Australia’s own Grayson Waller & Rhea Ripley capped off the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth press conference with some homegrown fun known as ‘Shoey.’

The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. Understandably, the excitement in Perth is at a fever pitch ahead of tomorrow’s show. The show will feature two Elimination Chamber matches, both with WrestleMania-sized repercussions.  

Shoey Fun

In the closing moments of the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth press conference, Rhea Ripley and Grayson Waller helped pump up the fans for tomorrow’s event. The pair decided to end the event with an Australian tradition, that being Shoey. The pair drank a couple of beers from shoes, much to the delight of the fans. 

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1760894170577744134

What is Shoey? 

Shoey is a tradition of drinking from a shoe, which has historically been seen as a celebration of good fortune. This concept dates as far back as the Middle Ages. This isn’t the first Shoey in WWE history. After his victory in the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline 2022, Waller celebrated his win with a Shoey. 

What’s Next? 

Grayson Waller and Rhea Ripley will both have significant roles at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. Ripley will defend her Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax and will no doubt receive a huge ovation from her fellow Aussies. 

As for Waller, he will host his Grayson Waller Effect with Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes as his guests. The World Heavyweight Champion and the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner recently formed an uneasy pact against the might of The Bloodline, which recently officially welcomed The Rock into its ranks. 

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

• Kick-off Show: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)

• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

• Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)

• Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

Seth Rollins has become one of WWE’s very top stars, but the World Heavyweight Champion will never forget where he came from.

Long before making it to WWE, Rollins made his name in several promotions, often under the name Tyler Black. One such company is All American Wrestling who is celebrating its 20th anniversary. On Twitter, Rollins congratulated AAW on the milestone and spoke about his own experiences with the company. 

”Well well well, 20 years huh? That’s a long damn time. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years, I’m not that old. I’m better than I’ve ever been, but I wanted to stop by and say thank you, thank you and congratulations to AAW.

“First of all, thank you because I wouldn’t be where I am, who I am without AAW and the chance they took on me as a young performer, as a young man, really nurtured me. I’ve always been proud to wave the AAW banner, to be able to say that I was one of the first guys there, I laid the bedrock, all that good stuff. 20 years is a long time, especially in the independent world.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without the company and the loyal independent mid-west wrestling fans, you guys are my bedrock. Thank you so much for allowing me to be yours, I love you. Have a hell of a night, congratulations.”

He’s the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

He’s a 2x AAW Heavyweight Champion.

He’s giving back to the wrestling world with the @BlackandBrave Wrestling Academy.@WWERollins talks the 20th anniversary of AAW this Friday night in Berwyn. pic.twitter.com/vdPadZ9htJ

— AAW Wrestling (@AAWPro) February 22, 2024

Seth Rollins in AAW

Rollins was part of AAW from 2006 to 2010, making the company one of his last promotions before signing with WWE. As part of AAW, he captured the AAW Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. He also held the AAW Tag Team Championships twice with reigns alongside Marek Brave and Jimmy Jacobs. 

What’s Next for Seth Rollins?

Rollins will appear at this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event as a guest on the Grayson Waller Effect. Cody Rhodes, who Rollins has formed an alliance with against The Bloodline, will also be on the show. 

Rollins, who is currently out with an injury, will defend the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. His opponent will be decided in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. 

Jennifer Pepperman’s arrival in AEW may have come as a surprise to many, but not to her former employers at WWE. 

Pepperman’s status with AEW was confirmed earlier this week, in a quick turnaround for the former WWE Senior Writer. She parted ways with WWE less than a week ago. It was said that Pepperman, who joined WWE in 2017, left voluntarily and her departure was not a release. Pepperman was the longest-tenured female member of the creative team with WWE.

Not a Surprise

Those in WWE expected Pepperman to join AEW when she left, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Pepperman is known to be close with Mercedes Mone, who is expected to join AEW at the upcoming Big Business edition of Dynamite in Boston, MA. 

SE Scoops’ Aaron Varble previously reported that Pepperman’s exit from WWE was unexpected but that many in the company had the feeling she had work already lined up. 

I was told that Jennifer Pepperman's departure from WWE was "totally unexpected" to those backstage. She will be missed too.

There is a belief that she already has a job lined up elsewhere.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 15, 2024

Responsibilities in AEW

Pepperman has been announced as AEW’s new Vice President of Content Development. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter however, it is suggested that she could also serve as a “personal writer” for Mone when she debuts for the promotion. 

Meltzer compared this to Brian Gewirtz who is the personal writer for The Rock. Gewirtz spent years with WWE and worked on The Rock’s promos before joining the Brahma Bull’s Seven Bucks Productions movie studio. When The Rock has appeared for WWE in the years since making it big in Hollywood, Gewirtz has served as his personal writer. 

Former AEW World Champion ‘Hangman’ Adam Page suffered a suspected broken ankle during this week’s episode of Dynamite. 

In the main event of the show, Page teamed with Rob Van Dam and FTW Champion Hook to face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage. The match saw the heels emerge on top with Joe choking out Van Dam for the win. 

