SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Rhea Ripley Endorses WrestleMania 40 Dream Match Against Becky Lynch

    Rhea Ripley Endorses WrestleMania 40 Dream Match Against Becky Lynch

    WWE Women’s World Heavyweight Champion Rhea Ripley has expressed her interest in facing Becky Lynch in a dream match at WrestleMania 40.

    Last month, Lynch interrupted ‘Mami,’ and vowed to script history by becoming the first two-time winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Lynch also made her intentions know that when she wins, she would challenge Ripley at WrestleMania 40. However, the Women’s Royal Rumble match was ultimately won by Damage CTRL leader, Bayley.

    Ever since that confrontation, fans have been clamoring to witness a clash between Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch and they might get what they want.

    Rhea Ripley to Becky Lynch: “Are you scared?”

    Ahead of the 2024 Royal Rumble PLE, Denise Salcedo spoke with Rhea Ripley and asked her what she makes of a potential match against ‘The Man.’ It seems that ‘Mami’ loves the idea of the clash but also forewarned Becky Lynch. She said:

    “I mean, obviously, it would mean the world, Becky’s one that I watched before I made it to WWE, and then even when I was in WWE. She’s one that I’ve paid close attention to, and she’s made so much history herself. I would love to step in the ring with her. But also, on the other hand, Becky, how does it feel stepping in the ring with Rhea Ripley? Are you excited? Are you nervous? Are you scared? Are you doubting yourself? Because maybe you should.”

    Previously as well, ‘The Man’ let her thoughts known and said that she was sick and tired of Rhea Ripley’s prolonged championship reign. 

    We are closing in on WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Australia in over five years, Elimination Chamber: Perth on February 24. The show will emanate from The Optus Stadium. There have been reports that Ripley would defend her title inside the steel structure and the superstar herself addressed the possibility.

  • Cody Rhodes Set for Elimination Chamber: Perth, Rhea Ripley Wants Title Chamber Match

    Cody Rhodes Set for Elimination Chamber: Perth, Rhea Ripley Wants Title Chamber Match

    Cody Rhodes’ road to WrestleMania will see the American Nightmare travel to Perth, Australia for this month’s WWE Elimination Chamber event. 

    The February 24, show will be WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Australia in over five years. The Optus Stadium will play host to the event, though no matches have been confirmed at this time. On Twitter, Rhodes shared his schedule for February and confirmed that he will be at Elimination Chamber: Perth. 

    Fans hoping to see Rhodes earlier than Elimination Chamber won’t have to wait long. Despite being a Raw Superstar, the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner is being advertised for tonight’s episode of SmackDown in Birmingham, Alabama. 

    Rhea Ripley Wants an Elimination Chamber Match

    Few Superstars will receive a bigger reaction when WWE travels down under than Rhea Ripley, who is a proud Australian. In a recent interview with Sam Roberts, Ripley spoke about the possibility of defending her WWE Women’s World Championship inside the Elimination Chamber.

    “I’d be down for it. I’ve done it before. Let’s be honest here. I love a bit of brutality. Give me some steel. Give me some weapons. Give me some pods. I don’t care. I love all that stuff. I live for this.”

    Ripley does have a small history inside the Elimination Chamber. She competed inside the barbaric structure in 2022, but failed to win the match. The Eradicator would eliminate former ally Nikki A.S.H. in the match before being eliminated herself by eventual winner Bianca Belair. 

  • Becky Lynch Was Told to “Move Like A Girl” Early Into WWE NXT Run

    Becky Lynch may be ‘The Man’ in WWE, but the former Women’s Champion was encouraged to move like a girl early into her career. 

    Lynch joined WWE as part of NXT in 2013 and made her TV debut in June of 2014. Lynch’s arrival is infamous for her character that leaned heavily into her Irish nationality, complete with green attire and ‘Irish jig’ in her entrance. Lynch would later drop the Irish character and became one of NXT’s top women before her call-up to the main roster in 2015. 

    Moving Like a Girl

    Lynch’s arrival in WWE came at an interesting time for women in the promotion. After years of the Divas era, 2013, 2014, and most notably 2015, would see WWE shift away from its previous portrayal of women and focus more of stories and wrestling than sex appeal. Speaking on her new “Never Before Told” series with Seth Rollins, Lynch recalled the awkward advice she was given early on in her WWE career. 

    “Coming into WWE, I had one very specific goal and that was to main event WrestleMania and make women’s wrestling the coolest thing on TV, and to change the game and to be seen as equal. Even in my early stages in NXT, it was weird and confusing because you were told that women can’t punch and you can’t use things like steps and you can’t use the post. Are we supposed to just hair pull and slap each other? It’s very confusing. I even remember being told, ‘Move like a girl.’ What, I am a girl, what do you mean? It was all so very confusing.”

    What Came Next? 

    By 2016, WWE had significantly changed its portrayal of women. At that year’s WrestleMania, Lynch would compete for the new WWE Women’s Championship, which marked the end of the Divas Title. The match also saw the Divas moniker be dropped when describing women, who have been called Superstars alongside their male counterparts ever since. 

    Fans shouldn’t expect to see Becky Lynch in AEW or TNA anytime soon… 

    H/T – Fightful

  • Brock Lesnar Removed From WWE SuperCard Game By 2K After Janel Grant’s Allegations Surfaced

    Brock Lesnar Removed From WWE SuperCard Game By 2K After Janel Grant’s Allegations Surfaced

    Brock Lesnar’s name was not explicitly mentioned in Janel Grant’s massive lawsuit, but a former UFC Heavyweight Champion was mentioned. It didn’t take many connected dots to figure out that Lesnar was involved, and now he is off a popular WWE game. 

