SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • NXT Announcer Parts Ways with WWE

    NXT Announcer Parts Ways with WWE

    Sudu Shah, real name Sudu Upadhyay, has confirmed that he has finished up with WWE after working as an announcer for the NXT brand. 

    In a post on Twitter, Shah issued a statement announcing that the NXT Level Up taping from Orlando, Florida, at WWE’s Performance Center on Tuesday night marked his final appearance for the company. He noted that he was grateful for his time with WWE:

    The Statement

    “Yesterday was my final day with the WWE. What an incredible experience working with some of the most talented people I’ve ever met.Thank you to everyone who watched and supported every week!”

    Shah first signed with WWE in January 2022 as a play-by-play commentator for the 205 Live brand before the cruiserweight show was replaced with NXT Level Up that February.

    Before joining WWE, he previously worked for Fox 5 News in Atlanta and was a sports anchor on WMC-TV in Memphis for three years, in addition to doing viral campaigns for the likes of ESPN, Bleacher Report, and SBNation prior to signing with WWE. In 2017, he was named a finalist in the Tennessee Associated Press Sportscaster of the Year award. 

    This announcement comes one day after Chairwoman and co-CEO Stephanie McMahon announced her departure from the company.

  • Investor Lawsuit Filed Over Vince McMahon’s WWE Return

    Investor Lawsuit Filed Over Vince McMahon’s WWE Return

    Vince McMahon, who returned to the company last week after resigning amid a wave of sexual harassment allegations, has been dealt with a lawsuit. 

    According to court documents from Bloomberg Law, a WWE investor named Scott A. Fellows has filed a lawsuit alleging McMahon pushed aside the board to install himself as chairman again illegally. 

    The suit was filed in Delaware’s Chancery Court, where the WWE shareholder accused him of using his 81% voting control to oust three board members and then replace them with two loyalists (George Barrios and Michelle Wilson) and make bylaw changes that would “impose his will on the board and WWE.”

    The Course

    The lawsuit was filed six months after Vince stepped down as chairman and CEO of WWE because of the allegations that he paid $12 million over more than 15 years to keep the sexual harassment accusations quiet. 

    Vince’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, resigned as co-CEO and chairwoman Tuesday. Nick Khan is now the WWE CEO, while Triple H is still in charge of the main roster creative. 

    The lawsuit notes that McMahon managed to time his return to get control of upcoming negotiations over the company’s expiring media rights by leveraging a threat to withhold support for any deal reached if the Board didn’t bring him back. 

    This was also shared in public SEC documents from December in addition to McMahon stating he wanted to oversee a potential sale of the company. The board, which had included Stephanie, Khan, and Triple H, unanimously voted against McMahon coming back. 

    The suit stated the move to “take complete personal control over any major corporate decision” by “adding his cronies to the board” violates Delaware law.

  • Vince McMahon Has Been Planning WWE Sale Since his Retirement (Report)

    Vince McMahon Has Been Planning WWE Sale Since his Retirement (Report)

    Vince McMahon’s shocking retirement in July of last year did little to stop the former CEO’s business plans, it has been claimed.

    McMahon retired following allegations of misconduct with female employees which resulted in millions being paid in non-disclosure agreements.

    While McMahon paid out of his own pocket, an investigation determined that these payouts should have been noted on WWE’s financial records as they were seen as beneficial to WWE.

    Immediately

    Last month, it was reported that McMahon regretted his retirement and was plotting a comeback to oversee a sale of WWE.

    Earlier this month, McMahon’s return proved to be successful, as he is now serving as Executive Chairman of the promotion, replacing the recently departed Stephanie McMahon.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio Dave Meltzer reported that McMahon had been plotting a sale immediately after his retirement.

    “Ever since Vince was ousted, he did open up talks with the Saudis. I mean, this didn’t come in the last week. His coming back was obviously to close the deal.”

    Dave Meltzer.

    Up for Sale

    It was reported by multiple sources earlier this week that WWE had been purchased by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

    In an update, it has been reported that the sale has not happened yet, but remains a possibility.

    The fund has over half-a-trillion dollars to its name and is overseen by its Chairman: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

    With the Saudi purchase not confirmed, WWE remains open to offers, with names like FOX, Comcast, Disney, Netflix, and Amazon all considered possible buyers.

    Ronda Rousey on WWE: I Don’t Think Anybody Knows What’s Going On
  • WWE Sale Update: No Deal In Place As of Wednesday Morning

    WWE Sale Update: No Deal In Place As of Wednesday Morning

    Contrary to recent reports, it appears that there is no deal in place for WWE to be sold to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

    On Tuesday night, reports ran rampant after it was initially reported by DAZN’s Steven Muehlhausen that a deal had been finalized to sell WWE to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. While that report was never confirmed by WWE itself, Ariel Helwani has a report clearing things up a bit.

