Legends pass away like regular humans, which is a hard reality to face. Sadly, the world lost a remarkable talent as Carl Weathers passed away recently. The pro wrestling world took notice as well.
Tributes For Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers died on Thursday at the age of 76. His family said in a statement that he “died peacefully in his sleep.” We do not know the cause of death yet, but the world is mourning this great loss.
Xavier Woods from WWE honored the late Carl Weathers, who recently passed away. Weathers’ portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise served as the inspiration for Woods’ TNA persona, Consequences Creed.
“Today one of my biggest inspirations died. Carl Weathers brought Apollo Creed to life and in doing so he inspired me to become something that helped me achieve my wildest dreams. You really never know what you just doing what you love does to inspire others. #Rip Carl Weathers”
Jesse Ventura shared the screen with Carl Weathers. He posted a photo of them together on the set of Predator, along with a touching tribute.
We lost an icon. Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend. All my sympathies and love to his family. I loved working with him on Predator and then celebrating that film with him at various conventions in the ensuing years. Thank you, Carl.
We lost an icon. Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend. All my sympathies and love to his family. I loved working with him on Predator and then celebrating that film with him at various conventions in the ensuing years. Thank you, Carl. pic.twitter.com/29OJoe8qcu
Sean Waltman also paid his respects to the great man that the world lost this week. While posting an animate gif of Weathers playing Chubbs Peterson from Happy Gilmore, in the scene where he’s showing Happy that he got both hands back after his death, X-Pac wrote: “Thank you for everything.”
Carl Weathers was a great actor, and he kicked down barriers for others with his fantastic career in entertainment. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
Our thoughts are with Carl Weathers’ family, friends, and fans at this time as they cope with losing such a talented man. RIP.
John Cena has done a lot in his shoo-in WWE Hall of Fame career. Some may say he’s getting better with age, but his part-time schedule may play a part in how fans perceive the 16x World Champion.
While speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, when questioned about the prospect of a time when fans might no longer see him, John Cena expressed that he’s just getting older and can’t compete at the same pace as the younger talent.
“I’ll be 47 in April, and the product is filled with superstars who are young, fast, and gifted. I’m just not as fast as I once was.”
John Cena Classic Car Comparison
Cena drew a comparison, likening himself to a vintage classic car that requires a prolonged warm-up before reaching its final gear. He humorously alluded to a 30-minute run, followed by necessary repairs due to unforeseen issues.
”I compare myself to like a fine vintage classic car. So if you want to take it out one day, you got to warm it up for about two and a half hours, then you can take it out and you can hit the last gear, but please don’t pin it to red line. I can go for about 30 minutes. Then after you drive for 30 minutes, you got to take it back in the shop and fix all the noises it was making. I’m leaking fluids from places I didn’t know I had places. So it’s pretty rough around the edges.”
This is an interesting analogy, because Cena did have to get surgery after his last short WWE run. He had surgeries on both arms after his match at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia against Solo Sikoa. So, he certainly needed a tune up after that short time on the road.
John Cena Knows His Cars
John Cena has an extensive car collection featuring American muscle cars, European supercars, and daily-driven Japanese sports cars. The collection is notable for its focus on muscle cars and American classics, complemented by a substantial number of European luxury cars.
Naturally, his involvement in the Fast & Furious franchise also validates anything he says about cars. We will have to see what kind of analogies Cena comes up with in the future to describe himself, but this one was on the money.
Cody Rhodes may not get to finish his story at WrestleMania, and some fans don’t seem to be very happy about that. After The Rock returned during the February 2nd episode of SmackDown, they have not been shy about making their opinion known.
The Rock’s Big SmackDown Return
The Rock returned during SmackDown this week as a big surprise. Cody Rhodes was just about to announce who he is facing at WrestleMania, when he said that he won’t be the man taking on Roman Reigns.
Suddenly, The Rock’s music hit and he came down to the ring. After shaking hands with Cody, the American Nightmare took off to leave himself alone in the ring with Roman Reigns.
SmackDown closed out this week with the two staring each other down. No match was made official, but it’s pretty clear that WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock vs Roman Reigns.
Some Fans Are Not Happy
While some fans are over the moon with happiness due to The Rock’s return to WWE television, they aren’t all thrilled. Some are standing behind Cody Rhodes, and they are not impressed with a storyline that doesn’t see him finish his story.
The YouTube upload of The Rock & Roman Reigns’ segment from SmackDown this week has received over 50% more dislikes than likes. It also has well over 1.5 million views at this point. That is a very high percentage of dislikes.
How This Match Came About
As we previously reported, according to Dave Meltzer on the F4W Online forum, The Rock strongly advocated for the match with Reigns. Meltzer mentioned that the high-profile clash between the Hollywood star and the Tribal Chief is expected to shift the focus away from the current Vince McMahon scandal.
“Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Fans definitely didn’t see this new development coming, and they might not be 100% for it, either. Needless to say, it will be an interesting showcase of the immortals this year.
WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk has wasted no time in going under the knife after suffering a torn triceps injury last month.
During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, CM Punk suffered a triceps injury which Drew McIntyre has taken full credit for. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40 due to the injury, and vowed to wrestle McIntyre when he’s able to make a return.
Punk’s injury has caused WWE to make a serious change of plans. While the initial WrestleMania card featured Cody Rhodes facing Roman Reigns, it now appears that The Rock, who returned on this week’s SmackDown, will face his cousin instead.
