SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Kevin Patrick Needs to Prove He Can Be SmackDown’s Play-by-Play Commentator

    Kevin Patrick Needs to Prove He Can Be SmackDown’s Play-by-Play Commentator

    WWE SmackDown commentator Kevin Patrick now has arguably the most important role of his career, but the pressure is on to prove he belongs. 

    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.

    Updated Raw and SmackDown Commentary Teams

    • Raw: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
    • SmackDown: Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves

    Backstage Reception to Kevin Patrick

    With Cole gone, Patrick is now in the lofty position of being the lead play-by-play announcer for one of the most-watched wrestling shows on the planet. There are individuals within WWE who are closely monitoring Kevin Patrick’s performance, PW Insider reports. 

    There is a general belief within WWE that Patrick needs to demonstrate his abilities and make a strong impression in his new role to solidify his position on Fridays.

    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. 

  • Magnum TA Praises CM Punk: He Treated Me Like Babe Ruth

    Magnum TA Praises CM Punk: He Treated Me Like Babe Ruth

    CM Punk has earned the respect of two wrestling legends in Magnum TA and Greg Gagne.

    The AWA veteran and NWA veteran have teamed up for a new podcast “Gagne & Magnum” as the two will look at the legends of yesteryear, the modern wrestling product and the details behind their PowerTown Wrestling figures line.

    On the debut episode of the show, Magnum and Gagne were asked about the current state of WWE and it was Gagne who first mentioned his initial interaction with CM Punk back when both were working in Ohio Valley Wrestling.

    Gagne mentioned that Punk expressed his frustration at not getting a call-up from WWE and Gagne noted that before Punk went out to do an interview, Gagne told him to go out and speak his mind.

    “I said, go on your interview and tell them how you really feel about the WWE and Vince McMahon.”

    Not long after, Punk entered the WWE fold as a member of ECW.

    “CM Punk is a great guy. Great guy. He really is. You know, he learned to believe in himself, believe in what he had to say, believe in his talent, and he’s just being himself. And that’s what the people really want. They want to see somebody who’s really that character they see in the ring is really him and he’s done a fantastic job portraying that to the people. You don’t have to be the big muscle man, the great big guy in the ring…”

    Magnum TA On The Respect CM Punk Has For The Legends

    Magnum TA also had some brief interaction with CM Punk back when he was in AEW and Punk basically rolled out the red carpet for Magnum.

    “He came up to me and treated me like like I was Babe Ruth. I mean, he was so kind, respectful, you know, truly made me feel like he was grateful for some of the bricks I laid in the road that he got to go down. And he even gave me a shout out on his Instagram.”

    While in AEW, CM Punk was certain to tip the cap to several legends of yesteryear, particularly Terry Funk when he passed away back in August. Punk even attended Terry Funk’s funeral down in Amarillo, TX.

    Episode One of “Gagne & Magnum,” which is hosted by SEScoops correspondent, Dominic DeAngelo and is now available everywhere. The show puts the spotlight on the late great Kerry Von Erich.

    Please credit SEScoops for the transcription.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4c9_a5EzdU

  • Bo Dallas’ WWE Contract Unaffected Despite Uncle Howdy’s Sudden Indefinite Absence

    Bo Dallas’ WWE Contract Unaffected Despite Uncle Howdy’s Sudden Indefinite Absence

    Bray Wyatt’s passing didn’t just rob the world of a great man, but so many mind-blowing creative moments also never came to pass. Wyatt was deep into an angle with his real-life brother, Bo Dallas under that Uncle Howdy mask, but even after Wyatt’s passing, Dallas is still with the company.

    Bo Dallas’ WWE Status Revealed

    When Bray Wyatt faced health problems last year, WWE removed him and his brother Bo Dallas from television. Initially, there was hope for their return together after Wyatt’s recovery. Sadly, this expectation was shattered when Wyatt passed away at 36 due to a heart attack during sleep.

    PW Insider Elite has now confirmed that, despite being inactive, Dallas remains an employee of the company. He is still on their payroll, even though he is not booked in a current television storyline.

    Bo Dallas had a 13-year run with WWE, ending in an April 2021 release due to budgetary cuts. His last in-ring appearance was in November 2019. Initially, WWE cited a lack of creative plans for his absence.

    However, Dallas later revealed a broken neck, leading to his hiatus for recovery. His unexpected return in 2022 as Uncle Howdy surprised many fans.

    While unconfirmed, it is reported that internal speculation suggests Wyatt, who had recently returned to WWE at the time, might have influenced Dallas’s re-hiring. Sadly, Howdy and Wyatt never had much time together in the ring.

    Who is Bo Dallas?

    Bo Dallas’ real name is Taylor Michael Rotunda. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, who wrestled as IRS, and the brother of Windham Rotunda, who we all knew as Bray Wyatt. That family connection continued until the end, as their Uncle Howdy storyline never had a chance to really play out as they envisioned it.

    Dallas is still under WWE contract, but it’s unknown whether WWE will ever use the Uncle Howdy character again. I asked a couple of months ago when this rumor first surfaced, and I was told by multiple members of the creative team that, at the time, there is and was no talk of bringing Uncle Howdy back.

    WWE Is Taking Care of Bray Wyatt’s Family

    WWE has taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family since his passing. JoJo Offerman is receiving 100% of the proceeds from all of his merchandise that they sell. The company made this declaration shortly after news of his passing broke.

    Wyatt was also put under a Legends Contract to ensure that the company will continue providing for his family for a very long time to come.

    Our thoughts are still with JoJo Offerman, Bray’s children, and his family. He is gone, but his name will live on forever. 

  • Will Ospreay Confirms He Turned Down WWE Deal To Sign With AEW

    Will Ospreay Confirms He Turned Down WWE Deal To Sign With AEW

    Will Ospreay was revealed as AEW’s big signing at Full Gear. That did not mean he could jump straight into AEW’s storylines, because The Aerial Assassin needed to wrap things up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling first. Although he picked AEW, WWE was very much a contender for his services.

