More has come to light about Charlotte Flair’s situation and potential injury during this week’s episode on SmackDown.
This week’s show was WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops show and saw some of WWE’s top Superstar appear on the broadcast. Raw’s Cody Rhodes thanked the troops in attendance and around the world while CM Punk made reference to his AEW firing in an explosive promo. In the main event of the show, Randy Orton teamed with LA Knight to defeat The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa.
Update on Charlotte Flair
During the latter part of her match with Asuka, Flair was obviously hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. PW Insider reports that Flair was setting up for a move but slipped and got caught on the ropes, wrenching her knee and striking her head. The move was not shown on TV as it took place during a commercial break. When WWE returned to the live broadcast, the commentary team said that Asuka had taken Flair out.
While the incident was not broadcast, fans at the show in Providence, RI caught the incident, which you can see above.
Flair was walked out by officials after the match and was seen telling senior WWE referee Charles Robinson about her knee. It’s been reported that “there was absolutely some concern among others talents about her knee specifically.” At this time, WWE has not given an update on Flair’s situation and it is unclear if she will miss any time.
The tournament brackets have been revealed to determine the next challenger for United States Champion Logan Paul.
On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, Paul announced the tournament to determine his first challenger. The Maverick said that while he would love to give Rey Mysterio a rematch but is unable to due to Mysterio’s injury. Paul captured the title from the WWE Hall of Famer at Crown Jewel 2023, giving the YouTuber his first taste of championship gold in WWE.
The U.S. Championship Tournament Brackets
On this week’s SmackDown, WWE gave the first-round tournament brackets for the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. The brackets are as follows:
Santos Escobar Vs. Dragon Lee
Bobby Lashley Vs. Karrion Kross
Austin Theory Vs. Kevin Owens
Grayson Waller Vs. An NXT Superstar to be announced
Two of the first-round matches took place on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Bobby Lashley defeated Karrion Kross to advance to the semi-finals, while Santos Escobar defeated Dragon Lee. Lashley and Escobar will face off in the next round.
This week’s SmackDown was an episode to send the Ruthless Aggression era fans a trip down memory lane, as it featured names such as Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton and CM Punk.
WWE also confirmed the brackets for the announced US Championship #1 contender tournament during the night as the competition kicked off.
The show opened with a first-round match that saw Santos Escobar defeating Dragon Lee. The second tournament match of the night then featured Bobby Lashley who beat Karrion Kross.
CM Punk’s announced appearance on the show gave fans a lot to talk about. The Straight Edge Star cut a promo, making references to Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes and the Brawl Out incident that eventually led to his AEW departure.
What Happened After SmackDown
In the main event of the show, Randy Orton teamed up with LA Knight against the common adversary in The Bloodline. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa represented The Bloodline in the match but they couldn’t get the win.
Orton picked up the victory by delivering an RKO to Jimmy Uso. The broadcast ended with Randy Orton holding up the hand of LA Knight as the pair stood tall.
This wasn’t the end of action however, as fans got to see a rematch between Gunther and Chad Gable after SmackDown went off air. The two arch-rivals put on another great match reminding people of their previous encounters. The bout, however, ended in a disqualification with Gable picking up the victory.
The second dark match of the night saw Cody Rhodes once again taking on Dominik Mysterio. Cody cut a promo after winning the match and he then gave away another table to end the show.
Before the show closed this week, they confirmed a few things for the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX. Roman Reigns will be back on the blue brand next week, so that will be a big draw. Only time will tell if he answers CM Punk’s call-out from this week.
Fans will also see Grayson Waller face off against an unnamed NXT Superstar in the 1st round of the United States Championship tournament. It was said that Shawn Michaels will hand-pick that Superstar. Also, Kevin Owens will battle Austin Theory in another 1st round match.
Kevin Owens has a broken hand, which they mentioned on commentary. That should add another layer to his match, because it nixes his infamous KO punch.
We will have to see who comes out on top when SmackDown goes live on FOX next week. For more updates, keep checking back with SE Scoops.
