SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • AEW Changed Plan For Sting On Dynamite After His Father’s Passing

    AEW Changed Plan For Sting On Dynamite After His Father’s Passing

    Sting means a lot to pro wrestling fans, and they are all ready for the road for his big retirement match at AEW Revolution. Sadly, his father passed away this week, which took priority over his commitments to Tony Khan’s company this week.

    Sting’s Plans Changed

    During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Sting and Darby Allin appeared via video to address The Young Bucks’ attack on Sting’s sons in a previous episode. The WWE Hall of Famer was not actually in the building this week, but there was a very good reason for his absence due to his father’s passing.

    Ric Flair was spotted backstage with The Young Bucks, suggesting a potential betrayal of Sting at AEW Revolution. In the end, Sting was not on the show, but that was not the original plan.

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed AEW’s intentions for Sting on Dynamite. There was a plan for The Icon to be on the show, but they had to change those plans when his father passed away. 

    “Originally, Sting and Darby were going to be on the show doing something, whatever they were gonna do. That needed to be taken off, because they had shot all that at Sting’s house in the Dallas area, I think.”

    Christian Cage Controversy

    It was also noted that Christian Cage and Daniel Garcia’s segment right after that may have needed an alteration, but it carried on anyway. Christian went into one of his “dead dad” promos on Garcia, and he even dropped an address in the process that is a legit cemetery. Meltzer noted that this segment may have been in poor taste, considering the fact that they had just announced that Sting’s father passed away this week.

    Many fans also chimed in on Twitter/X to share the sentiment that the Christian Cage segment could have been saved until next week.

    https://twitter.com/EttenGregory/status/1760509179045769548

    What’s Next

    Sting has been a part of the AEW family for over three years and currently plays a significant role in one of AEW’s major storylines. His recent appearance on Dynamite, however, didn’t go as planned. They were able to figure out how to progress his storyline despite his absence. 

    AEW Revolution will still see Darby Allin and Sting team up against The Young Bucks in Sting’s final match. We will have to see how the company continues to build toward that match.

    Our thoughts go out to Sting’s family during this time as they go through this terrible loss. 

  • ‘Hangman’ Page Suffered Suspected Broken Ankle During AEW Dynamite Main Event

    ‘Hangman’ Page Suffered Suspected Broken Ankle During AEW Dynamite Main Event

    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.” 

  • Daily Drop (2/22): WWE Loses Creative Mind To AEW, John Cena Addresses Steroids & Vince McMahon Allegations

    Welcome to a new feature we’re running here at SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top news and rumors in wrestling. TNA Wrestling has their February 22 show tonight, but AEW and WWE fans have the night off from shows. That doesn’t mean there is any lack of news.

    Elimination Chamber starts at 5:00 am for fans in the East Coast on Feb 24, as the event goes down in Perth, Australia. Here is a rundown of the start times.

    WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Start Times
    • WrestleMania Countdown: 46 days away

    WWE

    – I was told that there was actually never a creative plan for Jey Uso to win the IC Title from GUNTHER. They way it went down with GUNTHER retaining on the road to WrestleMania is always what was supposed to happen. Also, WWE has settled on an opponent for GUNTHER at WrestleMania. I specially asked if Sami Zayn is taking on the Ring General, and was told, “no spoilers” in response.

    – WWE announced a new event for WrestleMania week. “Evening with a Legend” will feature Booker T and tickets are available for sale now.

    – It was confirmed that Ken Shamrock is coming back to a WWE 2K game. He will be a playable legend for the new release. 

    – Randy Orton was asked about Vince McMahon’s allegations while speaking to SI. He was quite candid about how heartbreaking the whole thing is. 

    – John Cena also had something to say about Vince’s allegations. He also made it clear that he will always love McMahon.

    – Also, while appearing on the Howard Stern Show, John Cena addressed any accusations about steroid use throughout his career. He stands by the story that he is clean.

    – Scott Hall’s daughter dropped a pretty epic unseen video. This included Triple H and Kevin Nash, and at the time company lines separated them. During that period, Hall & Nash were with WCW, while Triple H remained with WWE.

    AEW

    – Wardlow fired off a pretty good shot at CM Punk this week on Dynamite. He took credit for physically breaking Punk down, and we all know he’s currently out of action with an injury.

    – Tony Khan clapped back at O’Shea Jackson Jr’s comments about AEW. 

    – AEW’s Ric Flair has a biopic coming out. The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions is going to produce it as well, so that could be a must-see project.

    – AEW picked up recently departed WWE Senior Writer Jennifer Pepperman as their new VP of Content Development. It was a surprise when she left WWE. Her background in soap operas also saw her win Emmy Awards. I previously reported that the internal feeling within WWE was that Pepperman already had a job waiting for her when she departed from WWE.

    – Ric Flair showed up on AEW Dynamite this week as the company continues to build hype for Sting’s last match at Revolution. 

    – AEW added to their Revolution pay-per-view, as Daniel Garcia stepped up to challenge Christian Cage for the TNT Title.

    – Adam “Hangman”  Page hurt his foot during AEW Dynamite this week. He commented on it after the show. It is apparently a bad situation. 

    TNA & NWA

    – Billy Corgan announced an exclusive streaming deal with The CW, making NWA programs available for free on The CW app. This partnership aims to broaden NWA’s audience and showcase its authenticity. Additionally, a new unscripted series about Corgan’s life will debut on The CW. 

