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Category: WWE

  • John Cena’s ‘The Marine’ Storms Into The Netflix Global Top 10

    John Cena’s ‘The Marine’ Storms Into The Netflix Global Top 10

    John Cena doesn’t have much time for WWE anymore, because his career in Hollywood took off like a rocket over the past decade. Fans know him as The Peacemaker today, but many people are just now discovering Cena as The Marine.

    The Marine Gets A Second Life

    John Cena’s film “The Marine” was once criticized, but it is now a hit on Netflix. The 2006 film follows a discharged marine rescuing his kidnapped wife from jewel thieves. Produced by WWE’s own Vince McMahon, it marked Cena’s acting debut and spawned a series with direct-to-video sequels.

    Almost two decades later, The Marine is a global Netflix hit. Fans are clicking on John Cena’s face to see The Marine, many likely for the first time.

    In the week of December 18th to 24th, The Marine had 7.6 million hours viewed, ranking 10th in the weekly Netflix Global Top 10. That means a number of fans discovered the film on streaming for the first time over Christmas. 

    The Marine is a two-hour film, so according to that 7.6 million total hours viewed stat, the film has been played 3.8 million times. 

    The 2006 film received negative reviews, labeled exaggerated or “so bad it’s good.” Now, fans are enjoying it for a multitude of reasons. 

    This is common for films that are just getting the Netflix treatment, as the Netflix push comes for many of them. It is always a surprise when a film that many have forgotten about has a surge in popularity. 

    The Marine Franchise

    The good news for new fans of The Marine is that they have plenty more action ahead of them, but John Cena doesn’t star in those films.

    Despite grossing $22 million against a $15 million budget, it birthed a series with five WWE-starring sequels. The first, The Marine 2, featured Ted DiBiase, Jr. in 2009, followed by sequels from 2013 to 2018, all starring Mike “The Miz” Mizanin. 

    John Cena’s unexpected Netflix success might draw attention to the unlikely film series. After the last Marine film, (no spoilers), we have to wonder if they will ever re-visit the franchise.  

  • CM Punk Had Issue With His Gear Before 12/26 WWE MSG In-Ring Return

    CM Punk Had Issue With His Gear Before 12/26 WWE MSG In-Ring Return

    CM Punk stepped back into the WWE ring for the first time since 2014 on Tuesday night. That December 26th Madison Square Garden live event saw the Second City Savior face off against Dominik Mysterio. It also appears that CM Punk had a bit of an issue with his gear before that big match.

    CM Punk’s Issue with his Gear

    CM Punk already teased his WWE return gear, but that is not what he wrestled in at MSG. Although he showed off his long boi tights before, he sported generic black trunks and knee pads for the big match in the World’s Most Famous Arena, leaving spectators puzzled.

    Ibou from WrestlePurists shared his insights on X, as he revealed that CM Punk had initially ordered special ring gear for his Madison Square Garden match. Unfortunately, the gear didn’t fit, leading Punk to don plain attire for the occasion.

    “They’re gonna be plain. The gear he ordered doesn’t fit and has to wear generic replacement gear.”

    CM Punk’s Big Night

    Despite the unexpected wardrobe change, the excitement for CM Punk’s in-ring return wasn’t affected. Fans can only hope that future matches, particularly leading up to The Royal Rumble, will not have any further issues with CM Punk’s gear, but it didn’t seem to matter in MSG.

    That WWE live event at Madison Square Garden also broke a historic record. It was a big night for CM Punk, and the rest of the WWE Universe, even if Punk had to figure out different gear for the show.

  • Watch: CM Punk Recreates AEW Debut Spot In WWE MSG Match Against Dominik Mysterio

    CM Punk’s successful return to the ring saw the WWE Raw Superstar recapture some of the magic from his in-ring debut for AEW. 

    At last night’s WWE live event in Madison Square Gareden, Punk defeated Dominik Mysterio in his first match for WWE since January 2014. This match was Punk’s first bout of any promotion since AEW All In 2023 as he was fired just days after that show. Punk will face ‘Dirty Dom’ again at the upcoming WWE live event in Inglewood, California on December 30. 

    CM Punk Recreates AEW Spot

    Punk held nothing back during his match with the Judgment Day member, and even made reference to his AEW in-ring debut at All Out 2021. During one section of the match, Mysterio took to the turnbuckle and Punk sat up and laughed, replicating a spot from Punk’s match with Darby Allin three years ago. You can check out the spot in question below. 

    CM Punk’s Wardrobe Malfunction

    While CM Punk made an impactful return to the ring at the WWE MSG event, his ring attire for the show was somewhat underwhelming. Rather than his typical Chicago-inspired trunks, Punk wore plain back trunks for the match. As Wrestle Purists noted before the show, the trunks Punk had planned to wear did not fit, meaning he had to don his back-up trunks which were the plain black ones fans saw at this show. 

  • Seth Rollins Gives Touching Tribute to Brodie Lee & Bray Wyatt at WWE MSG Event

    Seth Rollins Gives Touching Tribute to Brodie Lee & Bray Wyatt at WWE MSG Event

    Seth Rollins paid tribute to Brodie Lee and Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda in an emotional tribute in the closing moments of this week’s live event in Madison Square Garden. 

    The December 26 event in the World’s Most Famous Arena has been a staple of WWE for years now and typically features a much bigger card compare to other untelevised shows. This year’s event proved to be no different, with CM Punk defeating Dominik Mysterio in his firstn WWE match since 2014. The show also saw Cody Rhodes defeat Shinsuke Nakamura in the first Bull Rope match in WWE since 2009. The match was Cody’s first Bull Rope match in WWE and the second of his entire career. 

