Bayley is mere weeks away from a golden opportunity at WrestleMania 40 and has questioned why the women of WWE can’t headline both nights of the event. 

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Bayley spoke about her upcoming match with WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY. In a message to Rhea Ripley, who will be challenged by Becky Lynch next month, Bayley suggested that both Women’s Championships could headline this year’s show. 

“You guys can have the first night and I’ll take the second night. You know, we can do that. You never had two women main event both shows at WrestleMania. Why can’t it be this year?”

While Bayley’s aspirations are admirable, it’s unlikely either night will end with a Women’s title match. The Rock’s return to the ring in the tag-match pitting The Bloodline against Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins is virtually guaranteed to headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday. Similarly, Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns is expected to headline WrestleMania 40: Sunday.

Women at WrestleMania

Currently, two women’s matches have had the honor of closing out WrestleMania. In 2019, Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey to capture the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships. Two years later Bianca Belair would win the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37: Night One. 

Women in the Main Event

While not considered a Premium Live Event, NXT TakeOver: Respect in October 2015 was the promotion’s first major event that saw women in the main event. That event saw Bayley retain the NXT Women’s Championship in an Iron Man match against Sasha Banks. 

A year later, WWE Hell in a Cell 2016 saw the first women’s main event on the main roster. The bout saw Charlotte Flair win the Raw Women’s Championship from Sasha Banks. 

The 2017 Mae Young Classic and 2018 WWE Evolution event both unsurprisingly saw female main events, given that both were all-female shows. The women would also headline the 2018 Royal Rumble event that saw Asuka win the inaugural Women’s Rumble match (as well as the debut of Ronda Rousey.)

Other events to see women close out the show include WWE TLC 2018 and 2019, as well as Elimination Chamber 2020, which was WWE’s final PLE with a live crowd before the COVID-19 pandemic. WWE’s most recent female main event came last month and saw Rhea Ripley defeat Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber 2024. 

The Bullet Club’s Alex Coughlin will never compete again after announcing that his time in the ring has come to an abrupt end. 

On Twitter, Coughlin confirmed his retirement, adding that it sucks that he has had to hang up his boots. He added that he still has some wrestling merchandise available for purchase. 

https://twitter.com/AlexCoughlin93/status/1771738988732199148

Coughlin wrestled 197 matches over his career, according to stats from Cagematch. His final match took place on February 24 at NYWC Psycho Circus 21. At the event, he teamed with Sean Wachter to defeat QGTM (Jey Mesias & Pat Fitzpatrick.)

Alex Coughlin

Coughlin made his wrestling debut in April 2018 and entered the NJPW LA Dojo that same year. He trained under Katsuyori Shibata in a class that included Karl Fredericks (WWE NXT’s Eddy Thorpe) and Clark Connors.

Known as ‘The Android’ for his strength-based style, Coughlin’s time in New Japan would see him become part of the Bullet Club. At NJPW Independence Day 2023: Night 1, he and Gabriel Kidd captured the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships with a win over Bishamon. The pair held the gold until October 2023 when they lost to current champions Guerrillas of Destiny. 

Coughlin Outside New Japan 

As part of his New Japan run, Coughlin competed a handful of times for ROH in 2019 as part of the ‘War of the Worlds’ shows. In 2023, he teamed with Shibata to defeat the Workhorsemen. He would later challenge Shibata for the ROH Pure Championship in a losing effort.

Careers Cut Short

Coughlin is not the first wrestler to see their in-ring career cut short. Some wrestlers, such as Saraya, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Copeland, were all forced to retire due to injuries, only to receive second chances. All three are now part of AEW. 

Others have not been so fortunate. Jason Jordan’s last match took place in early 2018 and he retired due to injuries. The former Tag Champion has since made a name for himself as a WWE producer. Tyson Kidd can also be found backstage as a producer after his career was ended in 2015 due to a botched Muscle Buster. 

Becky Lynch has said that the Vince McMahon she worked with is far different than the McMahon others had to face according to the allegations against WWE’s ex-CEO. 

Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and its former chairman alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and claims the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

Becky Lynch on Vince McMahon

Sitting down with Marc Haynes of the Irish Independent, Becky Lynch was asked about the McMahon allegations. Lynch admitted that it’s been hard for her to cope with the allegations, given how McMahon treated her in WWE. 

“I don’t know that person… We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but especially in my last run with him there, and when I told him I was pregnant, he was so good to me.”

Lynch said she has McMahon to thank for “my dream” of becoming a WWE Superstar, a role that would also see her meet Seth Rollins and result in the pair having a child. 

Speaking about her own experiences with McMahon, Lynch said they were positive and wished everybody could say the same. 

“I would always love my interactions with him, and that becomes very, very difficult, especially as a woman who has been so driven in changing the way that women are treated in wrestling and making sure that it is a safe space.”

What Have WWE Superstars Said?

Becky Lynch isn’t the only notable name to weigh in on McMahon. After McMahon’s resignation, Triple H said he had not read Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

At the same Royal Rumble 2024 press conference, Cody Rhodes called the McMahon situation a dark cloud over WWE.

Seth Rollins was disgusted with what was claimed in the lawsuit. The World Heavyweight Champion has said if the claims are true, he hopes everyone gets what they deserve.

