Kairi Sane did a wild move to save herself from elimination from the Women’s Royal Rumble match and reminded everyone of a classic Spider-Man moment in the process.
The female pirate entered the battle royal at #11 and she started wreaking havoc with the help of her other Damage CTRL teammates immediately.
This momentum was halted however after Kayden Carter entered the match at #13. She and Katana Chance immediately started working as a tag team. At one point Carter almost eliminated Sane but she avoided elimination by a miracle.
The Damage CTRL member tucked her legs against the LED Board and hung on for a while, reminding people of the Spider-Man 2 scene with Tobey Maguire where the Friendly Neighbourhood hero stops a train using his webs:
Though Kairi Sane didn’t last for much longer after this and she was eliminated. Her Kabuki Warrior partner Asuka followed Sane and was eliminated by Chance right after.
At the end, the match was won by one of their teammates as Bayley last eliminated a returning Liv Morgan to win the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match.
This wasn’t the only newsworthy moment from the Women’s Rumble as a big debut during the bout got people talking. You can check out all about it here.
Damage CTRL’s Bayley is going to WrestleMania 40 after winning the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match.
The Role Model entered the match from the #3 position, following Natalya and the returning Naomi. With the help of her Damage CTRL allies Asuka and Kairi Sane,
Bayley scored several eliminations on her way to victory, including Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Maxxine Dupri. Bayley eliminated Liv Morgan to win. The Rumble marked Morgan’s return to the ring following a lengthy injury.
She fought for a record-setting 63 minutes and 3 seconds… and now, Philadelphia is calling her.
Not only did Bayley win the match, but she also made history for the longest run in a singles Women’s Royal Rumble match. The Role Model lasted over one hour and three minutes before eliminating Morgan to win the match.
With her win, Bayley has guaranteed herself a championship match at WrestleMania 40. Bayley, the self-described ‘Mami-Slayer’ has claimed that she will challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania for the Women’s World Championship.
That being said, many suspect that a Bayley-Rhea match isn’t in the works. Given the teased tensions within Damage CTRL, some have speculated that the Role Model will challenge WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at the two-night megashow this April.
Jade Cargill has made her WWE in-ring debut as part of the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Cargill signed with WWE in September of last yearr, shortly after exiting All Elite Wrestling. After signing a multi-year deal with WWE, Cargill would appear at WWE Fastlane as well as at Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Cargill has said that while she knows which brand she’ll be competing on moving forward, she’s keeping that information to herself for the time being.
Cargill in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match
The former TBS Champion would enter the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble from the #28 position. Cargill immediately set her sights on Nia Jax, who entered the match from the #19 position. The debut of Cargill immediately earned ‘Holy S***’ chants from the fans in St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. While it took 11 women to eliminate Jax from last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match, Cargill accomplished the feat on her own.
The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble had a TNA flavor to it, thanks in part to the WWE debut of reigning Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace.
Grace was the #5 entrant in the Women’s Rumble, which started off the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. Grace entered to the sound of sirens, likely a nod to her time in her career teaming with WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner. Grace entered the match with the Knockouts Championship and the WWE commentary trio of Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, and Corey Graves all made reference to TNA Wrestling.
TNA in the Women’s Royal Rumble
Grace wasn’t the only TNA name who competed in the match. Naomi made her return to WWE as part of the Women’s Rumble, entering the match at #2. This marked Naomi’s first match for WWE since she and Mercedes Mone controversially walked out of the promotion in May of 2022. On commentary, the trio of Cole, McAfee, and Graves made reference to her run in TNA Wrestling. She lost the Knockouts Championship to Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill earlier this month.
Vince McMahon resigned from WWE in response to earth-shattering allegations that were laid down in a lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant. Although McMahon is gone, Ronda Rousey believes that his influence will not go away without some deeper cleaning.
Bruce Prichard Takes Fire
Vince McMahon had many people help him build his empire through the years. Bruce Prichard has been a player in many historic WWE moments, and he has also acted as one of McMahon’s right-hand men for years. Vince is gone, but Bruce is still around.
Ronda Rousey logged onto Twitter/X, and she had a lot to say on the day of the Royal Rumble event. The former Women’s Champion posted to say that as long as Bruce Prichard is still with WWE, Vince McMahon’s presence will always be felt.
Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before.
Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before
Bruce Prichard’s name was not brought up in Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. Brock Although he was not mentioned explicitly, Brock Lesnar’s name was heavily alluded to.
Lesnar was pulled from the Royal Rumble event after his name was attached to Grant’s lawsuit. It was noted that Vince McMahon allegedly used her as a bargaining chip to secure a contract renewal. The Superstar in question was not named, but they were referred to as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
There May Be More To Uncover
This latest set of allegations against Vince McMahon cause shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world that may not be settled yet. The lawsuit explicitly stated that the accuser was stepping forward for those unable to do so but expressing the desire to speak.
