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WWE 2K24 Blurs Vince McMahon’s Face In Efforts to Distance from Ex-Chairman

WWE 2K24 may be a celebration of 40 years of WrestleMania, but don’t expect to see the event’s founder Vince McMahon.

McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon has claimed that the litigation is rife with fabrications and has claimed he is completely innocent. Former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who is named in the suit, has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation.

Vince McMahon and WWE 2K24

With WWE 2K24 recognizing the promotion’s past, there have been questions as to how WWE would handle McMahon’s presence in important moments. After all, some of WWE’s biggest feuds that led to matches at the Showcase of the Immortals have included the 78-year-old billionaire.

With the game’s Deluxe Edition already out, gamers have been able to get their hands on WWE 2K24. One match in the WrestleMania Showcase mode is the Women’s triple threat that headlined WrestleMania 35 in 2019.

Fans who have played the WrestleMania Showcase mode will have noticed that in archive footage for the WrestleMania 39 match, McMahon appears alongside Charlotte Flair. In the footage of the segment which saw Flair added to the match, McMahon’s face is blurred out. The narration also states WWE replaced Becky Lynch with Flair without mentioning McMahon by name.

Vince McMahon in WWE 2K24’s Showcase mode. 

What’s Next?

The regular edition of WWE 2K24 will be released later this week. As for McMahon, the lawsuit against him will continue forward despite his resignation from the promotion. against the former WWE Chairman.

Posted March 6th, 2024 in WWE 2K24. Tagged: , .

WWE Debunks 33-Year-Old Myth About Why WrestleMania 7 Moved Locations

WWE has come clean about why WrestleMania 7 pay-per-view spectacular was moved from it’s original venue, the Los Angeles Sports Coliseum, to the far-smaller Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

WrestleMania 7 occurred March 24, 1991 during the waning days of the beloved ‘Golden Era’ of the World Wrestling Federation. The company would look very different in just two years time, but in early 1991, the beloved ‘Hogan Era’ was still in full swing. The card featured a total of 15 matches, including The Undertaker winning his WrestleMania debut, the Ultimate Warrior retiring the Macho Man Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan dethroning Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship.

WrestleMania 7 was initially booked for Los Angeles Sports Coliseum, a historic venue that’s hosted the Summer Olympic games twice. It has a maximum capacity around 77,500. WWE had just run the SkyDome in Toronto the prior year, so it wasn’t a crazy idea to book another big stadium the following year. 

WWE Comes Clean

Several months into tickets being on sale, the company made an unprecedented announcement. WrestleMania 7 festivities were being drastically scaled down and would take place in the adjacent Memorial Sports Arena.

The company cited security threats stemming from Sgt. Slaughter’s gimmick at the time, an Iraqi sympathizer who was dear friends with Saddam Hussein. WWE went all-in on Slaughter’s betrayal of America, which certainly got people talking. However, not in the way WWE hoped for. Instead of sparking business and turning around the decline that was starting to take hold, WWE received a lot of negative attention for ‘exploiting’ the military conflict. 

WWE has always asserted that WrestleMania 7 was moved due to the heated nature of the Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter feud, but the truth has come out 33 years later.

During the recent A&E’s Biography special on Sgt. Slaughter that aired Sunday night, WWE finally acknowledged WrestleMania 7 changed locations due to poor ticket sales. Just a month before the event, only 12,500 tickets had been sold, nowhere close to filling up the outdoor stadium. 

Posted March 6th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

The Worst-Rated WWE Video Game Characters You Could Never Win As

With WWE 2K24 around the corner, excitement for the new game is at a fever pitch, with top stars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins all confirmed. 

While these three will have some of the highest ratings in the game, not everyone can have great stats, and there’ll always be somebody with the outright worst ranking in the game. In this feature, we look at some of the worst-ranked playable characters in WWE video games. 

Eric Bischoff – 52 – SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain

Perhaps it was a battle for brand supremacy that led to then-Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff having the lowest ranking in SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain. Bischoff’s martial arts prowess and all-black gi helped little whenever you played as him in the game. 

Ribbie – 60 – WWE 2K20

WWE 2K20 was a disaster of a game but it did give fans their first-ever playable anthropomorphic rack of ribs. Ribbie is the mascot of the Memphis Sliders, a minor baseball team, according to Byron Saxton, and with his BBQ sauce haircut, we imagine wrestlers weren’t eager to face him. 

Curt Hawkins – 64 – WWE 2K19

The master of the losing streak, Curt Hawkins’ unfortunate record was replicated with his woeful score in WWE 2K19. Nowadays, Hawkins is faring much better in TNA Wrestling as Brian Myers. 

Jimmy Hart – 67 – SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008

It makes sense that the Mouth of the South’s rating would be so low, given he very rarely wrestled. This ranking shows that in SVR ’08, Jimmy was best being kept at ringside. 

Bo Dallas – 67- WWE 2K17

All the Bo-lieving in the world couldn’t save Bo Dallas from this dreadful score in WWE 2K17. Good luck winning any titles as the third-generation wrestler! His brother Bray would be well ahead of Bo in the game with a score of 87. 

