Two new statues of the late Bray Wyatt have been unveiled at the WWE World convention taking place in Philadelphia, PA ahead of WWE WrestleMania 40.
Bray Wyatt tragically passed away in August of 2023 after being pulled from programming earlier that year. The three-time WWE World Champion was 36 years old and tributes have poured in for Wyatt ever since.
At WWE World, WWE unveiled two statues of the late wrestler. One depicts Wyatt from his 2022 return to WWE, holding a lantern and a mask. The second depicts Wyatt during his time as ‘The Fiend’ which was a hit with audiences from 2019 until his WWE release in 2021. It also features a Fiend-inspired lantern.
Bray Wyatt statue at WWE World.
The Fiend statue at WWE World.
The Return of Uncle Howdy
At WWE World, a panel was hosted highlighting the life and career of Wyatt. The panel included some of the people who knew Bray best, including Big E, Natalya, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, The Undertaker, his widow JoJo Offerman, and Wyatt’s brother Bo Dallas, among others.
The panel proved to be an emotional event for the guests and the fans and there was a tease at the very end of the festivities. On a screen, a video was shown, teasing the return of Uncle Howdy.
Dallas played Uncle Howdy on WWE TV shortly after Wyatt’s return to the promotion in 2022. It’s unclear when or how WWE will reintroduce the Howdy character to TV. During the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Bo and his sister Mika paid tribute to Wyatt during their induction speech for the US Express.
Unfortunately for Lynch, she won’t be feeling her best when she performs inside Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. During a Q&A session with the media, Lynch shared that she is under the weather and will be battling a cold when she steps in the ring with the ‘Mami’ of the Judgment Day.
Lynch isn’t the only WWE Superstar who isn’t facing the best of luck going into WrestleMania 40. The tour bus of Cody Rhodes recently caught fire but everyone involved is thankfully safe and okay. Rhodes will compete on both nights of WWE WrestleMania 40.
A Special WrestleMania Entrance
During the Q&A, Lynch also disclosed some information about her entrance for WrestleMania 40. The Man said that her new book ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl‘ will be factored into her entrance somehow. This will be a huge marketing opportunity for Lynch.
Dear loyal sheep, I did everything in my power to get my dream Wrestlemania entrance. But due to scheduling, it isn’t in the stars this year. Someday! So until then….Enjoy the official #Bayley vs #IYOSKY Mania hype video ft ‘Simmer’ by Hayley Williams. Thank you @paramore@WWEpic.twitter.com/P4WZSu9H9I
Rey Mysterio is ready and willing to teach Dominik Mysterio a lesson that he believes the Judgment Day member should have learned last year at WrestleMania.
At WrestleMania 39, Rey defeated Dominik in Los Angeles, California, following months of goading by ‘Dirty Dom.’ At WrestleMania 40, the two will face off again in a tag-team match that’ll see Rey team with Andrade to face Dominik and Santos Escobar. Speaking exclusively to SE Scoops, Rey shared his thoughts on being called a ‘deadbeat’ by his son and gave a warning to his opponents.
“Man, I’m kind of tired and over it. I thought I’d taught him a lesson last year at WrestleMania. Obviously, he didn’t learn his lesson, or he probably did and just somehow got convinced by Santos [Escobar] ‘Hey let’s go beat up on your dad or at least try to beat up on your dad once again.’ They have no idea what’s coming to them.”
WrestleMania 40 will mark the 12th’Mania match for Rey Mysterio, who made his debut at the event back in 2003 on the pre-show against then-Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy. Rey often has comic-book-themed costumes at WrestleMania and has worn attires inspired by The Flash, The Joker, Captain America, and Mysterio, among others.
Rey has had some huge victories at WrestleMania, including winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 2006 and the WWE Intercontinental Championship three years later. Despite this, the WWE Hall of Famer currently boasts a less-than-impressive 4-7 win/loss record at the Showcase of the Immortals.
Billie Starkz has entered the history books as the first Ring of Honor Women’s World Television Champion but used some underhanded tactics to get the win.
