SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • WWE Told Bryan Danielson He Could Never Be “The Guy” After WrestleMania 30

    WWE Told Bryan Danielson He Could Never Be “The Guy” After WrestleMania 30

    All Elite Wrestling superstar Bryan Danielson has revealed that he was told a disheartening comment about his place in WWE.

    WrestleMania 30 on April 6, 2014, marked a big moment for Danielson as he ended the event as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. While WrestleMania positioned Danielson as the face of WWE, it would be short-lived as he had to lose the title due to an injury on June 9, 2014.

    He would return to in-ring competition for WWE on Jan. 15, 2015, to resume his career. However, he suffered another injury months later that took him out of action and made him retire from wrestling for two years. Danielson would return to wrestle in WWE at WrestleMania 34 on April 8, 2018, and he ended his career with the company on May 5, 2021.

    In an interview with Uproxx, Danielson revealed even after his win at WrestleMania 30, WWE didn’t consider him the face of the WWE. Uproxx’s Raj Prashad transcribed the following quotes.

    “After WrestleMania 30, when I had won the championship and just main evented WrestleMania, they had a meeting with me where it was like, ‘Okay, what we’d really like is to do is to set this other guy up to be the guy,’” he says. “I think the phrase was the next John Cena. And I was like, ‘I would like to be the next John Cena,’ (and they said) nobody can be John Cena.”
    He continued, “I literally just main evented WrestleMania, and you’re already telling me directly — and I actually appreciated that — that you don’t see me as the guy,” he continues. “That’s good for me because (I knew) this is what I have to overcome if I want to be that. I never got there in WWE as far as being the company’s guy. “

    Bryan Danielson

    New Opportunities For Bryan Danielson in AEW

    Bryan Danielson
    (via AEW)

    In AEW, Danielson has earned different opportunities to become the “company guy” he wasn’t in WWE. On March 5 at AEW Revolution, Danielson will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship. He believes in AEW when you defeat the AEW World Champion, you are considered “the guy” in the company.

    “The AEW World Championship is the centerpiece of the promotion,” said Danielson. He explained, “You can’t say that about every wrestling company in the world, but you can say that about AEW. That’s why guys like Jon Moxley have been considered the man in AEW for the last couple years, Kenny (Omega), a little bit after that. When you’re the champion, you’re the one in charge of carrying the company. And it would be … for really the first time since I was in Ring of Honor that I’d get the opportunity to do that.”

    It’s unclear if AEW will have Danielson remove the title from MJF on March 5. However, AEW presents a chance for Danielson to be considered “The company guy” for a major wrestling promotion.

  • Reason Why WWE Changed Finish of Elimination Chamber Match

    Reason Why WWE Changed Finish of Elimination Chamber Match

    WWE presented the final PLE before WrestleMania 39 last month with the Elimination Chamber event, headlined by the highly-anticipated match between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn. 

    Another match featured on the card that included two top stars was Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley, a trilogy bout between them. WWE needed to change the match’s finish because plans for “The Beast” had changed at WrestleMania. 

    As previously reported, WWE did consider several opponents for Lesnar at the event, including Steve Austin, Gunther, Lashley, and Bray Wyatt. Lesnar nixed the idea of wrestling Wyatt.

    The Finish

    Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE had to change up their plan for Elimination Chamber with Lesnar and Lashley because of the change to Lesnar’s WrestleMania direction. 

    The original plan called for Lesnar to go over Lashley clean to move on to a match with Wyatt at WrestleMania. Once that planned bout was off the table, WWE had Lesnar get DQ’d and Lashley going over. 

    This is why Wyatt did the promo on SmackDown ahead of the PLE, where he told the winner of the match to run because he was going after them. Lesnar is scheduled to wrestle Omos at WrestleMania. 

    Brock Lesnar Nixed Idea for Huge WrestleMania 39 Match – Vince McMahon Involved?
  • Bryan Danielson on His Final WrestleMania Match: “It Meant Nothing To Me”

    Bryan Danielson on His Final WrestleMania Match: “It Meant Nothing To Me”

    Bryan Danielson had a wild 2021 as he went from being a top star in WWE to disappearing from the wrestling business for months to making his debut for AEW. 

    In the main event of WrestleMania 37 – Night 2, Danielson worked with Edge and Roman Reigns in a triple threat match for the Universal Title. It was Danielson’s second WrestleMania main event. He previously won the World Heavyweight Title from Randy Orton in a triple threat match that also included Batista in 2014 at WrestleMania 30. 

    Danielson decided not to renew his contract with WWE and took the summer off before signing with AEW instead of staying with WWE. 

    The Match

    While speaking with Sports Illustrated, Danielson noted that the WrestleMania 37 match didn’t mean anything to him. 

    “That was a match people enjoyed,” says Danielson. “It didn’t mean anything to me. I felt nothing. You have to remember—it was our first time back in front of a live crowd [since the start of the pandemic], and we were in front of thousands of people. I felt nothing during that match. I was trying my best, but it felt like I was going through the motions.

    Then I wrestled Roman in the ThunderDome in front of all these screens, and I loved that match. It was the perfect way for me to end my WWE career. Putting together the [WrestleMania] match, I could feel a little bit of my apathy, but that’s happened before and then I walk out there and I feel, ‘This is what I live for.’ That was very weird psychologically.”