Sawyer Fulton – 69 – WWE 2K18

The forgotten member of Sanity, Sawyer Fulton’s 69 is the worst in the entire WWE 2K18 game. What makes this worse is that this would mark Fulton’s first and only time in a video game. 

Eric Bischoff (again) – 69 – WWE 2K22

Things clearly picked up for Easy-E between Here Comes The Pain and WWE 2K22, but that wasn’t enough to save him from having the worst rating once again. Sorry Eric!

Michael Cole & Jim Ross – 71 – WWE ’12

These WWE commentators shared the same woeful rating in WWE ’12, so it’s only fair we lump them together. Frankly though, why anyone would play as either man, especially Cole, is anyone’s guess. 

Posted March 6th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Rhea Ripley Says She’s Ready to Step in the Ring with CM Punk

Rhea Ripley has never been afraid to go toe-to-toe with male Superstars in WWE, and now she wants her shot with the Best in the World. 

During an interview with the BWGS Podcast, Ripley spoke about growing up watching WWE and being enamored by the likes of Triple H, The Miz, and CM Punk. When asked about which of the three she’d like to face, Ripley set her sights on the Best in the World. 

”I would like to face Punk… with the way that he did his promos and the way that he just did everything. It was always entertaining and I feel like if I were to step into a storyline… it would definitely help skyrocket Rhea Ripley to the next level sort of thing.”

Rhea Ripley Vs. The Men

Ripley hasn’t been shy when it comes to taking on male Superstars during her tenure with WWE. Before his inclusion in the Judgment Day, Dominik Mysterio often fell victim to attacks by Ripley in 2022. Superstars who have fallen victim to ‘Mami’ include AJ Styles, Matt Riddle, Akira Tozawa, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Luke Gallows, as seen in the video below. 

What’s Next for Rhea Ripley? 

Ripley won’t face a man at WrestleMania, but rather ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch. The Irish Superstar won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match last month to earn a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40. This will be the sixth title match for Lynch at WrestleMania, and the fourth for Ripley. 

H/T – POST Wrestling

Posted March 6th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

Fourth-Generation Wrestler Receives New Name For WWE TV Debut At NXT Roadblock 2024

A fourth-generation Superstar who recently joined WWE NXT will not be going by his family name, as confirmed this week. 

The March 5, 2024, episode of WWE NXT was the gold brand’s ‘Roadblock’ special and saw the developmental roster continue to build towards NXT Stand & Deliver. In the main event, Tony D’Angelo defeated Carmelo Hayes to earn a shot at NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov at the April event. Hayes was also confronted by the returning Trick Williams, who was betrayed by Melo at NXT Vengeance Day. 

A New Name

NXT Roadblock saw the in-ring return of Shawn Spears, following his return to WWE NXT on last week’s show. Spears made quick work of Uriah Connors before attempting to goad Ridge Holland into a fight. 

Fans of New Japan Pro Wrestling may have recognised Connors, despite this being his first TV match for WWE NXT. Connor is better known as Brogan Finlay, the son of former WWE United States Champion Dave ‘Fit’ Finlay. The younger Finlay signed with WWE recently and made his in-ring debut at an NXT live event last month. 

Uriah Connors legacy in wrestling stretches back past his legendary father. His grandfather, Dave Finlay Sr. was also a wrestler, who received an MBE this year for services to wrestling. His great-grandfather was also a professional wrestler. 

More Multi-Generation Events

Uriah Connors wasn’t the only multi-generational star to be on this week’s WWE NXT. Charlie Dempsey was with the No Quarter Catch Crew, one week on from his NXT Heritage Cup win. Dempsey’s promo was interrupted by the returning William Regal, in his first WWE TV appearance since re-signing with the company over a year ago. 

Regal spoke of the imporance of defending the NXT Heritage Cup with integrity but Dempsey was not interested in what his father had to say. WWE made no reference to the familial bond between the two

Posted March 6th, 2024 in NXT.

Trash Talk Heats Up As Rollins & McIntyre Command WWE WrestleMania 40 Spotlight

Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre’s war of words continued after this week’s Raw and their feud may be the most personal one fans see at WrestleMania 40. 

McIntyre earned a World Heavyweight Championship match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. This will be the third World Championship match for both men at WrestleMania. The match will mark Rollins’ first title defense as a WWE World Champion at the Showcase of the Immortals. 

A Spotlight Junkie

During this week’s Raw, McIntyre had some choice words for Rollins and declared the World Heavyweight Champion a “spotlight junkie.” McIntyre’s point was that when something big happens, Rollins can usually be found latching on to it. Drew gave several examples including CM Punk’s return to WWE last year, Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, and his involvement with The Rock’s return and alliance with The Bloodline. 

McIntyre added that Rollins should have been focusing on Monday Night Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship. The Scottish Warrior added that the title in question deserves better than Seth whose life as a ‘junkie’ has also cost the champion physically. 