At ROH Supercard of Honor 2024, Starkz met Queen Aminata in the finals of a 16-woman tournament that began in February. During the match, Starkz went for a Senton Bomb but Aminata countered by putting her knees up.
Starkz immediately crumpled in the ring and called for the referee and medical personnel to help her. Aminata was kept away while the commentary team spoke about the injury which they hoped was not a career-ender.
Aminata held the ropes open for Starkz in a sign of sportsmanship. Starkz grabbed Aminata and hit a suplex before locking in a sleeper, revealing that the neck injury had been a ruse. The referee stopped the match and awarded Starkz the win and the title.
FULL ANGLE:
Billie Starkz pretends to break her neck, the entire arena is in shock and dead silent, the doctor comes and stabilizes her neck
This is certainly an underhanded tactic by Starkz as the crowd were left in a stunned silence when they believed they had seen the end of her wrestling career. Starkz’s first match in the tournament saw her defeat Robyn Renegade by submission before defeating Diamante in the quarterfinals. A win over Mercedes Martinez (a former ROH Women’s World Champion) saw her advance to the finals.
Aminata also had a tough road to Supercard of Honor. After defeating J-Rod in her first-round match, she bested the veteran Taya Valkyrie in the quarterfinals. She advanced to the finals with a win last month over Red Velvet.
The Rock may not have the people on his side anymore, but he was presented with a custom ‘People’s Championship’ at the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 ceremony.
The Final Boss was at the ceremony to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of this year’s class. Before this induction though, The Rock was invited to the ring by Lonnie Ali, the widow of the legendary Muhammad Ali. Lonnie spoke about The Rock asking for permission to use the term ‘People’s Champion,’ a moniker that had often been associated with the boxing icon. Lonnie then presented The Rock with the People’s Championship which features the Brahma Bull logo.
Muhammad Ali's wife, Lonnie, tells a story about @TheRock asking her husband for permission to use the monicker "The People's Champ" then awards him The People's Championship. ?#WWEHOFpic.twitter.com/7NtQWwAayW
While Ali and The Rock have been known as the People’s Champion, they’re not the only individuals to have been bestowed with that moniker. In World Championship Wrestling, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was referred to as the People’s Champion before the name was given to The Rock. During an Inside the Ropes event, Page recalled discussing the name with the Brahma Bull.
“I hear, ‘Hey Diamond’… he says, ‘You know, there’s only one people’s champion’… I just look at him, took that pregnant pause and said, ‘you know, Rock, you’re right… And you, well, you’re looking at him‘.”
There have also been ‘People’s Champions’ outside the world of wrestling. In addition to Ali, boxers Michael Spiknks and Manny Pacquiao have used the moniker. Cricketer Usman Khawaja, Snooker player Alex Higgins, and Basketball player Will Barton have also used the term.
Kevin Owens is “perfectly fine” with CM Punk’s return to WWE as the two do not have any kind of working relationship in the world of professional wrestling.
Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 in an act that immediately sparked discussions about whether he could co-exist with the roster. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Owens was asked for his thoughts on Punk’s return.
“Well, we have no relationship. No, we’re not each other’s type of people I don’t think. There’s a ten-foot vicinity that if we enter in, then we have to kinda ‘Hey. Hi.’ Otherwise, we just don’t, and it’s fine. It’s perfectly fine.”
Since Punk’s return, there’s been a lot of talk about how the Best in the World has changed since walking out of WWE in 2014, with Triple H making clear Punk had changed during the post-Survivor Series press conference. When asked if he’s noticed a change, Owens was curt with his response.
“I don’t know that and I don’t care, to be honest. I am who I am. He is who he is, and it’s fine that way.”
CM Punk’s Return
While Owens may not care one bit about CM Punk’s return to WWE, his unlikely comeback has had a lot of people talking. So far, reports about Punk’s conduct in WWE have been glowing, with the ex-AEW star being open to ideas and eager to help at the WWE Performance Center.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony saw some controversy towards the end as The Rock had a verbal altercation with a fan in attendance.
The Brahma Bull was on hand to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the closing moments of the show, however, The Rock could be seen having a tense face-off with a fan who was in the front row.