December 15th, 2023 WWE SmackDown Card
Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown
Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory – 1st Round United States Title Tournament Match
Grayson Waller vs NXT Superstar – 1st Round United States Title Tournament Match
What are you looking forward to most on SmackDown next week? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
WWE brought a loaded show for the December 8th episode of SmackDown. CM Punk shocked the world with a pipe bomb of a promo. Sadly, it appears that Charlotte Flair didn’t have quite as good of a night.
Charlotte Flair went after Asuka this week on SmackDown, but she had quite an uphill climb with Damage CTRL around. The two had a singles match, and that did not end well for Flair.
Flair needed to be helped out of the ring during WWE SmackDown according to multiple fans who were in attendance.
Real ugly spot toward the end, rushed to the finish. Charlotte Flair says “My knee” as she’s helped out of the ring. Seemed to hurt her neck, too. Just awful, wishing her the best. #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/kjMFIyOQix
The end of the match went down as Charlotte Flair looked for the Figure-8, but then Bayley emerged through the crowd. Flair ran over and knocked her off the apron. Bayley’s distraction allowed Asuka to secure the win. With a happy expression, Bayley exclaimed, “YES! I did that!” as Asuka celebrated her victory.
It appears this is the spot where the injury occured:
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) December 9, 2023
Of course, injuring Charlotte Flair was not the intended outcome of this match. We’re hoping that Charlotte Flair is okay. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more updates.
What’s your take on Charlotte Flair and Asuka’s match during the 12/8 WWE SmackDown? You can also check out a video of Charlotte Flair being helped off this week. Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media.
CM Punk wasn’t expected to make a return to WWE at Survivor Series, but it happened anyway. He made his big return to the SmackDown brand for their December 8th episode, and it was quite an appearance for the Tribute to the Troops.
CM Punk opened up his promo by proclaiming that, since his promo was at the 9:00 PM EST hour, then he wouldn’t get his time cut. Then Punk brought up how Adam Pearce wants him to be exclusive to the RAW brand.
After saying that he will leave his brand future to the fans, CM Punk asked if they want him to be a RAW Superstar, and they booed that idea. The fans cheered when Punk asked if he should join SmackDown instead.
CM Punk then said that it’s not about “what do you want to talk about,” it’s about “who do you want me to talk about?” Punk said he could tell some stories about Cody Rhodes, but then he directed his focus to “someone who’s never here, Roman Reigns.”
"…I begin MY journey of finishing MY story and that means one thing…
Mentioning Roman Reigns’ name brought a huge pop from the WWE Universe, as he said that he was the OG Paul Heyman Guy. Punk gave a shout-out to Jey Uso, but then he suggested that he stick around SmackDown to scrap with Jimmy Uso, “but Jimmy Uso has endless cousins.”
Best In the World!: CM Punk Makes WWE Return At Survivor Series 2023
This is when CM Punk made a crack about his All In confrontation with Jack Perry. He made his way there by saying that he and Kevin Owens are too much alike, after suggesting that he may have a match with him.
“I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel about working with someone who randomly punches people backstage … I mean it’s 2023, you just can’t be doing that, that’s insane.”
This was followed by some massive CM Punk chants from the crowd. Then CM Punk drew attention to Seth Rollins, by calling him out as he somewhat encouraged the crowd to sing his theme song.
CM Punk will make a decision about his brand future on the 12/11 episode of WWE RAW. Punk said it’s not about finishing his story, it’s about finishing what he started.
After hyping up the crowd with his promo, CM Punk made it clear that his goal is to main event WrestleMania 40. He dropped the mic after that, as the fans cheered on the Second City Savior.
What’s your take on CM Punk’s latest promo? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
CM Punk’s return to WWE sent shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world. WWE fans were more than excited to welcome the Second City Savior back, and he will grace the SmackDown brand this week for their December 8th episode. Now we have a bit of a spoiler about what they are planning for this week.