    According to Helwani, there is no deal at this moment for WWE to be sold to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, or any entity for that matter. As of this writing, the organization is still exploring all options.

    Rich Greenfield of LightShed Partners writes, “What happened @SMuehlhausenJr
    to your WWE breaking news? We’re hearing your now deleted tweet below is 100% false – unfortunately the fake news already went viral.”

    Additionally, journalist Jon Alba corroborates that reports of a sale or an agreement to sell are “completely false.”

    It should also be noted that the original Tweet reporting the sale from Muehlhausen has since been deleted. Despite the latest report, there have certainly been a multitude of changes that have taken place within WWE as of late.

    Stephanie McMahon recently stepped down as co-CEO of WWE. Also, Vince McMahon has returned to the board of directors to reportedly help facilitate a sale of the company. Of course, it appears that no such deal has been made quite yet.

    It remains to be seen if Vince McMahon will return to his former position of head of creative, which is currently occupied by son-in-law Triple H.

  • Ric Flair Wants Vince McMahon On RAW 30th Anniversary Show

    Ric Flair Wants Vince McMahon On RAW 30th Anniversary Show

    Two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair says he wants to see Vince McMahon on the upcoming RAW 30th anniversary show.

    Flair recently took to his podcast, “To Be The Man,” and commented on the upcoming RAW 30th anniversary show later this month. The 16-time World Champ said he’d like to see Vince McMahon appear on the 30th anniversary show.

    “I’m personally glad he’s back. I don’t begin to know, There’s only a few people that do know and I’m not one of them. I honestly believe that he lives and breathes the business and he just said to himself, ‘I own all this stuff. It’s mine. I built it.

    “I want back in’, and I don’t blame him. Thirty years of being on TV on RAW. Think about that. Thirty years. I mean, it’s unbelievable. I hope he walks out that door in Philadelphia, busts the door open, stands there, and struts down that aisle and says, ‘I’m back.’ The place would go crazy. I guarantee it. That will be a rating,” Ric Flair said.

    An appearance from McMahon is certainly a possibility. Now that he’s back in the fold with the company and has potentially sold WWE to Saudi Arabia. McMahon hasn’t been on WWE television for some time since making his exit from the company last year.

    He was forced to step down as WWE CEO after investigations launched into alleged sexual misconduct with female employees. Soon after, McMahon retired from WWE as its head of creative, passing the torch to son-in-law Triple H.

    It will be interesting to see if McMahon re-appears on WWE television given that he’s now back on the company’s board of directors.

    Quotes via WrestlingNews.co

  • Saudi Arabia May Have “Grossly Overpaid” for WWE (Report)

    Saudi Arabia May Have “Grossly Overpaid” for WWE (Report)

    The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund may be the new owners of WWE, but the nation may not have gotten a good deal on their acquisition.

    It was reported this week that the fund has purchased WWE, but neither side has confirmed reports of a sale.

    The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund has $620 billion in wealth and is overseen by its Chairman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

    Overpaid

    With over half-a-trillion dollars to their name, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund can certainly afford to purchase WWE.

    During a Fightful live-stream, Sean Ross Sapp reported that there is a chance the Saudis “grossly overpaid” considering the competition that they faced.

    Other names reportedly interested in buying WWE include FOX, Comcast, Apple, Netflix, Disney, and Amazon.

    Sapp reiterated multiple times during the stream that nothing has been confirmed to him regarding a sale, and that there is a possibility that this deal has not happened.

    Creative

    When Vince McMahon returned to WWE last week, there were immediate concerns that he would make a move to return as Head of Creative.

    Following McMahon’s retirement in July of last year, Triple H was appointed Head of Creative, and earned critical acclaim from fans.

    Sapp noted that if there was any possible buyer that would be open to appointing McMahon as Head of Creative again, it is Saudi Arabia.

    With that said, Sapp added that the relationship between the two sides isn’t perfect, and noted McMahon turning off the broadcast for Crown Jewel 2019 in Saudi Arabia as he hadn’t been paid for previous shows.

    After that event, WWE’s roster were prohibited from taking off, with the explanation given that there were mechanical issues with the aircraft.

    WWE Talent Are “P*ssed Off” Following Reports of Saudi Purchase
  • Ronda Rousey on WWE: I Don’t Think Anybody Knows What’s Going On

    Ronda Rousey on WWE: I Don’t Think Anybody Knows What’s Going On

    There are a lot of questions about the future of WWE right now, and Ronda Rousey doesn’t have the answers.

    It was reported this week that the promotion has been sold to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, though neither WWE nor that fund has confirmed that.

    The Public Investment Fund controls $620 billion in assets with Saudi Royal Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman serving as Chairman of the fund.