The fan told the Final Boss that “Cody’s coming for you,” referencing Cody Rhodes’ efforts to ‘finish the story’ at WWE WrestleMania 40. The Rock told the fan to “watch your f***ing mouth.”
Lia Maivia is the third person that The Rock has inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In 2008, on the eve of WrestleMania 24, The Rock inducted his father Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather (and Lia’s husband) ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia.
This interaction with the fan highlights The Rock’s heel persona which has been a hit with audiences since WWE decided to turn him into a villain. The character change has also been praised by those who know the Brahma Bull best.
The Rock at WrestleMania 40
Cody Rhodes hopes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania 40 but The Rock is planning on ruining the American Nightmare’s weekend. On WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face The Rock & Roman Reigns. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night.
On WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This match will either be under ‘Bloodline Rules’ or see the Bloodline banned from getting involved. No matter the stipulation, this match will be Cody’s final title shot at Reigns, an edict put in place by The Rock. The Final Boss flexed his muscles as part of TKO’s Board of Directors to make this stipulation happen.
It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way.
Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.
This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake.
In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021.
Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.
Xfinity is getting into the spirit of WWE WrestleMania 40 with new customizable features on its platform ahead of the two-night mega-show.
WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. A statement sent to SE Scoops reads:
In celebration of WrestleMania XL, Xfinity customers with the X1 platform can customize their browse experience with all new WWE themes. Fans can show their support for their favorite WWE Superstars with customized timeline pucks and guide cursors featuring WWE Superstar logos and colors (screenshots attached). Choose from:
Cody Rhodes
The Rock
Roman Reigns
Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Bianca Belair
IYO SKY
The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
WWE WrestleMania XL
Customers can say “Change my theme,” “WWE” or “WrestleMania” into their X1 voice remote to choose their favorite WWE Superstar theme ahead of WrestleMania XL this weekend.
WWE WrestleMania 40
This year’s WrestleMania will air on Peacock and will also be the final WrestleMania that’ll stream on the standalone WWE Network. From January 2025, the service in various countries will shut down with WWE content moving to Netflix. The show will air on Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Disney+ in the Philippines, Binge in Australia, Abema in Japan, and SonyLIV in India.
The upcoming two-night event from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field will also be the first of its kind under the TKO banner and with WWE not under the control of the immediate McMahon family. With that said, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque will still oversee the show as the promotion’s Chief Content Officer.
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque insists on seeing a prospective Superstar for himself to see if they’re the right fit for the promotion.
As part of his many roles as Chief Content Officer, Levesque oversees talent relations and ultimately has the final say over who is hired to a contract. On the Pat McAfee Show, the Game shared why he thinks it’s vital he personally sees a talent’s work for himself.
“I see what’s out there. I don’t subscribe to, ‘this guy says they are good, that guy says they are good.’ I have to see it… Because they succeed someplace else doesn’t mean they’ll succeed at the big time.”
Levesque compared the situation to football, stating that players who performed at a high level in college often fail to make waves in the NFL.
Triple H on ‘The Grind’
Being a WWE Superstar is far from an easy job as talent are expected to compete almost every night across the globe. WWE is also not the only option for a young wrestler as various promotions exist in the U.S. and abroad. On the show, Levesque shared his skepticism for any wrestler who’d choose a promotion because it may be easier than WWE.
“When I see people coming out of trying to make it, and then they pick a job where, well, they work less, the schedule is lighter, then I’m like, ‘I’m glad I didn’t pick you.’ If you’re not in it for the grind, at that point early in your career, you have no business being here.”
Triple H as Head of Talent
In 2011, Levesque was officially made Executive Vice-President of Talent and Live Events, a role that expanded to include live events and creative two years later. In July 2022, following the resignation of Vince McMahon, Levesque was promoted to Executive Vice-President of Talent Relations and was named Chief Content Officer in September. In October 2023, Ari Emanuel ensured that Vince McMahon (who was back with WWE at the time) would not interfere with Levesque’s work and it was said the Game controlled “99.9% of the creative” at the time.
