Following Baszler’s shocking debut on Raw, WWE continued to build momentum for her. That year, Baszler won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match to earn a title match with Lynch, and in a display of dominance, eliminated everyone else inside the Chamber structure.
Despite being built up to be a genuine threat to Lynch, Baszler lost in their title match at WrestleMania 36. In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir The Man, Lynch explained that she asked WWE to let her lose the title to the Queen of Spades.
“I had recommended that she take the title from me at WrestleMania… I had been a babyface champion for so long and could feel the audience beginning to turn on me. I had gone from underdog to top dog and such a situation can’t overstay its welcome.”
Lynch was confident that losing the title to Baszler at WrestleMania 36 was the right call but WWE disagreed with that idea.
“We needed to make more female contenders and what better way to do that than having them win the title on the grandest stage of them all? Everyone wins. Except me, whose request was denied. I wanted to lose, but I would actually win, so it was a loss… Sigh. Wrestling is confusing.”
What Happened Next?
Within weeks of her unwanted win over Baszler, Lynch vacated the Raw Women’s Title due to her pregnancy. Asuka would be awarded the title 24 hours after her victory in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. While Baszler would capture the Women’s Tag Team Championships with Nia Jax that same year, she’s still yet to get a singles Women’s title win on the main roster.
WWE’s dominant Bloodline was represented at House of Glory’s Reckoning event thanks to a member of the Anoa’i wrestling family working the show.
In the fourth match of the night, Lance Anoa’i challenged HOG Crown Jewel Champion Carlos Ramirez. Lance was introduced as “representing the Bloodline” and got many chants and gestures for it. Anoa’i also did moves connected to his family who are dominating on WWE SmackDown. Despite this, Ramirez hit a coast-to-coast headbutt followed by a pump handle driver to retain his title.
House of Glory Reckoning also saw several names from TNA Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling appear on the card. From AEW, fans in attendance saw Danhausen, Penta El Zero Miedo, and reigning HOG Heavyweight Champion Mike Santana on the card. TNA was represented by The Rascalz, Alex Shelley, and the new TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali.
House of Glory Reckoning Results
Here are the results for the House of Glory Reckoning event:#
HOG Cruiserweight Championship Suicidal Six-Way: KC Navarro defeats Nolo Kitano (c) (w/ The Anunnakis), Raheem Royal, Daron Richardson, Jay Armani, and Jay Lyon
Danhausen (w/ Brian Quinn) defeats “Sweet Cheeks” Joey Silver
Kamar Kouture & Kiki Van Gogh defeat Diamond Virago & The Ultra Violette
HOG Crown Jewel Championship: Carlos Ramirez (c) defeats The Bloodline’s Lance Anoa’i
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) defeats Cash Flow Inc. (Ken Broadway & J Boujii)
Charles Mason defeats Midas Black (w/ Jay Lyon)
Mustafa Ali defeats Alex Shelley
HOG Heavyweight Championship: Mike Santana (c) defeats Penta El Zero Miedo
Former WWE star William ‘Billy Jack’ Haynes will face trial next month on charges connected to the death of his wife earlier this year.
Haynes will stand trial on April 11, on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. These charges are in relation to the death of his wife Janette Becraft, 85, who died in Portland, Oregon, several weeks ago.
Billy Jack Haynes Arrest
Haynes was arrested in February 2024 after the authorities were called following gunfire being heard by neighbors. A tense standoff with officers ended as Haynes “eventually came out” of his home and was detained.
Trained by the legendary Stu Hart, Haynes broke into the wrestling business in the 80s and joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1986. Haynes feuded with Randy Savage over the Intercontinental Championship and later with Hercules Hernandez over who was stronger. Haynes and Hernandez fought in the ‘Battle of the Full Nelsons’ at WrestleMania 3, as both men used this move as a signature hold.
Haynes left the WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. In one version of his exit, Haynes quit the WWF after refusing to do a job in his hometown of Portland. Another telling of his exit said that he wrestled the match and the finish and was fired afterward.