‘Ms. Grant is filing this lawsuit not just to address her own suffering, but also to act for those who are afraid to speak out. Plaintiff Janel Grant is a former employee of WWE who was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.’
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of Vince McMahon’s ongoing drama, and all necessary updates.
Florida’s own Naomi has made her return to WWE as part of the Women’s Royal Rumble match, close to two years after her controversial exit from the promotion.
Naomi was the #2 entrant in the 2024 Women’s Rumble match and started the match with the #1 entrant Natalya. This match marked her first bout for WWE since May of 2022.
Not only is Naomi back, but WWE also mentioned her run with TNA Wrestling. On commentary, Michael Cole recalled Naomi’s time as a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion and mentioned that she is a former TNA Knockouts Champion.
Naomi and Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) would infamously walk out of WWE in May of 2022. The pair would have creative differences with WWE’s plans for them at the time. The reported plan was for the then-Women’s Tag Team Champions to enter singles feuds for the Raw & SmackDown Women’s Championships, which the pair were expected to lose.
The Rock stirred the pot in a big way when he returned to the WWE fold during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Now, with WrestleMania on the horizon, there is some big talk of a dream match that may finally happen.
WWE’s Plan for The Rock
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer had a lot to say about WrestleMania 40, and the card that is currently taking shape in front of our eyes.
Regarding the delay to WrestleMania next year, Dave Meltzer did not see it as wise to let Dwayne Johnson age further for this match. The Rock appeared to be interested in having the match this year, and now may be the time. Although nothing had been officially signed yet, more details are expected after the Royal Rumble and on WWE’s television product.
As for holding the match in Australia, Meltzer expressed skepticism, finding it unlikely that The Rock would want to have a match that will air at 4 am in North America. On that note, I have personally asked around about this, and was told that The Rock is not booked for Australia.
Considering Saudi Arabia as a location, it seemed to be a stronger possibility than Australia. The potential for higher financial offers from the Saudis and The Rock’s role on the Board of Directors might have encouraged negotiations. However, based on past discussions and interviews, The Rock had seemed insistent on having the match at WrestleMania.
Exclusive Note On The Rock vs Roman Reigns
As I already reported, Roman Reigns is set to participate in WrestleMania, and the main event match has remained unchanged since early September when the decision was made. Interestingly, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match had been determined well before that, and The Rock was never part of the creative discussions this time.
The addition of house show dates to Roman Reigns’ schedule came as a surprise when announced. Many within the company initially believed he wouldn’t wrestle again in 2023 after his Undisputed Universal Title defense against LA Knight in Saudi Arabia at WWE Crown Jewel.
Despite WWE having Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match planned, it doesn’t guarantee a lack of changes. CM Punk’s return to the company is expected to prompt a creative shift in at least one WrestleMania match. The Men’s Royal Rumble match winner, which I confirmed was determined in September, remained unchanged as I confirmed again in late December. It is very important to remember at times like these that nothing is definitively “locked in” at this point.
According to a trusted source within WWE, “Even Roman’s main event can change if circumstances dictate. Will they dictate? Most likely not. But until it’s locked in, it’s not locked in.”
I was able to exclusively report that a triple threat match at WrestleMania for Roman’s title is not in the cards. The creative team was informed of that last week.
After Cody Rhodes’ 2024 Royal Rumble win, it is apparent that WWE may be going through with their original plans. There was no sign of The Rock in Tropicana Field for the Royal Rumble, making a notable absence for the People’s Champion as they begin the road to WrestleMania.
The Royal Rumble will likely see a huge development in this story. SE Scoops will have all the updates as we hit the road to WrestleMania 40.
As the WWE Royal Rumble quickly approaches, Hulk Hogan continues to tease he could be involved. The WWE Hall of Famer alluded to being a surprise participant in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match on the January 22 episode of Monday Night Raw. While fans may not haven’t taken it seriously, he is doubling down on a potential return.
In a video taken by SEScoops’ own Dominic DeAngelo, Hogan teased being a participant at an event hosted by Conrad Thompson and Eric Bischoff. It is also worth noting that it occurred in Clearwater, Florida, which isn’t far from Tampa, Florida, where the premium live event will occur on Saturday.
In the video, Hogan said, “Is anyone going to the Royal Rumble?” After the audience cheered, the WWE Hall Of Famer replied, “…Someone told me I might get number 30.”
Here is the full video of Hogan’s comments at the event held by Thompson and Bischoff.
Hogan’s decision to continue to tease a potential appearance in the match has led to fans questioning his health. He has been plagued with injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries on his back.