    Rousey

    No matter who ends up owning WWE, odds are that Ronda Rousey will continue to be prominently featured on programming.

    During a YouTube Gaming stream, Rousey was asked by a fan whether she will be appearing at the February 3, SmackDown in Greenville, South Carolina.

    Rousey did not confirm her appearance for the show and instead highlighted just how much is changing at this time in WWE.

    “If you haven’t noticed, everything’s a little bit in flux with the WWE right now. I don’t think anybody knows what’s going on with anybody this week, let alone weeks from now.”

    Ronda Rousey.

    Names advertised for that particular SmackDown include Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, the Brawling Brutes, Sami Zayn, Undisputed WWE Tag Champions The Usos, and WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.

    Unhappy

    WWE’s roster was far from thrilled with the return of Vince McMahon, as morale had improved significantly following his retirement.

    With reports of a purchase from Saudi Arabia, things have only gotten worse, with talent being said to be “p*ssed off” over the potential deal.

    One anonymous WWE Superstar has said they are finished with the company if the reports of the Saudi purchase turn out to be accurate.

    Stephanie McMahon Has Resigned From WWE
  • WWE Superstar is “Done” With Company if Saudi Purchase Happens

    WWE Superstar is “Done” With Company if Saudi Purchase Happens

    One anonymous WWE Superstar is ready to walk if the reports of the company being purchased by Saudi Arabia are indeed accurate.

    Last week, Vince McMahon returned to WWE, less than six months after his retirement to oversee a sale of the promotion.

    McMahon has since been reappointed to WWE’s Board of Directors and has been appointed as Executive Chairman of the Board, replacing his daughter Stephanie McMahon.

    Done

    WWE’s relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been controversial and the company’s events in the nation often see boycotts by fans.

    Fightful Select reports that those in WWE are also wary and concerned about the possibility of the company being owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

    No talent who spoke to Fightful said they have already requested their release, but at least one talent said “they’d be done” with WWE if the Saudi purchase goes through.

    Fightful did not give any indication as to who this anonymous Superstar is.

    There has been an incredible amount of concern among staff and talent regardless of the Saudi purchase reports, with Vince McMahon back in control.

    Neither WWE nor the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund has confirmed or even commented on the reports of a sale taking place.

    WWE’s Roster and Saudi Arabia

    While the majority of WWE Superstars appear at the Saudi Arabia events, some are able to boycott the shows due to personal beliefs.

    In the case of Sami Zayn, the decision has been made for the Syrian-Canadian wrestler to not work the shows due to Saudi Arabia’s hostile past with Syria.

    Kevin Owens has refused to appear at Saudi events in solidarity with his real-life best friend and on-screen rival.

    WWE Talent Are “P*ssed Off” Following Reports of Saudi Purchase
  • WWE Talent Are “P*ssed Off” Following Reports of Saudi Purchase

    WWE Talent Are “P*ssed Off” Following Reports of Saudi Purchase

    WWE is reportedly now the property of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which isn’t sitting right with those on the roster.

    Last week, Vince McMahon returned to WWE to oversee a sale of the company, mere months after his retirement in July of last year.

    McMahon has since regained his position as WWE’s Chairman of the Board, replacing his daughter Stephanie, though Nick Khan has remained as the sole CEO.

    P*ssed Off

    This week, it was reported by multiple verified sources that a WWE sale has taken place and that it has been purchased by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

    WWE has not confirmed the reports themselves, nor has the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

    Speaking on a Fightful live stream, Sean Ross Sapp reported that the talent is far from happy about what is going on.

    “I can tell you one thing. I know talent is pissed off. Real pissed off. Really really mad. Really dejected. Really frustrated. And this is all based on rumors. This is not official, nothing like that.”

    Sean Ross Sapp.

    WWE has worked with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for years and is part of a decade-long deal with the nation to host major events there.

    This relationship was put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the missing dates being tacked on to the end of the deal.

    WWE and Saudi Arabia

    The reports that WWE are now owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund raise a lot of questions about the future of the company.

    WWE’s relationship with the kingdom has always been controversial given the country’s restrictive laws on women, LGBTQ+ people, and other groups.

    There is also the question of Sami Zayn, arguably WWE’s most popular Superstar today, who given his Syrian heritage, is not allowed to compete at any Saudi shows.

    Backstage News on the Next WWE Saudi Arabia Event
  • Jinder Mahal Returns to WWE NXT

    Jinder Mahal Returns to WWE NXT

    Jinder Mahal is once again a member of the WWE NXT roster. 

    On Tuesday’s episode of WWE NXT, a New Year’s Evil special, The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed), were scheduled to take on Indus Sher (Veer & Sanga). 