AEW President Tony Khan will always appreciate what Sting has done for AEW, as made clear in a statement ahead of tonight’s AEW Revolution 2024 event.
At tonight’s show, Sting will compete in his final wrestling match. The Icon announced in October that he planned to retire at AEW Revolution 2024, three years on from making his wrestling debut for AEW at the same event. Sting and Darby Allin will defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, formerly known as the Young Bucks.
Tony Khan on Sting
The prospect of Sting’s retirement has led to countless wrestlers and fans reflecting on their favorite moments from the Icon. Taking to Twitter, Tony Khan gave a heartfelt statement about Sting.
“Tomorrow night, Sunday, March 3, the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina will be packed for AEW: Revolution, and fans from around the world will be watching live on pay-per-view to witness the well-deserved sendoff for professional wrestling’s most enduring icon: @Sting.
“Sting first contacted me about All Elite Wrestling in 2020, expressing interest in a comeback. Seizing the opening, I convinced him to make a surprise return to TNT, 25 years after his first appearance on the network, at AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming.
“Sting in AEW would fit like a glove. The Stinger had kept himself in incredible condition, and for his return to the ring, I recommended a partnership that grew to be a bond far stronger than any wrestling hold. In our early phone conversations about a comeback, I told Sting that I saw a great deal of him in a tremendous young wrestler named Darby Allin, and I thought that they could be a great team, although I never imagined what close friends they’d become outside the ring as well. Sting’s surprise arrival in AEW kicked off a mentor-protégé relationship with Darby Allin, which led to a tag team street fight at AEW: Revolution 2021 against Team Taz, Ricky Starks and Brian Cage, as Sting stepped in the ring again for the first time in years. Sting and Darby continued teaming in exciting matches for years to come on TNT and TBS, leaping off of stages, balconies, and ladders with reckless abandon as they accumulated an undefeated record. Finally, they captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship, and they went to bask in the glory of a victory celebration with Sting’s family, only to have the timeless moment stolen in an abominable attack by AEW’s jealous EVPs, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, going against everything that the company is meant to represent when they desecrated a legend and hurt Sting’s loved ones. And now, at AEW: Revolution, this Sunday, 3 years after the comeback began, it all comes down to one last grudge match, The Final Showtime: Sting and Darby Allin defending the AEW World Tag Team Championship against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, the Young Bucks. Before we all gather on Sunday to witness the culmination of one of the greatest runs in wrestling history, the AEW locker room and Sting’s family wanted to share their favorite memories in tribute to The Icon himself. We cannot thank him enough for everything he’s given us over his nearly 40-year career.”
Tomorrow night, Sunday, March 3, the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina will be packed for AEW: Revolution, and fans from around the world will be watching live on pay-per-view to witness the well-deserved sendoff for professional wrestling’s most enduring icon: @Sting.… https://t.co/TflJpVh21p
A comment made on this week’s episode of AEW Collision has caught the attention of fans with many believing it was a nod to Mercedes Mone.
The March 2, episode of Collision served as the go-home show before tonight’s AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. That show will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will mark the retirement of Sting, whose AEW World Tag Team Title match with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks will be the last bout in the Icon’s legendary career.
Serena Deeb’s Promo
During this week’s Collision, Serena Deeb had a promo in which she addressed her impressive record in AEW. The veteran dubbed herself “The Professor of Professional Wrestling” and “The Woman of 1000 Holds,” the latter being a nod to AEW’s Dean Malenko. With that said, it was the final line of her promo that caught the attention of fans as she made a challenge.
“Test yourself against the most elite wrestler, because I’ll be here each and every week showing the world that nobody can do what I do in the ring and why I am ‘The Final Boss.”
Deeb's Dojo is offering a free clinic to anyone who thinks they have what it takes step in the ring against The Professor.
In promotional material, the term ‘Bo$$ton’ can be found, with fans seeing this as further proof that Mone, known affectionately as ‘The Boss’ will be debuting. Mone is reportedly already under contract with AEW and has been for some time.