John Cena has taken a different approach. Cena has made clear he still loves McMahon, despite what has happened. While Cena did speak of the importance of accountability, his comments did spark controversy for how glowing he was of the ex-chairman. 

Ronda Rousey had no issue with taking it to McMahon. In her new book Our Fight, Rousey compares McMahon to Star Wars villain Emperor Palpatine. She adds that it’s hard to distinguish between the evil McMahon character and the real man. 

Two of the young, rising Superstars of WWE NXT are impressing all the right people backstage with their work in the ring. 

Nathan Frazer and Axiom have been drawing praise behind the scenes, Fightful Select reports. The duo have been praised for their agility and speed in matches. Some NXT officials are said to be concerned about Frazer’s opponents being able to keep up. 

Nathan Frazer

Frazer joined WWE in December 2020 and would join the NXT UK brand the following month. In June of last year, he defeated Oro Mensash, who was wrestling on behalf of Noam Dar, to win the NXT Heritage Cup. His agility in the ring shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, given he was trained by Seth Rollins. 

Axiom

Axiom, as A-Kid, signed with WWE in October 2019 and like his future tag-team partner, was assigned to the NXT UK brand. In October 2021, he challenged then NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov in a losing effort. 

It was in July 2022 that A-Kid was repacked as Axiom. He is the inaugural NXT Heritage Cup winner and made his SmackDown debut last November in a loss to Dragon Lee. 

What’s to Come? 

On this week’s WWE NXT, Frazer and Axiom defeated the No Quarter Catch Crew (as represented by Myles Borne & Charlie Dempsey.) The win means that Frazer & Axiom have advanced to the Number 1 Contender Triple Threat Match. 

They will face the Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) as well as The O.C. on next week’s WWE NXT. The winners of that match will earn a title shot against NXT Tag Team Champions Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker. 

WWE Superstars are hoping to win big next month at WrestleMania 40, and some could be leaving Philadelphia, PA with their own Slammy award. 

WWE has announced that the Slammys will return on April 7, the same day as WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The ceremony will be hosted by Big E and Cathy Kelley but fans should expect special appearances by WWE Superstars. 

The Slammys: Fan Choice Awards will take place at the WWE World convention center. For those not in Philadelphia, they’ll be able to watch the show on WWE’s social channels. 

And the Nominees Are

Male Superstar (Vote Here): 

• Cody Rhodes
• Roman Reigns
• Seth “Freakin” Rollins
• Gunther
• Logan Paul

Female Superstar of the Year (Vote Here):

• Rhea Ripley
• Bianca Belair
• Bayley
• IYO SKY
• Becky Lynch

Best Entrance (Vote Here): 

• Cody Rhodes
• Roman Reigns
• Bianca Belair
• Seth “Freakin” Rollins
• Rhea Ripley
• Becky Lynch
• The Rock
• Dominik Mysterio (WrestleMania 39)

Return of the Year (Vote Here): 

• CM Punk
• The Rock
• Nia Jax
• Randy Orton
• Naomi

Faction of the Year (Vote Here): 

• The Judgment Day
• Alpha Academy
• Imperium
• The Bloodline
• Damage CTRL

Rivalry of the Year (Vote Here): 

• Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
• “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio
• Bianca Belair vs. Damage CTRL
• Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes
• R-Truth vs. The Judgment Day

NXT Superstar of the Year (Vote Here): 

• Ilja Dragunov
• Carmelo Hayes
• Lyra Valkyria
• Tiffany Stratton
• Bron Breakker

Match of the Year (Vote Here): 

• Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest – San Juan Street Fight (Backlash 2023)
• Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn (Elimination Chamber 2023)
• Gunther vs. Chad Gable (Raw 9/4/23)
• Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair (SummerSlam 2023)
• Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 39)

OMG Moment of the Year (Vote Here):

• Rey Mysterio punches “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio (SmackDown 3/24/23)
• CM Punk returns to WWE (Survivor Series 2023)
• IYO SKY cashing in the Money in The Bank Contract (SummerSlam 2023)
• The Rock slaps Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania XL Press Conference)
• Damage CTRL turns on Bayley (SmackDown 2/2/24)
• Cody Rhodes slaps The Rock (SmackDown 3/8/24)

Social Star of the Year (Vote Here):

• Grayson Waller
• Logan Paul
• Drew McIntyre
• Chelsea Green
• Liv Morgan

Breakout Superstar of the Year (Vote Here): 

• Jey Uso
• Tiffany Stratton
• Pretty Deadly
• Dragon Lee
• LA Knight

Former UFC fighter turned pro wrestler and promoter Josh Barnett says he’s spoken with CM Punk and other names from WWE and AEW about competing for his Bloodsport promotion, which is affiliated with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).

The upcoming Bloodsport X event over WrestleMania weekend will feature a special attraction match pitting WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler against TNA’s Masha Slamovich.

Barnett wants to get more WWE (and AEW) contracted names to step into his league’s domain. During a recent appearance on the Under the Ring podcast, he revealed that he’s actually spoken with CM Punk about participating, as well as AEW star Malakai Black.

Both Punk and Black have martial arts experience and their offensive styles would translate well to Bloodsports’ ‘shoot-fight’ presentation.

Barnett also named Chad Gable, Born Breaker and Miro as grapplers he’d like to see fight in Bloodsport.

