SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Rhea Ripley Warns Bayley About Trusting The Wrong People

    Rhea Ripley Warns Bayley About Trusting The Wrong People

    Prior to her victory in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, Bayley loudly proclaimed that if she won the match, she intended to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley for her title at WrestleMania 40. Ripley, however, believes “The Role Model” should be looking elsewhere right now.

    Following Bayley’s Royal Rumble win, ‘The Eradicator’ addressed this previous claim during an interview with Denise Salcedo, suggesting that Bayley may be better served by looking inward at her Damage CTRL stablemates, particularly WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY.

    “I love Bayley. I think she’s great,” Ripley said. “I’ve danced with her in the ring a couple times, and we’ve teamed together with WarGames and all that.I want to say that she has love for me too, and she wouldn’t choose me for Wrestlemania and just throw away her ticket to WrestleMania like that. If I were her, I would keep my eyes on the people around her because it’s good to keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”

    As Ripley alluded to, recent months have seen the majority of Damage CTRL (IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) gradually distance themselves from Bayley. Coming off her Royal Rumble win, Bayley now has an opportunity to confront that divide head-on by facing SKY for her title at WrestleMania 40. 

    For right now, though, wrestling fans will have to stay tuned to find out which champion Bayley will officially issue a challenge to. 

    Assessing The Royal Rumble Field

    While she didn’t partake in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley kept a close eye on the events that unfolded within the match. In surveying her potential competition, Ripley noted this year’s entrants thoroughly impressed her, making her even more excited to see who would eventually prevail. 

    “I was just standing there watching it and I’m like ‘Yo, all of these women they’re competitors.’ I could easily step in the ring with any one of them and you would think that I’m in danger and I love that,” Ripley said.

    “That’s a way that the women’s division is thriving and it’s all about competition. I live for that, so I was so over the moon and thrilled to see these women going in there and getting their opportunity to shine. Then watching the whole thing, like everyone did so exceptionally well. I’m proud of our division. We really showed everyone exactly what we’ve got and I’m very proud of them.”

    This year’s field featured several surprises as well, including the returns of Naomi (also known as Trinity) and Liv Morgan. Recent signee Jade Cargill also made her official WWE in-ring debut, eliminating the likes of Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Naomi during her outing. 

  • Hulk Hogan Says Roman Reigns Would Have Been Top Star In Any Era Of WWE

    Hulk Hogan Says Roman Reigns Would Have Been Top Star In Any Era Of WWE

    Roman Reigns’ historic journey as WWE Undisputed Universal Champion is still going. The book is not closed on a possible match against The Rock this year, and many eyes are on the Tribal Chief. Hulk Hogan is one man who certainly paid attention.

    Hulk Hogan’s High Praise For Roman Reigns

    Hulk Hogan praises Roman Reigns, acknowledging Reigns’ significant impact on the pro wrestling business. According to Hogan, Reigns’ success could have been substantial in any era of WWE’s history.

    Currently holding the Undisputed WWE Universal title, Roman Reigns has an impressive reign spanning over 1,240 days. This extended tenure as a champion is a rare occurrence in recent years. Reigns has the opportunity to further etch his name in history by surpassing Hulk Hogan’s longest reign, which lasted for 1,474 days.

    While speaking with Sports Illustrated, Hulk Hogan praised Roman Reigns a huge way. He said that the Tribal Chief would have been able to paint masterpieces in the ring, no matter what year it is.

    “It takes a really long time to be able to transition and pivot on a dime the way he does. That’s how he paints masterpieces you’ve never seen before. He’s working on a whole different level.”

    Sika Anoa’i, Reigns’ father, taught him the fundamentals of the business, which is evident in his matches. Hogan pointed out Reigns’ ability to evoke emotions, make the crowd angry, and keep them engaged in anticipation of a comeback. According to Hogan, Reigns learned these techniques in an old-school fashion from his father but has successfully adapted to the modern era. Hogan expressed his belief that Reigns is versatile and can adjust to any opponent, emphasizing his remarkable skills.

    “Roman’s dad, Sika, he explained the ABCs of it all to him. Watch his matches and you can tell. You can see it in the way Roman creates emotion, understands how to make the crowd mad, and how he puts people on the edge of their seat calling for that comeback. Roman Reigns learned this all old-school from his dad, but he adapted to the newer era, too. He can do it all. Roman is adaptable to whoever he is wrestling. That’s important. At any moment in time, he can switch gears on you. He’s amazing, and he’d fit in any era.”

    What’s Next

    Roman Reigns was able to defend his Undisputed Universal Title at the Royal Rumble. He beat LA Knight, Randy Orton and AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match. Now, it appears that he will have to deal with Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, where the American Nightmare will have a chance to finish his story.

  • Backstage News On Bayley’s Historic Win At The Royal Rumble

    Backstage News On Bayley’s Historic Win At The Royal Rumble

    Damage CTRL leader Bayley is headed to WrestleMania 40 after a thrilling victory in Saturday’s 30-Woman Royal Rumble match. 

    Bayley, a multi-time Women’s Champion in WWE, has earned an opportunity to show the world that she’s still a championship-caliber competitor. She’s also looking to build a legacy on par with her peers Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks, which is no small task.

    WWE regularly plans out big matches months in advance, but the company also makes changes to plans at the last minute on a pretty regular basis. The Royal Rumble winners set the course for the top matches at WrestleMania, so late changes to the winners would indicate that situation is still in flux.

    According to PWInsider, WWE had Bayley booked to win the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble for quite some time and this was not a late decision. 