During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp was asked about Strowman’s situation. Sapp was pleased to state that Strowman is doing better than one would anticipate for the SmackDown Superstar.
“Someone in January implied that he would be back soon and I was thinking ‘surely not’ but then I followed up and was told that “he’s doing way better than anticipated.”
Higher-ups within WWE are always on the hunt for the next top star, and have been surprised by the reaction to Tiffany Stratton.
The reaction to Stratton has come as a surprise to many within WWE, Fightful Select reports. It is added that WWE is anticipating the vocal response from the fans going forward with their events.
Tiffany Down Under
Stratton’s popularity was hard to ignore during the WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 event from Perth, Australia. The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion competed in her first Chamber match at the event, and the fans were behind her from the get-go.
Fans chanted for Stratton while she was in her pod and her spots in the match, including a Senton off the top of a pod, were also impressive. Despite this, it was Becky Lynch who won the match, earning a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40.
Tiffany Stratton in WWE
Stratton signed with WWE in August 2021 as the only woman in her class of recruits to the WWE Performance Center. After debuting on 205 Live in November, she would join WWE NXT the following month.
In May 2023, Stratton captured the NXT Women’s Championship in a tournament that saw her defeat Gigi Dolin, Roxanne Perez, and Lyra Valkyria. That same year, she entered a well-regarded feud with Becky Lynch that saw The Man capture the NXT Women’s title.
After an impressive outing in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Stratton was signed to SmackDown on the immediate episode of the blue brand. That same night, she defeated ‘Michin’ Mia Yim in her main roster debut.
Jade Cargill made her presence felt on this week’s SmackDown and we may be seeing more of the impressive talent as we get closer to WrestleMania 40.
During this week’s SmackDown, Dakota Kai turned on Bayley and made clear that she was on the side of Damage CTRL. This came after Bayley and Kai challenged the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY delivered a sickening four-on-one attack on the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner.
Jade Cargill Responds
Jade Cargill was also a part of this week’s SmackDown and came face to face with IYO SKY. The inaugural AEW TBS Champion once again exhumed confidence as she has throughout her wrestling career.
Taking to Twitter after SmackDown, Jade Cargill said what happened on the show was not right and said that someone like IYO SKY shouldn’t be holding a “belt” for acting this way. Moments later, the ex-AEW star corrected herself, stating that the WWE Women’s Champion held by SKY is “MY belt.”
Cargill’s comments certainly imply that she’s supporting Bayley in this feud. It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Cargill could get physical and back the Role Model up. It’d certainly be fitting for Cargill to have a role on the road to WrestleMania, given that WWE clearly sees her as a potential top star.
Jade Cargill on SmackDown
Cargill appeared on SmackDown shortly after signing with WWE in 2023. During her segment, she came face-to-face with Charlotte Flair. At the time, it was speculated that a feud was being planned, potentially with a match at WrestleMania. If that was the plan, it’ll have been scrapped as Flair will miss most of 2023 due to a leg injury.
Cody Rhodes may have a burning desire to finish his story at WrestleMania 40, but that doesn’t phase the Bloodline’s newest member The Rock.
Rhodes’ pursuit of a WWE World Championship has been the focal point of his return to WWE. Recently, the ‘We Want Cody’ movement led to WWE backing out of plans for The Rock to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. In response, The Rock has turned heel and has vowed to make sure Rhodes doesn’t finish his story this April.
F*** Your Story
Taking to social media, the Brahma Bull had a message for Rhodes and his ‘crybaby fans. The Brahma Bull explained that Rhodes made a serious mistake by bringing up his family at the WrestleMania kick-off event. The Great One concluded with a clear message to Rhodes and his story.
“Fans wanted to see the biggest WrestleMania event of all time. You took it away. Now, you’re going to pay. Cody Rhodes, from the bottom of my heart, man to man, f*** your story.”