Punk has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. The injury has robbed Punk of an opportunity to step in the ring at WrestleMania 40, but he still vows to make his presence felt. 

CM Punk signed with the UFC in 2014 just months after leaving WWE. He wouldn’t make his debut until 2016 and lost in decisive fashion. Stephanie McMahon mocked Punk’s loss on WWE television, one of many examples of how bitter that relationship was for many years.

Punk’s second and final UFC fight was another decisive loss to Mike Jackson. That loss was later overturned and the result ruled a ‘no contest’ due to Jackson failing a test.

Fans of Lucha Libre in California will be in for quite the show this June, courtesy of Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix. 

The Lucha Bros will be teaming up to host ‘ROL7: Hit The Lights’ which will take place at the historic ‘The Temple’ venue in Los Angeles, CA. The show will take place on June 1 and tickets will go on sale on March 22. There will be a 15% ticket price reduction for any fans who purchase seats for the show before April 1. 

The Temple

Fans of Lucha Underground will be familiar with The Temple, which is the venue of the Hit the Lights show. Lucha Underground’s four seasons were all filmed at The Temple, which features a distinct ‘run-down’ and ‘underground’ aesthetic. 

The arena is in an amphitheater style, with the ring in the center and rising bench seats on opposite sides. When not being used as a wrestling location, The venue is known as SCS warehouse and has been used as a filming location for films and TV shows. 

The Lucha Bros

Rey Fenix has been out of action for some time, but he will be making a return to the ring soon. The former AEW International Champion has been booked for the House of Glory Wrestling event on May 5. 

Alongside Fenix (and PAC) Penta is a former AEW Trios Champion. He and Fenix have also held World Tag Team gold in AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor, as well as in AAA. 

Yota Tsuji hopes to be the next IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but also hopes to be the final man to hold that particular piece of gold. 

Tsuji, the winner of the New Japan cup, Tsuji will battle Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Sakura Genesis on April 6. Speaking to the press ahead of the much-anticipated title match, Tsuji shared his plans should he win the gold. 

“I would want the 4th generation IWGP Heavyweight Championship. I want to make it exactly clear just how much IWGP means. That means I should take the IWGP World Heavyweight title, separate it again, officially retire the Intercontinental belt, and carry the IWGP Heavyweight.”

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created on March 1, 2021, with the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Naito won the title back in January of this year by dethroning Sanada at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Issues

In the three years since the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was created, the title has seen a mixed-at-best response from fans. Many disagreed with the deactivation of the Intercontinental Championship, which had been held by the likes of Naito, Chris Jericho, and Shinsuke Nakamura.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship got off to a rough start when the title eventually launched. A rather forgettable inaugural reign with Kota Ibushi was ended by Will Ospreay. The Brit would then suffer a neck injury, resulting in the title being vacated. Within three months of it being created, the title was on its third champion: Shingo Takagi.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Design

Perhaps the biggest issue with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the title’s design. Many find the look of the title as ‘ugly’ especially compared to the IWGP World Championship. While Kota Ibushi said in 2021 that he was sure the title would grow on people, that’s yet to happen with many fans three years on. 

Mere weeks after he retired undefeated in AEW, the legendary Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s highest honor in professional wrestling. 

In the main event of AEW Revolution, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. The tag titles have since been vacated. An ongoing tournament will culminate with new champions being crowned next month at AEW Dynasty. 

Sting’s Upcoming Honor

Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, it has been announced. The award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a wrestler by the CAC. It is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. 

The honor celebrates significant achievements across a career. Previous inductees include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk. 

What is the Cauliflower Alley Club? 

Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name. 

The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.

The 58th Annual CAC Reunion will take place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

AEW Hall of Fame?

Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 when it appeared his days in the ring were over. During a recent interview, Tony Khan said that if AEW was to have a Hall of Fame of its own, then the Icon would be the first name he’d like to see inducted.

Bushiroad may come to regret firing Rossy Ogawa from World Wonder Ring STARDOM as some of its top talent are expected to leave very soon. 

Ogawa, the founder of STARDOM, was fired last month in a shocking and unexpected move. Bushiroad is the parent company of both STARDOM and NJPW and in their statement, apologized to fans for any concerns over STARDOM’s future. A series of tweets from Tony Khan suggested that he was firmly on STARDOM’s side.

pic.twitter.com/0L34bSSZTW

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 5, 2024

Champions Say Goodbye

In Bushiroad’s statement announcing Ogawa’s exit, it was reported that he had been poaching talent. While this has not been proven, it appears talent are eager to work with him, even if it means leaving STARDOM behind. 

Some of STARDOM’s top wrestlers are set to leave the promotion in the wake of Ogawa’s exit, Tokyo Sports reports. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki all have contracts set to expire at the end of March and it is believed they’ll be leaving. 

Hayashishita is a reigning Goddess of STARDOM Champion, a title she has held three times and currently holds alongside Saya Kamitani. She is a former World of STARDOM champion as well. 

Tokyo Sports reports she has been speaking of a fresh environment, and wanting to start from scratch. MIRAI is a current Artist of STARDOM Champion alongside Akari and Ami Sourei. 

What’s to Come? 

It has been reported that the wrestlers are expected to join a new promotion that is to be created by Ogawa. At this time, Ogawa has not publicly confirmed plans for a new promotion. 

Another Huge Arrival? 