    Will Ospreay Confirms WWE Offer Was Real

    Will Ospreay is set to compete in his final NJPW match on February 11th before making the move to AEW. Despite receiving an offer from WWE, Ospreay has clarified his decision to join AEW.

    In an interview with Gamespot, Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE but emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

    “I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

    Will Ospreay Speaks on Future AEW Matchups

    With many available options and potential opponents in AEW, Will Ospreay shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for him as he prepares to engage with a new roster.

    While Ospreay has thrived in Japan, the pro wrestling landscape is always changing; this is something he is all too familiar with as the 30-year-old former World Champion helped blaze a trail others area already walking on. 

    Ospreay already got this hands dirty in AEW with a match against Chris Jericho, and now he can’t wait to see what awaits him. Obviously, he is looking for a top spot, and he isn’t afraid to share his championship intentions.

    “There’s something for me to climb, there’s something for me to build upon. That first match with Chris Jericho, who is one of the biggest wrestling stars in the world, was probably the biggest star in the company at that time. I want to progress from that.”

    “I want to see what other bucket [list items] I can tick. I want to go for championships. I want to go for world titles. I want to see what I can actually do because I’ve never been put in these situations. New Japan is a sports-based wrestling product, it isn’t really known for its on-screen personalities. So this is all new for me and I just want to test myself. I want to try my very best to swim in waters I’m not very sure of, so for me, this is all a challenge.”

    Will Ospreay Almost Ended Up In America Years Ago

    Will Ospreay’s latest deal in the wrestling world represents a significant move, as he finally signed with a North American pro wrestling company. That was not for lack of trying.

    Paul Heyman offered Ospreay an EVOLVE contract 7 years ago during a Q&A where he just so happened to be in the front row. That contract was offered on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky, whom Heyman was simply delivering a message for in his own way.

    Although Ospreay didn’t end up becoming a regular in EVOLVE, we can only imagine how much different the pro wrestling world would be today if he accepted it. Now, he can apply his trade in North America as an All Elite star.

  • Lee Fitting Replaces Kevin Dunn As WWE Head Of Production

    Lee Fitting Replaces Kevin Dunn As WWE Head Of Production

    WWE is making sure it’s media and production team is getting new leadership in 2024. The company announced on January 9 that Lee Fitting will now be the new Head Of Media & Production. The company made the announcement via a press release, praising Fitting as a “media industry veteran.”

    STAMFORD, Conn., January 9, 2024 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that media industry veteran Lee Fitting has joined the company this week as Head of Media & Production. 

    “Lee is a phenomenal leader and executive known for work that generates both critical acclaim and mass appeal,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “Lee will be a tremendous addition to our stellar media and production team and play a key role in helping catapult WWE’s growth.”

    Fitting brings more than two decades of production experience to WWE from ESPN, where he oversaw production for tentpole properties including Monday Night Football, College GameDay, the College Football Playoff, and many other properties within the Disney portfolio. 

    Distributed in 25 languages across 165 countries, WWE delivers new and live programming to fans 52 weeks a year. Its flagship shows, including Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and NXT; Premium Live Events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble; and award-winning slate of original programs reach more than one billion homes globally.

    Fitting steps into a new role as long-time production executive Kevin Dunn leaves his old one.  Dunn served as the head of WWE Production for years, but made his voluntary leave as 2023 came to a close.

  • Backlash in WWE As “Outsider” is Hired to Replace Kevin Dunn

    Backlash in WWE As “Outsider” is Hired to Replace Kevin Dunn

    There have been mixed feelings for the person chosen to replace Kevin Dunn as WWE’s Head of Media and Production. 

    Dunn left WWE last month, ending his lengthy tenure that began before the first WrestleMania event. Dunn was said to be unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives and preferred his previous hands-on approach to production oversight.

    Internal Backlash to Kevin Dunn’s Replacement

    With Dunn gone, WWE has brought in Lee Fitting as the new Head of Media and Production. This has earned some backlash from those within WWE, PW Insider reports. Some have expressed discontent with an “outsider” assuming a leadership role. Executive Vice President of Television Chris Kaiser and Lighting/Set Director Jason Robinson are being touted as worthy internal candidates who could have replaced Dunn. There are also concerns that Fitting could bring in external personnel of his own, potentially affecting WWE staff. 

    Not everyone is so against WWE’s new Head of Media and Production. Some have adopted a wait-and-see approach to see how Fitting takes to his new role. 

    Who is Lee Fitting? 

    Fitting joins WWE from ESPN where he spent 25 years overseeing production on shows such as Monday Night Football, College GameDay, and the College Football Playoff. In a statement issued this week, WWE President Nick Khan described Lee as a “tremendous addition to our stellar media and production team and play a key role in helping catapult WWE’s growth.”

    WWE was hoping to keep Dunn around for longer than he planned… 

  • Omos Unveils the Shift in His Training Journey from Basketball to Pro Wrestling

    Omos Unveils the Shift in His Training Journey from Basketball to Pro Wrestling

    WWE Superstar Omos recently talked about the changes to his workout regime which he has implemented over the years. 

    Standing 7 feet and 3 inches tall, and weighing 416 pounds, Omos remains to be one of the giants in the company. For those who are unaware, he played college basketball, before signing with WWE in January 2019. He is a former RAW Tag Team Champion with AJ Styles and has competed in three WrestleMania events. Well, he has improved over the years and continues to maintain a good shape.

    Omos outlines how his pro wrestling workout regime is different from Basketball days

    ‘The Nigerian Giant’ recently joined in for a conversation with Men’s Health magazine and said that he kept his weight at around 315 pounds for college basketball. However, he reached over 400 pounds while continuing his pro wrestling career. In addition to this, he revealed trains his whole body with dedicated weekly workouts. 

    The 29-year-old said that there are particular training difficulties “as a giant,” entailing more concentrated mobility work and the replacement of barbell exercises with machine workouts. To appear his best in the ring, the Nigerian Giant is also committed to expanding the size of his thighs.