    You can check out the updated lineup for Thursday’s episode of TNA Impact below:

    • The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards & Moose) vs. Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
    • Chris Sabin vs. Jason Hotch
    • Steve Maclin vs. Trent Seven
    • Simon Gotch in action
    • Ash By Elegance in action

    Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

    • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
  • Watch: Hangman Page Confirms Foot Injury “Is Bad” In Post AEW Dynamite (2/21) Footage

    Watch: Hangman Page Confirms Foot Injury “Is Bad” In Post AEW Dynamite (2/21) Footage

    Former AEW World Champion Hangman Page sustained an injury during the headlining match of last night’s AEW Dynamite. 

    The main event of the show saw a 6-man tag match in which Page, Rob Van Dam, and Hook faced Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Brian Cage in a losing effort. In the final moments of the match, Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch on the pro wrestling legend RVD, which forced him to fade and suffer the defeat for his team.

    However, an unfortunate moment unfolded for Hangman Page, who suffered an injury while taking a move from the AEW World Champion. When Joe attempted to hit his finisher Muscle Buster, Page managed to counter but landed awkwardly on the mat. It seems that the awkward landing caused the injury as Hangman promptly rolled out of the ring and grasped his ankle. On a related note, AEW star Adam Cole is also sidelined with an ankle injury.

    This was the last action Hangman Page took part in. After the match concluded, the cameraman tried to get the lens on him ringside, but he made them go away saying: “Stop, don’t shoot me.” 

    As per @Space_Cabbie who was at the show, Hangman was visibly angry and punched the floor, and kept saying “it’s bad…my foot”.

    https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1760579959016345713

    The feud between Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland remains to be one of the hottest ongoing feuds in AEW. The duo have been entailed in a feud for almost six months and it’s only getting hotter. 

    Page’s injury raises concern as he is scheduled to compete against Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe in a three-way bout for the AEW World Championship at AEW Revolution pay-per-view. It will take place on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.

    Keep an eye on SEScoops for the latest updates on the situation.

  • Will Ospreay Set To Make An Appearance On Next Week’s AEW Dynamite

    Will Ospreay Set To Make An Appearance On Next Week’s AEW Dynamite

    Last night on AEW Dynamite, it was announced that Will Ospreay is officially arriving as an AEW star next week. 

    Will Ospreay was revealed as AEW’s marquee signing at Full Gear. WWE was in the race for his services but it was AEW that bagged the signing. Despite receiving an offer from WWE, Ospreay recently clarified his decision to join AEW. 

    Ospreay thrived in Japan having several accolades. He had been one of NJPW’s finest stars and he is a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

    He has competed inside the AEW ring several times during AEW’s working relationship with NJPW. He even defeated Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door 2023 and Chris Jericho at AEW All In: London. 

    However, he concluded his commitments with NJPW before joining AEW and his last appearance in the Japanese promotion took place at NJPW New Beginning in Osaka on February 11 where he competed in a 10-man steel cage match

    Will Ospreay coming to AEW Dynamite next week

    During the February 21 e of edition of AEW Dynamite, the it was announced that ‘The Aerial Assassin’ will make an appearance on the February 28 episode of the show in Huntsville, Alabama. 

    Ospreay will face Don Callis Family’s Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution and it will be Ospreay’s first as a full-time wrestler of the AEW roster. This will also mark his first match for the promotion after competing in a six-man tag team match at last October’s WrestleDream pay-per-view.

    AEW Revolution pay-per-view is set to take place on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. 

  • AEW Hires Recently Departed WWE Senior Writer Jennifer Pepperman

    AEW Hires Recently Departed WWE Senior Writer Jennifer Pepperman

    Jennifer Pepperman was not out of the pro wrestling realm for long.

    Pepperman just made her exit from WWE not even a week ago and now Soap Opera Network has discovered that Tony Khan has signed her to a new deal with AEW.

    Pepperman was the longest-tenured female member of the creative team with WWE, being with the company since 2017 as she earned the role of Senior Writer. However, Pepperman’s recent exit was voluntary and not an internal choice. Now she will be announced as AEW’s new Vice President of Content Development.

    The latest AEW hire also has “outside wrestling” creative cred, as she’s a three-time Emmy winner.

    Tony Khan issued a statement, expressing his excitement for adding Pepperman into the mix.

    “Adding Jennifer Pepperman’s brilliant mind to the AEW team opens the door for exciting new ideas and will help us build upon the incredible stories currently developing on the road to AEW Revolution across our three weekly shows on TBS and TNT, and the effects of Jennifer’s arrival in AEW will be felt for many years in the future. We’re thrilled to welcome her today, and I look forward to her creativity and collaboration with our team across the board in what will be AEW’s biggest year yet, and beyond.”

    In the past, Khan has mentioned that he’s had a lot of talents involved in the creative process of developing the shows, but the addition of Pepperman marks the first official hire for a creative role with AEW.

    SEScoops‘ own Aaron Varble reported on Feb 15th that the general belief within WWE was that Jennifer Pepperman already had a job lined up for her. We will have more updates as they are made available. 

  • Tony Khan Calls This One Of The “Most Hectic” Weeks In AEW History

    Tony Khan Calls This One Of The “Most Hectic” Weeks In AEW History

    Tony Khan says AEW has weathered several storms this week and claims it hasn’t been this wild since the pandemic era.