    Seth Rollins’ Touching Tribute

    In the main event of the show, Rollins retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre in a No-DQ, No Count Outs match. Adressing the fans after the match, Rollins reflected on the death of Brodie Lee, who died on Boxing Day in 2020. Rollins also spoke about Rotunda, who died in August of this year. 

    “On the 26th of December, a few years back, my good friend, our good friend Brodie Lee passed away. I miss him [fans chant Brodie]. And just a few months ago we lost Windham Rotunda as well. But earlier tonight when the lights were down, that’s right, I saw some fireflies out there in the Garden. 

    “Yeah, yeah, yeah man. So look, here’s the deal. They’re kicking me out of here. We’ve got a curfew but I’m not leaving this building until you guys light this place up with those fireflies and you sing my damn song so loud Brodie and Windham can hear you! Let’s go New York! [fans sing Rollins’ theme song] I love you forever, get home safe. 

  • WWE’s 12/26 Madison Square Garden Event Breaks Historic Record

    WWE’s 12/26 Madison Square Garden Event Breaks Historic Record

    WWE has made history in Madison Square Garden many times in the past. They ran the famous venue on December 26th, and their trend of historic moments continued. The event was already set to be memorable for many reasons, but they also broke a financial record.

    WWE Broke A Huge Record With 12/26 MSG Event

    CM Punk marked his in-ring comeback on December 26th at MSG against Dominik Mysterio. Sami Zayn also returned to the ring after a hiatus. Fans in NYC witnessed a fantastic live event, and they showed up in droves, with a total sell-out.

    According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, the December 26th Madison Square Garden live event set a massive record. It was the highest-grossing non-televised domestic WWE event ever.

    Internal WWE live events reports claim that WWE’s live event in Madison Square Garden was sold out. The event was said to be the highest grossing domestic non-televised event of all-time for WWE.

    WWE MSG 12/26 Results:

    The event included four championship matches, concluding with the main event between Drew McIntyre and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

    In the opening match of the night, Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark. Then, Kofi Kingston beat Ludwig Kaiser, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships match saw Kayden Carter & Katana Chance successfully defend against Chelsea Green & Piper Niven.

    Omos, accompanied by MVP, and he beat against R-Truth. In the WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Match, Rhea Ripley defended her title by defeating Ivy Nile & Shayna Baszler.

    The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships remained with Judgment Day after they defeated Jey Uso & Sami Zayn. That match marked Sami’s return to in-ring action after a short hiatus.

    CM Punk secured a win against Dominik Mysterio. Rhea Ripley was with Dirty Dominik during the match, and it also marked Punk’s first WWE match since 2014.

    Ricochet beat Bronson Reed. Then, Cody Rhodes beat Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match. The final match of the night was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a No-DQ Match, where Seth Rollins successfully defended his title against Drew McIntyre.

  • Watch CM Punk’s WWE In-Ring Return At MSG & Post Match Promo

    Watch CM Punk’s WWE In-Ring Return At MSG & Post Match Promo

    WWE returned to Madison Square Garden on December 26th, and they brought a massive show to the World’s Most Famous Arena. CM Punk had his first match in WWE since 2014, and Dominik Mysterio got to share that moment with the Second City Savior.

    CM Punk’s In-Ring Return

    CM Punk’s return to WWE was a surprise for many fans who never anticipated it. While his televised wrestling return may have to wait until the Royal Rumble on January 27th, the Second City Savior marked his return to action at Madison Square Garden.

    On December 26th, as part of WWE’s Holiday Tour in MSG, CM Punk faced Dominik Mysterio. The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric, with fans showing up in droves to chant for Punk.

    https://twitter.com/drjonosuave/status/1739828913096753398

    CM Punk vs Dominik Mysterio at MSG

    Dominik Mysterio and CM Punk had some fun playing with the crowd before the match started. They seemed to work well together, as the NYC crowd did not have a quiet moment.

    The match concluded with CM Punk securing the victory after delivering the GTS to Dominik Mysterio. This popped the crowd in a big way, as one would expect.

    Post-Match Promo

    CM Punk cut an ultimate babyface promo after the match was over as well. He thanked fans for standing behind him. Then he encouraged everyone to shake the hand of the person behind him because, “we are all in this together.” That promo after the match was incredibly well-received.

    What’s next for CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio

    CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio will wrestle again on December 30th. That match will take place at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles. CM Punk will wrestle again at the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field. He also has his eye on a main event match at WrestleMania 40. It will be hard to keep him from that match if he continues this momentum.

  • CM Punk Reveals His Mindset Ahead Of WWE Return Match At MSG

    CM Punk Reveals His Mindset Ahead Of WWE Return Match At MSG

    Before CM Punk puts on the kickpads for his first match back with WWE, he’s appreciative of the journey he’s had so far.

    Ahead of his match at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Punk took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the fans and his squared circle colleagues that came before him.

    “Grateful for all the fans who have carried me to my greatest moments. Thankful for the legends that paved the roads I travel. I wouldn’t be who I am without all of you. Thank you. ‘So goes The Garden, so goes the business.’”

    Punk indeed paid homage in that very story as he was wearing the hoodie of a legend he’s continuosly been a fan of: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

    CM Punk Has A First-Ever Legacy Match Waiting For Him At MSG

    CM Punk will pack a punch in The Big Apple this evening as he’ll be going up against a white-hot heel in Dominik Mysterio. Punk was quick to cultivate a feud with Dirty Dom on his social media when he shared a photo over ten years ago of him confronting a young Dom in the ring with the Mysterio family. Dom fired back with his own post before he crossed the competitve lines and shared a “botch” clip of Punk during his AEW run.

    Mysterio sure seems like an appropriate starting point for CM Punk’s WWE return as not only does it tie back to his Straight Edge Society feud with Rey Mysterio, but Punk clearly likes working with younger talent.