Cody Rhodes is doing okay after his tour bus caught fire in what could be a bad omen for the American Nightmare ahead of WrestleMania 40.
Taking to Twitter, Rhodes wanted fans to hear the news from him first before anywhere else. The 2023 & 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner then shared news of the fire before making clear that everybody was safe and okay. Rhodes added that he grabbed two items from the bus that will ‘pop’ fans and expressed his gratitude to the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Before you hear it elsewhere – my tour bus caught fire last night ?
Everybody is safe and okay
The 2 items I grabbed before I got off will probably pop wrestling fans
A bus fire is hardly a great omen for Rhodes to kick off arguably the biggest weekend of his professional wrestling career. At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team up with Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns & The Rock.
The next night, Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The stipulation for this match will be determined during the previous night’s tag-team match. This match will come one year on from Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, CA.
Win or lose this weekend, Rhodes will have little time to reflect on what happens at WWE WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare is expected to appear on the post-WrestleMania edition of Monday Night Raw from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. If history is any indicator, this show will be a raucous night thanks to the international flavor of fans who traveled to Philly for WrestleMania. It’ll also be the final Raw after WrestleMania on broadcast television.
Emmy Award winner Paul Walter Hauser has another wrestling win to his name after defeating Sami Callihan at WrestleCon’s Supershow, albeit with some extreme help.
The match took place at the WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow on April 4 and was an ode to hardcore wrestling. Chairs, kendo sticks, and doors were used as weapons, and ECW alum Bill ‘Fonzie’ Alfonso also got involved.
Near the end of the match, Callihan was in control and it appeared that he’d be the first man to defeat Hauser in the ring. That was until the lights went down and “Enter Sandman” played, signifying the arrival of The Sandman. Inside the ECW Arena, Sandman helped Hauser get the win over Callihan.
Hauser, best known for his roles in Black Bird, I, Tonya, and Cruella, is now 3-0 in the world of professional wrestling. The actor made his wrestling debut at Wrestling Revolver’s UnReal event in November 2023 with a win over Matthew Palmer. He followed up on that by defeating Matt Cardona at Revolver’s Ready or Not event in March 2024.
Hauser has hardly kept his love of professional wrestling a secret even when not in the ring. At the 75th annual Emmy Awards, Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird. His acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and ‘get the tables!’
Fans who attended the recent STARDOM event were stunned to see AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm appear with a very special message.
Storm appeared at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, better known as the ECW Arena. Storm began by expressing her gratitude for STARDOM, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the promotion.
The three-time and reigning AEW Women’s World Champion then presented flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. Turning her attention towards Mina Shirakawa, Storm got in the face of the Artist of Stardom Champion and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”
Shirakawa is booked for Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor 2024. She’ll team with Maika and Mei Seira against Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM. As for Storm, her next high-profile match will come later this month at AEW Dynasty. The Starlet of Wrestling will put her gold on the line against Thunder Rosa.
Another Surprising Name
Toni Storm wasn’t announced for the event, making her appearance at STARDOM American Dream a big surprise, but she wasn’t the only notable non-STARDOM name at the show. WWE Superstar Natalya was also at the event. On Twitter, the former Women’s Champion spoke about reuniting with Kyoko Inoue at the STARDOM show and shared some pictures from backstage.
In 2005 I got my first big break in wrestling and got the opportunity to wrestle in Japan with some of the greatest female wrestlers in the world. I was lucky enough to work with and compete against the one and only Kyoko Inoue. It’s been almost 20 years since I’ve last seen her.… pic.twitter.com/c4RaSqvRqk
Natalya is not currently booked for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40. With that said, some fans are hoping to see a Women’s Battle Royal at the event, which would likely include the BOAT. The hashtag #WomensBattleRoyal trended for multiple days on Twitter.
One of the most popular free agents on the market has been spotted at the WWE World event in Philadelphia amid reports of major interest by the promotion.
Giulia was seen walking the floor at the event and took photos with fans who recognized her. Giulia was seen alongside STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa who was ousted from the promotion earlier this year.