Seth Rollins Fires Back

Rollins wasn’t going to take the notion that he hasn’t been focused on Raw or the World Heavyweight Championship. In a scathing response made after Raw, Rollins said that he had been working for the last two years to ensure “jackoffs” like McIntyre have a championship to compete for at WrestleMania. 

McIntyre had a response of his own, questioning where this focus has been from the World Heavyweight Champion. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WWE WrestleMania will take place on April 6, and April 7. The show will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. 

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

Watch: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins & Jey Uso Share Unique Gifts After 3/4 WWE Raw

The excitement didn’t stop once this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air from San Antonio, Texas. 

The March 5, 2024, edition of the red brand saw WWE continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins declared that they are coming to this week’s SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns & The Rock. It’ll be the first time the four men have come face to face since the explosive WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. 

What Happened After Monday Night Raw?

In the chaotic closing moments of Raw, Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso thanks to interference from Jimmy Uso. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins would send Jimmy scarpering but Rollins would eat a Claymore Kick from the man who’ll face him at WrestleMania 40. 

After Raw went off the air, Cody would deliver some payback for his ally by attacking McIntyre with a steel chair. In the ring, Rhodes, Rollins, and Jey regrouped. After speaking of a fan who’d used a whistle throughout the show, Rhodes thanked the fans in San Antonio for coming out. He and Rollins gifted a couple of steel chairs to members of the WWE Universe while Jey threw his signed shoes into the crowd. 

What’s Next? 

As mentioned, Seth Rollins will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at the event. It is believed that a tag match, pitting Rollins and Rhodes against Reigns and The Rock will headline WrestleMania: Saturday. 

Currently, no plans have been confirmed for Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40. It is believed that he will face Jimmy at the two-night April show, and their father Rikishi would like to be a part of that feud. 

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

Legendary Tough Wrestler Rumored For WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Induction

One of wrestling’s most legitimately tough men and a former WWE Tag Champion could be joining Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. 

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, it was noted that Haku’s name has come up as a potential WWE Hall of Fame inductee.

Haku is the father of Tama Tonga, who recently signed with WWE after wrapping up his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. TKO Board Member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has previously called Haku his uncle, though the pair are not blood-related. 

Haku in the Ring

Haku’s sole championship win in WWE saw him hold the Tag Team Championships with Andre the Giant. Haku held several titles in the NWA and other promotions, including Puerto Rico’s WWC. 

During his time in WCW, Haku, known as Meng, won the WCW Hardcore Championship. In one of the final defections of the Monday Night War, Haku returned to the WWF in January 2001 while still holding the WCW Hardcore title.

The Toughest Man in Wrestling

Haku, who also competed as Meng, is widely regarded by wrestlers to be one of, if not the toughest man to ever step in the ring. 

Ric Flair once described Haku as “the toughest son of a b**** I’ve ever met” and said he would have dominated MMA had he entered the Octagon. 

Many more of his contemporaries have acknowledged Haku as the most legitimately tough person in wrestling, Hulk Hogan, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Goldberg, Big Van Vader, and The Rock. 

One legendary tale of Haku’s toughness saw the wrestler get into an altercation with some men at a Baltimore Airport bar in 1989. After the men called wrestling fake, Haku handily fought the men, despite being outnumbered, and bit the nose off of one of the individuals. 

Shane Douglas once said that he’d be better off fighting the U.S. Army than legitimately fighting Haku. He also recalled an incident when law enforcement attempted to restrain Haku, who was able to fight them off. 

During the altercation, Haku was hit in the face with a baton while sprayed with a can of mace but neither caused him any pain. 

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

WWE Triumphs On Cameo As Platform’s #1 Searched Category

WWE’s current product is doing big business and has proven to be a hit with fans and the company’s efforts are also being recognized by users of Cameo. 

On Twitter, Cameo asked its followers what they think is the most searched term on the platform, before revealing that WWE has taken the top spot. This caught the attention of the USA Network, which hosts Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT, who was pleased with the result.

Wrestling’s Top Cameo Earners

Cameo allows fans to receive personal videos from their favorite WWE Superstars and legends for a price that can vary. In November 2022, Mick Foley was revealed as the highest-earning sports figure on the platform, earning over $500,000 that year. Second to Foley was Bret Hart followed by AEW’s Matt Hardy and Danhausen. 

WWE And Cameo

WWE has had a unique history with Cameo. In 2020, WWE clamped down on third-party deals featuring Superstars. Then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself oversaw a meeting in which he made clear that deals with Twitch, Cameo, and Only fans would no longer be allowed.

This decision saw backlash from fans, given that the COVID-19 pandemic meant that Superstars were unable to make extra income from in-person interactions (such as at conventions.) The situation worsened when WWE announced that The Undertaker would be making Cameos to mark his ‘Final Farewell’ that November, while full-time Superstars were still banned.

When Zelina Vega spoke against the van and expressed her support for unionization, she was fired minutes later. Vega was brought back to WWE the following year and WWE relaxed its ban on third-party deals in 2022.  

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE.

John Cena Says He Will Always Be “WWE Family First” Over Hollywood Success

John Cena is becoming a leading name in Hollywood, but the 16-time World Champion will always choose his WWE family above anything else. 