    Omos claimed that he started working out at the age of 14, concentrating on developing his quickness and agility for basketball. Omos has added more power-building exercises to his wrestling routines, but he still incorporates some of those ideas. He disclosed that his main workout objective was to look nice in the ring.

    “In basketball, I always had to cut weight, and for what I do know, I also have to look jacked and look good for what I need to do in the ring,” he said.

    Omos last competed at SummerSlam 2023, where he participated in the Slim Jim SummerSlam Battle Royal, which was won by LA Knight. 

  • Dana White acknowledges the backlash surrounding CM Punk’s UFC pay

    Dana White acknowledges the backlash surrounding CM Punk’s UFC pay

    When CM Punk made his UFC debut, MMA fans and fighters were split on him competing for the company. Some have thought he deserved praise for attempting the sport, while others criticized UFC for giving Punk an opportunity. It seems the WWE superstar salary also caused fighters to be outraged. 

    The company is currently involved in an antitrust lawsuit, which has led to a deposition from UFC President Dana White to the public. It was also revealed that Punk got paid over $1 million for his debut fight against Mickey Gall at UFC 203 on September 10, 2016. When it was revealed how much Punk was getting paid, it created a backlash from other UFC fighters. 

    White acknowledges the backlash

    MMA Fighting’s Steven Marrocco was able to look at the document with White’s comments on the issue. The UFC President shared that fighters in the company speak among their peers about what they are making. This leads to fighters being upset with how pay is being distributed. 

    One of the examples he brought up was that UFC fighters were unhappy that Punk received over $1 million for his first professional fight. 

    Marrocco transcribed the following quote. 

    “…We had some guy that was — that was paid a certain amount of money and never — oh, the professional wrestler that we brought in. Not Brock [Lesnar], the other one,” said White. 

    When the attorney handling the case replied with Punk’s name, the UFC President confirmed he was referring to him. 

    White added, “People went crazy when they saw what he got paid. … Even the women.”

    How much did CM Punk make fighting for UFC?

    Punk’s base salary for the time he was competing in the UFC was $500 thousand. It made him among the most-paid fighters on the UFC roster at the time.  

    However, he received more money for his fight with Gall due to other agreements in his contract. For example, if a pay-per-view he was a part of had over 200,000 buys, he would get an increase in his salary. UFC 203 had over 400,000 buys, which was part of fans’ interest in his fight with Gall. This is one of the ways he crossed over $1 million for his pro debut. 

    Although Punk wouldn’t stay with the UFC for too long, he made significant money for his time. Currently, his focus is back on wrestling, as he hopes to win the 2024 WWE Men’s Royal Rumble Match and the main event of WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. 

  • Ex WWE Superstar Proclaims They Are Not Leaving TNA Wrestling

    Ex WWE Superstar Proclaims They Are Not Leaving TNA Wrestling

    TNA Wrestling’s rebranding has brought several alterations already, with new title belt designs and much more. There have also been some notable departures from the roster. Contrary to those exits, one familiar face is not leaving.

    Dirty Dango Isn’t Leaving TNA Wrestling

    Dirty Dango (formerly Fandango from WWE), has opted to remain with TNA Wrestling amid its transition. The shift back to the TNA Wrestling branding coincides with the upcoming TNA Hard To Kill event scheduled for January 13th.

    While speaking on the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, Dirty Dango was quite frank about his intentions. He plans to stay with TNA Wrestling as they rebrand themselves into the future. 

    I signed a year deal (with IMPACT), January of 2023? I think it was. So about a year ago, I signed a year deal and I just signed another (audio lag) contract which will be up.

    I just kind of told myself I’d wrestle until I’m 40 and then I was probably gonna ease up a bit but, like I tell everybody, it’s what I’ve done my whole life. I don’t know how to not be a wrestler and just being at TNA has made me really fall back in love with wrestling. There’s so many great guys, girls there.

    Just walking in the locker room there, it felt like a reunion because I’ve known everybody for years and I worked for TNA back in ‘03 so there’s some faces I’ve known for 20 years… The Johnny Swingers and I remember running into Scott D’Amore 20 years ago and great guys like (Alex) Shelley and Rhino, Tommy Dreamer and it’s one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever been in so, sometimes you go into a locker room, you don’t really know anybody and it’s not that much fun and this is one of those locker rooms you love flying out to and kind of catching up with everybody.

    Dirty Dango’s WWE Exit

    Having initially signed a one-year deal in January 2023, Dirty Dango expressed his commitment to TNA Wrestling and the renewed passion for wrestling, something he credits to his time with TNA Wrestling. He once had a home in WWE for nearly a decade, but that didn’t last forever.

    Fandango, who was known as Johnny Curtis prior to entering WWE, made his debut for Vince McMahon’s company as Fandango in 2013. One of the notable moments in his WWE career was his victory over Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 29 in April 2013, which marked his big opening night with the company. 

    Fandango’s character was known for his unique dance gimmick, and he often competed in various matches on WWE television and live events. He later teamed up with Tyler Breeze to form Breezango. Their Fashion Files segments were also a fan favorite for a long stint, but sadly, the team was disbanded when WWE released them on June 25, 2021.

  • Oba Femi Becomes New NXT North American Champion After Cashing-In Breakout Tournament Contract

    NXT Breakout Tournament winner Oba Femi stole the spotlight in an epic fashion by becoming the new NXT North American Champion last night.

    Last night, fans were left stunned when Femi cashed in his breakout tournament contract on Dragon Lee to secure the gold. 

    Femi, who is a former track & field athlete at Alabama, was part of WWE’s NIL program in 2021 and 2022. He officially signed with the company in August 2022 and made his debut in November 2022 on NXT Level Up. The promising talent Oba Femi has been on a metoric rise and recently won the NXT Breakout tournament to earn a shot at any title in NXT. His NXT North American title win came as a major surprise on the latest edition of show.