    Bayley made history at the Royal Rumble

    Bayley’s performance this past Saturday set a new record for the longest time spent a Women’s Royal Rumble  at one hour and three minutes.

    After entering at #3 following Natalya and the returning Naomi, Bayley (with some help from Damage CTRL allies Asuka and Kairi Sane) eliminated  Candice LaRae, Indi Hartwell, Maxxine Dupri and finally Liv Morgan to win the 7th Women’s Royal Rumble.

    Who was backstage at the Royal Rumble?

    In other Royal Rumble news, several pro wrestling legends were backstage visiting.

    Based on speaking with people at the event, as well as photos posted on social media, the list of special guests included Mike Rotunda, Brian Blair, Steve Keirn, Dory Funk Jr. & Marti Funk and Gerald Brisco.

  • WWE Saw Mixed Internal Reaction Of Relief & Happiness After Vince McMahon’s Resignation

    WWE Saw Mixed Internal Reaction Of Relief & Happiness After Vince McMahon’s Resignation

    Vince McMahon is no longer with WWE, and that is a shocking adjustment that everyone will have to make. A bombshell lawsuit with heinous allegations forced this big move, and now we know how it was received within the company.

    Latest on Vince McMahon Lawsuit

    In the aftermath of Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE, a series of legal developments unfolded. PW Insider has confirmed that the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, issued an electronic summons for McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE on January 26th. Each party had 21 days to respond after being served, although as of the last recording, no official service had been documented.

    Internal Reaction To Vince McMahon’s Resignation

    Internally, Vince McMahon’s departure brought mixed reactions, ranging from relief to happiness among staff and executives. Some believed the allegations in the Janel Grant lawsuit justified the outcome, while others welcomed the official distancing of McMahon from the company. Despite not actively leading WWE Creative, McMahon’s minimal role in 2024 ended with his resignation.

    McMahon’s exit reportedly potentially opens the door for Stephanie McMahon’s return, although the transformed corporate landscape post-Endeavor’s ownership complicates her potential role. WWE President Nick Khan expressed the company’s desire to welcome Stephanie back, but the dynamics have shifted significantly.

    After the news broke that McMahon had resigned, the initial response internally in WWE among staff and executives that PW Insider spoke with was a mix of relief and happiness. There were some who felt that McMahon got what was coming to him based on the allegations in the lawsuit filing by Grant. There were also some who were glad McMahon was now distanced “officially” from the company, as he was, as one source commented, “a black cloud hanging over everything even though he wasn’t involved in anything” anymore. 

    Vince McMahon’s Final WWE HQ Visit

    Vince McMahon’s last appearance at WWE HQ was during an all-hands meeting on January 23. It’s speculated that this might be his final physical presence inside a WWE building. Concerns arose internally about Endeavor possibly restructuring to establish a fresh start for the company. Those associated with McMahon might face challenges in the new WWE era.

    Ari Emanuel, Endeavor’s owner, is expected to take decisive actions to protect WWE’s business interests. The sentiment is that he will not hesitate to remove anything or anyone that could potentially impact the company negatively. The post-Endeavor WWE operates under a different culture and corporate structure, signaling a significant departure from its previous identity.

    WWE’s Slim Jim Drama

    Slim Jim’s decision to “pause” its sponsorship deal, the largest in WWE history, played a pivotal role in McMahon’s resignation. That went down on the morning before the Royal Rumble event. This move also prompted other sponsors to reconsider their association, ultimately leading to McMahon stepping down faster than anticipated.

    After Vince McMahon stepped down from the company, Slim Jim returned to sponsor the 2024 Royal Rumble event as planned. That included getting a commercial inserted into LA Knight’s entrance before the Undisputed Universal Title match.

  • The Weeknd Extends His ‘WrestleMania Streak’ To 5 Years

    The Weeknd Extends His ‘WrestleMania Streak’ To 5 Years

    The Undertaker holds the most famous streak in WrestleMania history, but singer, songwriter and producer The Weeknd is building an impressive ‘WrestleMania streak’ of his own.

    The 2024 Royal Rumble is in the history books and we’re now on the road to WrestleMania 40. Over the weekend, WWE began airing promo videos for its biggest weekend of the year and wrestling fans will hear a familiar voice serenading them in the months ahead.

    Gasoline by The Weeknd is the official theme song of WrestleMania 40. Gasoline comes from The Weeknd’s Dawn FM album that was released in 2022. Interestingly, the album has produced the last two Mania theme songs, “Sacrifice” and “Less Than Zero,” respectively.

    The Weeknd’s WrestleMania Streak

    The Weeknd’s WrestleMania contributions began in 2020. 

    • WrestleMania 36: “Blinding Lights”
    • WrestleMania 37: “Save Your Tears”
    • WrestleMania 38: “Sacrifice”
    • WrestleMania 39: “Less Than Zero”
    • WrestleMania 40: “Gasoline”

    He got fans buzzing on social media by posting the following on his Instagram story, a strong indication regarding his whereabouts this past Saturday night.

    Flo Rida’s WWE contributions

    The Weeknd is the new king of WrestleMania theme songs, but let’s not overlook the contributions of Flo Rida. He had three songs that were the official WrestleMania theme songs: “Wild Ones” featuring Sia (WM 28) and “My House” (WM 32). 

    (Fun fact: “Wild Ones” won a GRAMMY in 2013.)

    His third song was actually a song featuring him. He was on the track “Green Light” by Pitbull. That was the theme song for WrestleMania 33. 

