SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Cody Rhodes is Teasing a WWE Royal Rumble Return

    Cody Rhodes is Teasing a WWE Royal Rumble Return

    Hours before the WWE Hell in a Cell event in June, Cody Rhodes suffered a torn pectoral muscle but still competed at the event.

    Defeating Seth Rollins in the main event of Hell in a Cell, Rhodes was attacked by Rollins the next night on Raw, writing him off TV.

    “The American Nightmare” hasn’t competed since then but has been teasing a return to the ring.

    Cody’s Return?

    WWE has said that Cody Rhodes will be out until March 2023, though many expect him to be back far sooner than that.

    Some have suggested that the date WWE has given is to build up a surprisingly early return at next year’s Royal Rumble.

    Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, Rhodes addressed rumors of a return at January’s Premium Live Event (via WrestleTalk.)

    “My Royal Rumble stats are top 10, they’re phenomenal. So if I was to come back at that event, there is a chance I could actually get up in the top five and I’m all about that …. You never know! We’ll see.”

    Rhodes currently boasts the ninth-longest cumulative time spent in Royal Rumble matches.

    Cody’s Rumble History

    Cody’s Royal Rumble stats are impressive, even though he has never won the prestigious 30-man match.

    In his first Rumble in 2008, Cody, then a World Tag Team Champion lasted over 23 minutes, the eighth longest Superstar in the match.

    A year later, Cody lasted over 37 minutes and was the second-to-last Superstar eliminated, making it to the final three.

    Rhodes’ most impressive Royal Rumble performance was in 2012 when he lasted 41:59, the second-longest in the match behind The Miz.

    He also eliminated six Superstars in that match, more than anyone else in the 2012 Rumble.

    Cody Rhodes on WWE Rule: ‘They Can Fine Me Every Time’
  • Rey Mysterio Reveals What Vince McMahon Wanted Before His WWE Debut

    Rey Mysterio Reveals What Vince McMahon Wanted Before His WWE Debut

    Rey Mysterio’s iconic mask has become synonymous with his character. It’s almost impossible to imagine him wrestling without it at this point but there was a time when Mysterio had dropped it from his gear. Rey had to drop his mask after losing a match to nWo in WCW back in 1999. He credits Vince McMahon for bringing it back.

    The wrestling veteran had an interview with Ariel Helwani to celebrate 20 years of his WWE debut. Speaking about his arrival in WWE, Mysterio recalled how he had been wrestling without his mask for some time. The former world champion then told the story of how he got his mask back:

    “So funny story, I leave WCW. Then I get signed by WWE, and at the time, I’m wrestling without a mask. I had done a couple dates in Mexico and I was comfortable wrestling without it.” recalled Rey Mysterio, “I go into OVW in Kentucky. I started training before I went into WWE, before my first match. During that week of training, a week before I debuted, they were like, ‘Rey, Vince wants to see what outfit you’re gonna wear.’

    So I showed them a getup of what I was wearing at the time. They were like, ‘but where’s the mask?’ I said, ‘I’m not wearing a mask right now.’ ‘Oh no, Vince wants you to bring the mask back.’ I was like, ‘Oh, you guys should have told me.’”

    How many masks does Rey Mysterio have?

    Rey Mysterio Masks

    Over the years, Rey Mysterio has used many different masks and ring gears. When asked how many masks he has in his collection, Mysterio claimed that he has lost count:

    “Man, I’ve lost count. But if we put my wife’s purses and shoes next to mine, I think we’re right about the same. I would have to say, yes over 1000.”

    You can check out Rey Mysterio’s full interview below:

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    Rey Mysterio Marks 20 Years with WWE
  • The Rock Has A Shark Named After Him

    The Rock Has A Shark Named After Him

    Shark Week is all about celebrating the majestic kings of the sea, and The Rock is getting involved in more than one way.

    The 34th annual Shark Week began on July 24th, with Discovery intending to take the week-long event to the next level after their recent acquisition of WarnerMedia.

    The Great One was brought into the mix with the same intention. The Rock is hosting the show this time, replacing Josh Gates from last year.

    The Rock Reacts

    Atlantic White Shark Conservancy recently revealed on Twitter that they have named a Shark after the People’s Champion. The Shark had an injury on his dorsal fin, but the conservancy’s research team oversaw the healing process.

    The Rock responded to this news mentioning how we don’t see such injuries in sharks very often. The Hollywood star also noted that he would want to meet the creature named after him someday:

    “That’s a gnarly injury we don’t often see on the apex predator. Good to see the recovery! I’d be honored to meet #TheRock? one day. Thanks for the tweet.”

