SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Logan Paul Hits 250 Days As U.S. Champion, With Just Two Defenses

    Logan Paul Hits 250 Days As U.S. Champion, With Just Two Defenses

    WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul has reached a milestone with the title, though that’s hardly a surprise given his sporadic title defenses.

    This week, Paul hit 250 days as WWE United States Champion, the second-longest reign of any U.S. Champion of the past decade (behind Austin Theory’s 257-day reign.) This milestone number has seen Paul leapfrog legends who held the gold including ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin (239 days,) Sting (232 days,) and the inaugural U.S. Champion Harley Race (181 days.)

    While Paul is WWE’s longest-reigning current champion (and the only title holder to still have a title won in 2023) he’s hardly been a fighting champion. Since capturing the title at WWE Crown Jewel from Rey Mysterio, Paul has had just two title defenses. His first came at the Royal Rumble where he earned a DQ win over Kevin Owens. The second saw Paul defeat Owens and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 40.

    This alarming statistic will no doubt spark debate as to whether Paul’s reign has gone on too long. In the past, WWE has used a 30-day rule, mandating a title defense once a month or else the champion is stripped of the title. In recent years though, this unwritten rule has quietly been scrapped and champions like Paul can go months without a match.

    Proponents of Paul will argue that fans outraged at his sporadic title defenses are only making Paul into a more loathsome heel, a role he has excelled in since arriving in WWE in 2021. For as much ‘heat’ as Paul’s reign has gotten though, there will be plenty who argue that a full-time member of the roster is more deserving of a reign with the gold.

    What’s to Come?

    In recent months, Paul has been feuding with LA Knight, and a title match between the two is expected. While not confirmed, many expect said match to come at SummerSlam 2024 next month. The August 3, event will take place from the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of the Maverick.

    SummerSlam Tickets Nearly Sold Out 2 Months In Advance

    Whether Paul’s title reign ends at SummerSlam or not, the YouTuber-turned-Superstar has his sights set on a richer prize. Paul is confident he can become WWE Champion one day, if he commits fully to wrestling. Paul has challenged twice for the Undisputed WWE Championship but failed on both occasions.

    Logan Paul: ‘I’ll Become WWE Champion If I Put My Mind To It’
  • Bayley: ‘I Was Going Nowhere Before Turning Heel in 2019’

    Bayley: ‘I Was Going Nowhere Before Turning Heel in 2019’

    WWE Women’s Champion Bayley was thrilled to turn heel in 2019 as she felt at the time that her career in the company had hit a serious stand-still.

    Speaking on Cody Rhodes’ new show ‘What Do You Wanna Talk About?’ Bayley reflected on her heel turn, and why she was more than ready at the time.

    “I was nervous because I thought what if it didn’t work, but I was also in the spot where that character, the bubbly babyface, wasn’t working either. So I was at a crossroads of ‘If I never try this I’ll never know’… So turning to a bad guy was my decision because I felt that I was going nowhere and the fact that they [WWE] wanted to go with it, it was perfect timing.”

    Bayley’s Heel Turn

    After years as a bubbly, lovable babyface, Bayley turned heel by helping Sasha Banks attack Becky Lynch with a steel chair. While Bayley justified her role as simply helping a friend, her villainous role was confirmed in the weeks that followed.

    In her first pay-per-view match post-aiding Lynch, Bayley retained the SmackDown Women’s Title thanks to the use of an exposed turnbuckle. Again, Bayley played innocent and chalked the use of the turnbuckle on sheer coincidence and not intentional. After losing the title to Charlotte Flair at Hell in a Cell, Bayley regained the gold on the following SmackDown. A new look and theme song made Bayley’s heel turn apparent, as did her butchering of the ‘Bayley Buddies.’

    Bayley’s heel turn would work out for the former Hugger who became a highlight of WWE TV, especially during the crowd-less days of the Pandemic. Ironically, Bayley’s work as a heel would become so popular with fans, that it has turned the WWE Women’s Champion into a face, albeit a much different one than before.

    Bayley Comments On Her Face Turn After WWE Royal Rumble Win

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  • Sharmell: ‘My Time As A Dancer Prepared Me For A Life In Wrestling’

    Sharmell: ‘My Time As A Dancer Prepared Me For A Life In Wrestling’

    WWE Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell may not have had a traditional road to professional wrestling, but her time as a dancer helped prepare her for a life in the ring.

    Before joining WCW in late 1998, Sharmell had a career in professional dance which saw her spend over three years working with the legendary James Brown. Speaking to McKenzie Mitchell on Threads, Sharmell was asked how much of her dance career was she able to bring into professional wrestling.