Another name who recently left Bushiroad is Giulia, who is expected to join WWE in the future. Before then though, it is believed she will join Ogawa’s new promotion and help the company get off the ground. Giulia recently lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title, signifying her split from Bushiroad. 

Who Has Replaced Ogawa?

Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager, will immediately take over as the bookers for STARDOM. Neither has any previous experience as bookers, though Okada was part of a pro wrestling club that held matches during his college days.

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will never forget how it felt to win the title in front of his hometown crowd, in a match with his most personal of opponents. 

On the March 20, episode of Dynamite, Copeland captured the TNT Championship for the second time in his career. The night proved to be an emotional one on many levels for the Rated-R Superstar. Not only did he win the title, but he did so against his former best friend Christian Cage in the pair’s hometown of Toronto, Canada. 

Adam Copeland On His Win

When AEW’s camera crew caught up with Copeland after the match, the TNT Champion was understandably reflective of what had transpired. Copeland said that this was a night he’d been dreaming of and would remember the show until his final breath.

“Tonight was the kind of night that you dream of. When you first get into this, when you decide to dedicate your life to this, you dream of nights like this. You know your hometown, against a man that you have known for 40 years who, in my opinion, has lost his way. And to get that kind of match, that war.

“It wasn’t even a match. To hear that audience, to hear them sing my music to me. Man, to have my family here, to have my buddies from school, my buddies from college. It’s just one of the nights that I will take me to the grave.”

EXCLUSIVE! After making Christian Cage utter the words, 'I QUIT', and capturing the TNT Title for the second time, we hear from the NEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland!@RatedRCope | #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/CUFyDk2GAj

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 21, 2024

What’s to Come? 

Copeland aims to prove himself a fighting champion now that he has reclaimed the TNT title. During the video, Copeland said he will resurrect his Cope Open on the March 30, episode of AEW Collision. The show will take place from London, Ontario, Canada. 

The March 20, edition of AEW Rampage proved to be a hit with fans, though that may be due to the unique placement of the show that traditionally airs on Friday nights. 

Rather than air on Friday, AEW Rampage aired immediately after the March 20 Dynamite which aired from its usual Wednesday night spot. The shows aired from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. 

Rampage’s Record Rating

This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers. This is the highest rampage since the January 6, 2023 episode, which aired from its usual Friday spot. The show marked a 65% increase in viewers from the previous week’s episode (327,000.)

This week’s show also succeeded in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The show scored a 0.27 in this demographic, the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022 episode of the show. 

Worrying Trend

While AEW Rampage did well for one episode, the show as a whole continues to see a worrying downward slide. The average Rampage number for the first quarter of 2024 has been 374,000 viewers, down from the 2023 Q1 number of 436,000 viewers. This trend is also the case when you compare March 2023 to March 2024. This month has seen an average viewership of 345,000, down from March 2023’s 394,000. 

AEW Rampage Results – March 20

The results for this week’s edition of AEW Rampage are as follows: 

• The Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Trent Beretta) defeat the Don Callis Damily (Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs – AEW World Tag Title Tournament Match

• Katsuyori Shibata defeats Kevin Matthews

• Konosuke Takeshita defeats Rocky Romero

• Julia Hart & Skye Blue defeats Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale – Street Fight

Former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg isn’t pleased that “some Japanese girl” eclipsed his WCW undefeated streak, in his latest shot against WWE. 

During an interview with Nothing Left Unsaid, Goldberg was asked if there was any ill will towards him in WWE due to his time in WCW. Goldberg argued that the fact that WWE had Asuka surpass his undefeated streak proved there were some issues. 

“A girl beat my winning streak… beat my undefeated streak. Yeah, I can’t even remember… ‘A-soo-ka’ is her name. Some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak.”

Goldberg added that when he returned to WWE in 2016, he also noticed a lot of wrestlers using the spear as a finisher, a move he also used. Goldberg insinuated that WWE management had something to do with this influx of spears. 

Issues with Triple H

During the interview, Goldberg suspected that previous issues with Triple H led to WWE choosing Asuka to surpass his streak and for the influx of spears. 

“The fact that I didn’t get along with Paul Levesque (Triple H), which is Vince’s son-in-law, I think had everything to do with it.”

Streak Vs. Streak

Goldberg’s WCW streak began in September 2017 which saw Hugh Morrus become the future World Champion’s first victim. It ended at WCW Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash (though a cattle-prod-wielding Scott Hall certainly helped the former Diesel.) W

Asuka’s undefeated streak began in late 2015 and would last for 914 days before she was defeated by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She surpassed Goldberg’s 173 wins at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017. While Goldberg isn’t happy that his streak was surpassed now, he was far more gracious when Asuka passed him 7 years ago. 

? ……the "streak" is in very good hands? #Congrats ? RT @WWEAsuka: I respect Goldberg so … https://t.co/MKx7eO1LbG

— Bill Goldberg (@Goldberg) May 25, 2017

Was Goldberg’s Streak Legit? 

With wrestling websites dedicated to counting every match and appearance, there’s no doubt Asuka’s streak is anything but entirely legitimate. Given that Goldberg’s streak was during the 1990s, when such websites were not as common, there have been claims his streak was not all it appeared to be. 