CM Punk Update
The former WWE and AEW World Champion was backstage at last night’s episode of SmackDown in Birmingham, Alabama, PW Insider reports. Punk was spotted sporting a brace on his arm due to the triceps injury. Sources close to the situation have said that Punk has already undergone surgery to repair the triceps tear.
What’s Next?
While specific times may differ, a torn triceps injury requires considerable healing time, which is usually at least six months. That would put Punk’s return date around July or August, though there have been rumors he could be out of action for longer.
Cody Rhodes is on the Road to WrestleMania 40, but his final destination won’t see him face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
On the forum board of F4W Online, Dave Meltzer explained that The Rock pushed hard for the match with Reigns. He added that the blockbuster showdown between the Hollywood megastar and the Tribal Chief will hopefully turn attention away from the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal.
“Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”
Meltzer added that Rhodes was supposed to face Reigns at WrestleMania in the original plan and that a showdown with The Rock was set to happen at a later date. It was also stated that CM Punk’s injury was a decisive factor in WWE’s change of plans.
“Cody was the plan. Dwayne was going to face him later, maybe next year’s Mania, maybe Saudi. Shit happens with Vince and Punk, the Vince thing ends up worse than they thought and they changed the plan. I literally didn’t know until yesterday that it could change and then I was told it’s under lock. But 100% it was Punk vs. Seth and Cody vs. Reigns until Punk got hurt.”
This massive change of plans as seen on SmackDown has had the wrestling world talking…
Cody and The Rock shared an embrace during SmackDown, in what many have seen as confirmation that Rock will face Reigns at WrestleMania instead of Rhodes. Many online have disagreed with the idea, given Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to Reigns last year and how his story has always been about winning the WWE Championship (now part of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship) that his father never captured.
On Twitter, Brandi Rhodes referred to her husband as a quarterback, indicating that he is a reliable hand that WWE can count on.
Danielle Moinet, better known to WWE fans as Summer Rae, was far from pleased, stating that after two years of build, this twist doesn’t make sense.
Imagine handing over your Wrestlemania match that you beat 29 other ppl for…AFTER a two year build
I’m all for twists & turns but make it make sense! Gosh I hope we are ALL wrong. I hope it all makes sense next Fri in a Rock Roman promo, that is if either of them show up to tv
Echoing Cody’s comment about taking everything from Reigns, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful said that this storyline is doing much more harm to the American Nightmare.
After competing in a dark match following SmackDown, Sami Zayn spoke to the crowd in Birmingham, Alabama. The former NXT, Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion stated that those who reminisce about the ‘good ol’ days’ should stop and see how good things are right now.
“It’s awesome to have The Rock. We’re lucky to have him. But you know, The Rock is lucky to have the WWE, too. Because we are living in the best time with the best superstars in the WWE.
“We have constantly listened to people talk about the good ol’ days. The good ol’ days. The good ol’ days. Well I’ve got news for you. Tonight, 10,000 people sold out this building in Birmingham! To see the best crop of performers in the world so I have news for you and for everybody! The good ol’ days are right here, right now!
“And I want to thank you for letting me be a part of it, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you for being a part of it with us. Thank you so much, we are all feeling something special right now! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you, thank you very much.
After the show, Sami said, “it’s awesome to have The Rock. We’re lucky to have him. But you know, The Rock is lucky to have the WWE, too. Because we are living in the best time with the best superstars in the WWE.” And then he said this. #wwe#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/4gxaFfEeHS
During the Men’s 2024 Royal Rumble match, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps injury. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that the injury will cost him a match at WrestleMania 40. In a recent WWE Chronicle that covered Punk’s injury and aforementioned announcement, the former World Champion fought back tears as he spoke about what his time with the WWE roster has meant to him so far.
“Just certain looks from certain people I get, and then I start crying again. And Cody’s one of them. He’s a great dude. This locker room is everything the business is supposed to be. It’s everything the business was sold to me as being and it’s remarkable, and that’s why I’m so sad. I’m not sad I hurt my arm, I’m sad I’m temporarily out of this amazing situation.”
The Rock made his presence felt in a big way during his appearance at tonight’s SmackDown from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Great One had teased a potential match with Roman Reigns during the Day 1 special of Raw. He all but confirmed this showdown for WrestleMania 40 tonight when he showed up to confront the Tribal Chief at the end of the Blue Branded show.
Though while the broadcast ended only minutes after The Great One showed up to the arena, he stayed in the ring far longer. WWE posted an extended clip of The Rock’s confrontation with Roman Reigns as well as his promo after SmackDown went off air as seen below:
What The Rock’s Decision Means For Cody Rhodes
The ripples from this appearance of the Hollywood star are being felt around not only the main event but the whole card for WrestleMania 40 event from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
It was indicated during the show itself that Cody Rhodes will not be challenging Roman Reigns at Mania despite winning the Royal Rumble. Instead, we will see this match much sooner, potentially at the Elimination Chamber from Perth later this month.
If The American Nightmare ends up winning the Undisputed Championship at the International PLE then we may see a separate match for the title at the Show of Shows. If the former AEW star doesn’t win the title, however, things could also pivot in the direction of a potential Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes match.