One plastered across WWE programming, Cena has become a rarer sight in the ring in recent years as his acting career continues to grow. Cena’s most recent match took place at WWE Crown Jewel and saw him lose (another rarity) to Solo Sikoa.

John Cena and WWE’s Family First

On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, Cena was asked about transitioning from WWE to acting and in what role he feels that transition was made official. WWE’s Greatest of All Time stated that he’ll never stop seeing as a member of WWE’s ‘family’ before anything else. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever not be a member of the WWE family first… from my perspective, the switch has never happened. You know me, I always speak fondly of WWE, my time and experience there.”

Cena also made sure to credit the fans, both those who supported him and those who reviled him, for making him the performer he is today.

“I can’t tell you how much the audience has made me the man I am today. Having to deal with all the polarizing audiences. We’ve seen a lot of performers not be able to do that and to have to do that for so, so long, it teaches you about you and you really go through a journey of self-worth, so I don’t think I’ll ever not be WWE family first.”

What’s Next? 

John Cena is eager to do something at WrestleMania 40, though it is unclear if a match for the former World Champion is in the cards. There are also concerns that Cena’s Peacemaker schedule could keep him from the show of shows. WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on April 6, and April 7. 

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: .

Watch: Drew McIntyre Taunts CM Punk Fans With “Victory Lap” After WWE Raw

WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre had some fun after this week’s episode of Raw, at the expense of fans who have rallied behind CM Punk. 

McIntyre has taken credit for CM Punk’s torn triceps injury which will prevent the ex-AEW star from competing at WrestleMania. McIntyre has even gone as far as to say he’s ‘saved’ WrestleMania by ridding the show of Punk, ensuring that Cody Rhodes would win the Men’s Royal Rumble and challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. 

Drew McIntyre Taunts CM Punk Fans

On this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, McIntyre defeated Jey Uso in the show’s main event. McIntyre would send a message after the match by leveling WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins with a Claymore Kick.

After Raw, McIntyre shared a video as he prepared to leave the area. The Scottish Warrior noticed a gaggle of fans who heavily booed McIntyre. After a CM Punk chant broke out, McIntyre played Punk’s theme to antagonize the crowd. McIntyre found it hilarious as he embarked on his “victory lap” in front of the fans.

What’s Next?

After winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia, McIntyre’s Road to WrestleMania is crystal clear. The Scottish Warrior will challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at the two-night event this April. On this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, it was stated that this match will take place on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

CM Punk won’t be competing at WrestleMania 40, but they still could still see an appearance from the Best in the World. CM Punk has been advertised for the April 1, go-home episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

Rikishi Teases Getting Involved in Jimmy Vs. Jey Uso Feud, Says There’s “A Piece Missing”

Jimmy and Jey Uso appear to be on course to a match at WrestleMania 40, and their father Rikishi is open to being a part of their story. 

At WWE SummerSlam 2023, Jimmy betrayed his brother during the Tribal Combat match, costing his brother the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. While Jimmy said he did what he did to protect his brother, Jimmy has since done all he can to interfere with his brother’s plans.

Last week on Raw, Jimmy distracted Jey, costing his brother in his Intercontinental Championship match with GUNTHER. During this week’s show, Jimmy again got involved, costing Jey in the main event match against Drew McIntyre. 

Rikishi Getting Involved?

It’s been reported for some time that a match at WrestleMania 40 pitting Jimmy against Jey is in the works. Many fans have argued that their father WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi should have a role in the feud, potentially as the special guest referee. Speaking at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling convention in Manchester, UK, Rikishi teased getting involved when asked about the rumored match. 

“I think it’s going to be a good match for WrestleMania. But there’s just a piece missing in that match. What do you guys think? There’s a piece missing. We’ve got Jey Vs. Jimmy. But there’s just that [piece missing.] Is it #WeWantRikishi?” 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WWE WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night event, a tradition established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The card for the show as it currently stands is as follows:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
  • GUNTHER (c) vs. Winner of Next week’s WWE Raw Gauntlet Match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
  • Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso (EXPECTED)

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

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

WWE Alum Blasts ‘Unnecessary’ Darby Allin AEW Revolution 2024 Spot: “Tell A Story & Make Fans Care”

Darby Allin once again shocked the world with his performance at AEW Revolution 2024, but one ex-WWE name found one spot to be entirely unnecessary. 

At AEW Revolution 2024, Allin and Sting retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships in the main event of the show. Allin, as expected, held nothing back in the match and displayed the caution-to-the-wind attitude that has made him a hit with fans. One particular dangerous spot saw Allin sent off a ladder through panes of glass. 

The Coach On AEW’s “Unnecessary” Spot

This is hardly Allin’s first death-defying stunt in an AEW ring, but it may have been his most dangerous spot of all time (to date!) Taking to Twitter, former WWE personality Jonathan  Coachman blasted the spot as unnecessary. Coachman acknowledged that his opinion will hardly go down well with AEW’s “army” of fans.