    Oba Femi captures NXT North American title

    Dragon Lee couldn’t make it to last week’s NXT due to Visa issues. However, he made his return last night and put his NXT North American Championship on the line. Earlier on the show, Lexis King stepped up to the champ and had him sign a contract for the title match. 

    Dragon Lee went on to successfully retain his title. However, in a shocking turn of events, Femi cashed in his Breakout Tournament Contract on Lee. In the final moments of the match, the Nigerian superstar hit his own version of Last Ride powerbomb on Lee to earn the three count, dethroning Lee in the process.

    It might come as a surprise that Femi is a champion on WWE’s developmental brand after having just 21 career matches as per Cagematch. The title match marked his sixth match on NXT, where he remains undefeated at 6-0.

    It appears that the title victory may be a sign from WWE that they are grooming him to be a huge star in the future.

  • WWE’s Post-9/11 SmackDown Was Tough But Brought the Roster Closer Than Ever

    Shawn Stasiak was honored to be a part of the first SmackDown after the September 11 attack in 2001, a role he did not take lightly. 

    The September 13, 2001, edition of SmackDown was the largest gathering on U.S. soil following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. The show featured several tributes from wrestlers and on-screen personalities as well as a heartfelt rendition of America the Beautiful by then-ring announcer Lilian Garcia to open the show. 

    Shawn Stasiak on WWE’s Post-9/11 SmackDown

    During the September 13, SmackDown, Stasiak, a comedy goofball on-screen worked with The Rock, whom he had a mini-feud with at the time. Speaking to Sportskeeda this week, Stasiak reflected on the show and being able to be a sense of relief at a dark time in American history. 

    “I got to work with The Rock and also I got to play a character role that was, yes the comical relief of the show, maybe I wasn’t crazy about it. But to be part of that special night, to be able to put smiles on faces, to be able to make people laugh for a moment during my segment. I did my job. I did my part. I played my role.”

    Stasiak, like many in the States, learned of the attack on that fateful Tuesday morning and watched the tragedy unfold live. With a numb feeling, Stasiak went to a nearby workout center, where he found Vince McMahon. 

    “I remember going into the fitness room and seeing Vince McMahon there and I remember him just sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall just staring at the TV monitor uh during the CNN Network. I don’t know what news it was but it was a major news network. He was just sitting there just nodding his head in disgust and saying ‘Those b***rds! Those b***rds and I think that’s how we all felt.”

    Being Brought Together

    After the attack, businesses and events immediately shut down fearing that another attack was coming. After much deliberation, the decision was made for the show to go on and SmackDown was held in Houston, Texas. In the video, Stasiak recalls this being a tough time but how the tragedy ironically brought the roster closer together. 

     “It was a tough time but at the same time ironically it really brought all of us closer together. Really like one big family to be honest. The people that you were already close with or that you traveled with you became even closer. The ones that maybe you didn’t care for, I mean in this business you don’t have to always like the person you’re doing business with, that happens all the time in this business.

    “But it just made you realize [what is really important.] It’s unfortunate that sometimes there has to be a traumatic event or something of that nature to take place for you to just bring things out into what matters and what’s important and I think that just brought us all together closer.”

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

  • NXT Women’s Title No. 1 Contender Battle Royal ‘With a Twist’ Announced For Next Week

    NXT Women’s Title No. 1 Contender Battle Royal ‘With a Twist’ Announced For Next Week

    A 20-woman battle royal to determine the No.1 Contender for Lyra Valkyria’s NXT Women’s Championship is set to take place on next week’s edition of NXT. It’s worth mentioning that the match will see a twist.

    Lyra Valkyria captured the NXT Women’s Championship after defeating Becky Lynch at Halloween Havoc. Since then she has defended her title against Xia Li and most recently against Blair Davenport at NXT Years Evil. Well, a new challenge is on the horizon for the Irish superstar.

    Lyra Valkyria announces the No.1 contender’s battle royal

    Last night, Valkyria announced that a battle royal will be held and the twist is that once it is down to the final four competitors, the match will become a fatal four-way match. The winner of that match will become the No.1 contender and will face Valkyria for her title at Vengeance Day on Sunday, February 4.

    During the same segment, Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez had a confrontation and eventually attacked Valkyria until Tatum Paxley came to the rescue. As a result, a tag team match pitting Vice and Lopez against Valkyria and Paxley has been also booked for next week.

    Meanwhile, The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will continue on next week’s show as a couple of quarterfinal bouts have been scheduled. Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams will face Malik Blade & Edris Enofe in one quarterfinal match, while Chase U’s Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne take on LWO’s Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde in the other. 

    Here is the lineup for the next week’s NXT episode:

    • NXT Women’s Championship number one contender’s battle royal
    • Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice & Elektra Lopez
    • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarterfinals: Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams vs. Malik Blade & Edris Enofe
    • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarterfinals: Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne vs. Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde

  • Jinder Mahal Speaks Out After Tony Khan Name Drops Him In Latest Social Media Outburst

    Jinder Mahal Speaks Out After Tony Khan Name Drops Him In Latest Social Media Outburst

    Tony Khan saw that the USA Network’s official X account took a jab at him and his love of Cagematch ratings. The situation escalated quickly, and Jinder Mahal became more than aware that his name was brought into the conversation.

    Tony Khan’s Unexpected Reply

    Tony Khan’s most recent slew of posts on X was documented on SE Scoops. As you are probably aware, the AEW President threw shade at WWE’s booking for Jinder Mahal, as a Superstar who hadn’t won in nearly a year, but he is still getting a WWE World Heavyweight Title shot. 

    Tony Khan made an argument in that post that Hook, who has a 28-1 record, is also deserving of a World Title shot.

    A double standard: @730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage #AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS

    Jinder Mahal Replies To Tony Khan

    Jinder Mahal has a huge match against Seth Rollins on January 15th’s episode of WWE RAW. The Modern Day Maharaja saw what Tony Khan posted, but he is not going to let that distract him.

    Mahal, instead of getting petty or firing off a vengeful reply, simply acted like he didn’t know who Hook is. He also took the opportunity to plug the upcoming episode of RAW in a now-deleted post. 