    Khan had some thoughts before Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite took place and only had two primary matches listed ahead of of the show with two other matches featuring Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo not having respective opponents. 

    That may have been an early indicator of Khan’s laments about the week who posted the following on X before Dynamite blew up on Wednesday.

    “Tonight’s #AEWDynamite, NEXT on TBS, will be presented with up to 5 minutes overrun! This has been one of the most hectic weeks for injuries + unexpected unavailability that I can recall in AEW, especially since the pandemic era. Tonight will be a wild night on TBS Network!”

    Dynamite this week takes place in Tulsa, OK, but there is no word as to who Khan is referring to regarding injuries and unavailability. 

    The two main matches listed for the program ahead of time was the headline trios match between Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage going against Hangman Page, HOOK and Rob Van Dam. The other match listed was Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli going up against FTR which opened up the show.

    Toni Khan and Deonna Purrazzo were listed on the Dynamite graphic for singles matches, but were both listed as “in action” rather than an actual opponent.

    Khan and AEW are no strangers to injuries affecting their match cards. Names like Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole and CM Punk getting hurt have drastically changed major matches in the past.

  • Ric Flair Biopic Coming From The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions

    Ric Flair Biopic Coming From The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions

    Ric Flair has two WWE Hall of Fame rings for a reason. His landmark career broke boundaries and records for years. Now, fans should prepare themselves for a cinematic retelling of his life story. 

    Upcoming Ric Flair Movie

    The Wrap reports that the project will be produced by The Rock, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia, partnering with Misher Films’ Kevin Misher. Misher and Seven Bucks Productions had previously worked together on “Fighting With My Family,” a movie based on the life of Saraya, also known as WWE’s Paige.

    The yet-to-be-named Ric Flair biopic will see The Nature Boy’s story told in a new way on the silver screen. While hyping this upcoming project, Dwayne Johnson said, “As a kid who grew up in professional wrestling, I idolized, ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. He was a hero to me.” He went on to really expand on The Nature Boy’s career

    “He was a hero to me. And once I broke into the wrestling business and began to spill my own sweat and blood – my reverence for Ric turned to respect. Because I realized just how rare and impossible it is to disrupt the wrestling business, culture and truly change the game – and that’s exactly what Ric Flair did. This project is personal, and we can’t wait to tell his unbelievable story. As always, thank you for the house, Ric.”

    What’s Next For Ric Flair

    Ric Flair is known for his decades-long career, as he holds the record for being a 16-time World Champion. Now that he’s with AEW, Flair remains a captivating figure, no matter what he is doing on Tony Khan’s show.

    Flair’s autobiography “To Be The Man…” is still a great read. He also co-wrote “Second Nature,” a second autobiography with his daughter, Charlotte Flair. Only time will tell what stories this new film picks to focus on, because Flair’s career could fill a docuseries by itself. 

  • Tony Khan Responds To O’Shea Jackson Jr’s Comments By Inviting Him to Discover the Diversity of Wrestling

    Tony Khan Responds To O’Shea Jackson Jr’s Comments By Inviting Him to Discover the Diversity of Wrestling

    AEW doesn’t have the same buzz that they did a few years ago, and that has resulted in a few heated discussions online. Tony Khan has often been known to throw fuel on the fire, which is an interesting look as company President. Now, he is replying to another recent controversy that was sparked by a Straight Outta Compton star.

    AEW Fans Get O’Shea Jackson Jr’s Attention

    O’Shea Jackson Jr has been speaking his mind on Twitter/X, and fans have also responded with a lot of aggression. He also spoke to Chris Van Vliet about his opinion on pro wrestling, and that stirred up a bit of backlash.

    While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, O’Shea Jackson Jr. expressed his frustration, noting that while he understands some fans may be deeply entrenched in certain wrestling companies, but he feels there’s a lack of inclusivity for those who may not be as familiar. He emphasized the importance of informative storytelling within wrestling programming, similar to how UFC provides background on fighters before matches. O’Shea then highlighted the need for wrestling shows to engage viewers with compelling narratives, rather than solely relying on commentators to provide information while wrestlers make their entrances.

    Ice Cube’s son also suggested that without this level of engagement, it’s easy for newcomers to pro wrestling to feel alienated, especially when met with backlash for asking questions. Ultimately, he stressed the importance of captivating storytelling to draw in a broader audience.

    Tony Khan Responds

    Tony Khan saw what O’Shea Jackson Jr. had to say, and he responded in kind. While taking to Twitter/X, Khan said that hopes that Jackson will check out wrestling in “wider circles” soon.

    @OsheaJacksonJr You might enjoy checking out new experiences + entire worlds of international graps out there, I think learning about them is fun. All wrestling is awesome; I hope you enjoy whatever you like, + maybe someday you’ll be interested in wider circles!

    What’s Next

    Tony Khan received some negative feedback from fans after he posted that reply to O’Shea Jackson Jr. It will be interesting to see what is said next, but Jackson doesn’t seem willing to back down from his stance on the discussion.

    Pro wrestling fans are very passionate about their favorite company, whether it is WWE, AEW, TNA, NJPW or anywhere else. It can also be a tough fandom to crack, because there is so much someone needs to know in order to really understand everything that is going on. Either way, the important part is that fans enjoy themselves and have fun.