    Shark Week premiered on Disney back in July 1988. Its primary goal was to eradicate the fear of Sharks among people who had seen Jaws movie franchise. It has become an annual phenomenon since then.

  • Roman Reigns References Vince McMahon’s Retirement On Raw

    Roman Reigns References Vince McMahon’s Retirement On Raw

    The Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns returned on Raw this Monday night and dropped a big reference during his promo.

    The Bloodline showed up during the second segment of the show. Paul Heyman started hyping up The Tribal Chief’s upcoming title defence at SummerSlam.

    Though he could not conclude his talk, as Theory interrupted the wise man. Mr Money In The Bank told Reigns that he will win both the US championship and the Undisputed world title at SummerSlam.

    The Head Of The Table invited Theory to the ring, and he told the young star that he should look around and analyse the situation before saying anything.

    Roman Reigns then told Theory ‘you’re daddy is not here anymore,’ referencing to former WWE chairman Vince McMahon retiring from the company last week.

    The segment ended with Reigns leaving the ring with others. You can check out the full segment from Raw below:

    Theory had been involved in a storyline with Vince McMahon since last November. The retired Chairman had been projecting the young star as the next face of the company.

    Roman Reigns is set to defend his title against Brock Lesnar at the SummerSlam PPV this Saturday, July 30. Theory is going to challenge Bobby Lashley for the US title on the same show.

  • What Happened With Riddle After WWE Raw Went Off The Air?

    What Happened With Riddle After WWE Raw Went Off The Air?

    The first episode of WWE Raw post-Vince McMahon has ended and here’s what went down when the show went off the air.

    This week’s show for the red brand emanated from the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main event featured a six-man tag team match as Riddle and the Street Profits took on Roman Reigns and The Usos.

    Also showcased on Raw was the 20th anniversary of Rey Mysterio. He teamed with his son Dominik to take on Finn Balor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day.

    After The Show

    The conclusion of WWE Raw saw Riddle take a Spear from Roman Reigns, resulting in a loss. Seth Rollins used this as the perfect opportunity to attack a vulnerable Riddle ahead of their SummerSlam showdown.

    Rollins delivered a Curb Stomp to Riddle right on the steel steps.

    Once the cameras stopped rolling, Rollins made his way to the back with Raw color commentator Corey Graves. As for Riddle, he needed assistance following the vicious attack.

    There was no dark match after the show.

    Raw Talk

    In addition, WWE held its Raw Talk show tonight. Ciampa, The Miz, and Maryse made an appearance. Ciampa delivered a passionate promo ripping Logan Paul.

    Also showing up was The Judgment Day. Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley all mocked The Mysterios, and Balor was presented with a birthday cake.

    JBL was also on the show serving as an analyst.

  • Details on Triple H’s Talent Meeting at WWE Raw

    Details on Triple H’s Talent Meeting at WWE Raw

    Triple H is leading up creative in WWE in place of Vince McMahon, who resigned from the company last Friday and is already talking to talent about the expected changes they can expect. 

    This move comes days after it was also announced he was the new EVP of Talent Relations. 

    Fightful Select reports Triple H spoke at a talent meeting before Monday’s episode of Raw. Talent they spoke with “said that the meeting went really well, and there was a lot of optimism surrounding the change in creative from others in the company.”

    Triple H led the meeting and promised them transparency that some don’t feel has existed under the previous regime. He said that he wants open lines of communication between himself and talent. 

    The report noted, “Talent waiting for hours for the opportunity to maybe speak to Vince McMahon had become commonplace in recent years, with face time with him dwindling.” 

    Triple H said that he wants work to be fun. The general consensus has been positive regarding the meeting.

    Monday’s WWE Raw was the first event that Triple H was in charge of creative. 

  • Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement Hastened By Federal Investigations

    Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement Hastened By Federal Investigations

    The Wall Street Journal has a new report regarding Vince McMahon and his retirement from WWE. 

    The report notes McMahon was driven into retirement by investigations from federal prosecutors relating to his hush money scandals. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also investigating McMahon.

    WWE alluded to investigations in their SEC filing but did not state a specific entity. WWE stated they had received “regulatory, investigative and enforcement inquiries, subpoenas or demands” regarding the hush money payments. McMahon’s departure was listed as a resignation by WWE. 

    The WSJ report noted they tried to reach out to spokespeople for McMahon and WWE, but they did not immediately respond to the requests.  A spokesman for the independent directors of the WWE board declined to comment. Neither the SEC nor the spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Connecticut provided any comment.

    McMahon announced his retirement from the company last Friday. Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan were named new co-CEOs on Monday, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque is the Head of Creative. 