In November 2023, it was reported that WWE had shown great interest in Giulia, a former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. At the time it was said that the company had a “massive” interest in obtaining her services. While it was believed she would be attending a private try-out at the WWE Performance Center, those plans fell apart.
Giulia told STARDOM higher-ups last month that she was planning on leaving the promotion. While several signs point to Giulia joining WWE, it may not happen as quickly as the company would hope.
Giulia gave her word to Ogawa that she would help out if he launched a promotion which has taken priority over joining WWE. Ogawa has refuted the claim that he poached talent away from STARDOM. With his exit, Bushiroad, the parent company of STARDOM, has appointed Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager in charge.
Chelsea Green is ready to be rid of WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce for good and has proposed a loser leaves town match with the ‘Scrapdaddy.’
Appearing on an episode of The Bump from the WWE World event in Philadelphia. , Green once again shared her gripes about Pearce. At the event, the self-prescribed Hot Mess suggested a ‘Loser Leaves Town’ match between herself and the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. Not done yet, she added that if she wins the match and sends Pearce packing, she should become the new General Manager of Raw.
This caught the attention of Pearce, who neither accepted nor refused the match. Instead, the Raw General Manager took to Twitter to claim that he’d easily pin Green and have her escorted away by security. This was seemingly a nod to Green being mistaken for an escort at a hotel a few days earlier.
Responding, Green was far from amused by what Pearce had to say.
Since her historic (if not for the right reasons) return in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Chelsea Green has been a thorn in the side of Adam Pearce. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has repeatedly complained to Pearce about what she considers unfair treatment and has also complained about Pearce not resolving her minor gripes.
Green’s act since returning to WWE has proven to be popular with audiences. The former TNA Knockout has been nominated for ‘Social Star of the Year’ at this year’s Slammy Awards. Green is up against Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, and Grayson Waller in her category. The Slammys will take place at WWE World on April 7.
The stage of WrestleMania 40 has been officially revealed by WWE ahead of this weekend’s two-night show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On YouTube and social media, Kayla Braxton and Jackie Redmond were at Lincoln Financial Field to introduce the dance group ‘The Ninja Kidz.’ The group performed in the ring before the WrestleMania stage was revealed. The set includes this year’s WrestleMania logo as well as large ‘XL’ letters, as these are the Roman numerals for 40.
The stage for WrestleMania 40 is certainly impressive, though isn’t entirely a surprise. In the days leading up to the reveal, candid photos had given a tease as to what the stage would look like.
WrestleMania 40: What’s in Store?
This year’s WrestleMania is already one of the most hotly-anticipated ‘Manias of all time thanks to its stacked main events across both nights. On WrestleMania 40: Saturday, The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring to team with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. The following night, Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line against Cody Rhodes.
Drew McIntyre will seek to finally win a World Championship in front of a live crowd when he competes at WrestleMania 40. This’ll be easier said than done for the Scottish Warrior, who’ll be facing off with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
This match will be see CM Punk serve as a guest commentator. The Second-City Savior has had issues with both men since his return to WWE. McIntyre has even taken credit for the injury Punk suffered during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
For full coverage of WWE WrestleMania 40 and other events across WrestleMania weekend, keep checking back here at SE Scoops.
A victory for Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday wouldn’t just see him ‘finish the story’ but could also usher in a new Undisputed WWE Universal title design.
Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns on Night Two of the upcoming WrestleMania 40 Premium Live Event. Speaking at WWE World, Rhodes was asked about his plans for a potential title reign.
“If I do [win the Championship] maybe we change how the title looks.”
Rhodes earned the opportunity against Reigns by winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. Cody’s ‘Road to WrestleMania’ has not been easy, as for a time, WWE intended on having The Rock challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40 instead.
Cody’s Title Design Changes
If Cody does change the design of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, it wouldn’t be his first time. After capturing the Intercontinental Championship in 2011, Rhodes brought back the classic white-strap version of the gold. This design lasted until 2019 when it was replaced with the Intercontinental Championship design currently held by GUNTHER.