    “All of it. [Laughs] Dance is choreography, it’s timing it’s rhythm and you have to have all of that when you’re in the ring with your opponent. Timing is key, rhythm is key so they’re very similar. You always hear the boys say ‘This is not ballet’ and it is not. It definitely is not but there is a certain rhythm and flow that dancers [follow] It’s even when you see football players taking ballet it’s to get that rhythm and that footwork and that type of thing being light on your feet. So I did bring all of that into wrestling.”

    Sharmell certainly put her dance background to use upon joining WCW where she initially worked as ‘Storm’ as part of the Nitro Girls dance troupe. As the dancers became more active in storylines, Storm became ‘Paisley’ and became the valet of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea.

    It wouldn’t be until 2005 that Sharmell began working with her husband Booker T in wrestling. The following year, Sharmell became ‘Queen’ following Booker’s victory in that year’s King of the Ring tournament. Booker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2019 while Sharmell, a former Miss Black America, took her place by her man’s side in 2022

    Dancers In Wrestling

    Sharmell is not the only dancer to put their skills to use in the world of professional wrestling. Cassie Lee (fka Peyton Royce) danced for years before stepping in the ring, as did AEW’s CJ Perry. The former Lana graduated from Florida State University with a degree in dance and acting and demonstrated both during her WWE tenure.

    Before joining WWE in 2009, Naomi worked as a dancer for the Orlando Magic for two years and also worked as a dancer for WrestleMania-theme provider Flo Rida. Her fellow SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella also danced professionally as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots and the LA Lakers. In 2013, Carmella put down her pom-poms and followed her father into the family business of professional wrestling.

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  • Ronda Rousey: ‘Anyone Is Better To Run WWE Than Vince McMahon’

    Ronda Rousey: ‘Anyone Is Better To Run WWE Than Vince McMahon’

    Ex-WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey is more than happy to see WWE succeed in its ‘new era’ as she believes anybody would be a better alternative than Vince McMahon.

    Speaking to CBS Sports, the former Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion didn’t hold back when asked for her stance on WWE’s changes in leadership this year.

    “I think anyone’s better than Vince McMahon. The only place you can go is up. I really enjoy Triple H and working with him, and honestly, I haven’t been watching, but I saw something from Nattie [Neidhart] saying that they had a card recently that had just as many women on it as the men.

    “That’s what I would really like to see. The women equally represented with not just matches on the card, but time on the show. I feel there’s no place they could go but up and I’m really, really happy for all the women still there and thriving under the new regime.”

    Vince McMahon’s Banishment

    The 78-year-old McMahon parted ways with WWE for the second time in January 2024 following Janel Grant filing a lawsuit against both himself and WWE. The lawsuit alleges that McMahon was abusive to Grant during their relationship and that he trafficked her to other men in WWE. McMahon’s legal team has denied all claims against him and have stated that Grant’s lawsuit is the action of a bitter ex.

    Since parting ways with McMahon, WWE has done all it can to keep the ex-Chairman’s name away from their own. When asked about McMahon during the Money in the Bank post-show, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said he could not comment on an ongoing legal matter. In addition to the Grant lawsuit, McMahon is also facing a federal investigation.

    Team McMahon Responds As DOJ Launch Probe Into Ex-WWE Chairman

    Ronda Rousey On Vince McMahon

    Rousey’s stance on McMahon is hardly a new one as the UFC Hall of Famer has been outspoken against him and WWE for some time now. In her book Our Fight, Rousey calls McMahon the ‘Emperor Palpatine’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. Rousey adds that it is difficult to tell where the “evil, unethical, slimeball character” of Mr. McMahon ends and where Vince McMahon begins.

    Speaking to News Nation in April 2024, Rousey said the allegations against McMahon are “not surprising.” She added that any would-be good samaritan in WWE is “being held hostage” by the risk of being punished if they speak out against McMahon. Nevertheless, McMahon’s time with WWE has ended and it’s unlikely we’ll ever see his famous strut ever again.

    Ronda Rousey Says ‘All-Around Dirtbag’ John Laurinaitis Was a ‘60-Year-Old Fratboy’ in WWE
  • Stephanie Vaquer: What You Need To Know About The New WWE Signee

    Stephanie Vaquer: What You Need To Know About The New WWE Signee

    Stephanie Vaquer became one of the most talked-about free agents in professional wrestling following her release from CMLL and NJPW, and she has now seemingly signed with WWE.

    Here is everything you need to know about the latest WWE signee.

    Read More – Stephanie Vaquer Gone From CMLL & NJPW Amid WWE/AEW Interest

    Who is Stephanie Vaquer? Early Life and Career Beginnings

    Born on March 29, 1993, in San Antonio, Valparaiso Region, Chile, Stephanie Vaquer, whose real name is Stephanie Beatriz Vaquer, began her wrestling training at a young age.

    She trained under prominent wrestling figures such as Paul Slandering, Gran Apache, Ricky Marvin, and Villano IV, making her professional debut in February 2009.

