WWE’s QR code mystery continued during the May 10, edition of SmackDown as signs continued to point towards a stable in tribute to Bray Wyatt.
A ‘glitch’ featuring a QR code appeared during the Queen of the Ring tournament first-round match between Nia Jax and Naomi which was won by the irresistible force. Scanning the code takes fans to a video that at first appears to be WWE’s new introductory video, complete with a voice-over by Triple H.
The video then takes a dark tone as a message is shared alongside creepy imagery.
“They put us in a cave together, told us to behold the glory. We watched in awe, consumed by their lies. We were never the chosen ones, left in the cave to rot, to be forgotten. But he set us free. Now we understand. We follow the prophecy. The word of the red. Soon you will understand. The tears we shed watered our antipathy and blossomed a garden of revulsion. There is no safe space. Only my family.”
Like previous videos, this latest video includes rhetoric to caves, which ties to Platoean theory about reality. The use of ‘we’ also hammers home the belief that this will be a stable rather than an individual. Perhaps the biggest clue in this text is the stanza about “the word of the red.” Fans may recognize the reference to ‘red’ as Bray Wyatt had promos in 2014 in which he referred to being red.
“I am the color red, in a world of black and white and if you value your ability to breathe… Don’t get too close.”
All signs are pointing towards a stable led by Uncle Howdy, the character Bray Wyatt portrayed upon his return to WWE in 2022. Howdy was pulled from TV around the same time Wyatt was pulled due to the health issues that would cut his life tragically short in August 2023. It’s also been reported that Howdy won’t be returning to WWE alone. Dallas has also been referenced in previous videos.
AEW EVP Kenny Omega believes that Dave Meltzer was never quite the same after the Cleaner ‘broke’ the wrestling reporter’s much-discussed match ratings system.
For years, Meltzer used a standard five-star ranking, with one representing a terrible encounter and five representing the absolute best a match could be. For Omega’s Wrestle Kingdom 2017 showdown with Kazuchika Okada, Meltzer broke his ratings system and awarded the bout six stars. That same year, Meltzer would go against his own system again, awarding Omega Vs. Okada at Dominion 6.25 stars.
Ever since then, Meltzer has gone beyond his standard five-star rating, which has spawned a debate as to whether his previous five-star matches are now seen as less than perfect. Speaking on his Twitch stream, Omega took the blame (or credit) for breaking the ratings system.
“He’s jumped the f*cking shark so it doesn’t count for much anymore. He has jumped the motherf*cking shark, and guess who is to blame for that? Me. I’m the guy.
“I broke the scale, it f*cked up something in his brain where he doesn’t even know what good match is anymore… I think he just doesn’t understand it anymore, he cant comprehend what’s going on.”
Omega went on to describe his situation as akin to Pandora’s Box; which once opened, cannot be re-sealed. Meltzer’s highest-rated match stands at seven stars and saw Omega defeat Okada in a ‘No time limit two out of three falls’ match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.9 in 2018.
As for when Omega’s next five-star (or more) match will be, that remains to be seen. The Cleaner has been out of action since late 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis. Despite recently appearing on AEW programming, there’s no timeframe for when fans can expect the former AEW World Champion back in the ring.
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Gabe Kidd didn’t hold back during a recent appearance for CBS News Los Angeles and took aim at both WWE and AEW.
Kidd was on the show to promote the upcoming NJPW Resurgence 2024 event. The show will take place on May 11 from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, Canada.
When asked what makes New Japan different to other wrestling promotions, the English grappler shared his views on WWE and AEW.
“Listen, I’ll put it in very simple terms. You like theater? Go and watch WWE. If you’re a fat nerd who can’t talk to girls, go and watch AEW. If you want to watch the real stuff, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, this is where it’s at.”
Kidd will be competing in some inter-promotional warfare at NJPW Resurgence later this month. He will challenge AEW’s Eddie Kingston in a No Ropes Last Man Standing match for Kingston’s New Japan Strong Openweight Championship.
Crossover Matches
While Kidd hardly has a favorable take on AEW, NJPW Resurgence will feature plenty of All-Elite talent. AEW staple Jon Moxley will headline the show when he puts the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Shota Umino.
Lance Archer will challenge Jeff Cobb for the latter’s NJPW World Television Championship. Jack Perry, fresh off his appearance on this week’s AEW Dynamite, will team with Ren Narita & EVIL to face Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & The DKC. It won’t just be AEW and New Japan talent involved, as TNA Wrestling’s X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali will face Lio Rush on the pre-show.
Jim Ross’ iconic voice been part of the soundtrack of professional wrestling for decades. In his latest book Business Is About To Pick Up!, Ross delves deep into his 50 years in the business to recall 50 stories behind some of his most calls. Ross has worn many hats during that time, including referee, announcer, executive and more. His greatest accolades are in the arena of broadcasting and many consider him to be in a class of his own when it comes to heightening the drama of big-time matches.
I recently had a chance to read the book, which is filled with many interesting anecdotes that some fans may not be aware of. Narrowing down the list of 50, here are 5 things I learned from Jim Ross: Business Is About To Pick Up!:
Buy Jim Ross’ New Book (Amazon)
5: The Rock’s Debut Was Also A Test for JR
“Now there’s going to be the man right there. That’s Blue Chipper right there.”