    Danielson will challenge AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF in a 60-minute iron man match this Sunday at AEW Revolution. 

  • Wade Barrett Knows Which WWE Superstar He’d Return to the Ring to Face

    Wade Barrett Knows Which WWE Superstar He’d Return to the Ring to Face

    WWE SmackDown commentator Wade Barrett hasn’t wrestled in years, but the Englishman is ready to don his trunks one more time with the right opponent.

    Barrett debuted on WWE TV in early 2010 and after winning the first season of the original NXT, would form The Nexus with his fellow ‘rookies.’

    After a run with The Corre and winning the 2015 King of the Ring, Barett would part ways with WWE, before returning as a commentator in August 2020.

    One More Match

    At 42 years old, Barrett isn’t a fresh face in WWE but still remains in great shape, meaning one final match is a possibility.

    Speaking to the Daily Star, Barrett named reigning WWE United States Champion Austin Theory as someone he’d consider wrestling.

    “In terms of his personality, his confidence on the mic, his smarts behind the scenes and of course his athletic ability, he’s a guy who could really go to the top.

    “That’s the kind of person I would certainly be looking at if it was to be a youngster I’d step in the ring with.”

    Wade Barrett.

    Theory has certainly proven himself since his return to WWE’s main roster in 2021, and is in his second reign as U.S. Champion.

    Though not confirmed, it is believed Theory will face John Cena at next month’s WrestleMania 39, with the former World Champion returning on next week’s Raw.

    Comparisons

    Like Theory, Barrett was once a youngster who was pushed to the very top of WWE, as the Englishman was headlining Pay-Per-Views mere months into his career.

    In the interview, Barrett acknowledged the similarities between himself and the reigning U.S. Champion.

    “In terms of being easy to detest, early in my career a lot of people probably really hated me, too, when I was with Nexus… so I have some admiration for that – that impresses me even more about him.

    Wade Barrett.

    Barrett was moved to SmackDown last year as part of commentary reshuffles across all three brands and is filling in for Pat McAfee, who is working on ESPN’s College Game Day.

    “Always” – Wade Barrett Says he has the ‘Itch’ to Return to the Ring
  • Stevie Richards Checks In After Being Discharged From Hospital

    Stevie Richards Checks In After Being Discharged From Hospital

    Former WWE star Stevie Richards recently got released from the hospital in Florida.

    Richards took to his YouTube page on Wednesday to upload a short video clip where he expressed gratitude to those who reached out to him with their best wishes.

    “So, as you can see, I’ve been discharged from the hospital,” Stevie Richards said. “We got discharged yesterday afternoon. So thankful and grateful to be back home. The past four to five weeks have been – saying rough is an understatement.”

    Furthermore, Stevie Richards revealed that he plans to keep fans up to date with a road to recovery playlist on his YouTube channel. However, the uploads will not be frequent.

    Last month, Richards posted an image of himself using a walker and wearing a hospital gown. In the caption for the photo, the 21-time WWE Hardcore Champion said that he was optimistic about being able to recover soon. He promised to reveal the details of what was wrong with him in the near future.

    The former ECW star has been treated for a series of health issues. PWInsider reported that he has been dealing with back and spine issues. The report noted that his condition worsened in recent weeks, which is why Richards took a trip to the hospital.

    Stevie Richards also suffered a neck injury during an ECW event back in 1997, and Joey Styles noted on WWE.com back in 2008 that Richards had to be on the shelf to get that addressed over a decade later.

    Apart from WWE and ECW, Richards has also had stints with TNA/Impact Wrestling, as well as several independent promotions. His most recent match occurred in May 2019 as part of Beyond/WWR Wrestling, where he defeated Anthony Greene, who went by the name August Grey in WWE.

    We at SEScoops wish Stevie Richards a full and speedy recovery.

  • Cody Rhodes Explains Why He May Never Want To Face Dustin Rhodes Again

    Cody Rhodes Explains Why He May Never Want To Face Dustin Rhodes Again

    Cody Rhodes thinks he may never share the ring with Dustin Rhodes again.

    The two brothers had a highly praised match at Double or Nothing 2019. It was one of the matches that helped put AEW on the map which was won by Cody. Though this wasn’t the first time the two wrestling stars went up against each other, as they previously shared the ring in WWE as well. The bout happened at Fastlane 2015 where Dustin, then known as Goldust picked up the win.

    With both the Rhodes family members having a win over the other, fans often wonder if we will ever get a third bout to cap things off. When asked about it on the AJ Awesome Show, Cody explained why he may never want to face his brother in a match again:

    “Great question. I could say 100% it would happen because that’s how families work. You find each other again. Or I could also say 0%.” said Cody Rhodes, “The reason I can say 0% is because Double or Nothing was such a difficult match for both of us. It was widely respected by the industry. It was really special to us both [and] very hard to top as far as against one another.

    ‘He Has Earned The Right To Walk Away’: Cody Rhodes

    Cody Rhodes mentioned how Dustin has earned the right to walk away on his own terms. According to him, he wouldn’t want to hamper that by trying to get another match out of his brother:

    “Also I again, he has earned the right as a wrestler – who is a Hall of Fame level wrestler – He has earned the right to walk away. I wouldn’t want to hamper that or handicap it in any sense trying to get one last one out of him. So really, it’ll definitely happen or definitely won’t happen Because there’s nowhere in the middle on a repeat of something with us. I myself, I love what he’s doing now. I’m very proud of him and Dakota his daughter [who is a] photographer in the industry now. She’s in the family biz too. So very proud of what he’s been able to do and just unbelievable legacies left.