  • Daily Drop (2/21): WWE Descends On Perth, Shotzi Injury Fallout, Cash Wheeler Gun Charge

    Daily Drop (2/21): WWE Descends On Perth, Shotzi Injury Fallout, Cash Wheeler Gun Charge

    Welcome to a new feature we’re running here at SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top news and rumors in wrestling. It’s Wednesday, February 21, 2024 and we’ve got AEW Dynamite tonight from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Preview below).

    The big item on our radar is Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event from Perth, Australia. 

    Here are the special Elimination Chamber 2024 start times:

    WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Start Times
    • WrestleMania Countdown: 45 days away

    WWE

    – Carlito turns 25 years old today. He was born February 21, 1979.

    – We’ve added exclusive interviews with Bianca Belair and Omos to the SEScoops YouTube channel. These interviews were conducted at the WWE 2K24 media event that was held over Royal Rumble weekend.

    – I exclusively reported WWE’s current booking plan for Omos. Now, fans will have to wait to see him on television again.

    – Here’s footage of WWE talent arriving in Perth, Australia for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event:

    – Shotzi Blackheart headed for surgery for a torn ACL. She will be back for a while, and WWE aired the episode of NXT where she was injured last night. She announced on Instagram that she’ll be out for around 9 months.

    – The Rock is back wearing those ‘$500 shirts’ that he made famous during the Attitude Era. We wanted to know how much they’d cost in 2024. calculated the value of The Rock’s $500 shirts in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation. 

    – Vanilla Ice (yes, THAT Vanilla Ice) bought Eddie Guerrero’s low rider car. He also got it for a steal.

    – Natalya posted this incredible throwback photo on social media looking back at the first time she met Becky Lynch 20 years ago.

    AEW News

    – Here’s what’s on tap for tonight ‘s AEW Dynamite from Tulsa, Oklahoma:

    • Samoa Joe & Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage vs. Hook & “Hangman” Adam Page & RVD – Trios match
    • Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. FTR
    • “Timeless” Toni Storm in singles match
    • Deonna Purrazzo in singles action

    – Cash Wheeler’s gun charge is coming back to haunt him. Now, he will go to court and the charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.

    – Jim Ross said that his broken hip is responding well to treatment. We’ll have to see how long it takes him to make a return to AEW television. 

    Upcoming Events

    • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
  • Jim Ross On His Recovery: ‘Broken Hip Responding Well’

    Jim Ross On His Recovery: ‘Broken Hip Responding Well’

    AEW veteran commentator Jim Ross recently shared positive updates on his health.

    Ross has been facing health issues recently but he has now disclosed that he’s making good progress in his recovery. ‘Good Ol’ JR has combated skin cancer multiple times. He first underwent a skin procedure in 2016 and after a couple of years he revealed that the cancer had been completely removed from his shoulder.

    In an unfortunate turn of events, the WWE Hall of Famer was diagnosed with skin cancer again in October 2021. On December 29, of that year, he yet again shared a good news that he was cancer-free.

    Meanwhile, earlier this month, Jim Ross confirmed the news of his surgery on his right hip which was said to have gone well and he expressed gratitude to his fans for their support.

    Jim Ross provides an update on his recovery

    Recently, taking to his Twitter/X account, Jim Ross revealed that it was his first day out of the rehab facility and said he is improving daily. He went on to disclose that he was using a cane. However, his recovery is going well. He wrote:

    “First full day on Jax Beach and out of the rehab facility! Using a cane for now. Improving daily. Broken hip responding well. Excited for my future with @AEW!” Ross tweeted.

    Ross has been with AEW since 2019, after his controversial firing from WWE. He has lent his iconic voice to several memorable AEW matches. However, a concern remains for him as he is yet to pen a contract extension with the promotion. JR is willing to stay with AEW for a long time to come but he recently spoke about contract renewal being pending.

    We at SEScoops wish Jim Ross a full and speedy recovery.

  • AEW Star Cash Wheeler Faces Trial for Alleged Firearm Assault

    AEW Star Cash Wheeler Faces Trial for Alleged Firearm Assault

    Cash Wheeler is facing the consequences of his gun charge as the prosecutor moves forward with legal proceedings. Now, he is headed to court as prosecutors have opted to pursue the case.

    Cash Wheeler Going To Trial

    Daniel Wheeler, also known as Cash Wheeler, faces one count of aggravated assault with a firearm following his arrest in 2023. A warrant for his arrest was issued on July 28, the day after the incident occurred on July 27. 

    The FTR member already asserted his innocence through his attorney during his initial court appearance on August 3. All firearms belonging to Wheeler were mandated to be surrendered to the local sheriff’s department until the resolution of the case.

    During a road rage incident, Wheeler purportedly brandished a firearm. His attorney emphasized that the altercation was not of a domestic nature and that Wheeler was not acquainted with the individuals involved. The charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.

    According to court documents obtained by PW Insider, Wheeler was absent from his arraignment today. The trial is scheduled to commence on May 20th, with pre-trial proceedings set for May 7th, where Wheeler has been directed to attend.

    What Happened During This Incident

    On July 27, 2023, Orange County in Florida issued an incident report. Officer M. Bowhay arrived at the scene of an aggravated assault involving a firearm and interviewed the victim, Daniel Matta.

    Matta claimed that Wheeler aimed a gun at him while both were driving on Interstate 4. After positively identifying Wheeler from a photo lineup, Matta’s statement resulted in the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm against Wheeler.