Few names have become bigger in wrestling than The Rock who would infamously debut as Rocky Maivia at Survivor Series 1996. WWE’s first third-generation Superstar, Maivia was thrown in at the proverbial deep end by being booked as the sole survivor for his team.
The classic Survivor Series match inside MSG also proved to be quite the test for Ross. In the book, JR writes about being promoted to VP of Talent Relations around the time, replacing the legendary J.J. Dillon. Ross watched on, hoping that Maivia would thrive in his debut and prove he had an eye for talent. Needless to say, JR’s signing certainly delivered on the night.
4: He Was Sure Mick Foley Had Died At King of the Ring 1998
“As God as my witness, he is broken in half!”
Mick Foley had wrestled for years by the time he entered (or rather climbed) the Hell in a Cell structure at King of the Ring 1998, but this match helped cement his legacy. Mere minutes into the match, the Hardcore Legend was thrown off the side of the cell, momentarily pausing the match as fans worried for Mick’s wellbeing.
JR’s commentary of the match is a collection of some of his greatest lines, as it was this match that also spawned “That killed him! That killed him!” In his book, Ross writes that neither he nor Jerry Lawler had any idea Mick was going to go off the celland had actually advised him shortly before the match to be more cautious with his bumps. Foley’s second cell fall, this one being later in the match through the roof of the structure to the mat, had JR fearing that he’d seen his friend die in the ring.
3: Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker Was An Honor to Call
“I just had an out-of-body experience!”
By 2008, JR had established himself as the voice of WWE (and arguably the voice of pro wrestling) but his career was showing signs of the proverbial downward slope. Ross was moved from Raw to SmackDown in that year’s draft, a move that he was not warned about. As part of the blue brand, JR would also be relegated further with a demotion as lead announcer.
As 2008 rolled into 2009, Ross was feeling pretty numb to his WWE career, until a phone call helped revitalize his spirit. That call was the company requesting him to call the WrestleMania 25 bout between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. Ross describes being presented with the match as “one of the greatest gifts I ever received” given how low in the WWE’s pecking order he had landed. It certainly helps that the match was “perfect” in Ross’ eyes, and would put some ‘pep’ in Ross’ step.
2: His Wife’s Passing Played A Role in Joining All Elite Wrestling
Jim Ross and his wife Jan.
In March 2017, Jan Ross was involved in a serious vehicle accident and was put on life support but passed away two days later. The couple had been married for 24 years and understandably, Jan’s death affected Jim in a profound way.
Two years later, JR’s contract would expire with WWE as the two sides opted not to renew. For WWE, they had no plans for Jim in a commentary role, and JR wanted to push himself in a role greater than the part-time appearances WWE had in mind. JR “needed something more engaging, something more scary and risky, to help me not be in my head so much.”
That something would be AEW, who welcomed Ross with open arms that same year. With AEW, Ross was thrust right back into the hustle and bustle he had experienced for years in WWE, and kept him motivated and his mind occupied.
1: He Has No Idea Why Vince McMahon Returned to WWE
Jim Ross and Vince McMahon
In January 2023, less than a year after his ‘retirement’ Vince McMahon forced his way back into WWE. The move came a year after Vince essentially banished his son Shane after chaos at the 2022 Royal Rumble and amid reports that he and Linda had long been separated. Stephanie’s departure from WWE the same time as her father’s return only further demonstrated the McMahon family drama.
Ross worked closely with the McMahon’s for decades and their work on TV often came at his expense. In the book, Ross argues that the McMahon’s seem more divided than ever and has no idea why Vince opted to return, saying it’s perhaps to flame up “all the embarrassment and scrutiny again for his family.” Ross also questions what kind of deal McMahon was seeking that it was worth ripping his family apart.
Editorial Reviews
Publisher Penguin Random House provided these quotes from some of the biggest stars in wrestling whose matches have been voiced by Jim Ross:
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: “Jim’s masterful play-by-play commentary has always been driven by his passion, deep wrestling knowledge, and most of all, his ability to make the audience feel the action of the wrestling match.”
John Cena: “Through the years, Jim Ross has been not only the voice of some of the greatest stories ever told in sports entertainment, he has identified and helped a great number of successful professionals . . . I’m extremely grateful for all his guidance through the years.”
Bret Hart: “To my memory, Jim Ross was the greatest play-by-play wrestling commentator there is, was, and ever will be . . . He brought TV’s greatest wrestling matches to life, and the many unforgettable memories that come involving each superstar on each telecast, taking you there word-by-word, guiding you carefully to the finish for one more wild ride.”
Kenny Omega: “Jim Ross hasn’t just been the narrator guiding us along our journey in pro wrestling—he has become the voice synonymous with wrestling. It’s been the greatest honor to have experienced his work as a fan, and to also have benefitted by working alongside him in AEW.”
Mick Foley: “Jim Ross has the ability to turn a good match into a great match, and a great match into the stuff of legend. For an entire generation of wrestling fans, Jim’s immortal calls were part of the soundtrack of their lives, eclipsing wrestling itself to become an indelible part of popular culture.”