    The Wall Street Journal previously broke the news about the WWE Board of Directors investigating McMahon over a $3 million settlement that McMahon had agreed to pay a former employee who he allegedly had an affair with and him paying more than $12 million to four women formerly with the company to “suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.”

  • Update on Edge’s Status Ahead of WWE Raw Tonight

    Update on Edge’s Status Ahead of WWE Raw Tonight

    A big episode of WWE Monday Night Raw is going down on July 25 and there are rumblings on the status of Edge.

    The “Rated-R Superstar” has been out of action since Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley kicked him out of The Judgment Day. Edge was replaced by Finn Balor, who led the charge in ousting the former faction leader.

    Priest put Edge out of commission with a Conchairto.

    Now, there’s some chatter about whether or not Edge’s planned surprise appearance will come to fruition inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    Edge’s Travel

    Edge The Judgment Day
    (via WWE)

    Fightful had reported that Edge was factored into plans for the July 25 edition of Raw. It would be his first appearance since June 6.

    WWE has been running vignettes teasing Edge’s return.

    In an update, however, Fightful has been told that Edge’s travel plans have been altered and there’s no word on how that may impact his planned surprise return tonight.

    WWE did not advertise Edge showing up tonight. If he does indeed appear, he’ll likely be going after Balor and Priest.

    The Judgment Day members are set to meet Rey and Dominik Mysterio in a tag team match. WWE will be celebrating Rey Mysterio’s 20th anniversary with the company.

    Keep it locked on the SEScoops homepage for live coverage of tonight’s episode of WWE Raw.

    Edge Returning To WWE TV With His Old Gimmick
  • Rey Mysterio Celebrates 20 Years Since WWE Debut

    Rey Mysterio Celebrates 20 Years Since WWE Debut

    Rey Mysterio is celebrating 20 years since making his WWE debut.

    Rey Mysterio 20th Anniversary Career Highlights

    July 25, 2022 marks 20 years since Mysterio made his debut with WWE on an episode of SmackDown. This was after already having spent several years with WCW before they eventually went out of business.

    Mysterio made quite the name for himself in WCW as a key player in their famed Cruiserweight division. He won the division’s championship five times, including a Cruiserweight Tag Team Title win alongside Billy Kidman.

    He faced off against Chavo Guerrero in his first WWE match after being advertised for several weeks prior with vignettes. Mysteiro won his debut match, soon after entering into a feud with Kurt Angle. Since, Mysterio has gone on to become one of the most legendary names WWE has ever seen.

    Over the course of his career, Mysteiro has racked up three World Titles, three WWE Cruiserweight Title runs, two Intercontinental Titles, and five Tag Team Title wins. He’s also a two-time United States Title winner and a former Royal Rumble winner.

    Rey Mysterio In WWE Today

    Today, Rey Mysterio teams with his son, Dominik Mysteiro, over on Monday Night RAW. The pair are already a well established tag team, having won the SmackDown Live Tag Team Titles together.

    The Mysterios are due to be in action tonight on Monday Night RAW. They’ll team up against The Judgement Day’s Finn Balor and Damien Priest in tag team action.

  • Gunther Describes Difference Between NXT And Main Roster

    Gunther Describes Difference Between NXT And Main Roster

    Gunther signed with WWE in 2019 and helped put the NXT UK brand on the map with his 800+ days long reign as the NXT UK champion. He then had a short run in NXT 2.0 before being called up to the main roster in April this year.

    The former NXT UK star appeared on Out of Character podcast recently. He discussed the difference between the behind-the-scene environment of NXT and main roster. The Intercontinental champion claimed that things are more ‘relaxed’ on the main roster:

    “I think at the end of the day when it comes to what happens in the ring, wrestling is wrestling. For me at least it doesn’t matter if it’s in front of 50 people or if it’s in front of 20,000 people. Obviously [the major] difference is all the happenings around it. there are way more people involved [in the main roster]. A lot more stuff has to happen in a shorter amount of time.

    It’s not too different, but it’s obviously just NXT is a little bit [more] strict and organized.” said Gunther, “Because the people involved are less experienced, I will say, like the talent and stuff. While it’s a little bit more relaxed I would call it on SmackDown in my experience. Everybody’s way more experienced and can get all the stuff done. Like tick, tick, tick, tick, one after the other. Everything has its little routine. It’s a little bit more relaxed in terms of nobody’s really tensed or freaked out about what they have to do. “

    You can check out Gunther’s full interview below:

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  • Jim Ross Reacts To WWE Potentially Returning To TV-14

    Jim Ross Reacts To WWE Potentially Returning To TV-14

    Jim Ross has offered up his reaction to WWE potentially returning to the TV-14 format.