    Brock Lesnar is Off SuperCard

    Content featuring Brock Lesnar has been removed from the WWE SuperCard game. The digital collectible card game, published by 2K Games, is available on mobile platforms. Now, fans will not find Lesnar on the game.

    PW Insider was the first to report and confirm this latest development for the Beast Incarnate. Although this does not mean Lesnar is gone from WWE, erasing him from this kind of platform is very interesting. 

    Sources cited in the PW Insider report suggested that 2K plans to downplay Lesnar’s presence in the game and potentially limit his visibility with other licensees. The WWE 2K24 console game by 2K, set for release on March 8, might also reflect this approach.

    Allegations Against Brock Lesnar

    This decision to remove Lesnar’s content from the SuperCard game comes in the aftermath of his involvement in a lawsuit filed against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis by Janel Grant. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sexual assault, abuse, degradation, and trafficking. 

    Grant alleges that her sexual services were offered to Lesnar as part of contract negotiations, with McMahon facilitating the exchange. Lesnar also allegedly wanted a video of her urinating prior to their play date that never went down. The lawsuit details McMahon providing Lesnar with Grant’s personal cellphone number and explicit content.

    Lesnar, who was poised to return to WWE programming, faced implications from the lawsuit. He was initially planned as an entrant in the recent Royal Rumble match but was replaced by Bron Breakker. Despite these developments, Lesnar has not issued a public statement addressing the allegations.

    SE Scoops will have more on Brock Lesnar’s ongoing saga as things continue developing. As of this writing, it appears that he is off the road to WrestleMania, where a planned match against GUNTHER was set to take place.

  • First WWE-UFC Combo Tickets On Sale Since the Launch of TKO Group Holdings

    Fans of both WWE and UFC will be able to secure their first combo ticket since the blockbuster launch of TKO Group Holdings 

    With the merger of WWE & UFC, TKO Group Holdings was launched last September. This came months after it was first announced that Endeavor would be acquiring WWE for the sum of $9.3 billion. Endeavor’s influence has already been felt in WWE, with Ari Emanuel himself pulling Vince McMahon from creative, essentially ‘knighting’ Triple H as the unquestionable leading figure when it comes to storyline decisions. 

    TKO’s Combo Ticket

    On the website of the Honda Center, fans can purchase a combo ticket for the price of $285. This ticket guarantees a seat for UFC 298: Volkanovski v. Topuria, which will take place on February 17. After that show, fans will also be able WWE Monday Night RAW on February 19, which will be the go-home episode of Raw before the Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event in Australia. This marks the first UFC and WWE combo ticket since TKO Group Holdings was launched last year. 

    Strong Ticket Sales

    This episode of Raw will be the first televised WWE event inside Anaheim’s Honda Center since the September 16, 2022, edition of SmackDown. While that show had a NXT North American Title match and Logan Paul on the show, the upcoming episode of Raw has already sold more seats. 10,648 tickets have already been distributed for the February 19, Raw, with just 52 remaining, far more than the 8,437 who attended the September 2022 SmackDown. 

  • John Laurinaitis Claims To Be A Victim In First Statement Since Vince McMahon Lawsuit Allegations

    John Laurinaitis Claims To Be A Victim In First Statement Since Vince McMahon Lawsuit Allegations

    John Laurinaitis was named in the huge lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. He was accused of assisting the sexual abuse that Janel Grant went through, but he has a different side of the story.

    John Laurinaitis Speaks Out

    Vince McMahon has resigned from WWE in response to those terrible allegations, although he had denied that they are true. Now, Laurinaitis is speaking out, via his attorney, and he is claiming to be a victim of the situation as well.

    In a statement issued to Vice News, Edward Brennan, Johnny Ace’s attorney, stated that the former WWE executive was also a victim in this terrible situation. This is allegedly all about the control that Vince McMahon had over them.

    “Mr. Laurinaitis denies the allegations in the misguided complaint and will be vigorously defending these charges in Court, not the media. Like the Plaintiff, Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case, not a predator. The truth will come out.”

    “Count how many times in the complaint Vince [McMahon] exerts control over both of them.” 

    “The truth will come out,” Brennan added to the statement. As of this writing, we are still waiting the outcome of this lawsuit or any internal investigation performed by TKO Group Holdings. 

    John Laurinaitis Claims To Be A Victim

    In response to a question if he was saying that McMahon was the predator and that Laurinaitis, like Grant, was a victim, Brennan reportedly responded to affirm that belief. 

    “Read the allegations. Read the Federal Statute. Power, control, employment supervisory capacity, dictatorial sexual demands with repercussions if not met. Count how many times in the complaint Vince exerts control over both of them.”

    The Bella Twins React

    We already reported how the Garcia Twins, formerly the Bella Twins, spoke out against these allegations. They were horrified to learn of the things their father-in-law allegedly did as they addressed it publicly.

    We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE. It has been a lot to process since we found out this past week as you all did. This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are. We want all women to feel safe and supported in the workplace and in their everyday lives.

    We will have to see how this situation unfolds as we receive new information. Vince McMahon and WWE will want to avoid this lawsuit going to court, because there are already more than enough details out about this scandalous and extremely troubling story in the public.

  • Jordynne Grace Was On Shawn Michaels’ Radar Before The Royal Rumble

    Jordynne Grace Was On Shawn Michaels’ Radar Before The Royal Rumble

    Shawn Michaels was well-aware of Jordynne Grace before she entered the women’s Royal Rumble match this past Saturday and even wanted her in the WWE fold.

    Speaking with the media ahead of WWE Vengeance Day Shawn Michaels was asked about the possibility of TNA connecting with NXT in the future for a “When Worlds Collide” PLE down the line. HBK first took the moment to speak about Grace and her talent.