In May 2022, one month after his stunning return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, Rhodes appeared on an episode of WWE After The Bell. During the show, Rhodes teased bringing back the ‘Winged Eagle’ WWE Championship design that had been held by Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels in the past.
“I think there’s a particular design of the WWE Championship that people are very fond of… It really would be something to achieve the ultimate industry dream, being the best of the best ever in terms of that moment in time, and then perhaps give it a fresh coat of paint with the Winged Eagle.”
In addition to his match with Reigns, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40: Saturday.
Shayna Baszler’s step through the ‘forbidden door’ was a successful one for the Queen of Spades, who earned a big win at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X.
At the event, Baszler made a rare non-WWE appearance to take on TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. Both women had back-up as Baszler was accompanied by Zoey Stark while Slamovich arrived alongside reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace.
The crowd was at a fever pitch, delivering a “Holy S**t” chant before things for underway. The two combatants traded leg locks and fought to a stalemate to get things started. The crowd was noticeably pro-Slamovich and anti-Baszler, though this could have been more pro-GCW and anti-WWE.
Baszler took control with jabs to the ribcage while Slamovich fought back with strikes and a flying armbar. Baszler tried to lock in an armbar of her own before Slamovich reversed the attempt.
The finish saw Baszler slip out of an armbar and lock in an ankle lock. Slamovich tried to escape but Baszler released the hold and hit a flurry of stomps so brutal the ref called for the bell. There were loud boos and “F**k You Shayna” chants as she was declared the winner.
Baszler wasn’t the only WWE name in action at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. Earlier in the show, Charlie Dempsey got a submission victory over Matt Makowsi. The finish of the fight saw Dempsey hit a stiff European uppercut on the BJJ Black belt and follow with a German Suplex and double wrist-lock to get the submission victory.
Two wrestlers recently cut from All Elite Wrestling have themselves to blame for being cut from the company after they no-showed multiple events.
AEW released several names from its roster earlier this week, including Brent and Brandon Tate, better known as ‘The Boys.’ Their releases came as a surprise to fans as they have been integral to the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV.
During the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan explained how the Tates had failed to show up to work on multiple occasions. This led to Khan deciding to cut them but made clear it was a difficult decision.
Khan explained that these releases were made with AEW carefully monitoring their budget, ensuring they have resources available to compete for top talent in the industry. The promotion recently reached high-budget deals with new signings including Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada.
Who Else Was Let Go?
In total, ten stars were released from All Elite Wrestling. In addition to the Tate brothers, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, Slim J, Gravity, Anthony Henry, Jora Johl, Jose The Assistant, and broadcaster Dasha Kuret were also cut from the promotion.
While Anthony Henry has been released, fans can expect him back with ROH and AEW very soon. On the media call, Khan said that Henry got injured during an independent show and said his situation is a “challenging grey area.” He added that Henry will come back to AEW and Ring of Honor once he is cleared to wrestle again.
Cody Rhodes is proud to be part of a ‘renaissance’ in professional wrestling which he believes has not only met but has surpassed the much-acclaimed Attitude Era.
While the Attitude Era is often heralded as the greatest period of wrestling, it’s hard to ignore how well WWE and other promotions have done as of late. In a recent interview with FOX News Digital, Rhodes compared the product of today to that fans consumed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“I’ve heard it coined as the Renaissance Era, and I really like that outlook on it. For me, as a wrestler, I’m most excited that we no longer have to stand in the shadow of the Attitude Era because of the last two years we’ve done better business than they ever did — and they did exceptional, unbelievable, amazing business. I’m only making comparisons on a black and white level, dollars and cents, in terms of what WWE’s been able to do over the last two years.“
WWE’s Renaissance
It could be argued that WWE’s renaissance began at WrestleMania 38, the night Cody Rhodes returned to the promotion. Since then, the promotion has seen significant changes, with Triple H being granted greater creative sway behind the scenes.
With Vince McMahon out of the picture (seemingly for good,) the Game has been allowed to try things that would’ve never made it to TV under his father-in-law. This has ranged from more long-term storytelling to giving opportunities on unlikely talent like Chad Gable and Ivar. WWE’s new era has even allowed for talent to work outside the promotion, with Shinsuke Nakamura competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2023 and Charlie Dempsey wrestling for All Japan earlier this year.