    According to The Smackdown Hotel, Flo Rida was featured four other shows. “Good Feeling” was the theme song for Survivor Series 2011. In 2012, “Let it Roll” was the theme song for Tribute to the Troops. 

    WWE chose “How I Feel” for the theme song Survivor Series 2013. “GDFR” was the song choice for SummerSlam 2014.  

    Flo Rida perfomed at WrestleMania 28 and 33. In 2016, Flo Rida also appeared on RAW where he participated in a battle rap with Bo Rida (Dallas). 

    The Weeknd has yet to appear on any WWE programming. 

    WrestleMania 40 will be live from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two night event airs on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

  • WWE May Cancel Brock Lesnar WrestleMania Dream Match After Connection To Vince McMahon Allegations

    WWE May Cancel Brock Lesnar WrestleMania Dream Match After Connection To Vince McMahon Allegations

    Brock Lesnar was not specifically named in the earth-shattering lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. The Beast Incarnate was heavily implied, as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion was mentioned. Now, that connection to this damning lawsuit has disrupted WrestleMania plans.

    Brock Lesnar Plans Changed For The Royal Rumble 

    Bron Breakker took over Lesnar’s planned creative for the Royal Rumble match. The entry point, eliminations, and his eventual elimination were all originally intended for Lesnar.

    I was able to confirm that Breakker was called up to the WWE main roster thanks to that last-minute change. That being said, Breakker will not be taking Lesnar’s planned spot against Dominik Mysterio at the Elimination Chamber premium live event. 

    WWE’s Original WrestleMania 40 Plans

    Dave Meltzer reported during his daily update that Gunther was supposed to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. While it’s not confirmed that they were planned to have as an IC title match, that match is now on hold. 

    The Lesnar creative which at this point he’s not going to be involved with unless they decide they would bring him back, was Lesnar vs. Dominik Mysterio in Australia and Lesnar vs. Gunther (I don’t know factually an IC title match but one would expect) at WrestleMania. Whether Bron Breakker gets those matches is not clear yet.

    Brock Lesnar’s Connection To Vince McMahon Lawsuit

    The Janel Grant lawsuit didn’t specify any wrestler but described one as both a former UFC Heavyweight Champion fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline is 2021, it’s pretty easy to narrow down those choices, although it is important to reiterate that Brock Lesnar was not named.

    The lawsuit stated that McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who said that, “he likes what he sees.” Four WWE Producers and television production techs were also allegedly received this explicit content.

    In March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company, including with members of the television production “tech” team, executive(s), 4 producer(s), and a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract).

    In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit claims that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, calling her ‘b*tch.” She was also later told that sleeping with this talent was a part of his contract renewal, although a “play date” could not be arranged.

  • Otis Pens Emotional Note After His Mother Passes Away

    Otis Pens Emotional Note After His Mother Passes Away

    WWE Superstar Otis recently made a tragic announcement stating that his mother has passed away. 

    The Alpha Academy member is certainly one of the most loved superstars in the company. His jovial character, and comedic antics, especially the ‘Caterpillar,’ has endeared him to the fans. He is currently a part of the tag team with Chad Gable and Maxxine Dupri, performing on Raw.

    Otis remembers his mother

    Otis took to his Instagram account and posted a slew of pictures featuring himself and his mother, who recently passed away. It included moments from his childhood as well. The former Mr. Money In The Bank, penned an emotional note in the caption. 

    Otis stated that he is grateful for his mother’s role in his life. He is thankful to her for introducing him to the world of John Candy movies, for rocking out to the music of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks together. He also recalled moments watching horror classics with his sister, KARI. 

    Check it out below.

    “Rest Now Forever Where Now there is no more Pain Because of you growing up I’ve Memorized every John Candy Movie Introduced and Jam to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks Know all the Horror Classics watching with KARI (Sissy) I know you were weirded out me pursuing My Dream as a Wrestler but I said to you “Just something I have to Do Gaisan, Sorry I am You SON SON Tell Great Grandma “Kattle Kate Pallas” I’ll give her a run for her money in the ring up in Heaven See You down the Road, with you picking me up jaming to Tracy Chapman Fast Car – Niko.”

    One of Otis’s most notable moments in WWE took place when he secured the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match in 2020. This victory earned him a guaranteed WWE Universal Championship match. However, his run as Mr. Money in the Bank ended at Hell in a Cell as he lost the contract to The Miz.

    We at SEScoops send condolences to Otis.

  • Spoiler On WWE’s Current Plan For Top WrestleMania 40 Matches

    Spoiler On WWE’s Current Plan For Top WrestleMania 40 Matches

    WWE started the road to WrestleMania with the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Now, we have a better picture of which matches fans should expect for the show of shows this year.

    WWE’s WrestleMania 40 Plan

    WrestleMania 40 is set to go down on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This will be a massive show, and some top matches have been reported already.

    Dave Meltzer dropped a few matches on F4WOnline that fans should expect. It appears that fans will see Cody Rhodes get a chance to finish his story after all, as Seth Rollins and CM Punk’s match is actually going to happen.

    Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Universal Title seems to be confirmed, as Cody Rhodes declared his intention to go after Roman Reigns following his victory in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

    IYO SKY vs. Bayley for the Women’s Title: This match is anticipated for the Women’s Title, with IYO SKY challenging Bayley for the championship. We will have to see how that pans out for Damage CTRL.

    Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Title: Another highly anticipated match is expected to feature Rhea Ripley challenging Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Title.

    Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk for the World Title: A marquee match between Seth Rollins and CM Punk is expected for the World Title.