‘Hangman’ Page Injured

During the match, Joe attempted a Muscle Buster on Page who was able to escape the finishing move. Unfortunately, the Cowboy landed awkwardly when getting free of the AEW World Champion. Page promptly rolled out of the ring and grasped his ankle and didn’t play a role in the rest of the match. Page could be seen telling people “it’s bad” and was visibly frustrated after the match. 

Latest on Adam Page

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed Page’s situation. Alvarez said that the injury will have to be looked at and suggested it could be a broken ankle. Meltzer stated that a broken ankle injury is what he’s “heard.”

Broken Ankle

A broken ankle can take months to recover from as we’ve seen from several wrestlers in recent years. Mercedes Mone suffered a suspected broken ankle last May and the Bo$$ has been out of action since then. Earlier this year, Kota Ibushi was hospitalized with a double ankle injury and he too has not wrestled since. 

This Was All A Work

Fightful Select later reported that Hangman Page was fine when he got backstage. He worked the injury, and he received credit from one locker room source for just being “good at his job.” 

Robert Roode could wrestle again if he wanted to in theory, but is more than happy remaining a backstage producer for WWE. 

In December 2022, Roode would undergo neck fusion surgery, months after his previous match with WWE. The following year, the former NXT Champion’s career faced another setback in the form of a second neck fusion surgery. 

Robert Roode is Green Lit to Wrestle

With his wrestling career uncertain, Roode has been working as a producer at WWE events and has been well-received in the role. On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, Roode was asked about the possibility of wrestling again and revealed he has been green-lit to compete. 

“Ironically enough, I just got green-lighted. The fusion has completely fused. So as far as looking at it from a medical point of view, it’s safe to get back in the ring I guess.

“But at almost 48 years old, given the opportunity I’ve been given now, to work as a producer, which was my goal coming to WWE almost eight years ago, I’m quite happy doing this. And I feel like I’ve had a good run as they say and I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing now. 

When asked about even a one-off appearance, possibly in a Royal Rumble match, Roode admitted it was possible but made clear his days of being a full-time WWE Superstar are over. 

“You never know, yeah, sure. Could I do this full-time? There’s no way I could. Look, to be honest, the injury, I have three levels that are bad. The level six and seven are not good either.”

A Mental Struggle 

During the interview, Roode admitted that he would like to have one last match, but explained why it’s unlikely. He also addressed the mental struggle his injury has made him face. 

“I don’t, mentally, think I could take the risk of going back in the ring and working a full-time schedule. Just knowing that. I feel like I look differently too. You know what I mean? I always kind of prided myself on how I looked on Television. I love being in the gym and working out and when you physically don’t look the same, it’s a mental thing as well for me.

“I think everybody would like to have one last match right? But sometimes, when the wheels fall off, the wheels fall off. That’s the nature of the beast and this sport and this industry. 

Robert Roode On His Injury

On the podcast, Roode discussed his first neck fusion surgery, which came about after an injury from years earlier started causing him issues. Roode was rather fortunate to learn that he needed the surgery considering he wasn’t feeling any pain as a warning sign. 

“The thing was I wasn’t living in any pain. I didn’t have any pain. I could go through the day without feeling any sort of pain. But the issue with me was my strength. When I started losing strength, I started losing muscle in my right arm.

“And that scared me because the first thing I thought of was Paul Orndorff and his injury. And that’s what was happening to me. I was starting to atrophy in my shoulder and in my bicep.”

Arm atrophy from a nagging injury led to Orndorff being forced to retire in 2000. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

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

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will feature some of the company’s top stars, and a tryout could very well find the company’s next big name. 

The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. While WWE has several Australian Superstars on its roster, only a couple will be featured on the show. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will defend her title against Nia Jax while Grayson Waller will host his talk show with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins as guests.

Triple H Meets Tryout Athletes

Like other Premium Live Events, WWE is hosting tryouts in Perth where athletes hope to show they are worthy of a contract with the promotion. Taking to Twitter, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque spoke about the impressive athletes that he and Matt Bloom have been watching. The Game also included some photos from the tryouts. 

Spent some time yesterday checking out the #WWETryout here in Perth with @NXTMattBloom. Very impressed with the caliber of talent on display. pic.twitter.com/ILlwAnTHKc

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 22, 2024

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

• Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)

• Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

Randy Orton had a blast being looked after by ‘uncles’ like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant before becoming a WWE Superstar himself. 

A third-generation Superstar, Orton’s success in wrestling has far surpassed his father, uncle, or his grandfather. Orton returned from a lengthy injury at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, and is pleased with how he handled being upstaged by CM Punk’s return to WWE. 

Randy Orton On His Uncles

Before making it into the business himself, Randy Orton was a young kid who would follow his father’s career intently. Being at WWF events meant Orton was often surrounded by wrestlers who showed an interest in the future Legend Killer. Speaking to A&E Biography: Legends, Orton recalled being cared for by some of the biggest stars of the time. 

