SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Netflix Won’t Pull Any Punches For Upcoming Vince McMahon Documentary

    Netflix Won’t Pull Any Punches For Upcoming Vince McMahon Documentary

    Vince McMahon has quite a story to tell. Even though fans believe that they may know ever detail about Mr. McMahon’s life so far, there is a lot to be uncovered. A new Netflix documentary will shine a light on his entire career and controversies.

    Netflix’s Vince McMahon Documentary

    Dave Meltzer talked about the Vince McMahon documentary on Wrestling Observer Radio. He mentioned that the documentary, which was started by Netflix years ago, has changed from the initial plan. Vince McMahon wanted it to be genuine and not a fake portrayal of his life.

    According to Meltzer, Vince’s interview was the most interesting part. The documentary will also be split up into several parts, with some already finished, and the remaining part would cover Vince’s return and the sale. It seems that Nefflix is going to go all in with telling the story of Vince McMahon.

    When this documentary started, ordered by Netflix years and years ago, obviously, this was not the end result that anyone imagined. It was going to be something that they did. And Vince told them that he does not want a fake documentary. And Vince was probably the most interesting interview on the documentary. I don’t know all the different people they talk to. I only know what I talked about. And they were told this was anything but meant to be a puff piece if it ends up being, perhaps, much of the documentary.

    Netflix’s Vince McMahon Documentary Will Cover Recent Events

    Vince McMahon has a lot of skeletons in his closet, and some of those are widely known at this point. It will be interesting to see if Netflix pulls any punches, especially with their new blockbuster deal to secure the rights for RAW and non-US rights for all premium live events.

    This documentary will also cover the latter part of Vince McMahon’s time in WWE, which will include his hush money scandal. Needless to say, this upcoming offering from the streaming giant could be a huge attraction, even for mainstream viewers who may first discover this new spotlight on Mr. McMahon via one of their endless scrolling sessions on the service.

  • WWE RAW Faces Uncertain 3-Month Gap Before New Netflix Deal Begins

    WWE RAW Faces Uncertain 3-Month Gap Before New Netflix Deal Begins

    WWE announced a blockbuster deal with Netflix, one that will start in January 2025. Since their deal with the USA Network is ending in October this year, that leaves two months of action for WWE’s flagship show unaccounted for.

    WWE RAW’s Three Month Issue

    After concluding an agreement with the USA Network, RAW’s future has sparked even more speculation. Now it’s confirmed that the USA Network won’t be renewing its deal with RAW beyond September 2024. 

    WWE and Netflix officially announced the move, revealing a staggering 10-year deal exceeding $5 billion starting in January 2025. Dave Meltzer discussed RAW’s fate post-September this year on Wrestling Observer Radio. The big question is what will happen with the show after October this year, but WWE seemingly has a plan.

    “I talked to WWE pretty extensively about this, and I guess the biggest unanswered question is what happens to RAW at the end of September this year. In January, RAW is going to Netflix. At the end of September, their contract is up. USA Network has told Brandon Thurston that they’re not airing it after the end of September.”

    “So, it’s not like they’re gonna go three more months on USA. WWE told me that they will make an announcement relatively soon about that. I guess they have something, what it is, I don’t know.”

    WWE RAW’s Overrun On Netflix

    Dave Meltzer also noted that WWE RAW may get more of a flexible overrun with their new Netflix deal. It was stated that they may get an overrun deal like Tony Khan has with Warner Brothers Discovery, where WWE can get more time if they need it.

    ”The other one is that if they run long, I don’t think they’re gonna panic, I think it will be the deal AEW has with, you know, TNT and TBS now. I think that there won’t be this ‘You’ve got to finish this exactly at 3!’ If you wanna go five minutes over because things are going long, I think that 3 will be the target, but it will be like a pay-per-view. A pay-per-view has a target time, but they go over it constantly. They don’t have that hard-out at 3 hours, so that will change.”

    It was also noted that WWE may not want to extend RAW too many times, because they have other television deals for the show in different countries. 

    WWE’s Other Television Deals

    WWE already agreed to deals for SmackDown and NXT. The USA Network will begin airing SmackDown in October this year. The CW will pick up NXT, but it’s unclear where RAW will go during that time. 

    The company has options, and it appears that they have an announcement planned about this three-month limbo period of time at the end of this year. Odds are, they won’t miss an episode, so they may remain the longest running weekly episodic television show in history without skipping any shows.

  • WWE’s Natalya Reportedly Working on Hart Family Movie

    The legendary Hart family could be the subject of an upcoming movie, following the success of A24’s The Iron Claw. 

    The Iron Claw delves into the lives and tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family and has been met with praise by wrestling fans and critics. Even pop sensation Adele described the biopic as her favorite film of the past year. Despite this, The Iron Claw received zero nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards.

     A Hart Project In the Works? 

    Given the popularity of The Iron Claw, there’s been speculation about other wrestling stories making it to the big screen. On Instagram, Natalya posted a photo of herself with Rory Culkin, the star of movies including Signs and Scream 4. Jordan Levine and Jordan Beckerman of Yale Productions were also in the photo. 

    Natalya’s caption made clear that she is working on something close to her heart. Fightful Select reports that this something involves possibly making a movie based on the Hart family. Levine and Beckerman have reportedly had an interest in the idea for some time. Culkin, like his brother Macauley, is a known long-time wrestling fan. 

    The Hart Family Out of the Ring

    If this film makes it to the big screen, it won’t be the first time that the first family of Canadian wrestling has been covered. WWE has released several documentaries about the Harts including individual DVD sets about Bret and Owen Hart. 