    “I’ve always sort of seen her from afar, and I’ve always wondered, you know, I don’t know, ‘What if she’d be interested, coming down next year, coming to the WWE?’ But my fault for never reaching out because I assume if you’re with another company, you know, that’s not allowed.”

    Grace impressed many with her performance in the match as she lasted over 20 minutes before being eliminated by Bianca Belair in epic fashion. Michaels did end up addressing the olive branch extended to TNA at Royal Rumble and noted that the move possibily opens up for cool opportunities down the line, even if he has zero say in the matter.

    “I think some things that probably we were never even allowed to consider or look at in the past is at least something that we can begin to look at and think about in the future. 

    “I, for one, very excited about that again, but those are, once again, those are things on a corporate level that I don’t get to say so.” 

    Grace admitted how shocked she was that she got the invite from WWE, as the situation unfolded very quickly. And while Michaels was certainly aware of Grace before the Royal Rumble, returning WWE commentator Pat McAfee wasn’t.

    Please credit and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • Current Expected Timeframe For Mercedes Mone’s Pro Wrestling Return

    Current Expected Timeframe For Mercedes Mone’s Pro Wrestling Return

    Mercedes Mone is not returning to WWE by the look of things, but it’s only a matter of time before fans see her perform again. The plans are already underway for that to happen for the former Sasha Banks.

    Current Expectation for Mercedes Mone

    Sean Ross Sapp shed more light on the Mercedes Mone issue on Fightful Select. It was reported that the current expectation is that Mone will show up in AEW next month.

    AEW President Tony Khan sparked speculation on Wednesday with the announcement of an upcoming major announcement on the February 7 episode of AEW Dynamite. While the details remain unconfirmed, there are implications that it might be linked to the anticipated presence of Mercedes Mone in AEW. However, it is not explicitly stated that her signing will be part of the rumored announcement.

    Despite the lack of official confirmation, information from various sources within the company and close to Mercedes suggests that the tentative plan in All Elite Wrestling is for her to make a physical appearance in March, likely after the Revolution PPV. The exact date of her potential in-ring debut remains undisclosed.

    However, what we have heard from numerous talent is that they’ve been told within the company and from those close to Mercedes that the working plan in All Elite Wrestling is for her to physically appear for the company in March, likely after the Revolution PPV. We have not been told when she could make an in-ring wrestling debut for the company.

    Mercedes Mone May Already Be Signed To AEW

    Contrary to fan speculation, it was clarified that Mone’s signing or debut was not intended to be announced at Collision over the past weekend.

    According to WWE sources, as of December 29, WWE acknowledged they were no longer in contention for Mercedes. It was also suggested that she might not have been available for the Royal Rumble performance anyway.

    Both WWE sources and AEW talent reportedly share the belief that Mercedes has been signed with AEW for several weeks. However, AEW has not officially confirmed any details related to this story.

    SE Scoops will keep an eye on this story for further developments. Mercedes Mone’s time away from the ring isn’t going to last much longer at this point.

  • Janel Grant’s Attorney ‘Frankly Overwhelmed’ By More Possible Victims Coming Forward Against WWE & Vince McMahon

    Janel Grant’s Attorney ‘Frankly Overwhelmed’ By More Possible Victims Coming Forward Against WWE & Vince McMahon

    Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE came after Janel Grant, a former employee, filed an earth-shattering lawsuit with severe allegations of sexual abuse and much more. The pages of the document have been spread throughout the pro wrestling world, and beyond, at this point. Sadly, there could be others who have not stepped forward yet, but they allegedly want to.

    Janel Grant’s Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon

    On January 25, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, alleging sex trafficking, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. The lawsuit provides distressing accounts of Janel’s experiences in terms of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional mistreatment.

    Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, spoke with Ashleigh Banfield on NewsNation. She provided additional remarks on the lawsuit. Banfield initiated the conversation by inquiring about the possibility of the case being a criminal matter and whether the statute of limitations had expired.

    “I don’t believe so, but I represent her in the civil matter and cannot really comment on any criminal matters right now,” said Callis.

    When she was questioned about how she felt the lawsuit was received following landmark social movements like Me Too and Speaking Out, Callis replied, “What happened to her was particularly egregious when it comes to the sexual slavery she endured, the devastating consequences physically and mentally when she was going through this, and still is suffering through this with PTSD. She had suicidal ideation. I was a criminal felony judge for nine years. The worst cases actually went to trial, and that is murders and sexual assaults. This is in its own class. This is in its own class of depravity that she had to endure.”

    More May Come Forward

    When asked why Janel Grant decided to come forward, Callis said it was “a process.” She called it was “an arduous, long, systematic drive to get the best complaint that we possibly could. That’s when it fell to file.” WWE is a multi-billion dollar corporation, “who turned a blind eye to what was happening there to Janel.”

    Vince McMahon is a multi-billionaire, and John Laurinaitis is a powerful person as well. While saying that the only had the facts as “a weapon,” she was asked whether there are more who could come forward. Sadly, there are more who wish they could come forward.

    “No more than the regular public about the NDAs that everyone has heard who has followed this story. She has no more knowledge than that. Our hope is, and her hope is, by coming out, by stepping forward, by bringing this complaint and putting her face to this complaint, that other victims of Vince McMahon and the WWE will end up becoming public, and she wants to help them find their voice and get justice. She thinks and hopes by doing this, she will.”

    In the written interview, Callis claimed that more people want to come forward, but they cannot. At this point, they are “frankly overwhelmed” as they begin the process of wading 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.”

    What’s Next

    This situation with Janel Grant is extremely troubling. She was left feeling “devastated, dehumanized, and discarded, and she is really a destroyed person physically and mentally.”