Cinephiles will now be able to appreciate The Iron Claw from home now that the biopic centered on the lives of the Von Erich family has come to MAX.
The Iron Claw tells the tale of the legendary wrestling family and the many tragedies that befall the brothers. An all-star cast includes Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman,) Jeremy Allen-White (The Bear,) and Lily James (Pam And Tommy.) The name of the movie comes from the dreaded ‘Iron Claw’ finisher used by patriarch Fritz Von Erich that was adopted by his sons and others in the family.
Now, the film has come to MAX (formerly HBO MAX) which is the official streaming service of Warner Bros. Discovery. The film hit theaters in December 2023 and grossed $44.2 million worldwide, making it the tenth-highest-grossing movie for acclaimed production studio A24.
The Iron Claw didn’t win any Academy Awards but received praise for its hold-nothing-back approach to the Von Erich family. The New Yorker said that the film is “as exuberant as it is mournful” while The Ringer described it as “a sports movie with genuine existential heft.” Efron’s lead portrayal of Kevin Von Erich has been heralded as arguably the best work of his career.
Check out SE Scoops’ review of The Iron Claw, courtesy of Dominic Deangelo.
The Iron Claw isn’t the first wrestling-themed biopic. In 2019, Fighting With My Family chartered the life and rise of Saraya in WWE, where she worked for years as Paige. In February 2024, it was reported that Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Production had begun working on a biopic about Ric Flair.
Fans in the United Kingdom have hit out at the ‘extortionate’ price of tickets for the upcoming WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland Premium Live Event.
The June 15, event will mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Scotland and will be preceded by a SmackDown taping. Both shows will take place at the historic OVO Hydro in Scotland’s largest city of Glasgow.
Much has been said about the price of tickets for Clash At The Castle: Scotland. The event is the most expensive WWE event in company history for a “get-in” price, Dave Meltzer has reported. The obscene prices, which start at £300 ($375) for just one night, has left many fans simply unable to attend.
Mark Dallas is the founder of ICW, a Scottish-based promotion that has hosted Drew McIntyre, Piper Niven, and other top WWE Superstars. When speaking to the BBC, Dallas was pleased about the event, but acknowledged the high price for fans.
“It’s fantastic that finally, WWE are bringing one of their big events to Glasgow – it’s long overdue. I think it’s a real shame that there’s not more affordable tickets towards the back of the venue at least.”
Journalist Ross Brady is among those who have found themselves left out of the show despite it being near to him because of the ticket prices.
“I’ll have to watch it on TV – save myself some money. I am a proper fan of this but I’ll need to miss the one that’s 20 minutes down the road because I’m just not paying extortionate prices.”
Many fans have been forced to miss the upcoming UK show.
A WWE spokesperson was asked for comment on the concern over ticket prices. They noted that cheaper individual tickets had been made available but did not state how many tickets were available at this discounted price.
Clash At The Castle: Scotland isn’t the only European event to feature eye-poppingly high prices. The recent WWE Backlash France event provided WWE with its largest gate for an arena event, thanks in part to the high cost of tickets. Unfortunately, these high prices have left countless fans missing out.
The Rock will have a huge role to play at WWE WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, with reported plans for a showdown with a familiar foe.
The Brahma Bull made his in-ring return at this year’s WrestleMania which saw the Final Boss victorious in a tag-team match during the Saturday show. The Rock didn’t have the same success the following night, as after a chokeslam by The Undertaker took out the Hollywood star, Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns to become Undisputed WWE Championship.
With WrestleMania 40 in the background, fans have been left wondering when they’ll next see the Brahma Bull compete. Though he could wrestle earlier than WrestleMania 41, the plan for the April 2025 event is for Rock to face Rhodes, Dave Meltzer reports. It’s unclear at this time if this will be for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
WWE has big plans for the Final Boss at WrestleMania 41.
With Rock-Rhodes the plan (for the time being) for WrestleMania 41, fans will be left wondering when the long-awaited showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns will take place. At one point in time, the match was a ‘lock’ for WrestleMania 39 before plans changed. WWE had teased a showdown between the two at this year’s event before the might of the ‘We Want Cody’ movement changed those plans.
While there’s no shortage of fans who’d love to see WrestleMania return to Detroit, that, apparently, won’t be happening just yet. In a statement, to The Detroit News, the Detroit Sports Commission denied that a bid is in the works.
”Contrary to recent speculation, the DSC is not currently in the process of preparing a bid to host WrestleMania in 2027. However, we remain enthusiastic about the prospect of hosting future major WWE events. The Detroit Sports Commission values its strong relationship with WWE and is proud to have hosted some of their premier events across the Metro Detroit region.
“We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with WWE and welcoming more thrilling events to our vibrant city in the years to come.”
The show will apparently not come to Detroit.
While WrestleMania 43 won’t be coming to Detroit (or at least those in the city claim,) the city has hosted plenty of WWE events. The Motor City is one of a select few cities to have hosted the promotion’s ‘Big Four’ events. In addition to WrestleMania, Detroit hosted Survivor Series in 1991 and 1999, the Royal Rumble in 2005 and 2009, and SummerSlam in 2023.
WrestleMania 41 will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19 and April 20, the latest in a calendar year that the show has taken place. Las Vegas bested Minneapolis for the event, despite the latter city once being considered a favorite for the 2025 event.