    However, Sanga came out to the ring and stated that Veer was not present for their match. Sanaga stated that he’d face The Creeds 2-on-1 but coming from behind to ambush The Creeds was Mahal. Sanga and Mahal took out both Julius and Brutus. 

    The Return

    https://twitter.com/btsportwwe/status/1612982881218969604

    Mahal joined WWE in 2010, and he made his main roster debut the following year. He joined the stable 3MB with  Heath Sater and Drew McIntyre after a brief alliance with The Great Khali before he and McIntyre were fired from the company in 2014.

    Mahal returned to WWE in 2016 with a significantly improved physique, which led to his victory over Randy Orton for the WWE Championship in April 2017. His reign lasted for about six months. He captured the WWE United States Championship at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.

    Mahal and Seth Rollins squared off in 2012 to crown the first-ever NXT Champion.

    Mahal’s previous TV match was in November when he lost to Braun Strowman in a SmackDown World Cup First Round match. 

  • Stephanie McMahon Has Resigned From WWE

    Stephanie McMahon Has Resigned From WWE

    Stephanie McMahon announced late Tuesday night that she is resigning as Chairwoman and co-CEO of WWE. 

    She issued a statement on Twitter announcing the news and mentioning her taking a leave of absence from WWE several months ago. This comes just days after her father, Vince McMahon, elected himself back as a member of WWE’s Board of Directors alongside Michelle Wilson and George Barrios. She issued the following statement: 

    Stephanie’s Statement

    “Dear WWE Universe, 

    About 8 months ago, I took a leave of absence and within a few weeks, unexpectedly had the opportunity of a lifetime. I had the privilege to return as the Co-CEO and Chairwoman of the Board of WWE. I cannot put into words how proud I am to have led what I consider to be the greatest company in the world, working alongside a remarkable leadership team and one of the strongest executives I have known in my Co-CEO, Nick Khan. 

    Our Founder, Vince McMahon, has returned as Executive Chair and is leading an exciting process regarding strategic alternatives. And with Nick’s leadership and Paul “Triple H” Levesque as Chief Content Officer, I am confident WWE is in the perfect place to continue to provide unparalleled creative content and drive maximum value for shareholders. 

    WWE is in such a strong position, that I have decided to return to my leave and take it one step further with my official resignation. 

    I look forward to cheering on WWE from the other side of the business, where I started when I was a little kid, as a pure fan. I will always remain dedicated to WWE. I truly love our company, our employees, our Superstars, and our fans. And I am grateful to all of our partners. 

    Thank you for everything. Then. Now. Forever. Together. -Steph.”

    In December, WWE’s Board of Directors unanimously disapproved of Vince McMahon’s return to the Board before he elected himself last week. The board had Stephanie, Nick Khan, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

    WWE confirmed following the news via a press release that the WWE Board of Directors has unanimously elected Vince McMahon as Executive Chairman of the Board, and it was also revealed that Khan would be serving as the new WWE CEO. 

    Dave Meltzer reports Stephanie is no longer part of the Board of Directors. 

  • Ricochet & Samantha Irwin Engaged to be Married

    Ricochet & Samantha Irwin Engaged to be Married

    Ricochet and Samantha Irwin are set to become man and wife as the two are engaged to be married. 

    Ricochet took to his Instagram account to share the news when he posted three photos. He included a photo of the ring, one of him proposing and one of them kissing. Congratulations to the happy couple. 

    The Engagement

    “She said YES! When you find that one person. The one person that when you close your eyes you could never visualize life without them… you keep them close to your heart. Now we are closer than ever. @samanthairvinwwe I love you so much,” Ricochet wrote in the caption.

    Irvin works for WWE as a ring announcer and correspondent. 

    Ricochet is best known for his time with various Japanese promotions before joining WWE, including Dragon Gate and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). In Lucha Underground, Ricochet competed as Prince Puma, becoming the first person to win the Lucha Underground title twice.

    Ricochet found success in NXT in 2018 after signing with WWE. Ricochet began making appearances on the main roster in February 2019. Last year, he would go on to capture the Intercontinental Championship, making him the first wrestler to hold the United States, Intercontinental, and North American Championships.

  • Rey Mysterio Featured in Trailer for Netflix’s “Against The Ropes”

    Rey Mysterio Featured in Trailer for Netflix’s “Against The Ropes”

    The trailer for the Netflix series ‘Against The Ropes’, which will premiere on January 25, was released today, and WWE shared it. 

    The tweet from WWE previewed the series by writing, “An ex-convict tries to regain her daughter’s affection after leaving prison, but it seems impossible — until she steps into the ring.”