    Through her act of coming forward with this lawsuit, Grant has possibly opened the door for more to come forward who have experienced a similar atrocity against them.

    SE Scoops will continue monitoring this story as more details are made known. Our thoughts are with Janel Grant and anyone who was victimized by a traumatic experience.

  • Shawn Michaels Addresses The Vince McMahon Allegations: “An Incredibly Sad Situation”

    Shawn Michaels Addresses The Vince McMahon Allegations: “An Incredibly Sad Situation”

    Shawn Michaels was asked about the Vince McMahon allegations during the NXT Vengeance Day media call on Thursday and answered them head on.

    The first three questions of the call were all in relation to the recent heinous allegations made about Michaels’ former boss. One of which was if he talked to his NXT roster about it after all the news broke last Thursday. Michaels said he hadn’t had conversations with the talent about it, but everyone is well-aware of all the controversy.

    “It’s incredibly sad situation. I can sit here and go like, you know, ‘It sucks,’ but we have always again, and I’ve mentioned it to you all in the past  that we take all of the youth that come through here incredibly serious because this is a tough line of work regardless of what’s going on, just leaving home and coming here and pursuing your dreams is, is a big thing that we take incredibly serious here.

    The 4-time World Champion spoke about WWE prospects being vulnerable and knows the importance of continuing to attract the Superstars of tomorrow.

    “We understand young men and women that come through our doors are impressible. So we absolutely certainly encouraged the openness and again, telling everybody to please again, tell us the truth, you know, and let us know how we can help, but that’s something that again has been here for a long time, and we continue to do our best to improve on that because it is, it’s one of the most important things to me is to be able to ask those questions.”

    Michaels also went on to say that he doesn’t care if people think talent today are softer because of the positive culture he tries to cultivate down in NXT, but it’s for their own betterment.

    Michaels did close out the call by saying this was toughest media call he’s done to date and understood that tough questions needed to be asked.

  • WWE Bringing Several Top NXT Stars To Friday’s SmackDown

    This week’s SmackDown will have an NXT flair to it with several gold brand Superstars set to be present at the upcoming show.

    Tomorrow’s SmackDown will be the first episode of the blue brand following last weekend’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. The show will take place at The BJCC Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. 

    WWE NXT Superstars at SmackDown

    NXT’s Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, and Trick Williams are all slated to be at this week’s SmackDown, PW Insider reports. It’s interesting that these three men have been selected, as speculation grows considering potential call-ups. Hayes has been competing on SmackDown as of late, including on last week’s episode. Last week’s show also saw Trick Williams earn a massive pop from the fans as he made the save for Hayes who was being attacked by Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. 

    Bron Breakker has yet to arrive on SmackDown but that could change very soon. On this week’s Raw, Andrade signed a contract with the red brand, much to the delight of Adam Pearce. Pearce and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis would trade some barbs before Aldis took a phone call from the two-time former NXT Champion. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiREJ6KwLgs

    WWE SmackDown – February 2

    These NXT Superstars will be just part of a stacked first SmackDown on the road to WrestleMania 40. 2024 Womens Royal Rumble winner Bayley will be on the show alongside her Damage CTRL allies. Bayley will reveal which challenges she will face at WrestleMania 40. Her current options are Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or WWE Women’s Champion (and Damage CTRL sister) IYO SKY.

    Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes will also appear on SmackDown, as will Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul is also set to appear. LA Knight, Bianca Belair, and IYO SKY are also advertised. 

  • Netflix Chief Distances from Vince McMahon Amid Trafficking Lawsuit: “He’s Gone”

    Netflix Chief Distances from Vince McMahon Amid Trafficking Lawsuit: “He’s Gone”

    Vincent Kennedy McMahon is gone from WWE, and the company’s new partners at Netflix have wasted no time in distancing themselves from the former Chairman.

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.” 

    Netflix’s CEO Comments on Vince McMahon

    The allegations against McMahon surfaced shortly after WWE reached a massive deal with Netflix to move Raw to the streaming juggernaut. Given the seriousness of the allegations, there had been speculation that this $5 billion could have been in jeopardy had WWE/TKO not taken action against McMahon.

    This week, Netflix staged its press event, dubbed Next on Netflix, at its Tudum Theater in Hollywood. When asked about McMahon and the potential impact the lawsuit could have on WWE’s deal with Netflix, content chief Bela Bajaria asserted that McMahon will not be a factor going forward.

    “He’s gone. So he’s not there. He’s gone.”

    The Netflix-WWE Deal

    Brandon Reign, Netflix’s VP of nonfiction was also at the press event. When asked about the deal with WWE, Reigg commended the combined efforts of the WWE Universe and Netflix’s subscribers.

    “I think we’re all really bullish on it, but we know that has an incredibly consistent audience for the last several decades. And so that’s really first and foremost where we’re starting at and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

    Monday Night Raw begins streaming on Netflix in January 2025.

  • Jordynne Grace Eager to Represent TNA More on WWE TV

    TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace recently shocked the fans when she made an appearance during the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

    ‘Juggernaut’ is sitting at the top of the TNA Knockouts division as the first Knockouts world champion of the new era of TNA Wrestling. Grace made her WWE in-ring debut as the #5 entrant in the high-stakes match. 

    After entering the match, Grace came across Naomi (formerly Trinity in TNA Wrestling/IMPACT Wrestling). They shared a hug before exchanging fists during the Royal Rumble event. TNA Knockout lasted more than 19 minutes in the match and was eliminated by 2021 Rumble winner Bianca Belair.

    Jordynne Grace: I want people to see what we’re really all about 

    After pulling off a shocking appearance, she recently outlined her goals for her career and eagerness to represent TNA Wrestling in WWE. Grace spoke with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful and said that she is hopeful of becoming the longest-reigning champion of all time.