The Rock will be a part of tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Cody Rhodes will also be part of SmackDown as part of his stacked March schedule. It’s unclear if Rhodes will appear during the show as unlike The Rock, he isn’t being advertised for an on-screen appearance.
John Cena is excited to bring ‘peace’ to the ultra-violent world of Mortal Kombat with the inclusion of Peacemaker to the series.
In July 2023, Peacemaker was announced for Mortal Kombat 1, which despite the name is the latest game in the popular fighting series. Recently, fans got a trailer of Peacemaker in the game, which is voiced by Cena.
The 16-time WWE World Champion first portrayed Peacemaker in 2021’s ‘The Suicide Squad,‘ a soft sequel to the 2016 ‘Suicide Squad‘ film. Diving deep into the character, Cena would often wear the full Peacemaker costume when making public appearances and when walking the red carpet.
Cena plays the jingoistic Christopher Smith, a character who believes in doing anything to achieve what he considers peace, even if it means killing men, women, and children. The first season of the Peacemaker TV series explored what drives the character to this dedication to ‘peace’, such as his fraught relationship with his father played by Robert Patrick. The Terminator 2 actor has a history with Cena as the pair shared the screen for 2006’s The Marine.
WWE and Mortal Kombat
Cena isn’t the only name from pro wrestling to make their presence felt in Mortal Kombat. For Mortal Kombat 11, Ronda Rousey voiced series regular Sonya Blade. The Miz’s Hollywood A-Lister character has often been compared to Johnny Cage, another regular in the series.
Members of the AEW roster are said to be “very frustrated” with management to the point that some are refusing to do what has been written for them.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has aimed to be an alternative to WWE, which saw plenty of chaos backstage during the Vince McMahon administration. During the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez shared that there’s growing resentment among the roster.
“A lot of people are very frustrated because they don’t find out the Tuesday before. Some people do, some people will know what they’re doing because there are a couple of matches usually advertised in advance. But most people are showing up the day of the show and finding out if they are doing anything or not.”
Alvarez added that some AEW stars flat-out refuse to do what is requested on them and usually, Tony Khan relents, forcing plans to be changed at the last minute.
“People don’t want to do something and Tony doesn’t make them do it. There’s a lot of this… I hear about this every single day. Trying to put together these shows is just a whirlwind.”
What’s Next for AEW?
AEW’s next major event will be this weekend’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina. This show has seen changes, with the Meat Madness match being put ‘on ice’ and replaced with the All-Star Scramble match. Tony Khan has said that the Meat Madness bout is postponed due to injuries. Lance Archer, Wardlow, and Powerhouse Hobbs were all announced for Meat Madness and will all compete in the All-Star Scramble.
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AEW is well-equipped to handle any allegations of misconduct brought to its disciplinary committee, according to company President Tony Khan.
In the wake of Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, there has been a spotlight on how allegations of misconduct are handled in the wrestling industry. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused and trafficked by the 78-year-old billionaire. McMahon had denied all allegations but resigned from WWE in January of this year.
Speaking on the media call ahead of this weekend’s Revolution pay-per-view, Khan addressed how AEW can handle allegations of misconduct.
“We have trained professionals on the disciplinary committee, including two attorneys and Bryan Danielson. And they’re different backgrounds, and that’s the idea to have people from different backgrounds. And different experiences in wrestling, which is certainly its own unique business with its own unique set of challenges.
“And they would be looking out against all misconduct claims, and we’ve tried to train them up to do their best. I think, to really whatever the situation is, in terms of misconduct, to do whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of the wrestlers, which is first and foremost here above everything else.”
AEW Revolution will take place this Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Cody Rhodes will be one busy individual for the month of March as he continues on the road to WrestleMania.
At the two-night event, Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The bout will be the long-awaited rematch between the two following Rhodes’ emotional loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in April 2023. Rhodes earned this match by winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, becoming the fourth man in history to win back-to-back Rumbles.
Cody Rhodes’ March Schedule
On Twitter, Cody Rhodes shared his schedule for March of 2024. Rhodes will be on every episode of Monday Night Raw this month and will be at the majority of SmackDown tapings. Rhodes will also compete at ten ‘Road to WrestleMania’ live events.