  • The Undertaker is not a Fan of Champions Getting Custom WWE Titles

    WWE knows that they can make a ton of money if they put out the right piece of merchandise. The upside of a custom title belt taking off in the company’s sales ranks is a very lucrative one. So, WWE has posted more than a few variations of WWE Titles in the past. It appears The Undertaker is not a fan of this practice.

    The Undertaker Speaks His Mind on Custom WWE Titles

    During The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast, The Deadman addressed a question about whether he had contemplated having a personalized championship belt during his reign as a world champion, akin to John Cena’s spinner belt or Daniel Bryan’s eco-friendly belt. This was not something that ever crossed The Phenom’s mind.

    The Undertaker said that his perspective aligns with old-school traditions. He holds the belief that championship titles should adhere to a more traditional and conventional design, and not have custom variations that are unique to the person holding the title.

    No. I’m a traditionalist. I’m old school. Whatever the world title is, that’s what I wanted to represent. As cool as [the custom belt] is, it’s one of the nicest looking belts I’ve seen, I would have wanted one of the traditional belts, unless it was the spinner belt, which was awful. If I had my choice, the spinner belt or [custom belt], I would have gone with the [custom belt]. I always like the traditional championships. Back then, it was more about being the champion than marketing. I’m not opposed to making money. I just think there are certain traditions and things that should be untouched. The championship should be the championship.

    They say that the title makes the man, but The Undertaker is not a fan of the man making his own custom championship title belt.

    It should also be noted that WWE has released custom limited edition Undertaker tribute titles in the past. The Deadman didn’t speak about that merchandise, but he’s not a fan of changing the actual WWE Title to fit the talent.

    The Undertaker’s Championship History In WWE

    The Undertaker won many championships in WWE, with four WWE Championship runs and three World Heavyweight Championship wins. His tag team accolades include six WWF World Tag Team Championship wins, where he partnered with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Big Show, The Rock, and Kane. The Undertaker also claimed the WWF Hardcore Championship, and not one of those title belts was custom to The Deadman.

    The Undertaker’s viewpoint reflects a respect for the rich history and traditions embedded within the world of professional wrestling. He is old-school, and still has that mentality. After all, The Phenom kept that Deadman gimmick up 24 hours a day during his heyday, with Paul Bearer around to literally be his mediatory to the real world he tried so hard to keep kayfabe alive for.

  • TNA Wrestling Snags Former WWE NXT Tag Team

    TNA Wrestling Snags Former WWE NXT Tag Team

    WWE released a number of people over the past year, but some of them requested their releases. The Grizzled Young Veterans wanted out of WWE, because they weren’t happy with their creative direction. Now, they are landing in Impact Wrestling.

    Impact Wrestling released a video to let everyone know that the Grizzled Young Veterans are coming to Hard To Kill.

    TNA Wrestling Hard To Kill Date, Location, and How To Watch

    The 2024 Hard To Kill is scheduled for January 13th, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. That pay-per-view will mark the fifth Hard To Kill show. The pay-per-view will be available on FiteTV.

    Why Grizzled Young Veterans Left WWE

    The Grizzled Young Veterans are showing up in Impact Wrestling just in time for the company’s re-branding efforts. They are changing back to TNA Wrestling in January 2024.

    James Drake and Zack Gibson were unhappy in WWE NXT, as they were changed to The Dyad and joined Joe Gacy’s Schism faction. After asking for their releases, they were eventually granted their requests.

  • Rey Mysterio Admits He’s Slowing Down Amid Recent Injury Setback

    Rey Mysterio Admits He’s Slowing Down Amid Recent Injury Setback

    Rey Mysterio was taken out of action with a knee injury, one they blamed on Santos Escobar in storyline. The fact is that Mysterio’s knee needed to be fixed up after a ton of wear and tear.

    Rey Mysterio Discusses His Knee Injury

    During a discussion with Konnan and Disco Inferno on K100, Rey Mysterio opened up about his current knee affliction. He attributed this time away from the ring to simple wear and tear on his right knee, which caused a meniscus tear.

    Mysterio admitted that he’s slowing down as he gets older. That does not mean he is going to stop.

    Rey Mysterio is no stranger to injuries, as he’s experienced worse ones in the past. He is currently on week four of this hiatus, with an expected return around six to eight weeks. Mr. 6-1-9 is also training hard to make that return while he’s out of action.

    “Just wear and tear. This time, it was my right knee. I’ve never had any injuries on my right knee since 97 when I had my first surgery in WCW. The left knee kept on breaking down every other year, sometimes a little bit longer. Numerous ACL tears. The last big surgery I had on my left knee was in 2011. This time, you put in all the years, I’ve been favoring the right knee for the left one and finally, I tore the meniscus on my right knee. It’s six to eight weeks. I’m in week four. I’m getting a personal trainer at the beginning of the year that’s going to work with me just so I can work on my lower body and strengthen up my hips, my quads, my legs in general so I can resist. I’ve never had a personal trainer that can train me, kind of like UFC fighters train, so I can use most of my power from the hips down.”

    “I know that I’m slowing down, the older I get, but I can make things look faster just by being in the business so long, that keeps the fans the perspective of ‘he hasn’t slowed down.’ I can go out there every time and pour it out. I don’t know how to hold back. I know how to hold back on movements and stuff I know I can’t do, like pushing off my left knee is really hard. I know personally that I’ve slowed down over the years. I try to be very innovative and creative with my style that it makes it seems that I haven’t slowed down.”

    Rey Mysterio’s Future In WWE

    Rey Mysterio has been seen on WWE television since his injury. He was backstage at NXT Deadline, where he had some segments with Dragon Lee, who took Dominik Mysterio’s NXT North American Title that night. WWE fans are still awaiting Rey Mysterio’s return to main roster programming.