It has been claimed that WCW inflated the number of wins, with the figure rising dramatically from week to week. Goldberg had actually lost before the streak ever began. His final wrestling match prior to his WCW TV debut was a dark match defeat to Chad Fortune. 

WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has a new record to his impressive resume after reaching a milestone with Raw’s secondary piece of gold. 

GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June 2022 by dethroning Ricochet. The title marked the first for GUNTHER on the main roster and his first title under his current name. He previously held the NXT UK Champion for over a year as WALTER. 

A New Accolade for GUNTHER

GUNTHER has proven to be a fighting champion since winning the Intercontinental gold, as his track record shows. Recently, GUNTHER reached 100 successful title defenses as WWE Intercontinental Champion. Superstars who’ve come up short against the Austrian include Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, and Jey Uso, among others. 

GUNTHER’s toughest match (at least according to Cagematch statistics) took place on the October 2, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw. It took GUNTHER 22:53 to defeat Tommaso Ciampa in the match that finished via referee stoppage. The match earned 4.5 stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer.

What’s Next for GUNTHER? 

GUNTHER’s next confirmed title defense will come at WWE WrestleMania 40 when he puts the title on the line against Sami Zayn. The Underdog got a controversial win a gauntlet match to earn a shot at the Austrian. Some fans hope to see Chad Gable added to the match as it’s been claimed that the Olympian’s shoulders were not fully down during the decisive fall in the gauntlet match. 

Impressing the Phenom

GUNTHER has impressed many fans and wrestlers alike and recently earned the praise of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker. The Phenom recently said that he sees a bright future for the Imperium leader who has a world of potential. 

Fresh off his viral Oscars 2024 moment, John Cena has yet again showcased his acting skills in another unique way with a video alongside soccer star Erling Haaland. 

In a video call, Cena posed as the Norweigan striker, who currently plays for Manchester City. Cena went all out for the video as he donned a Man City shirt, scarf, and a long blonde wig to match the soccer star. Cena’s cosplay was complete with a glass of milk, which Haaland has claimed to be one of his favorite drinks. 

You can't see me?! @ErlingHaaland takes a call from his secret super fan, @JohnCena. pic.twitter.com/tcgRK69CQa

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 19, 2024

In the video, the pair spoke about Manchester City’s upcoming tour of the U.S. that’ll kick off later this year. Haaland seemed far from impressed with John’s costume, telling the 16-time WWE World Champion “You have to stop doing this.”

Who is Erling Haaland? 

Haaland is considered one of, if not the best soccer stars currently playing. Last year, Haaland broke the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single season, with 36. 

His athletic prowess on the pitch is hardly a surprise, given that he is the son of Alfie Haaland, who played soccer for Norway, and women’s heptathlon athlete Gry Marita Braut. His cousins Jonatan Braut Brunes and Albert Tjåland are also professional footballers.

When Wrestling Met Soccer

Cena’s video with Haaland is hardly the first time soccer and wrestling have come together. In 2015, Wayne Rooney appeared at a UK edition of Monday Night Raw and would slap Wade Barrett. 

Jose Mourinho appeared on an episode of Raw in 2007. The then-Chelsea boss was spotted by Shane McMahon, who proceeded to mock the Portuguese coach. 

José Mourinho in the WWE is till date one of the most random crossovers ever. pic.twitter.com/wd3GTDz9tf

— Blue Season Daily (@BlueSeasonDaily) September 23, 2022

In 2016, Tim Weise, a former German goalkeeper, retired from soccer to retrain as a wrestler. He’d debut for WWE not long after. 

Congratulations on your first @WWE victory @Tim_Wiese! You're really doing that nickname 'The Machine' justice! ?????? #WWEMunich pic.twitter.com/LvoUUSdIPd

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) November 3, 2016

AEW has yet to establish its own Hall of Fame, but Tony Khan has a clear image of who he’d like to see be the first two inductees. 

While WWE’s Hall of Fame opened its (hypothetical) doors in 1993 with the induction of Andre the Giant, AEW hasn’t created its own way of acknowledging talent of the past. It’s not hard to see why as, at five years old, the promotion is still relatively young. 

AEW’s Hall of Fame

Tony Khan addressed the possibility of  a recent interview with Comic Book, Tony Khan discussed a possible AEW Hall of Fame. While Khan didn’t confirm that any plans were in place, he did know who he’d like to see inducted. 

“Certainly the first two people that come to mind that we would have to honor would be Sting and Mr. Brodie Lee. Two of the greatest champions and two of the greatest people we’ve ever had in AEW, and in very different circumstances.”

Khan added that he’d like to see somebody inducted who never got the chance to compete in an AEW ring, that being Jay Briscoe.

“He was my friend and was friends with a lot of people in the locker room. He was one of the greatest wrestlers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Potential Hall of Famers

• Brodie Lee tragically passed away in December 2020 at the age of 41. He was AEW’s second-ever TNT Champion. 

• Jay Briscoe died in a car accident in January 2023 at the age of 38. He was inducted into the ROH Hall of Fame in 2022. 

• Sting retired from competition at AEW Revolution 2024. He ended his run undefeated and as an AEW World Tag Team Champion. 

WWE’s Hall of Fame

We don’t know when (if ever) AEW will set up a Hall of Fame, but WWE will induct it’s 2024 class in just over two weeks. Paul Heyman, the US Express, Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali have been announced for this year’s class. 