    As the road to WrestleMania progresses, these matches are sure to generate excitement among WWE fans, and the event promises to be a memorable one with these anticipated showdowns on the card. The company will likely hit the ground running with an exciting RAW this week with the Royal Rumble’s aftermath.

    WWE WrestleMania 40 Card (Reported):

    Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes – WWE Undisputed Universal Title

    IYO SKY vs. Bayley – WWE Women’s Title

    Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch – WWE Women’s World Title

    Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk – WWE World Heavyweight Championship 

  • How Jordynne Grace’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Appearance Came Together

    How Jordynne Grace’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Appearance Came Together

    WWE fans were a bit shocked to see Jordynne Grace in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. This surprising appearance made way for a couple amazing spots with Naomi and Ivy Nile, and there is a lot more behind that cameo in Tropicana Field.

    Behind The Scenes Info

    Sean Ross Sapp reported a bit more information on Fightful Select about TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace showing up at the Royal Rumble. It was noted that WWE had contacted external companies regarding potential surprise entrants for the Royal Rumble.

    According to the report, WWE reached out to TNA over the weekend, and the arrangements were made for Jordynne Grace, who is still under contract with TNA, to appear during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match.

    It’s reported that Grace underwent a physical and blood work on Monday before flying to Florida on Thursday to participate in the Royal Rumble rehearsals.
    Some within TNA had heard about this possibility earlier in the month, coinciding with broader WWE and TNA rumors.

    Sources within WWE reportedly mentioned that both TNA and Jordynne Grace were cooperative and easy to work with throughout the process. This was obviously great exposure for their brand.

    WWE Has Royal Rumble History With Knockouts Champion

    In 2022, Mickie James appeared in the Women’s Royal Rumble match as Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion. She was still under contract with them at the time of her appearance with WWE. That was also a big moment for Impact, because the Knockouts Championship got exposure in the big WWE match. 

  • Pat McAfee Claims WWE Didn’t Give Him Heads-Up About Royal Rumble Match Entry

    Pat McAfee Claims WWE Didn’t Give Him Heads-Up About Royal Rumble Match Entry

    WWE fans saw several surprises during the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Pat McAfee returned to commentary, and he got a spot in the Rumble match. It appears that WWE sprung that match spot on him.

    Pat McAfee Speaks on his Royal Rumble Return

    Pat McAfee’s entrance music was the first that fans heard during the Royal Rumble. Michael Cole was also incredibly happy to call the event alongside his real-life friend. McAfee’s night was only getting started as he added another big event to his WWE resume. 

    While speaking about his experience in a digital exclusive, McAfee said he couldn’t pass up on the chance to return by the side of Cole and Graves when he was offered the commentary role for the evening.

    “Yeah, coming back to get a chance to be in front of the WWE Universe is an absolute honor. I was told, ‘Hey, Pat, you wanna come back and commentate?’ I said, hell yes. The Royal Rumble, what an event. Stories can be written, where dreams can come true. ‘You want to commentate?’ I said, ‘Hell yeah,’ work with Michael Cole, the greatest of all time, alongside Corey Graves with a fresh baby, fresh mindset, fresh haircut. I said, ‘I would love to do that.’”

    Pat McAfee Wasn’t Given A Heads Up

    When it comes to his Royal Rumble match appearance, McAfee said that he had no idea that he was going to be in the match. Although Pat wasn’t dressed for the occasion, he went with the flow of things, and that included a very brief appearance in the match.

    “All of a sudden, what, 22, I’m in the Royal Rumble? Nobody gave me a heads-up about that. Got my cowboy boots on. Michael Cole let me go in there. That was rude of him. I thought we were friends. Then there was a thing in there. Seven foot three, okay? You’re just looking up at a statue of a being.” 

    “I see little Bron Breakker go like barking at me. I’m like, I’m not supposed to be in here. Why would I be in here right now? I’m not prepared for this. Also, who would I be to take a main event at WrestleMania spot away from somebody? So I got my ass out of there. Now I went back in because I thought to myself, wait a minute, am I just gonna be a coward? “I realized quickly, ‘Yeah, I think tonight I am.’ I went right back to the booth. And it was great. It was a great show,”

    Pat McAfee may be busy with his ESPN gig, but he wouldn’t miss the Royal Rumble event. He was able to call the entire show, and he even returned to the commentary table after his short stint in the 2024 Royal Rumble match.

  • Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Status After Royal Rumble Surprise

    Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Status After Royal Rumble Surprise

    The 2024 Royal Rumble event went down in Tropicana Field on Saturday, and the WWE Universe was treated to quite a show. The Rock may not have showed up, but Bron Breakker made his way to the ring in the #20 spot in the Men’s Rumble match. That was a very big moment for his WWE career.

    Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up (Exclusive)

    Bron Breakker did not win the 2024 Royal Rumble match, but he had a great showing. The second-generation Superstar, who is son of WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner, also had a chance to eliminate some talent from the match.

    In the end, Breakker threw out Jimmy Uso, Finn Balor, Ivar, and Omos. Then Dominik Mysterio eliminated the former NXT Champion. As he made his exit, Breakker also nailed JD McDonagh with a spear.

    I asked around about Breakker’s status after the 2024 Royal Rumble, and I was told that match marked his official main roster call-up. Bron’s brand has not been determined yet, but the thought is that he will end up on RAW.

    I was told that his, “brand is not determined because it happened so fast.” Breakker was a fill-in for Brock Lesnar in the match, because the Beast Incarnate was pulled from the event after his association with Vince McMahon’s lawsuit.