    Rey Msyterio also recently signed a new contract extension with WWE. Dominik Mysterio inked a new deal as well. Rey’s contract is reportedly a three-year deal, while Dirty Dominik is believed to have signed a five-year commitment with WWE.

    The LWO is in the middle of a breakup, with two factions splintering from the group. It appears that Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza have joined Santos Escobar on his quest to take down his former stable.

    Rey Mysterio’s return to the ring is around the corner, but they can’t rush that process. With the Royal Rumble taking place on January 27th, Mysterio will cut it close to make the big Tropicana Field show.

  • Sami Zayn Confesses He’s Going Through A Difficult Time As He Wraps Up 2023

    Sami Zayn Confesses He’s Going Through A Difficult Time As He Wraps Up 2023

    WWE put fans through a wild ride in 2023, but it has been even more strenuous for the Superstars involved. As we wrap up the year, Sami Zayn has a special word he would like to share with those who stood behind him through it all.

    Sami Zayn’s Rise In WWE

    Sami Zayn entered WWE’s main roster landscape as a former NXT Champion, but it took a while to really get momentum going for him. Some would argue that 2022 was his breakout year, with a Bloodline story taking over the WWE Universe’s fascination.

    Sami Zayn continued through 2023, and picked up the Undisputed Tag Team Titles alongside Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 39, as they beat The Usos. It’s been quite an experience for the Underdog from the Underground, and the year is almost over.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogAdlxq-ytY

    Sami Zayn’s Heartfelt Post To Fans

    Sami Zayn posted to Instagram, where he provided an update for his upcoming WWE tour schedule. In the caption, he spoke about a difficult time that he’s been going through, but he’s so happy to have these cities to travel through as he closes out, what has been, an amazing year.

    Haven’t been very active on here lately. It’s been a very crazy and in some ways a difficult time for me, but I’m very grateful to be in these great cities with such great fans to end what has been such a remarkable year. This life has been too good to me. My career has been so unbelievable, every show is a gift. Thank you all, just know I am very happy to be there with you guys.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1Ujx3BrqFB

    Sami Zayn’s Upcoming WWE Tour Schedule

    • December 26th – Madison Square Garden, New York City
    • December 27th – TD Garden, Boston
    • December 28th – Bell Place, Montreal
    • December 29th – Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto
    • December 30th – Los Angeles, KIA Forum
  • Giulia Candidly Discusses Benefits & Drawbacks Of Leaving Japan

    Giulia Candidly Discusses Benefits & Drawbacks Of Leaving Japan

    WWE has signed several notable stars from Japan over the past few years. Their roster now includes Shinsuke Nakamura, Akira Tozawa, IYO Sky, Asuka and Kairi Sane. The company seemingly has a renewed interest in Japan, as evidence by their new partnership with AJPW. That also brings up a big question about who may enter WWE next from the Japanese wrestling scene.

    Giulia’s Interest in Leaving Japan

    There are expectations for Giulia’s potential arrival in WWE, but she hasn’t even visited the Performance Center yet. Despite expressing an interest in possibly sticking around joshi wrestling, Giulia has shown curiosity about joining an overseas company.

    While speaking to Bunshun, Giulia shared her experience working outside Japan. The 29-year-old joshi star emphasized the need to enhance her skills in Joshi professional wrestling as well.

    Giulia also acknowledged the unique opportunities available for her outside Japan, which she calls “overseas.” She then hinted at prioritizing improvement in Japan before considering a move to WWE or anywhere outside of Japan.

    “From the beginning, I had a desire to compete overseas, but I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be better to raise the profile of women’s pro-wrestling in Japan first? The STRONG Women’s is the belt that changed me. A belt that will change you.”

    “Overseas is good too, but I want to do it in Japan. But the world is big, isn’t it? You can have experiences that you cannot get only in Japan. Knowledge too. I learned that by going to America to defend the title.”

    “When you’re absorbing new things like now, everything is a learning experience. I want to learn more. I want to level up more. Ultimately, I hope to be able to utilize my overseas experience in order to pass it on to my juniors in women’s pro-wrestling and preserve the history.”

    WWE’s Interest in Giulia

    WWE has been interested in signing Giulia for a minute, with reports indicating an expected visit to the WWE Performance Center. Despite the initial buzz, Giulia has yet to make the anticipated visit, leaving fans speculating about her potential move.

    AEW reportedly backed off of Giulia, as they haven’t shown any interest in signing her since WWE is in the picture. Giulia could have a few lucrative options open for her at this time. The important part is that she also has interest in pursuing them.

  • Hulk Hogan Recalls Christmas Mishap With NHL Legend

    Hulk Hogan Recalls Christmas Mishap With NHL Legend

    Christmas brings along happiness for everyone but mishaps can still occur. One such incident has been shared by WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan which involved NHL legend Wayne Gretzky.

    It has come to light that the mishap took place decades ago right before Christmas. Both Gretzky and Hogan recalled that it occurred on Christmas Eve.

    They recalled that it happened when both were living just outside Los Angeles in Thousand Oaks. The two legends in their respective sports went on last-minute Christmas shopping and the valet mixed up the nearly identical cars of Gretzky and Hogan.

    This led to Hogan driving home with Gretzky’s car–and presents–while Gretzky did the same behind Hogan’s car. Recently, on This Past Weekend with Theo Von, Gretzky shared how he and Hulk Hogan accidentally wound up with each other’s Christmas gifts–and cars.

    Hulk Hogan shares his thoughts on the incident

    Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Hogan shared his memories of that moment and he joked that he didn’t want to give the car back.

    “I didn’t want to give the car back. He had all the expensive stuff in his trunk, I had toys in mine. I thought the presents might save my first marriage, but I had to give the car back.”