“Ok AEW army come after me. This is bananas and SO unnecessary. Can someone please teach the writers and Tony Khan that if you tell a good story you don’t have to do that crap and damn near kill yourself. Other than Mick Foley find any videos of a top star from WWE doing anything this reckless. I am all about getting talked about after a show but my god. If he hits one of those chairs he could have paralyzed himself and broken his back. Tell a story and make the fans care. Then this won’t have to happen or even be talked about doing.”

What’s Next? 

Sting is not interested in being a manager on AEW programming, but is open to talks with Tony Khan about a backstage role. As for the AEW World Tag Team Championships, they have been vacated and a tournament will determine the next set of champions. 

Posted March 5th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

John Cena Says His Next WWE World Championship Win Will Be His Favorite

Which of John Cena’s WWE World Championships does the Hollywood star cherish the most? According to the man himself, it’ll be the next time he holds WWE gold. 

Due to his blossoming career in Hollywood, Cena hasn’t been a full-time competitor for WWE in years. Cena competed in four televised matches in 2023, the most in one year for ‘Big Match John’ since 2018. His most recent match saw him lose to The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa at WWE Crown Jewel in November of last year. 

John Cena Teases 17th World Championship

At 16 WWE World Championships, Cena ties the record with Ric Flair for the most recognized title wins. Fans have often discussed the possibility of Cena surpassing the Nature Boy though that seems increasingly unlikely given his acting schedule. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet of Insight though, Cena was asked for his favorite World Championship win and teased one more run. 

“My next one [is my favorite.] I have often said that the time is coming for me to hang them up and I’m not lying when I say, but it’s not tomorrow. It’s probably soon but not tomorrow, so you never know.”

John Cena’s World Championship Wins

Cena’s first WWE World Championship would come at WrestleMania 21 when he ended the reign of JBL, who had been the longest-reigning WWE Champion for the prior decade before his defeat. Five of Cena’s World Championship reigns came by defeating WWE Hall of Famers, with Edge falling victim to the Chaingang leader on three separate occasions. His most recent World Championship win came at the 2017 Royal Rumble PLE and saw John dethrone AJ Styles. 

Posted March 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: .

Wrestling World Reacts to Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction Announcement

The wrestling world has shared their respect for Paul Heyman following the news that Heyman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame later this year. 

The industry veteran who today serves as the special counsel to The Bloodline is the first name confirmed for this year’s class of inductees. It’s fitting that Heyman is being inducted in Philadelphia, as ECW is synonymous with the City of Brotherly Love. 

Reactions to Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame

With such a significant career in wrestling, many stars have paid tribute to Heyman ahead of his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made it clear he acknowledges the Wise Man. 

Heyman’s fellow ECW alum Bully Ray was happy to welcome Paul E. into the club of WWE Hall of Famers. The Dudley Boyz took their spot in 2018. 

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce may have had issues with the Bloodline, but he was able to recognize that Heyman’s induction is well deserved. 

Tommy Dreamer, another man who worked closely with Heyman in ECW, was appreciative of all that Paul had done for the industry. 

Sam Roberts, who has worked with WWE and Heyman several times, is excited to hear what Heyman has to say in his induction. 

Triple H was pleased to share the news of the induction of the legendary wrestling personality. 

Rafael Morffi, who until recently was a VP for All Elite Wrestling, also shared his congratulations to Heyman.

WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Heyman is so far the only name confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, following that night’s edition of SmackDown on FOX. Heyman will become the first active manager to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

Posted March 4th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

Paul Heyman To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Paul Heyman, the legendary manager of some of WWE’s biggest stars, will take his place in the WWE Hall of Fame later this year. 

The Associated Press broke the news of Heyman’s induction, which will fittingly take place in Philadelphia, PA. Heyman is no stranger to the City of Brotherly Love, where ECW held some of its biggest shows with the industry veteran at the helm. In a statement to the AP, Heyman recalled the efforts made in the original ECW. 

“The extreme in ECW stood for the work ethic involved… The legacy of ECW is firmly rooted in the very simple concepts of paying attention to the cultural curve and obsessively trying to stay a few steps ahead of it.”

Paul Heyman Isn’t Finished Yet

While Heyman will soon be a WWE Hall of Famer, this won’t mark the end of his current work on TV as part of The Bloodline. Speaking to the Associated Press, Heyman made clear that there is still work to be done.

“I consistently feel like I’m just getting started, and I’m just figuring this out. To me, what is an incomplete body of work, because there’s still things I want to accomplish, I never felt comfortable accepting that is a reflection upon an entire career.” 

Triple H Reacts

On WWE programming, Paul Heyman and Triple H have often been rivals, with Heyman being in Brock Lesnar’s corner when the Beast feuded with the Game in 2012 and 2013. On Twitter though, the WWE COO was pleased to share his take on Heyman’s impending induction. 

WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Heyman is so far the only name confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, following that night’s edition of SmackDown on FOX. Heyman will become the first active manager to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

Posted March 4th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

Darby Allin Is “Still Alive” After Insane AEW Revolution 2024 Spot, Will Climb Mt. Everest This Month

Darby Allin will begin his most dangerous stunt to date later this month when the AEW star attempts to reach the summit of the imposing Mt. Everest.