     In addition to this, Grace said that she would love to continue representing TNA Wrestling on WWE if the relationship helps in getting more exposure to TNA Wrestling. She said:

    “I would love to be the longest reigning Knockouts (champion) of all time, that would be an incredible honor. Another thing that has just come within the past week, I just want to get more eyes on the product. I want people to see what we’re really all about and if a relationship with WWE is going to help us do that, I would love to represent TNA more on WWE,” she said.

    Grace certainly impressed the fans by showcasing her talent and strength inside the squared circle. It is needless to say fans would certainly crave to see her back inside the WWE ring.

  • Bruce Prichard Set To Have Surgery Today

    Bruce Prichard Set To Have Surgery Today

    Bruce Prichard has played a part in some of the biggest moment in WWE history, but he was backstage for most of them. Now, the WWE internal heavy-hitter is about to hit the road to recovery once again.

    Bruce Prichard Undergoing Surgery Today

    WWE will have to do without Bruce Prichard for a bit, because he is going to be recovering from surgery. Odds are, he will be back to work as soon as possible, given his history of dedication to WWE.

    Conrad Thompson, who co-hosts Bruce Prichard’s podcast with him, posted on Twitter/X to reveal that the Something to Wrestle With host went under the knife today. They are hoping to record their podcast on Saturday because of Bruce’s surgical situation.

    Bruce is having triceps surgery this morning. We hope to record Saturday.

    Bruce Prichard’s Surgery History

    This is not the first time that Prichard has needed to go under the knife. He’s had a couple shoulder surgeries before. Now, he is getting his triceps worked on, but he had quite an experience with shoulder surgeries, as he detailed on a previous podcast.

    “Last time I had a shoulder surgery, man, it was like I was in, I was out that day. The next day, I was in a meeting. I never ever had the pain like people talk about shoulder surgery, right? Everybody told me, ‘Oh, this will be the worst thing you ever do.’ So, this time, I was expecting it to be like last time, when I had no pain. This one is like the one where they tell you, ‘Oh, yeah.’ This sucks. Out of all the surgeries that you would want to get, this is why this one is at the bottom of the motherf*cking list.”

    Bruce Prichard’s Role in WWE

    Along with having a ton of stories and a great podcast, Bruce Prichard still holds a prominent role in WWE.

    Prichard presently serves as the executive director of Raw and SmackDown, holding a significant position in WWE’s on-screen creative. This responsibility has been overseen by McMahon’s son-in-law Paul “Triple H” Levesque since the billionaire initiated his six-month “retirement” in June 2022.

    The 60-year-old also recently took heat from Ronda Rousey, who called him out as Vince McMahon’s “avatar.” That shot was meant to convey that things in WWE aren’t going to change with this present situation. It remains to be seen how things may transpire until then.

  • Seth Rollins Continues to Persuade Cody Rhodes For WrestleMania 40 Match

    Seth Rollins Continues to Persuade Cody Rhodes For WrestleMania 40 Match

    WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has continued to urge the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes to pick him at WrestleMania 40.

    Cody has been determined to challenge ‘The Tribal Chief’ at ‘The Show of Shows’ after winning the Royal Rumble for the second time in a row last Saturday night. However, this week on Raw, Rollins challenged ‘The American Nightmare’ and explained why the latter should face him. This gave Rhodes something to think about ahead of his massive opportunity. 

    During WWE Raw this past Monday, Rollins, who has been Cody’s arch-rival, interrupted the 2024 Royal Rumble winner right before he was going to make an official announcement about facing Reigns. Rollins hails himself as the appropriate opponent for Rhodes. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion has been actively attempting to convince Cody to face him on social media as well.

    Seth Rollins wants Cody Rhodes to finish his story

    Rollins recently made a short video package for ‘The American Nightmare’. Rollins took to Twitter and posted a video clip addressing Cody Rhodes. In the video, Rollins questions Rhodes about his aspirations. His caption read:

    ”If your past has been your North Star, then the path to finishing your story is right in front of you.”

    This isn’t the first time Rollins has done something like this. While The WWE World Heavyweight Championship doesn’t have a direct link to the original World Heavyweight Title in WCW, it has quite a resemblance. Recently, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair also got into the fray amid Rollins’ appeal.

    It seemed that Cody Rhodes would face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but Seth Rollins’ proposal adds a new layer to the storyline and it is to be seen how this pans out.

  • Dakota Kai Sets Record Straight on Her Medical Status After Being Spotted Without Knee Brace

    Dakota Kai Sets Record Straight on Her Medical Status After Being Spotted Without Knee Brace

    Damage CTRL member Dakota Kai recently explained why she was without the knee brace on this week’s Monday Night Raw. 

    Kai has been recovering from a torn ACL since last May. On the May 12, 2023 episode of SmackDown, Dakota Kai and Bayley squared off against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in their Women’s Tag Team Championship match. During the match, Kai tore her ACL and has been away from in-ring action ever since. 

    Kai made her non-wrestling appearance for the first time after injury at SummerSlam and celebrated IYO SKY’s WWE Women’s Championship victory. Kai not only serves as the manager for Damage CTRL but she also pulls some strings for the Damage CTRL members. 

    Currently, Dakota Kai is only cleared to stand at ringside during matches. Some fans had the belief that she was already cleared for in-ring action.

    This week on Raw, Damage CTRL made an appearance and celebrated the Kabuki Warrior’s win in the tag match and Bayley‘s Royal Rumble victory. The fans noted that Dakota Kai wasn’t wearing knee braces as she used to. This led to the fans speculating that she might have been finally cleared to return to the ring.