WWE Superstar Sami Zayn will be flexing his comedy muscles at the upcoming ‘Netflix is a Joke’ entertainment festival.
Taking to Twitter, Zayn said he is “so excited” to be part of the festival that’ll take place this May in Los Angeles. Zayn’s comedy show ‘Sami Zayn & Friends’ will take place on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 pm local time in Avalon, Hollywood, CA.
??? So excited about this!
I will be doing a live comedy show as part of @NetflixIsAJoke Festival in LA.
Pre-Sale tickets will go on sale on Thursday, April 4, at 10 am PDT. General Sale tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 5, at 10 am PDT.
It’s hardly a surprise that Zayn is making moves in the world of comedy. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion has often been heralded for his humor which was on full display during his 2022 role as part of The Bloodline. Zayn was even able to make some members of the group ‘corpse,’ meaning they couldn’t help but laugh at what he was doing even when they were supposed to be serious.
Wrestling & Comedy
Zayn isn’t the only wrestler to try his hand in the world of comedy. For years, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has hosted stand-up comedy gigs both in the United States and overseas.
TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth has also hosted stand-up comedy shows in the past and was previously in a relationship with Amy Schumer. Nemeth hosted a comedy show with his brother Ryan in November 2023, mere weeks after his WWE release.
Considered one of the best talkers in wrestling, it seemed inevitable that ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper would try his hand at stand-up comedy. The Hot Rod hosted sets after his in-ring career ended and his work was praised by comedians including Ari Shaffir of Comedy Central. He also was in a handful of episodes of the hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Raw’s Move to Netflix
WWE Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix in January 2025 in a blockbuster move that’ll take the red brand off traditional broadcast television. The deal is even sweeter for fans outside of the U.S. who will see Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events all moved to the streaming giant.
Two Superstars have taken one step closer to being crowned the first-ever WWE Speed Champion with the launch of the new venture on Twitter/X.
The very first match in the history of WWE Speed was fittingly between two of the promotion’s fastest Superstars: Ricochet and the LWO’s Dragon Lee. The match was understandably action-packed. With just three seconds left on the clock, Ricochet got the pin-fall victory after hitting the Recoil.
The second-ever WWE Speed match saw a battle of styles as the colossal ‘Big’ Bronson Reed faced the athletic Cedric Alexander. Reed advanced to the next round of the tournament with 1:09 remaining on the clock.
WWE Speed is a new limited social media series, with original matches premiering exclusively on X. A tournament has been set up with Superstars competing in three-minute matches to advance. The winner will be awarded the prestigious and coveted WWE Speed Championship:
WWE has dabbled in the world of social media-exclusive matches in the past. The company hosted two seasons of Mixed Match Challenge in 2018, won by Team Awe-ska (The Miz & Asuka) and The Fabulous Truth (Carmella and R-Truth.)
WWE Speed matches were first filmed at the December 15, 2023, episode of WWE SmackDown. While Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick recorded commentary at the time, only Graves could be heard during these matches as Patrick was released from WWE in January 2024.
Due to the matches recorded in December, we can confirm that Axiom’s tag-team partner Nathan Frazer is also going to be a part of WWE Speed.
The next WWE Speed match will take place next week and see The Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh take on WWE NXT’s Axiom.
Leati Joe Anoa’I would have never become the dominant Roman Reigns in WWE had his football career not come to a premature end, the Tribal Chief has claimed.
Years before he entered the ring, Reigns played football and made it to both the NFL and the CFL (Canadian Football League.) Speaking to ESPN, Reigns admitted that had his football career not ended, he doesn’t believe he would have tried for pro wrestling. Reigns added that he wanted to be an athlete fans could look up to just as he had looked up to others.
“I wanted to have an impact on young men. I wanted to be the way Emmitt Smith and Michael Jordan and Joe Montana and the stars of when I was a child, the way they made me feel. I wanted to make other young athletes feel that way.