“…I think he could do whatever he wants to do, but I’m telling you what, he could still throw those punches. He could also use a chair if he had to, but I think the fans wouldn’t really care. They would love to have him there, but they wouldn’t care if he could throw a punch or if he couldn’t just to be in the building with Hulkamania and do that; they would be so thrilled for him.”
While Hart feels Hogan can compete and the former WWE Champion is feeding into a potential return, the company would seemingly be cautious of the idea. It has been proven true that anything can happen in WWE, but Hogan’s involvement could lead to another injury to the wrestling veteran.
Regardless, fans will continue to speculate if he will be a participant, as the WWE Royal Rumble is always full of surprises.
It’s been four years since Edge returned to wrestling after being forced to retire due to an injury. He made his comeback at the WWE Royal Rumble on January 26, 2020, as a surprise entrant in the men’s match. The surprise appearance was a memorable moment that fans and other WWE superstars, including AJ Styles, will remember.
In an interview with Wrestlesphere, ‘The Phenomenal One’ reflects on Edge’s return and what being in the match for his entrance was like.
Wrestlesphere’s Joe Baiamonte transcribed the following quotes.
“It was pretty unbelievable to see that reaction,” said Styles. He continued, “It was a special moment. I enjoyed it. I actually sat back in the corner and watched it all. It was really, really cool.”
At the time, it was unclear what WWE’s plans were for Edge, but Styles hoped that he’d be able to have a match with the ‘Rated R Superstar.’ WWE fans may recall they had a staredown and exchanged offense in the 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble Match. In the interview, Styles admitted he wanted to use the moment to plant seeds for a potential match with Edge.
“As soon as he came back, that Royal Rumble, we planted the seed, said Styles. He explains, “Because we knew if there’s an opportunity, we’ve got to plant the seed now. That was the moment we did it at the Royal Rumble.”
Two years later, the two would be in a feud, including a featured match at WWE WrestleMania 38 on April 3, 2022. While Edge has moved on to AEW, Styles will compete in a title match at this year’s event.
AJ Styles Aims To Get Revenge on Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns will defend the WWE Championship against Styles, LA Knight, and Randy Orton tonight. ‘The Phenomenal One’ hopes to become a three-time WWE Champion, as he has reentered the title picture. He also wants to get revenge on Reigns, as he, in the storyline, had the Bloodline(Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso) injure him.
The odds are not in Reign’s favor, but he is expected to retain his championship. It’s unclear if Styles will get another opportunity to lose. However, WWE fans should expect ‘The Phenomenal One’ to give everything he has as he tries to win the WWE Championship for a third time.
WWE’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view is going down in Tropicana Field tonight. You can find any information about how to view the show here. If you plan on watching and want to avoid spoilers, then you may need to stop reading here.
NXT Superstars In Tampa Before Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble match is always bound to provide a few surprises. This year’s match will be no exception, and NXT may see some big representation this year.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Blair Davenport, Tiffany Stratton, and Carmelo Hayes are present at the venue for tonight’s WWE Royal Rumble event. This is very interesting, especially considering how many unclaimed Royal Rumble match slots there are for this year’s show.
Fightful can confirm that Blair Davenport, Tiffany Stratton and Carmelo Hayes are all at the venue for tonight’s WWE Royal Rumble show.
It was later reported that Bron Breakker and Roxanne Perez are also at Tropicana Field. This could be a very NXT heavy Royal Rumble match.
WWE’s Royal Rumble Plans
There is no explicit information confirming Tiffany Stratton, Blair Davenport or Carmelo Hayes’ inclusion in the Rumble match itself. It also was not noted whether any of them appearing in the Royal Rumble match would mean that they are getting a main roster call-up.
WWE has brought NXT Superstars up in the past in a stand-by position, just in case they are needed. We will have to see if Hayes, Davenport, and Stratton are used. That being said, each of those performers are more than ready for the WWE main roster at this point.
The Royal Rumble is a match that can make a star out of any performer even if they don’t win the match. It can, however, also land you in trouble for making others look bad if you’re not careful. According to Maven, Paul London found this out during the 2005 Royal Rumble.
The former WWE star discussed the upcoming PLE in the newest video on his YouTube channel. He explained the process of booking the battle royal and what wrestlers are told about their spots.
Answering a question about people getting in trouble over a Royal Rumble spot, Maven recalled Paul London getting some heat from the locker room for his elimination from the 2005 Rumble:
“Can you get in trouble during a Rumble? Actually you can. I will give you an example of that. Take the Paul London incident from 2005. I don’t remember what the run sheet looked like. I guarantee you it said something like ‘Paul London eliminated by Gene Snitsky.’
Paul, obviously wanting to have his Royal Rumble moment, made it the best elimination of the entire night. If you remember that spot you remember that crazy flip he took. Paul actually got some heat. He got in trouble once he got backstage.”