WWE has a lot of plans in motion, and they are shifting some things after CM Punk’s arrival. A huge name like his will certainly carve out a substantial spot for himself on the WrestleMania 40 card.
Wrestle Votes noted that CM Punk is set to really amp up his WrestleMania direction on the December 8th episode of WWE SmackDown. It was noted that Punk will cut a promo, but it wasn’t spoiled who the target will be.
I’m told CM Punk’s in ring segment tonight on SmackDown will focus on his desire to “main event” WrestleMania 40. It’s clobbering time….
CM Punk never got that WrestleMania main event match during his last run in WWE. He may have returned during the perfect time to capture that WrestleMania moment for himself in 2024.
CM Punk has garnered praise since his return to WWE. Even Jey Uso said that Punk is on “a Tribal Chief status” in his reaction to Punk’s comeback. Fans have stood behind Punk, and they have also bought a ton of merchandise.
CM Punk is a free agent, so that gives WWE the freedom to have him float between main roster brands. All signs point to Punk mixing it up with Seth Rollins on RAW first, but fans may see some very important WrestleMania seeds planted on WWE SmackDown this week.
I’m told CM Punk’s in ring segment tonight on SmackDown will focus on his desire to “main event” WrestleMania 40. It’s clobbering time….
What’s your take on CM Punk appearing on WWE SmackDown this week? Are you watching the show live? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
WWE is on the long road to the Royal Rumble on January 27th, and you never know who may show up. Fans might see a familiar face on SmackDown this week, because a WWE Hall of Famer is around who has been known to mix things up.
A former WWE Champion is present backstage at today’s WWE Smackdown in Providence, Rhode Island. It was reported on Fightful Select that Corey Brennan has learned that former WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield is at the show.
As of this writing, “It’s unclear as of now whether or not he’ll appear on-screen.” JBL hasn’tbeen around the WWE main roster in a while, but you never know if he could start a new run with the company. Even if he’s just around to visit, JBL is always welcome backstage in WWE.
JBL was paired up with Baron Corbin earlier this year, and they had a nice run as a duo. As much as he tried, JBL wasn’t able to make a champion out of Corbin. That partnership ended, and JBL really rubbed salt in the wound upon his exit.
JBL last appeared on WWE programming on November 21, announcing the qualifiers for the Iron Survivor Challenge for NXT Deadline. That was a nice treat to see JBL on NXT television. Lita, Mick Foley and Jerry Lawler also appeared in those segments to announce Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier matches.
We will have to see if JBL shows up on WWE SmackDown this week. We will have coverage of the show, here at SE Scoops.
What’s your take on JBL showing up backstage at SmackDown this week? Do you want to see more from him on WWE programming? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
Don’t worry, ladies, LA Knight is still on the market.
Instead of “I do” many fans were led to believe that LA Knight said “YEAH” to tying the knot this week as photos surfaced of him in a golden tuxedo standing by his girlfriend, Michelle Yavulla.
The photo, which could just as easily be taken for any kind of formal event, was captioned that Knight got married and much like any rumor, caught on like wildfire on social media.
Knight himself was certainly amused by the notion of his supposed nuptuals and took to social media to laugh them off.
“If anybody finds pictures from the wedding I’m hearing I was part of this week, I’m excited to see them! I must have blacked out, because i don’t remember any of it. Please send.”
If anybody finds pictures from the wedding I’m hearing I was part of this week, I’m excited to see them! I must have blacked out, because i don’t remember any of it. Please send.
LA Knight Has A Big Night This Week On WWE SmackDown
LA Knight will have a much different kind of “partner” this Friday night on WWE SmackDown as he’ll be teaming up with Randy Orton to take on Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline.
Orton himself is no stranger to feuding with The Bloodline as he blames the faction for being the ones to put him on the shelf for over a year. Orton just made his return at WWE Survivor Series and now has Roman Reigns in his sights, a fight that could very well go down at Royal Rumble 2024.
WWE and AEW often run the same markets, but there was an issue with Tony Khan’s company booking a lot of the same venues at times. It appears that issue is in the past.