    SEScoops is sending out our best for Cash Wheeler at this time. Hopefully, he can get this matter taken care of.

  • Rob Van Dam On Wrestling Samoa Joe 14 Years After Their First Meeting

    Rob Van Dam On Wrestling Samoa Joe 14 Years After Their First Meeting

    It’s been almost a decade-and-a-half since Rob Van Dam first grappled up with Samoa Joe in TNA and now the roles are somewhat reversed this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.

    RVD first wrestled Samoa Joe on the July 8, 2010 episode of TNA Impact. Back then, Van Dam was the World Heavyweight Champion of the promotion and he took on Samoa Joe in a non-title match main event. 

    RVD came out victorious after he pulled a “Bret Hart to Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII” 1-2-3 when Joe had him in the Kokina Clutch, but Van Dam used the turnbuckle to flip over and pin the then “Samoan Suplex Machine.”

    RVD on Working with Samoa Joe in 2010

    On his latest “1 Of A Kind With RVD” podcast, Van Dam commented on that previous bout.

    “Samoa Joe is awesome by the way, you know, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago to me having that match. So when you put the year in like that it makes sense, then it’s like, ‘Wow, okay.’ So I guess 14 years ago, that’s a pretty big chunk of time. You only get so many 14 [year] blocks of time in your life.”

    Now this Wednesday RVD will tag up once again with HOOK and the wild card, Hangman Page as they take on Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage. However, this time, it’s Joe who’s the World Champion in this full-circle situation.

    Does Van Dam Have His Eyes On AEW Gold?

    RVD later makes note that he isn’t one to shy away from making firsts in pro wrestling and getting hold of the AEW “Big Platinum” isn’t something he’s ruling out of the cards forthcoming.

    “So if I go after the AEW Championship, say I collect that f***ing gold and add that and become the only wrestler to have held the WWE, TNA, ECW and AEW Championship. I mean, I do s*** like that. I’m always finding new ways to stand out and be one of a kind. Imagine if that happened, how inspired people would be in general to think they grew up watching me decades ago. And then here at 53, they’re seeing me, perspectively, maybe having the best matches or the best year of my career.”

    An AEW World Title match could certainly fit the bill for Rob Van Dam forthcoming as Mr. Monday Night is scheduled for Saturday night when AEW Collison takes place on 4/20.

    Tune into “1 Of A Kind With RVD” every Monday at 4:20 PM ET at RVDTV.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

  • Kenny Omega On How Wrestling Can Draw New Fans, Similarities to Gaming

    Kenny Omega On How Wrestling Can Draw New Fans, Similarities to Gaming

    All Elite Wrestling superstar Kenny Omega wants to bring more non-wrestling fans into the profession. He has been involved in the wrestling business for over 20 years, allowing him to understand how to build a fanbase. The former AEW World Champion believes that giving your program time and care is one of the key factors in bringing in a new audience to your company. 

    In an interview with Gamespot’s Dave Jewitt, Omega shared his thoughts on the video game Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and how it can relate to wrestling. He believes wrestling shouldn’t be afraid to be creative and have fun like the video game. Omega’s philosophy is that wrestling fans will appreciate it and can bring a new audience to the profession.

    “As a wrestler in 2024, you always think of new ways. How are we going to bring new fans in? How can we get a new fanbase,” said Omega. 

    The former AEW World Champion explained that he believes wrestling should try to appeal to different people, whether it be age or culture. 

    “…We want anyone to appreciate what we do as an art form, as a form of entertainment. Much like the Like A Dragon universe, it can be whatever you want it to be as long as you give it a proper introduction, explain it, and have fun with it,” said Omega. 

    He added, “…That’s sort of my take on wrestling and clearly that sort of like the take on this game where if you put time and care into everything that you do, you’ll get the appreciation back. People will have fun with it.”

    Update On Kenny Omega 

    Omega is currently out of action as he looks to recover from diverticulitis. He had initially thought that it was a hernia until he went to the hospital on December 15, 2023. The AEW superstar revealed on Twitter after his diagnosis that he would be out of action for an indefinite amount of time.

     AEW President Tony Khan shared in a recent interview with Sports Grid that Omega is doing better than before. However, he is still far from making a return and hopes he makes a full recovery. 

    It’s expected Omega will take his time to heal before he steps back into a ring. Although it’s unfortunate that ‘The Best Bout Machine’ could be out for most of the year, it should be encouraging that he looks in good shape and spirits during his interview. 

  • Daily Drop (2/20): Conor McGregor Called Out On WWE RAW, CM Punk Appears After The Show

    Daily Drop (2/20): Conor McGregor Called Out On WWE RAW, CM Punk Appears After The Show

    Welcome to SEScoops‘ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

    Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

    • WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 46 days away

    WWE

    – CM Punk showed up after WWE RAW this week. Footage of his appearance went viral shortly after this week’s show. He had a nice segment for the live crowd with Cody Rhodes, with Jey Uso in the ring.

    – Michael Chandler showed up on WWE RAW this week, and he had a very interesting thing to say. He grabbed the microphone and called out Conor McGregor in epic fashion. We will have to see if this is the beginning of more WWE and UFC joint programming down the line.

    – Raquel Rodriguez returned to WWE television this week. She took part in the last chance battle royal, and she clinched the final spot in the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth.