Last May, Allin shared his intentions to climb Mt. Everest, in the latest escalation of his out-of-the-ring death-defying stunts. The following month, he declared that not only would he scale the mountain, but he would proudly place a flag bearing the logo of AEW on the summit. 

Darby Allin on Mt. Everest

At AEW Revolution 2024, Allin and Sting retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships in the main event of the show. Allin, as expected, held nothing back in the match and displayed the caution-to-the-wind attitude that has made him a hit with fans. One particular dangerous spot saw Allin sent off a ladder through panes of glass. 

On the AEW Revolution 2024 media scrum, Allin felt it was important to let fans know he’s still alive after the spot. 

“I wanted to come here to let people know I was still alive. I was in the middle of getting stitched up, but I wanted to show everybody that the doctors are on top of it, I’m still breathing. I feel fine, and as long as Flair, Steamboat, Sting, the Bucks, everybody else feels fine, then we’re beautiful.”

Allin then discussed his plans to climb Everest and said he will start for the summit within a matter of weeks.  

“I talked to the doctors. They gave me a doctor’s note to climb Mount Everest. I leave on March 27.”

The Dangers of Everest

According to Himalayan databases, at least 322 people have died attempting to scale the mountain since records began in 1922. Climbers who perish on the mountain are often left there, due to the risks related to removing the body, a sign of their dedication to climbing, and as a somber reminder to others of the dangers of nature. 

One landmark on Everest is ‘Green Boots,’ which is the body of an unidentified climber on the Northeast Ridge route who is noticeable for his brightly colored boots. While never officially identified, it is believed to be the body of Tsewang Paljor, an Indian member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition who died as part of a 1996 climbing disaster. 

One part of the mountain has been named ‘Rainbow Valley’ in reference to the bodies of deceased climbers still wearing bright thermal clothing.

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

Posted March 4th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Revolution 2024: Wrestling Legends Came to Greensboro for Sting’s Final Match

Some of the most legendary names in pro wrestling descended on Greensboro, NC last night to watch the final match of the Icon known as Sting. 

In the main event of the show, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, who with their heel term have ditched their Young Bucks moniker. This win means that Sting will end his AEW career undefeated. After the show, Sting spoke passionately to the fans in attendance and was grateful for all the support he has been shown during his retirement tour and throughout his professional wrestling career. 

Wrestling Legends at AEW Revolution 2024

Given the influence of Sting’s career on pro wrestling, it was fitting that some legends of the mat made the trip to Greensboro to support the legend. In the crowd during AEW Revolution 2024, fans could spot Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, and Scotty Riggs. 

Ric Flair was also at AEW Revolution 2024. Flair has been a key component of Sting’s retirement tour since joining AEW last year. Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat and Lex Luger were also reported to have been in attendance. 

What’s Next? 

During the AEW Revolution media scrum, Sting made clear he’s done in the ring and does not want to be a manager or agent. Sting said that Tony Khan has spoken with him about staying on with AEW in some form but nothing has been worked out yet. 

The AEW World Tag Team Championships have been vacated now that Sting has retired from the ring. A tournament will determine the next team to hold the gold. 

Posted March 4th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Revolution 2024: Sting Didn’t Want Last Match With Anyone Other Than The Young Bucks

Sting’s final wrestling match was a spectacle to behold at AEW Revolution 2024, and the Icon didn’t want to end his career against anyone other than the Young Bucks. 

In the main event of the show, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, who with their heel term have ditched their Young Bucks moniker. This win means that Sting will end his AEW career undefeated. 

Sting’s Final Opponents

In the weeks leading up to AEW Revolution 2024, much was said about the Jackson brothers being given the honor of being Sting’s final opponents. Some believed a singles match should have marked the end of Sting’s career, possibly against Allin. The more cynical of fans argued that the Jacksons were inserting themselves into a storyline they didn’t need to be a part of.

Sting on Matthew & Nicholas Jackson

Sting was allowed a ton of say over his final match; a sign of respect and appreciation from Tony Khan. Sitting down with Sports Illustrated, Sting made clear that he chose to face the brothers, not the other way around. 

“Whose choice was it? It was mine. Matt and Nick, they deserve everything good that’s coming at them. I didn’t want to do this last hurrah with anyone else.”

The Icon added that he doesn’t care about “rumors” that are spread about the AEW EVPs and reiterated that he has immense respect for the brothers. 

“I don’t see any flaws in these guys in the ring… They consider AEW as a whole and what’s best for their opponents. I have so much respect for these guys.”

What’s Next? 

During the AEW Revolution media scrum, Sting made clear he’s done in the ring and does not want to be a manager or agent. Sting said that Tony Khan has spoken with him about staying on with AEW in some form but nothing has been worked out yet. 

Posted March 4th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

AEW Revolution 2024: Wrestling World Reacts to Sting’s Final Match

The wrestling world has shared their appreciation for the legendary Sting following his final wrestling match that happened at AEW Revolution 2024. 