    I don’t cite him or credit him enough as one of my favorites growing up because he’s my brother, but absolutely one of my favorites. One of the highest honors I ever had was Double or Nothing. Because it meant a lot not just to each other, but it’s very important for what was starting there. That needed to happen for it to exist and it happened.”

    You can check out Cody Rhodes’ full interview below:

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    If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • The Judgment Day to Add New Members after WrestleMania 39

    The Judgment Day to Add New Members after WrestleMania 39

    WWE star Finn Balor is apparently planning to make new additions to The Judgement Day faction.

    The Judgment Day faction comprises of Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Damian Priest and Finn Balor since last September and they have been one of the mainstays in the programming.

    Since Mysterio joined the group, the sinister stable has rarely shown any signs of bringing in additional members. Balor recently discussed the idea of adding more members during the latest edition of WWE’s ‘The Bump.’ It seems that the fans might witness some fresh faces in Balor’s dark stable after the WrestleMania 39 Premium Live Event.

    Finn Balor could be expanding The Judgement Day

    “We are always planning,” he said.” “The Judgment Day are always planning; we’re always plotting, we’re always scheming. I’m always texting with Damian, we have a group chat with me, Damian, Rhea, Dom. We’re plotting, we’re figuring things out. And trust me, once we get ‘Mania behind us, The Judgment Day will be expanding.”

    The Judgement Day was originally created by the WWE Hall of Famer Edge when he portrayed a darker gimmick. He then recruited Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley in order to elevate their position on the roster. However, Edge’s idea backfired when he added Finn Balor to the group. Priest and Ripley turned on ‘The Rated-R Superstar’ ousting him from the group. The latest addition to the heel faction was Dominik Mysterio. He had joined the group after brutally attacking his father Rey Mysterio and Edge.

    Finn Balor recently challenged Edge to a match at WrestleMania 39. We are yet to hear what ‘The Rated-R Superstar’ has to say regarding it.

    We will have to wait and see what Finn Balor has in store for the fans.

  • Ric Flair Reveals How Much Money He Made From His Last Match

    Ric Flair Reveals How Much Money He Made From His Last Match

    The two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has revealed that he made a massive amount of money from his last match.

    Flair, who is foreseeing a third Hall of Fame induction, is one of the iconic names in the pro wrestling industry. ‘Naitch’ dominated the 80s. His in-ring prowess and mic work set a bar back in the day. However, the hard bumps in the squared circle took a toll on ‘The Nature Boy.’ Over the years he has dealt with several health issues.

    However, on July 31, 2022, the 16-time World Champion returned to the ring for the first time since 2011 at the Ric Flair’s Last Match event. He teamed up with Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett. The event aired on FITE and generated a lot of buzz due to the legendary career of Ric Flair. The match saw some heavy criticism, given his age and the way the legend faked a heart attack during the bout.

    Ric Flair reveals how much money he made

    Speaking on his To Be The Man podcast, co-host Conrad Thompson informed Flair that his last match came in third place for the Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic, behind only Vince McMahon’s appearance on WWE SmackDown amid allegations of sexual misconduct and WWE’s continuing relationship with Saudi Arabia.

    Ric Flair responded by stating that he made $300,000 dollars with his return to the ring.

    “I don’t pay any attention to that. You know what I got to say to that? I made $300,000 dollars. Go f*** yourself. That’s right. I made $300,000 disgusting you. Disgust yourself for $300,000, and get in the shape that I got in. How about that, motherf***ers?” he said.

    Flair recently made an on-screen appearance on the 30th Anniversary of Monday Night RAW.

  • William Regal’s New Role with WWE is a Perfect Fit for the Wrestling Genius

    William Regal’s New Role with WWE is a Perfect Fit for the Wrestling Genius

    New information is coming out regarding industry veteran William Regal’s recent return to World Wrestling Entertainment.

    Regal made his return to WWE on January 4 in the position of Vice President of Global Talent Development. Prior to that, he had a stint with AEW as the on-air mentor of the Blackpool Combat Club.

    Regal had asked AEW/ROH President Tony Khan to be let out of his deal with the promotion early so he could return to WWE to work with Triple H again and to be in NXT with his son, who wrestles as Charles Dempsey. He also revealed what he disliked about his AEW run.

    William Regal was written off AEW programming during an edition of Dynamite when AEW World Champion MJF attacked him with brass knuckles from behind. This was after Regal turned on Jon Moxley by costing him the title by helping MJF win it from him at Full Gear.

    William Regal’s Role in WWE

    Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com has provided some additional details regarding Regal’s new role in WWE. Regal has been at every RAW and Smackdown taping since returning.

    The report states that Regal watches and takes notes on every match and meets with talent afterwards to provide coaching on how they can improve their matches. Feedback includes advice on how they can improve their ‘selling’ and physicality.