    We will have to see how WWE uses Breakker in the weeks to come, because he is now on the main roster, but he was a replacement for Lesnar in the match.

    What’s Next For Bron Breakker

    Breakker will finish out his time in NXT, because he is still in the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Baron Corbin as his partner. In the past, WWE has allowed talent to appear on the main roster and NXT to wrap things up with the company’s third brand.

    The barking in Breakker’s direction during the Royal Rumble match was not lost on anyone backstage. He is coming from NXT after establishing himself and doing practically everything there is to do in the brand. Now, it is his time to take on the main roster.

  • Wrestling World Reacts To The 2024 Royal Rumble

    Wrestling World Reacts To The 2024 Royal Rumble

    There was a lot of buzz among fans heading into the 2024 Royal Rumble and the event didn’t disappointing. From surprising debuts to big returns, it gave people a lot to talk about. Even the talent from different companies took on their social to react to the events of last night.

    Jade Cargill, who made her official WWE in ring debut by entering the women’s Rumble thanked the fans for their support. She noted that it’s only the beginning of her journey and there is a lot more to come:

    The TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace was very active overnight after making a surprise appearance in the Rumble. She made multiple tweets about her experience at the show while also indicating that we haven’t seen the last of her on WWE programming:

    Cody Rhodes’ historic back-to-back Rumble wins elicited a response from many of his wrestling peers. Both his wife Brandi Rhodes and fellow AEW alumni Shawn Spears commented on his big moment:

    There were multiple WWE stars who took on social media to react to their own performance on the show. This included people such as Zelina Vega, Pat McAfee, and Bronson Reed among others. These stars didn’t manage to win their respective matches but gave fans some memorable moments:

    The event had a lot more going on in terms of storylines and real-life emotions. You can check out takeaways from the 2024 Royal Rumble here.

  • Bron Breakker Teases Main Roster Call Up After Royal Rumble Appearance: ‘This Is My Home Now’

    Bron Breakker Teases Main Roster Call Up After Royal Rumble Appearance: ‘This Is My Home Now’

    Bron Breakker made his presence felt at the Royal Rumble event last night and it appears that he has no intention of going back to NXT after this.

    The former NXT Champion was interviewed backstage after his impressive performance in the Men’s Rumble. When asked how he’s feeling, Breakker mentioned that he feels very grateful for the opportunity to make a statement:

    “I feel very grateful right now. I feel what an opportunity tonight was for me to make a statement, and I thought I did that tonight 100%. Things didn’t go my way but I’m not done with the Judgement Day by any means.”

    Bron Breakker Belongs To The Main Roster

    Talking about his future in the company, Bron Breakker made his claim on a main roster spot saying that this is his home now:

    “I think tonight I proved that I belong in the main roster, this is my home now. I’m ready for the work, I’m ready to prove to my peers and to the people, everyone out there who believes in me that this is where I belong and this is what I was born to do. I’m here. I’m ready to go.”

    Bron Breakker entered the Royal Rumble at #20 in a spot that many believe was meant for Brock Lesnar. The Beast Incarnate was removed from the show due to his alleged connection with the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon.

    The NXT star ended up eliminating a number of talents including names such as Finn Balor, Ivar and even Omos. Breakker himself was eliminated by Dominik Mysterio and Bron’s remarks suggest that Dirty Dom has not seen the last of the heavyweight star.

  • Update On Where Things Stand With Roman Reigns & The Rock After WWE Royal Rumble

    Update On Where Things Stand With Roman Reigns & The Rock After WWE Royal Rumble

    The 2024 Royal Rumble event brought fans to their feet in Tropicana Field, and it was an exciting night for those watching at home as well. The night, as expected, was full of shocking moments, but few could guess everything Triple H had in store. 

    While some fans were expecting The Rock, that didn’t come to pass. That being said, a confrontation against Roman Reigns is still in the cards.

    Roman Reigns vs The Rock

    The American Nightmare secured his second consecutive Rumble match victory and immediately directed attention towards Roman Reigns, hinting at a strong possibility for the WrestleMania main event. Reigns raised his title high in response to Cody Rhodes, so it appears that the match is on for Mania.

    According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns is still in the works, but there is no precise confirmation regarding its timeline.

    “The Roman and Dwayne match is still happening. I just don’t know where and Bryan you probably know where because you probably know discussions I may know too and I can’t talk about them but anyways the point is, it’s still happening.”

    Roman Reigns is confirmed for WrestleMania, and the main event match has remained unchanged since the decision was made in early September. Notably, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match was determined well before that, and The Rock was not involved in the creative discussions this time.

    I can exclusively confirm that a triple threat match for Roman’s title at WrestleMania is not under consideration. The creative team received this information last week.

    Following Cody Rhodes’ victory at the 2024 Royal Rumble, it appears WWE is moving forward with their original plans. The absence of The Rock at Tropicana Field for the Royal Rumble is noteworthy, as Cody vs Roman is the match now as we hit the road to WrestleMania.

    What’s Next

    Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story at WrestleMania, but it’s anyone’s guess how the booking will turn out when everything is said and done. Cody has been the decided Royal Rumble winner for a while, and January 27th’s big event in Tropicana Field saw him take a big step in that direction.

    As I previously noted here on SE Scoops, WWE has options when it comes to The Rock vs Roman Reigns. We will have constant updates as more information is made available. 