In the main event of the show, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, formerly known as the Young Bucks. This win means that Sting will end his AEW career undefeated. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

With Sting being such an inspiration to wrestlers, it’s hardly a surprise that many in the industry have paid tribute to the legend. On Twitter, Heath shared a selfie with the WWE Hall of Famer. 

https://twitter.com/HEATHXXII/status/1764530570816610806

WWE Superstar Kevin Owens shared a video of himself delivering the iconic Sting yell. 

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/1764508177708490998

AEW commentator Jim Ross was appreciative to Tony Khan that he was able to call Sting’s final match. JR had a blast working with Tony Schiavone and Excalibur. 

Shawn Spears, who recently returned to WWE NXT, had some choice language immediately after Sting’s final match. 

Stokely Hathaway used a gif of Darby Allin’s dive through a pane of glass, saying it was akin to Sean Kingston when he saw a beautiful girl. The song of the same name by Kingston includes the lyrics “You’ll have me suicidal, suicidal.”

AEW’s Matt Hardy was simply grateful that he was able to work with Sting before the Icon called it a career. 

Sting may not have worked with TNA Wrestling in a decade, but the promotion made sure to show their appreciation for the Icon. 

Ethan Page was among the many wrestlers who appreciated being able to work with Sting. 

Dustin Rhodes felt that Sting had an incredible outing in his final-ever wrestling match. 

And in a tweet of his own, Sting was thankful to the Greensboro crowd for giving him a fantastic response. 

Posted March 4th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Dynasty Announced: New PPV Coming to St Louis. on Sun., April 21

All Elite Wrestling’s ever-growing pay-per-view schedule will stretch even further this year following the announcement of AEW Dynasty. 

During Sunday’s AEW Revolution 2024 PPV from Greensboro, North Carolina, the promotion announced a new event, AEW Dynasty, will take place on April 21, from St Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 8 at Ticketmaster, with a limited pre-sale being held Wednesday, 3/6.

AEW filed a trademark for the Dynasty term in late February. With talk of AEW expanding its annual PPV calendar to nine events, wrestling fans who follow the news cycle closely made the connection that Dynasty might be a new AEW PPV.

AEW’s Updated PPV List

All Elite Wrestling launched with a quarterly PPV schedule including Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out and Full Gear.

In 2022, AEW added the NJPW crossover event Forbidden Door tot he schedule. Last year, we saw the additions of All In, WrestleDream and Worlds End.

Dynasty bridges the gap between AEW’s Revolution event that takes place in March and Double or Nothing that happens each May.  The arrival of AEW Dynasty brings the number of annual events in Tony Khan’s company to nine, over double the original number of shows:

  • Revolution
  • Dynasty
  • Double or Nothing
  • Forbidden Door
  • All In
  • All Out
  • WrestleDream
  • Full Gear
  • Worlds End

Wrestling in St. Louis

AEW Dynasty will mark the first AEW pay-per-view to take place in the city of St Louis. AEW has hosted four shows from St Louis, including two episodes of AEW Rampage and an episode of AEW Dark. 

The March 29, 2023, edition of AEW Dynamite took place in St Louis. The show saw the AEW International and IWGP United States Heavyweight Championships on the line with Orange Cassidy and Kenny Omega retaining against The Butcher and Jeff Cobb respectively. The main event saw Adam Cole defeat Daniel Garcia in the Undisputed Kingdom leader’s first match in close to a year following a serious concussion. 

Posted March 4th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Sting, Darby Allin, Ric Flair & Others Gifted Engraved Black Baseball Bats at AEW Revolution

The icon known as Sting, alongside others, was gifted a commemorative, engraved baseball bat to mark the end of his in-ring career at the AEW Revolution 2024 event. 

Back in October of last year, Sting announced he would be retiring at the Revolution pay-per-view. Choosing Revolution as the event to end his career was a significant one for the Stinger, who made his wrestling debut for AEW at the very same event in 2021. 

It was fitting that Sting’s retirement took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, a city he competed in countless times during his days with the NWA and World Championship Wrestling. 

Honoring Wrestling Royalty

The Greensboro Coliseum Complex was pleased to gift Sting an engraved black baseball bat, complete with his name as well as the name and date of AEW Revolution 2024. 

The Icon wasn’t the only one to receive a gift, as Tony Khan, Darby Allin, Ric Flair, the ‘Greensboro G.O.A.T’ Tony Schiavone, and the ‘Hall of Fame Voice of Wrestling’ Jim Ross also received a commemorative bat. 

Sting and the Greensboro Coliseum

Sting has a handful of memories inside the Greensboro Coliseum ahead of his final match. The Icon was the cornerman for Lex Luger at WrestleWar 1990.

In the main event of the show, Luger unsuccessfully challenged NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, who was accompanied by Woman.

In the main event of the December 22, 2021, edition of AEW Dynamite, Sting teamed with CM Punk and Darby Allin to defeat MJF and FTR. 

Posted March 3rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Revolution 2024: Backstage News on Kyle O’Reilly’s Return

Kyle O’Reilly has made his return to AEW programming but things may be much different for him now he’s back. 