    Who tf is Hook? WATCH MONDAY NIGHT RAW ON USA NETWORK MONDAY 8PM EST!

    It was not lost on anyone that Jinder also tagged the USA Network account that was responsible for this entire chain of events. As of this writing, the USA Network has not followed-up, but we have to wonder if they will post the Cagematch rating for Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal’s WWE World Heavyweight Title match when the numbers are released. 

  • Matt Riddle Claims He Was Slated To Win Money In The Bank Match Until Right Before The Show

    Matt Riddle Claims He Was Slated To Win Money In The Bank Match Until Right Before The Show

    Matt Riddle was released from WWE in September, and he is now navigating the pro wrestling scene, doing his own thing along the way. He saw a lot in WWE, and it seems that he was also denied some major opportunities.

    Matt Riddle’s Big Money in the Bank Claim

    During a virtual signing hosted by Signed By Superstars, Riddle candidly discussed various aspects of his career during the two-hour session. He said that the Royal Rumble match win in 2022 was his, until Brock Lensar refused to put him over. He also claimed the Money in the Briefcase was also his for a time, but Vince McMahon picked his new favorite at the time to win instead.

    The Original Bro revealed that he was originally scheduled to win the 2022 men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. However, plans took a turn, with Vince McMahon favoring Austin Theory.

    “Wanna hear something else cool? I was supposed to win Money in the Bank but Vince (McMahon) really likes Austin Theory and literally hours before, they changed it and Austin was added in and threw me off the ladder. After I took two huge ladder bumps off the RKO and everything else and it’s like… But, I love Austin Theory and I’m happy for him. Keep killing it bro.”‘

    Theory was Vince McMahon protégée during that angle that didn’t really get to finalize before Vince McMahon’s retirement. Austin Theory was then stuck with the Money in the Bank briefcase after that, something that hindered him more than anything. Then WWE got the briefcase off him, and he’s been much better off since then.

    Riddle may get another chance to compete in a Royal Rumble or Money in the Bank match. No WWE return is off the table at this point, and that’s one thing we all learned after watching CM Punk return at Survivor Series last year. We do know that Riddle claimed that he is not bitter about his WWE release, but that doesn’t give him any shortage of things to say.

    Matt Riddle After WWE

    The Original Bro is going to be busy, even if he’s not making dates for WWE anymore. At MLW Kings of Colosseum, Matt Riddle made his return to in-ring action for the first time since being released by WWE. This comeback also extends to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he openly challenged World TV Champion and company President Hiroshi Tanahashi.

  • Dragon Lee’s Visa Issues Seem To Be Cleared Up Before 1/9 WWE NXT

    Dragon Lee’s Visa Issues Seem To Be Cleared Up Before 1/9 WWE NXT

    WWE’s NXT brand was missing a big piece for their puzzle when Dragon Lee couldn’t make the trip back to the United States after the new year. Some documentation needed to be straightened up that 2024 undoubtably caused, but that situation is apparently okay now.

    Spoiler on Dragon Lee’s WWE NXT Return

    It was noted on Fightful Select that Corey Brennan has learned that Dragon Lee’s Visa situation has cleared up. He is slated to be on this week’s episode, where he will defend the NXT North American Title.

    It would appear Dragon Lee’s visa situation got handled, as he is slated to defend the North American Title against Lexis King in the show’s main event.

    Dragon Lee promised to be a fighting NXT North American Champion. After he won the title from Dominik Mysterio, there was also no shortage of celebration. Now, he will get to continue his reign as champion.

    Carlito filled in for Dragon Lee at New Year’s Evil. The freshly-returned SmackDown Superstar led his LWO allies to victory over Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. For good measure, Carlito delivered his trademark apple-spit spot to Gulak after the match.

    WWE NXT airs at 8:00 PM EST on the USA Network. Dragon Lee is expected to be on this week’s show, if you would like to see the rest of the spoilers that Fightful Select posted, then you may find that below.

    WWE NXT Spoilers for 1/9 Episode: 

    • Nikkita Lyons vs. Blair Davenport is scheduled to open.
    • NXT Tag Titles: D’Angelo & Stacks defend against OTM
    • Gigi Dolin vs. Cora Jade
    • Dusty Classic: Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker vs. Gallus
    • Dusty Classic: Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger

  • Matt Riddle Reveals Creative Plan To Dismantle RK-Bro Team In WWE

    Matt Riddle Reveals Creative Plan To Dismantle RK-Bro Team In WWE

    WWE released Matt Riddle from his contract in September, and while that was a surprise, many fans are now wondering what could have been. RK-Bro won’t get another run, but there were apparently plans to end their team anyway. 

    The Rise of RK-Bro in WWE

    Randy Orton and Matt Riddle formed an unconventional tag team in 2021. Although Orton tried, Riddle was persistent, and it created some television gold for WWE.

    Originally slated to be a very short angle, RK-Bro caught fire. Soon, fans all over were cheering for the team as they carried on their weekly soap opera storyline. 

    Initially, The Viper and The Original Bro had a dysfunctional dynamic, but their chemistry evolved into a cohesive tag teams. After winning the RAW Tag Team Titles, they had a nice run as champions before losing a title unification match to The Usos, and then Orton took off for 18 months.

    Original Plan For RK-Bro’s Breakup

    During an appearance on Signed by Superstars, Matt Riddle was asked about WWE’s plans for him and Randy Orton before his release. While being cautious not to divulge too much information, given the possibility of a WWE return, the King of Bros did reveal that there were plans for a storyline involving a heel turn for one of the two members of the RK-Bro team.

    ”Plan was — well we were hoping it… I don’t wanna really say how, because if I do return and then we do the story — yeah, I would say eventually all teams eventually turn on each other. I don’t wanna give the spoiler of who was gonna turn on who.”

    Riddle did not specify who would be turning heel in that scenario. Orton went out of action with a back injury, one that required back fusion surgery; and that injury for the Apex Predator ended the RK-Bro team. So, a heel turn was never needed.