    Regal previously worked with Triple H as an on-screen General Manager for the NXT brand. He also had his duties in recruiting up-and-coming talents. He ended his 22-year run with WWE when he was released from the Stamford-based company in January 2022. As it seems, Regal is having a great time in WWE following his return.

  • Alexa Bliss Reacts To Exclusion From Women’s History Month Graphic

    Alexa Bliss Reacts To Exclusion From Women’s History Month Graphic

    Alexa Bliss recently responded to a tweet from WWE about Women’s History Month that curiously omitted her from the graphic.

    Back in 2016, Bliss quickly embarked upon a mega-push to the top of the women’s scene upon joining the main roster. First putting an end to Becky Lynch’s inaugural SmackDown Women’s Championship run at TLC 2016, Bliss went on to enjoy a lengthy clawhold on the RAW Championship picture starting in 2017.

    Bliss’ reign of terror was essentially terminated by Ronda Rousey in 2018. The pair had two pay-per-view bouts, starting with SummerSlam 2018. There, Rousey squashed ‘Little Miss Bliss’ in a four-minute title bout. A more competitive rematch at Hell In A Cell that year ended with Rousey on top once again.

    In the years since, Bliss’ polarizing push has given way to a controversial run as a supernatural character. Tied in with Bray Wyatt’s seemingly endless horror movie hijinks, ‘Five Feet of Fury’ has transitioned into a bizarre, witchcraft-focused gimmick.

    “Not Surprised” – Alexa Bliss

    WWE’s recent graphic featured several key figures in the company’s women’s division, including Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, and Becky Lynch.

    A fan was quick to highlight the omission of Bliss despite her being a key figure in the division for several years now. In response, Bliss simply replied “Not surprised lol.”

    Rumors have swirled this year of Bliss taking another break from the company. At the Royal Rumble, she faced, and fell to, current RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. The feud between them revolved around the return of Bray Wyatt. Along with Wyatt, Uncle Howdy’s potential impact on ‘The Wicked Witch of WWE’ was focused on.

    WWE: Alexa Bliss attacks Bianca Belair

    Other rumors have suggested she will soon be fully thrust back into Wyatt’s kooky angles in time for, or straight after, WrestleMania.

    For now, there’s no clear reason as to why Bliss was left off the graphic.

    What do you think of Alexa Bliss’ booking so far this year?

  • Major Clues About Possible Future DLC for WWE 2K23

    Major Clues About Possible Future DLC for WWE 2K23

    A King of the Ring, a modern-day faction, and a Pyjama-clad powerhouse could be just some of the names coming to WWE 2K23.

    The latest installment in WWE’s video game franchise will release on March 17, with the Deluxe Edition being available for players on March 14.

    The game will have a special focus on John Cena, who celebrated 20 years on WWE’s main roster last June, including a Showcase Mode of some of his most iconic matches and moments.

    WWE 2K23 DLC

    While WWE 2K23 has a stacked roster, from top stars like Roman Reigns to fresh faces like Bron Breakker and Solo Sikoa, there is room for more Superstars as downloadable content.

    This week, 2K tweeted a QR code, which when scanned took fans to an interesting image, many have seen as full of DLC teases.

    Some potential Superstars in this image could include:

    • Bray Wyatt – QR Code & White Rabbit
    • Wade Barrett – It’s called the ‘Bad News’ Paper
    • Ivy Nile, Roderick Strong and/or Damon Kemp – Diamond imagery
    • Andre Chase – Chase U logo
    • Joe Gacy – Schism Tree
    • Wendy Choo – Sleeping Mask
    • Nathan Frazer – It says ‘Nathan Frazer’
    • Trick Williams – It says ‘Trick Williams’
    • Tony D’Angelo – It says ‘Don’
    • Harley Race – It says ‘Harley’
    • Eve Torres – It says ‘Eve’
    • Tiffany Stratton – Credit Card

    WWE 2K23

    WWE 2K23 will see the video-game debut of the WarGames match, which has been used in NXT in recent years, and on the main roster last November.

    MyGM mode will return, this time with longer match cards, more match types, and additional show options.

    Staples including MyRise and MyCareer will also return, and advanced customization features for the WWE 2K23 Creation Suite have been added.

    Female referees have also been added to the game.

    New WWE 2K23 Gameplay Trailer features WarGames
  • Cody Rhodes Says WWE Star Reminds Him Of Dusty Rhodes

    Cody Rhodes Says WWE Star Reminds Him Of Dusty Rhodes

    Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes are two very different kind of performers. Cody meticulously plans every part of his promo and he knows everything he is going to do in a match ahead of time. Kevin on the other hand is known for his spontaneous reactions. His ring awareness and the ability to adapt to things is one of the major reasons behind his popularity. This is probably also the reason why Owens reminds Rhodes of his father.

    The American Nightmare recently had an interview with The AJ Awesome Show. He talked about the former Universal champion during the interview and claimed that Kevin Owens reminds him of the late great Dusty Rhodes:

    “Kevin’s just a natural at everything. He’s one of those types that reminds me a lot of my dad. It’s funny cause I don’t remind myself of my dad at all but Kevin is one of those [that makes you go] ‘Yeah, he reminds me a lot of Dusty in a way’ and they had a little bond themselves.”