In June, Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE was actively trying to prohibit their venues from booking AEW events. It was written:
“There is an interesting note that in arenas that do rent to both AEW and WWE, WWE has put clauses in its deals that AEW can’t run a certain number of weeks before or after the WWE show, and also that AEW and the arena can’t announce the show or sell tickets until after the WWE show has taken place.”
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that WWE is no longer blocking AEW from running certain venues. The Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto was cited as an example, because AEW just announced a show at that venue, despite the fact that WWE is running the same building. Dave Meltzer reports:
It is notable that the new owners are not as vigilant, or maybe because of the lawsuit, regarding AEW having dates get out and tickets put on sale in buildings they are running shows in. AEW announced its return to Toronto even though WWE has a show in the same Coca Cola Coliseum
WWE’s current antitrust lawsuit with MLW may have also played into the company altering their tactics. They used to have a much different mindset toward the idea of AEW running the same venues that they do.
Tony Khan has previously expressed his appreciation for competition in professional wrestling, but he emphasized the importance of ethical practices. During the press conference following Double or Nothing, he noted that this hasn’t always been the case “from the other side.”
A WWE-imposed clause once restricted AEW from booking events seems to be a thing of the past now. We will have to see how this situation pans out in the future.
AEW has been having apparent issues packing their houses in recent memory as well. Either way, WWE will not stop Tony Khan’s company from running those venues, as they have apparently altered their philosophy on the matter.
What’s your take on WWE no longer restricting venues from booking AEW shows? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
Vince McMahon shocked the pro wrestling world when he retired from WWE, a company he led for decades, only to come back and usher in a WWE sale. That sale never happened, but a merger did take place with the UFC, as Endeavor facilitated that corporate joining into TKO Group Holdings. Now, we have a new update on Mr. McMahon.
We previously reported that Vince McMahon has zero plans to leave WWE, despite selling so much company stock. He made that quite apparent with his most recent move by attending the company’s Holiday party.
PW Insider reports that Vince McMahon made a very rare appearance at WWE headquarters this week.
Vince McMahon, who has not been seen much at WWE Headquarters of late, was at the company’s annual holiday party, which was held at the new HQ for the first time this past Wednesday evening.
It was reported that Vince McMahon, who wouldn’t usually attend the holiday party in the past, was present and actively engaged in conversations with numerous company employees. Several attendees described him as “easy to talk to” and “cordial.”
It was also reported that, unlike previous years, there were no WWE Superstars present at the event. Typically, there would be around four to six WWE talents at the gathering to meet and interact with employees. Instead, they got Vince McMahon, and it seemed that he was in a mood to socialize.
Following the Endeavor acquisition, Vince McMahon’s involvement in the company has significantly decreased, and he has been rarely seen at the new Headquarters. This was a rare sighting for Mr. McMahon around WWE HQ, but it seemed to be a good one.
Endeavor gave Triple H their blessing, and he is off to the races in his booking direction. Vince McMahon has virtually zero input in WWE creative now, but he still has a reason to stop by headquarters.
What do you think about Vince McMahon’s most recent sighting at the WWE Headquarters? Let us know your opinion by engaging with us on social media!
WWE is making plans for the remainder of 2023, but they might not write anything for Sami Zayn at this point. The Underdog from the Underground may be getting a little break from the company.
Sami Zayn’s ascent in WWE was notable, and he remains one of the top Superstars on the red brand. After the December 4th episode of WWE RAW, he might be missing from the red brand for a stretch of time.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that Zayn recently asked management for time off and that request was granted.
“It looked like they were doing an injury angle with McIntyre and Zayn when McIntyre stomped on Zayn’s bad knee. I don’t have it confirmed Zayn will be off for a while due to that, but do know that he had asked for time off recently and was granted it, but wasn’t told when that would begin…
He was not scheduled for 12/28 show in Laval, Quebec that would normally be built around him, as that was during the scheduled break, although it is possible they could have him do that show.”