    There has been plenty of chatter in recent weeks about the reports suggesting that WWE will be returning over to TV-14. The company themselves recently confirmed that their upcoming SummerSlam premium event will be rated TV-14.

    It remains to be seen if this will be a regular occurrence on weekly television moving forward. However, it would be a very welcome change amongst professional wrestling fans should it become one.

    Jim Ross Discusses WWE Moving To TV-14

    Recently, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross took to his podcast, “Grilling JR,” to discuss chatter of WWE moving back up to TV-14. Ross explained that, the more people who watch WWE, actually helps AEW. So, the AEW commentator is hoping the move works well for his former employer.

    “The more people that watch Raw or SmackDown, believe it or not, helps AEW.” Ross said. “Generating interest in pro wrestling, on any platform — what’s that old saying about high tides, all ships? I think that’s where we are here in this scenario. I hope it does well for them.”

    WWE seems to be undergoing a wealth of changes at the moment. From Vince McMahon’s sudden retirement, to Triple H taking over as the new head of creative, adding in a format change could certainly be the beginning of a new era of WWE TV.

    Perhaps more information will be made available during tonight’s episode of Monday Night RAW.

    Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

  • Gunther Reveals Unique Reason He Did Not Want To Move To America

    Gunther Reveals Unique Reason He Did Not Want To Move To America

    It’s pretty well known that Gunther did not want to move to America for a long time. According to the WWE star himself, it was also about timing things right to make himself stand out.

    The current Intercontinental Champion recently appeared on Ryan Satin’s Out of Character podcast. Speaking about his decision to move continents, Gunther discussed how he still prefers the European lifestyle. He then talked about how he started back in 2005 and saw the wrestling landscape change:

    “I think I started in 2005, looking back at the steps wrestling made [since then], like changing and developing. Then out of nowhere the gates were open for so many young wrestlers from Europe to actually go to WWE or wrestle other places and be seen and be successful.” said Gunther, “It felt a little bit like a gold rush.

    He continued: “So everybody obviously just jumped on every opportunity they had. Sometimes it’s better to just wait things out and wait out the timing a little bit. I always felt like if everybody moves to America at the same time, it’s not gonna be as special when I do it. It was always clear to me that it will happen at some point but I tried to time it as good as possible for myself.”

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  • Major WWE Executive Expected to Leave Company Within a Year

    Major WWE Executive Expected to Leave Company Within a Year

    One big WWE executive appears to be on borrowed time with the company.

    Change is coming for the once Vince McMahon-led empire. On July 22, WWE issued a statement announcing the retirement of Vince.

    McMahon had been the longtime Chairman and CEO of WWE before stepping back amid an investigation into his alleged million-dollar pacts with former female employees. The “retirement” was actually a resignation as revealed in the company’s 8-K filing.

    With McMahon and former Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis gone, the Stephanie McMahon-Triple H takeover is upon us.

    Don’t forget about Nick Khan as well.

    Kevin Dunn Likely Gone From WWE Eventually

    Kevin Dunn

    Fightful is reporting that Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution Kevin Dunn is likely to be gone from the company in due time. It’s been said that he will either leave on his own or be forced out.

    PWTorch also shared a similar report. Wade Keller noted that while Dunn isn’t expected to be ousted immediately, he likely won’t be around at this time next year.

    The PWTorch report also mentioned that Kevin Dunn is not a Triple H guy. Hunter has been positioned as the new Head of Creative.

    It’s also been reported by several outlets over the years that Stephanie McMahon, the new Chairwoman and CEO of WWE, was never a fan of Dunn.

    How Does USA Network Feel About Triple H Taking Over WWE Creative?
  • How Does USA Network Feel About Triple H Taking Over WWE Creative?

    How Does USA Network Feel About Triple H Taking Over WWE Creative?

    Triple H is now the Head of Creative in WWE and here’s how USA Network execs feel about it.

    Vince McMahon had his hand in the pot of just about everything creatively within WWE for decades. From character changes to scripts, it all went through Vince. You’ve often heard former WWE employees say they always worked for an audience of one.

    That one, of course, being the former Chairman of the board.

    Things have changed now, however. Vince McMahon “retired” mere hours before the July 22 episode of SmackDown went on the air.

    In an 8-K report, a filing sent to the SEC, McMahon’s departure is officially listed as a resignation. The move was clearly in relation to The Wall Street Journal’s report of alleged million-dollar pacts with former female employees over the course of 16 years.

    USA Network Reacts to Triple H’s New Role

    Triple H
    (via WWE)

    WWE has confirmed to several reporters that Triple H is now the Head of Creative. It’s a role that “The Game” took on during his time in NXT before enduring major health issues.