Seeing the reaction of fans and numerous wrestling personalities over the decision, it’s also possible that the officials may be forced to reconsider their choice and a different card may emerge altogether. Whatever the case maybe, tonight’s events only make things more interesting and we’ll have to wait and see how things unfold from here.
Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, marking a back-to-back win achievement in the big annual match. This week on SmackDown, he made a big announcement about what’s next for him. Little did they expect that so much more was going to happen.
SmackDown’s Final Segment
WWE gave Cody Rhodes’ big announcement the final segment of the night for SmackDown to make his big WrestleMania decision. This was a choice that Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were both very interested in, but that’s not all.
Roman Reigns made his way to the ring first to start the twenty-minute closing segment. The Tribal Chief took a chance to bury Seth Rollins and his title. He made a point that Rollins is an injured workhorse, and he called the World Heavyweight Championship the “losers bracket title,” since he’s already beaten everyone going for that title.
"Or is finishing the story taking EVERYTHING from you?"
Then Cody Rhodes came out, with all of his pyro, and fans were ready to see him answer the Head of the Table. Cody asked Roman, “what do we want to talk about?” He asked if they can have the ring to themselves, which caused Solo and Jimmy Uso to step outside, but Paul Heyman stayed.
Cody Rhodes said he still wants Roman’s Undisputed Universal Title, because of what it represents. To him, it is still the same title that Bruno Sammartino defended and Dusty Rhodes himself held for a brief moment before it was yanked from his hands. Cody wondered if finishing his story would mean taking everything from Roman Reigns.
The American Nightmare then said that he wants to take that title from Roman Reigns, but it won’t be at WrestleMania. He said that he’s been seeking council, and it was with someone who knows him very well.
That is when The Rock’s music hit, and The Great One came out to a huge pop in Birmingham, Alabama. The Rock and Cody hugged, and then Rhodes left.
The Rock and Roman Reigns just stood in the ring for a moment, as fans soaked in the scene. Fans chanted “this is awesome” and “holy sh*t” as Rock and Roman approached each other in the ring. The show ended with a silent stare-down without another word being said.
WWE’s Previous Creative Plan For The Rock at WrestleMania
I exclusively reported WWE’s current situation with The Rock vs Roman Reigns. While some were saying that the match may be moved to Saudi Arabia, that is not the case. Those plans were kept very close to the vest. Now, it appears that the match is going to take place at the show of shows this year, and fans will not have to wait.
Earlier in the night, Bayley made her big WrestleMania decision. She will take on IYO Sky, which was a move that caused Asuka and Kairi Sane to jump her from behind. Now, Bayley is without Damage CTRL, but she’s got a Mania main event in her future.
SE Scoops will have complete coverage of the road to WrestleMania. The show will go down on April 6th and April 7th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Financial Field.
Bayley won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, and she made history in the process. This week on WWE SmackDown, she made a big decision about her WrestleMania future.
Bayley Makes A Big Decision
Bayley took to the ring along with Damage CTRL this week on SmackDown. She had a big decision to make about the showcase of the immortals, and the fans in Alabama were there to cheer her on.
After making a point that she’s done everything she can at WrestleMania, competing for both singles titles, tag team gold, and even hosting the event, the Damage CTRL member got around to making her decision. She, of course, gave credit to her Damage CTRL stable for standing by her side the whole time, through thick and thin.
She teased facing Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania, but then she turned her focus to her stable. Then Bayley confronted them for laughing at her. She spouted off a bit of Japanese at them, for all the times they talked about her behind her back.
Bayley said she just wanted Damage CTRL to be the best, to take things to the top as a stable. She asked IYO Sky what happened. Then Kairi Sane and Asuka jumped Bayley from behind. Finally, Bayley retrieved a lead pipe, and that helped her fight off the three-on-one attack.
Bayley will take on IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. She has a story to tell, and now she has a grudge to settle after this violent breakup. She told Sky that they will meet at WrestleMania, and that drew a big response from the crowd.
In the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Bayley joined from the #3 position after Natalya and the returning Naomi. Supported by her Damage CTRL allies Asuka and Kairi Sane, Bayley achieved a historic feat.
She not only emerged victorious in the match but also set a record for the longest run in a singles Women’s Royal Rumble, lasting over one hour and three minutes. Her remarkable performance concluded with the elimination of Morgan, securing her win in the match.
Tiffany Stratton made a lot of noise in the #29 spot during the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Now, she is on the SmackDown brand.
Tiffany Stratton is SmackDown
During the February 2nd episode of WWE SmackDown, they made two big announcements in one backstage segment. Naomi came out of an office with a freshly signed SmackDown contract, but she was not alone.
Tiffany Stratton came out next, with a SmackDown contract as well. She declared that she is now on the main roster, and the blue brand is her home.
Rumors About Tiffany Stratton’s Main Roster Call-Up
Rumors were circulating backstage at Monday’s Raw about Tiffany Stratton’s standout performance in the Royal Rumble match, sparking discussions about her potential move to the red brand, according to PW Insider.
It is interesting that Stratton is on SmackDown now, because putting her on RAW would align with WWE’s tendency to keep real-life couples on the same brand, as Stratton is in a relationship with Ludwig Kaiser.
Who Is Tiffany Stratton
Tiffany Stratton joined WWE in 2021 after being trained by Greg Gagne. She held the NXT Women’s Championship for 107 days until her reign concluded with a loss to Becky Lynch at NXT Battleground 2023.