    The Trailer

    Rey Mysterio is featured in the trailer as it shows an ex-convict’s journey in her attempt to train to become a wrestler. According to Netflix’s website, the synopsis is as follows:

    “Released from prison, Ángela tries to regain the respect of her daughter, who loves lucha libre wrestling, by entering the ring as a mysterious persona.”

    The cast includes Caraly Sánchez, Scarlet Gruber, Carmen Ramos, and Alisson Santiago, Giovanna Zacarías, among others. Check it out below: 

    Mysterio has some acting experience as he voiced himself on ‘Booyaka! Rey Mysterio vs. The Darkness,’ which aired on Cartoon Network Latin America.

    The former WWE Champion has been feuding with Karrion Kross as of late on Friday Night SmackDown. He was sent over from Raw to SmackDown last year after feuding with The Judgment Day and his son, Domnik, turning on him. 

  • Vince McMahon Return Could Lead to Lawsuit by WWE Shareholders

    Vince McMahon Return Could Lead to Lawsuit by WWE Shareholders

    Vince McMahon’s dramatic return to WWE’s Board of Directors could result in a lawsuit by shareholders.

    The recent turmoil atop pro wrestling’s largest promotion has caused a lot of unease and uncertainty for WWE fans. McMahon ended his retirement and re-joined the company on Jan. 6 after stepping away following allegations of misconduct with female employees. His reasoning for his comeback was to help WWE in its effort to negotiate a TV rights deal or to sell the company.

    However, McMahon’s return could lead to a lawsuit against himself and others in the company. PWInsider’s Dave Scherer reports that his friend, who is part of the group in the WWE shareholder lawsuit that was filed last year after the NDA allegations against Vince McMahon surfaced, claimed in an email his return could be a “…breach of a fiduciary lawsuit.”

    “…You also may have seen the news this past week about Vince McMahon forcing his way back onto the board, along with a major board shakeup. As a result, we believe there is enough of a basis to bring a breach of a fiduciary lawsuit. We hope to file a complaint against McMahon and possibly other directors/officers for breaching their duties to WWE and its shareholders. We should have a draft for you to review in the next couple of days,” said the email.

    vince

    What Happens Next with Vince McMahon In A Potential Lawsuit?

    While PWInsider’s Scherer reports that McMahon could be in breach of a fiduciary lawsuit, it’s worth pointing out that the email states that a complaint hasn’t been filed yet.

    Based on the email, McMahon’s return goes against shareholders’ interest, which helps the case for a lawsuit. Despite the WWE Chairman’s belief that his return aids the company with a potential sale, the shareholder may disagree. An official complaint against the WWE Chairman could be filed if the email is valid.

    If McMahon is found to have breached his commitment to his shareholders, he would have to pay for the damages he caused.

    SEScoops will provide an update on a potential lawsuit against McMahon occurs.

  • Renée Paquette Praises Mercedes Moné for Pursuing Free Agency

    Renée Paquette Praises Mercedes Moné for Pursuing Free Agency

    All Elite Wrestling broadcaster Renée Paquette is proud that Mercedes Moné (FKA Sasha Banks) decided to bet on herself and become a free agent.

    Moné began working as an independent wrestler after ending her decade-long run with WWE at the end of 2022. She made her debut with New Japan Pro Wrestling earlier this month at Wrestle Kingdom 17, where she confronted and attacked KAIRI to set up their upcoming IWGP Women’s Championship match at NJPW Battle in the Valley on Feb. 18.

    As Moné navigates the waters of free agency, Paquette expresses admiration for her bold career choice. Having left WWE herself, Paquette understands what it’s like to work outside the company. On the latest edition of her The Sessions podcast, Paquette and co-host Emilio Sparks recapped Moné’s WWE departure and NJPW debut.

    “…For me, having worked with her at such an early time, met her in NXT, watched her rise through WWE, watched those ups and those downs, those times of kind of stepping out, after Wrestlemania, after losing the tag titles, having that moment, kind of leaving for a little while, spending some time in Japan,” said Paquette. “I believe she spent some time in Mexico. To seeing what she has done now from whatever exactly happened on her and Trinity(also known as Naomi in WWE) walking out from WWE, I really applaud the balls of this women.

    Why Moné Deserves Praise for Becoming A Free Agent

    Renee Paquette and Mercedes Mone

    Paquette added that she believes Moné is a free agent because of her passion for women’s wrestling. She explained, “…It’s not easy. I know a lot of people if you want to watch from the outside and be like, ‘yeah, you know what, it’s good. Leave that company. Go do whatever.’ It’s not fu*cking easy to walk away from making a good amount of money.” Paquette did acknowledge that she doesn’t know what Moné WWE contract was, but believes she made a good salary based on her position with the company.

    Paquette praised Moné for believing in herself and choosing her passion for wrestling over the comfort of staying with WWE. She also added that she has requested an interview with her and hopes to speak with her about leaving her former employer.