    Now that he is back in the saddle, Triple H will be the point man for creative on WWE’s main roster shows, Raw and SmackDown. His wife, Stephanie McMahon, is the Chairwoman and co-CEO, a title she shares with Nick Khan.

    Fightful is reporting that a source within USA Network says the overall feeling with this move is excitement.

    Many have criticized WWE for being too stale and in desperate need of a change creatively. While business has been booming for WWE, its TV shows haven’t exactly been met with praise over the past few years.

    Maybe things will start to change.

    Vince McMahon’s WWE Departure Officially Listed as Resignation
  • Vince McMahon’s WWE Departure Officially Listed as Resignation

    Vince McMahon’s WWE Departure Officially Listed as Resignation

    To the surprise of pretty much no one, there’s more to Vince McMahon’s retirement than age.

    Just hours before the July 22 episode of WWE SmackDown went off the air, it was announced that Vince has retired. The wording of the statement left some to believe that McMahon could possibly retain his role on the creative team but that isn’t the case.

    While Vince remains the majority shareholder, he is completely gone as an executive from the company.

    While McMahon is 77 years old and many believe this move was long overdue, his retirement didn’t come about because he felt he had done all he needed to do.

    Vince McMahon Resigned

    Vince McMahon
    (via WWE)

    In an 8-K report, which is a required company filing to the SEC, Vince McMahon’s departure from WWE is officially listed as a resignation.

    The news shouldn’t come as a surprise. Vince McMahon was in hot water after The Wall Street Journal uncovered Vince’s alleged million-dollar pacts with former female employees over the course of 16 years.

    While many felt that McMahon was bulletproof, you simply can’t get away with this kind of stuff in 2022 and beyond.

    Stephanie McMahon is now the full-time Chairwoman and shares the CEO title with Nick Khan. WWE has also informed reporters that Triple H is now positioned as the Head of Creative.

    Will Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement be Permanent?
  • Triple H Takes Over WWE Creative

    Triple H Takes Over WWE Creative

    WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has assumed “all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative,” the company announced Monday morning.

    Vince McMahon’s retirement on Friday has sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world. It’s led to a significant shakeup to WWE’s management structure, with Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan serving as co-CEO’s.

    Prior to the Vince retirement announcement, WWE announced Levesque was appointed as the new head of Talent Relations. In a press release about his new role, Levesque stated,

    “I look forward to returning to my prior position as head of Talent Relations. I’m healthy, fired up, and ready to take charge.”

    Triple H Assumes Control of WWE Creative

    In a press release sent out Monday morning, WWE and its Board of Directors addressed the updated management structure:

    WWE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCE NEW CO-CEOS STEPHANIE MCMAHON AND NICK KHAN

WWE (NYSE: WWE) and its Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as co-Chief Executive Officers. Ms. McMahon has also been appointed Chairwoman of the Board, and Mr. Khan will continue to serve as a member of the Board. These appointments follow Vince McMahon’s retirement announcement on Friday, July 22.

We are grateful for the opportunity to lead WWE together with our unmatched management team,” said Ms. McMahon and Mr. Khan. “We recognize this is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility, and we look forward to serving the WWE Universe.”

Additionally, WWE executive Paul Levesque will assume all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative, in addition to his regular duties."

    Monday’sRaw will be the first broadcast under the new creative regime headed by Paul Levesque.

  • New Details on Shane McMahon’s Controversial Conduct at the Royal Rumble

    New Details on Shane McMahon’s Controversial Conduct at the Royal Rumble

    Earlier this year, Shane McMahon received backlash for his conduct behind the scenes at the 2022 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

    Prior to his surprise return at the event (video below), Shane used his influence to make significant changes to the Rumble match, including booking himself stronger over established talent.

    Along with that, there were reports that Shane was reportedly acting “unprofessional” at the even, and had even ticked off Brock Lesnar, who went on to win the Rumble.

    A new report from Fightful provides new details surrounding the fallout between Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon stemming from the Royal Rumble incident.

    Shane McMahon at the Royal Rumble

    Brock Lesnar was said to be very displeased with Shane’s adjustments, so much so that it caught the eye of Vince, who called it the end of the for Shane. As expected it was Vince who made the decision to part-ways with his son, with one source telling the publication that Vince even went as far to say that “Shane would never get another pop in WWE” as long as he was still in charge.

    The belief is that Vince was just angry in the moment when he made that declaration and that things could eventually be patched up, but those close to the situation believe that Vince was justified due to Shane’s aforementioned behavior and “unjust” decision making.