    Outside of WWE, Bret and his family worked with Trimark Pictures to create 1998’s ‘Wrestling With Shadows.’ The documentary gives an in-depth look at the highs and lows of professional wrestling and features Bret recounting his life in the business from a wrestler’s perspective. Wrestling With Shadows, which also covers the Montreal Screwjob, received a 25th-anniversary Blu-Ray release last year.  

  • Potential Spoiler On Injured Superstar Returning At the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble PLE

    Potential Spoiler On Injured Superstar Returning At the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble PLE

    This weekend’s Women’s Royal Rumble match could see one currently injured Superstar make her presence felt in the 30-Woman contest. 

    The Women’s Royal Rumble was first introduced in 2018, with Asuka last eliminating Nikki Bella to be crowned the first winner. Since then, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Ronda Rousey, and Rhea Ripley have all emerged victorious in the match. Currently, there is a 66% chance of a Women’s Rumble winner being successful at WrestleMania, with Lynch, Flair, Belair, and Ripley all capturing gold at the April supershow. 

    The Women’s Royal Rumble Match

    With 24 spots in the Women’s Royal Rumble match yet to be filled, fans are eager to see what surprises are in store for the contest. PW Insider Elite reports that one name who has been discussed to make a return for the match is Sonya Deville, who has been out of action for months. 

    Deville has been out of action since July, when she suffered an ACL injury. The following month, she would have surgery that would end her tag team with Chelsea Green. Before her injury, WWE had hoped that Green and Deville would ‘stabilize’ the often-chaotic Women’s Tag Team Championship division. 

    Throughout her recovery, Deville has been supported by her fiancee Toni Cassano. The pair got engaged in February of this year in an interview with PEOPLE. Deville has been present at WWE’s Performance Center this month, which some have taken as a sign of an imminent comeback. 

    WWE Royal Rumble 2024

    Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands:

    • Men’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Kofi Kingston, Damian Priest)
    • Women’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Ivy Nile)
    • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

    A certain WWE Hall of Famer is waiting for a call about the Men’s Royal Rumble match… 

  • WWE RAW Without TV For 2024 Q4 Before Move To Netflix

    WWE RAW Without TV For 2024 Q4 Before Move To Netflix

    Monday Night Raw will begin streaming on Netflix come January 2025, but there are questions about the red brand’s home for the months before the big move. 

    This week, it was announced that Raw will move to Netflix as part of a $5 billion deal with the streaming giant. Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India. 

    Monday Night Raw Without A Home

    Raw’s move to Netflix won’t happen until January 2025, which has raised questions as to the red brand’s future in the final quarter of 2024. That’s because WWE’s current deal for Raw to broadcast on the USA Network will expire later this year. 

    On the Pollock & Thurston show, Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston noted that an NBC official informed him that the USA Network will not carry Raw after the expiration date of this deal, which is September 30. On the show, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer said that an announcement was coming shortly regarding those three months in which Raw currently has no broadcast deal. 

    Moving to A New Day? 

    Raw has been synonymous with Monday nights ever since its launch, and Nick Khan intends that to be the case after the Netflix move. On the Pat McAfee show, Khan addressed the possibility of Raw being released on Netflix on a different date. 

    “At this moment in time, it remains Monday Night Raw. Keep in mind, we have ten and a half months until this deal is up and running… If we stay on Mondays, it’ll work, if we move to a different day, we think it’ll work too.”

    In an SEC filing, it was noted that Netflix has the option to extend the WWE Raw deal beyond the initial ten years or opt out after five years.

    H/T – Fightful

  • Cody Rhodes On The Possibility Of The Rock Hijacking His Story: “You Never Know With WWE”

    Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes remains focused on finishing his story, but the American Nightmare’s path to realizing his wrestling destiny remains unclear.

    Wrestling fans have been rightfully uneasy about Rhodes’  personal Road to WrestleMania. After last year’s crushing defeat to Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 39, its looked like he is headed for a long-awaited rematch against the Undisputed Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40.

    Nothing is guaranteed in wrestling and there are several other people vying for the position Rhodes and his fans may expect belongs to him.

    The Rock Enters The Picture

    The Rock is a prime candidate to spoil hopes for WrestleMania 40 to be the stage for Cody’s crowning moment. 

    On Tuesday, veteran journalist Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated dropped a bombshell report that sources of his close to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque told him that Cody Rhodes is NOT currently factored in as Roman Reigns’ opponent at WrestleMania.

    Barrasso believes it will instead be The Great One battling the Head of the Table.

    After joining TKO Group’s board of directors, The Rock confirmed the door is open for him to compete again.

    Cody Rhodes Doubts The Rock Will Interrupt His Story

    So, is Cody getting nervous yet?  Earlier this month, he told Barrasso that he plans to win the Royal Rumble and ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania.

    In a new interview with Bleacher Report‘s Mike Chiari, Rhodes says he plans on outlasting 29 other Superstars to become only the fourth man in history to win the Royal Rumble match twice. 

    Rhodes remains confident about the big picture, but admits anything can happen. Here’s what he said (transcribed by Mike Chiari)

    “You mentioned ‘The Great One’ The Rock.. nothing but respect for him. I went and saw Jungle Cruise. I’m a Rock fan.”

    Rhodes continued, “I don’t think he’s the type that would come in and meddle with a story that’s been being told over the past two years. I think he’s probably up to something else, but you never know with WWE. I’ll be watching just like everybody else when I’m not wrestling.”

    Rhodes’ comments could be a show of confidence or trying to cope with what may be happening. For now, WWE fans must let it play out and see how this ‘story’ ends. 

  • UFC Legend Says Seth Rollins “Dodged A Bullet” – MCL Injury Could’ve Been Much Worse

    WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins is looking on the bright side as his recent injury could’ve been much, much worse. 