    Exclusive Insight into RK-Bro’s Reunion Plans

    After Matt Riddle was released, I reached out to inquire about RK-Bro, because I was curious. I was told by members of the creative team that there was never any plan to reunite RK-Bro.

    There was never any talk of getting Matt Riddle back together with Randy Orton after The Viper’s return. Of course, Riddle was fired in September, two months prior to Orton’s Survivor Series return, where he snapped that 18-month hiatus from in-ring competition. 

  • Cody Rhodes: CM Punk’s Great & The Rock Electrifies, But I’m Not Flinching

    Cody Rhodes: CM Punk’s Great & The Rock Electrifies, But I’m Not Flinching

    Cody Rhodes won’t let the recent returns of CM Punk and The Rock deter him from finishing the story and becoming a WWE World Champion. 

    Since returning to WWE, Rhodes has made it clear he plans on winning the title that his father never officially held. At the 2023 Royal Rumble event, Rhodes won the Men’s Rumble match, earning a shot at Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. At WrestleMania 39, Rhodes would fail to ‘finish the story’ in a shocking loss that left those in the industry in awe. 

    Cody Rhodes Isn’t Flinching

    Up until a few weeks back, it seemed a certainty that Rhodes would win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble and finally dethrone Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Unfortunately for the American Nightmare, the return of CM Punk at Survivor Series as well as the return of The Rock on the Day 1 Raw has left his future less clear. 

    Though his long-awaited win over Roman Reigns appears to be slipping away, Cody Rhodes remains defiant that he can stand up to any WWE Superstar put in front of him. The American Nightmare made that clear when speaking with SI. 

    “The Rock is The Great One–he’s still electrifying. CM Punk is one of the greatest stars in the history of wrestling. I know what I’m up against. Look at the roster–it’s loaded with stars. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m not flinching. I’m not rooting against anyone else, I’m just working to make it happen.”

    No matter what comes next for Cody Rhodes, expect the American Nightmare to be his always-generous self… 

  • LA Knight Took Pay Cut To Make WWE Return & Was Miserable Under Vince McMahon’s Creative Vision

    LA Knight Took Pay Cut To Make WWE Return & Was Miserable Under Vince McMahon’s Creative Vision

    LA Knight is riding a huge wave of momentum at 41-years-old. He is anything but a flash in the pan, although WWE was originally cautious about dropping a lot of merchandise for him due to that concern. Now, he can look back and see what he had to go through, and he has quite a story to tell.

    LA Knight’s Road To WWE

    LA Knight inked a developmental contract with WWE back in 2013, but his time there didn’t pan out, as he was released in August 2014. Naturally, this turn of events didn’t bring him any joy, but it didn’t kill his determination to make it to the top of the pro wrestling world.

    Knight gained popularity as Eli Drake in Impact Wrestling, establishing himself as a major star due to his impressive promo skills and in-ring abilities. He later went to the NWA, where that Namer of Dummies character went with him. These factors paved the way for his eventual return to WWE a few years later.

    While speaking to Chris Van Vliet of Insight, LA Knight disclosed that upon his return to WWE, he accepted a pay cut. This was a decision he was fully aware of. He willingly took the cut, confident that he could bet on himself to eventually earn more money.

    ”So finally, when I did make the jump over there, there was a little bit of not necessarily negotiation, but it was just kind of like, I knew I was going to have to take a pay cut coming in. But I was willing to take the pay cut on the bet that I could turn it into much more. Because I had hit the ceiling basically in IMPACT. And I had an awesome time (in) NWA for that little bit that we were able to do before the pandemic hit.”

    LA Knight Was Miserable Working With Vince McMahon’s Creative

    After making his way from NXT to the WWE main roster, Vince McMahon changed LA Knight’s name to Max Dupri. That creative shift did not result in much success.

    The former Eli Drake went on to open up about how this time as a male modeling agent made his miserable with creative. That was Vince McMahon’s vision, and he was calling the shots.

    “(Vince McMahon) had a vision for this thing that put such a microscope on it and I didn’t know what the hell it was… and it just wasn’t going well. I was very unhappy, and I’m sure he probably was, and then at some point it was just like all of a sudden I’m not on TV, and I’m like, well, I’m pretty sure I’m fired. I’m pretty sure this whole ride is over.”

    What’s Next For LA Knight in WWE?

    LA Knight has a much different position in WWE now. He is 1/4 of the Undisputed Universal Title match at the Royal Rumble on January 27th. He will battle with AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and Triple H with the biggest title on SmackDown on the line. That match at Tropicana Field may turn out to be a massive notch in his belt, as LA Knight has gone through a lot to get him to this point. 

  • Matt Riddle Says Brock Lesnar Refused To Let Him Win WWE Royal Rumble

    Matt Riddle Says Brock Lesnar Refused To Let Him Win WWE Royal Rumble

    Matt Riddle was released from WWE in September last year, and he is already filling up his 2024 with dates. He will not have a match against Brock Lesnar, but that also wasn’t going to happen while he was with WWE, either.

    Matt Riddle & Brock Lesnar’s Story

    The history between Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar has been a popular narrative for pro wrestling fans, but the match never took place. The two had a backstage confrontation during the 2020 Royal Rumble, which garnered notable attention. 

    In that Royal Rumble backstage encounter, Brock Lesnar let Matt Riddle know that he had no interest in facing him. Although they eventually briefly worked together, Riddle didn’t get the marquee match he wanted. Now, The King of Bros has alleged that Lesnar intentionally sandbagged his chances of winning the Royal Rumble match.

    During an interview on Signed by Superstars, Matt Riddle alleged that he was initially told he would win the 2022 Royal Rumble, but then he claimed that Brock Lesnar refused to cooperate and insisted on winning the match himself.