In early January, Stratton wrapped up a feud with Fallon Henley in a unique “ranch hand or servant for a day” match at New Year’s Evil, resulting in noteworthy vignettes showcasing Stratton’s humorous struggles while assisting on the ranch.
Now that Stratton is on the main roster, it appears that she won’t waste any time.
Brandi Rhodes has been busy since departing from the pro wrestling world. As wife of Cody Rhodes, she will always be a part of the business, and today she had quite a statement to make.
Brandi Rhodes Makes Bold Statement
The pro wrestling world can be a difficult place to operate at time, and women in the industry have faced certain struggles time and time again. Although not all stories need to be detailed, it is apparent that Brandi Rhodes went through a lot in the pro wrestling business.
Brandi shared that during her time in wrestling, a few individuals made things unnecessarily difficult for her. However, she expressed having no joy in learning about the karma they have faced. She then used that statement to provide her daughter with an example of what a lie is.
“There were a handful of legit idiots who made my time in wrestling harder than it needed to be. But when I hear of the cold dishes of karma they’ve been served, it gives me absolutely no pleasure.
(This was me giving my daughter an example of what a bold faced lie is).”
There were a handful of legit idiots who made my time in wrestling harder than it needed to be. But when I hear of the cold dishes of karma they've been served, it gives me absolutely no pleasure.
(This was me giving my daughter an example of what a bold faced lie is).
Brandi Rhodes started her wrestling journey as a WWE ring announcer under the name Eden Stiles. She met Cody Rhodes during that time in her life. However, she departed from WWE in 2016, around the same time that Cody left the company in the middle of his Stardust run.
The pair then took off to tackle a global wrestling journey, showcasing their talents in various promotions, eventually landing in AEW. Cody and Brandi left AEW in 2022, and then the American Nightmare returned to WWE.
Although Brandi has not signed with any pro wrestling company since, she has been busy. She opened up a yoga studio, NakedMind, in Roswell, Georgia.
WWE released several members of the roster in September, and a few of those people have already started making waves elsewhere. Shelton Benjamin lost his job with WWE as part of those cuts, and despite a pull to get him into AEW, that hasn’t happened yet.
Shelton Benjamin’s Current Free Agency Situation
The fall 2023 WWE releases are now open for bookings. Shelton Benjamin, with a wrestling career spanning over 20 years, has garnered interest from some quarters advocating for his inclusion in prominent wrestling companies.
According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, several wrestlers were urging for Shelton Benjamin to join All Elite Wrestling. This is a sentiment that started well before his release.
Benjamin has made a great impression with several people during his career. Obviously, his reputation precedes him, so there were people in the company advocating for Tony Khan to sign him.
Those that we spoke to said that while there were some people going to bat for Shelton, pushing for him to join the company and even making some internal pitches, as of early January, AEW had not yet contacted Benjamin about a potential appearance in the company.
On September 21, 2023, WWE made a series of releases, coinciding with a new TV deal. The list of released talent includes Mustafa Ali, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Top Dolla of Hit Row, Tegan Nox, Emma, Riddick Moss, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke, Mansoor, Mace, Quincy Elliot, Dabba-Kato, and Yulisa Leon.
Misconception About Shelton Benjamin’s Contract
Although there were efforts for people to pull for Shelton, with internal pitches made for him to join the company, that hasn’t happened yet. As of early January, AEW has not pulled the trigger on bringing him in.
The report also noted that there was actually a bit of confusion regarding his contract status last year. His deal did not expire at that time, but his current free agency certainly opens up the opportunity for him to come into AEW.
There was some miscommunication within AEW last Summer that led to some believing his deal was up imminently in 2023. Unfortunately, that ended up coming true as Shelton was released by the company in September 2023.
Tony Khan has brought in a good number of former WWE stars, and Shelton Benjamin could be a great addition to the roster. That being said, it does not appear that they are close to nailing down that deal at this time.
The pro wrestling landscape is always interesting when free agency is a part of the conversation. You never know where those people will show up next, and now Jacob Fatu’s name is on that list.
Jacob Fatu Is A Free Agent
Jacob Fatu is currently not tied to any contractual obligations. He is a free agent, and that report has now been confirmed.
Bodyslam.net confirms that the former MLW World Heavyweight Champion is a free agent. Despite earlier suggestions that Fatu was still bound by an MLW deal until 2025, independent sources have verified to Cassidy Haynes that he is not currently under contract with Major League Wrestling and is open to signing with any organization. SE Scoops has also reached out for further comment.
Rikishi Already Told Us
We previously reported that Jacob Fatu is now a top free agent in the pro wrestling world. He could obviously be a big benefit for many pro wrestling companies out there.
Jacob Fatu is known for his time in Major League Wrestling and his affiliation with the CONTRA Unit faction. He held the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. His wrestling style incorporates power, agility, and high-flying maneuvers, making him a versatile performer.
The Bloodline May Get A New Member
Jacob Fatu is ready to join the Bloodline as well, and join his family, including the Head of the Table, Roman Reigns. The Anoa’i Family could see another member join WWE soon enough.
“They do [want me to sign] and I appreciate that. The grind is, you do the hard work where nobody can see it. I appreciate them and I appreciate everyone talking good about me because, my mother-in-law always says this, ‘truth should come to the light.’ The truth is definitely coming to the light because it’s all the hard work. Everything in the back that people don’t see. We’re here with the students, you appreciate the hard work that goes into this. I appreciate the fans saying that.”