This is quite the workload for Rhodes, in stark contrast to his WrestleMania opponent. Cody will compete more in one month than Reigns did in all of 2023. In the comments of Cody’s tweet, fellow Raw Superstar Chad Gable was impressed by Rhodes’ work ethic, calling him “the standard.”
Notable WWE names The Rock and Bad Bunny will be on hand to present Oscars at this month’s annual Academy Awards ceremony in LA.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that The Rock and Bad Bunny have been added to the list of presenters, alongside Michael Keaton, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney, and others. This group adds to the previously announced list of presenters which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Zendaya, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Yeoh, among others.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer led this year’s nominations with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things with 11, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon with 10 and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie with eight. The ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and take place on March 10 at 7 pm ET at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Bad Bunny in WWE
Bad Bunny debuted in WWE in 2021 and immediately wowed fans with his in-ring ability. After competing at WrestleMania 37, Bunny was equally impressed in the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble match. At Backlash 2023, the Grammy Award-winning artist competed in his first singles match and defeated Damien Priest in the San Juan Street Fight.
What’s Next for The Rock?
The Rock is back in WWE as a heel and has been confirmed as the newest member of The Bloodline. The Great One has vowed that he will prevent Cody Rhodes from finishing his story at WrestleMania. The upcoming two-night show could see The Rock in action as a blockbuster tag team match has been discussed for Night One of WrestleMania 40. The Great One will be on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
Kazuchika Okada is reportedly on his way to All Elite Wrestling, and fans may not have to wait long to see his official debut.
Last month, it was confirmed that Okada’s contract with NJPW was set to expire. Okada worked the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Okada had been with New Japan for 17 years before his departure.
Last month, it was reported that AEW had beaten WWE and secured a deal with Okada. It was confirmed that WWE had spoken with Okada and that AEW had been “confident” in their offer to the Japanese wrestler
When to Expect Kazuchika Okada
The tentative plan is for Okade to be around for the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Fightful Select reports. During the AEW Revolution 2024 media call, Tony Khan spoke about something big coming to next week’s show in Atlanta, Georgia.
“There’s a lot of really exciting things coming. I’m very excited for Revolution and the shows after that. I can promise you I have something very exciting, I’m very excited about for the fans in Atlanta.”
The timing of Okada’s expected debut is certainly interesting. The March 13, episode of AEW Dynamite will be the promotion’s ‘Big Business’ show and is expected to mark the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone.
TNA Wrestling is pleased to welcome Alex Hammerstone as the newest member of its roster in a move that was made official this week.
On Twitter, TNA confirmed that Hammerstone has signed with the promotion. Responding to the tweet, Hammerstone made it clear that it’s time for him to show what he can do in a TNA ring.
Hammerstone made his debut for TNA at Hard to Kill 2024 last month in a match against Josh Alexander. In the sixth match on the main card (and ninth overall), Alexander defeated Hammerstone. The pair are scheduled to compete in a rematch at TNA Sacrifice. That show will take place on March 8, 2024, from the St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
While Hard to Kill was Hammerstone’s TNA debut, he had briefly worked for the promotion once before. In January 2019, he competed on IMPACT Wrestling’s Xplosion show and earned a victory over Nick Brubaker.
Hammerstone In the Ring
Hammerstone made his debut in the wrestling business in 2013 and is best known for his success in Major League Wrestling. Joining the promotion in 2019, Hammerstone quickly became part of The Dynasty, a faction that would include Richard Holliday and AEW’s MJF.
That same year, he became the first MLW National Openweight Champion, and in 2021, defeated MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu in a title-for-title match.
Outside of MLW, Hammerstone competed for Pro Wrestling Noah in 2019. In February 2016, he did extra work for WWE and appeared on screen as a bodyguard for Tyler Breeze.
A former WWE writer lost their job for challenging the company’s racially insensitive content the company was producing, it has been claimed.