    “I believe — you know, it’s sports-entertainment — that I was told at one point, yeah, I was gonna win the (Royal) Rumble and everything else, and then what was it? Bobby Lashley beat Brock Lesnar because somebody came in and hit him with the belt or what have you. Then Brock came in, didn’t wanna do business with everybody, said he was winning, and then he won, and then none of the producers… nobody stood up to him, and they let him do it. I didn’t either, I didn’t either. I’m like, f*ck man, I’m just here.”

    Matt Riddle is very firm on the idea that Brock Lesnar harbored animosity towards him. This belief has spurred discussions among fans, especially considering the Royal Rumble incident. 

    The anticipation leading up to the 2022 Royal Rumble suggested that Matt Riddle had significant momentum, leading many fans to believe it could be his moment to finally break into the main event picture with a WrestleMania main event match. That was not in the cards for the Original Bro.

    Matt Riddle’s WWE Release

    Matt Riddle’s release from WWE was marked by a series of internal issues, culminating in an incident at JFK Airport while returning from WWE’s final live event in India. He had a lot of internal infractions before that. 

    Despite prior support from management, Matt Riddle exhausted his chances as they found themselves unable to stand behind him any longer. The Original Bro had recently rejoined the company after an extended hiatus for rehab.

    After jumping back into the indies, Matt Riddle is already securing numerous dates. His upcoming first-time-ever match against RVD in March and his anticipated return to MLW are all promising prospects. Matt Riddle won’t be hard to find after his WWE tenure is over, even if Brock Lesnar wants to track him down.

  • WWE Warned LA Knight That He May Be Just a Flavor Of the Month

    WWE Warned LA Knight That He May Be Just a Flavor Of the Month

    LA Knight has become one of WWE’s most popular Superstars competing today, despite some thinking at first he’d just be the flavor of the month. 

    2023 saw a dramatic rise in popularity for the former Max Dupri, who kicked off the year the Pitch Black match at the Royal Rumble event. Throughout the year, Knight’s popularity continued to grow as fans continued to rally behind the veteran. At WWE Crown Jewel, Knight challenged Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns but failed to dethrone the Tribal Chief.

    Flavor of the Month

    LA Knight is one of WWE’s top stars right now, but not everybody had high hopes for the megastar. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet of Insight, Knight recalled WWE higher-ups being hesitant to go all in on him. 

    “There was skepticism at first. Is this really a thing? Is this just going to be a flash in the pan? Is this going to be a flavor of the month? And that’s a thing we had talked about and was even talked about with me. ‘Well, we don’t want to give it to you too soon because then they might get over it.’ Look, fine. If that’s the case and I’m not good enough to carry that, cool, let’s go with that.

    “I understand the idea of wanting to protect me at some point as well. But I have the belief in myself that I could pivot and move and adapt to whatever the situation is. You don’t want to give it to him too soon but if try and not give it to him at all, come on man. I feel like I’m better than that. And I don’t mean that in a boisterous way, but I’m confident in what I do. I’m confident in my skills. And at the same time, I want to be able to fail. Because when I fail, I get back up.”

    When Van Vliet rejected the notion that Knight has failed, the megastar corrected him and shared how crazy the past year has been. 

    “I’ve failed a million times but this year has been crazy… Apparently, I’ve been married twice this year as well. [Chris says Congratulations] Thank you, even though I’m not married.”

    An Overnight Success? 

    While Knight’s rise in WWE has been dramatic, this chapter is just the latest in his lengthy career. On the show, Knight explained how his success was both an overnight sensation as wel as something that was a long time coming. 

    “It was but it wasn’t. It was 20 years, but then it was an overnight success. It was 20 years to get the overnight success basically because all of a sudden you’ve got– anywhere I’ve been any other company, had a fraction of the audience we have now. So to any of the uninitiated, most of them are seeing me for the first time. So in a certain way, it is an overnight success to the broader audience.”

    La Knight will challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble, as will Randy Orton and AJ Styles. Roman Reigns is understandly not happy about this… 

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

  • The Undertaker Shares Hilarious First Reaction to Mick Foley as Dude Love

    The Undertaker Shares Hilarious First Reaction to Mick Foley as Dude Love

    The Undertaker may have faced giants, kings, and even himself, but nothing could have prepared him for the enigmatic Dude Love persona. 

    The oldest of Mick Foley’s iconic characters, the WWE Hall of Famer first crafted Dude Love while still in his youth. The fun-loving character was brought to the WWF years later after Foley had competed around the world as the ultra-violent Cactus Jack and the tortured soul known as Mankind. 

    The Undertaker Reacts to Dude Love

    On a recent episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker spoke about the Dude Love persona. The Phenom recalled seeing Dude Love for the first time and questioning how he’d ever sold for Mick. 

    “I remember when he started doing Dude Love. He passed me in the hall and he could tell by the look on my face…I’ve sold more for him than anybody ever. We’ve been through hell and back together. Then here he is…Dude Love and all this tie-dyed stuff.

    “He was getting into character and he was walking down the hall. Then he’d seen me and then he’d seen the look on my face. I’ll never forget him just dropping his head and walking by [like] ‘I’m sorry.’ It’s like, ‘I can’t believe I sold for you.’”

    Mick Foley & The Undertaker

    The Undertaker and Dude Love never faced off, but Mick Foley shared the ring several times with The Undertaker. The pair’s most iconic match came in Pittsburgh at the 1998 King of the Ring event, where the pair battled in, and on top of Hell in a Cell. 

  • Latest on Giovanni Vinci After Injury On Day 1 Episode of WWE Raw

    Latest on Giovanni Vinci After Injury On Day 1 Episode of WWE Raw

    Fans won’t be seeing Giovanni Vinci in the ring for some time after the Imperium member suffered an injury during last week’s episode of Raw. 

    During the Day 1 episode of WWE Raw, Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser faced the tag-team experts Jey Uso and Kofi Kingston. The match came to a sudden conclusion when Kingston dropkicked Vinci and his head caught the back of the mat on the way down. After a consultation, medical officials at ringside determined that Vinci couldn’t compete. The match ended without a winner being determined. 