“I was fortunate enough to travel with my Pop [WWE Hall of Famer ‘Cowboy’ Bob Orton] now and again… The few times that I did get to go with my father, I’ll never forget. Being in the locker room seeing the bigger-than-life guys walking around.

“These were like my uncles. My dad’s close friends, I was in awe as a child when I did get to go with my dad. They treated me just wonderfully. I was there little buddy. 

Orton also recalled that while he was surrounded by wrestlers from inside and outside of his own family, he never saw himself getting in the ring. 

“Early on, people would always ask me, kids at school, teachers would ask me ‘Are you going to be a wrestler like your dad?’ But never, ever, was it something that I contemplated because I just didn’t see it in myself to do something like that.”

Cowboy Bob Orton On Young Randy

Randy’s father also weighed in during the sneak preview of A&E Biography: Legends. The 2005 WWE Hall of Fame inductee joked that he was fine leaving Orton in the care of the wrestlers as his matches rarely lasted too long. 

“I didn’t take him [Randy] very often unless we were already pretty close to home. But yeah, those guys used to watch him when I was in the ring. So he got to know everybody when he was still pretty young.

“I had no problem, you know, with them watching over him.  I knew I wouldn’t be gone too long from Randy. It didn’t take me long to win or lose [laughs.]”

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

One of Ring of Honor’s top stars is currently unable to compete in the ring in the United States due to ongoing issues with their visa. 

Kyle Fletcher has not been able to compete for weeks in either Ring of Honor or All Elite Wrestling due to these issues, according to Fightful Select. The reigning Ring of Honor World Television Champion, Fletcher’s most recent match was against Chris Jericho on the January 31, edition of AEW Dynamite. Jericho would get the pinfall victory in this non-title match. 

A Change of Plans

Fletcher’s visa issues have led to all plans for the ROH World Television Champion being left up in the air. The report adds that Fletcher was poised for a program with Ethan Page over the ROH World TV title. It’s unclear if Ring of Honor will continue with this plan when Fletcher can compete again. 

Backstage Perception

AEW management has been very happy with Fletcher’s performance since he began competing for the company. As part of Aussie Open, Fletcher has been thrust into several high-profile spots, including matches with ally Will Ospreay. More recently though, Fletcher has been embarking on a singles run as his longtime partner Mark Davis has been sidelined with an injury. 

Kyle Fletcher in Ring of Honor

In addition to his current TV title reign, Fletcher is a former Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champion. In 2023, he won ROH’s Survival of the Fittest tournament to win the vacant ROH World Television Champion. Previous Survival of the Fittest winners include Bryan Danielson, Seth Rollins, Adam Cole, and Roderick Strong. 

WWE Raw Superstar Bronson Reed is disappointed that he will not be competing at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth, but this is not due to his wife. 

The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. While WWE has several Australian Superstars on its roster, only a couple will be featured on the show. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will defend her title against Nia Jax while Grayson Waller will host his talk show with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins as guests. 

Bronson Reed on WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

Bronson Reed, a native of Adelaide who is billed from the Black Forest, is among those Aussie Superstars who won’t be competing at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. Online, there has been speculation that this could be because Reed’s wife is currently pregnant. 

In a tweet, the former WWE NXT North American Champion made clear that his wife’s pregnancy did not play a role, simply stating that sometimes the stars do not align. Reed also used a gif of Will Smith, encouraging fans to keep his wife’s name out of their mouths. 

My people,
Yes, my wife is pregnant.
No, that is not the reason I'm not on #WWEChamber???
Thank you for your concerns. Sometimes, the stars don't align. pic.twitter.com/G5Go0kpddU

— BIG BRONSON REED (@BRONSONISHERE) February 22, 2024

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:

• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

• Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)

• Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)

Moviegoers who attended a screening of The Iron Claw in Brazil got more than they bargained for when a real wrestling match happened live.

The biopic delves into the lives, careers, and many tragedies of the Von Erich family. Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich alongside Jeremy Allen White (Kerry) and Harris Dickinson (David). Several wrestlers appear in the film including MJF (as Lance Von Erich), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Ed ‘The Sheik’ Farhat), and Ryan Nemeth (Gino Hernandez).

Match at The Iron Claw

During a screening of the biopic in Brazil, a wrestling match broke out in a video clip that has gone viral on social media. The moviegoers in Brazil were certainly surprised by the match but cheered for both wrestlers. It’s currently unclear which wrestler won the match.

Cut Role

In the run-up to the release of The Iron Claw, much was said about MJF, who was confirmed to have a role as Lance Von Erich. MJF would even reference the role during his post-World Championship win appearance after Full Gear 2022. When the film hit screens though, fans learned that MJF’s role had been greatly reduced. While initially planned for three scenes, MJF has no dialogue in a blink-and-you-miss-it role.