“Do I want to be there? Yeah, absolutely, but then again, I didn’t expect to be at MLW this long. It’s really in God’s hands. I’m thankful for it. I watch my brothers every day. Like Roman and my brothers say, they always call and tap in. They can say this and that about the family. Everyone is human. I love what they’re doing. That feeling of what they’re doing is real. If you ask me, it’s God’s timing. I’m going to leave it at that. There ain’t no telling.”
Fatu maintains a strong connection with his WWE family, and that may help him find a spot with the company. He is definitely one to watch in the years to come.
Could WrestleMania 40 go off the air with Cody Rhodes holding both the World Heavyweight Championship and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship?
While it’s known that Cody will challenge for a World Championship at WrestleMania 40, there has been plenty of speculation as to which champion he’ll face. Ever since his loss at WrestleMania 39, it was expected that Cody would face Roman Reigns this year and get his win back, ending the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion’s historic run in the process. When The Rock returned during the Day 1 Raw, he teased coming for Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table.
While it’s expected that Rhodes could challenge for one championship in Philadelphia, the American Nightmare wouldn’t say no to leaving with both titles. When a fan on Twitter suggested a ‘Winner Takes All’ stipulation featuring Reigns, Rollins, and Rhodes, Cody made it clear he was interested in the idea.
Rita Chatterton alleged that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her in his limousine in July 1986. She left WWE that same year under conflicting stories, as WWE’s attorney at the time asserted that she was “fired for cause.”
Her name has come up a lot more in recent memory, due to the hush money scandal that is still unfolding for Vince McMahon. During a 2022 interview with the Cheap Heat Podcast, Chatterton spoke about the toxic atmosphere that awaited her in WWE. This all started for her when Vince McMahon called after she was recommended by Blackjack Mulligan.
“I said, ‘hello’ and the man’s voice said, ‘is Rita Marie there?’ and the only people who called me that were from wrestling, and I said, ‘this is her,’ and he said, ‘this is Vince McMahon.” I was like, wow, here’s the man I’ve been calling for months, and he’s finally calling me. He said that ‘I understand you spoke to George, and he and Blackjack Mulligan were pretty impressed, and we wanna get some TV on you, can you be at Madison Square Garden in like two days?’ I was like, yeah, I’ll be there.” “Going from nowhere to Madison Square Garden, that’s huge.”
Chatterton was 27-years-old when she signed on with WWE. At her first gig with WWE, Pat Patterson allegedly didn’t believe she was a referee. When she showed Patterson her referee license, he was apparently fuming. She claims that Patterson went back screaming, “Who the f*ck would give a female a referee license.”
Later on, she said that Chief Jay Strongbow asked to see her license, just so he could look it over, before leaving with his head shaking in disapproval. Strongbow apparently raised a fuss over Chatterton as a referee.
Rita Chatterton Details Sexist WWE Culture
After the athletic commissioner showed up, the discussion was started once again. Then, she claimed that Pat Patterson offered her money for the night, but she wouldn’t be a referee on the show.
“They walk over to me, and Pat Patterson has a fistful of money. He said, ‘here, take this.’ I said, ‘what’s that?’ He said, ‘you’re getting paid for tonight, but you’re not refereeing anything. I said, ‘oh yes I am.’ I said, ‘Look, if I’m not refereeing, I will sue you personally, and I will sue you, and I will sue you, and I will sue you,’ I’m going around pointing at everyone. ‘And I will sue WWE because I’m a good referee and I worked hard to get here, and I’m doing it.’ And then they storm away.”
Chatterton also discovered, a short time later, that Pat Patterson offered money to the female wrestlers in her first WWE match to break her legs. Of course, they didn’t, but that is how volatile and toxic it apparently was.
“I ended up doing my very first match, a women’s tag team match, and I found out a few months later that Pat Patterson told the women to break my legs and make sure I never wanted to get in the ring again.”
“Luckily, being women, instead of doing anything to hurt me, they helped me, and that’s how I got started,” Chatterton said. “It was a crazy world and things were so much different back then, but luckily the women knew that you had to work 10 times as hard for a quarter of the recognition that the men got at the time.”
Chatterton On WWE Talent’s Rock Star Lifestyle
Chatterton said that “they wouldn’t think about saying that” to her today, telling her that she’s not on a show just because she’s a woman. The culture has certainly shifted when it comes to public consciousness, but other aspects of WWE sadly remained until just recently when Vince McMahon officially resigned.
She spoke about the rock star lifestyle that “they all” lived back then, when talking about the talent. Rita Chatterton also did what she could to stay away from that to the best of her ability.
“They all lived like rock stars. They had, what they called arena rats backstage trying to meet the guys. So, it was always ‘stay away,’ and I didn’t have a problem with that. I was engaged. I had a very happy home life. I didn’t have a problem with that. So yeah, you know, it had its moments where things got pretty crazy.”
Rita Chatterton After WWE
In 1992, Geraldo Rivera’s producers approached Rita Chatterton about the alleged rape by Vince McMahon. She shared her story on Rivera’s shows, but the allegations received limited coverage due to other WWF scandals. McMahon and his wife sued Chatterton, but they dropped the case after his steroid case indictment. You may watch Chatterton’s Geraldo appearance below.