    Update on Giovanni Vinci

    During this week’s Raw, it was announced that Vinci would be out for “a number of weeks” due to the situation that unfolded on last week’s Raw. WWE has still not publicly disclosed details about the issue with Vinci. On Twitter, the Italian Superstar told fans “Sto bene. Grazie mille” which means “I’m fine, thanks a lot.”

    A Feud Brewing?

    On this week’s Raw, Ludwig Kaiser showed a new level of aggression in his singles match with Kofi Kingston. The match ended with a double count-out as Kaiser was attacking Kingston on the outside of the ring and would not stop to break the ref’s ten-count. 

    On social media, WWE shared footage of Kingston being taken backstage after the match. It was noted that Kingston is being evaluated by medical staff but an update on his condition is not public knowledge at this time. 

    Ludwig Kaiser was recently the victim of a sweet-treat incident at a WWE live event… 

  • Grayson Waller is “Fearing for His Life” Thanks to Madman Punching People in WWE

    Grayson Waller is “Fearing for His Life” Thanks to Madman Punching People in WWE

    WWE SmackDown Superstar Grayson Waller is ‘fearing for his life’ due to a string of attacks, but it’s not CM Punk who’s to blame. 

    In a video shared on Twitter, Waller spoke about his issues with Kevin Owens. The prizefighter made a surprise appearance on last week’s WWE NXT and attacked Waller during his match with Trick Williams. 

    “2024 hasn’t really started off the way that I was hoping for. Last Tuesday, I go to NXT because Ilja Dragunov is too scared to fight Trick Williams, and I save the show. You’re welcome, Shawn Michaels. But what thanks do I get? I get assaulted, punched in the face by Kevin Owens for no reason at all.”

    Waller then spoke about being at SmackDown in Vancouver, where he saw U.S. Champion Logan Paul suffer a similar fate. 

    “I got cuts inside my lip, my jaw is sore. What do I see while I’m watching the show? Kevin Owens punches Logan Paul, the United States Champion, in the face for no reason at all. Me and Theory had enough. We go and check on Logan backstage. Because you know what? We’re starting to fear for our lives backstage. There’s a madman running around punching people.”

    Waller’s comment about fearing for his life is an obvious nod to CM Punk’s release from AEW in September of last year. Addressing an AEW Collision crowd in Chicago after Punk’s release, Tony Khan claimed he was left fearing for his life during the Punk-Jack Perry altercation at AEW All In. 

    This isn’t the first time that Grayson Waller has poked fun at CM Punk’s exit from AEW… 

    H/T – WrestleZone

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

    Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After Raw Went Off Air

    Cody Rhodes continued his new tradition after this week’s episode of Raw.

    The Red Branded Show this week featured a number of strong segments that got people talking. The show opened with a heated confrontation between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk.

    The episode also featured a segment between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal leading to the announcement of a World Title Match between the two next week.

    The matches on the show included bouts such as The Miz taking on JD McDonagh, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance defending the Women’s Tag Team Titles and more.

    What Happened After Raw

    The main event of this week’s Raw saw Cody Rhodes facing off against Shinsuke Nakamura. Both these stars have been involved in a personal rivalry the last few weeks and due to it, this match had been turned into a street fight.

    Neither Nakamura nor Rhodes shied away from using various weapons in this match and they introduced objects such as Kendo Sticks, Tables, and even Nunchucks.

    At one point, Nakamura accidentally spit his red mist into the timekeeper’s eyes, originally meant for Cody. This took Cody’s mind out of the match for a minute as the timekeeper was Berkley Ottman, the son of former WWE star Typhoon and a cousin of Rhodes.

    At the end of the night however, Cody managed to pick up the victory. He sent Nakamura crashing through a table and then pinned him with a Cross-Rhodes.

    The cameras went off air with Cody Rhodes celebrating in the ring. After the show, he continued the tradition he has built recently and the American Nightmare gave away another table to one of the fans in attendance.

    Related: Cody Rhodes Gives Away Christmas Tree To Fan After Raw

  • Andrade El Idolo Pulls Out Of GCW No Compadre Event

    Andrade El Idolo Pulls Out Of GCW No Compadre Event

    Andrade El Idolo departed from AEW, and he had kind things to say about Tony Khan’s company. Now, it appears that he is on his way back to WWE, and there is more evidence to support that idea now.

    Andrade El Idolo Expected Back In WWE

    Having debuted for GCW at the ‘Highest In The Room 2’ event on December 9th, 2023 as he took on Joey Janela at the show. There was a plan to see Andrade’s return to GCW. However, it seems that won’t be happening now.

    Game Changer Wrestling announced Andrade El Idolo’s withdrawal from the GCW No Compadre event, where he was initially set to face Jonathan Gresham on Friday, January 12th. Lio Rush will step in to replace Andrade in the matchup.

    Due to circumstances out of control, ANDRADE and MAKI ITOH will be unable to compete on Friday’s event in Chicago.

    The following replacements have been signed: MASHA SLAMOVICH will replace Maki Itoh LIO RUSH will replace Andrade

    *Additional Matches TBA tonite and this week*

    It was previously reported that Andrade was expected to be pulled from this event. Now, GCW has confirmed this cancellation. Andrade was advertised for at least one GCW event for 2024, and that is no longer the case. Of course, WWE famously prefers to keep their talent away from other promotions, with only a select few exceptions.

    Andrade’s Next Moves in Pro Wrestling

    Andrade El Idolo’s departure from AEW strongly indicates his intention to return to WWE. Now, pulling out of this Game Changer Wrestling event gives even more weight to the idea that he’s WWE-bound once again.

    Clearing his schedule aligns with the typical transition for individuals moving from indies to WWE, considering WWE’s demanding schedule that doesn’t often allow for independent bookings. There have been times when WWE allowed incoming stars to finish up their indie dates in the past.

    The specific reasons for Andrade El Idolo’s removal from the GCW event remain undisclosed, but many speculate that this is part of the process leading up to his WWE return. There’s a strong possibility that he will return to WWE, but nothing is definite until it actually happens.