    ‘The Hulkster’ then laughed over the mix-up and said that hockey was not his passion sport while he was growing up. He praised the legendary Canadian NHL player Gretzky for having the ability to turn people into lifelong fans. We could tell that Gretzky managed to turn Hogan into a huge hockey fan.

  • NFL Legend Calvin Johnson Hails Roman Reigns As ‘Badass’

    NFL Legend Calvin Johnson Hails Roman Reigns As ‘Badass’

    NFL legend Calvin Johnson recently spoke highly of his former Georgia Tech football teammate and current WWE superstar Roman Reigns.

    Roman Reigns might be a household name in the world of pro wrestling but he had a run with Georgia Tech football team. Johnson shared the locker room with Reigns back in the day during their time in the football team. 

    Roman Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa?i. played on the defensive line and Johnson has lauded his toughness and leadership skills. The WWE Universal Champion made a reputation for his ferocious tackling on the field and as a locker room leader. 

    Calvin Johnson sheds praise on Roman Reigns

    Reigns’ leadership was recognized by his teammates and he was eventually voted the team’s co-captain. Speaking with TMZ Sports, Johnson said:

    “He was just always like a badass, He didn’t say much, but when he did say something, you listened.”

    In his collegiate career for the Yellow Jackets, Roman Reigns has played 25 games and racked 65 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He penned a deal with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. In addition to this, he had an offseason stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He decided to end his professional football career by 2008 and eventually joined WWE.

    Roman Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble 2024

    Roman Reigns is not only leading The Bloodline but also has been on an unstoppable run. His ongoing historic title reign has crossed 1,213 days. He has destroyed whichever superstar has tried to dethrone him in the past three years. Recently, he had a successful title defense against LA Knight at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

    Roman Reigns will now put his title on line at the Royal Rumble next year. The winner of the triple threat match featuring Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles will be the new #1 contender at New Year’s Revolution edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

  • Dominik Mysterio Sits Down For Another Tattoo Session

    Dominik Mysterio Sits Down For Another Tattoo Session

    WWE Superstars are known to rock tattoos, and Dominik Mysterio has quite a collection going. Now, he has added even more ink to his canvas.

    Dominik Mysterio’s character evolution has been noteworthy, transitioning from being underestimated as a babyface to a top heel in WWE. Alongside Finn Balor, Damian Priest, JD McDonagh and Rhea Ripley, Dominik has a great family in The Judgment Day. That faction is known for causing chaos in WWE, and most of them are covered in tattoos.

    Much like his Judgment Day family, and his actual father, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio is known for expressing himself through tattoos. Dirty Dominik was recently seen getting a new lip tattoo on his hand at Chrome Lady Tattoos. 

    ”The hometown favorite @wwe , @dominik_35 had sit down with me here @thechromeladytattoo #pureclass #dirtydom #sandiego #sd #ink #tattoo !!! : @wolfeden.media … I do not own the rights to this music”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1SKZ_iRS8A

    Dominik Mysterio Had A Great 2023

    Dominik Mysterio has been a part of WWE’s stories since he was a child, far before he got his first tattoo. Now, at 26-years-old, Dominik Mysterio is a full-fledged WWE Superstar, covered in tattoos, and enjoying a brand-new WWE contract.

    2023 was a good year for Dominik Mysterio, with 66 days as NXT North American Champion. Odds are, he will keep up that workhorse mentality to make 2024 even better. He will also do so with a bit more body art.

    WWE Superstar Tattoos

    WWE Superstars used to have to ask the office for permission before they got new tattoos, or changed up their look in any way. 

    Permission was needed because WWE wanted to keep consistent marketing with renders, toys, video games, and everything else you can imagine in the WWE machine. With the number of current WWE Superstars who get new ink on a regular basis, we have to wonder if WWE has relaxed on that tattoo policy.

  • CM Punk Reveals His Favorite Holiday Tradition

    CM Punk Reveals His Favorite Holiday Tradition

    WWE star CM Punk recently talked about his favorite Holiday tradition amid Christmas celebrations.

    WWE has been adding to the holiday spirit as they have delayed their live events until the final five days of the year. CM Punk, who recently made his return to WWE spoke with his biggest fan and NXT star Cora Jade. In a TikTok video, they reminisced about their ways of celebrating the holidays.

    It is needless to mention that Cora Jade is a massive fan of CM Punk, and a video of her meeting the star while she was a child went viral in the past. Years before she joined WWE, Jade was spotted being emotional while meeting Punk. They finally had a reunion at NXT Deadline during a backstage interview with Jade. Punk told her that he is proud of how far she has come.

    CM Punk loves putting up the Christmas tree with AJ Lee 

    Cora Jade recently posted a new video with CM Punk on her Instagram which saw her being asked to name her favorite WWE holiday traditions. The former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion said that she loved meeting superstars during the holiday tour and showed an image of her meeting Punk back in the day. 

    Punk then revealed that his favorite Christmas tradition is putting up the tree with his wife, former superstar AJ Lee. 

    Cora Jade is aiming to capture the NXT Women’s Championship currently held by Lyra Valkyria. Meanwhile, CM Punk will make his in-ring return to WWE in the upcoming WWE live event match against The Judgm
    ent Day’s Dominik Mysterio.

  • The Undertaker Says The Locker Room Was ‘Pissed’ When The Streak Ended

    The Undertaker Says The Locker Room Was ‘Pissed’ When The Streak Ended

    The Undertaker says that people backstage were ‘pissed’ when The Streak came to an end at WrestleMania XXX.

    The Dead Man’s 21-match undefeated WrestleMania streak is one of the most incredible achievements in all of pro wrestling. So much so that the former World Champion even holds a Guinness World Record for this accomplishment. Not only do the fans consider it to be one of the greatest things ever done in wrestling but even talents behind the scenes saw it as a grand achievement.