It’s no secret that the UK is eager to host WWE’s first non-North American WrestleMania, an idea endorsed by John Cena, Cody Rhodes, and recently re-elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Saudi Arabian officials is also interested in bringing WrestleMania to their nation as part of a revamped deal with WWE. With that said, Nick Khan has said WWE’s Big Four will remain in North America for the time being.
WWE’s search for its next King and Queen of the Ring will continue with an exciting line-up for the May 10, episode of WWE SmackDown.
The two tournaments began on this week’s episode of Raw and will conclude at WWE King and Queen of the Ring 2024 later this month. The show will be the latest event from WWE to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first PLE related to the King of the Ring stipulation since 2002.
Five exciting tournament matches have been confirmed for this week’s SmackDown.
Men’s Matches on SmackDown
Two men’s division matches have been confirmed for the upcoming episode of WWE SmackDown with royal stakes on the line:
In a WrestleMania 35 rematch, AJ Styles will face Randy Orton in what will likely be an epic collision between former WWE World Champions.
New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair will look to keep her winning ways going when she takes on Candice LeRae.
Belair’s partner will also hope to advance when she faces Piper Niven, who was a finalist in the 2021 Queen’s Crown Tournament but lost to Zelina Vega.
It’ll be a battle of the Anoai-Fatu family when Naomi takes on Nia Jax with a spot in the Queen of the Ring quarter-finals up for grabs.
More from SmackDown
Tonight’s SmackDown will also see Cody Rhodes seek a new challenger for his Undisputed WWE Championship. The American Nightmare retained against AJ Styles at WWE Backlash France. Names advertised for tonight’s show at the Mohegan Sun Arena include U.S. Champion Logan Paul, Women’s Champion Bayley, LA Knight and AJ Styles. As always, the card is subject to change.
Multiple names from Ring of Honor were commended backstage for their conduct during an unfortunate incident at the most recent tapings. ROH tapings took place after the May 8, episode of Dynamite and saw a ‘fan’ act inappropriately during a match between Skye Blue and Rachel Ellering. The man, who had a child with him, made a series of sexual comments at Blue and focused on her appearance. Blue would later tell the man to “not be such a pervert” and later told the man to “f*** off” when the action spilled to the outside, according to one live report from PWInsider.
Skye Blue
While Blue and Ellering were battling on the floor, referee Aubrey Edwards spoke with security who confronted the man who grew increasingly angry. The man was ejected from the show.
Skye Blue was said to be visibly upset as she headed to the backstage area immediately after the match according to a different fan’s account of the situation shared to Reddit. AEW officials praised Skye and Ellering for keeping the match together despite the obvious distraction at ringside.
Support for Skye Blue
The clearly-inappropriate conduct from the fan has spawned a lot of responses on social media. On Twitter, Rachel Ellering said she’d never heard such vulgar comments said about a wrestler and made clear this went beyond mere heckling.
The speed in which @RefAubrey and I got out of the ring last night post match to get this creep kicked out was remarkable. Olympic medalist speeds.
I’ve NEVER in my career heard such vulgar things being said to talent during a match.
Aubrey Edwards made clear she wouldn’t tolerate such comments made at anyone, stating that inappropriate conduct has no place in professional wrestling.
If you yell disgusting, vile, hateful things at my coworkers, I will make sure your ass gets kicked out.
There is no place for that in wrestling.
Heckling is fine, but when you’ve made the performers (me included) feel uncomfortable in their place of work, you’ve gone too far. https://t.co/gvIbH3dV6I
— Aubrey Edwards – AEW Referee (@RefAubrey) May 9, 2024
Skye Blue Reacts
Skye Blue herself was appreciative of the support she received and hopes that there’ll be a time when women in wrestling aren’t treated this way.
I’m beyond overwhelmed with all the love and support. Thank you everyone you have no idea how much it’s appreciated ? Let’s make sure the future generations of women wrestlers don’t have to deal with this shit.
This unfortunately wasn’t the only time lines were crossed at the taping. During the AEW Dynamite match between Harley Cameron and Mariah May, fans in the front row were heard making vulgar comments at the pair. This was pointed out on the show by Saraya. While it’s unclear if this incident was caused by the same person in Blue’s situation, Saraya made her views clear on social media.
The comments aimed at Blue and others at the taping were highly inappropriate and do not reflect the vast majority of people who attended the tapings of AEW Dynamtie and ROH. Hopefully, this will be the last time Blue, Cameron, Saraya, May, and others have to deal with this individual as his harassment was certainly not wanted at the show.
Fans attending the May 16, episode of TNA iMPACT will more than get their money’s worth as they’ll be witness to the “biggest” main event in the show’s history.
The Champion’s Challenge has been announced by TNA’s resident Director of Authority Santino Marella and will see all champions in TNA Wrestling face their challengers in a colossal 16-person intergender tag-team match. The teams break down as follows
At this time, there’s no word on whether there will be any type of prize for the winning team, and it’s believed that this will be a non-title match. With that said, the winning team will have plenty of bragging rights going forward.
What’s to Come?
This match could have huge ramifications for TNA’s next monthly special event, which will be Against All Odds. The show will take place on June 14, from the Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for the show.