Maven went on to explain that Paul London took the spotlight away from others and people in the back did not like this:
“Now why did he get in trouble? Because people thought he was showing up others in the match. When all he was doing was showing his athleticism and showing exactly how good of a bump he could take. Making Gene look pretty damn powerful in the process of it. That’s how you can get in trouble for even being eliminated during the Rumble.
So the takeaway from all of that is unless it says, and it might be something like this ‘Paul eliminated by Snitsky with big clothesline’ and they might go out of their way to highlight the word big to the point where they might even underline it, they want you to know that this is one of the biggest bumps, this is one of the biggest spots of the night. Paul’s mistake that night wasn’t taking the bump, Paul’s mistake wasn’t reading the run sheet wrong. Paul’s mistake was taking it upon himself to actually show how athletic he was.”
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
The allegations against Vince McMahon were stomach-churning and read like a physiological horror story when combing through the pages of the lawsuit. This also led to Slim Jim pulling out their partnership with WWE, but now it appears that they are back after Vince McMahon resigned.
Slim Jim Is Back
We previously reported that Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship of the 2024 Royal Rumble match. This was in response to the earth-shattering allegations attached to the recent lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis.
Vince McMahon resigned from WWE after that. He is standing by his innocence, as he claims the allegations against him are fabricated, but the Chairman of the Board is no longer with the company he led for decades. That huge move was enough to bring Slim Jim back.
WrestleVotes is now reporting, on the morning of the 2024 Royal Rumble, that Slim Jim is back with WWE. They will be sponsoring WWE after all, and all it took was McMahon’s resignation.
After yesterday’s chaotic day, and the events that transpired, I am told Slim Jim is BACK as a main sponsor for tonight’s Royal Rumble PLE along with future WWE events.
After yesterday’s chaotic day, and the events that transpired, I am told Slim Jim is BACK as a main sponsor for tonight’s Royal Rumble PLE along with future WWE events.
Slim Jim released a statement on the matter after they re-entered the WWE fold. It was made very clear that Vince McMahon’s resignation was the catalyst for the return to their previous sponsorship arrangement.
“After the departure of Vince McMahon, and discussions with WWE TKO senior leadership, Slim Jim has decided to re-enter the Royal Rumble.”
WWE’s Connection with Slim Jim
The partnership between Slim Jim and WWE goes back decades. It’s impossible to encounter one of those meaty snacks in a supermarket without envisioning Randy Savage cutting a promo on protein snacks.
Currently, Bianca Belair and LA Knight are the faces of Slim Jim commercials. Thankfully, fans can enjoy a lot more of that partnership, because it seems that Vince quitting was all they needed to patch things up.
There May Be A Lot More To Unpack
Advertisers and sponsors pulling out can be a domino effect, and WWE wanted to stop the bleeding fast with this. Vince McMahon’s resignation was the only thing that could be done in this situation, but it was also more than warranted. Some have argued about the validity of the initial investigation over the hush money scandal that caused McMahon’s first retirement, because Janel Grant claims she was never questioned.
It was also made clear in the lawsuit from Grant that she is coming forward for those who cannot. The idea that there may be more with stories about Mr. McMahon is quite concerning.
‘Ms. Grant is filing this lawsuit not just to address her own suffering, but also to act for those who are afraid to speak out. Plaintiff Janel Grant is a former employee of WWE who was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.’
We will keep our eye on this evolving story involving Vince McMahon and the damning lawsuit from Grant here at SE Scoops.
Nia Jax has seen a lot during her career in WWE. Although The Rock’s cousin gained attention for her activities in the ring, it was one bump on the apron that made her name trend unlike anything else.
Nia Jax Opens Up About Her “Hole”
On the February 8th, 2021 episode of Monday Night Raw, Nia Jax faced C.J. Perry in a singles match, who was known as Lana at the time. During the match, Jax fell onto the ring apron and exclaimed, ‘My hole.’ The rest is history.
While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Nia Jax revealed that she didn’t mean to go viral with her hole statement. In fact, it was all a surprise to her.
“When I walked back after the match, everybody was laughing. I was like, ‘okay,’ Then everybody was like, you’re trending on the internet right now. Like, number one of my hole, and I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ It was a joke that I was playing. It was COVID times, it was just a different era.”
“But yeah, that took on a whole other level. It was incredible. The funny thing is I didn’t realize that the cameras were gonna pick it up that loud. I say a lot of things in the ring that don’t get picked up. I’m cussing up a storm, and now it was, like, clear as day. And I’m like [what]. My mom’s proud. My mom’s so proud of me.”
Nia Jax Wanted To Make Vince McMahon Laugh
Jax previously re-told this story to K&S Wrestlefest, where The Irresistible Force revealed that her reaction was for an audience of two, as she actually was trying to make Vince McMahon and Triple H laugh with her “hole” comment.