Vince McMahon no longer has any defenders in any form within WWE, close to two months after his resignation from the promotion. 

Janel Grant’s daming lawsuit against WWE and itsformer chairman alleges that she was a sexual slave during her time and was trafficked by McMahon to various men in the company. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing and has claimed that the lawsuit is rife with fabrications.

Throwing in the Towel

During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed a shift in attitude regarding the former Chairman. Meltzer said that those who have previously defended McMahon have stopped, seemingly believing there’s no viable defense for him anymore. 

“People who were even in a situation where they’d been defending other people in the company, nobody bothers to try and defend Vince. 

“It’s almost like they’ve thrown in the towel on him. It’s like, ‘He’s gone and we can’t even try to defend him’.”

Ronda Rousey’s Strong Words

One name who certainly won’t be defending McMahon is Ronda Rousey. In her new memoir Our Story, the ex-Superstar says that McMahon is akin to Emperor Palpatine, the chief antagonist of the Star Wars movies. Rousey adds that it’s hard to know where the evil McMahon character ends and the actual person begins. 

What Have WWE Superstars Said? 

Rousey isn’t the only notable name to weigh in on McMahon. After McMahon’s resignation, Triple H said he had not read Janel Grant’s lawsuit. 

At the same Royal Rumble 2024 press conference, Cody Rhodes called the McMahon situation a dark cloud over WWE. 

Seth Rollins was disgusted with what was claimed in the lawsuit. The World Heavyweight Champion has said if the claims are true, he hopes everyone gets what they deserve. 

John Cena has taken a different approach. Cena has made clear he still loves McMahon, despite what has happened. While Cena did speak of the importance of accountability, his comments did spark controversy for how glowing he was of the ex-chairman. 

Fans of Major League Wrestling will soon get to see Unagi Sayaka in action as the popular Japanese star is set to make her debut soon. 

On Twitter, MLW shared a promo highlighting Sayaka’s impending arrival. Given the young star’s colorful costumes and personality, it’s fitting that the promo video was a bright, colorful affair. 

pic.twitter.com/opIMpxbXMV

— MLW (@MLW) March 20, 2024

MLW War Chamber

Sayaka will make her in-ring debut at the upcoming MLW War Chamber event. Not only will she be competing, but she’ll be in action for the MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship. The card for the show is as follows: 

• Janai Kai (c) (with Promociones Dorado (Salina de la Renta and Jesús Rodriguez)) vs. Unagi Sayaka: MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship

• Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle

• Alex Kane (with Mr. Thomas) vs. A. J. Franci$

• Team MLW (CozyMax (Satoshi Kojima and Shigeo Okumura) and The Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders)) vs. World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday, and Josh Bishop) (with Mister Saint Laurent): War Chamber Match

Matches for Star Jr. Mads Krügger, Kosei Fujita have also been announced but their opponents have not been named. MLW War Chamber 2024 will take place on Friday, March 29, from The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida.  

Who is Unagi Sayaka?

The 34-year-old Sayaka is currently working as a freelancer but is known for her time in STARDOM. She Is a former Artist of STARDOM champion and has also competed in Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and All-Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Currently, Sayaka is the DDT-Pro Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, a title she has held on five occasions. The unorthodox title allows champions of any gender and multiple people can hold the title at once. 

The gold goes even further than WWE’s Hardcore or 24/7 Championships as Animals and inanimate objects, including a pint of beer, a steel ladder, and Vince McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star have all been champions. Stefan the Dinosaur, a stuffed dino Sayaka often carries with her, is a former champion. 

The ‘evolved’ Drew McIntyre is focused on taking the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40 thanks to the return of his “killer instinct.”

The Scottish Warrior will challenge champion Seth Rollins on April 7 as part of WrestleMania 40: Sunday. McIntyre earned the title match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match last month in Perth, Australia. The upcoming title match will be the third World Championship match for both Rollins and McIntyre. 

Drew McIntyre Has Evolved

McIntyre has undergone a character shift as of late with the Scottish Warrior once again embracing a heel role in WWE. McIntyre has taken credit for CM Punk’s injury and has claimed that he ‘saved’ WrestleMania by keeping Punk off the show. Sitting down with Evan T. Mack, McIntyre spoke about his evolution and how it differs from Seth Rollins. 

“I’ve found myself at the right time because we need a savior of the industry. We have the savior of WrestleMania, the savior of Raw, and the savior of WWE and it’s Drew McIntyre, with my new evolved personality.

“Evolved, not like Seth Rollins, where he changes his personality every eight months or something because he doesn’t know who he is. I’m the same guy. I’ve been for years. I’ve just evolved.”

Seth Rollins’ Changes

While McIntyre may be the heel, it’s hard to ignore the often dramatic changes in Rollins’ character. The Architect has changed drastically from his days in the Shield and his currently colorful persona is in stark contrast to his ‘Monday Night Messiah’ character from just a few years ago. 

Drew McIntyre’s Killer Instinct

Drew McIntyre, according to himself, hasn’t changed like Rollins, but he has shown a more vicious side on TV. In the interview, Drew was pleased that his ‘killer instinct’ is back. 

“I was a little naive and a little too nice about [things.] The killer instinct I used to have… And it cost me for a couple of years. If you look at my past few years, very successful on television, but we came to those big matches and I think I lost about 12 in a row or something.