O’Reilly appeared at AEW Revolution 2023 following Roderick Strong’s International Title win over Orange Cassidy. Despite his ties with Strong, O’Reilly didn’t seem aligned with his Undisputed Era alum. At first, he appeared to stalk Strong before embracing and would walk away from the Undisputed Kingdom when they offered him a shirt. 

In a backstage exclusive, O’Reilly spoke with Lexy Nair and shared his thoughts on his return. 

Kyle O’Reilly’s Return

O’Reilly’s journey back to AEW has been a long road, to say the least, after he underwent neck fusion surgery in late 2022. There were times during his absence when the company operated on the possibility that he may have never been able to return, Fightful Select reports. By late 2023 however, AEW was said to be optimistic about his comeback. 

Several viewers saw O’Reilly traveling into town, and word of his return was known within AEW. However, some thought it would happen further into March instead of at Revolution.

What’s Next for Kyle O’Reilly? 

Kyle O’Reilly appeared at AEW Revolution 2024 with a new look and Fightful was told that there are other elements that will be different for him. It had been expected that O’Reilly would have been part of the Undisputed Kingdom reveal but a different plan has been in the works for him for month. 

Adding Bobby Fish? 

With Kyle O’Reilly’s return, three-quarters of the Undisputed Era are once again on AEW programming. The report notes that AEW hasn’t had any recent talks with Bobby Fish for him to come and join the group. Fish had been with AEW but left in 2022. He would later join IMPACT (now TNA) Wrestling. 

Posted March 3rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Revolution 2024: Blackpool Combat Club Pays Tribute to the Road Warriors

The Blackpool Combat Club hoped to channel the intensity of the Road Warriors at the AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. 

The much-anticipated tag-team match with FTR was the fifth match on the main card and the seventh match of the evening if you include the pre-show. The Blackpool Combat Club was represented by Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley and wasted no time in paying tribute to the legendary tag team. During their entrance, the duo wore spiked shoulder pads similar to what fans had seen for years from Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal.

BCC Vs. FTR

While the action started slow between these two methodical teams, it quickly descended into a brawl, including one spot where Moxley mocked Cash Wheeler after sending him outside the ring, telling him “I don’t think you’re sh*t!”

While it was the BCC with the Road Warrior homage, FTR attempted to hit the Doomsday Device on Castagnoli, who was able to escape. The BCC duo would hit a successful Doomsday Device later on.

The finish of the match saw Mox hit the Death Rider on Dax, who was able to kick out. Moxley then slapped on the rear choke and Wheeler’s attempts to interfere were thwarted by Castagnoli. This would see the Blackpool Combat Club get the win. 

Who Has Rocked the Pads? 

The BCC isn’t the first set of wrestlers outside the Road Warriors to have donned the iconic spiked shoulder pads. For WrestleMania 13 in 1997, Ahmed Johnson donned the pads to team with the Road Warriors for their Street Fight with the Nation of Domination. In 1998, Droz joined the group as a third Road Warrior in a tasteless angle that saw Hawk deal with alcohol abuse and ‘fall’ off the titan tron. 

It’d be close to a decade before fans saw somebody new don the pads. In 2005, Animal began teaming with Heidenreich as Hawk had passed away in 2003. Heidenreich donned the shoulder pads and the pair enjoyed a brief reign as WWE Tag Team Champions.  

Posted March 3rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , , , .

Hana Kimura’s Mother Grateful For Recent Meeting with Mercedes Mone

The mother of Hana Kimura was delighted to recently meet with Mercedes Mone, who has been a vocal supporter of the late wrestler.  

On Twitter, Hana’s mother Kyoko, a wrestler in her own right, shared some photos with the former WWE Superstar. Kyoko Kimura said her heart was “peaceful” when she met with Mone and that the pair spent time in one of Hana’s favorite locations. Kyoko Kimura also thanked Mone for a wonderful evening. 

Mercedes Mone & Hana Kimura

After Kimura’s death in 2022, Mone, who worked as Sasha Banks at the time, wore a black armband during an episode of SmackDown with Hana’s name on it. Years later, Mone wore a Hana Kimura-themed attire for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2023, complete with Hana’s signature gasmask. The show saw Mone defeat KAIRI to become the second-ever IWGP Women’s Champion. 

Hana Kimura

Hana Kimura took her own life in May 2020 following abuse online stemming from her appearance on the Japanese reality show Terrace House: Tokyo. Earlier in the day of her death, Kimura had shared some of the hateful messages, including racist abuse, she had received stemming from her appearance on the show. 

In December 2020, Hana’s death was officially ruled as a suicide. That same month, a man was arrested and admitted to sending harmful messages but said he couldn’t forgive Hana for her actions on the program. In 2021, the man was issued a ¥9000 ($80 USD) fine, prompting outrage that the punishment was too lenient.

In June 2022, Japan’s parliament passed a law in which “online insults” were punishable by one year imprisonment in response to Kimura’s online bullying. Offenders convicted can also face a fine of up to ¥300,000 ($2,200 USD.)

Posted March 3rd, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , .

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