On LinkedIn, Michael Leonardi shared two videos explaining his exit from the company in 2016. He explained that the Muhammad Hassan character proved to be pivotal in his firing from WWE.
“Back then, there was a character by the name of Muhammad Hassan. In July of 2005, while in the build-up to a PPV match with the Undertaker, WWE aired a controversial segment that made national news as hitting a little too close to home with the ongoing “war on terror.
“Shortly thereafter, the london bus bombings occurred which brought more attention to the angle and the concern amongst UPN.”
Leonardi, who was assigned to oversee the Hassan Vs. Undertaker match at that year’s Great American Bash, made clear to WWE that he did not feel comfortable with the angle.
“I told my boss that I had a problem being associated with the project (I felt strongly that it was just wrong of us to keep going with it) and asked if I could be assigned to one of the other matches (which I was) Eddie vs. Rey (with little dominick, which is crazy to see where he is now!)”
The former WWE writer then explained how he felt the company punished him for taking a stance against the controversial character.
“I was then promptly stripped of all my responsibilities as an associate producer and given grunt work. A week or so later, UPN put enough pressure on WWE that the character was eventually wiped from WWE programming after the PPV and never seen again.
“I was then given back my responsibilities. As much as I loved working there, I thought it was F’d up that the situation was handled that way and soon thereafter put in my notice.”
WWE 2K24 and Snickers will serve as the Presenting Partners of WrestleMania 40, which will take place from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field this April.
This marks the third consecutive year that WWE 2K and Snickers have teamed up as the Presenting Partners of WWE’s annual supershow. In a statement, Martin Terwilliger, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley, was excited to continue the partnership.
“SNICKERS is proud to return to WrestleMania, bringing a satisfying solution to WWE fans around the world. We look forward to showing up for the passionate fanbase with WWE 2K24 as presenting partners for WrestleMania XL, bringing fans what is sure to be one of the most exciting sporting events of 2024.”
Dennis Ceccarelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports at 2K, was also pleased to be a presenting partner of WrestleMania 40
“While fans can relive forty years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K24, we’ll once again tag-team with SNICKERS to co-present WrestleMania XL. We’ll be cheering on our cover Superstars: Rallying Cody Rhodes to ‘Finish the Story,’ rooting for Rhea Ripley to defend her title, and looking forward to Bianca Belair putting on the ‘EST’ WrestleMania performance of all.”
Grant Norris-Jones, EVP & Head of Global Partnerships, TKO, addressed the size of WrestleMania 40 with great fervor.
“WrestleMania XL is shaping up to be the biggest event in WWE history and we are excited to take our partnership with 2K and Snickers to new heights as the brands unite for a third consecutive year.”
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)
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has opened his heart and his wallet to a couple who are grieving the loss of their daughter.
In an emotional video shared on his Instagram account, Johnson spoke about Esperenza and Edwin, who recently lost their daughter Lily Rose to cancer. The couple have started a foundation in her name to help families who went through the same trauma they are experiencing.
In the video, Johnson explains how Lily Rose was a big fan of Maui, his character from the Disney hit Moana. The Brahma Bull then gave the pair a $50,000 donation to their foundation.
The Rock will be a part of this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, and will be on the subsequent two weeks of programming. The newest member of The Bloodline, The Rock is expected to have a significant role at WrestleMania 40.
R-Truth has been wowed with what he’s seen from Shawn Michaels, who Truth believes could be the next, well, Shawn Michaels.
On social media, WWE shared a clip of Truth gushing praise to an unseen individual. Truth was clearly under the impression that he was speaking to Johnny Gargano.
“Johnny Gargano, Johnny Wrestling. Hey dawg, DIY is blowing up right now. Y’all hot. I’m telling you, just from me, I see a lot of Shawn Michaels in you, yes I do. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you could be the next Heartbreak Kid.”
The camera then pans to reveal that Truth was speaking to the actual Shawn Michaels. The bewildered head of NXT closes the door on Truth who said he needs to speak with Ciampa.