    During the main event of last week’s Raw, Rollins retained against Jinder Mahal. The match had a big-fight feel, thanks in part to Tony Khan’s outburst about the booking of Mahal. Due to an injury, Mahal was seen limping and had to be helped to the back after the match. It was later confirmed that Rollins suffered a torn MCL and a meniscus injury. 

    Seth Rollins Dodged A Bullet

    On this week’s Raw, Rollins confirmed reports about his injury but valiantly vowed that he would defend the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Speaking to ESPN MMA with Daniel Cormier, Rollins addressed his gratitude given that his situation could’ve been much worse. 

    “Dodged a bullet, the ACL is intact, the MCL will heal with time, I’m hoping to be back at full strength in around a month, [that’s] my kinda timeline. We’re gonna take it day-to-day, I’d like to be back in a month, I don’t wanna walk into WrestleMania & that be my first match in 2/3 months, that’s not gonna be good for me.

    “I want be able to get back in there, test the wheels & make sure we’re in a good place so we’ll see how it goes. I’m happy we dodged a bullet & wasn’t anything too serious that was gonna put me on the shelf for 6-9 months.”

    On this week’s Raw, WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER confronted Rollins and expressed his genuine respect for the World Heavyweight Champion. The dominant Austrian also vowed to win this weekend’s Men’s Royal Rumble match and challenge Rollins at WrestleMania 40. 

    Rollins’ rival CM Punk has had some choice words for the World Heavyweight Champion… 

  • WWE’s Rumored WrestleMania Plans For Cody Rhodes Will Surprise Fans

    WWE’s Rumored WrestleMania Plans For Cody Rhodes Will Surprise Fans

    WWE’s Royal Rumble event is going down this Saturday, and the pro wrestling world can’t wait to see who is pointing at the WrestleMania sign by the end of the night. WARNING: This article may contain spoilers, and a bit of disappointment for the Nightmare Family.

    WWE’s Plan For Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania Main Event

    Many fans were shocked when Cody Rhodes failed to topple Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but there’s always next year, or is there? It appears that WWE has shifted things a bit, and Cody will keep telling his story without finishing it.

    After Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned during the Day 1 RAW episode on January 1st, the entire landscape for the grandest stage of them all changed. Where it was previously thought that Cody vs Roman is going to happen again, and the American Nightmare could finish his story, there has reportedly been a change of plans.

    WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For Cody Rhodes

    I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that a triple threat match for Cody vs Roman vs Rock is not happening. The WWE creative team was informed that point-blank last week. A new report is now removing Rhodes from the picture completely, because there is a new story to start for him.

    Sports Illustrated‘s Justin Barrasso reports that multiple sources have told him that Cody Rhodes will not finish his story at WrestleMania 40, and the main event match is not his. Instead, Rhodes will face CM Punk at Mania in a match that will also likely not give Punk what he wants, which is a legit WrestleMania main event.

    Multiple sources close to WWE Head of Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque have indicated that Rhodes will not headline this year’s event, nor will he “finish his story” at WrestleMania. But there is still a new chapter to write with a marquee matchup to be had… against CM Punk.

    Seth Rollins’ WWE WrestleMania Status

    Since CM Punk is reportedly slated to battle Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, that opens up another question about Seth Rollins. It was previously reported that Punk vs Rollins was the company’s plan for Mania.

    I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that WWE was still planning a match for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 despite his MCL injury. I was also told that, as of last night, WWE is still hopeful that Rollins will compete at Mania. “Rollins is still on for Mania at this moment,” was the exact wording given to me.

    Exclusive Insight On WWE’s Plans

    I was told in September that the winner for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match was in place, but nothing is set in stone with WWE until the final plans are made. Then, I asked again in December after CM Punk returned and declared his Rumble entry, and I was told once again that the plans for the winner have not changed. It was also confirmed to me that Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match hadn’t changed either.

    I asked again last week whether plans for the Royal Rumble match were changed, because a lot of things went down from December to late January, including The Rock’s return. This time, I received a different answer that to fulfill my query request would be to indicate a spoiler.

    Triple H only gets one go at booking his first road to WrestleMania without Vince McMahon’s controlling input. By all appearances, it will be an epic trip to the showcase of the immortals this year. Stay tuned, because January 27th will likely be a very big day for the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field. 

  • WWE Working To Introduce Stronger Realism In Their Television Product

    WWE saw a ton of changes in 2023, and 2024 has already been a banner year for adjustments, and we’re not even out of January yet. The company is taking extra care and focusing on some of the little things to pull everything together.

    Latest Changes To WWE Programming

    WWE is a scripted program, but they also realize that realism is important to really connect with today’s fan base. It appears that they are paying attention to some smaller details now to help boost that illusion.

    PW Insider noted that WWE is taking extra measures to make their programming come off as realistic. They are taking a “sports-centric” approach to elements on television now, and fans can already spot those signs if they know what to look for.

    We are told that the talk at Raw yesterday and at WWE HQ today is that the company will be incorporating some sports-centric elements into the programming. Cody Rhodes being interviewed on Raw “earlier today” complete with the clock listing the time was an example given of trying to root the product in stronger realism. We are told that interviews will reflect this as well.

    Changes For WWE Programming

    Two notable segments have captured attention on recent episodes of WWE Raw and SmackDown. One highlighted Chelsea Green and Piper Niven at a club, engaging with Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. The other, featured on SmackDown, brought focus to the dynamic between Butch/Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate, as they met in a coffee house setting.

    As we previously noted, both of those segments were credited to the fact that long-time WWE Executive Producer Kevin Dunn departed from the company. Now, WWE is trying out different things, and under Lee Fitting and Endeavor’s new vision, they are doing just that.

  • Kevin Patrick’s Replacement On WWE SmackDown Revealed

    Kevin Patrick’s Replacement On WWE SmackDown Revealed

    Kevin Patrick was just moved onto the SmackDown announce team a short time ago. That tenure did not last long, and now the Irish announcer is off that show. 