“So it was more of a joke to pop Hunter and Vince (McMahon) in Gorilla. It was literally more to make them laugh. So when I did it, that was the intention and then when I got backstage and saw that everybody was texting me about ‘my hole’ trending, that’s not what my intention was,”
Jax was released by the company on November 4th, 2021. Surprisingly, she made an unexpected appearance as an entrant in the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble match. This year, she will compete in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match as a full-time Superstar once again, because Triple H brought her back along with so many more that Vince McMahon fired over the past couple of years.
The 2024 Royal Rumble match is set to include a lot of surprises. The company only announced a few participants in each Royal Rumble match for a reason, and January 27th could be a big night for Jade Cargill.
Royal Rumble Spoiler Time
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that discussions about a significant WWE debut have emerged regarding the WWE Royal Rumble.
Jade Cargill was one of the names considered for the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match. Despite being signed months ago, she has not made her debut in WWE thus far.
She was present at rehearsals for the Royal Rumble match on Thursday.
Fightful Select has learned that Jade Cargill was among the names discussed for the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match. Cargill was signed months ago, but has yet to make her debut in WWE as of yet.
Exclusive Insight On Jade Cargill’s WWE Debut
I asked about Jade Cargill’s Royal Rumble status earlier this week. In response, I was told that WWE has a lot of things planned for Cargill. Although it was not confirmed to me that she will be in the Royal Rumble match, her presence at the rehearsals on Thursday certainly paints that picture.
WWE signed Jade Cargill, and made a statement as she showed up during the Fastlane kickoff show a short time later. Then she wasn’t seen at all, except for short cameos during RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. She was backstage for most of those brief interactions, never revealing her entrance music or seeing her actually take to the ring.
After Cargill’s debut for the company, I was told that there was “a ton of buzz about how professional Jade Cargill was backstage, how impressive she is up close, how well she fit in, and how quickly she did that.”
The 2024 Royal Rumble match may see Jade Cargill make her long-awaited in-ring debut for the company. The former TBS Champion could definitely shake things up in Tropicana Field.
The Royal Rumble is going down in Tropicana Field tonight, and fans are likely to see many surprises. Although Brock Lesnar’s name has come up in some troubling ways over the past couple of days, we have the latest update on his status.
Brock Lesnar’s Royal Rumble Status
Brock Lesnar hasn’t been seen on WWE television since SummerSlam, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. The Beast Incarnate then decided to put Cody over in a big way as he raised his hand to the Ford Field crowd in Detroit.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that, as of earlier this week, Brock Lesnar was slated to be at the Royal Rumble event. It is currently unknown if those plans have changed after he was strongly alluded to in Janel Grant’s lawsuit.
We’ve confirmed that as of earlier this week, Brock Lesnar was scheduled to travel to Tampa for the Royal Rumble. We aren’t sure if that has changed,
Brock Lesnar Update Doesn’t Look Good For Royal Rumble
PW Insider provided an update on Brock Lesnar’s situation. It was noted after noon that, as of the report, the Beast Incarnate had not started traveling to the Royal Rumble event yet.
It is now the belief that Brock Lesnar has been pulled from their Royal Rumble, because of how he was involved in the Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
The terminology one source used was that Lesnar had been “withdrawn” from tonight’s event and the belief was that a WWE NXT talent would be used in Lesnar’s place tonight.
It is also believed that Vince McMahon would have used Lesnar, no matter what. Then again, this whole situation is to blame on Vince. Since TKO is running the show now, Lesnar may not appear at the Royal Rumble at all. It is unclear who that may change his WrestleMania plans.
The latest on Brock Lesnar ahead of the #RoyalRumble tonight:
‘As of this morning, Lesnar had not traveled to Florida for the event. The word making the rounds at last night's SmackDown was that Lesnar, who was at one point slated to return for WrestleMania season, would not be… pic.twitter.com/QiKYHMyNNQ
In the blockbuster lawsuit from Janel Grant, it was noted that Vince McMahon allegedly used her as a bargaining chip to secure a contract renewal. The Superstar in question was not named, but they were referred to as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
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).
Aftermath of the Allegations
TKO reacted to the lawsuit against Vince McMahon, and they made it clear that they are going to take action. These allegations took place prior to Endeavor’s takeover of the company, but this is a matter that they are taking seriously.
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
Vince McMahon Resigns
Vince McMahon resigned from WWE on Friday night, while making it clear that he will defend himself against these allegations. WWE CEO Nick Khan then sent out an email to everyone in the company to inform them of Mr. McMahon’s resignation.
“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
The Street Profits member Montez Ford is delighted with WWE legend The Rock been appointed to the TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors.
In a press release on January 23, a massive announcement was made that ‘The Great One’ will take up the new role.
