. 

Since the Raw after WrestleMania 40, the WWE Universe has been presented with a series of ‘glitches’ and QR codes which have led to videos with cryptic imagery. This week’s Raw proved to be no different with a video centered around a floppy disk teasing that something big is coming very soon. 

• WWE Raw QR Code Leads to Intriguing ‘5.16.24’ Floppy Disk Image

It is believed that these QR codes are leading to the return of Uncle Howdy, the macabre character played by Bo Dallas, who is expected to return with a faction. Erick Rowan recently re-signed with WWE and is expected to be a part of this group, especially after the very subtle tease during this latest QR code message. 

Upon scanning this week’s QR code, fans were taken to a URL with a series of images with a cryptic message. It turns out that this URL was a clue in itself, as the link is wwe.com/121212. This is a reference to December 12, 2012, which was the night that Erick Rowan debuted as a member of the Wyatt Family on WWE NXT. 

Given WWE’s efforts with these cryptic clues, as well as 2022’s White Rabbit, it’s hard to see this URL being a mere coincidence. The video also teases that May 16 will be an important date, so fans should get ready to learn more about plans for the new faction very soon. 

Las Vegas is paying a small fortune for WWE to host WrestleMania 41 as higher-ups in Sin City are expecting the event to be a huge tourism trap. 

It was announced in May 2024 that Las Vegas would be hosting the two-night event which will take place on April 19 and April 20. The show will be the latest in the calendar year a WrestleMania has ever taken place.

Las Vegas won the right to host WrestleMania 41 despite there being a time when it was assumed that Minneapolis would be hosting the show instead. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) approved a $5 million payment to WWE to sponsor the event, 8 News Now reports. 

Lisa Motley, vice president of sports and special events for the LVCVA was optimistic about the show’s prospects. 

“The dates of the event will occur over Easter weekend, which is a typically slow time for Las Vegas… We anticipate more than 180,000 WrestleMania fans will occupy 144,000 incremental room nights over that time period.”

While Las Vegas has paid a fortune for WrestleMania, they expect to make their money back and then some. And with 180,000 expected for WrestleMania, plus many more for non-WWE events hosted in the city, Las Vegas is right to expect a profit on its massive investment. 

What to Expect

Fans in Las Vegas will get much more than just WrestleMania. The report adds that the WWE World convention will be returning for WrestleMania 41 week. The first WWE World event this year included panels, exhibitions, stores, meet and greets, and an edition of The Pat McAfee Show. 

It is believed that WWE SmackDown and WWE Raw will be run at the MGM Resorts venue. A WWE NXT Premium Live Event is also likely to happen if recent years are any indication.