    Kevin Patrick’s Replacement

    I broke the news that Kevin Patrick is off the SmackDown announce team. Now, we know who will fill in for that role, if only in a temporary status. 

    Kevin Patrick was part of the WWE SmackDown commentary team alongside Corey Graves. This change for the blue brand will come into effect starting this week.

    PW Insider reports that Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be the new two-man team for SmackDown, but this might not be a long-term solution. The future of this change remains uncertain, leaving us to question whether it will be a long-term or short-term adjustment.

    Sources are telling PWInsiderElite.com that Michael Cole will call Smackdown on Friday, which makes sense since he will be in town for The Royal Rumble anyway. So, it will be Cole and Corey Graves.

    Kevin Patrick’s Time In WWE

    Kevin Patrick was on Raw from October 2022 before transitioning to Smackdown in 2023. Now, he is no longer on the blue brand. I reported last night that Patrick was removed from SmackDown.

    At this time, it is unknown if Kevin Patrick will take on a different role within WWE. He will no longer be heard on SmackDown.

  • John Cena: I’m 47 This Year, I’ll Retire Before I’m 50

    WWE icon John Cena has given the clearest image to date as to when his time in the ring will come to an end.

    Speculation over Cena’s retirement has continued to grow in recent years, especially with his matches for WWE becoming increasingly sporadic. Cena’s most recent match for WWE came at Crown Jewel 2023 and saw the 16-time WWE World Champion lose to Solo Sikoa.

    The End of John Cena’s Career 

    In addition to his lengthy tenure, Cena’s thriving Hollywood career has led many to believe his days in the ring are numbered. In an interview with ET Online to promote his new film Argylle, John spoke candidly about the end of his wrestling career.

    “I never wanted to go out there just for the sake of going out there. And I’m gonna be 47 this year. I feel great. So inside I feel great, but I know what it takes to be a WWE performer night in and night out and I don’t ever wanna just go out there and do it to do it. I wanna have the passion — the same passion as the fanbase — and I wanna give them exactly what they give me. The miles on the speedometer say, ‘Hey, that’s gotta be done before 50.’”

    Little is known about what plans WWE and Cena have (if any) regarding his retirement match. Mere weeks after his loss to Solo Sikoa, Cena underwent successful surgery on his arms. 

    Argylle will release in cinemas on February 2.

    Cena has an idea as to where his last match should happen… 

  • Booker T Wants In The 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match: “I’m In The Best Shape Of My Life!”

    Booker T Wants In The 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match: “I’m In The Best Shape Of My Life!”

    Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T is ready to lace up his boots one more time for this weekend’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. 

    The 2024 Royal Rumble event will take place this weekend from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The show will be the 37th annual Royal Rumble event and the seventh to feature a Men’s and Women’s match. On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker made his case for why he should be in the match. 

    “I’m in the best shape of my life, y’all. I’ve been training, I’ve been hitting the gym harder than I’ve ever hit it before. I’m serious, man. I’m serious on this. So if they need an extra man, if they need me to make that walk just one time going down in St. Petersburg, Florida, oh yeah, man. I will be ready, willing and able to get the job done, guys.”

    Booker went even further, saying he’s not taking any phone calls unless it has a 203 area code, the code for Stamford, CT, where WWE’s headquarters are located. The former World Champion added that he’ll already be in St. Petersburg for the show, as he’ll be part of the kick-off panel. 

    Booker T in the Royal Rumble Match

    After joining the WWF following the demise of WCW, Booker’s Rumble debut would come in the 2002 match. The ‘favorite’ Superstar of Mr. McMahon at the time, Booker entered at #30 but his time in the match would be woefully short-lived. Booker has appeared in a total of 9 Royal Rumble matches. He has a total of 11 eliminations to his name and has lasted in the match for a combined time of 42:57.

    WWE Royal Rumble 2024

    Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands:

    • Men’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Kofi Kingston, Damian Priest)
    • Women’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Ivy Nile)
    • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

    Who else should the WWE Universe expect during this week’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event… 

    H/T – Fightful

  • John Cena Knows Exactly Where He Wants His Final Match To Happen

    Details may still be sketchy as to what John Cena’s last match will look like, but if John has his way, this much-anticipated bout will take place overseas. 

    Much has been said about Cena’s potential retirement, with the 46-year-old Superstar being well aware that he is in the twilight years of his time in the ring. Following last year’s loss to Solo Sikoa, Cena teased that he’d wrestled his final match. More recently, however, John made it clear he’s open to wrestling one big final match for WWE.

    Where Will John Cena’s Last Match Be? 

    It’s unclear when exactly John Cena’s last match will happen, but plans are slowly coming together for him. Speaking on a recent edition of BBC’s The One Show, Cena spoke about his future in the ring, and would like for his final match to take place in the UK. 

    “Fans in the UK, WWE fans, they’re the best & fans in London specifically they will let you know how they feel & I don’t think I’ll be able to choose my opponent but if I could choose a venue it’d be the O2 in London.” 

    John Cena & The O2

    Cena made his return to WWE at the O2 Arena at Money in the Bank 2023 in July of last year. In front of a passionate crowd, Cena spoke about how important the UK crowd is and vowed to bring WrestleMania to London. Cena’s promo was interrupted by Grayson Waller, who after pitching WrestleMania in Australia, was laid out with an AA by Big Match John. 

    Cena has also competed in the O2 Arena several times. One of Cena’s more infamous matches in the venue saw him lose to Lord Tensai in an Extreme Rules match on an April 2012 episode of Raw.  