The May 16, episode of TNA iMPACT will also see Ash By Elegance take on second-generation star Xia Brookside. Alan Angels will face off against the high-flying Leon Slater on the show.
WWE SmackDown will return to the USA Network on September 13 after five years on FOX, a press release from NBC Universal has confirmed.
It was last year that it was confirmed that SmackDown will return to the USA Network in 2024, ending the blue brand’s five-year tenure on FOX. In the statement, it is confirmed that the first episode back on the USA Network will come this September.
“Starting in September and through the end of 2024, USA Network will serve as the exclusive linear home of the WWE’s two tentpole franchises, “WWE Monday Night RAW” and “WWE SmackDown,” which returns to the network on Sept. 13 as part of a new multi-year partnership.”
Fans will get just more than WWE SmackDown on the USA Network, as the press release also confirms that a ‘WWE Week’ will commence on September 9. The network will air films from the “Fast and the Furious” franchise starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, “Blockers” starring John Cena, and the Peacock documentary “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal.
SmackDown will return to the USA Network this September.
The Future of WWE’s Broadcasts
WWE SmackDown isn’t the only show that will soon find itself a new home. This year, WWE NXT will move to the CW Network after years as part of the USA Network. The five-year broadcast deal sees NXT become the latest sports show on the CW as the network also broadcasts ACC football and basketball games airing every Saturday throughout the season and LIV Golf.
The 2024 King of the Ring tournament will continue on this week’s SmackDown, but will go on ahead without Bobby Lashley.
Taking to social media, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis shared news that Lashley has been pulled from the tournament as he is not medically cleared to compete. Aldis stated that the two-time former WWE Champion suffered a training-related injury but did not share any further details. In his place, fellow The Pride member Angelo Dawkins will be a part of the tournament.
This is a huge setback for Lashley, who has gotten tantalizingly close to being crowned King in the past. In 2006, Lashley made it to the finals of that year’s royal tournament before losing to Booker T.
While this is a blow to Lashley, his removal has provided Angelo Dawkins with a golden opportunity. Known predominantly as a tag-team wrestler, a strong performance in the King of the Ring tournament could put a lot of eyes on the Street Profits member. In October 2022, it was said that Dawkins was impressing a lot of the right people backstage, but a singles push has yet to emerge.
Lashley won’t compete in this year’s King of the Ring tournament.
Tournament Replacements
Lashley is the latest name in this year’s regal festivities to be replaced. Drew McIntyre was scheduled to face Finn Balor in a first-round match before also being pulled. Balor instead faced Jey Uso and lost to the ‘Main Event’ talent in the first round on Raw.
Xavier Woods, the 2021 King, has been replaced by Kofi Kingston as the UpUpDownDown leader is also not cleared to compete. Kingston will face Rey Mysterio on next week’s Raw. Asuka was scheduled to compete in the Queen of the Ring tournament but due to her injuries, has been replaced by Dakota Kai. The Kiwi Superstar was defeated by Lyra Valkyria in the first round.
WWE SmackDown Matches
Dawkins will have a lot to prove on this Friday’s SmackDown, as will the man he faces in the first-round match: Tama Tonga.
In a WrestleMania 35 rematch, AJ Styles will face Randy Orton in what will likely be an epic collision between former WWE World Champions.
The newly-drafted Carmelo Hayes hopes to make an impact after his recent loss to Cody Rhodes when he faces 2019 King of the Ring Baron Corbin.
The Megastar LA Knight hopes to advance but will face to overcome Santos Escobar (and likely interference from Legado Del Fantasma) to do so.
Derrick Lewis, a fighter for the UFC could become the next athlete to jump from the Octagon to the Squared Circle and become a WWE Superstar.
The 39-year-old Lewis, dubbed the ‘Black Beast’ boasts a 27-12 win/loss record in the Octagon, with one fight going to a no contest. Speaking at a recent Fight Night press conference ahead of this Sunday’s contest with Rodrigo Nascimento, the UFC star was asked about a possible collaboration with WWE given that both companies fall under the TKO banner.
“Yeah, we are actually in talks right now and we’ve been talking for a few months now. I was supposed to go down there in February to check everything out.”
When asked about a potential finishing move, Lewis saw himself using the Stinkface made famous by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi.
“It had to be something like Rikishi you know, you might see it man you know somehow I like taking off my shorts so we might see something like that.”
If Lewis does make the move, he’ll hardly be the first UFC fighter to join WWE. Matt Riddle transitioned from the Octagon to wrestling and was part of the WWE roster from 2018 to 2023. Ronda Rousey made headlines in 2018 by joining WWE after the end of her UFC career saw back-to-back losses in the cage.
WWE and UFC came together in September 2023 in the culmination of a $9.3 billion deal that saw WWE acquired by Endeavor. Since then, WWE Superstars have been seen at UFC events and fighter Michael Chandler used the February 19, 2024 Raw to call out Conor McGregor.
The two companies will grow even closer this June when WWE NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. The show will see the crowning of the first WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion in a six-woman ladder match.
Backlash France will go down in the annals of WWE’s history books, though not entirely for all the right reasons.