    Moné choice to leave WWE seems to be a success as fans look forward to what she does next. After the announcement of her match at NJPW Battle in the Valley, tickets for the event have sold out. It’s unclear what Moné has planned for the future of her wrestling career. However, it is possible that Moné could become a giant star outside of WWE as a free agent.

  • Ex-NJPW Star Karl Fredericks Signs with WWE

    Ex-NJPW Star Karl Fredericks Signs with WWE

    WWE has added to its growing talent roster with the signing of New Japan Pro Wrestling alum Karl Fredericks.

    Last summer, Fredricks informed fans on social media that he had opted not to re-sign with New Japan, ending his four years with the promotion.

    PW Insider reports that Fredericks has signed with WWE, and is set to be a part of the NXT brand in Florida.

    Fredericks was first spotted at the WWE Performance Center in September 2022, a month after his deal with New Japan expired.

    Interestingly, Fredricks said that he did not see himself going to any other company than New Japan prior to his contract expiring.

    Fredericks’ arrival marks the second notable signing in as many months after Dragon Lee confirmed in December that he is also joining WWE.

    Karl Fredericks

    Three years after making his debut in 2015, Fredericks entered the New Japan LA Dojo alongside current NJPW stars Clark Connors and Alex Coughlin, and Gabriel Kidd.

    Visiting Japan the following year, Fredericks represented the LA Dojo in the Young Lion Cup and won the tournament with 12 points.

    Fredericks’ later teamed with Hirooki Goto for the 2019 World Tag League, finishing with three wins and 12 losses.

    Fredericks last wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling at a May 2022 taping of STRONG, where he defeated QT Marshall.

    Since then, he has wrestled twice for separate indie promotions, with his most recent match seeing him defeat Kevin Blackwood for Prestige/West Coast Pro Savage Mode last September.

    Karl Fredericks Gets First NJPW Title Opportunity
  • Kurt Angle Reveals How Much Money He’d Wrestle In Saudi Arabia For Now

    Kurt Angle Reveals How Much Money He’d Wrestle In Saudi Arabia For Now

    WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle still has a price tag to return to the ring for one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows.

    His final match came back in 2018 when Angle was defeated by Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Angle has received offers from promotions such as AEW to return to the ring, but the Hall Of Famer has turned them down, instead making sporadic appearances on WWE TV since.

    Angle recently took to his podcast, “The Kurt Angle Show,” and discussed the matter. The Olympic hero has competed in one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows before, confirming the paydays for such events is, indeed, phenomenal.

    He first touched on the rumor that Shawn Michaels received an astounding $3 million to return for his tag team match, in which he teamed up with Triple H against The Undertaker and Kane.

    “I’m not a WWE lifer,” Angle said. “Shawn is, so his loyalty is still with the WWE, and they paid him very well for it.

    Kurt Angle Entrance
    (WWE)

    Angle has since had double knee replacement surgery, and is in no condition to wrestle at this point in his career. However, when asked if he’d step back into the ring for $3 million for a Saudi Arabia show, Angle didn’t hesitate to say yes, whether he has good knees or bad ones.

    “What are you talking about? I’d do it in a second,” Angle said. “Good knees or bad knees, I’d do it in a second.”

  • Mandy Rose Hurt, But Forever Grateful Following WWE Release

    Mandy Rose Hurt, But Forever Grateful Following WWE Release

    Former WWE Superstar Mandy Rose (Amanda Saccomanno) is speaking out following her surprise departure from the company last month.

    On Tuesday, Rose appeared on the Tamron Hall daytime talk show and spoke about why she was so hurt by the way things transpired. Among the newsworthy items covered, she says WWE never told her that her FanTime account was the reason she was being let go.

    Lost and Confused

    “Because of everything that’s happened since then, everything happens for a reason,” said Rose. “I can’t even say I was wronged, because I am so forever grateful for everything the WWE has presented me with. So, I can’t sit here and say I was wronged or not..

    I am very hurt, nobody wants to get that call that they’re being fired from any job, so I was very hurt, I was very disappointed. I was disappointed so much more because of everything that I put into the business, but just the last year and a half, I was champion for 414 days, I unified those two titles that we just saw, I was the third longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champion.”

    Mandy Rose on Tamron Hall Show
    Mandy Rose backstage at the Tamron Hall Show

    Rose accomplished a lot in the ring, but is also devastated because she truly enjoyed working with younger talent and helping them progress in their own careers. “I also created this must-see faction with two other women that are going to be brought up, and I got to see so many women develop their characters, younger than me, and in the beginning of their careers. To me, that was so important, because it was so rewarding to me.”

    “Losing the title was honestly a gut punch. I was so disappointed, but at the end of the day, my purpose was gone, and that’s where I felt kind of lost and I felt confused, because of all the hard work I put in.”