    The Last Outlaw opened up about the importance of the Streak during the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast. He mentioned how people first started taking a note of it after his 10th victory over Ric Flair at WrestleMania 17:

    “Shortly after the Flair match, that’s when the streak really came alive. It really became special. There were guys that will tell you, and there’s still guys that would tell you like, ‘I don’t care if I’m the main event or not. I want the streak.’

    It was such a huge attraction ‘Who is going to be?’ It gets up there 13-0, 14-0. It’s like, ‘oh, is this the guy that is going to beat the streak?’ I’m not the one to tout my own horn but on many occasions, it was as important as whatever the main event was. Is this guy the guy that’s gonna bust the streak? It was just a really special time.”

    ‘They Were Pissed’: The Undertaker

    Unfortunately like all good things, this record was also broken at WrestleMania XXX when Brock Lesnar finally conquered The Streak. According to The Undertaker, people behind the scenes were as emotional in the moment as the fans in the arena and around the world:

    “Among fans, even amongst the talent because most of the guys were, they were pissed. They were like, ‘Man, The Streak shouldn’t have been broke.’

    That’s the business.I don’t have any decision in that but a lot of the boys that were part of making that streak something, making it mean what it meant. They were like ‘Damn man, why are you taking away? Why are you taking away such a vital part of WrestleMania?’ It was like ‘This is as important as a title match.’

    More originals from SEScoops:

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit Six Feet Under With Mark Calaway with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

  • McKenzie Mitchell Still Supports WWE & NXT After “Blessing” Of Being Released

    McKenzie Mitchell may no longer be employed with WWE, but the former interviewer is excited to see what’s next in her life. 

    Mitchell was released from WWE last month, with her release coming as something of a surprise to fans. Rather than being among a crop of on-screen talent cuts, Mitchell was cut alongside several employees from WWE’s corporate offices to be cut. 

    Why Mitchell’s Release Was a Blessing

    McKenzie Mitchell joined WWE in 2019 and had worked for IMPACT Wrestling before joining. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Mitchell shared her take that her exit from WWE isn’t an end, but rather the beginning of something new. 

    “I think that once the dust has settled, it’s been really, it’s a blessing. I think that there’s so many new beginnings and I’m excited to see what’s to come in the future. The outreach and the support that I’ve gotten from friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, production staff, executives in WWE, and the fans most importantly, has just been insane. 

    “That’s what made me emotional when I got released. Being able to hear from everyone how much I impacted their opinion when watching WWE and when watching NXT. That’s what made me emotional was hearing from all of the people. Their favorite moments from my career. Their favorite interviews that I’ve done and the magic that was made on screen. That made such a big impact on me, to see what I made on them.”

    When asked about how she’s processing her release, Mitchell spoke about how she’s been working hard on her non-WWE ventures and spoke about her husband Vic Joseph. 

    “I think this is a way to say there’s a new beginning in everything and just [be like] okay, what’s next? I have my jewelry business so I’ve been putting all my effort into that and my creativity there. It’s almost my full-time. My husband [Vic Joseph] still works with the company obviously. So that’s really interesting that he’s still there and I’m not. I don’t know if people know that we were the first couple on the announce team. Genuinely, an announcer and an announcer that are married. So we really figured it out there.”

    Mitchell also made it clear that despite her abrupt release, she still supports WWE and is always pleased to see her husband succeed in the promotion.

    “I’m still so supportive of WWE and NXT and I still watch him and I still text him good luck before every show. I’ve still, obviously, all my friends are still there. So I’m still supportive regardless [of my release from the company.]

    Mitchell was recently announced for WrestleCon weekend in early April. The convention will take in Philadelphia during WrestleMania 40 weekend. 

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

  • Watch: The Rock Recreates Iconic 90s Look & Sings in Christmas Video

    Watch: The Rock Recreates Iconic 90s Look & Sings in Christmas Video

    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been celebrating this festive season by delivering a throwback to his iconic fanny-pack look from the 90s. 

    The image of a young Johnson, wearing the fanny pack, turtle neck, and gold chain, has been a meme for some time now, with fans loving how quintessentially 90s the ensemble is. 

    This week, Johnson recreated his 90s look to celebrate Christmas. In a video shared to Instagram, the Brahma Bull shared his rendition of ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.’ Johnson’s version refers to his 90s look and encourages fans to “take a look at my amazing clothes.” Johnson ends his performance with a pat of his fanny pack. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1TT5lSLvkv

    Reactions to The Rock’s Video

    The Rock’s Instagram video scored close to 2 million likes in the first four hours after it was published. In the comments, WWE Superstar and fellow third-generation Superstar Natalya described the video as “Epic!” Kevin Hart, who Johnson often collaborates with, shared a wall of crying with laughter emojis. 

    Is a Return in the Works? 

    Following The Rock’s surprise return in September, rumors once again circulated that a return to the ring could be happening. During a recent appearance for Make-A-Wish, the Brahma Bull told a young fan “a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE.” It was reported recently that WWE is eager to get The Rock to appear at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The promotion’s first event in Australia since 2018 will take place in February of next year and will be WWE’s final main roster PLE before WrestleMania 40 in April. 

  • Cody Rhodes Went the Extra Mile to Make a Young Fan’s Christmas Even Better

    Cody Rhodes Went the Extra Mile to Make a Young Fan’s Christmas Even Better

    WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes was in an especially generous mood as one very lucky young fan found out on Christmas Day. 

    On Twitter, a fan named Kenny shared that they had sold a figure of the American Nightmare to another fan, who was buying the toy as a gift for their seven-year-old child. Kenny asked if Rhodes could send a signed photo to make the child’s Christmas extra special. 