The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw was snubbed in the Academy Award nominations but has been a hit with audiences. Music sensation Adele had high praise for The Iron Claw, calling it her favorite film of 2023. One aspect of the film fans didn’t like was the portrayal of Ric Flair which wrestling fans felt was nothing like the actual Nature Boy. 

John Cena, like many, has been shocked by the allegations against Vince McMahon but will continue to love the ex-WWE head.

Last month, McMahon resigned from WWE due to the allegations made by Janel Grant in her damning lawsuit. Miss Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon during her tenure with the promise of a high role in the company. 

Grant alleges that she was trafficked by McMahon other men in WWE. John Lauriniatis and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion (believed to be Brock Lesnar) are also mentioned in the suit.

The accusations against McMahon have put a spotlight on many in WWE and how the business ensures safety for women on and off camera. 

John Cena Weighs In

The 16-time WWE Champion appeared on the Howard Stern Show on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, Stern brought up the disturbing scandal involving McMahon, other executives the company itself.

“I’ve openly said, I love the guy, I have a great relationship with the guy, and that’s that. It’s largely my construct of operating with honesty and communication. The whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks. It deals with an individual I love and an entity I love.”

John Cena spoke to Howard Stern this morning. For about 5 minutes as part of their hour-long conversation, they talked about the allegations of sexual misconduct against Vince McMahon. pic.twitter.com/pnKoklkHID

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) February 21, 2024

Cena also made clear that while he loves his former boss, there must be accountability McMahon is found to have acted inappropriately. 

“I can say this, I’m a big advocate of love and friendship and honesty, and communication, in the same breath, I’m also a big advocate of accountability,” Cena said.

“If someone’s behavior lies so far outside of your value system that the balance shifts of, ‘I can’t operate in a world where this works.’ That’s the end result of being accountable.”

This isn’t the first time Cena has addressed allegations of misconduct by his former boss. Following McMahon’s retirement in 2022, Cena said that when you love somebody, you take their imperfections. Cena was also seen with McMahon for a 2022 birthday dinner, mere weeks after his initial resignation from WWE. 

McMahon, Laurinaitis & Lesnar

Vince McMahon has denied all claims of misconduct and has stated that Janel Grant’s lawsuit is rife with fabrications. 

John Lauriniatis has stated that he is a victim in this difficult situation, not a predator. 

Brock Lesnar has been pulled from all WWE plans and has not commented publicly on the matter.

WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY hopes to remain with the title for a long time to come after reaching a milestone this week. 

Sky captured the title at WWE SummerSlam 2023 by defeating Bianca Belair. The EST had captured the title from Asuka before SKY cashed in her Women’s Money in the Bank contract that she won last July in London. The title win marked SKY’s first taste of singles gold on the main roster. 

IYO SKY’s Milestone

As of today, SKY has reached 200 days as WWE Women’s Champion. The Damage CTRL member has now held the title for longer than some of WWE’s top stars who held the title when it was the Raw Women’s Champion. Superstars SKY has surpassed include Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Nikki Cross/A.S.H, Bayley, and current WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

IYO SKY’s Title Reign By the Numbers

Since capturing the gold at SummerSlam, SKY has defended the title 28 times. Six of these matches have taken place on TV or Premium Live Events with the rest being at untelevised live events. SKY’s most recent televised title match saw her retain against ‘Michin’ Mia Yim on the New Year’s Revolution edition of SmackDown last month. 

What’s Next? 

IYO SKY will defend the WWE Women’s Championship against former ally Bayley at WrestleMania 40. The Role Model chose to face SKY during a segment earlier this month which also marked Bayley’s exit from Damage CTRL. Bayley won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble to earn the right to choose her WrestleMania opponent. 

WWE Raw Superstar Raquel Rodriguez has shared her battle with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in an emotional video online.

During this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, Rodriguez returned to action to win a Women’s Battle Royal. This win secured the former NXT Women’s Champion the final spot in this weekend’s Women’s Elimination Chamber Match at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth.

Raquel Rodriguez’s Emotional Video 

Rodriguez returned this week after spending a month out with MCAS. Taking to Twitter, Rodriguez shared her battle with the disease. The WWE Superstar’s skin was red and swollen in most of the clips, but they were gradually getting better. Raquel made it clear that her fight isn’t over and had some words of support for others facing hardship.

The journey is far from over. I finally got some answers as to what caused this but it’s going to be a while til I can get it fully under control.

I know one thing. I’m blessed to have an amazing support system. Family, friends, I love you all??

Keep pushing through the pain! pic.twitter.com/2fgSY2tLkb

— Raquel (@RaquelWWE) February 21, 2024

What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome?

MCAS is a condition in which the patient experiences repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as allergies. These episodes may include hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and severe diarrhea. High levels of mast cell mediators are released during those episodes.

What’s Next?

Rodriguez will face some steep competition this weekend at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. She will be joined inside the Chamber by Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi. The winner will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

That title will also be on the line at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. Current champion Rhea Ripley will no-doubt receive a thunderous response from her fellow Australians when she defends against Nia Jax. 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is excited about the excellent action and the opportunities that the new United Football League will provide. 