    – Mandy Rose

    Driving home from that, a lot of things were going through my mind. You always think, there were a lot of answered questions and all that, at the end of the day, like I said, I love what I’ve done in the WWE and I love what the platform presented me with, so i am forever grateful.”

    Mandy Rose lost out on a lucrative WWE contract, but the FanTime account that led to her departure has already made her a fortune. According to her manager, the account generated over a million dollars in December 2022.

    Will Mandy Rose Return to WWE?

  • Eric Bischoff On How Potential WWE Sale Could Change Wrestling

    Eric Bischoff On How Potential WWE Sale Could Change Wrestling

    Former WCW president Eric Bischoff has offered his thoughts on how a potential sale of WWE could change the professional wrestling landscape.

    Bischoff took to his podcast, “83 Weeks,” to discuss the possibility amidst Vince McMahon’s sudden return to WWE. The ex-WCW boss explained that, he believes, any potential buyer of WWE wouldn’t make any significant changes for the first year or two.

    “Everybody has their opinion and you (Conrad) and I talked about this a little bit last night. I can see why a lot of people inside of WWE, particularly those that have stock options in their portfolio, WWE stock options, but I can see a lot of people being very nervous because it’s the unknown and you know, nobody likes the unknown.

    “Nobody knows how this is going to play itself out. So, everybody’s kind of hanging on by a thread waiting to see which direction it’s going to go and I get that. That’s an uncomfortable feeling.

    “My impression is that whoever buys it is probably not going to come in and start making any kind of wholesale changes when it comes to the management of the company for the first year and a half or two years. I lived through that, by the way.”

    Eric Bischoff

    As noted, Vince McMahon recently nudged his way back into the WWE’s board of directors with rumors swirling that the move was done in order to help facilitate a sale of the company.

    For the time being, it appears that his return to WWE does not include resuming creative control of the TV product, which seemingly remains in Triple H’s hands.

    McMahon previously left WWE last year after an investigation launched into his sexual misconduct with female employees. He stepped down as WWE CEO, prompting Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan to step up as co-CEOs. Soon after, McMahon retired from WWE as head of creative, passing the torch to Triple H.

  • Ric Flair Explains Why He Stopped Giving Advice To Talent

    Ric Flair Explains Why He Stopped Giving Advice To Talent

    Ric Flair is a living legend and there is a lot young prospects can learn from him. The wrestling veteran himself, however, has stopped giving advice to talent because they listen to marks more than him.

    The 16-time world champion was a recent guest on Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast. Among other things, he also explained why he has stopped giving advice to up-and-coming wrestlers.

    Flair mentioned how people think that he doesn’t want to help anyone. The two time Hall of Famer explained that it wasn’t always the case but he has had bitter experiences with people he has given advice to:

    “They take my opinion, which I f**king pretty much know what I’m talking about,” said Ric Flair, “and then they get in the car or walk up the ramp

    And they either look and see what the mark said about it or they talk to another guy who has got as much experience as him or less, and that’s who they go with. God forbid I know anything.”

    Flair said that he can critique the matches for people but it’s not worth the aggravation for him. He also mentioned that he wouldn’t say negative things to anyone because his daughter works there.

    Apart from this, Ric Flair also talked about his time in WWE, why he never had a WrestleMania match with Hulk Hogan and more.

  • WWE Superstars Nervous Vince McMahon Comeback Will Lead to Releases (Report)

    WWE Superstars Nervous Vince McMahon Comeback Will Lead to Releases (Report)

    WWE Superstars are concerned that the era of mass releases will resume now that Vince McMahon is back with the company.

    McMahon retired from WWE in July of last year due to allegations of misconduct which resulted in millions of dollars being paid out in NDAs.

    Last week, McMahon was reappointed to WWE’s Board of Directors alongside former WWE co-Presidents Michelle Wilson and George Barrios.

    Concerns

    Vince McMahon and WWE have insisted that his return is to oversee a potential sale of the promotion and nothing more.

    Many are skeptical of this claim, believing that McMahon would not return to WWE if he did not have plans to be at the very top of the promotion again.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that there are worried Superstars fearing the return of mass releases.

    “Everyone’s worried again because it’s like ‘if Vince is in charge and they’re trying to sell, does that mean they’re going to start doing cuts again?’”

    Meltzer reiterated previous reports that WWE morale was significantly higher after McMahon’s retirement last year.

    Morale in the locker room was said to have been at an all-time low following last year’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.

    Sale

    It was in April 2020 that WWE began a new strategy, releasing talent in large waves that drew significant backlash from fans.

    At the time, some suggested that WWE was cutting costs to widen its profit margins and make the company look more attractive to potential buyers.