WWE’s first Premium Live Event in France took place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon and marked the first televised title defense of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare retained against AJ Styles, over two decades after the Phenomenal One faced (and defeated) Cody’s father Dusty. Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair captured the WWE Tag Team Championships at Backlash; the first title in WWE for the ex-AEW star.
An Unfortunate Record
The crowd in the LDLC Arena was electric for Backlash France and the proceeding night’s SmackDown, prompting a noise level warning sent to Triple H. Unfortunately, that excitement wasn’t shared among fans watching at home, or at least those without access to the WWE Network or Peacock. As explained on Wrestling Observer Radio, the event saw the lowest amount of pay-per-view buys for any WWE event in history. Dave Meltzer added that there is a “considerable margin” between Backlash and the previous record-holder for the worst pay-per-view buys.
While this isn’t fortunate for Backlash France, it’s no secret that pay-per-view buys have dwindled over the past decade. Thanks to the creation of the WWE Network and its subsequent acquisition by Peacock, audiences worldwide have ditched traditional viewing methods in favor of streaming platforms.
Backlash France set an unfortunate record in WWE history.
The time of the event will have also played into how many people watched the show. Because of the time difference between the U.S. and France, the show started at 1 pm for fans in the States. Nevertheless, the show proved to be a success in other ways, including the largest gate for any arena event in WWE history. WWE will host two more PLEs in Europe this year, a sign that the company is all in on international events.
TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry is grateful for the success of his hit song I Believe in Joe Hendry which came about after a series of fortunate events.
Hendry’s track has proven popular with fans and non-fans alike and reached #1 on the iTunes charts in the UK, toppling Taylor Swift and others. Hendry’s track also reached #1 in other countries and did very well in the United States also.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Hendry shared how his viral song came about.
“It is a series of fortunate, random events. People had always liked my song, my entrance song, I’ve had it for some time now. But I noticed on TikTok, people were making videos with it and it was getting literally millions of hits. And I thought ‘Maybe I should put this up on Spotify.’
“So I put it up on Spotify one evening, didn’t really think much of it. When it came out on the Monday, I woke up and it was #20 in the iTunes charts. I thought that’s pretty cool and I tweeted it out and then it just caught fire.”
Hendry went on to explain how his music helps get him in the right head space before his matches and spoke of wrestlers and musicians who use music to help combat performance-related anxiety. The former TNA Digital Media Champion from Edinburgh was also grateful for his brother who is often ‘roped in’ to help create his music videos.
I Believe In Joe Hendry isn’t the Scottish wrestler’s only foray into music. Earlier this year, Hendry produced a song for Francis that featured the TNA theme song for AJ Styles. This song mocked Francis’ infamous, though life-saving botched dive in WWE. Hendry said that the former Top Dolla nullifies TNA Wrestling’s insurance whenever he goes sailing over the top rope.
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.
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AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland wasted no time in making moves towards joining the promotion after his WWE deal expired in September 2023.
After over 25 years as Edge, Copeland debuted for AEW at the inaugural WrestleDream event and immediately entered a program with former friend Christian Cage. The pair’s lengthy feud culminated with Copeland dethroning Cage for the TNT gold in March 2024.
On the Insight podcast, Copeland discussed the end of his WWE career and made clear he left on great terms. The Hall of Famer explained how quickly the turnaround was for him to go from WWE to its main rival.
“It happened so quick. My contract with WWE was up on, I want to say September 21st. That’s when I started talking to Tony [Khan.] It was September 22nd. And WrestleDream was October 1st. So it all happened within a week.”
Copeland’s All-Elite arrival wasn’t the first time his name had been tied to AEW. In 2019, the Canadian came close to joining AEW, then a young upstart, before ultimately opting to stick with WWE. In the interview, Copeland was asked why he went for the younger promotion four years later.
“It felt like I’d done everything that I was going to do with WWE. I’d worked [with] the people I wanted to work, 95 percent anyway. And it really just felt that they were on a direction and I was on a direction and they were kind of going separate ways.”
Adam Copeland wasted no time joining AEW.
Ultimately, Copeland made his choice and opted for the road less traveled in 2023 and has clearly been having a blast in the company so far. Currently, the TNT Champion is feuding with the House of Black and has retained against Buddy Matthews and Brody King.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
CM Punk was adamant that WWE used Cult of Personality in all its original glory, Living Color’s lead vocalist Corey Glover.
After ‘leaving’ WWE at Money in the Bank 2011 as WWE Champion, Punk returned eight days later to Cult of Personality, a track he had previously used as a theme during his days in Ring of Honor. The song has gone on to be closely associated with Punk, who used the track in UFC, All Elite Wrestling, and in his most recent return to WWE.
Sitting down with the Drinks With Johnny podcast, Glover discussed Punk’s use of the theme. He explained that upon his 2011 ‘return,’ WWE wanted to make a track similar to Cult of Personality, an idea the Best in the World was against.
“They had their own music division of the WWE and they were gonna have somebody make up a song that sounded similar to Cult of Personality. But that was gonna be his entrance music. ‘No, I don’t want that. I want the real thing.’ He’s like one of the talent that actually got that in his contract that wherever he goes, that goes with him.”
CM Punk had no interest in WWE’s cover of his iconic theme.