  • Andrade Reacts To WWE Return At Royal Rumble: ‘Nobody’s Stopping Me Now’

    Andrade Reacts To WWE Return At Royal Rumble: ‘Nobody’s Stopping Me Now’

    Andrade has returned to WWE after almost 3 years. He claims that he needed to step away to remember who he was and now he is ready to show the world the same.

    The former AEW star entered the Royal Rumble at #4 tonight and traded blows with names such as Carmelo Hayes, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley and Santos Escobar.

    Andrade unfortunately was eliminated from the bout by Bronson Reed. He was interviewed backstage after the show and the former champion claimed that now, nobody’s stopping him:

    Andrade’s Time Away From WWE

    Andrade El Idolo left WWE back in March 2021 after requesting his release from the promotion. He joined AEW not long after and the Mexican star made his debut for the promotion in June that year.

    The former NXT champion, however, failed to carve a permanent spot for himself in the AEW roster and he was on and off AEW programming throughout his stint there.

    He made his final appearance for Tony Khan’s promotion at the World Ends PPV at the end of December 2023 where he put over Miro in a match.

    In the post-show press conference, Tony Khan confirmed that they had failed to reach a new agreement with Andrade. The wrestling star had been expected to return to WWE ever since.

  • Bayley Comments On Her Face Turn After Royal Rumble Win

    Bayley Comments On Her Face Turn After Royal Rumble Win

    Bayley has been one of the top heels of WWE roster since 2019 and consequently has been booed by fans. The last few months have seen a change in this emotion however. In the ongoing storyline with her Damage CTRL teammates, the former Women’s Champion has gained the sympathy of people and she has actually been getting cheered by fans more and more.

    This change of attitude was in full display at the Royal Rumble. Bayley got a huge applause from the audience as she won the Women’s Battle Royal to earn a title shot at WrestleMania 40.

    The Damage CTRL star was asked about this change during the post-show press conference. The WWE star explained that her character has always reflected her feelings in real life and fans are welcome to celebrate her success together:

    “I mean, I don’t tell you guys what to do. You guys just cheer when you want to cheer. So, to me honestly, this is the truth. I have been myself throughout this whole time. I said it in an interview my whole career and my whole character change and everything has been real.

    When I first started, I was excited to be here. I was [like] ‘This is the coolest thing ever. It’s my dream.’ And as things weren’t going my way throughout the years and no one was latching on, I had to do something to save my career. So everything I’ve been doing has been real and genuine and natural.

    This is who I am now so if you guys are liking it, and you guys want to see me win then hell yeah. I’ve been telling you guys that I’m supposed to be winning these matches. Let’s celebrate together. So to me it’s all been part of what I’ve been knowing all along.”

    Bayley Is Thankful To Dusty Rhodes

    Bayley also talked about the Men’s Rumble winner Cody Rhodes and his father Dusty Rhodes. She mentioned how she wanted to quit the company only a month after joining it and it was the American Dream that saved her:

    “I’ve said it for years, but Dusty he just had his projects in everybody. He just saw the one thing in everybody that we couldn’t see in ourselves. Byron’s done this. He helped me in promo classes all the time.

    The fact that I had my own TV show, Ding Dong Hello just blows my mind. I wish Dusty can see that because they had to pull me in for extra promo classes and make me do interviews and all this stuff. Because I was so shy but Dusty, just seeing something in me. 

    Whatever I was shy to share he wanted me to embrace, because he knew that was what was going to connect me with people. That’s what saved me. I would have given up in my first month, I wanted to be done.”

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Triple H Hasn’t Read Vince McMahon Lawsuit, Wants to Focus On WWE’s Positives

    Triple H Hasn’t Read Vince McMahon Lawsuit, Wants to Focus On WWE’s Positives

    Triple H is hoping to focus on the positives of the week, which doesn’t include the shocking allegations against Vince McMahon. 

    The past seven days have certainly been a mixed time for WWE. The promotion locked in a $5 billion deal with Netflix to bring Raw to the streaming service, and have seen Dwayne Johnson join TKO’s Board of Directors. On the other hand, McMahon and WWE were hit with a lawsuit alleging that he sexually abused Janel Grant and trafficked her to other men in the company. McMahon has denied the allegations but has since stepped down from WWE and TKO. 

    Triple H on Vince McMahon

    During the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Triple H was asked about the allegations against McMahon and the lawsuit. WWE’s Chief Content Officer made clear he’s looking to focus on the positives that this past week has brought. 

    “I’m going to do exactly what you’d expect me to do here. We just had an amazing week and I just said it, 10 year, $5 billion dollar Netflix deal, The Rock joining our board, we just sold out the Royal Rumble with 48,000 people in Tropicana Field. I choose to focus on the positive. Yes, there is a negative but I want to focus on that and just keep it to that.”

    When asked if he had read the suit against McMahon, Triple H said he had not. 

    “I did not. I think Cody mentioned it, that we all found out real time when you were, and that’s the truth. I’ll go back to what I said before, this is an amazing week for us and I just, at this point, I don’t even want to get bogged down in the negatives of it, I just want to focus on the positives of where we’re going and we’re in the most exciting time of the year for us, the most exciting point to me business-wise that we’ve ever had.”

    Triple H wasn’t the only person to speak about McMahon after the Royal Rumble… 

  • Cody Rhodes Comments On Never Sharing Ring With CM Punk In AEW

    Cody Rhodes Comments On Never Sharing Ring With CM Punk In AEW

    The booking of tonight’s Royal Rumble event was poetic in many ways. One such moment was when Cody Rhodes and CM Punk battled as the final two contestants of the Men’s Rumble. Both the stars once left the company over creative frustrations and they were both looking to win the match so they can finish their own stories.