  • The Rock: There Is A Chance I Will Face Roman Reigns At WrestleMania

    Will The Rock lace up his boots and compete against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 this April? There’s a chance… 

    The Brahma Bull returned to WWE on the Day 1 episode of Raw and teased coming for Reigns’ spot as the Head of the Table. A match between the pair has been teased for years and was at one point locked in for WrestleMania 39. 

    There’s A Chance

    With The Rock’s tease on Raw, many are expecting the long-awaited showdown between himself and Reigns to take place at WrestleMania 40. During an appearance on Hot Take, The Rock, fresh off his appointment to TKO’s Board of Directors, was asked about the possibility of headlining WWE’s grandest stage against the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. 

    “I’m a long-gamer and I like to build.  Something like this, what this is [is potentially huge.] If… if myself and Roman Reigns were to main event WrestleMania, and I mean this very respectfully of all the WrestleManias prior, because I grew up in this business and I love it, we could possibly put on, with us as the main event and this incredible group of men and women who are these incredible performers,  we could possibly put on the greatest and the biggest WrestleMania of all time.”

    When a host sought to confirm if The Rock was saying there was a chance he would wrestle, the Brahma Bull didn’t reject the notion. 

    “There’s a chance… I love this business, I love pro wrestling, I love WWE. But I also have this deep passion to grow it and to build it. And if we’re going to do something like this, I want the world to watch.”

    The Rock has his sights set on Roman Reigns, but the Head of the Table isn’t sweating his cousin…

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

  • Finn Balor’s WWE Contract Is Set To Expire ‘Within a Few Months of WrestleMania’

    Finn Balor’s WWE Contract Is Set To Expire ‘Within a Few Months of WrestleMania’

    WWE’s roster has a few big contracts that are set to expire in 2024. Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Sheamus, and Drew McIntyre are just scratching the surface. Now, it has been confirmed that Finn Balor’s deal is set to end soon as well.

    Finn Balor’s WWE Contract Is Expiring

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that another WWE contract is approaching its expiration this year. Balor’s deal with WWE is set to expire, which confirms a previous report.

    On January 22nd, Wrestling Inc founder Raj Giri tweeted, “Finn Balor’s WWE contract is up after #WrestleMania. The word I’ve gotten is that he hasn’t been approached to renew yet.”

    Fightful was able to verify with sources close to Balor that his WWE contract will conclude this year. His deal is expected to end “not immediately after WrestleMania.”

    Fightful has confirmed with sources close to Balor that his WWE contract is up this year, but they claim it is “not immediately after WrestleMania,” instead saying it would be up within a few months of WrestleMania.

    WWE Contracts After TKO Merger

    The trend of WWE not initiating discussions about contract extensions has been observed for several wrestlers whose contracts are ending. There are several deals expiring soon, and it is interesting to see how WWE handles such a business move under new ownership.

    Finn Balor is currently 1/2 of the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions alongside Damian Priest. As an important part of the Judgment Day faction, it stands to reason that WWE would want to keep the first-ever Universal Champion around. 

  • Dwayne Johnson: Owning ‘The Rock’ Name Means So Much More to Me Than Business

    Dwayne Johnson’s excitement over having full ownership of the name ‘The Rock’ goes far deeper than the potential business prospects that this agreement provides. 

    Johnson was announced as the newest member of the TKO board of directors today, as part of a landmark agreement between the two sides. Johnson will serve on the board that will oversee decisions for TKO which consists of both WWE and UFC. TKO Group Holdings is owned by Endeavor. 

    Dwayne Johnson on Owning The Rock

    As part of his deal with TKO, Johnson now has full ownership of the name ‘The Rock’ which until now had been owned by WWE. During an appearance on CNBC, Johnson spoke about the deeper meaning to owning the name. 

    “There’s the business side of that, as we know. There’s the economics and the Math side of that. But also, it goes much deeper than that. And this idea, the name of The Rock, for me, I owe that name everything. Without that name, there would be no wrestling career.

    “There would be no Hollywood career. But also that name was a derivative of my dad Rocky Johnson who was one of the first Black tag-team champions in WWE. A trailblazer paved the way, a man of color. For a kid like me to be embraced in a bigger way when I came along [he was inspirational.]”

    Johnson made sure to credit Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, who was also on the show, for agreeing to give him the name and appointing him to the board. 

    “I want to acknowledge Ari [Emanuel] and give him his flowers because at the end of the day, he had a million reasons to say no but he found the reason to say yes. And the reason why is because he understood, as he told me face to face ‘This is your name and it comes from your family and that’s important to me.’ So family is very important to us.

    “The name ‘The Rock’, this is why it becomes invaluable. The street valuation of the name ‘The Rock’, it’s got some heft behind it. But more importantly than that, it’s something that I’ve earned, I built, and I owe so much to that wild lunatic called ‘The Rock’.

    “And by the way, and I told him this last night. The greatest benefit of now completely owning the name ‘The Rock’ [with] no gimmicks, no BS, across the board, full ownership [is] the name ‘The Rock’ years ago, really allowed me to be me, and that’s very special. Thank you Ari.”

    The Rock has his sights set on Roman Reigns, but the Head of the Table isn’t sweating his cousin… 

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

  • WWE’s Broadcast Deals: Where to Watch Raw, SmackDown & NXT From Now On

    WWE’s Broadcast Deals: Where to Watch Raw, SmackDown & NXT From Now On

    The landscape of WWE is set to change dramatically over the next 12 months following the announcement that Raw will be moving to Netflix in January 2025. 

    The streaming giant has paid $5,000,000,000 for a decade-long agreement with WWE to stream Raw on Netflix. Fans outside the United States will especially benefit from this deal. For those audiences, Netflix will also become the home of SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events including WrestleMania. WWE’s documentaries, original series, and upcoming projects will be accessible on Netflix internationally starting in 2025.