    In an update, Kenny shared that Cody went the extra mile to make the seven-year-olds Christmas extra special. We don’t know if Cody sent a signed photo, but he sent the kid named Carson a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. The father would tell Kenny that he had made Carson’s day. 

    Cody’s Generosity Knows No Bounds

    This is hardly the first time that the American Nightmare has shown his generous side. At WWE live events, Cody has been competing in Extreme Rules matches and has been gifting pieces of a broken table to those in the crowd. After last week’s Raw, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan. 

    What’s Next for Cody Rhodes? 

    Cody will compete in next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, the same bout he won in January of this year. If he wins, Rhodes will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Rumbles (the others being Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Win or lose, many have predicted that Rhodes will face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. 

  • Programming Note About Special Best-Of SmackDown On December 29th

    Programming Note About Special Best-Of SmackDown On December 29th

    WWE is closing out 2023 with a special episode of SmackDown. The December 29th episode will be a recap of the greatest moments of the year, and now we have more details.

    WWE SmackDown December 29th Plans

    WWE SmackDown won’t air live on December 29th, opting for a special show instead. Despite the non-live format, FOX will deliver a two-hour broadcast filled with highlights. This week’s episode is dedicated to the Best of 2023, providing fans with a retrospective look.

    TV Guide shared a preview of the episode, promising a special night revisiting the standout moments of 2023. No live matches will be featured on the show, but the two-hour show will be full of big moments.

    Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves relive the absolute best matches and moments from 2023, featuring John Cena, Logan Paul, and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

    Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves will guide viewers through the year’s best matches and highlights, featuring notable figures like John Cena, Logan Paul, and the reigning WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

    WWE Best of 2023

    WWE SmackDown in 2023 saw big stories on the blue brand, including the dominance of the Bloodline. It will be interesting to see what they include in the upcoming best-of episode, because you could fill a full show with just highlights of Roman Reigns and his stable.

    WWE SmackDown in 2024

    Looking ahead, SmackDown’s New Year’s Revolution special will mark its return to live television on January 5th, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. That episode is already loaded with matches, and you may find that card below.

    WWE SmackDown January 5th New Year’s Revolution Card:

    • Santos Escobar vs. Kevin Owens – Tournament final to determine the #1 contender for the WWE United States Championship at Royal Rumble
    • Butch and TBA vs. Pretty Deadly
    • Iyo Sky (c) vs. “Michin” Mia Yim – WWE Women’s Championship
    • Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs LA Knight – Triple threat match to determine the #1 contender to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble

  • McKenzie Mitchell’s First Post-WWE Release Appearance Booked For WrestleMania Weekend

    McKenzie Mitchell’s First Post-WWE Release Appearance Booked For WrestleMania Weekend

    WWE had a great 2023, but they also fired a boatload of people this year. Apart from the 100 plus people they fired from their corporate headquarters after the TKO Group Holdings merger went through, they also laid down some big roster cuts. A few of those main roster Superstars are now free agents, and they’re taking dates. McKenzie Mitchell also lost her job with WWE recently, but she’s ready to get back out there.

    McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE Release

    McKenzie Mitchell served as a host for WWE across various media platforms and NXT. She shared the news of her departure from the company on X, as she was fired along with several others at WWE headquarters.

    McKenzie Mitchell’s Big News

    On Christmas day, McKenzie Mitchell had an announcement. It was officially revealed that she will be at WrestleCon in April, marking her first wrestling engagement post-WWE.

    Scheduled for April 4th to 7th, McKenzie Mitchell’s appearance aligns with WrestleMania weekend. She would probably have been around the area for the big weekend, since she is married to Vic Joseph. Now fans have a chance to meet McKenzie in person.

    Many were shocked by McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE release. She called on fans to rally behind WWE re-hiring her, but so far she’s still a free agent.

  • JoJo Offerman Posts Heartfelt Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas

    Christmas is a time to think of those we hold dear, even if they are not with us anymore. Bray Wyatt’s name is certainly being spoken today, as so many reflect, and those who knew him well are remembering the great man that the world lost.

    Bray Wyatt made a much-hyped return to WWE television during Extreme Rules last year. That marked his triumphant comeback after being released in 2021.

    Sadly, the program with LA Knight that transpired after that was his last match, as he was taken from us on August 24th, 2023.

    Despite having so many possibilities upon Bray Wyatt’s return, those creative ideas will remain unfulfilled after his untimely passing.

    JoJo Offerman’s Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas

    Bray Wyatt’s fiancée, JoJo Offerman, recently shared an emotional post reflecting on the challenges of spending the first Christmas after his demise. She penned a caption that shared her thoughts about losing the man she loved, and their Christmas traditions that she misses during this time.

    JoJo Offerman also included a photo of herself, sitting with a glass of wine, while looking at a Christmas tree that was decorated with care. It was also impossible to miss the Bray Wyatt painting that was also placed over their fireplace, right above the family’s stockings.

    ”Merry Christmas Eve my love. It’s been 4 months without you and it still gets harder. Especially now, because Christmas was your thing. You LOVED going all out for the kids. You did the shopping and I did the wrapping. That was our routine. And you got the coolest shit I swear lol trying to do Christmas the way you would have has been so hard. And I’ve broken down every single day. I miss you so much. The kids miss you so much. We wish you were here. But I know you’re here in spirit and I hope I made you proud baby. I love you more than words Windham, forever.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1Qo3mNtDO1

    WWE is Taking Care of Bray Wyatt’s Family

    Bray Wyatt’s sudden passing at the age of 36 deeply affected fans and the wrestling community. Four months later, and those wounds are far from healed after losing an absolute genius like Bray Wyatt.