    One aspect of this showdown that wasn’t highlighted as much however was their respective stints in AEW. It’s ironic that both the stars were part of the AEW roster at one point but never got to lock horns in the company.

    The winner of this contest Cody Rhodes was asked about this during the post Royal Rumble media scrum. He admitted that he was surprised at never getting to face Punk in AEW:

    “It’s funny that we meet back here. When we were at AEW, I thought we would encounter one another there and it didn’t happen. For whatever reason it didn’t happen. but I think both him and I had different personal experiences.

    Don’t believe anything that Wade Keller put out about why I left or anything like that. The truth is, nobody knows. [It was a] personal thing. And probably a personal thing for Punk and that happens. People come, people go. It’s not a huge thing.”

    Cody Rhodes Wanted To Earn CM Punk’s Respect

    The American Nightmare then dived into his encounter with CM Punk tonight and the history between the two. Cody Rhodes claimed that he is looking forward to seeing what’s next for the Straight Edge Star in WWE:

    “But to see him tonight, and to see Miz, and to see Kofi – Those were my guys. The first OVW show I walked into; Brent Albright vs. CM Punk was the main event. Punk was also like running the whole show. He made me set up the ring.

    To see that, sometimes you want another person who you admire and respect to stop looking at you as the kid and look at you and see who you are now. I think tonight he got to see who I am now. And that means a lot to me. He’s amazing. [It] could have gone either way. I look forward to what he does in WWE.”

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Naomi: After the Journey I’ve Been On, Nothing Can Break Me

    Naomi: After the Journey I’ve Been On, Nothing Can Break Me

    There’s nothing that can hold Naomi back, according to the GLOW herself, following her impressive return to WWE this week. 

    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 On Her WWE Return

    Naomi didn’t win a title match at WrestleMania 40, but she was the sentimental favorite of many fans in Tropicana Field. Speaking after the match, Naomishared what it felt like to be back. 

    “Ah man, it was hard to hold back all the emotions. I couldn’t — oh man, it felt really good. After this little journey I’ve been on, finally being back, and that’s the scary part. You never know what that reaction or response is. So to feel that, man. It’s so much more rewarding. I’m so grateful to be back.”

    Naomi added that she’s optimistic for the future and gave some props to the woman who eliminated her: the debuting Jade Cargill. 

    “After this ride I’ve been on, I feel like nothing can break me. I didn’t win, but I hung in there but that Jade [Cargill] is something else though.”

    Naomi wasn’t the only name associated with TNA Wrestling to appear in the Women’s Royal Rumble match… 

  • Brock Lesnar Omitted From WWE Royal Rumble Stats Amid Vince McMahon Lawsuit

    Brock Lesnar Omitted From WWE Royal Rumble Stats Amid Vince McMahon Lawsuit

    Brock Lesnar had no role at this year’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, and WWE wanted to make sure nobody was thinking about the Beast Incarnate. 

    Lesnar was reportedly originally slated for the Men’s Royal Rumble match that was won by Cody Rhodes. Lesnar was ‘withdrawn’ from the match due to the allegations by Janel Grant in her lawsuit filed at WWE and Vince McMahon. The suit claims that McMahon sexually abused and trafficked Grant to men in WWE during her tenure under contract. Lesnar isn’t mentioned by name in the suit, but it is claimed that Grant was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 

    Brock Lesnar Omitted

    Ahead of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, WWE aired a video sharing some of the statistics associated with the popular 30-Superstar bout. The video pointed out that five men have won the match from the #30 spot, and named The Undertaker (2007), John Cena (2008), Triple H (2016), and Cody Rhodes (2023). The video did not mention or show Brock Lesnar, who won after entering from the coveted #30 spot in 2022. 

    This isn’t the first time WWE has made selective choices with Royal Rumble statistics. In years past, WWE has mentioned that four people have won from the dreaded #1 spot. While WWE will mention Shawn Michaels (1995), Edge (2021), or Rhea Ripley’s victory last year, they avoid mentioning Chris Benoit. The disgraced wrestler went pillar-to-post in the 2004 Royal Rumble match, last eliminating the Big Show. 

    The show didn’t end when the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble PLE stopped filming… 

  • Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After Royal Rumble Went Off Air

    Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After Royal Rumble Went Off Air

    Cody Rhodes is ready to finish the story.

    The American Nightmare became the first man in 26 years to win back-to-back Royal Rumbles after Stone Cold Steve Austin at tonight’s show from the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida by eliminating CM Punk.

    The show ended with Rhodes pointing towards Roman Reigns in the stands with the WrestleMania 40 logo in the background, leaving no doubt as to Cody’s intention.

    The former AEW star celebrated some more and then addressed the crowd after the show went off air. He apologized to the fans for not finishing the job at WrestleMania 39, but mentioned that he’s heading to the Lincoln Financial Field to finish the story:

    Cody Rhodes Is Ready After Royal Rumble

    “Tampa, St. Pete, Did you have a great time tonight? Guys I owe you an apology. I am sorry about what happened at WrestleMania 39. But we’re going to WrestleMania 40. It’s been a long night I won’t keep you here, an amazing show, an amazing crew, an amazing production.

    Sometimes when I come to Tampa, when I come to St Pete, sometimes I try and stay and keep to myself, the reason is – this is Dusty territory. So I thank you very much, for making it a Cody territory. I love you guys all so much. Have a great night and I’ll see you next time.”.