The Rock has been one of the most accomplished superstars of WWE and has excelled in his career outside the company as well, whether as an actor in Hollywood or in his business ventures.
Apart from these, Dwayne Johnson is involved in TV and film company Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila, Zoa Energy, Project Rock or the Under Armour clothing line that has an agreement with the UFC. The former WWE Champion also has a partnership with the newly merged United Football League.
The former WWE superstar has also maintained his connection with TKO’s holdings. It has come to light that in a future film, he will play UFC veteran and MMA great Mark Kerr.
His fans and WWE superstars are thrilled with The Rock’s new role in the company. It includes Montez Ford as well, who draws inspirataion from the Hollywood megastar.
Montez Ford opens up on The Rock
Speaking on HOT 97, Ford revealed that The Rock has been his inspiration since he was a child. He revealed that he idolizes ‘The Great One’ and lauded the legend for his endeavours outside WWE as well. He said:
“The Rock has always been my inspiration since I was a tadpole, just as long as I can remember. To see someone I watched and idolized growing up and then now like you said, shift out into these other avenues. Take ownership of his name, being part of the board of directors and just expanding his self outside of the ring is motivating and inspiring. Like you said, the trajectory of where we can go with ourselves. He’s always continuing to raise the bar. At this point, he shouldn’t even be called The Rock no more should be called the damn Boulder”
The Royal Rumble event is going down at Tropicana Field on January 27th, and the big day is upon us. Big names are expected for the event, and now we know where The Undertaker is.
The Undertaker’s Current Whereabouts
The Undertaker wrestled his final contest at WrestleMania 36 as he faced AJ Styles in a Boneyard match. Although the Deadman hasn’t competed since then, he has made a few appearances on WWE television.
The WWE Hall of Famer may not be publicly announced for the 2024 Royal Rumble event, but he is around. Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that Taker is in Tampa.
The Undertaker is in Tampa.
Michelle McCool’s Royal Rumble Status
You never know who will show up at the Royal Rumble. Since we’re speaking about The Undertaker, that brings up a natural question about his wife, Michelle McCool. She already noted on Twitter/X that WWE didn’t send her an invitation for the big match.
This year’s WWE Royal Rumble could be a historic night for the company, for many reasons. Not only are there huge rumors about The Rock’s return, but this huge event is also going down one day after Vince McMahon resigned from the company after a bombshell lawsuit brought a slew of terrible accusations to the forefront.
SE Scoops will have ongoing coverage of the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Keep checking back for constant updates as we provide the biggest headlines from this year’s event.
As WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes gears up for Saturday’s Royal Rumble match, he made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
‘The American Nightmare’ participated in the amusing Phone Booth game where he joined the host of ‘I Can See Your Voice’, Ken Jeong.
The rules of the game stated that if either Ken Jeong or his phone booth counterpart, Dwyane Wade, fails to correctly answer a question, a stranger from the mystery bench will be shoved into their respective booths.
Cody Rhodes enjoys a fun time
First, it was Dwyane’s turn and he answered the question correctly. After that, Jeong was delighted to see Cody Rhodes showing up to join him in the booth and Jeong also gave a correct answer.
Wade had to welcome a guest into his booth this time and it was Teresa Guidice, which came as a blessing in disguise. He got the next question wrong as Guidice and Dwyane were then joined by professional snake handler Blaise Matthew and his python Henry.
Ken and Cody got the next one wrong and had a welcome three stressed-out cooks from The Bear. Dwyane Wade got another question incorrect and everyone out there was shoved into his booth to conclude the game and the segment.
Cody Rhodes certainly had some fun on the show, but on Saturday he has a serious task at hand. He will be participating in the Men’s Royal Rumble match as he aims to outlast 29 other men on his quest to finish his story at WrestleMania 40.
WWE legend The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) has once again left his fans in awe when he gave an ESPN host his prized wrestling ring during a live interview.
The heartwarming moment transpired on January 24, 2024 and the gesture has received massive praise from his fans and won over people’s hearts.
The Rock gifts his ring to the reporter
‘The Great One’ recently made an appearance on a segment of the First Take talk series. During the segment, the host Molly Qerim revealed how much she loved The Rock’s ring, which he wore at the time.
“That pinky ring, I don’t know if that’s vintage, but I’m obsessed with rings, if you can tell I’ve been staring at it the entire show. It’s amazing.”
The Rock, who has often proved he’s a gentleman, took off the ring and handed it to Molly Qerim and told her, “There you go”.
Molly was astonished with the former WWE Champion’s gesture and asked if he was sure. She then said that she was going to text Nick Khan’s sister-in-law, who is her stylist, and tell her they needed something similar.
“So [WWE President] Nick Khan’s sister-in-law Lisette Mora is one of my dear friends, and she’s my stylist, and I was literally going to text her, like, we need something like this vintage,” shared the host.