    Vince McMahon retired just a few days ago, but already, there is a feeling that talent is feeling more comfortable to share information like this Shane McMahon story.

  • Sami Zayn Plans to ‘Run His Mouth’ After He’s Done Wrestling

    Sami Zayn Plans to ‘Run His Mouth’ After He’s Done Wrestling

    Sami Zayn discussed the prospect of retiring from active competition on the latest episode of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions.

    Earlier this year, Zayn celebrated the 20th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut. Prior to joining WWE in 2013, Zayn had a lengthy run on the independent scene. Before the WWE Universe met Sami Zayn, he portrayed the masked character El Generico in companies such as PWG, Chikara, ROH and Dragon Gate USA.

    At 38 years old, Zayn knows he can’t wrestle forever. He isn’t planning to hang up the boots any time soon, but he has thought about the next phase of his career.

    When father time knocks on his door and he’s wrestled his last match, Sami Zan hopes to put his communication skills to good use.

    “I don’t know, because it could be taken away when you’re not ready for it. ‘Till the wheels fall off, I suppose, and then when they do, I’d love to run my mouth and be Bobby Heenan, be Paul Heyman, or be whoever, you know.”

    – Sami Zayn on retirement

    Heenan and Heyman are undeniably two of the greatest talkers in wrestling history, so Zayn clearly has high aspirations for himself. Whether he works as a broadcaster or manager, there’s no doubt that Zayn has a lot to offer the business even outside the ropes.

    Zayn has been out of action for several weeks due to an injury. He last competed at WWE’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Since then, he’s been seen wearing a sling. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Zayn’s injury is “legit, but it’s not major, and they are hopeful of him being able to wrestle in a few weeks.”

    Elsewhere during the interview, Zayn played the ‘word association game’ and named the first thing that came to mind about topics such as Seth Rollins, John Cena and Triple H.

    You can stream Sami Zayn’s appearance Broken Skull Sessions right now on Peacock.

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  • Will Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement be Permanent?

    Will Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement be Permanent?

    This week, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE, after decades of running the company.

    McMahon’s retirement comes one month after he stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the Board, due to the allegations of misconduct against multiple female employees.

    McMahon is alleged to have paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) over 16 years.

    Will He Stay Retired?

    For years, it was said that the only way McMahon would ever relinquish control of WWE is when he passes away, so the choice to retire is rightly being seen as a huge deal.

    While McMahon has insisted that he is finished with WWE, there are some who are skeptical about how long this will last.

    Fightful Select reports that some in WWE don’t see McMahon’s retirement as long-lasting, given that he has little hobbies or social circle outside of pro wrestling. (via Wrestling Inc.)

    “I’m not banking on anything being permanent,” one source said. “Triple H was phased out, Stephanie was phased out, Bruce left the company for a decade, Johnny has been in and out, and none of them has the power Vince does. I’m not convinced that he can actually stay away, especially if he feels the heat has died down.”

    “I’m not banking on anything being permanent… I’m not convinced that he can actually stay away.”

    The ‘Heat’

    If Vince McMahon is waiting for the heat of these recent scandals to die down, then he may be waiting a very long time.

    Reporters from the Wall Street Journal have said that they are conducting interviews with former WWE Superstars, and a third article is expected to be published.

    Wrestling World Reacts to Vince McMahon’s Retirement
  • Bianca Belair Calls WWE Raw Superstar the Next “Heavyweight World Champion”

    Bianca Belair Calls WWE Raw Superstar the Next “Heavyweight World Champion”

    Bianca Belair knows all about winning championships in WWE.

    The winner of the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Belair would capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37, in the main event of the show.

    A year later, Belair would capture the Raw Women’s Championship, dethroning Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 this past April.

    Belair’s Pick

    Belair is no stranger to championship gold, but also sees big things in the future of Montez Ford.

    Speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Ebro, and Laura Styles on Hot 97 radio, Belair praised her husband’s in-ring work and called him the next WWE World Champion (via Sportskeeda)

    “There’s a lot of talk right now about Montez Ford. He’s the next Heavyweight World Champion. He’s been in the gym. He’s been changing his physique… I’m excited for the future for him. He has so much potential. He’s really focused on this tag team thing right now with Angelo Dawkins. The Street Profits are doing amazing things. All I can say is it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when for my husband. I’m putting it out there.”

    “He’s the next Heavyweight World Champion… it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

    Bianca Belair calls Montez Ford a future WWE World Champion.

    The People’s Endorsement

    Bianca Belair isn’t the only WWE Superstar to see big things in Montez Ford’s future.

    Last week, The Rock praised Ford as the “whole package” in the latest positive message from the ‘Brahma Bull.’