    – WWE 2K24 confirmed that Bad Bunny will be a playable character in the upcoming game.

    AEW

    – AEW continues to get grief over how the Jeff Hardy injury spot was recently handled. Eric Bischoff called it a mess, adding to the many negative things he’s had to say about All Elite Wrestling in recent memory. 

    TNA & Beyond

    – There are some serious questions going around about the TNA roster right now. They may lose a few top members of their locker room at this point.

    – There is also an hourglass trend that drew a ton of attention. Only time will tell how this situation escalates, but we will have continued coverage here at SEScoops.

    Upcoming Events:

    • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
  • Nyla Rose is “Serious” About Voicing An Iconic TMNT Villain in the Mutant Mayhem Sequel

    Nyla Rose is “Serious” About Voicing An Iconic TMNT Villain in the Mutant Mayhem Sequel

    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. 

    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. 

     

  • AEW Talent Opens Up About Text Sent to Cody Rhodes After Historic Segment With The Rock

    WWE saw a huge shift in their creative direction when Then Rock returned to television. He found himself in the ring with Cody Rhodes, as they hugged before The Great One had a showdown with Roman Reigns. Everything happened very quickly after that, and we all know how everything escalated after that. Anthony Ogogo saw that footage, and it rocked his world as well.

    Anthony Ogogo Reacts To Cody Rhodes & The Rock’s Segment

    Anthony Ogogo recently spoke with Boxing Scene, where Cody’s segment with The Rock came up. That was a bit of a mind-blowing experience for him to see, because he knows The American Nightmare and has shared the ring with him.

    “I saw Cody in the ring with The Rock the other day, I saw it on YouTube, over a 100m views or whatever and I thought…” 

    After he took a moment to pause, Ogogo continued to say, “I took a screenshot. And I just thought, ‘F*ck. I was in the ring with him a couple of years ago, now he’s in with the biggest star in the world.’”

    Anthony Ogogo then revealed what he texted Cody Rhodes after that momentous segment on WWE television.  

    Everyone knows The Rock. “I’m happy for Cody. He’s a very good professional wrestler. He’s worked hard. He’s bet on himself. I’m happy for him.” “And I text Cody and said, ‘Mate, this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time. Buzzing for you. Go get it’. That’s what I text him. And I mean that, it’s a big thing for him.”

    Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story after all, because fans spoke out and cause The Rock to pivot from his original plan. 

    WWE Changed WrestleMania Plans

    I exclusively reported on SEScoops that a source within WWE confirmed that The Rock initially intended to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current scenario regarding the show was not The Rock’s original preference, indicating that it was not part of a preconceived plan from the outset. He then conceded that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns should be the main event match.

    I was later told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” It was Dwayne Johnson’s call to switch things up, and now Cody vs Roman is the main event of WrestleMania. At this point, a tag team match with The Rock joining the Bloodline seems to be the direction against Cody and Seth Rollins.

  • Darby Allin on his Cody Rhodes promo: “He’s the reason I’m in AEW”

    Darby Allin on his Cody Rhodes promo: “He’s the reason I’m in AEW”

    AEW star Darby Allin recently explained why he mentioned former AEW VP and current WWE star Cody Rhodes during his recent promo on AEW Dynamite.

    Darby Allin and ‘The Icon’ Sting are set to team up for latter’s retirement match against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution pay-per-view next month. Ahead of the highly- anticipated battle, Darby Allin grabbed the attention as he namedropped Cody Rhodes on the February 14 February edition of AEW Dynamite. The reference took fans by surprise and the former TNT Champion has explained his decision to mention WWE Superstar in hyping the upcoming bout.

    Darby Allin gives credit to Cody Rhodes 

    During a recent interview with Digital Spy, Allin addressed his decision to mention ‘The American Nightmare’ though the latter is not signed with AEW anymore.

    “That’s easy because he’s the reason I’m in AEW. You think back to my debut, I wrestled him at Fyter Fest and we went a 20-minute Broadway draw. For him to take a chance on me that early… I was relatively super unknown still, I was never really the guy on the independent scene. He did that. You’ve got to give respect where respect is due. I feel very strongly on paying homage to how I got here because I never thought I was going to get here.”

    Allin also addressed online criticism after his he cut the promo but he highlighted the importance of his history with the company and mentioned Rhodes’ contribution in his career and in the company overall. He said:

    “I only pay attention to what I think, I really don’t care about what anyone else thinks. You’ve just got to listen to yourself about things. I really felt it was important for me to tell my part of the story leading into that match and not just be this second-rate character going into the match. I have a lot of things I wanted to say to the Young Bucks and I said it and so be it. I just want to go out there and speak my mind on things.”

    Allin will team with Sting to defend the AEW Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) at AEW Revolution pay-per-view on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

  • Daily Drop (2/19): The Rock Staying For Daytona 500, Malakai Black Wrestles First Match This Year

    Daily Drop (2/19): The Rock Staying For Daytona 500, Malakai Black Wrestles First Match This Year

    Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

    Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

    • WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 47 days away

    Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 19, 2024:

    WWE

    – The Rock is staying in Daytona for the second day of NASCAR’s big race. The race was delayed due to rain, but Dwayne Johnson isn’t leaving until he tells drivers to start their engines.

    –Ex WWE Superstar Mandy Rose revealed that one of her fans once dropped $55,000 on her FanTime account. That was a pretty crazy story.