The Rock went on to state that the ring meant a lot to him but it meant more that she mentioned it on air. Molly further if the ring was a gift to which The Great One replied, “Absolutely, 100%. Yes.”
After the episode aired, Molly took to her Instagram and made a collaborative post, lauding the Hollywood star for being an amazing person.
“I’ve been very blessed to interview some amazing people over the yrs, but there is a special energy & light to The Rock,” she wrote in the post’s caption. “Tough guy, but you can feel his heart. He’s humble & sees people. No accident he’s so successful. Grateful!”
WWE AND SNAPCHAT LAUNCH WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FOR BITMOJI
Ever wanted to capture the World Heavyweight Title? WWE and Snapchat have joined forces to give you a championship opportunity, and you won’t have to beat Seth “Freakin” Rollins to win it.
Beginning today, Snapchat users can unlock a digital World Heavyweight Championship for their Bitmoji avatar by redeeming 200 Tokens. WWE is the first sports and entertainment league to partner with Snapchat on an unlockable Bitmoji garment that is only accessible with Tokens.
The digital World Heavyweight Title is available now, just in time to kick off The Road to WrestleMania 40 at Royal Rumble 2024
WWE & Social Media
Like most massive entertainment companies, WWE has profiles on several social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Superstars can also be found on such platforms and in addition to sharing their personal lives, often use social media to advance storylines or promote WWE events.
WWE hasn’t always had the best luck when it comes to social media, however. In 2012, WWE invested $5 million and entered a two-year partnership with Tout. Stephanie McMahon was named a part of the Tout Board of Directors. Despite heavy promotion at the time, Tout would not be a success and was dissolved in 2019. From 2008 to 2011, WWE hosted its own social media website, originally dubbed ‘WWE Fan Nation’. It was later changed to ‘WWE Universe’ and while the site is no more, WWE continues to describe its fans as a ‘universe.’
McMahon stepped down from WWE & TKO this week after Grant filed a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and trafficking by the former TKO Chairman. While McMahon has insisted on his innocence, he stepped down “out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents.”
“She hopes any doors of secrecy have been blown off their hinges and that fresh air fills the headquarters. She hopes those at the company, past and present, who fear speaking out about harm, [that it] is a thing of the past. She wishes everyone peace.”
More Victims?
During the interview, Callis was asked if she believes there are other victims and said she believes there could be others out there.
“Whether they worked in the company or not, yes, the belief is there are other victims out there, just the way the grooming of Janel went on, it indicates that. There are a lot of indicators that there may be, and probably are, other victims out there. One of Janel’s hopes is that by coming forward she will give the courage of other victims to come forward too.”
Vince McMahon is gone, and he may not be the last significant departure from WWE and TKO…
McMahon’s departure from WWE/TKO was announced mere hours ago. Earlier this week, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, alleged that McMahon had sexually abused her and trafficked her during her tenure with the company. After his resignation was announced, McMahon continued to deny the claims made against him in the lawsuit, which he has previously described as “obscene made-up instances.”
More Departures to Come?
There is a belief in WWE that Endeavor may sweep out anyone close to Vince McMahon following the billionaire’s resignation this week, PW Insider reports. The gist is that a complete “fresh start” for the company is needed going forward, which may mean cuts to his remaining team.
There were employees who exited WWE when McMahon initially re-signed in 2022 who would find a way back when he strong-armed his way back onto the Board of Directors in January 2023. There is also a belief among those PW Insider spoke to that anyone with a connection to McMahon may be seen as a major negative going forward, and that may affect their WWE status.
Backstage Reaction
Those within WWE expected a fallout after Slim Jim paused their big-money sponsorship with the company due to the allegations. Sources within WWE added that anyone’s connection to McMahon may be seen as a “major negative going forward.” Those who left when McMahon did in 2022 and who returned when he returned in January 2023 could be on the chopping block.
WWE presented the Royal Rumble go-home edition of SmackDown from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida tonight with the final build for the PLE tomorrow.
The show opened with a confrontation between Randy Orton, AJ Styles and LA Knight before they all challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed title in a Fatal Four-way match on Saturday. This segment ended with Knight retreating while AJ caught Orton with a Pele Kick.
The show also included a face-off between The Pride and The Final Testament and a Women’s Tag Team Championship match where The Kabuki Warriors defeated Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to capture the gold.
What Happened After SmackDown
The main event of SmackDown saw LA Knight taking on Solo Sikoa in a singles match. Though the bout ended in a double disqualification after AJ Styles came out of nowhere and delivered a Phenomenal Forearm to Knight.
The whole thing quickly turned into a brawl with Jimmy Uso and Randy Orton also joining in on the fight. Randy Orton hit an RKO to Styles after taking out both Bloodline members. LA Knight then delivered a BFT to The Viper and the Megastar stood tall in the ring to end the broadcast.