    – Cody Rhodes via AJ Awesome Show

    Owens and Rhodes are both involved in a multi-layered storyline with The Bloodline heading into WrestleMania. Cody won the Royal Rumble and he is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship in the main event of the show. Owens is working with Sami Zayn and they are expected to challenge The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Titles at the event.

    Apart from this, Cody Rhodes also talked about his plans after WrestleMania 39 and more. You can check out his full interview below:

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    If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • WWE Opposes Ex-Superstar/Current AEW Wrestler’s Trademark Filing

    WWE Opposes Ex-Superstar/Current AEW Wrestler’s Trademark Filing

    Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli may have found new success outside of WWE, but the wrestler’s former employer isn’t making things easy.

    In 2012, Castagnoli debuted on WWE’s main roster as Antonio Cesaro, though his first name would be dropped soon enough.

    Just under a decade after his main roster debut, Cesaro would opt not to re-sign with WWE in early 2022 and would debut for AEW later that year.

    Trademark Opposition

    On March 14, 2022, Castagnoli filed a trademark for the term CSRO, for the following uses.

    G & S: Hats; Shirts; Socks; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts

    G & S: Coffee; Coffee beans; Coffee drinks; Ground coffee; Ground coffee beans

    G & S: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes.

    PW Insider reports that WWE is opposing Castagnoli’s registration of the filing, and requested a 90-day extension on filing their opposition.

    Given that the initial complaint was made by WWE on February 28, they will have until Monday, May 29, if their request is approved.

    PW Insider did not disclose the reason for WWE’s opposition, though it is believed that the CSRO term is too close to WWE’s ‘Cesaro’ term for the promotion’s liking.

    Claudio Castagnoli Reveals When He Wants To Retire
  • WWE NXT Superstar Expected to be Called-Up After WrestleMania 39

    WWE NXT Superstar Expected to be Called-Up After WrestleMania 39

    A former WWE NXT North American Champion could be mere weeks away from being called up to the main roster in the post-WrestleMania 39 buzz.

    The Raw after WrestleMania has often been heralded as one of the most exciting nights of the WWE year, and traditionally features a call-up or two.

    Notable examples include Paige (AEW’s Saraya) winning the WWE Divas Championship in 2014, and Enzo Amore and Big Cass on the post-WrestleMania Raw in 2016.

    Called-Up

    The last time fans saw Cameron Grimes in NXT, the former Champion was losing to Joe Gacy on the November 8, episode of the gold brand.

    It has been reported that Grimes is finished with NXT, and that WWE are waiting on the right creative idea for his arrival on the main roster.

    In an update, PW Insider reported that there have been “rumblings internally” that Grimes will be called-up after WrestleMania 39.

    The former North American Champion has appeared on Raw in the past, as he enlisted the services of the O.C. during an October 22, episode.

    Grimes also competed on the October 17, 2022, episode of WWE Main Event, defeating Akira Tozawa.

    He has also competed for SmackDown, albeit in a dark match for the February 24, 2023, episode, where he defeated Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis.

    Cameron Grimes

    It was in January 2019 that the former Trevor Lee confirmed his signing with WWE, and began training at the Performance Center the next month.

    Grimes made it to the finals of that year’s NXT Breakout Tournament (which he lost to Jordan Myles.)

    After a knee surgery, Grimes returned to TV in February 2021, and referencing the rise in GameStop stock value, dubbed himself the richest man in NXT.

    In April 2022, Grimes would capture the NXT North American Championship, and would later challenge unsuccessfully for the NXT Championship.

    Cameron Grimes is Ready to Face one of WWE’s Greatest Superstars
  • Bill Goldberg: WWE “Owe Me” A Retirement Match

    Bill Goldberg: WWE “Owe Me” A Retirement Match

    WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg will wrestle for the promotion at least one more time, if he gets his way.

    Goldberg, one of the homegrown talent in WCW, debuted in WWE in 2003 and would capture the World Heavyweight Championship before departing in 2004.

    Returning in 2016, Goldberg has wrestled a handful of times each year, with his most recent match coming in early 2022.

    Retirement Match

    At 56 years old, the two-time former Universal Champion is well aware that his career is winding down, and plans to end things on his own terms.

    Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Goldberg made it clear that he believes he deserves a retirement match, after making his deal with ‘the devil.’

    “You never say never, especially in wrestling, and they owe me one. That’s all I can say. I made a deal with the devil and I did my job, and they owe me a retirement match. At the end of the day, at 56, it’s not something where I’m sitting by the phone waiting for a call. I’ve got a few ideas of how to do it on my own, possibly in Israel. So never say never.”

    Bill Goldberg.

    There are currently no reports of any plans for Goldberg to have a final match in WWE.

    Roman Reigns

    Goldberg’s most recent match for WWE came at Elimination Chamber 2022, where he lost to Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

    The match had been delayed by close to two years, as Goldberg Vs. Reigns was scheduled for WrestleMania 36 in 2020 before Reigns withdrew from the event.

    Speaking about the Tribal Chief, Goldberg had nothing but praise for his old adversary, and compared Reigns’ face run receiving fan backlash to his own career.

    “I’m really proud of him. I’ve dealt with some of that negativity, and it’s tough. You go out there, you work your ass off, and at the end of the day, you want to be appreciated. He’s quite dedicated. I respect that, I respect him, and I’d love to get in the ring and give him an ass-kicking, but this is his time.”