Truth’s comedy antics have proven to be a hit with the WWE Universe, many of whom hope to see the veteran rewarded with a WrestleMania spot. Some believe Truth could challenge Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER soon enough given comments by the Austrian on Raw. Others believe that a tag match would be more fitting, pitting Truth and The Miz against Truth’s ‘allies’ in the Judgment Day.
As for Shawn Michaels, his future will see him continue to lead WWE NXT as its creative head. The gold brand will host its Roadblock special episode next week. In April, WWE NXT will host its Stand & Deliver event the same day as WrestleMania 40: Saturday. No matches have been announced for the latter show at this time.
A trademark filing by All Elite Wrestling may have revealed the promotion’s next pay-per-view which would join the company’s growing list of annual events.
AEW has filed a trademark for the term ‘AEW Dynasty.’ The filing cites the following uses:
“AEW: DYNASTY trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing multimedia program featuring wrestling distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling.”
A New Pay-Per-View?
According to Fightful Select, the trademark is connected to a pay-per-view/special show, which is potentially slated for April. AEW has yet to host a pay-per-view in April but holds Revolution in March and Double or Nothing in May.
A Returning Star?
The AEW Dynasty name has raised some eyebrows, with some believing it could mark the return of a former AEW World Champion. Outside of AEW, MJF was part of The Dynasty, which included himself, Alexander Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, and others. Holliday, who overcame cancer last year, was backstage at a July 2023 edition of AEW Collision.
AEW’s Growing Schedule
When AEW launched, it did so with four annual events: Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, and Full Gear. Since then, the company has doubled that number with the introduction of AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door, All In, WrestleDream, and Worlds End.
A situation involving work visas in the United States could prove catastrophic for CMLL and its partnership with All Elite Wrestling.
PW Insider reports that the U.S. work visas for 20 CMLL performers in Mexico are in the process of being canceled by the U.S. government. If this happened, it could be months before new visas to go through the approval process and be issued.
The CMLL stars at risk include:
Volador Jr.
Hechicero
Mascara Dorada
Blue Panther
Dulce Gardenia
El Sagrado
El Suicida
Electrico
Espiritu Negro
Euforia
Fugaz
Gemel
Diablo 1
Diablo 2
Magico
Robin
Sangre Imperial
Soberano
Templario
Referee Sagaz
Why the Visas Are at Risk
Sources close to the situation said that visa blowup is a result of Texas independent wrestling promotion Full Blown Pro Wrestling, which had sponsored the group visas for CMLL talent, running into issues with CMLL management. CMLL head Salvador Lutteroth had placed other employees, one of whom was heading up the legal department for CMLL but has since left the promotion, in charge of the visa process.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security contacted FBP2 promoter Jerry Cadena with questions regarding the visas. He was informed that he could be accused of fraud if the vias were flagged. Cadena then contacted CMLL about working together to iron out the problem but CMLL’s side claimed they would take care of the issue via the United States Embassy in Mexico.
What’s Next?
Unless something massive changes very soon, the aforementioned talents won’t be able to legally perform in the U.S. until a new work visa is acquired. This could take months to iron out, and could be as long as a year.
Several CMLL talents have matches booked for WrestleMania week in Philadelphia. Of course these matches would have to be scrapped in the event of their visas no longer being legal. There’s also the question as to what this would mean for AEW. Volador Jr., Hechicero, and Mascara Dorada have all competed for AEW as of late and this situation will impact which CMLL stars AEW can call upon to work events.
The legendary career of Sting will end this week, but the Icon is going out in style as seen with his appearance on this week’s Dynamite.
The February 28, edition of AEW Dynamite served as the go-home show before Revolution 2024. The event saw AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Hangman Page, and Swerve Strickland collide ahead of their title match this Sunday.
Sting’s Epic Entrance
During AEW Dynamite, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were on the hunt for Sting but couldn’t find the WWE Hall of Famer anywhere. During the show, they were blindsided by Darby Allin but were able to overcome the AEW World Tag Team Champion thanks to their numbers advantage.