Sami Zayn may get a little break from WWE as they kick off a new year. That will also mean that WWE will have to go without him as well. Sami Zayn’s profile as a WWE Superstar was certainly elevated over the last year, so they will lose a considerable amount of star power with his hiatus.
WWE also used that beatdown angle during the December 4th episode of WWE RAW to further Drew McIntyre’s storyline as a heel. He has a real mean streak going now, and it appears that took Sami Zayn out of action. Drew McIntyre’s contract situation is also an interesting discussion point.
Sami Zayn could get a break from WWE and still make his return to WWE by January 27th’s Royal Rumble premium live event. As it stands right now, he may get a little break from the road.
Drew beating Sami backstage like Sami’s got a break coming.#WWERAW
What’s your take on Sami Zayn missing time with WWE? Has he seen the biggest rise out of any Superstar in recent memory? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media.
The Superstars of Monday Night Raw will be able to spend Christmas Day with their loved ones rather than compete on the three-hour show.
With Christmas Day falling on a Monday this year, there have been questions as to what this means for the red brand. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was pointed out that no show is being taped for the December 25, episode of the red brand. Instead, the plan is for a ‘Best Of 2023’ show to fill the three hours instead. While WWE hasn’t publicly confirmed this plan, one executive told the Observer that to the best of his knowledge, the reports of a ‘Best Of’ show are accurate.
WWE & Christmas Day
This news will come as a relief to the Raw roster, who would much rather spend the special day with friends and family than at work. In 2017, WWE hosted a live Christmas Day episode of Raw, meaning the 25+ Superstars who appeared on the show, in addition to the numerous crew members, had to be away from their families on Christmas Day. The practice earned WWE considerable backlash from fans at the time.
That show saw some of WWE’s top Superstars appear across the three hours. In the opener, John Cena defeated Elias, while later in the show, Samoa Joe defeated Roman Reigns by disqualification. In the main event, Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins captured the Raw Tag Team Championships from The Bar.
Get into the festive spirit with these five epic Holiday-themed moments. Click here to see what made the list.
In early November, the pro wrestling world started buzzing over word that WWE had interest in signing Giulia. That initial report led to some confusion over whether the STARDOM and New Japan Pro-Wrestling star was actually a free agent and when she may be available to sign with another company.
In the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer that WWE and Giulia have spoken on several occasions. Sadly, the part about her going to Orlando’s WWE Performance Center for a visit wasn’t true in the end. That being said, she still hasn’t told anyone in Japan which way she is going with things.
Regarding Giulia, the update is that she has not made her mind up and that she and WWE have spoken several times of late. They’ve talked enough that there is something to the story, although the story she was going to the Performance Center at this time ended up not being accurate. But she has not told those in Japan that she’s staying nor that she’s leaving.
There’s no guarantee that Giulia will end up making her way to North America. Bushiroad, the parent company of STARDOM and NJPW, is likely to work hard to keep her. There is a lot of fuss over the 29-year-old breakout star right now, whose could become a free agent in a matter of months.
WWE has a lot of money to throw at contracts for talent that they feel will benefit their operation. Someone like Giulia could see a lot of success in WWE, but she is also having quite a time in STARDOM at the moment.
Do you think WWE will end up signing Giulia to a contract? Would Triple H make good use of her? Let us know what you think about this by engaging with us on social media!
Soon, the fans speculated the reason behind Seth’s outrage towards ‘The Second City Savior.’
Speaking with Sports Illustrated Media, Seth Rollins explained the reason behind his reaction at the show.
‘The Visionary’ claimed that Punk badmouthed him for years and made some harsh remarks that did not sit well with Rollins. He further said that he felt insulted by the way Punk treated him. Here is what he said:
“He (CM Punk) said some really bad things about me. Talked down about me for years, and the company (WWE), for years. I’m talking some really bad stuff. Called me a bootlicker and crap like that.
You don’t know me. You don’t know what I stand for. I’m a loyal person, and I felt pretty insulted by a lot of the ways he treated me, treated the place I work for, treated friends that I worked with.