In December 2023, the Brahma Bull announced that his XFL would be uniting with the USFL to form the UFL, which aspires to cement the future of spring football. It is hoped that the joining of the leagues will improve the quality of football and give a better product to fans and players. 

Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia acquired the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the world of professional football was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, it was confirmed where the new teams will be based. 

Amazing Spring Football

The UFL’s inaugural season will kick off on March 30, less than two months after an explosive NFL Super Bowl LVIII that saw WWE and AEW stars in attendance. Taking to Instagram this week, Johnson shared his excitement for the UFL which he hopes will deliver exciting football as well as opportunities for the players. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3l4umHrByA

What’s Next for The Rock?

The Rock is expected to be on several WWE shows on the road to WrestleMania 40. With that said, neither Rock nor Roman Reigns are being advertised for this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. Outside of the ring, The Rock recently launched the ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ brand of his ZOA Energy drinks.

One thing fans shouldn’t expect from The Rock is a match with Triple H. Following the chaotic scenes at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, The Rock had a tense staredown with the WWE CCO. While some have suggested that this would lead to a match, Triple H remains retired after suffering a cardiac event in 2021 and will not be wrestling The Rock. 

ECW alum Francine has reflected on a moment from the company in which she nearly lost her sight, stating nothing compares to the original promotion. 

Francine was a staple of the original ECW and was one of the most featured women in the promotion’s history. This week marked 25 years since one of ECW’s most dominant tag teams, the Impact Players was formed. The duo of Lance Storm and Justin Credible. 

During their formation, Credible and Storm brawled with Shane Douglas, who was being managed by Francine at the time. During a shocking moment (even by ECW standards!) Credible swung for Douglas with a cane but clocked Francine in the face. Taking to Twitter, Francine recalled nearly being blinded by the shot and named Paul Heyman as someone who told her not to block. 

This was BRUTAL @HeymanHustle told me not to block it, so I didn’t. The kendo stick hit me right in the face/cheekbone. An inch more and I could have went blind. Nothing compares to the original #ECW! https://t.co/nF3mTEDFlo

— Francine (@ECWDivaFrancine) February 20, 2024

What Came Next for Francine? 

By the time ECW closed its doors in 2001, Francine was managing Justin Credible, though was not signed to the WWF as part of the Invasion angle. Instead, Francine debuted for NWA: TNA in June 2002 and would feud with fellow ECW alum Elektra. 

In 2005, Francine appeared for WWE as part of the ECW One Night Stand event, where she was attacked by Beulah McGillicutty. The next year, she signed with WWE as part of the revamped ECW brand. After competing in house show bikini contests, Francine would face Ariel to a no-contest on the September 26, 2006, edition of ECW on Sci-Fi before being released the next month. 

In July 2021, Francine appeared in a backstage segment in Impact Wrestling via a video call with Brian Myers. 

WWE opted to air the heartbreaking moment Shotzi suffered an injury on this week’s NXT which resulted in her match being called off. 

This week’s episode of WWE NXT was actually filmed last week to allow NXT higher-ups time to travel to Australia for this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth premium live event. During the taping, Shotzi’s match with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria was called off and it was reported that she’d suffered a severe injury. 

Shotzi’s Injury

With this week’s NXT being taped in advance, there were questions as to whether WWE would air the spot in question or even the match. During last night’s show, those questions were answered as the match did air. The unfortunate spot saw Shotzi bounce from the ring to the outside and immediately clutched her foot, proving that it doesn’t take some high-risk move in wrestling for an injury to happen. 

This was really heartbreaking to watch. All the best to Shotzi. ?? #WWENXT
https://t.co/OPQMKHZVfR

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) February 21, 2024

A Replacement Match

Shotzi’s match had to be called off due to the injury. WWE NXT General Manager Ava announced that the fans deserved to see a title match and made an open challenge. This was answered by Lash Legend who had competed earlier in the show. Despite having no prep time, Legend and Lyra Valkyria put on a fine match that saw the Valkyrie retain her title. 

What’s Next? 

Taking to Instagram after WWE NXT, Shotzi confirmed her injury and said she suffered a torn ACL. This injury will keep the popular Superstar out for an estimated nine months. This is a huge blow for Shotzi, who will be forced to miss WrestleMania 40. Shotzi has said that she is devastated that this injury caused her to miss her WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth qualifying match. 

Mat Basso, the head trainer of Riot City Wrestling could not be happier for the success of his former student Rhea Ripley as a WWE Superstar. 

After signing with WWE in 2017, Ripley has become one of the company’s top stars. Not only is she the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, but her star power has also extended to social media with 2.6M followers on TikTok and another 3.4M on Instagram.

Rhea Ripley’s Rise to the Top

This weekend, Ripley will return to her native Australia as part of the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. The Women’s World Champion will get a thunderous ovation from her native Aussies when she defends against Nia Jax in Optus Stadium. Speaking to ABC Australia, Basso addressed Ripley’s success. 