    WWE’s Broadcast Landscape

    Monday Night Raw won’t be the only WWE brand to be on a new home relative soon, as you can see in the chart below. Last year, it was announced that WWE NXT will begin airing on the CW Network this October. The news about NXT came about mere days after reports that the CW was going to bring the NWA to its broadcast programming. Instead, the NWA is now being featured on the CW app, with some believing that the controversial ‘cocaine’ spot from NWA Samhain ruined the company’s chances. 

    WWE SmackDown will also be moving to a new home this year. After five years on FOX Sports, the blue brand will move to the USA Network in October. Speculation had grown in early 2023 that SmackDown’s days on FOX were numbered when a 2023-2024 lineup shared by the network didn’t include the wrestling show. 

    For clarity, WWE’s broadcast plans look like this. 

  • Kazuchika Okada Believed to Be WWE-Bound, Potentially Starting In NXT

    Kazuchika Okada Believed to Be WWE-Bound, Potentially Starting In NXT

    Kazuchika Okada is believed to be heading to WWE once his contract expires with New Japan Pro Wrestling, it has been reported. 

    Last week, it was confirmed that Okada’s contract will expire this month. Despite this, Okada will work the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Once these are finished, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will be a completely free agent. 

    Heading to WWE

    Given his talents, it’s no surprise that both AEW and WWE are interested in bringing Okada on board. While the Rainmaker has a history with AEW, a source from Monthly Puroresu reported this week that it looks like Okada will be signing with WWE when he can. 

    “Although we’re unable to verify with The Rainmaker himself, one source close to NJPW’s top talent has indicated to Monthly Puroresu that it appears Kazuchika Okada is WWE bound, potentially starting in NXT first.”

    Okada has reportedly always dreamed of competing at WrestleMania, an aspiration that those in WWE, including CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, are well aware of. The Game and NXT head Shawn Michaels have shown “significant interest” in bringing Okada on board. 

    The belief is that should a match happen, AJ Styles or Finn Balor would be the right opponents for Okada’s WrestleMania match. Both men have pre-existing relationships with Okada thanks to their respective NJPW runs. Okada recently spoke about not wanting to rest on his laurels by remaining in New Japan. 

    Okada has something big in mind before he hangs up his boots for good… 

  • How Much Money WWE is Making With RAW Netflix Deal

    How Much Money WWE is Making With RAW Netflix Deal

    WWE had several options for RAW’s next home, including Warner Brothers Discovery, FX, and even Amazon Prime. Then Netflix landed the deal, seemingly coming out of nowhere. They have a ton of money to throw around, and the streaming giant is paying big for WWE programming.

    WWE RAW’s Blockbuster Announcement

    WWE RAW is set to join Netflix in January 2025. The exclusive hosting of RAW on Netflix will begin in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Latin America, with additional territories being added gradually.

    As part of this agreement, Netflix will become the platform for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S., encompassing RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and Premium Live Events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble. Furthermore, WWE’s documentaries, original series, and forthcoming projects will be made available on Netflix internationally starting in 2025.

    WWE Making Huge Money With Netflix RAW Deal

    WWE is making a ton of money with their new Netflix deal, and they were already raking in tons of cash with their current contract. The company’s existing five-year agreement with the USA Network is estimated to be worth around $250-260 million per year.

    According to Deadline, an individual with knowledge of the terms mentioned that the agreement spans ten years and exceeds $5 billion.

    Variety reported that sources indicated that the deal is valued at a minimum of $500 million annually and is believed to have a duration of 10 years.

    Netflix Subscription Info

    In terms of subscription pricing, Netflix offers various plans with different monthly costs. The Standard with Ads plan is priced at $6.99, with no additional charge for an extra member. The Standard plan, without ads, comes at a monthly cost of $15.49. If an extra member is added, there is an extra charge of $7.99, resulting in a total of $23.48 for one additional member.

    The Premium plan, with a monthly fee of $22.99, includes advanced features. Adding an extra member incurs a $7.99 charge, bringing the total to $30.98 for one extra member. Opting for two additional members increases the total cost to $38.97.

    Netflix’s global paid subscriber base has surpassed 247.15 million as of Q3 2023, reflecting a notable increase of 8.76 million subscribers from the previous quarter. This positive trend indicates a robust recovery following the loss of 1.17 million subscribers in the first half of 2022.

  • Cody Rhodes Picks Two AEW Stars To Jump Ship To WWE

    Cody Rhodes Picks Two AEW Stars To Jump Ship To WWE

    WWE superstar Cody Rhodes recently named two AEW stars who he believes should join WWE.

    ‘The American Nightmare’ has been on the top of his game ever since he left AEW and decided to return to WWE in 2022. He went on to win the Royal Rumble and main-event last year’s WrestleMania. 

    Cody is one of the examples who came back years later as a huge star. While the WWE roster is stacked with a plethora of talents, Cody has picked some names that he would like to see join WWE in the future.

    Cody Rhodes names Ricky Starks and Wardlow

    Rhodes and Starks have a good friendship outside the ring and Starks has been spotted backstage in WWE supporting Rhodes.

    During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Cody Rhodes revealed that he wants ‘The Absolute One’ to jump ship to WWE.

    “My buddy Ricky Starks. I know he’s under contract so that’s not happening – but it’d be cool to see.”

    In addition to this, the former AEW star named Wardlow, who had been speculated to join WWE in the past. Rhodes believes that Wardlow will fit well in the heavyweight-dominated WWE locker room. 

    “Wardlow is one I’d like to see cross over if he ever wanted to.” Rhodes continues. “There’s a lot of beef in the WWE locker room; it’s a heavyweight locker room. It’s hard when you think you’re big and jacked, then you stand across the ring from Drew McIntyre and you find out ‘Oh, maybe not’. Wardlow is somebody I feel could fit into that role really well.