    Bill Goldberg.

    Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 39 against Cody Rhodes this April.

    Goldberg Recalls First Year In WWE Being The Most Stressful Of His Life
  • Eddie Kingston Quits AEW After Dynamite

    Eddie Kingston Quits AEW After Dynamite

    Eddie Kingston has quit AEW.

    The Heavyweight Star was part of the Face of The Revolution Ladder match for a shot at the TNT title on this week’s episode of Dynamite.

    Kingston attacked the former Inner Circle member Ortiz as soon as the match began. Eddie threw a ladder on the AEW star as others tried to win the match.

    The two continued this scuffle and eventually took it away from the ring. Eddie Kingston and Ortiz brawled on the top of the ramp and then took the fighting backstage.

    The two were not seen in the match after this and the announcers said that it took ten people to separate them behind the scene. The bout was won by Powerhouse Hobbs who climbed through a broken ladder to get the job done.

    Eddie Kingston Is Done

    After the Dynamite episode went off air, AEW posted the following video where Eddie Kingston was asked about the match and Ortiz.

    The Mad King did not answer the question about his former friend. He did however, proclaimed that he is quitting the company:

    Kingston has always been outspoken and he has never hesitated to share his feelings. He has recently been hinting at problems with AEW management and this appears to be the latest development in the story.

  • Update on WWE Moving Headquarters

    Update on WWE Moving Headquarters

    In 2019, WWE announced it was moving its headquarters and would be selling Titan Tower. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the move was put on hold.

    PWInsider is reporting that employees will begin moving to the new headquarters this month. They’ll moving employees over to the new building while renovations at Titan Tower are happening. It’s also to ensure the move goes as smoothly as possible.

    Details on the new WWE HQ

    WWE Headquarters

    At the new headquarters, all WWE employees will be under one roof. PWInsider notes that “currently, certain divisions of the company are housed in different buildings near the Tower, requiring the company to shuttle them from place to place. WWE also has a crossing guard on hand to assist employees as they cross from one building to another.”

    The new headquarters will be more technologically advanced than its current location. It’s also a short distance from the Stamford train station. Another note from PWInsider is that a source told them that the location is large enough to “put multiple Performance Centers in the building.”

    It’s expected that all employees will be moved into the new headquarters by the end of this year or early next year.

  • Vince McMahon Influenced The Booking of WWE WrestleMania Match

    Vince McMahon Influenced The Booking of WWE WrestleMania Match

    Ever since Vince McMahon made his return to WWE as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, there has been speculation on whether he would return to creative or if he had a say in the creative direction on the main roster. 

    Triple H took over creative last summer and has publicly said that he will get suggestions from McMahon, but he is still in charge, not his father-in-law.

    However, McMahon reportedly does have some influence over the WrestleMania card regarding at least one match. On this past Monday’s episode of Raw, WWE made the Brock Lesnar vs. Omos match at WrestleMania 39 official. 

    The Report

    The WrestleVotes Twitter account, which has broken several big stories in the past, reports that the idea did come from McMahon, who was high on Omos while he was still in charge of creative. 

    “I’m told the highly anticipated, very compelling Brock Lesnar vs Omos WrestleMania matchup was the idea of one specific, powerful person who pushed it through,” the tweet read. 

    It’s been reported by multiple media outlets that there have been several changes made to the WrestleMania card in recent weeks including Lesnar’s plans for the show as those were changed sometime within the last week or two. 

    Fightful Select reported that one person in the company thinks McMahon is running creative, but that hasn’t been confirmed and WWE sources have denied this.

    WrestlingNewsPremium reported just last week that people in WWE pointed out how this match is a sign that McMahon has been getting more involved with creative.

  • Sonya Deville Arrested in New Jersey Over Gun Possession Violation

    Sonya Deville Arrested in New Jersey Over Gun Possession Violation

    WWE Superstar Sonya Deville has been arrested after allegedly violating gun possession laws in the state of New Jersey.

    According to a report from TMZ Sports, court documents show that a valet contacted police on February 19, when they found a gun in the glove box of Deville’s vehicle.

    After an investigation determined that Deville did not have the proper permits to carry the weapon, the Superstar and former WWE authority figure was promptly arrested.

    Deville was charged with one count of unlawful weapon possession of a handgun without a permit.

    The Superstar, who recently announced her engagement to fiance Toni Cassano, is due to appear in court later this month.

    Possession of a firearm—including handguns, rifles, shotguns, machine guns, and assault weapons—without a permit is a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, according to Rosenblum Law.

    This article will be updated as more information is made available.

    Sonya Deville On Her Experience Of Working With Vince McMahon
  • Cody Rhodes Eyeing Several Post-WrestleMania Feuds

    Cody Rhodes Eyeing Several Post-WrestleMania Feuds

    Cody Rhodes has a date with destiny in just over four weeks when he battles Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 39. The American Nightmare seeks to fulfill his ‘American Dream’ and capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

    Rhodes is laser focused on WrestleMania, but that doesn’t mean he can’t look ahead and think about what awaits him after WWE’s biggest show of the year.

    During a recent interview with AJ Awesome, Rhodes revealed there are two WWE Superstars he is eager to work with after he gets through the Bloodline’s Tribal Chief.