In June 2022, Chatterton’s story resurfaced during a New York Magazine profile. McMahon faced new misconduct allegations, leading Chatterton to speak out once again. In December, Chatterton sued McMahon, settling later to avoid litigation costs. Reports suggest McMahon agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement.
SE Scoops will have ongoing coverage of Vince McMahon’s allegations as more information comes to light. More names could come forward, and a federal investigation on his actions also raises a lot of questions about what is next.
Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon exposed many skeletons that he had in his closet. TKO Group Holdings has already said they will take action on the matter, and Vince has denied all allegations. There is a lot to unpack in this situation, as more information surfaces.
The Complicated Situation With Vince McMahon
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there is a belief that McMahon may eventually face charges given the potential discoveries from a federal raid. Multiple individuals within the industry claim knowledge of additional individuals involved in the situation, and some have expressed readiness to disclose these names if not revealed otherwise.
A WWE employee, with long-standing experience, reportedly suggested that the ongoing lawsuit may not be the most severe aspect of the situation, pointing to potentially higher settlements.
The situation with John Laurinaitis is very interesting. The source of the initial leak, as well as the timing of everything, is also full of speculation.
Laurinaitis himself has turned on Vince McMahon, in what one person who referred to themselves as a longtime former friend of Laurinaitis called “rats jumping off of the sinking ship.” Laurinaitis attorney has reached out to several in the industry in what many believe is his team trying to find allies, or find out who has talked to who to help gauge his best options moving forward.
There’s still heavy speculation over the source of the original Wall Street Journal leaks, with some thinking it could have been Grant, and others believing it was high up in WWE. It is believed that TKO became very aware of the mess on their hands after the merger, and one source believes they would have handled the rollout much differently had they been aware something like this was imminent. However, they were very aware as of last week when McMahon was present at the NYSE regarding the Netflix deal.
Despite the complicated situation, no company-wide talent meetings have taken place to address the matter. It has only been emphasized to many that Vince McMahon is definitively done and has no path back to the company.
The report also mentioned the significant impact on Brock Lesnar’s creative plans, leading to a halt in his storyline, his absence from major events like the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, and the cancellation of planned matchups. Although Lesnar’s future remains uncertain, the report suggests that his absence doesn’t necessarily mean a permanent departure.
Brock Lesnar was also pulled from WWE’s creative plans, because he was referenced in the allegations from Grant’s lawsuit. He was also pulled from the WWE SuperCard game, and his merchandise is on sale now as well.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this always evolving story about Vince McMahon.
WWE’s own merchandise online shop may have given the biggest clue to date regarding Brock Lesnar’s future (or lack thereof) in the promotion.
Last week, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon, alleging that she has been abused and trafficked by the former Chairman. While McMahon has denied all allegations against him, he stepped down from WWE/TKO shortly after Slim Jim suspended its sponsorship deal with the wrestling promotion. John Lauriniatis, who is named in the lawsuit, has stated that he is a victim in this disturbing situation and not a predator.
Brock Lesnar Update
While Brock Lesnar isn’t named in the lawsuit, the paperwork alleges that Grant was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, believed to be the part-time Superstar. Lesnar was subsequently pulled from the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event as well as the WWE 2K Supercard game. There are reportedly some in WWE who believe that Lesnar is finished with the company due to the scandal.
Now, WWE has given arguably their biggest signal to date that Lesnar’s WWE career is over. PW Insider reports that the vast majority of Brock Lesnar merchandise has been moved to the sale section of WWEShop.com. While this shouldn’t be seen as confirmation of an exit, WWE typically reduces the price of merchandise they have released from the company.
WWE sources who spoke to PW Insider added that right now, Lesnar is “off the table” when it comes to creative pitches. Brock Lesnar has not publicly commented on the allegations in Miss Grant’s lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon.
Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon caused the Chairman of the Board to resign, and now he is gone from the company. That separation was necessary, because advertisers were starting to pull out, but that doesn’t mean WWE has directly communicated with talent about the issue.
WWE Addressing Talent
The Bella Twins publicly addressed these allegations, but WWE talent have largely remained silent about what is going on with Mr. McMahon. It seems that WWE management has not addressed this serious issue with talent either.
One WWE talent spoke to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and said that WWE hasn’t addressed Vince McMahon’s situation yet. Instead, this talent was told that WWE has an amazing Netflix deal in place and the Royal Rumble was a huge success.
“According to one main roster star, nobody has talked to them about the situation from management, other than to tell them that Vince won’t be back. Instead they were told how successful the Royal Rumble was and how big the new Netflix deal is.”
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
This new internal investigation within TKO also brings up a big question about the previous investigation that WWE conducted on the issue. Janel Grant claims that she was never contacted as part of that investigation.
Vince McMahon’s Response
Vince McMahon’s camp has denied all allegations, despite his resignation. He still owns stock in WWE, but not enough to make any type of comeback like he did the last time he returned from retirement.
Advertisers and sponsors withdrawing can trigger a chain reaction, prompting WWE to swiftly address the issue. Vince McMahon’s resignation came just as Slim Jim pulled out, and there was a fear that more may follow. This was deemed not only necessary but also justified, since the allegations against him are heinous.