    “It seems like we’re in this day where we’re doing so well everyone wants to be part of it, and the more the merrier. I’m happy with anyone who wants to make the leap and be part of this team.”

    2K recently announced that Cody Rhodes will be the cover Superstar for the regular version of the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. ‘The American Nightmare’ recently went face to face with CM Punk in an epic promo battle on this week’s Monday Night Raw. Cody and Punk are among the several talented superstars who are aiming to win the coveted Royal Rumble match and earn a title shot at WrestleMania 40.

  • WWE RAW Moves To Netflix Next Year In 10-Year, $5 Billion Deal

    WWE RAW Moves To Netflix Next Year In 10-Year, $5 Billion Deal

    WWE was involved in intense television rights talks throughout 2023, and while 2/3 of their deals closed, RAW remained a big mystery. Now, we know what is to come for the red brand, and it’s going behind one of the largest paywalls online.

    WWE RAW is Moving to Netflix

    The company sent out a media blast today to announce that, starting in January 2025, Netflix will exclusively host Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Latin America, with more territories to follow over time.

    Under this agreement, Netflix will also be the destination for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S., including Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and Premium Live Events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble. Additionally, WWE’s documentaries, original series, and upcoming projects will be accessible on Netflix internationally starting in 2025.

    Other Suitors For WWE RAW

    WWE landing a deal with Netflix is quite surprising. There were other potential partners in the mix.

    Amazon Prime and FX were also in the running. Rumors about Warner Brothers Discovery wanting the red brand were also rampant. That was incredibly interesting, considering AEW’s place on that network.

    In recent weeks, WBD has been giving AEW more love, while crediting them for success in press releases, so the thought was that they were no longer on the table for RAW. Now, Netflix has swooped in as the winner, surprising everyone in the process, because their name wasn’t a part of any report or commentator’s breakdown of the situation.

    WWE’s Other Media Rights Deals

    WWE NXT will go to The CW in October 2024, and SmackDown is going to the USA Network. Those two moves will see fans tune into a more traditional viewing platform. Those watching RAW will need to pay a monthly subscription fee. 

    How Many Subscribers Netflix Has

    Netflix has a global paid subscriber base exceeding 247.15 million as of Q3 2023. This marks an uptick of 8.76 million subscribers from the previous quarter, showcasing a solid recovery following the loss of 1.17 million subscribers in the first half of 2022.

    How Much Is A Netflix Subscription?

    Netflix provides different subscription plans with varying monthly prices. The Standard with Ads plan is available at $6.99, with no extra charge for an additional member. The Standard plan, without ads, is priced at $15.49 per month. Adding an extra member incurs an additional charge of $7.99, resulting in a total of $23.48 for one extra member.

    The Premium plan, costing $22.99 per month, includes advanced features. Adding an extra member comes with a $7.99 charge, making the total $30.98 for one extra member. Opting for two extra members increases the total cost to $38.97.

  • The Rock Appointed To TKO Group Holdings Board Of Directors

    The Rock Appointed To TKO Group Holdings Board Of Directors

    Dwayne Johnson is a shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer as The Rock, but the world outside pro wrestling also knows his name well. Now, he is taking a seat on TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors.

    TKO Makes Big Announcement About The Rock

    In a press release that was sent out on the morning of January 23rd, it was announced that The Rock has been appointed to TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors.

    Johnson is a highly accomplished WWE Superstar, and he had a huge hand in the company’s history already. Now, the globally renowned Hollywood megastar will bring that electricity to the Board.

    Vince McMahon, Executive Chairman of the Board at TKO, stated, “Very few people on the planet understand the convergence of sports, entertainment, media, and business like Rock. We are proud to have him join the TKO board to help take our company to new heights.”

    The Rock also spoke about this new role. He is very excited to get things going. Johnson was also very candid in saying that he never thought this day would come for him. Now, he is in a position where his decisions can directly change the face of the company that is responsible for making him a household name.

    “My grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, would’ve never thought this day would come. Which is why I’m very humbled to have a seat at the table that has decades of history and family legacy for me. A table that my family helped to build. Being on the TKO Board of Directors, and taking full ownership of my name, ‘The Rock’, is not only unprecedented, but incredibly inspiring as my crazy life is coming full circle.”

    “At my core, I’m a builder who builds for and serves the people, and Ari is building something truly game changing. I’m very motivated to help continue to globally expand our TKO, WWE, and UFC businesses as the worldwide leaders in sports and entertainment — while proudly representing so many phenomenal athletes and performers who show up every day putting in the hard work with their own two hands to make their dreams come true and deliver for our audiences. I’ve been there, I’m still there and this is for them.”

    The Rock’s Previous Business Experience

    With a broad business portfolio including Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila, ZOA Energy, Project Rock, and the recently merged spring football league, the United Football League (UFL), Dwayne Johnson has established an expertise in identifying and fostering revenue-generating opportunities in media rights, live events, sponsorship, licensing, and social media. He is one of the most-followed men on the planet on social media as well.

    Johnson’s appointment also illustrates TKO’s dedication to delivering long-term value and performance for shareholders through strategic growth initiatives across both UFC and WWE. His name on the board will definitely attract attention.

    The Rock recently returned to WWE television during the Day 1 edition of RAW on January 1st. During that appearance, he dropped a blatant tease that he may want that match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania this year. With this new appointment, Johnson is certainly in a position to make some big decisions.

    TKO Adds Another Board Member

    Brad Keywell was also announced as a new member of the TKO Group Holdings Board of Directors. The company sent out a separate press release to reveal this news.