    There is no doubt after tonight that Cody Rhodes will be seeing Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania once again

    The Question of The Rock’s involvement in the whole affair after his Day 1 promo remains unanswered however and it’s possible we’ll get some answers at the upcoming SmackDown.

  • Cody Rhodes promo after Royal Rumble 2024

    Cody Rhodes promo after Royal Rumble 2024

  • Cody Rhodes: Vince McMahon Situation Is A Dark Cloud, TKO Has Taken Things Seriously

    Cody Rhodes: Vince McMahon Situation Is A Dark Cloud, TKO Has Taken Things Seriously

    Cody Rhodes hoped to give the WWE Universe something to feel positive about this week following the “dark cloud” that has been the Vince McMahon situation. 

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE this 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. 

    Cody Rhodes Comments on Vince McMahon

    On the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Cody Rhodes was asked for his comments on the situation and from an EVP perspective, what he hopes to see changed in wrestling to avoid similar situations. 

    “I know as far as the news is concerned, we were finding it out and reading the same things that you guys were reading. And you said a dark cloud, certainly. As far as TKO, Nick Khan and the board, [they] clearly took it very seriously. Acted immediately. Looking at the future, I don’t know the answer to that and I think somewhere is a really basic tenet of just– this crew, more than ever, from a roster standpoint, is very family. I’ve never seen anything like this. Most of the time wrestling locker rooms are fighting, talking trash about each other, making fun of each other, sandbagging each other in the ring, all that nonsense. This crew is very team-based, and perhaps that’s the ingredient. Everyone looking out for everyone. Being accountable.

    “I know for me as a performer, as a competitor, I’ve been through dark periods of our industry before. And it might sound cheesy but it’s very re-inforcing if you’re in my position that it’s a time [when you say] ‘Hey, we’ve got 50,000 people out here. I want to give them something else, that isn’t a terrible situation, terrible news. And I think we were able to do that. Obviously, as more news comes out we’ll be seeing it just as you do.”

    Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match at the show, becoming the first person since 1998 to win back-to-back Rumble matches. 

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

  • Cody Rhodes Wins 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Match To Punch His Ticket To WrestleMania 40

    WWE presented the Royal Rumble to Tropicana Field attendees, and the night was packed with noteworthy moments. Triple H’s influence on WWE’s creative direction is clearly apparent as the Road to WrestleMania begins to gain momentum.

    The Royal Rumble match finish

    The final competitors in the 2024 Royal Rumble match were Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, and Sami Zayn, with Zayn getting the #30 spot. They battled hard in Tropicana Field, none of them wanting to give an inch in the match.

    Then Zayn eliminated Damian Priest, only to have Drew throw Zayn over the top right after that. Rhodes, Punk, McIntyre, and GUNTHER were the final four in the match. They then showed Seth Rollins watching the match from a skybox in Tropicana Field, while Roman Reigns sat backstage viewing on a monitor in the back.

    Drew McIntyre punished Punk with chops as GUNTHER did the same to Cody. It was almost a competition of chops for a while as they punished their opponents.

    Then McIntyre nailed a Claymore Kick on GUNTHER and Cody before counting down from 3 and doing the same to Punk. Despite selling the finisher, Punk was able to get McIntyre on his shoulders and throw him out of the match.

    Cody got GUNTHER over the top rope and caused him to smash to the floor. The final two in the match were CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. After the two fought for a bit, and teased finishers on each other, Rhodes hit a Bionic Elbow and Punk got out of another Crossroads attempt.

    Punk got the upper hand and pointed to the WrestleMania sign. Then The American Nightmare nailed a Crossroads, but he couldn’t get the energy to even try to throw Punk over the top rope. Punk hit a GTS on Cody next, but he also didn’t have enough left in the tank to try for an elimination.

    CM Punk nailed a Pedigree next as Corey Graves said, “If you know, you know” on commentary. Punk then tried for another GTS, but Cody caught his knee, and he threw the Second City Savior over the top rope.

    What’s Next

    Cody Rhodes will go on to WrestleMania. It absolutely looks like he will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Title at this point, which would give him a chance to finish his story. 

  • Andrade Makes WWE Return During 2024 Royal Rumble Match

    Andrade Makes WWE Return During 2024 Royal Rumble Match

    WWE brought the Royal Rumble for fans in Tropicana Field, and the night was full of memorable moments. Triple H’s vision for WWE’s creative direction is more than evident at this point, as the Road to WrestleMania is only starting to heat up. Fans saw an exciting return early on in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

    Andrade’s WWE Return

    Andrade El Idolo left WWE three years ago, when the company granted his release. He had a stint in AEW, but that time is now over. The former NXT Champion is now back in WWE.

    Andrade shocked fans in Tropicana Field as the #4 entry in the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He came out with a mask and a new entrance robe. He also had new music. 

    The former AEW star’s return brought a big pop from the Tropicana Field crowd as well. Now, he is back in WWE, and it’s anyone’s guess what he will do next.

    Andrade’s AEW Departure.

    Andrade, although there was a short period of time when he almost inked a new AEW deal, decided to leave Tony Khan’s company. He was quite vocal on his way out that he was wrapping up his time with AEW after losing to Miro at Worlds End.

    Andrade’s return to WWE has a lot to do with Charlotte Flair. She pulled for him to come back, and WWE obviously listened. Sadly, Charlotte Flair is currently out of action with an injury. Andrade will be firmly back in WWE’s landscape by the time The Queen returns.

    Keep an eye on SE Scoops for more updates, because the road to WrestleMania is just starting.