I don’t need to get into any of the stuff with Colt Cabana if you want to look at that kind of stuff, that’s out there”
This week, Punk will appear on the Tribute to the Troops edition of WWE Smackdown. He will then appear on next week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw and will receive a contract from Raw General Manager, Adam Pearce. This will put an end to his current free-agent status and officially join the red brand.
WWE's hottest free agent @CMPunk returns to #WWERaw next week and it looks like @ScrapDaddyAP has some major planning to do…
It will interesting to see the development of the feud between Rollins and Punk.
As it stands, it’s just the beginning of their feud. If recent reports are to be believed, Punk could be in line for a feud with the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns as well.
Drew McIntyre’s recent heel turn provided a breath of fresh air for his character, but the real question is how much longer WWE will have him around. Despite his current run on top of the red brand, McIntyre’s future in WWE is uncertain.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer stated that, much like Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract was also frozen during his injury hiatus. This will ensure that the former WWE Champion will be with the company “through WrestleMania.”
It was also noted that Drew McIntyre hasn’t signed a new deal with WWE yet. At this time, he is considering some time off, but there was also doubt that he would sit out any considerable amount of time due to his current momentum.
“In the case of McIntyre, as of this week, there was nothing new as far as what he was looking at doing. He’s considered a number of things, including taking time off to be with his family that he’s seen little of for so long. But he’s also in his prime earning years with the chance to probably make the most money in his career”
Drew McIntyre has made a name for himself outside WWE before, so he might just do that again. Saying that you want some time off for your family is also a good way to let your contract expire, even if there are All Elite intentions.
Drew McIntyre got fans talking when he stormed off after WarGames at Survivor Series. He was working, so that reaction was not authentic. The fact that he got the internet talking in such a way only further drives home his influence.
Tony Khan would almost certainly love to have the Scottish Psychopath on AEW television. Drew McIntyre has also worked with several members of the AEW locker room in the past, so it’s anyone’s guess what he will do next.
Drew McIntyre will be around WWE “through WrestleMania,” so fans can likely expect a program for him on the road to the show of shows in 2024. Then McIntyre will be at a very important crossroads for his career.
What’s your take on Drew McIntyre’s contract situation? Where do you think he will land next? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
WWE has announced The Undertaker is bringing his ‘1 deadMAN SHOW’ to Royal Rumble weekend.
The show will take place on Sunday, January 28 from Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Florida, the day after the Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
About The Show
The Undertaker’s 1 deadMAN Show
UNDERTAKER 1 deadMAN SHOW features the WWE Hall of Famer in an intimate setting, sharing never-before-heard stories and answering questions from the audience.
The show has sold out venues in Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Antonio and London since debuting.
Tickets
If you’re in town for the Royal Rumble, this could be a great way to cap off your weekend. Tickets will be available to purchase next Friday, December 15 at RutheckerdHall.com.
An exclusive pre-sale will begin at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, December 14. A limited number of VIP tickets, which includes premier seating and a meet-and-greet with The Undertaker, will also be available.
Wyatt was considered one of the most creative minds in pro wrestling and had unparalleled mic skills. Over the years his gimmicks evolved. ‘The Eater of Worlds’ introduced the Firefly Funhouse in 2019 when he portrayed a character similar to Mr. Rogers and presented himself as a children’s television presenter. However, the character had a dark secret, later revealed as The Fiend.
‘The Monster of All Monsters’ was part of the Wyatt Family led by Bray Wyatt back in the day. Later on they went on to have epic battles as rivals as well.
Speaking to Bill Apter for Sportskeeda, Braun Strowman stated why he believes Bray was one of the best on the mic. Here is what he said:
“Bray Wyatt was, in my opinion, the epitome of talking on a microphone with his character work, being able to go in and out of all these multiple characters, see his facial expressions change, hear his voice change.
I don’t know anyone who’s done it, other than Paul Heyman, who’s just been timeless with what he does as a manager and stuff like that. But he still doesn’t have the range and abilities to go through these multiple different characters that Bray had inside of his head. So in my opinion, it’s Bray Wyatt.