    – LA Knight is being considered for a big title match at WrestleMania 40.

    – Fans aren’t happy that Ex WWE NXT Superstar Velveteen Dream made his return to pro wrestling.

    – Indi Hartwell isn’t happy at all that she didn’t get an Elimination Chamber qualifying match, especially since she is from Australia. 

    AEW

    – Orange Cassidy made a very surprising debut for RevPro as AEW International Champion.

    – Malakai Black made his in-ring return, but it wasn’t during an AEW event. He competed at the Dark Arts gym. His last singles match took place in September 2022 when he competed for PRESTIGE. Meanwhile, his last singles match in AEW took place in June 2022.

    https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1759346418035069250

    What’s Next

    – WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

    – AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

    – AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

    – WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

    – WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

    – Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

    – WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock.

    – WWE Money in the Bank will take place on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.

    – WWE Bash In Berlin is set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

  • Malakai Black Competes In Singles Match For The First Time Since 2022 But Outside AEW

    Malakai Black Competes In Singles Match For The First Time Since 2022 But Outside AEW

    AEW star Malakai Black recently competed in a singles match and this marks his first singles match since 2022. However, the match didn’t take place in AEW but in his wrestling school, the Dark Arts Gym.

    Black has been competing in tag-team action alongside Brody King and Buddy Matthews since returning from injury in October last year. Black had suffered a slight calf tear and knee hyperextension that put him on the shelf for several months. Following his return, fans noticed that Malakai Black has not been competing in singles matches which sparked a rumor.

    His last singles match took place in September 2022 when he competed for PRESTIGE. Meanwhile, his last singles match in AEW took place in June 2022.

    Malakai Black competes in singles match

    For those who are unaware, The House of Black leader runs this school, Dark Arts Gym with his wife, WWE Superstar Zelina Vega. He competed in its latest show. 

    The Dark Arts Gym recently posted the full show on YouTube from their latest event, Dark Prospects: Ritual 1. Malakai Black headlined the event as he faced Orion. The match also featured AEW commentator Tony Schiavone’s commentary. The match lasted for almost 15 minutes and Malakai hit the Black Mass on his opponent to secure the win.

    https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1759346418035069250

    Last week, former NXT star Bobby Fish also made his presence felt in Malakai Black’s Dark Arts Gym. He paid a visit to share his experience with the up-and-coming superstars.

  • Orange Cassidy Shocks Fans With Surprise AEW International Title Defense At RevPro Event

    Orange Cassidy Shocks Fans With Surprise AEW International Title Defense At RevPro Event

    Fans who attended the most recent Revolution Pro Wrestling event received a huge surprise in the form of reigning AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy. 

    Cassidy was part of a multi-man scramble match that saw the International title on the line at the company’s High Stakes show.  He defended the gold against Sha Samuels, Spike Trivet, Richard Holliday, Cameron Khai, and TNA Wrestling’s Flash Morgan Webster. On Twitter, Rev Pro shared the moment Cassidy made his entrance and the electric response he received from the fans. 

    In a tweet of his own, Webster shared his delight at challenging for the AEW International Championship and believes it is a strong start to what will be an epic 2024. 

    While Cassidy’s appearance at the show was a surprise, it was no secret that the Freshly Squeezed wrestler was overseas in the United Kingdom. Cassidy, alongside AEW World Tag Team Champion Darby Allin, was seen with AEW President Tony Khan at a Fulham FC soccer game. Unfortunately for the AEW trio, Fulham lost 2-1 to Aston Villa. 

    Orange Cassidy in AEW

    Cassidy is in his record-setting second reign as the AEW International Champion. His first reign with the title is the longest in the title’s history. Cassidy also holds the record for the most successful title defenses in AEW. Outside of singles competition, Cassidy is part of the Best Friends stable alongside Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, and Kris Statlander. Cassidy made his debut for AEW at their inaugural Double or Nothing event in 2019 and would sign with the promotion that same year. 

  • Daily Drop (2/18): LA Knight’s WrestleMania Plans, Mercedes Mone’s AEW Payday & More

    Daily Drop (2/18): LA Knight’s WrestleMania Plans, Mercedes Mone’s AEW Payday & More

    Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

    Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

    • WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 48 days away

    Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 18, 2024:

    WWE

    – SEScoops was able to report who had a hand in The Rock and Roman Reigns’ SmackDown promo this week.

    – LA Knight is being considered for a big title match at WrestleMania 40.

    – Fightful Select provided a new extensive report about Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE.

    – Velveteen Dream ended his long hiatus from the ring by re-appearing at an indie wrestling show.

    – Nic Nemeth revealed that he actually requested his WWE release several times before the company finally fired him in September 2023.

    AEW

    – Rush made his current visa situation very clear, as there was a previous report on the matter.

    – There was another injury for the AEW roster 

    – Ric Flair, who is now associated with Tony Khan’s company, discussed the fact that skeletons in his closet ended his political aspirations.

    – New information is out that revealed the ballpark of how much Mercedes Mone asked for from WWE. She reportedly inked a deal with AEW and will make her debut during the March 13th episode of AEW Collision in Boston.

    What’s Next

    – WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

    – AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

    – AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

    – WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

    – WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

    – Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

    – WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock.

    – WWE Money in the Bank will take place on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.