“We always knew that there was a possibility for her because she had that special spark and that magic to her… Her rise through the ranks has been crazy and I just couldn’t be happier for her. She’s absolutely going to be a future Hall of Famer.”

Basso also recalled Ripley’s time with RCW, which she continues to visit when she’s back home and helps new talent. 

“That’s one of my favorite things about her, she’s still a girl from Adelaide… She was essentially a toned-down version of what she is now. While she was with us, she was still finding her feet a little bit.”

What’s Next for Rhea Ripley? 

Ripley is the heavy favorite to retain her title when she faces Nia Jax at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. If she wins, Ripley will go on to WrestleMania 40 and defend against the winner of the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Ripley is also set to be one of the cover stars of WWE 2K24 when the game releases next month. 

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place this Saturday. 

The Rock made a point of donning $500 shirts during the Attitude Era, but how much does such a garment cost in today’s prices? 

On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, the Brahma Bull brought back his iconic heel look and berated the fans in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rock mocked the fans for wanting Cody Rhodes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania and vowed that he would do all he could to ensure that this does not happen. The Rock was also officially recognized as a member of the Bloodline. 

The Rock’s $500 Shirts

During the Attitude Era, The Rock made sure to let fans know that he was wearing $500 Versace shirts as a sign of his affluence and arrogance. Given inflation though, those shirts cost much more in 2024. When adjusted for inflation, a shirt that cost $500 in 1998, a year that saw The Rock’s first WWF title win, would cost $946 in 2024.

The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.48% per year between 1998 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 89.21%. While Versace’s shirts should cost close to $950, items listed on Versace’s website are going for $1,500. 

Dressed to Impress

The Rock’s Versace look would become a staple of the Brahma Bull’s presentation when he exploded in popularity during the Attitude Era. While the look was initially introduced when he was a heel, The Rock continued to dress well as a face, a sign of how much the Versace clothes had become associated with the Great One. 

What’s Next for The Rock? 

The Rock is expected to be on several WWE shows on the road to WrestleMania 40. With that said, neither Rock nor Roman Reigns are being advertised for this weekend’s Elimination Chamber: Perth event. Outside of the ring, The Rock recently launched the ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ brand of his ZOA Energy drinks. 

One thing fans shouldn’t expect from The Rock is a match with Triple H. Following the chaotic scenes at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, The Rock had a tense staredown with the WWE CCO. While some have suggested that this would lead to a match, Triple H remains retired after suffering a cardiac event in 2021 and will not be wrestling The Rock. 

GUNTHER is still the Intercontinental Champion, but many in WWE were confident that the title would be changing hands this week.

On the January 19, 2024, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, GUNTHER put his title on the line against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. The Austrian retained thanks to a distraction by Jimmy Uso, who would lay out his brother after the match. The match marked Jey’s first shot at the workhorse title.

A Possible Title Change? 

Jey Uso didn’t win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, which will have come as a surprise to some in WWE. Wrestle Votes reports that “multiple people” within WWE were under the impression that Jey would be ending GUNTHER’s historic reign.

As far as 6 pm, several internal rundowns for Raw stated that Jey Uso was going to be winning the title. With that said, it cannot be counted out that WWE were using false rundowns to avoid the actual match result getting out. With this win, GUNTHER now holds the record for the most collective days as Intercontinental Champion.

What’s Next? 

The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia. Due to strict immigration regulations, GUNTHER is currently unable to leave the United States, which could mean he misses the recently- announced WWE live event in Vienna, Austria.

As for Jey Uso, this week’s Raw has led to speculation that a match against Jimmy is an inevitability. After Jimmy betrayed his brother at SummerSlam 2023, it was reported that WWE was considering a match between the pair for WrestleMania 40.

AEW wrestler Nyla Rose has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the ring, and she now wants to take her shot at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

Taking to Twitter, Rose shared her experience watching last year’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and was moved by a scene in which the humans helped the Turtles leader Shredder. In a follow-up tweet, Rose shared her hope to play TMNT staple baddie Krang in the sequel. 

I wanna play Krang in the @TMNTMovie sequel. I’m like so serious!!!! https://t.co/8E80n3EL2P

— Rizzie McGuire? (@NylaRoseBeast) February 18, 2024

It has been confirmed that Mutant Mayhem will receive a sequel though details remain scarce on the plot. A TV series about Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo is also in the works. 

Who is Krang? 

An alien being from Dimension X, Krang first appeared in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated show as part of the second episode. His first comic book appearance was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures vol. 1, #1, published by Archie Comics in August 1988. Krang is often seen working alongside Shredder, another staple villain of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. 

While not physically imposing, Krang possesses an impressive intellect and some psychic powers. He can often be found piloting an android body which provides him with great strength. 

Wrestling and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Should Rose be selected as the voice of Krang, she’ll join former WWE Champion John Cena who voiced Rocksteady in Mutant Mayhem. Sheamus played the same character in the 2016 live-action film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows. 