Grant’s lawsuit explicitly states that she is stepping forward not just to address her own tragic story, but also to advocate for those who fear speaking out. The prospect of additional untold stories involving Mr. McMahon is a cause for significant concern.
More Allegations May Come Forward On Vince McMahon
In the written interview, Callis said that more people have expressed a desire to come forward, but they cannot do so. There are several NDAs, and fear for professional punishment. At this point, they are “frankly overwhelmed” while starting the process of going through the response.
“My office and my inbox have had a barrage of people wanting to come forward to attest about this culture of corruption and also possible victims. We are just beginning now to wade through all this, but we’re frankly overwhelmed.”
Public Response To Vince McMahon Allegations
The allegations against Vince McMahon have drawn attention from the entire world. This story exploded out of the pro wrestling bubble, and now the feds are investigating the matter.
Bill Simmons is also set to drop a six-part Netflix docuseries on Vince McMahon. He will pull no punches in this docuseries as well, and we can’t wait for it to drop. Larry David was also challenged to watch the first episode of the series by Simmons himself.
Rita Chatterton’s Allegations
Former WWE referee Rita Chatterton finds herself back in the spotlight due to a past sexual assault allegation against Vince McMahon. Although those allegations have been public for years, they have somewhat faded from collective memory. However, recent events have brought her name back into the discussion.
Chatterton alleged that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her in his limousine in July 1986. She left WWE that same year under conflicting stories. WWE’s attorney at the time asserted that she was “fired for cause.”
In 1992, producers for Geraldo Rivera approached Chatterton, seeking her perspective on a rape allegation against Vince McMahon. Chatterton then shared her story on two of Rivera’s shows. Unfortunately, her allegations garnered limited coverage at the time,
In response to Chatterton’s accusations, McMahon, accompanied by his wife Linda, took legal action by filing a lawsuit against Chatterton, Rivera, and Geraldo’s producers. However, this lawsuit was eventually abandoned after McMahon’s indictment in the steroid trial that was going on at the same time.
SE Scoops will have more updates on Vince McMahon’s lawsuit and the allegations. More could come forward with stories about McMahon in the coming months, because Janel Grant’s attorney said they are overwhelmed with people reaching out with their own allegations.
Brock Lesnar is one of the biggest Superstars that WWE has on their roster. Despite his massive name, TKO Group Holdings is taking action after he was associated in the damning lawsuit that broke the pro wrestling world wide open.
WWE’s Creative Plan For Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar’s name was not explicitly mentioned in Janel Grant’s massive lawsuit, but a former UFC Heavyweight Champion was mentioned.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, after Vince McMahon’s initial “retirement” when the hush money scandal first broke, Lesnar did not take it very well at all. He threatened to quit, and Triple H had to step in.
When the news of Vince’s retirement broke, Lesnar stormed out of the building and said he was not coming back, which resulted in plans having to be changed for SummerSlam. However, after being talked with by management, believed to be Levesque, he returned and did his originally scheduled angle and continue to work major events for the company. Stephanie opened the show talking in glowing terms about her father to a cheering crowd, leading to a loud “Thank you Vince” chant.
It was further noted that Brock is no longer in any creative plans for WWE at this time. He is not likely to be used any time soon.
There are no plans at this time to use Lesnar. Given his star power, saying this is forever is probably foolish. But it’s likely not going to be any time soon. Lesnar has been the company’s first or second highest paid wrestler and one of its most protected stars for the past dozen years, and the fact he’s out of WrestleMania and his future is in jeopardy is amazing because of how little attention it’s gotten.
The decision to remove Lesnar from creative plans follows his connection to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit alleges McMahon’s involvement in sexual assault, abuse, degradation, and trafficking.
Grant claims that her sexual services were part of negotiations involving Lesnar, with McMahon facilitating the arrangement without her consent. Lesnar allegedly requested a video of her urinating before a planned encounter that never took place. The lawsuit outlines McMahon providing Lesnar with Grant’s personal cellphone number and explicit content as well.
Lesnar, who was initially set for a WWE comeback at the Royal Rumble, faced repercussions from the lawsuit. He was replaced by Bron Breakker in the Rumble match. Despite these developments, Lesnar has not publicly addressed the allegations.
WWE Removes Brock Lesnar From Game
Brock Lesnar was also removed from WWE’s 2k SuperCard game. It was also reported that the expectation is that Lesnar will be minimized, if not removed completely, from merchandising as well as other promotional material.
It appears that Lesnar is out of WWE’s creative plans now, which nixes WrestleMania for him. He was previously set to face GUNTHER at the show of shows. Although it is a moot point now, it is unknown whether that match would have been for the IC Title.
The pro wrestling world has a few interesting free agents, but Mercedes Mone may have already quietly signed a deal with AEW. It was previously reported that some within the company believe a deal is done. It is all about waiting for the right time to make the big announcement.
Mercedes Mone and WWE were reportedly discussing a deal, but they ran into a financial roadblock. Now, all signs point to the former Sasha Banks debuting for AEW.
Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW actually planned to drop their first tease for Mercedes Mone’s debut this week. That was pushed back due to the Vince McMahon news that dominated the news cycle.
The plan is to make a big deal out of Mercedes Mone debut. At one point the plan was to announce it this past weekend, or at least tease it, but it was moved back. The reason given was not wanting to announce it this week given all the far bigger news that came out and that people wouldn’t be focusing on it at all
What’s Next
AEW has one chance to debut Mercedes Mone, and they want to make it count. She could do a lot of good for Tony Khan’s company, but they need to make sure that everything is considered before making that first big move.