    He began by saying, he will really need to be on his game to beat Reigns. He named several very talented people who were unable to do so, including Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson), Edge, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Drew McIntyre. However, if he can do the ‘impossible’ – he’d love to work with Johnny Gargano and Edge.

    Cody Rhodes on his Post-WrestleMania Plans

    Rhodes says wants to test himself against Johnny Gargano, because he remembers how intense it was when AEW went head-to-head with NXT during the ‘Wednesday Night Wars.’

    NXT was tough competition at the time and Gargano was one of their biggest stars. He says Gargano always delivers and is a wrestler’s wrestler. They’ve never worked together, they have different styles, so he wants to cross paths with Johnny Wrestling to see what they’re each made of.

    The other man he wants to work with is Edge. He’s told a few people that he wants to wrestle Edge, but never told Edge himself, because he doesn’t want to seem adversarial or confrontational. He questioned how much time Edge has left, which adds an extra sense of urgency to this potential match-up.

    He considers Edge a locker room leader who leads by example and isn’t shy to pull pepole aside and give them advice in a way that’s not overbearing.

    “He’s the real deal and he’s in that lofty air that very few are in and while he’s here, again, he could be here forever but while he’s here, I’d like to get that one,” said Cody.

    Elsewhere in the interview, Rhodes spoke about his Royal Rumble victory, saying it was somewhat poetic that he and Gunther were the final two men in the ring. He sees Gunther as one of the toughest men in WWE, which made his win that much more satisfying.

    Catch AJ Awesome’s interview with The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes:

  • Watch: Trailer for New John Cena Project with Kevin Hart

    Watch: Trailer for New John Cena Project with Kevin Hart

    John Cena’s expanse into the world of Hollywood has continued with his latest project with comedy staple Kevin Hart.

    Cena’s first foray into acting began in 2006 with the release of The Marine, a film the former WWE Champion had a less-than-favorable response to.

    In more recent years, Cena has gone from strength to strength, thanks to roles in major franchises including Fast and Furious and the DC Comics Cinematic Universe.

    Die Hart 2

    While Cena has becoming a leading man in Hollywood, the 16-time former World Champion has also taken on smaller projects.

    This week, the Roku Channel shared a trailer for the upcoming Kevin Hart vehicle “Die Hart 2: Die Harter” which features Hart, Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Ben Schwartz.

    The film serves as a sequel to 2020’s Die Hart, which sees Hart’s character try and make a name for himself as an action movie star.

    John Cena’s WWE Return

    Cena is certainly kept busy with his acting commitments, but the iconic WWE Superstar will soon be back in the ring.

    The two-time Royal Rumble winner has been confirmed for next week’s Raw in Boston, MA.

    While not confirmed, it is believed that Cena will resume his feud with United States Champion Austin Theory, culminating in a match at WrestleMania 39.

    The pair teased a feud in mid-2022, and a match between the pair was rumored for Summerslam 2022 last July, though never transpired.

    Cena’s most recent appearance for WWE was on the final SmackDown of 2022, where he and Kevin Owens defeated Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.

    Bizarre WWE Video Package is Reminding Fans of Sasha Banks
  • The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa Gets Married in WWE Superstar-Attended Ceremony

    The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa Gets Married in WWE Superstar-Attended Ceremony

    Solo Sikoa may be the silent enforcer of The Bloodline, but the former NXT North American Champion is also now a married man.

    After debuting in WWE NXT in 2021, Sikoa was called-up to the main roster at WWE Clash at the Castle last September.

    Sikoa aided Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in his title defense against Drew McIntyre in Cardiff, Wales.

    Married Man

    As seen on WWE TV, Sikoa’s loyalty to his family runs deep, and now the Anoa’I family has a new member.

    On social media, photos and videos were shared of the wedding of Sikoa and Almia Williams, who tied the knot this week.

    It is reported that the pair, who have two children together, got engaged in 2020.

    In a social media post of his own, Sikoa called his blushing bride “forever my blessing,” and add that she loves ‘Mrs. Fatu.’

    Some photos included in Sikoa’s post show the bride and groom posing with reigning Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy and Jey Uso.

    Fellow WWE Superstar Naomi, who is married to Jimmy Uso, also attended the wedding.

    Naomi has been suspended from WWE since May of last year, and it was recently reported that she is recovering from shoulder surgery.

    There are no photos that featured current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns or any other known members of the Anoa?i family.

    We here at SEScoops would like to congratulate Sikoa and Almia on their joyous union.

    Solo Sikoa Pays Tribute to Umaga on WWE Raw
  • WWE Hall of Famer Wants to Face Rhea Ripley in her Retirement Match

    WWE Hall of Famer Wants to Face Rhea Ripley in her Retirement Match

    The former WWE RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is currently one of the top stars in the women’s division. It has come to light that ‘The Eradicator’ has been considered to be the retirement opponent of a WWE legend.

    WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze (a.k.a Madusa) is a trailblazer and one of the greatest female stars to ever grace the squared circle. Her last match was in 2018 when she competed in the 20-woman battle royal at WWE Evolution. She recently expressed her desire to have The Judgement Day member as her last opponent inside the ring.

    Speaking to PWMania, Blayze talked about calling out Rhea Ripley. She went on to reveal that they had a backstage conversation during the 30th Anniversary of Monday Night RAW.