    – WWE Bash In Berlin is set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

  • Rush Sets Record Straight on Injury; In Process of Getting Visa Through AEW

    AEW star Rush is currently working on getting a Visa through AEW. That doesn’t mean he was not injured.

    ‘El Toro Blanco,’ leads La Faccion Ingobernable which consists of Dralistico, Preston Vance, and Jose The Assistant. He recently revealed that he is planning to expand the faction this year. He has missed AEW action due to an injury and has been on the shelf for quite some time. 

    In December last year, Rush participated in the AEW Continental Classic tournament but he pushed through an injury. He was part of the Gold League where he racked six points by defeating Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal. However, he faced losses to Jay White, Jon Moxley, and Swerve Strickland.

    Rush managed to battle through his injury to compete in the tournament. After being on the shelf for more than a months he recently took to Twitter and announced his impending return.

    Meanwhile, fellow AEW superstar and La Faccion Ingobernable member Dralistico recently stated that he and Rush were in the process of getting their visas. This led to many believing that the visa issue was the actual reason he was not on AEW programming.

    Rush clarifies

    Taking to Twitter/X, Rush cleared the air regarding his absence. He wrote:

    “I was injured as confirmed by AEW doctors. Now I am recovered, I had a visa with someone else and now in the process of getting my visa through AEW. Stop posting bullshit for fucking likes. I don’t ever lie about injuries.”

    It is currently not known when Rush will make his comeback to the programming. We will now have to wait and see.

  • Ric Flair Says “Skeletons In My Closet” Ended U.S. Political Ambitions

    Ric Flair Says “Skeletons In My Closet” Ended U.S. Political Ambitions

    Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair could have had a fruitful career in politics had his prior controversies not intervened, according to the Nature Boy himself. 

    In wrestling, Flair had a long, lustrious career with 16 World Championship wins to his name, though the actual amount of World title wins is reportedly much higher. Speaking to FOX News recently, Flair was asked what he’d look for in a leader of the United States. 

    “I think we need someone who shows strength. We need somebody to say, ‘Hey, we are the United States. Kiss my ass!’”

    Flair was then asked if he’d considered running for office himself. While the Nature Boy has never set his sights on the White House, he did recall a proposed run for Governor in 2001. 

    “No [I have not thought about running for President] but I should have run for Governor in 2001. But, they said I had too many skeletons in my closet. Imagine that! I’d make Trump look like a baby.”

    Flair didn’t go into what skeletons caused him to reconsider. During a 2020 interview, Jesse Ventura recalled encouraging Flair to reconsider after Ric disclosed 143 speeding tickets. 

    Ric Flair And Politics

    Flair has long supported Republicans in North Carolina politics. In 2008, Flair declared his support for the Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. In 2016, Flair endorsed Ted Cruz’s campaign.

     In December 2021, Flair was a guest at a fundraiser for former President Trump. This appearance came shortly after allegations of sexual misconduct on the infamous Plane Ride from Hell were addressed during an episode of Dark Side of the Ring. While Flair denied the allegations, WWE would temporarily remove Ric’s signature Woo! from their intro video. 

  • Mercedes Mone’s Price Tag: WWE Refused Top Salary Demand To Secure Sasha Banks’ Return

    AEW is expected to bring in former WWE Superstar Mercedes Mone. A big date is set for Boston, and many are expecting her to show up on Collision. WWE was in the game for her, but it was already reported that they hit a financial roadblock. That being said, it seems that Mone wasn’t even asking for more than someone on the top of the Women’s Division is making.

    Mercedes Mone’s Big Pay Day

    AEW has a ton of money to throw around, but that hasn’t kept everyone around. Tony Khan admitted that he offered Jade Cargill more than she asked for to stay in AEW, but she is now a WWE Superstar. Mercedes Mone saw that money on the table and she took it.

    Tony Khan has a lot of money to spend on AEW contracts. He has a reported net worth of $1 billion. His father, Shahid Khan, has a net worth of 11.7 billion. Mercedes Mone made it clear that she’s going to where the money is, and AEW was able to offer more.

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Mercedes Mone asked WWE for a lot of money, but it wasn’t more than the top female Superstar is getting. One would assume that he is talking about Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, because they have the top paychecks in the women’s division.

    “I don’t know her actual money demands, but I know in a general what she was looking for from WWE, and it was kinda in the range, and for a star of her caliber, while it would be a little bit more than WWE would be paying her, what she was looking for, maybe even more than a little bit more, but it was not more than they pay other women, and she was one of their bigger stars.”

    AEW outbid WWE, and they’re getting The Boss. It was then stated that what this tells us is that when AEW is able to outbid for Mone, that they may be losing out on the deal financially. That being said, it’s not enough to worry the company, because “we would see it, because there would be talent cut.”

    What’s Next

    It is very much expected that Mercedes Mone will debut for AEW at their March 13th episode of Dynamite, that Big Business show in Boston’s TD Garden will provide the former Sasha Banks with a grand entrance for AEW in her hometown.

    On a totally unrelated note, but I couldn’t resist from including this, AEW also rolled out a similar red carpet for CM Punk’s debut. They booked a large arena in Chicago without announcing Punk’s debut. They simply strongly alluded to it by naming that episode of Rampage “The First Dance.”

    Of course, CM Punk and Sasha Banks both walked out of WWE. At this point, Punk is back in WWE, albeit he’s on the shelf due to an untimely injury. Now, it’s Mercedes Mone’s time to get a spotlight in AEW.