    In February this year, The Rock agreed with Belair’s mindset that Ford will be a future WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

    WWE has also reportedly been high on Ford, admiring his in-ring work and charisma.

    Montez Ford Got Emotional After The Rock Labeled Him A Future World Champion
  • Latest On Max Dupri And Maximum Male Models

    Latest On Max Dupri And Maximum Male Models

    This Friday’s SmackDown saw an abrupt change in the Maximum Male Models storyline. NXT star Sofia Cromwell debuted as Maxxine Dupri, with reports suggesting that Max Dupri was done with the group.

    We have an update on the situation and the future of the character played by the former LA Knight.

    Per Fightful, the whole angle was Vince McMahon’s idea and he had taken a particular interest in the storyline. The boss even came down to the ring to produce the Maximum Male Models debut segment which doesn’t happen often.

    The former WWE chairman had a distinct vision for how Max Dupri would sound. McMahon worked with Max quite a bit on it. He said that he wanted the character to sound nothing like Knight.

    Both Mace and Mansoor were on board with the angle, but LA Knight had some reservations. He said to have ‘ruffled some feathers with a couple of scripts’ and challenged what the writers had come up with.

    Though despite the report that the decision was made a couple of weeks ago, Max Dupri was unbooked on last minute. Other people involved in the segment weren’t given any concrete information on his status.

    A source said that Vince McMahon retiring from WWE is the best thing that could have happened to Knight. He still has supporters in WWE that enjoy his work, and the door isn’t closed for the decision to be reversed.

  • What Creative Changes Are Expected After Vince McMahon’s Retirement

    What Creative Changes Are Expected After Vince McMahon’s Retirement

    Vince McMahon held the keys when it came to WWE creative for over 5 decades. Now that he is gone from the company, the WWE programming is expected to go through some major changes.

    Fightful Select provided some updates on what changes we can expect. They noted that one source within creative said that we may see fewer rematches moving forward.

    It’s believed that Vince McMahon will redo a match if he liked it and thought that it made sense. He then ‘later forget that they’d done it so many times.’

    There were people that claimed that the 76-year-old had issues remembering names of talents here and there. This might be a reason why he shortened many talent names.

    People believe that the new leadership may not want to deviate from McMahon’s vision too much out of ‘respect’ for the boss, but they still think that small improvements in current programming can make a huge difference.

    As far as long-term changes go, most people said that it will be determined by who ends up in control of creative. If Bruce Prichard ends up taking over, it’s likely that not much will change.

    Though if it’s someone else, the likelihood of ‘forward progression’ will be much higher. You can check out more backstage news on Vince McMahon’s retirement here.

  • Former WWE Star Claims Vince McMahon Used To Harass Ashley Massaro During Her WWE Run

    Former WWE Star Claims Vince McMahon Used To Harass Ashley Massaro During Her WWE Run

    Vince McMahon retiring from WWE has sent shockwaves through the pro-wrestling industry, as many believe the decision was due to the Wall Street Journal piece accusing him of severe misconduct, with more allegations and stories reportedly set to come.

    One person who is not shocked by this news is former WWE star Paul London, who joined Rene Dupree on his podcast to discuss McMahon’s retirement, as well as reveal his own stories of the Chairman that may have remained unknown.

    London, who was with WWE from 2003-2008 says that McMahon used to constantly harass Ashley Marasso, a women’s star from that era who tragically passed away in 2019. He says that McMahon would proposition her to fly with him on his private jet, and McMahon’s right-hand man, Kevin Dunn, would follow in suit.

    “I do remember specifically, many times when she would, she would be crying to me because Vince was propositioning her to fly on the jet with them like Kevin Dunn – buck tooth Bucky would be telling her that she has to fly on the jet with them. They’d always put the Divas up at like the TV hotel or whatever, you know, he’d been knocking on her door and you know, trying to get her to answer.”

    While London once again says that he’s not surprised by the allegation he is shocked that something like this didn’t surface within the last 10 years.

    “I’m surprised it hasn’t come out within the last 10 years. But it just goes to show how afraid people are of that power dynamic where they’re so fearful of losing their job or and it’s like what does that say about you if you’re protecting this 90-year-old f**king corpse with a thong tan line just because he’s a billionaire. I mean it’s like I said money changes people.”

    Stories of McMahon’s retirement will continue to come out in the following weeks, and have already shaken up top WWE stars like Brock Lesnar, who left SmackDown when he heard the news, but was eventually convinced to return to the venue for the main event segment.

    Sescoops wil continue to provide up to date coverage on this story.