Strowman has been on the shelf since the Summer after undergoing neck fusion surgery. He is hoping to return at next year’s Royal Rumble match. You can check out his comments below:
It’s been over two decades since the WWE Universe was introduced to John Cena on the June 27, 2002, episode of SmackDown. This week, Cena looked back at his debut match against Kurt Angle and poked fun at the unfortunate ring attire he wore for his first match on TV.
Randy Orton is back in WWE and is ready to take out every member of the Bloodline. The Viper will have the chance to do just tonight on SmackDown when he teams with LA Knight to face Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa.
Last week, WWE filed trademarks for a series of new names and now some have been appointed to NXT talent. PW Insider reports that Andrzej Hughes-Murray, a former LA Rams linebacker, will now compete as Dion Lennox. Kevin Robertson, a former Temple University defensive tackle will now be working as Kanu Carver.
Latest on WWE NXT Europe
WWE announced NXT Europe in 2022, but despite initial hopes for the brand to be up and running in 2023, that hasn’t been the case at all. Speaking on the pre-NXT Deadline media call, Shawn Michaels said that WWE remains committed to NXT Europe. WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative pointed at upcoming shows in Europe such as Bash in Berlin and WWE Backlash: France as a sign WWE has big plans for the continent.
A Women’s Royal Rumble Favorite
Next month, WWE will host its seventh-annual Women’s Royal Rumble match, with the winner earning a title shot at WrestleMania 40. In odds shared by Sky Bet, Bayley is the favorite to win next month’s match with 10/11 odds. Behind the Role Model is Jade Cargill (2/1), Becky Lynch (10/1), Raquel Rodriguez (10/1), and Charlotte Flair (12/1.) WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley share 16/1 odds.
While the Judgment Day have made it clear they’re not interested in Truth’s services, that’s not how the former 24/7 Champion sees things. Speaking on The Bump, Truth shared how he was able to get into the faction’s base.
“Door was unlocked. They’re a very trusting group, and they’re more humble than you think. I’m trying to hook it up, you know what I’m saying? I’m that close from being in the group. I’m that close.”
As part of his application, Truth pointed out that he goes way back with reigning NXT North American Champion ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.
”I actually knew lil’ Dom when he was little, ‘Dirty Dom’ is what they call him — I’ve known him since he was little. [He and Lil Jimmy] they hung around each other all the time. It makes sense. And you know, JD [McDonagh], we’ve got to work with JD. His attitude, his temper, it’s not becoming.”
R-Truth isn’t the only wrestler interested in joining the Judgment Day. Click here to find out which WWE Hall of Famer sees himself as a future member.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Lex Luger wanted to prove every one of his doubters in the World Wrestling Federation wrong when he jumped ship to WCW.
After three years with the WWF, Luger returned to WCW in 1995 and appeared during the debut episode of WCW Monday Nitro. Not only did Luger appear on Nitro, but due to the pre-taped nature of Raw, he also appeared on the WWF flagship show that was aired that same night.
Proving His Doubters Wrong
Luger’s arrival in Nitro was a shocking way for WCW to introduce their new show, and was deeply personal for Lex himself. Speaking in a WWE YouTube video about the best matches and moments of his career, Luger reflected on his Nitro debut being a closely guarded secret backstage.
“Nobody in WCW other than Hogan, Sting, only a handful of people knew I was going to be coming out at that match. And I walked into the position [backstage] and guys were like ‘What are you doing here? Aren’t you still wrestling for WWE?’ Not anymore. I wanted to make it all the way to the top, still I wanted to prove to all the naysayers in WWE.
“My contract was coming up. I had planned on resigning up until a couple of weeks before that with WWE. It would’ve been a new two or three-year contract. And then they [WCW] invited me to come under contract back home in WCW and debut in that show as a surprise. That was like lightning how that went down.