    JoJo Offerman has been transparent about her journey in coping with the profound loss, providing updates on her experiences. WWE has also taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family, by giving him a Legends Deal, releasing a Legacy Collection of merchandise, and making sure that all proceeds go to JoJo Offerman.

    Bray Wyatt is gone, but he is far from forgotten. We will have him in our hearts, as the whole world is still in his hands.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1QpHcmtdrF

  • Chelsea Green Wanted To Wrestle Cardi B In ‘Chelsea’s Got Talent’ Pay-Off

    Chelsea Green Wanted To Wrestle Cardi B In ‘Chelsea’s Got Talent’ Pay-Off

    Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville were going strong as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Then a devastating knee injury took Deville out for the count. Piper Niven replaced Deville, but a Chelsea’s Got Talent idea was in the air prior to that decision. Although it was ended prematurely, Chelsea Green had big goals for that angle.

    Chelsea Green Unveils Original Plan For Chelsea’s Got Talent Angle

    While speaking to Spencer Loves Interviews, Chelsea Green opened up about her original plan for that Chelsea’s Got Talent angle. They didn’t see it to the end, but she had a big goal in mind.

    Cardi B is on the bucket list for a few WWE Superstars, and it seems that Chelsea Green also wanted to take on the WAP rapper.

    “If I’m being honest. I wanted Cardi B. If I couldn’t get Cardi B, I wanted to wrestle Cardi B. There was just so many good options in Chelsea’s Got Talent. What I really liked is that we saw people from all over. We did see main roster talent and announcers. We saw Cathy Kelly. We saw R Truth, but we also saw really amazing NXT talent that people hadn’t really seen yet. Karmen from NXT auditioned. We saw reality stars, like Heidi Montag from The Hills. So it could have been anyone and I hadn’t decided yet. It was only just the preliminary rounds. Nobody made it to the semifinals and the finals.”

    Cardi B & WWE

    Carbi B was rumored to be a part of SummerSlam a couple of years ago, because they used “Up” as the official song. Those plans were nixed when she revealed during the 2021 BET Awards that she was pregnant. That took her out of the running to make the trip for WWE.

    Although Cardi B hasn’t taken part in any WWE events yet, that idea is not dead. Her recent social media activity against her soon-to-be ex-husband Offset has rivaled the most heated WWE promos we can think of.

    What’s Next For Chelsea Green In WWE

    Chelsea Green and Piper Niven lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles to Katana Chance and Kayden Carter during the December 18th episode of WWE RAW. Odds are, Green will try to get those titles back, because she has already initiated a social media campaign to get justice for that loss. 

  • Bret Hart Looks Back At Famous WrestleMania 13 Double Turn With Steve Austin

    Bret Hart Looks Back At Famous WrestleMania 13 Double Turn With Steve Austin

    Bret Hart was a part of many famous moments in WWE history. The Hitman is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, and he fought hard to keep his spot in the company. Many fans see WrestleMania 13 as a massive turning point in Hart’s career, but it was also the start of an even bigger change for the pro wrestling business.

    Setting Up WrestleMania 13

    While speaking to Inside the Ropes, Bret Hart remembered his big feud against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. The Texas Rattlesnake was just getting momentum, and that was reflected by the changing audience at the time.

    Bret Hart mentioned that he had a match with Steve Austin at the previous Survivor Series, and they wanted to take time building a rematch. Bret was originally scheduled to face HBK at WrestleMania, but Shawn Michaels went home to “find his smile,” and the match between Hart and Austin was put together at the last minute.

    “The audiences were changing in that time period. Especially I remember particularly on the East Coast. I think that was probably due to ECW but the fans started to kind of find it was more fun to cheer the bad guys and piss the good guys off. So they were there to kind of make trouble at the shows lot of the times and they’d start chanting for all the bad guys. During that time period, I noticed that it really changed the atmosphere of the matches.”

    “I remember a lot of the good guys having a lot of trouble getting reactions and the bad guys were getting, like Steve Austin was getting all the reaction in the world. You could sort of sense that he was gonna become a babyface, and guys like me would move over to the side. I just saw it as a chance ‘So I should just change styles. I’ll just wrestle like Bret the Hitman, the old Hart Foundation days.’ It wasn’t such a hard transfer for me. I could work heel or babyface pretty easy.”

    The WrestleMania 13 Match

    When it comes to building the match, Bret Hart stated that it was “pretty nice” how they went about it. Then, when they showed up for the match, there wasn’t much of a plan in place.

    “So it was just building up pretty nice. I think my momentum was going pretty well. But when I showed up to wrestle Steve at WrestleMania 13. I don’t think either one of us had much of a plan for the match. I remember we started talking about it in the dressing room. I was like ‘So what are we doing?’ And he was like, ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do?’

    “Me and Steve, we were just kind of trying to figure it out. We sat on the ring apron and we just started talking about it and I said ‘The way I see this fight or this match is like a school fight’ I was sort of the guy that was the cool guy in school. [I was] popular with everybody and I was maybe the quarterback on the football team kind of thing. Steve Austin was the new guy that came to school, [who] had a shaved head, was kind of a badass. The way I remember talking to Steve about it is like ‘So this should be like a school fight and all the fans are basically all the kids at the school watching this flight.’ That’s where we started kind of the psychology of the match and how we should build it.”

    Steve Austin & Bret Hart’s Future In Pro Wrestling

    Bret Hart hasn’t wrestled a match since he teamed with John Cena to beat Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez on September 12th, 2011 during an episode of WWE RAW. Hart didn’t do much in that match, but it still wrapped up his career in WWE.

    Steve Austin, on the other hand, is not 100% retired from in-ring competition. You can never say never with him, although there are no reported plans for him to lace up his boots again any time soon. His match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 was proof that the Texas Rattlesnake can still go in the ring.