    Keywell, who earned his Juris Doctorate with Honors from the University of Michigan Law School, is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive knowledge in technology and artificial intelligence. He will bring valuable experience in innovation and industry disruption to the Board.

    He has played a key role in co-founding and leading various companies, including Groupon, Echo Global Logistics, MediaOcean, and Uptake Technologies, where he currently serves as Founder and Executive Chairman. Recognized as the 2019 EY World Entrepreneur of the Year, he is only the third US entrepreneur to receive this global honor. 

  • Kevin Patrick Out as WWE SmackDown Commentator, Source: “It Just Wasn’t Working”

    Kevin Patrick Out as WWE SmackDown Commentator, Source: “It Just Wasn’t Working”

    Kevin Patrick’s days as a commentator on Friday Night SmackDown are coming to an end, SE Scoops can reveal. 

    Our very own Aaron Varble reports that SmackDown is set to undergo a change that will see Patrick removed from the commentary table. At this time, no replacement has been announced for Patrick, who has been calling the action alongside his After the Bell podcast co-host Corey Graves. When asked for the reason behind the change, the WWE source simply stated “it just wasn’t working out.”

    Kevin Patrick in WWE

    Ahead of the first SmackDown of 2024, Michael Cole was moved off the SmackDown commentary table, leaving Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves as the two announcers of the blue brand. Cole, a veteran of WWE for close to 30 years, is now solely working on Monday Night Raw, where he calls the action alongside Wade Barrett.

    It was reported earlier this month that Patrick’s performance was being monitored closely by WWE higher-ups. The belief backstage at the time was that Patrick would need to prove he could handle the role as SmackDown’s play-by-play commentator.

    Kevin Patrick

    Before coming to the U.S., Patrick studied journalism at Griffith College Dublin, and worked as part of the RTÉ Sport team covering the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. In 2009, Patrick left Ireland for the U.S. and has worked for CNN in the past. He has also worked for FOX Sports and was the commentator for Atlanta United home games on Apple TV+. 

    Kevin Patrick isn’t the only notable member of his family. His father Liam was an All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer. While Kevin played for Raheny GAA, an injury would cut his athletics career short.

  • WWE Removes Kevin Patrick From SmackDown Announce Team

    WWE Removes Kevin Patrick From SmackDown Announce Team

    WWE’s commentary team has a very important job to make sure the action is called in the ring. It is also a difficult assignment, because fans can be very critical of the people in those roles. Although Kevin Patrick gave his all, fans didn’t seem to connect with the Irish announcer as much, and now he has lost his spot on television. 

    Kevin Patrick Is Gone From SmackDown (Exclusive) 

    Kevin Patrick was on Raw from October 2022 before transitioning to Smackdown in 2023. Now, he is no longer on the blue brand. I reported last night that Patrick was removed from SmackDown.

    A tenured member of the WWE team contacted me during RAW this week. They had a very interesting note about a change for the company’s other main roster show. After some digging, I was able to confirm this change.

    While a permanent replacement hasn’t been determined yet, the reason given is that it just wasn’t working out. Now, Patrick is off the blue brand.

    SmackDown set for a change.

    Kevin Patrick is out.

    No replacement named yet.

    Reason I was given: “It just wasn’t working out.”

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed my previous report. Kevin Patrick is gone from his SmackDown gig, but a replacement has not been determined yet. It was also noted that this move wasn’t a big surprise.

    “Kevin Patrick’s gone, unless something changes. I don’t know details. I don’t know who’s gonna be replacing him. I’m not surprised.”

    Who is Kevin Patrick?

    Kevin is from Raheny in North Dublin, and he pursued journalism studies at Griffith College Dublin. In 2004, he worked as a runner for RTÉ Sport during the Summer Olympics.

    After making the move to the United States in 2009. he worked for CNN and served as the commentator for Atlanta United home games on Apple TV+. Then he got his break in WWE in 2021.

    What’s Next

    Although Kevin Patrick is no longer with the SmackDown brand, I have not been able to confirm whether he is still with WWE. I was additionally told, “Nothing is 100 percent. People get fired and hired back the next day.”

    We will have to see what is next for Kevin Patrick in WWE, but he is not a voice on SmackDown anymore. Corey Graves is still on the show as color commentator, but they will need a new play-by-play voice.

  • Cody Rhodes: I Actually Did What CM Punk Claimed He’d Do In the Pipebomb

    Cody Rhodes: I Actually Did What CM Punk Claimed He’d Do In the Pipebomb

    CM Punk and Cody Rhodes didn’t disappoint with their war of words during the January 22, 2023, edition of Monday Night Raw. 

    On this week’s Raw, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes came face-to-face in a meeting of WWE’s two most-popular Superstars. Punk kicked things off by bringing up Dusty Rhodes and recalled the late Hall of Famer asking Punk to watch over a young Cody in OVW in 2007. Punk added he was proud of Rhodes for becoming a big superstar in recent years. 

    Punk then spoke of this weekend’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, and said he plans on breaking his promise to Dusty (by not watching over Cody and winning the match.) Punk even claimed he’d single out Cody in the match. Punk went even further when he said that his dad was an electrician, before saying that he is more of the American Dream than Cody is.

    Rhodes Retorts

    Not to be outdone, Cody fired right back at the Best in the World and brought up Punk’s infamous 2011 pipebomb. Rhodes gave Punk props, saying his words inspired countless wrestlers competing today, including himself.  

    Rhodes then brought up Punk’s 2014 walkout and pointed out that for all his claims during the pipebomb, Punk didn’t do any of them. CM Punk teased joining New Japan Pro Wrestling or returning to Ring of Honor during the 2011 Pipebomb, but did neither. Cody also mentioned that he went to the places Punk claimed he’d go. 

    This isn’t all Cody Rhodes has had to say about the Best in the World…