    Dakota Kai: I forgot my brace

    During her Twitch stream, Dakota Kai said that she is getting closer to her anticipated return to the squared circle. When asked about being spotted without a brace on Raw, she said:

    “I actually forgot my brace. That’s why I didn’t have it on on Monday. That doesn’t mean anything because I… you’ve probably seen like someone like Zoey, she still wears her brace. I will have to be wearing it when I wrestle, but I forgot it. Don’t read into it you guys. I literally just forgot it.”

    WWE has been consistently teasing Damage CTRL turning on Bayley. ‘The Role Model’ won this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match, adding a new layer to the storyline. As we are officially on the Road to WrestleMania, it will be interesting to see when Kai makes her in-ring return.

  • Kazuchika Okada’s Current Contract Offer Situation Between AEW & WWE

    Kazuchika Okada’s Current Contract Offer Situation Between AEW & WWE

    Kazuchika Okada’s next move in the pro wrestling world will be a very important one for his career. He has left NJPW, as his contract is now officially over. Now, he has to make a decision about where he is going next, and there are two big options on the table for him.

    Kazuchika Okada’s Big Decision Between WWE & AEW

    Okada has been on WWE’s radar for a very long time, but AEW also wants him. At this point, it appears that Tony Khan is also offering him a bigger contract.

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that the impression is that AEW offered Okada more money than WWE did. It is likely WWE’s opinion at this time that, while their offer may be lower, if the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion wants to join them, then he will.

    “The impression I got is AEW has the higher offer, and WWE is going with the idea that if Okada wants to come to WWE, he’ll come to WWE.”

    “Basically, it depends on what Okada’s goal is right now in life. If his goal is to have the most worldwide exposure at this point in his career, then WWE’s the place to go. To build up a name, WWE’s the place to go. To make the most money possible, AEW’s the place to go. If it’s to have the best matches possible, AEW’s the place to go. If it’s to have the best schedule, AEW’s the place to go. It’s whatever he wants.

    WWE vs AEW for Okada

    Okada has a serious choice to make about his future. It was further stated that if his objective is achieving fame, then WWE may be the right way to go. However, if the aim is financial success, then AEW has more money on the table. 

    When considering the impact on his body and seeking the easiest option, the decision becomes debatable. In the context of AEW, it involves a more demanding wrestling style with potentially fewer matches, making it a challenging prospect, but uncertainties remain. WWE may want Okada to wrestle more often, but they won’t be requiring epic matches from him each time.

    There is also the matter of which company would push him more. The decision-making process for Okada is anticipated to conclude shortly.

    “If the thing is where you’re likely gonna be pushed more, generally speaking, if one company offers you more than the other, generally that means that they have a higher opinion of you and will probably push you harder. So if you’re looking for where you’re most likely gonna get the best push, probably AEW.

    SE Scoops will have more coverage of Okada’s decision about his pro wrestling future. He will sign with another company, because he is years away from considering retirement at this point. The 36-year-old megastar has a huge decision ahead of him.

  • Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

    Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

    The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event was a special night for the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, both in and out of the ring. 

    Rhodes won this year’s match from the #15 spot, last eliminating CM Punk to score the hard-earned victory. With this win, Rhodes becomes the fourth man in WWE history to have won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

    Cody’s Special Royal Rumble Night

    Cody was the last man standing in the Men’s Royal Rumble match and also proved to be on top when it comes to merchandise. Fightful Select reports that Rhodes was the top-selling superstar at the WWE Superstore at Tropicana Field. Cody’s ‘Rumble Winner’ shirt was also the top seller on WWEShop.com. 

    Despite speculation by some fans, Cody was always scheduled to win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. This puts to bed any rumors that Punk was going to win but his torn triceps led to the pair calling an ‘audible.’

    What’s Next? 

    Before this year’s Royal Rumble, Cody’s path was obvious: win the Men’s match and dethrone Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40. On this week’s Raw, however, Seth Rollins confronted Cody and stated Rhodes should challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins’ originally scheduled opponent for WrestleMania, CM Punk, will miss this year’s two-night mega show in Philadelphia. Cody told Rollins he’ll think about it. 

    This segment from Raw was a change of plans for WWE and was specifically caused by CM Punk’s injury. It is unclear when Cody will declare his plan for WrestleMania 40. 

    Is a victory for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania written in the stars…

  • Chelsea Green on LGBTQ+ Royal Rumble Attire: ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Quiet Ally’

    Chelsea Green won’t let herself be a quiet ally of the LGBTQ+ community, as made clear by her Royal Rumble attire. 

    Green was the #14 entrant in last weekend’s match which was won by Damage CTRL’s Bayley. While Green broke the record for the shortest time in a Women’s Rumble last year, the 2024 match was much better for the Canadian. Though Green didn’t score an elimination, she lasted 17:32, making her the eleventh-longest entrant in this year’s match. 

    Chelsea Green on Her Attire

    Green entered Tropicana Field with an LGBTQ+ themed attire, which Michael Cole described on commentary as “unique.” In an interview with Steve Fall of Wrestling News, Green spoke about the importance of being an outgoing ally of the LGBTQ+ community. 

    “What can I do to make it obvious? What can I do to really put it in people’s faces? I don’t want to be just a quiet supporter of the community. I want to be out there, supporting on the front lines, you know, with Sonya Deville [who is openly lesbian.] With Piper Niven [who is openly bisexual.] With all the girls that represent the community in WWE.

    “So that’s when I decided I was going to get the flag and I was going to put the flag on my skirt. I was going to make sure I didn’t do my regular pose, that I turned around and that I flashed it to the crowd. And even if they didn’t understand in that moment, I know we all look at social media after the Rumble so I made sure I got those photos and that they were ready to be posted once I exited the Rumble.