“But no matter what, it was either you’re going to be a wrestler, or you’re going to be a football player.”
Roman Reigns in Football
Reigns played for Pensacola Catholic High School and later at Escambia High School. He would go on to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. In 2007, he was signed to the Minnesota Vikings but was diagnosed with leukemia and swiftly released.
After the Vikings, Reigns signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars but was released less than a week into his deal. In 2008, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL and played a handful of games before his release in November 2009. He proceeded to retire from professional football.
The Bloodline & Football
Reigns is hardly the only member of his family to have stepped foot on the gridiron. The Rock played college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes and later played for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. He was cut from the team two months into the 1995 season.
Like Reigns, Jimmy and Jey Uso played football at Escambia High School in Pensacola before becoming linebackers for the University of West Alabama. Jimmy played for the 2003 season while Jey played from 2003 to 2005.
Joe Gacy got rocked during his match against Oba Femi on this week’s 4/2 episode of NXT. WWE officials checked him out for a concussion, a serious injury that would have put him out of action and affected plans for Saturday’s NXT Stand and Deliver premium live event.
Femi dominated the match, which ended awkwardly after he delivered a slam that saw Gacy’s head bounce off the mat. The referee intervened and called off the match after determining Gacy was unable to continue.
The official threw up the ‘X’ sign to request immediate medical attention for a potential injury. According to Fightful Select, there was legitimate concern that Gacy may have suffered a concussion. He was able to leave the ringside area on his feet and is still scheduled to compete this weekend.
WWE has extensive concussion protocols and Gacy will likely be undergoing further medical evaluation int he days ahead.
Gacy Injury Scare Leads to Changes
WWE intended to announce Gacy vs. Shawn Spears for Stand and Deliver after the Gacy vs. Femi, but changed course due to the unexcited finish. Later in the show, Gacy approached NXT General Manager Ava and demanded a match with Spears, which was granted.
This backstage segment was reportedly rushed and another planned segment involving Femi, Dijak and Josh Briggs was scrapped entirely. These three will battle for Femi’s NXT North American championship on Saturday.
NXT Stand & Deliver 2024 takes place this Saturday, April 6 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, mere hours before WrestleMania Saturday kicks off from Lincoln Financial Field.
Will Ospreay was approached about performing stunt work for an Assassin’s Creed movie sequel, the All Elite Wrestling star recently revealed.
Ospreay announced at Full Gear 2023 that he was joining the company, but was allowed to finish off his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling. His first official match as an AEW-contracted wrestler took place at AEW Revolution 2024 and saw the Essex-born wrestler defeat Konosuke Takeshita.
Will Ospreay’s Assasin’s Creed Offer
Ospreay has spent years making a name for himself in the ring and nearly had the chance to flex his muscles in the world of stunt work. Speaking with Dale Driver of IGN, Ospreay explained how he was at one time considered for a role in a planned Assassin’s Creed movie sequel.
“I was in New Japan when the Assassin’s Creed film came out [in 2016.] They wanted to use some of my photos from New Japan to help advertise the movie coming over!
“They said if there was going to be an Assassin’s Creed 2, I might be able to do some stunt work in it and I got excited. Nothing ever came of it but I’d love to be a part of Assassin’s Creed.”
An Assassin’s Creed Sequel?
While Ospreay is still holding out some hope, the odds of an Assassin’s Creed movie sequel continue to look slim. Despite a star-studded cast including Michael Fassbender, Maron Cotillard, and Jeremy Irons, the film underperformed at the box office. A sequel was planned but was reportedly canceled by Disney following their 2019 acquisition of FOX.
Will Ospreay and Assassin’s Creed
Ospreay’s love for the popular historical action video game franchise is hardly a secret. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, the Aerial Assasin dressed as Assassin Creed Syndicate’s The Ripper for his entrance. Ospreay had the franchise’s signature hidden wrist blade and entered to official Assassin’s Creed music.
In the interview, Ospreay said it’d be “sick” for him to get a themed skin in the next Assassin’s Creed game. He added that he’s “completely open” to any AC plans, whether it be for a game or movie, that he could be involved in.