The TNA Wrestling roster has left fans scratching their heads with the use of a single emoji, an hourglass, in a series of tweets. 

On Twitter, several wrestlers in the company shared the context-free tweet, leaving fans to speculate in the comments as to what this means. Some fans speculated that the talent were counting down until their contract expired, perhaps in response to the controversial decision by Anthem Entertainment to remove Scott D’Amore. D’Amore had been part of TNA for years and was a pivotal part of the company’s relaunch earlier this year which was a hit with fans. TNA’s roster recently issued a letter to Anthem expressing their support for D’Amore. 

You can check out some of the tweets from the TNA Wrestling roster below. 

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— Jordynne Grace (@JordynneGrace) February 19, 2024

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— Josh Alexander (@Walking_Weapon) February 19, 2024

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— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) February 19, 2024

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— Speedball Mike Bailey (@SpeedballBailey) February 19, 2024

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— Chris Bey (@DashingChrisBey) February 19, 2024

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— Masha Slamovich ??????????? (@mashaslamovich) February 19, 2024

What’s Next for TNA Wrestling? 

TNA will now be overseen by Anthony Cicione, who is the company’s new President in addition to being Anthem Entertainment’s President. The promotion’s next big event will be this week’s No Surrender pay-per-view. The card for the upcoming show is as follows: 

• The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) (with Alisha Edwards) vs. Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kushida and Kevin Knight)

• Chris Sabin (c) vs. Mustafa Ali (TNA X-Division Championship)

• Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Gisele Shaw (TNA Knockouts Championship)

• Decay (Havok and Rosemary) (c) vs. MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly) (TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships)

• PCO vs. Kon

• Josh Alexander vs. Simon Gotch

• ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) vs. Grizzled Young Vets (James Drake and Zack Gibson) (TNA World Tag Team Championships)

• Moose (c) (with Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) vs. Alex Shelley (with Kevin Knight and Kushida) (No Surrender Rules Match, TNA World Championship)

Multiple WWE higher-ups allegedly pressured male talent to perform sexual acts with other men, according to ex-Superstar Paul Roma. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Paul Roma on WWE’s Accusations

With the Grant lawsuit, McMahon’s practices with WWE Superstars have been under severe scrutiny over the past month. Speaking on News Nation, Paul Roma said you would hear talk of McMahon being inappropriate on a regular basis. 

“Yes. It was pretty regular. You heard it on a regular basis for the most part. Then you wouldn’t hear it for a while. Then it would come full circle. But it wasn’t so much Vince, as it was people that he had surrounding him. You’re talking about an industry where you have young, good-looking well-built men in the ring. Half naked, three-quarters naked actually. So yeah it left a door open. 

“He had a lot of people around him. Vice Presidents and bookers that were very much into that. And they put you in a really bad situation. Especially once you started making some money. You kind of get comfortable with that. Then you find out that your job’s on the line. Do it or get fired. And I witnessed quite a few walk away. The money wasn’t worth it.”

When asked to clarify what the male talents were asked to do that led to some walking away, Roma said that he saw talent being pressured to perform sexual acts. 

“They were asked to do things, sexual things, with other men, that they did not want to do. My former partner being one of them. I was actually in a cab ride in Washington, and we were coming back. The gentleman next to me kept saying it’s not worth it. It’s not worth the Benjamins… The next day we were filming for our second TV taping and he was gone. He jumped on a flight and went back home and never showed up again to wrestle.”

Roma was asked if the person in the cab ride with him was coerced by a member of management and said there would be no one else in the company who’d do such a thing. 

“Let’s leave it this way. That’s all it could be. If somebody is going to give you money, it has to be that. There is nothing else. It’s not going to be one of the boys that you’re wrestling with. They’re not going to offer you money.

“Even my former partner. They offered him money, drugs. ‘Just lay on your back you don’ have to do a thing.’ And he came running right to me when I came to TV and I said ‘Dude. What are you going to do?’ He told me ‘I’ve already spoke to Arnold.’ And I say ‘Well why would you do that? You just killed our team. What do you think he’s going to do? He’s going to go to the people who propositioned you.'”

When the host Ashleigh Banfield spoke about a prior interview with Mario Mancini, she reiterated a claim that there is at least once incident from years ago that are worse than any allegations in the Grant lawsuit. Roma said he was aware of the claim but did not feel it was his role to speak publicly on that specific situation. Roma added that the alleged victim may have their reasons for not coming forward. 

“We’re surprised no-one has come forward but on the flip side, I think that they’re of an age now. They may be married and have kids and they don’t want to open Pandora’s box. And I don’t blame them. And I said that to Mario. Can you blame them?” 

Former WWE wrestler Paul Roma joins @TVAshleigh to discuss the sex-trafficking allegations against CEO Vince McMahon and the WWE. MORE: https://t.co/dLQeMJvpVq #Banfield pic.twitter.com/5mIJjgZvMn

— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 20, 2024

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

The citizens of Cleveland, Ohio could be flocking to Municipal Stadium later this year for WWE’s annual SummerSlam, if recent reports are to be believed. 