“What it came down to, was I was making silly, silly mistakes relating to not having that killer instinct I used to have. Now it’s back.”

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

A WWE 2K producer has shared what exactly goes into the often controversial, much-discussed rankings of playable characters. 

Earlier this month, WWE 2K24 was released and has proven to be another hit in the series. Once more, the game features rankings for the Superstars, which often appear on WWE programming. These rankings are often heavily-discussed and during an interview with the Squared Circle Pit, WWE 2K24 producer Bryan Williams spoke about what goes into an in-game ranking. 

“For us on the design side, we’re really big on character differentiation and making sure that when you select a character that they are of their appropriate hierarchy on the card. Not everybody can be a Roman Reigns. You have people that are at the tippety top of the card and then you have people that are not, but there’s no slight on anybody.”

Williams added that in contrast to previous years, WWE 2K24’s ratings were determined much more on what sort of year a Superstar has had since the previous game’s release. 

“We kind of take all that into account to see, did they hold championships? Were they winning more than they were losing? Are they consistently pushed?”

Controversial Ratings

During the February 26, episode of WWE Raw, Michael Cole spoke about WWE 2K24. The veteran broadcaster said the character ratings in WWE 2K games are “always controversial.”

Kurt Angle is in WWE 2K24 and many fans have been angered by his rating. The WWE Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist, King of the Ring, and World Champion has an 89 rating in the game. On social media, fans argued that this ranking was too low and pointed at Logan Paul’s 90 rating as proof Angle should be higher. 

A Very Real Controversy

Though fans often debate whether a Superstar should be ranked higher or lower than another, one Superstar this year sparked a controversy out of the confines of the ring. GUNTHER was given an 88 rating for WWE 2K24, which caused concerns among some fans. 

88 is known as a Nazi dog whistle which allows Nazis to signal their beliefs to others covertly. A simple numeric alphabet code (A=1, B=2, etc) sees 88 translated into HH (Heil Hitler.) While WWE 2K did not address this directly, GUNTHER’s rating was changed to an 89. 

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

Adam Copeland is excited about the fresh opportunities that AEW provides for both himself as well as the recently debuted Mercedes Mone. 

The former WWE Women’s Champion debuted for AEW at the Big Business episode of Dynamite. Mone had hardly been subtle in the run-up to the show, making clear to fans that she was in Boston, MA, her hometown and the host of Big Business, mere hours before the show.

A Blank Canvas

Copeland and Mone may have made their names (or rather their other names) in WWE, but now both ex-Superstars are seeking a fresh start under Tony Khan. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Copeland spoke about the ‘CEO’ and what her arrival in the All-Elite promotion means. 

“For her, AEW is a blank canvas with a brand new palette of paint. For me, it was the same. I saw Swerve, The Young Bucks, Jon Moxley, Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, Claudio, FTR, all these names I’ve never crossed paths with.

“It’s the same with Mercedes–think of how much fun she’s going to have here. Think of all the new opponents.”

Mercedes Mone’s Possibilities

There’s no shortage of new opponents for Mercedes Mone to face now she’s in AEW. Right now, it appears that Mone’s path is leading her to the Julia Hart and the AEW TBS Championship. Britt Baker certainly wants a piece of Mone, as she said last year she was “hoping and praying” that the ex-Superstar joined AEW. 

Mone & Copeland on Dynamite

Both ex-Superstars had huge roles to play on the March 20, edition of AEW Dynamite. Mone opened the show by talking about her journey to AEW before being cut off by Skye Blue and Julia Hart. Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander made the save for Mone, though Willow did have some issues with Mone. The pair faced off in May 2023 in the match that saw Mercedes suffer her career-threatening injury. 

AEW Dynamite was much kinder to Adam Copeland, who captured the TNT Championship in the show’s main event. Copeland’s second win of the TNT title saw him defeat former friend Christian Cage in an I-Quit match. 

Ronda Rousey had to hide years of concussions in order to be allowed to continue competing, the former WWE Superstar recently revealed. 

Rousey’s new memoir ‘Our Story’ is set to hit shelves next month and is expected to be a gripping read. In the book, the former WWE Superstar and UFC fighter doesn’t hold back and makes her views clear on Vince McMahon. 

Ronda’s Concussion History

Recently, Ronda Rousey appeared on the Never Before Told podcast to discuss her new book and her time in wrestling. When asked about a potential return to the ring, Rousey said that it’s not possible. The former Women’s Champion added that she had a history of concussions which she felt she had to keep a secret. 

“My concussion history, I had to keep secret for years so I would be able to continue to compete and perform. That’s basically why I had to retire.”

Ronda Rousey Post-WWE

Rousey’s WWE tenure ended at SummerSlam 2023 when she lost to Shayna Baszler in the first MMA Rules match. While Rousey said in October that she was retired, she’d make a surprise return to the ring outside WWE later that month. In November, Rousey made an appearance for Wrestling Revolver and shocked fans by appearing for the Tony Khan-owned ROH. 

What’s Next? 

Ronda Rousey’s days in the ring are seemingly up, but the former champion hasn’t left the business behind entirely. Rousey will be appearing at WrestleCon in Philadelphia next month where she will be meeting fans and signing copies of her book. 