    “I was able to post them and double down on the fact that I was coming to Florida, being in the Rumble and supporting my LGBTQ+ community.”

    Green’s tag-team partner Piper Niven had her own LGBTQ+ themed attire, but as she explained on Twitter, it didn’t arrive in time for the event. 

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

  • Naomi Seeking Grand Slam Win After Shocking WWE Royal Rumble Return

    Naomi is back in WWE after close to two years away, and has set her sights on a huge accolade only a few Superstars have reached.

    The former TNA Knockouts Champion was the #2 entrant in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, her first match for WWE since May of 2022. Naomi, alongside Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks), walked out of the promotion that same month, citing frustration with the creative team’s plans for the then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. WWE would strip the pair of the gold and Naomi (as Trinity) debuted for TNA last year. 

    Naomi’s Goal

    Naomi didn’t win a title match at WrestleMania 40, but she was the sentimental favorite of many fans in Tropicana Field. Speaking on this week’s episode of The Bump, Naomi shared what’s next for her now that she is once again a WWE Superstar. 

    “Now I got to do it bigger this time in the WWE way bigger than before but the challenge this time is though; I been around and I’m back again it’s like starting all the way over at the bottom but I’m looking forward to that challenge and working my way back up to going against the best of the best. My goal is to be a grand slam champion. That’s my focus. “

    Naomi’s Championship Past

    Out of the current Women’s Championships in WWE, Naomi has only held the Women’s Tag Team Championships (with Sasha Banks). She is a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, which is today known as Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Championship.

    Outside of titles, Naomi was the winner of the 2018 Women’s WrestleMania Battle Royal and won ‘Most Underrated Superstar of the Year’ at 2018’s WWE Year-End Awards. She’s also a one-time Slammy Award winner, taking home 2013’s Best Dance Moves of the Year with Cameron for her role in the Funkadactyls. 

    Naomi had a strong message after her return in the Women’s Royal Rumble match… 

  • Logan Paul Reveals Profane Motivation Paul Heyman Had For Him During WWE Royal Rumble Event

    Logan Paul walked into Tropicana Field for the 2024 Royal Rumble event, and he left as the US Champion. That win came via DQ when Kevin Owens was caught using brass knuckles that were Paul’s to use. The two also had quite a high bar set for them with the Undisputed Universal Title match that came before their battle.

    Paul Heyman’s Motivation For Logan Paul

    Paul Heyman is more than just The Bloodline’s Wise Man. He is also brimming with useful knowledge and wisdom to impart on anyone he wishes to backstage. It turns out that he had quite the motivation for Logan Paul at the Royal Rumble event.

    Logan Paul and Kevin Owens’ United States Title match came after Reigns was able to retain the Undisputed Universal against LA Knight, AJ Styles and Randy Orton in a fatal four-way match. In the end, the Tribal Chief stood tall as he carries on toward WrestleMania 40.

    During his Impaulsive podcast, Logan revealed that Paul Heyman had some great words for him just before his US Title match. It seems that The Maverick was backstage, waiting for his match, when Heyman reminded him who just performed on the show.

    The match was difficult. We were after the Women’s Royal Rumble and the fatal four-way with Roman Reigns, where he also retained his championship. And Paul Heyman, after the match, he comes out, everyone has their chest puffed out, they knew they just blew the f*cking roof off with Roman.

    Paul Heyman goes, ‘come here, son,’ and he motions me over. I go over and I’m like, ‘What’s up Paul?’ He goes, ‘you want some motivation?’ I go, ‘absolutely!’ He goes, ‘follow that, motherf*cker.’

    Logan Paul In WWE

    Logan Paul has re-signed with WWE, extending their incredible profitable and successful relationship. This partnership has also seen WWE get some great exposure with Paul’s massive fan base.

    Paul may pull off some publicity nabbing antics, like trading his US Title belt for a Super Bowl ring, but he is all about WWE. It also appears that he will be walking into WrestleMania 40 as United States Champion.

    I was told in November last year that “the internal feeling about Logan Paul is that he’s already generated great publicity for the US Title.”

  • Solo Sikoa Deletes Twitter/X Account After Embarrassing Posts Surface

    Solo Sikoa Deletes Twitter/X Account After Embarrassing Posts Surface

    WWE Superstars can use social media to connect with fans, but it seems that Solo Sikoa had enough of that. Now, the Bloodline member has opted to delete his Twitter/X account after old tweets surfaced that he didn’t want to get out there.

    Solo Sikoa Axes X

    Sikoa faced an unwelcomed reality when old tweets from 2013 resurfaced on his timeline. Some of these posts were a bit embarrassing that he put online when he was 19.

    Sikoa’s tweets from his school days garnered attention on social media. The tweets revealed moments from his past, including expressing disdain for mathematics and seeking a ride home from school in one instance. 

    Sikoa went on a massive blocking spree on social media. However, after throwing quite a block party, the member of the Bloodline ultimately chose to delete his Twitter account entirely.

    Screenshot of Solo Sikoa’s deleted Twitter/X account

    Solo’s Previous Social Media Faux Pas

    This is not the first time in recent memory that Solo had a bad time with his old posts resurfacing. A dance video came to light from way before his time as The Bloodline’s Enforcer. That caused him to set his Twitter/X account to private for a while.

    What’s Next For Solo Sikoa

    Solo Sikoa emerged onto the WWE scene in 2021, showcasing formidable strength and making a significant impact. The fact that he is from the Anoa’i Family didn’t hurt his chances at superstardom. Now, as a member of The Bloodline, he has big things in his future.

    He has drawn comparisons to Umaga due to his formidable presence in the ring. He is also seemingly earmarked for greatness in WWE, no matter how he feels about math.