    (Quotes by WrestlingNews.Co)

  • Concerns & Optimism in WWE After Vince McMahon’s Retirement Announcement

    Concerns & Optimism in WWE After Vince McMahon’s Retirement Announcement

    This week, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE; an act that countless people thought they’d never see.

    McMahon’s announcement comes a month after he stepped down from the roles of WWE CEO and Chairman of the Board, over allegations of improper conduct with female employees. 

    McMahon has allegedly paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements to female WWE employees over the past 16 years. 

    Concerns Over McMahon

    McMahon’s decision to step down from WWE is unquestionably the biggest shift in power the promotion has ever seen, and there are concerns for the ex-CEO’s future. 

    According to Wade Keller of PW Torch, many close to McMahon are worried about how he will spend his time now, as he has no hobbies or social circles outside of pro-wrestling.

    Despite this, McMahon is not expected to return to WWE in any capacity other than as the father of Stephanie McMahon. 

    In his retirement statement, McMahon did not address the allegations against him, which many believe is the reason for his retirement. 

    Keller reports that with McMahon retiring days before Raw returns to Madison Square Garden, the claims against him must be serious, as Vince has a lot of love for ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena.’

    It is said to be in WWE’s interest to keep McMahon happy as he is still a large shareholder and his opinion carried a lot of weight.

    Future Plans in WWE

     After stepping down as WWE CEO and Chair, McMahon remained in charge of WWE creative, though that has changed now.

    Keller notes that Bruce Prichard is expected to take over the role as head of creative for the time being. 

    Kevin Dunn, a long-time confidante of McMahon (who some consider little more than a Vince yes man) is expected to remain in his role as an Executive Director of WWE, though it is unlikely he will remain in the role for the long-term.

    Changes are expected, but they will be gradual as the company wishes to demonstrate stability to stakeholders including stockholders, partners, and sponsors.

    There are even talks from AEW wrestlers, who believe they will have a better chance in WWE or that at the very least, WWE will show more of an interest in them without Vince McMahon in charge.

    Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan will serve as co-CEOs, and while they are not close, they are not considered enemies.

    Women and WWE

    Many Superstars are said to be optimistic that this change of leadership will help them, but it is understood that any changes to the rosters will be gradual rather than immediate.

    Female Superstars are reportedly the most optimistic, as WWE Chairwoman Stephanie McMahon is said to be well-liked and is a supporter of women’s wrestling.

    Some even think that Naomi and Sasha Banks could return after walking out of the May 16 Raw due to creative differences with Vince McMahon’s plan for that night’s main event.

    It’s believed that the former Women’s Tag Team Champions’ main beef was with Vince and that his retirement could smooth things over.

    However, other management may still hold a grudge against both women, who have shown no signs of being brought back to TV.

    Wrestling World Reacts to Vince McMahon’s Retirement

  • Cody Rhodes on WWE Rule: ‘They Can Fine Me Every Time’

    Cody Rhodes on WWE Rule: ‘They Can Fine Me Every Time’

    Cody Rhodes continues to recover from his pectoral injury, but the WWE star hasn’t stopped making headlines since he’s been away from the ring.

    This week, Rhodes was at San Diego Comic Con on behalf of WWE along with several others from the company. There was a humorous moment during a presentation when some new WWE Mattel figures and titles were being revealed.

    The presenter mentioned “new championships,” and Rhodes chimed in by saying “you can say belt.”

    WWE has long had a rule, reportedly due to Vince McMahon’s wishes, that championships were not referred to as “belts” on television, or really, anywhere. This has been joked about in the wrestling community ad nauseam over the years as being over the top.

    Sam Roberts was there and said that maybe Cody can say belts but others will get in trouble.

    “They can fine me $1,000 every time I say belts. I’m fine with that. If they give me a title belt, sure it’s a championship, but it also physically goes around your waist. Those are great belts,” Rhodes responded (h/t Fightful).

    Cody Rhodes With Championships Belt Plans?

    Rhodes has a history with championship belts in WWE that has satisfied longtime fans and collectors. In 2012, he brought back a modified version of the iconic Reggie Parks Intercontinental Championship from the 1980s and 1990s.

    There have been rumors that if Rhodes becomes WWE Champion in the future, he will bring back the famous “Winged Eagle” championship belt that WWE used from 1988 until 1998. To many fans, this is the greatest belt the company has ever had.

    Of course, Rhodes seemed primed for a run at the WWE’s top prize, with a potential victory in the Money In The Bank match, until his injury sank those plans. Fans are hoping to see Rhodes return in time to make headlines at WrestleMania 39 next year.

    Make sure to check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube. This week, we react to the news of Vince McMahon’s retirement.