Even when Ric Flair showed up to help Allin, he was outmatched by the AEW EVPs. That is when Sting’s music hit and the Jackson brothers made their way to the ramp, ready to attack the Icon.
The pair hadn’t counted on Sting descending from the rafters in WCW fashion, earning a huge pop from the fans in attendance. With his signature black baseball bat, Sting sent his challengers packing in an epic moment from Dynamite.
This is a version of Sting that the EVPs were not ready for!
Sting will compete in his final match this weekend at AEW Revolution 2024. He and Allin will defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against the Young Bucks. The show will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Darby Allin has a special entrance planned for Sting at the show.
It wasn’t weed that led to Matt Riddle violating WWE’s wellness policy, despite what some may believe, but instead the use of cocaine, the ex-Superstar has revealed.
During his time on WWE’s main roster, Riddle was subject to stop-start pushes, which many fans at the time suspected was due to the usage of drugs. Speaking on the MMA Hour this week, Riddle said he failed wellness tests in WWE after testing positive for the usage of cocaine.
“I went to the strip club and did cocaine a couple times. I failed a drug test for that. That was for all of them, it was cocaine each time.”
Riddle added that WWE did not indicate as to when talent would be tested. After failing two tests in short succession, Riddle vowed to clean up his act. True to his word, Riddle’s next tests came back negative, but after he decided to celebrate with some partying, a random test came back positive. Later in the interview, he addressed his time in rehab.
“They can’t make you do anything, but it’s ‘go or…’ ‘Okay, I’ll go.’ I went for the 30 days, I left, and when I left, they made a recommendation that they wanted me to stay for another 30 days and I was like, ‘I said I would do 30 days, I don’t want to do another 30 days.’ I missed Christmas and New Year’s. I learned my lesson.”
Jones, who also competed as Vincent in WCW, passed away peacefully in hospital, according to family friend Mark Charles III. He had been battling health issues for some time before his death. Jones was diagnosed with dementia in 2022 and also suffered two minor strokes that year as well.
Tributes to Mike ‘Virgil’ Jones
Several wrestling names have shared their tributes to the former Million Dollar Champion following his death. On Twitter, Jake Roberts said he was shocked and saddened by the news of Jones’ passing.
Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Virgil.
Teil Rhodes of the famed Rhodes wrestling family shared a story of being the subject of a ‘rib’ by Virgil and Ted DiBiase Sr.
Once when I was about 7 years old it was just me and Dream in a rental car headed to a show when some car legit ran us off the road. It was Virgil and MDM. That’s how I learned what a rib was. RIP
Marc Mero said he was sorry to hear of the death of his fellow former WWE Superstar. Mero also included a photo of himself and Virgil.
I’m sorry to hear that Former WWE star Virgil, real name Michael Jones, has passed away at 61, weeks after suffering 'several strokes' My thoughts are with his family and his numerous fans. RIP pic.twitter.com/cpjjM2fjTF
Shane ‘Hurricane’ Helms recalled watching the long-suffering Virgil turn on DiBiase in early 1991. Helms would channel the moment in his own wrestling career years later.
At a show once, I did a stare out into the crowd mid-ring and one of the boys asked if I was channeling Rock/Hogan? I replied, “Or Virgil/Dibiase.” He thought I was joking. This vid is what I was referring to. Virgil was overAF with me after turning on Dibiase. #RIPVirgil#ThankUpic.twitter.com/oBJRVMqb87
Matt Hardy had fond memories of the “funny, unique” Jones who was always “cool” to him in the business.
RIP Virgil, Mike Jones
Virgil was a funny, unique individual that was always cool to me & I’m saddened to hear about his passing. My thoughts go out to his family, friends & fans. pic.twitter.com/0g8fiLVWoG
WWE’s Kayla Braxton never had the chance to know Jones but issued her support for those who knew him and loved him.
Never got to know Virgil, but I know how much he meant to this business. My thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved him. ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/pOlYdgw05O