More Reading Material

Rousey’s book isn’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her ‘The Man’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

Britt Baker and Mercedes Mone may both want to be the top woman in AEW, but that doesn’t mean there’s heat between the pair of former champions. 

Mone arrived in AEW during the Big Business episode of Dynamite, following weeks of speculation that she’d be joining. Mone had hardly been subtle in the run-up to the show, making clear to fans that she was in Boston, MA, her hometown and the host of Big Business, mere hours before the show.

Mone’s Recent Comment 

Mone is poised to do big things in AEW though a recent comment by the CEO has raised some eyebrows. Shortly before her debut, Mone spoke about her WWE run as Sasha Banks and said she is confident she will wrestle for WWE again one day. 

Britt Baker’s Response

Mone’s comment has reportedly led to some heat within AEW as many felt it was a poor move for her to speak about returning to WWE shortly before her All-Elite arrival. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer was the first to report of Mone’s comment not going down well with those in the company. 

When a Twitter account insinuated that Britt Baker had spoken with Meltzer and was his source, the former AEW Women’s World Champion made clear this was not the case. 

This is a fake Facebook post you dumb fuck. Excuse my language, Trips.

You can all post your apologies in the comments below.
?????? https://t.co/QZERLkMwaM

— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 21, 2024

The account in question doubled down on their claim that Baker had been the source for Meltzer. When they said this was an example of a woman fighting harder against the success of another woman, Baker responded yet again. 

Hey Trips! Since this is now your second tweet on this “scoop” can you link me where Dave said I said this? Thank you! Big fan. ??

— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 21, 2024

Britt Baker & Mercedes Mone

It’s ironic that this account is claiming that Baker spread news of the roster being unhappy, as the DMD has been wanting to see Mercedes join AEW for some time. Last August, Baker went as far as to say she was hoping and praying Mone would join AEW following her in-crowd appearance at All In. 

The identity of the masked man who aided Carmelo Hayes on the March 19, episode of WWE NXT isn’t a secret anymore. 

During the show, Trick Williams was ready to fight Hayes but was confronted by Melo’s henchman. A figure then appeared on stage, pretending to be Hayes, which allowed the former NXT Champion the distraction to jump his former ally. 

Masked Man Revealed

The figure who appeared on the stage was none other than head WWE NXT referee Darryl Sharma, aka Adrian Butler, Fightful Select reports. Sharma and the masked man could be seen wearing identical shoes during the show. 

Failure to protect yourself from repeated blows to the head will result in referee stoppage, and a loss via TKO. #WWENXT #wwe #UFC pic.twitter.com/T72oYDcvth

— Darryl Sharma (@AdrianButlerWWE) March 20, 2024

Carmelo Hayes se estaba haciendo pasar por uno de seguridad para engañar a Trick Williams. Genio. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Nnydxgu30H

— LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) March 20, 2024

Sources within WWE NXT also confirmed to Fightful that Sharma was the man in question. 

Who is Darryl Sharma? 

Before donning the stripes as a WWE NXT official, Sharma wrestled under the name ‘Hornet’ around the world. He is a student of the Battle Arts Academy, owned by WWE alum and current TNA name Santino Marella. At the academy, he trained in both wrestling and MMA. He ranked #437 in the PWI 500 ranking in 2016 but joined WWE in November that same year to be a referee. 

Sneak Attacks

Carmelo Hayes is hardly the first Superstar to use subterfuge to get the upper hand. As seen in the video below, several wrestlers have used disguises and other tactics to take out their opponents. 

What’s Next? 

Melo and Trick will face off at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6, mere hours before WWE WrestleMania 40. The show will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, less than a mile away from the Lincoln Financial Field that’ll host WrestleMania. 

Ronda Rousey held nothing back in her recent estimation of Vince McMahon, following the ex-Chairman’s resignation from WWE. 

It’s been just under two months since McMahon’s second exit from wrestling’s top federation, this time due to Janel Grant’s damning lawsuit. Grant alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon during her tenure with WWE. He has denied all allegations. 

Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon

Our Fight by Ronda Rousey is the ex-Superstar’s second book and is due to be released next month. The former WWE Women’s Champion does not hold back in her take on the 78-year-old billionaire. 

In the memoir, Rousey calls McMahon the ‘Emperor Palpatine’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. She adds: 

“It’s hard sometimes to know where the evil, unethical, slimeball character of Vince McMahon played out for the cameras ends and the actual questionably ethical, many times sued, and multiple times accused of sexual misconduct Vince McMahon begins.

“That blurred line between character and reality is a recurring theme within the WWE Universe.”

Restricting Women

As an athlete who redefined what women could do in the world of MMA, the treatment of women is understandably an important theme in the book. When discussing WWE’s Premium Live Events, Rousey suggested that the ultra-conservative views of Saudi Arabia are something McMahon would like to replicate. 

“[PLEs are] held in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, as well as now twice a year in Saudi Arabia, a nation that restricts the rights of women in a way that I’m certain Vince McMahon wishes he could.”

Positive Thoughts

While McMahon is lambasted in Rousey’s memoir, that doesn’t extend to everyone in the family. Rousey has much more positive words for McMahon’s son-in-law Triple H. 

“In addition to being my in-ring WrestleMania nemesis, he is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in history and one of the better people on the business side.”

More Reading Material

Rousey’s book isn’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her ‘The Man’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day celebration.