    Alundra Blayze wants Rhea Ripley as her retirement opponent

    “You’re, so funny. I already called her out. And I was walking past the makeup room whenever I was there for Raw XXX and I walked by I said, ‘yo girl looking good.’ Then I came back and stuck my head and I said, ‘you’d probably be a pretty good retirement match.’ She’s like, ‘Oh my God. That’s such an honor.’ She’s so funny. She’s a wonderful girl, though. Woman. Just amazing. I just say girl or kid because probably like 30 years younger than I am. You know?”

    Recently, at RAW XXX, Blayze returned to WWE in a backstage segment alongside other legends. She played poker in a tournament put together by fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons.

    Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley won this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Liv Morgan. ‘The Eradicator’ has now earned a shot at the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship currently held by Charlotte Flair. They are set to lock horns for the title at WrestleMania 39 this April.

  • Dakota Kai Reacts To Losing Women’s Tag Titles on Raw

    Dakota Kai Reacts To Losing Women’s Tag Titles on Raw

    Dakota Kai is sharing her thoughts about Damage CTRL losing the WWE Women’s Tag Team championships to Lita and Becky Lynch on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.

    Kai took to Twitter to react to the setback, noting that the pair still have more to give. She wrote, “We have so much more to give. I love @iyo_sky & @itsBayleyWWE with my whole heart.

    Becky Lynch and WWE Hall of Famer Lita recently joined forces to win the Women’s Tag-Team Championships. They defeated IYO SKY and Dakota Kai in the main event on this week’s RAW.

    Damage CTRL leader Bayley had been interfering in the title match and tried to assist her team in retaining the gold. At one point ‘The Role Model’ used one of the title belts to distract the referee and pulled Lita from the apron to stop her from tagging in.

    However, in the closing moments, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus made a shocking return. She ran down to the ring and attacked Bayley to even the odds. ‘Big Time Becks’ locked in the Disarm-Her on Dakota Kai, which gave Lita the opening to hit the Lita-Sault on SKY for the pinfall victory.

    Stratus, Lita and Lynch celebrated together in the ring as the show came to a close.

    Backstage after Raw, Lita, Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus spoke about the title change.

  • Jim Ross Recently Met With Former WWE Executive

    Jim Ross Recently Met With Former WWE Executive

    Jim Ross shared an interesting story recently about catching up with former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. 

    Ross was the Head of Talent Relations before he stepped down from the role and was replaced by Laurniatis, who held the role for years until 2012, when Triple H took over. From 2011 to 2012, he also served as General Manager while working as an on-air character. In 2012, Laurinaitus lost his position as one of the WWE’s producers. 

    In March 2021, Laurinaitis returned as head of talent relations, but let go in August 2022 when WWE launched an investigation in relation to the Vince McMahon-Wall Street Journal sexual misconduct story regarding a former WWE employee who had a sexual relationship with him. It was alleged that  Laurinaitis also had a relationship with the employee. 

    Ross knocked Laurinaitis in his book for the way that Laurinaitis treated him after taking over the role and using him. 

    Ross saw Laurinaitis with Dean Malenko at the AEW hotel during his trip to Phoenix, AZ for AEW Dynamite. He believes Dean told him that Laurinaitis was picking him up at the airport and that’s why Laurinaitis was there. 

    The Conversation

    “And I look up and here comes Raphael Morffi and Jonny Laurinaitis. And I’m thinking, ‘Oh, geez, I wasn’t ready for this conference. It wasn’t a confrontation at all. We had a nice conversation. I told him, I said, ‘you know, I’m too old and I’m trying to overcome these issues of my skin cancer and all the subsequent treatment. I got more important things to worry about than having a grudge, and living a grudge. So we kind of cleared the air and had a nice conversation. And I thought it took a lot of balls for him to come approach me, to be honest with you. Because he had read everything I’d written about, you know, him being a chicken sh*t. And I told him, I said I apologize for some of the things I said. I get emotional and there you go. So anyway, we had a nice little 10-15 minute chat.”

    Ross noted that he’s glad they got to talk and get it out of the way to let go of all the negative things. He said it was a surprise meeting and Laurinaitis was very sincere. 

    “And so I thought I’d share that with our folks here on the podcast. I haven’t talked about it at all. So this is breaking news. So anyway, it was good. It was surprisingly good. And I’m glad he stepped up and we had a nice clean talk conversation and cleared the air, so to speak. You know, I don’t know that we’ll be on each other’s Christmas card list. But nonetheless, I kind of admired what he said to me and him making the first move, because like I said, I forgot he was even coming. And I didn’t see him standing at the bar with Dean, and all everybody else that was there.”

    Ross speculated that Laurinaitis may be looking for work, but admired Laurinaitis for talking to him even though he seemed prepared for it. 

    “And he just got caught in a crossfire there seems to me like, made some bad decisions, apparently. I don’t know. We didn’t delve into his situation very deeply. But I was glad that we got at least got a chance to chat. Conrad, I’m 71 years old. I don’t know, I’m hoping I’m gonna be around a long time as I’m knocking on wood. But you never know. Right? We got no guarantees here. Tomorrow’s are not guaranteed. Tomorrow’s are not guaranteed. So it was an interesting conversation. Glad it happened and I wish him well.”

    Transcription courtesy of WrestlingNews.co