The track is very fitting for Punk, who has developed a cult of personality of his own. It was this charisma that kept fans chanting his name during what would be a seven-and-a-half year absence from pro-wrestling. Nowadays, fans can hear the tune in all its glory in WWE as the Best in the World continues to be a hot commodity in pro wrestling.
The first quarter earnings of 2024 for TKO Group Holdings with WWE emerging as the higher-earning brand within the new company.
In the 2024 Q1 earnings report, it was revealed that TKO made $629.7 in the quarter, but also suffered a net loss of $249.5 million. Much of this net loss comes from TKO settling an antitrust lawsuit against UFC. The plaintiffs alleged that UFC was an illegal monopsony that suppressed fighter wages and stifled rival promotions. The lawsuit represented more than 1,200 individuals and was settled for the sum of $335 million.
UFC’s revenue for the 2024 Q1 saw the MMA juggernaut earn $313 million, slightly behind WWE’s revenue of $316.7 million. During the time frame, UFC hosted its UFC 300 event, which drew a gate of $16.5 million to Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
Not to be outdone, WWE hosted WrestleMania 40, which proved to be the company’s highest evening event in history. The company also locked down a lucrative ten-year deal with Netflix to bring Raw to the streaming platform.
Future Plans
With these reports in, TKO has increased its target for revenue for 2024 from $2.61 billion to $2.685 billion. In a statement, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel was optimistic about what’s to come.
“These positive developments, along with the strength in our underlying businesses, give us more conviction than ever in the combination of UFC and WWE, and in TKO’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”
Clearly, WWE’s merger with UFC in September 2023 has proven to be a lucrative venture for both companies. With WWE embarking on a new era (one that has distanced itself from Vince McMahon,) it remains to be seen how the company’s future will be shaped as part of TKO.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could soon be hosting more events from WWE, according to Endeavor President Mark Shapiro.
The decade-long deal between the two sides began in 2018 during Vince McMahon’s tenure running WWE. The deal currently sees WWE host two lucrative events a year in Saudi Arabia, often with the company’s biggest stars as well as part-time performers.
When McMahon stepped down in January 2024, there had been speculation as to what this would mean for the often-controversial Saudi deal. While speaking on the TKO Q1 earnings call, Mark Shapiro, president of Endeavor, was quick to shut down the idea that Vince’s exit had changed things in terms of the agreement.
“There was a lot of speculation with Vince being gone, ‘would that impact the relationship in a negative way? Would they be looking to get out of it?’ I would say that Nick Khan, in particular has developed, sustained, cultivated, and nurtured a very strong relationship in a handoff from Vince. They have a lot of trust and faith in each other.”
Shapiro added that WWE could explore the idea of hosting more than two events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We have a strong and healthy relationship with the Kingdom, through WWE, and doing two annual events a year… Potentially, we could look to do more events, but nothing is planned beyond those two events at this time.”
Mark Shapiro believes WWE could host more than two events each year in Saudi Arabia.
WrestleMania In Saudi Arabia?
If WWE does plan to host more annual events in Saudi Arabia, then WrestleMania could be on the list. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority hopes to bring WrestleMania to the country, as well as the Royal Rumble. They also have their sights set on UFC events that fall under the TKO banner. Nick Khan has however stated that currently, WrestleMania and other major events will stay in North America for the time being.
Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda will benefit greatly from the money raised by WWE alum Mace and Mansoor, as well as others.
SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Both AEW’s Will Ospreay and TNA Wrestling’s Jordynne Grace donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs.
Now Mace and Mansoor have been able to raise more money for SGW Uganda. On Twitter, Mansoor revealed that through a live stream, they had raised over $28,000. This stream included some notable names in wrestling, including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali, Maven Huffman, YouTuber Matt McMuscles, and others.
Incredibly excited to announce we have raised $28,731.89 for @SGWug thanks to all of your generous support!
We couldn’t have done this without all our wonderful friends who joined us for the fundraiser. Thank you to all who participated and donated.
In a subsequent tweet, Mansoor explained that this money can be put towards six months of food, beds and mosquito nets, an extension on their lease and a storage unit for a wrestling ring. SGW Uganda has been using a ring made of mud so far, but that will hopefully change given the money raised.
One thing SGW Uganda won’t have to put this money towards is a van that’ll allow the promotion to take their show on the road. In a follow-up tweet, Mansoor explained that his mother has donated enough to buy a van in memory of her father who gifted them a win when Mansoor’s sister was born.
My mother, my actual shoot mom, has told us she is donating enough money to purchase a van for @SGWug
She wants to honor my late grandfather, George Vrakas, who gifted us a van when my little sister was born ??
SGW Uganda isn’t just a wrestling promotion but is a school that trains over 180 students. With this money, SGW Uganda will be able to take huge steps to the future with fans excited to see what’s next.
WWE could soon be hosting the Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia, if the nation’s big plans for TKO Group Holdings come to fruition.
Since 2018, the company has hosted major shows from Saudi Arabia as part of the nation’s ‘Saudi 30’ vision to bring mainstream Western entertainment to the kingdom WWE is paid handsomely for these events In November 2022, a report revealed that the eight events in Saudi Arabia at the time had earned WWE more than the first 38 WrestleManias.
Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman, tells ESPN that an ‘enhancement’ of the current deal between WWE and Saudi Arabia will be revealed later this month. He stated their desire to host WrestleMania or the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, but did not specify if hosting either would be part of the forthcoming announcement.
They also want to host major UFC pay-per-views. “We will do big things with the UFC and TKO,” Alalshikh said.
UFC 306 will take place this September in Las Vegas but will feature plenty of promotional material for the annual Riyadh Season of entertainment. Alalshikh explained that Saudi Arabia has plans for WWE and UFC, both of whom fall under TKO Group Holdings.
WrestleMania 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.
Will Saudi Arabia’s work with TKO bring WrestleMania to the nation?
There’s also the question of how a Saudi Arabian WrestleMania will be received by fans. Initial events as part of this deal faced serious backlash as women were banned from competing. That has since changed though women wear outfits that cover their entire bodies in accordance with the nation’s standards. Ultimately, the money Saudi Arabia is willing to pay could bring WrestleMania to the nation, but this will be a decision that should not be made without careful consideration.
In April 2024, McMahon filed to compel arbitration in the case that would see this lawsuit settled quietly outside of court, a move John Laurinaitis, who is also among the defendants, supports. In a new filing, it is revealed that WWE will align with both men in their efforts to compel arbitration.
“WWE also anticipates filing a motion to compel arbitration and stay this action pending arbitration”, which removes any doubt that all three defendants will be moving to compel arbitration.”
It is proposed that the three defendants file their motion by Tuesday, May 14. WWE has yet to file a motion while Laurinaitis has filed the motion but not a memorandum in support. McMahon has already filed both.
Does WWE’s current method of paying talent leave Superstars reluctant to the ‘grind’ that Paul Levesque spoke of during WrestleMania week?
At a WWE World event, the WWE COO spoke of talent choosing other promotions because they don’t want to deal with the ‘grind’ of being a Superstar. While Triple H didn’t mention any names or companies, AEW’s Will Ospreay saw the line as a dig at him which led to a scathing comment about Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
In a recent interview with WWE alum Maven Huffman, Mace and Mansoor discussed how being paid works in the modern-day. Maven explained how when he was under contract, he was paid a percentage of what events made, giving him a reason to try and work events as much as possible.
Those days are a thing of the past, as Mansoor explained how like Maven, modern talent are paid weekly, but at a fixed rate no matter what.
“So we do get a check in the mail every week, but it’s the same number every time. No matter how many shows you work; no matter how many times you wrestle. Even if you don’t wrestle at all. We get the same payment every week. We get guaranteed money no matter what.”
Mace added that a talent knowing they will receive the same amount each week may be discouraged from working as they’ll make just as much money sat at home.
“In a way you’re actually not incentivized to work because when you’re working house shows, doing all these dates, you have to pay for your car. You have to pay for your hotel and the only thing we don’t pay for are our flights. If you were just sitting at home hurt, you’re just getting your weekly paycheck.”
Maven questioned how factors like merch sales and appearances are relevant given this system and Mansoor would explain how the ‘bucket system’ works.
“Every time you work a show, you get an invisible payment that doesn’t actually go into your bank account. It goes into the metaphorical bucket. The top of the bucket is your downside… If your downside is $125,000, then every time you work a show, they make an invisible payment of $1,000. Now you don’t see that $1,000 until you make $125,000 worth of bookings on top of your downside. So everything above $125,000 is a bonus for you.”
With the bucket system, talent can be left waiting for some time before they see the benefits of working house shows and other events. Unfortunately, as the pair explained, a talent getting close to overflowing their ‘bucket’ may find themselves be kept off TV and house shows with the reasoning that ‘creative has nothing for you.’ This, of course keeps talent from being paid the bonus they would have had their ‘bucket’ overflowed.
WWE’s way of paying talent has clearly changed since Maven’s tenure and while it may have flaws, it has made many wrestlers (and of course the company) a lot of money. In this new era, we can’t count out that WWE could change its payment to a system more favorable to the talent in the ring.
Tony Khan may have taken steps towards being an on-screen presence for AEW but don’t expect the 40-year-old billionaire to lace up a pair of wrestling boots.
With Khan becoming more of a presence on programming in recent years, it’s not hard to see why some have speculated on a potential match for the AEW President. When asked about this possibility on Cincy 360 however, Khan explained why headlock and suplexes aren’t in his future.
“AEW is where the best wrestle, and we mean that…in this case, I’m not the best person to pay those people back.”
Khan also pointed out that things hardly went his way the last time he was in an AEW ring as he was the victim of an attack by The Elite.
“After what happened to me last time, I don’t think I’d be making a smart move trying that [having a match].”
The AEW President hasn’t been seen on TV since the attack by the Elite in April 2024. This marked Khan’s first time getting physical as part of an AEW storyline and he took a piledriver from the Young Bucks. The faction attacked Kenny Omega the following week.
Wrestling Bosses
While Khan doesn’t plan on having a match, there are some names from wrestling’s corporate side who would step into the ring. Perhaps the most obvious example is Vince McMahon who competed a total 63 times between August 1998 and April 2022. Shane and Stephanie McMahon would also establish themselves as business people in WWE before they stepped into the ring.