    A list of buyers rumored to be interested in WWE includes Comcast, FOX, Disney, and Netflix, among others.

    5 Biggest Vince McMahon Victories That Happened Outside of the Ring

    h/t – PW Mania

  • WWE Teases Splitting The Undisputed Tag Team Titles On Raw

    WWE Teases Splitting The Undisputed Tag Team Titles On Raw

    The Usos have dominated the WWE tag team division as the Undisputed Tag Team Champions but it appears that their reign as dual champs may be coming to an end.

    This week’s episode of Raw featured many great moments and matches. The show was headlined by a #1 contender tag team turmoil match featuring 5 teams.

    What’s interesting to note here is that the announced match was only for a shot at the Raw Tag Team Championships instead of the undisputed titles.

    The main event saw The Judgment Day taking on The OC to kick things off. The team of Damian Priest and Finn Balor went on to eliminate not only the Good Brothers but the team of Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander as well.

    The duo of Priest and Balor then eliminated The Alpha Academy but Finn Balor suffered a kayfabe injury right before the pin.

    This forced Dominik Mysterio to take the place of the Judgement Day leader. Though they still managed to win the match by last eliminating The Street Profits, earning the title shot for Royal Rumble on January 28.

    The Undisputed Tag Team Championship region has helped further solidify the legacy of The Usos as one of the greatest tag teams in the history of the business.

    At the same time, it has also crippled the company’s booking ability, leaving many teams in limbo. With this announcement, WWE officials may finally be looking to get things back to normal in the tag division and split the titles at the upcoming PPV.

  • “Superstar” Billy Graham Diagnosed With Skull Infection

    “Superstar” Billy Graham Diagnosed With Skull Infection

    Wrestling veteran ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham is dealing with multiple health issues and he has been diagnosed with an infection in his ear and skull.

    The former WWE star’s official Facebook page recently provided a health update on behalf of Valerie Coleman, the wife of the wrestling legend.

    The statement asked people to keep Billy Graham in their prayers. The Facebook post revealed that an infection in his ear has now spread to the bones as well as area of skull:

    “Lots of issues… MRI showed he has a very bad infection in his ears that has spread to the bones in his ears as well as an area of his skull…infectious disease doctor was just in trying to decide what antibiotics they’re going to start him on.”

    Apart from the issues caused by the infection, Graham is dealing with low sodium. Per the update, it’s proving very difficult to treat.

    Billy Graham is a former WWE and NWA star. He made his debut in the 1970 and the 79-year-old wrestled for various promotions till 1987.

    During his long career, Graham won multiple titles including the WWWF Heavyweight Championship. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 but he later had a falling out with the McMahon family.

    SEScoops wishes a speedy recovery to Billy Graham.

  • Johnny Gargano Comments on Shoulder Injury

    Johnny Gargano Comments on Shoulder Injury

    On tonight’s episode of RAW, Johnny Gargano was supposed to compete in a tag team turmoil match. During the show, it was announced that Gargano is suffering from a grade two AC sprain.

    Backstage, Candice LeRae said that Gargano was “really bummed that he couldn’t participate in tag team turmoil, but he’s taking doctor’s advice to get back to 100 percent. So, that’s our goal right now to get him back to 100 percent.”

    Johnny Gargano hopes to be back by the Royal Rumble

    Johnny Gargano

    “Johnny Wrestling” took to Twitter to talk about his injury. He says it happened at a house show in Toronto. That’s the city where Gargano made his WWE return last August. He said that the “medical team is going to protect me from myself for a bit.”

    There is no timetable for his return, but Gargano hopes to be back in time to compete in the Royal Rumble.

    We wish Johnny Gargano a speedy recovery.

  • Backstage Update On Edge’s WWE Creative Plans

    Backstage Update On Edge’s WWE Creative Plans

    Edge hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his latest absence, as he lost an I Quit Match to Finn Balor at the Extreme Rules show in October. 

    The company already had some plans for him months ago, according to Fightful Select. As of late November, WWE had Edge penciled in for the first couple of PLE events of 2023. 

    Working Plans

    The working plan was for Edge to take on Finn Balor upon his return to pick up their long-running feud. WrestlingNews.co reported that they would be competing at Royal Rumble. 

    The reason for the rivalry being spread out comes down to Edge working limited dates. Fightful also confirmed WrestlingNews.co’s report that as of that point ahead of Survivor Series, it was slated to be a Hell in a Cell match.

    Fightful reports that Edge wasn’t the only one to be planned for the Elimination Chamber PLE in February. In November, WWE’s tentative plan was for Edge’s wife, Beth Phoenix, to be involved in the Montreal event by teaming with Edge to take on Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor.

    It should be noted that things can change and can’t be considered official until WWE officially announces it themselves.