The Columbus Dispatch reports that WWE will be receiving a $1.676 million tax credit from the state of Ohio this year. This is part of Ohio’s $44 million credit that will be awarded to television and film productions happening there in 2024.

No major WWE event has been announced for Ohio yet, despite this $1.676 million tax credit. With that said, there has been speculation that the tax credit could be tied to rumors of Cleveland hosting SummerSlam. Fightful Select reported in October of last year that ‘The Forest City’ was the front-runner to host the Biggest Party of the Summer. 

WWE & Cleveland

WWE has a rich history of hosting Premium Live Events in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. WWE’s first PLE in the city was SummerSlam 1996 which saw then-WWF Champion Shawn Michaels retain his gold against Big Van Vader. Other WWE events hosted in Cleveland include No Mercy 1999, Survivor Series 2004, Unforgiven 2008, and WWE TLC 2014. 

The promotion’s most recent PLE in Cleveland was Fastlane 2019 which saw The Shield defeat Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre in a six-man tag-team match. The bout marked the first match featuring the Shield following Roman Reigns’ return from his second victory over leukemia. 

Several WWE Superstars are also native to Cleveland. While The Miz now calls Los Angeles home, the WWE A-Lister was born and raised in Cleveland, as was Johnny Gargano. 

Dwayne Johnson has become a huge megastar in the world of entertainment, but that wouldn’t have happened if not for the influence of a very special person. 

This week, The Rock served as the Grand Marshal of the Daytona 500. The Brahma Bull had been scheduled to kick off the annual race last weekend before severe weather delayed plans. 

The Rock’s Tribute

The Rock had a great time at the Daytona 500, which was covered on Twitter by the FOX: NASCAR account. During the video shared online, The Rock can be seen being interviewed by somebody, and looking up to the sky saying “Rest in peace, I love you brother.” In a tweet of his own, The Rock gave context, revealing that he was speaking about somebody who changed his life. 

“Crazy moment here. You’ll see at the end, I’m shooting a cellphone vid for a guy – he gets my attention, by yelling my old high school in Pennsylvania (Freedom) and mentioning my high school football coach, Jody Cwik.

“The last time I got arrested at 15, Jody said “hey stop getting arrested and come play football for me”.

“I did.

“And it changed my life.

“He changed my life. You’ll see me look up and point, and and say “rest in peace, I love you brother”

“Amidst the adrenaline and beautiful chaos of #DAYTONA500 this moment was the last thing I expected.

“I’m grateful it did.

Crazy moment here. You’ll see at the end, I’m shooting a cellphone vid for a guy – he gets my attention, by yelling my old high school in Pennsylvania (Freedom) and mentioning my high school football coach, Jody Cwick.
The last time I got arrested at 15, Jody said “hey stop… https://t.co/cvnI589kWm

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 20, 2024

Who Was Jody Cwik? 

Cwik passed away in 2006 at the age of 51. A graduate of Philipsburg High School, he would later study at Kutztown University, earning a BS in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. Later, he received his Master’s Degree in Education also from Kutztown University. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife and their one daughter Lauren. 

Dwayne Johnson has often spoken highly of Cwick and the profound effect he had on his life. In 2016, the former WWE Champion recalled shaking hands with Cwik and how his grades and attitude improved at school when he began playing football. Johnson said in an interview with Oprah’s Master Class that to this day, he tries to see the best in kids who have been written off by others. 

GUNTHER will go down in history as the WWE Superstar who has held the Intercontinental Champion more than any other. 

The Austrian captured the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown in June 2022 with a victory over Ricochet. Since then, GUNTHER has retained against a litany of different opponents. At WWE Clash at the Castle 2022, GUNTHER would retain in a five-star classic against Sheamus, who only needs the IC title to complete the Grand Slam. 

Smashing the Record

In September of last year, GUNTHER broke the record for the longest individual reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion. That record had been held for decades by the Honky Tonk Man, though GUNTHER wasn’t surprised to surpass the WWE Hall of Famer. 

Now, GUNTHER has another accolade to his name. As of today, the Imperium leader has surpassed Pedro Morales’ collective 619 days across two reigns to now hold the record for the most collective days with the gold. Morales held the title from December 1980 to June 1981 and later from November 1981 to January 1983. 

What’s Next? 

On last night’s Raw, GUNTHER put his title on the line against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. The Austrian retained thanks to a distraction by Jimmy Uso, who would lay out his brother after the match. The match marked Jey’s first shot at the workhorse title. The dominant Austrian is not set to compete at WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber event from Perth, Australia. 

What is going on right now?!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/uPQouVqPFw

— WWE (@WWE) February 20, 2024

One thing fans shouldn’t expect to see next from GUNTHER is a pursuit of a WWE World Championship. Last August, GUNTHER expressed his hesitation at being a double champion and said it was not the time for him to pursue a World Championship.