The White Shirt
For many, the most iconic moment of Luger’s appearance on Nitro isn’t what he did in the ring, but rather his puffy white shirt. Speaking about his choice of attire, Luger was just as perplexed as to why he was wearing the oversized shirt.
“It was a custom-made shirt for an NBA guy in Atlanta. Kevin Willis, played 23 years in the NBA, he made my suits and everything. People ask me about that moment, that shirt, all the time. Because I was always the guy with his shirt off so everybody’s expecting me to come down and no matter what, I was going to take my shirt off right? But the shirt stayed on. I’m honestly not sure why I kept the shirt on but I did.
“It’s unbelievable how people talk about that and want to see it in action figures and everything, the big white shirt, it’s crazy. I gave it to a young man I’m mentoring, who could be the next Total Package.”
Concluding, Luger appreciated the response fans gave him at the debut Nitro, which would set him up for a role as a headliner for WCW for years to come.
“Quite the response from the crowd at the Mall of America. I was like, man. I felt like if there was any wavering confidence at WWE at the time of where my direction of my character and career were going, when I got in that ring, it felt right.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Will Bray Wyatt’s first WrestleMania since his return to WWE go ahead without the former Universal Champion?
Wyatt was controversially released from WWE in July 2021, with his final match being his WrestleMania 37 loss to Randy Orton.
The Eater of Worlds returned to WWE at last October’s Extreme Rules event in the climax of the ‘White Rabbit’ storyline.
WrestleMania Doubts
Ever since Elimination Chamber 2023, WWE has been teasing a WrestleMania match between Wyatt and Bobby Lashley.
Last Sunday, Wyatt did not appear as advertised for a WWE live event in Madison Square Garden, and it has been reported that he has been dealing with a physical issue.
During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer answered questions about Wyatt’s status for WrestleMania.
“From what I understand, the match is still on for WrestleMania, and he should be back very soon. So we’ll see. But that’s pretty much all I can say, I mean there is something to it but I’m not at liberty to discuss it, but it’s not, as far as I know everything that I’ve been told is that it’s not a creative issue or anything like that.”
Dave Meltzer.
Lashley’s Match
Should Wyatt be forced to miss WrestleMania, that will leave Lashley without a dance partner, which does not sit well for the All-Mighty.
On Twitter, the two-time former WWE Champion has seemingly distanced himself from the Bray feud and has said he’ll fight anyone at WrestleMania.
I’ve worked too hard to be denied.
I will be ready to fight on the biggest stage of them all, #WrestleMania.
John Cena has opened up on the sexual misconduct allegations made against Vince McMahon for the first time public while speaking with the AP.
The former WWE CEO retired from this position and Chairman amid the sexual misconduct scandal last July. However, after thinking he got bad advice, he returned to the company at the top of the Board of Directors this past January.
The Relationship
Regarding whether it was tough to reconcile his feelings for McMahon after the allegations were made, Cena stated that everyone makes mistakes, and he still loves his longtime boss.
“No. I mean, everyone has the right to have their perspective. I have the right to have mine. When you love somebody, you take them as imperfectly perfect as they are. We all make mistakes, we all have poor decisions. Lord knows I’ve made my collection of poor choices. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to love somebody. There’s no way I can go on record and say I don’t love Vince McMahon.”
WWE Sale
One of the reasons that McMahon returned to WWE was due to him wanting to explore a potential company sale. Cena was asked about it, but noted that he didn’t know what was going on.
“That’s way above my paygrade. I just don’t know what’s going on with that. I love Vince McMahon. He’s everything you could want in a great friend, business partner, father, mentor. I love the man. But his business dealings are his business and what he shares with me, that’s between us. But I don’t know what’s going on with the corporate structure in the WWE or the creative direction of the WWE. But when I’m there as a performer, it’s (WWE champion) Roman Reigns’ show. In my mind, he needs to be in the conversation, and in my mind, he’s the greatest of all time.”
Cena was spotted at McMahon’s 77th birthday party last August. McMahon made his first appearance at a WWE event since returning last Monday at Raw when Cena made his return to WWE.