It will be interesting to see how AEW inserts Mone into their women’s division. Currently, Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo are engaged in a feud for their Women’s World Title.
SE Scoops will have more updates on Mercedes Mone’s status with AEW. It appears that she is on her way, but Tony Khan needed to change his plan a bit due to the current circumstances.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has alerted both WWE and AEW that former MLW National Openweight Champion Jacob Fatu is a free agent.
Fatu gained massive recognition for his tenure in Major League Wrestling (MLW) and his association with the faction CONTRA Unit. He is a former MLW World Heavyweight Champion. His in-ring style combines power, agility, and high-flying moves and those traits make him a dynamic performer.
Jacob recently made New Japan Pro Wrestling appearance at the Battle in the Valley where he teamed with Fred Rosser and Shota Umino and defeated Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor.)
As his last name suggests, he belongs to the Anoa’i wrestling family, which includes legends such as Yokozuna, Umaga, and The Rock. Recently, Roman Reigns-led The Bloodline stable has been unstoppable and represents the family in WWE. Well, given Jacob’s free-agent status, his next move is still a mystery. Rikishi has now put both WWE and AEW on notice after Jacob Fatu ended his five-year run with MLW.
Rikishi believes Jacob Fatu is “ready”
Taking to Twitter/X, Rikishi has said that Jacob Fatu “has been the baddest talented Indy worker on the scene” and that “Its TIME.” He then raised the question as to whether AEW or WWE would bag the signing of the Samoan superstar.
Fans and promotions alike have their eyes on Jacob Fatu as a potential future star in major wrestling companies like WWE and AEW with his reputation steadily growing. He possesses the potential to dominate the wrestling world and he remains a compelling figure in the industry.
There is a huge chance that he could make a move to WWE. It is something that he has been vocal about in the past, more specifically about joining The Bloodline could bolster the stable.
We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Jacob Fatu.
Vince McMahon’s retirement in 2022 due to a hush money scandal was not the end of his time with WWE. He eventually returned and ushered the company into a merger situation with the UFC. Now, after Janel Grant’s lawsuit uncovered new alleged details of the horrific experience, Vince is totally out and his troubles may not be over.
Vince Under Investigation
Vince McMahon has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of sexual trafficking and misconduct made by a former WWE employee, Janel Grant. These accusations have sent shockwaves through the WWE and the pro wrestling world. Now, United States Federal authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Federal authorities are actively investigating the sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations against WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. Recent months have seen New York prosecutors reaching out to women who have accused McMahon of sexual misconduct as part of the ongoing investigation.
‘‘Federal authorities have been investigating sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations against WWE co-founder Vince McMahon, according to people familiar with the investigation.”
”Prosecutors in New York in recent months have been in contact with women who have accused McMahon of sexual misconduct, the people said.”
Janel Grant’s Lawsuit
In the lawsuit filed by Grant, disturbing claims include McMahon sharing explicit content of Grant without consent, implicating other WWE employees, undisclosed executives, and stars. That lawsuit included some incredibly concerning allegations, including that McMahon defecated on her head during a forced 3-way, one where she was told that “no means yes.”
Vince McMahon denied the allegations against him. He still resigned completely from WWE, and he no longer holds enough shares or controlling interest to re-insert himself into the corporate picture, as he did after his first “retirement.”
Brock Lesnar was not named in the lawsuit, but he was identified as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, one who McMahon allegedly used Grant as a sexual bargaining chip to get him to sign a new deal. He then requested an alleged urination video from Grant, but a play date could not be arranged between the two.
Still, Lesnar was removed from WWE’s current creative plans. He was also taken off the WWE SuperCard game. SE Scoops will have more updates on this story as new updates are made available.
Former NXT North American Champion Trick Williams is grateful for the positive reaction from the WWE Universe when he made his first main roster appearance.
Trick Williams, who comes from a football background has made quite an impact in the pro wrestling landscape. Williams has gained massive popularity over the last few months and fans start “WHOOP THAT TRICK” chants whenever he shows up. He has certainly become a breakout star of WWE’s developmental brand. Williams has been associated with the former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and they are currently thriving as a tag team.
Ahead of the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, the WWE SmackDown go-home edition on January 26 emanated from Miami, Florida. A rematch between Carmelo Hayes and Austin Theory saw the latter securing the win. However, following the match, Theory and Grayson Waller attacked Hayes.
Trick Williams would come out to a massive ovation from the fans and rescue his tag-team partner Hayes from the assault.
Trick Williams says it’s a dream come true moment
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Trick Williams recalled the positive reception from the crowd when he showed up on SmackDown. He said that it was a ‘dream come true’ for him.
”Honestly, it’s a dream come true (reaction he received at 1/26 WWE SmackDown). I think that’s the feeling that every wrestler wants to feel. Running out when you hear your music being played. So, beyond my imagination. Who thinks their first debut is gonna sound like that? So, I’m grateful for.’
Williams will have to pull off double duty this Sunday at NXT Vengeance Day. He is set to team up with Carmelo Hayes and take on Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals. Later in the main event, Williams will challenge Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship.
There are chances that Williams could walk out a double champ. We will have to wait and see what the future holds for him.