Though Orton remained in the arena for quite a while after the show went off air and greeted the fans for as long as he could.
That wasn’t all as fans also got to see Drew McIntyre in action after SmackDown. McIntyre faced The Miz in a singles match. The stars delivered an entertaining match for the crowd before the Scottish Warrior picked up the victory with the Claymore Kick.
A bombshell lawsuit came out from former WWE employee Janel Grant. The court documents contain a range of sexual assault allegations asserted by the individual. The distressing nature of the lawsuit has resulted in Vince McMahon completely severing ties with the company. Now, he has spoken on the matter, and while McMahon is now acknowledging wrongdoing, he is stepping away completely from the company he led for decades.
Vince McMahon Breaks His Silence
Deadline reported that Vince McMahon has resigned from WWE after those horrific allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Now, we have an official word from Mr. McMahon on the matter.
“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said to the outlet in response to the jaw-dropping lawsuit that was filed this week. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”
“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” the former Chairman of the Board added.
Vince McMahon’s Previous Response
Vince already responded to these allegations, as his camp issued a statement of denial. In a statement released to Deadline, it was said that the allegations are full of lies, and Mr. McMahon will defend himself.
“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”
Vince McMahon Was Already a Risk
TKO Group Holdings had already named Vince McMahon as a risk factor. TKO gave its 2023 third-quarter financial results. In an SEC filing, McMahon, who serves as TKO’s Executive Chairman, was listed under the ‘Risk Factor’ section. The description underneath McMahon’s name said that the hush-money scandal of 2022 could prove detrimental to the company.
“The special committee of independent members of WWE’s Board of Directors’ investigation into allegations of misconduct by Mr. McMahon, and any further allegations and investigations may have an adverse financial and operational impact on our business performance.”
Although he was not named in the lawsuit, Brock Lesnar is believed to be involved as well. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was in the midst of a WWE contract negotiation in 2021 was mentioned. It was alleged that Vince set up Ms. Grant to be part of this unnamed Superstar’s contract in the form of sexual relations.
WWE Superstars were reportedly told to lay low regarding questions about McMahon’s allegations as they do press commitments to promote the Royal Rumble event. This is certainly a huge story, and we will have more updates as they are made available.
Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE following the public exposure of a hush money scandal in 2022. An internal investigation was conducted in response, and McMahon later made a comeback to WWE, playing a role in the eventual merger with the UFC. Now, substantial allegations have surfaced due to a recent lawsuit, and that led to his total separation from WWE.
Vince McMahon Resigns From WWE
A bombshell lawsuit came out from former WWE employee Janel Grant, who claims a variety of damning sexual assault allegations in the court documents. That lawsuit was terribly troubling, and now that has caused Vince McMahon’s total separation from the company.
In 2022, McMahon resigned from his position as WWE’s CEO amidst an investigation into allegations that parallel those outlined in the lawsuit. The legal action was filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is headquartered. The lawsuit additionally includes WWE and John Laurinaitis, the company’s former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants. Brock Lesnar, although he was not mentioned, was heavily implied to be involved in the allegations as well.
Deadline reports that Vince McMahon had submitted his resignation from WWE. He has broken off completely from the company he helped rise to power for decades.
Major news. Vince McMahon resigned from all roles with TKO.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 27, 2024
Email Confirmation
Brandon Thurston and others confirmed that Vince McMahon has quit WWE. Nick Khan sent out an email to all staff, which stated that McMahon is no longer with the company.
“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
Can confirm Vince McMahon has resigned from his role as Executive Chairman, according to an all staff email from WWE President Nick Khan.
Khan wrote:
“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the…
There have been some major differences in Vince McMahon’s removal from the company this time around. Unlike his ‘retirement’ in 2022, There has been no farewell for the former chairman and talents have been instructed not to comment on the matter.
The TKO officials seem to be doing everything they can to distance themselves from the longtime WWE owner after the latest wave of accusations. This includes removing references to McMahon from their websites.
The profile page for McMahon on WWE’s website has been made private and visiting users are met with a message reading ‘You are not authorized to access this page.’
WWE runs on the money they make, and this situation has already cost the company cash. Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship for the Royal Rumble a day prior to the event. It was anyone’s guess, and certainly a fear, that other revenue streams may pull out of dealing with WWE as well.
We will keep an eye on this brand-new story at SE Scoops. We now live in a world where Vince McMahon is not employed by WWE after this week’s landmark lawsuit.
UPDATE: Vince McMahon Makes Statement
Vince has now released a statement about quitting WWE. Although he did not admit to any wrongdoing, he made his reasoning very clear. He also made it crystal clear that he will continue fighting to clear his name.