  • Marty Jannetty Shares Devastating Bad News In Latest Personal Update

    Marty Jannetty is a pro wrestling legend who lived quite a life, one worthy of a Dark Side of the Ring season, let alone one episode. Now, the former Rocker has some bad news to report, and this time he had two really terrible updates.

    Marty Jannetty’s Sad News

    Marty Jannetty has faced significant challenges in the past 24 hours, and he took to Facebook to share distressing news. According to him, doctors have advised amputating his leg, adding to the ongoing ankle issues he has dealt with throughout his wrestling career.

    Despite undergoing surgery in 2020 and expressing in June 2021 that he was “all fixed up,” Jannetty now confronts this new medical setback. This is terrible news, but his issues were not corrected, and amputation is apparently his doctor’s current recommendation.

    Additionally, Marty revealed the passing of his sister, further contributing to the difficult circumstances he currently faces. In a heartfelt message, Jannetty acknowledged his struggle to articulate his thoughts, expressing deep emotional distress and uncertainty about his podcast show on top of everything else.

    I can’t hardly formulate a sentence right now, it’s a tough time in life, yesterday day they told me they want to cut my leg off.. struggling with that my brother called last night and, my sister died in his arms basically. I don’t even know what I’m saying right now. I don’t think I’m doing the podcast show tomorrow night, please forgive me, I do loves y’all..I just can’t. I’m so lost right now

    PS- Many of y’all know both my sisters, Diane is still hanging in tough as a mo-fo, Diane STAY STAY STRONG, KEEP BELIEF, YOU TOO GENO!

    We’re sending our best to Marty Jannetty, and hope that he can avoid amputation. We are also sending out our best to his entire family after learning of the sad loss of his sister.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4uo0eYid3c

  • CM Punk’s Injury Caused Change For WWE RAW Plans This Week

    CM Punk’s WrestleMania dream is not happening this year. Sadly, the Second City Savior suffered an injury during the Royal Rumble match and that called for a big change in plans for him. Consequently, WWE also had to make some alterations for RAW this week.

    CM Punk’s Injury Situation

    There’s ongoing discussion surrounding CM Punk’s triceps injury and its impact on the WWE Royal Rumble event. Fans have speculated that Punk was initially slated to win the Royal Rumble, but due to his injury, a change in plans occurred. However, according to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, this theory is incorrect, because Cody was always set to win.

    The creative direction on WWE Raw saw adjustments from the original plan outlined on Saturday night at the Royal Rumble, directly influenced by CM Punk’s injury. As a result of Punk’s situation, the segment involving Seth Rollins and Cody was added to the storyline.

    The creative on WWE Raw adjusted from what was planned as of Saturday night at the WWE Royal Rumble. We’re told that is directly tied to CM Punk’s injury, and that the Seth Rollins/Cody segment was added as a result of Punk’s injury.

    What’s Next

    The report also noted that Cody Rhodes saw significant success in merchandise sales over the weekend. Internal memos revealed that he was the top-selling Superstar at the WWE Superstore and Tropicana Field. Additionally, the “Rumble Winner” shirt featuring Cody Rhodes was the highest-selling item on WWE Shop.

    We will have to see what is next for CM Punk, but he will be off WWE television for a while. In the meantime, it appears that he is wishing the American Nightmare well, as indication from the backstage video that WWE released of the two at RAW.

    WWE’s WrestleMania Plan

    I previously reported that Triple H and other higher-ups met on the night of the Royal Rumble to discuss the new WrestleMania card. They also had a conference call the next day, where it is believed that they figure out a new card. As of this writing, talent and the creative team have not been given that new card yet.

    SE Scoops will have further updates on WrestleMania 40 as we get closer to the big show.

  • WrestleMania 40 Lineup Update: WWE Creative Team Awaiting Final Card Details

    Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. The show of shows promises to be an amazing experience for WWE fans, with The Weeknd pulling a 5-pete, but the card needed to change. 

    WWE’s WrestleMania Booking Issues

    WWE saw a few issues that they needed to address when it came to their WrestleMania lineup. Two big matches needed to change due to completely different reasons. Now we are in a waiting game before we know what is really planned for the showcase of the immortals this year.

    Brock Lesnar was taken out of the WrestleMania equation after his name was associated with the damning lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon. Those heinous allegations involving Lesnar claimed that a sexual play date with the victim was a part of his contract renewal. It was also alleged that the Beast Incarnate wanted a video of her urinating, so his dream match against GUNTHER at Mania isn’t taking place. 

    CM Punk, on the other hand, is injured. His planned match against Seth Rollins isn’t going down at WrestleMania now. So, WWE needs to figure out a new direction for the top of the Mania card this year, with Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns remaining unaffected. 

    WWE’s Current WrestleMania Lineup Plans (Exclusive)

    A tenured member of the WWE team told me that Triple H and a number of people, including Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level associates, met at the Royal Rumble to discuss WrestleMania. They also spoke about this on a conference call Sunday, and the lineup has been determined. 

    I was told, as of last night, that the updated WrestleMania lineup has not distributed to talent or the rest of the creative team yet. Any report saying that there are “card variations” of the lineup is incorrect. 

    It was reiterated with me that the WWE creative team has not been informed of the re-shuffled Mania lineup yet. They will be informed of that later this week.

    What’s Next

    As I previously reported, Bron Breakker did get a main roster call-up with his Royal Rumble appearance. He filled in for Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he isn’t getting the matches that WWE had planned for Lesnar at this time.

    When it comes to The Rock, that doesn’t seem to be happening at this year’s WrestleMania, but Dave Meltzer reported that Rock vs Reigns is still possibly going down this year. 

    I was told that any plan for The Rock is being kept “very close to the vest,” so, the only people who really know what is going on are kept to a very close circle.