    Rise in Lucha Libre

    Vaquer’s talent quickly shone through in the world of Lucha Libre. She competed in various promotions, including Alianza Universal De Lucha Libre (AULL) where she won the AULL Women’s Championship.

    Her performances led her to be signed by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where she won multiple championships, including the CMLL World Women’s Championship and the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship.

    Major Achievements and Wrestling Style

    Stephanie Vaquer

    Championships and Accomplishments

    Stephanie Vaquer has held numerous titles throughout her already impressive career. In addition to her CMLL accolades, she captured the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship, which she held before losing it to Mercedes Mone at the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024 PPV event.

    Stephanie Vaquer Finisher

    Vaquer’s signature and finishing moves include the Package Backbreaker, Cross Armbreaker, and the Dragon Screw Legwhip, which have earned her respect and admiration from fans and peers alike.

    Recent Highlights

    AEW and NJPW STRONG Appearances

    As noted, Stephanie Vaquer made headlines at AEW’s Forbidden Door 2024 event, where she faced Mercedes Moné in a champion vs. champion match.

    Although Vaquer dominated much of the match, Moné emerged victorious, securing the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship.

    This match was reportedly a major reason why WWE decided to show interest in signing her, as she arguably had one of the best matches of the night against a former WWE Superstar in Mone/Sasha Banks.

    Stephanie Vaquer Boyfriend: A tumultuous situation

    Vaquer’s personal life has seen its share of challenges, including a highly publicized domestic violence incident involving her former partner, Cuatrero.

    Will Stephanie Vaquer go to WWE?

    The big question after Vaquer’s release from CMLL is where she will be heading next. According to the latest reliable reports, she is in fact headed to WWE.

  • Stephanie Vaquer: ‘2018 WWE Tryout Taught Me What I Needed To Do’

    Stephanie Vaquer: ‘2018 WWE Tryout Taught Me What I Needed To Do’

    Stephanie Vaquer’s first attempt to make it in WWE was not successful, but it did teach her a lot about what she needed to do to succeed in the ring.

    This week, it was reported that Vaquer would be leaving CMLL and NJPW in order to join WWE. On Twitter, WWE’s SVP of Talent Development Shawn Michaels welcomed Vaquer into the WWE ‘family’ seemingly confirming her arrival and suggesting she will start in NXT (where Michaels also leads.)

    More On Stephanie Vaquer Joining WWE On Multi-Yeal Deal

    Stephanie Vaquer On Her WWE Tryout

    While Vaquer is expected to begin competing for WWE in the coming months, she did have a tryout for the company back in 2018. Speaking to Denise Salcedo, Vaquer reflected on her tryout and not feeling ready for a role in WWE at the time.

    “It was a very difficult test. I feel that I didn’t have the experience to do a test with them yet. I had very little time fighting, I was not an athlete. Maybe I did not have the physical condition to perform at 100% but that experience taught me a lot… I started to train physically, I started to do conditioning and become an athlete. I didn’t place in the event, but it really was, I think it was a plus to say ‘Ok, I have to change all this because this is what I have to do from now on.’ It helped me a lot and it was an experience that I will take with me forever.”

    While Vaquer did not secure a deal with WWE, the Chilean wrestler appreciates the extra effort WWE made for her so that she could see her family.

    “I remember WWE asking me a lot. I hadn’t seen my family for a long time. I was already living in Mexico and they gave me two more days so I could go see my family before the tryout. I will always thank them for that.”

    The lessons Vaquer learned in 2018 clearly paid off for her as she has gone on to hold titles in CMLL, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and elsewhere. Now, the Chilean star is returning to WWE and is ready to achieve what she felt she couldn’t six years ago.

    Stephanie Vaquer: What You Need To Know About WWE’s Signing

  • Cody Rhodes Previews AJ Styles vs. Naomichi Marufuji

    Cody Rhodes Previews AJ Styles vs. Naomichi Marufuji

    The forbidden door reopens this weekend, as WWE Superstar AJ Styles returns to Japan to wrestle a match for Pro Wrestling NOAH. The Japanese promotion shocked the wrestling world last month by announcing Styles would be the next opponent of the legendary Naomichi Marufuji.

    Styles vs. Marufuji is scheduled for July 13 at Destination from Tokyo, Japan at the Nippon Budokan. The dream match will mark the former WWE Champion’s debut in Noah and the first encounter between the legends.

    Before the crossover matchup, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes spoke with NOAH to share his thoughts on the upcoming contest. He spoke highly of both wrestling legends and also credited Marufuji for inspiring his move set.

    “…It’s not hyperbole to say that Marufuji, on the other side of the ring, is how important he is to modern pro wrestling and modern sports entertainment,” said Rhodes.

    “I mean, if you hit the ropes behind another guy, you call that a Marufuji. That’s a Marufuji forearm. That’s what I do. It’s part of my comeback that I have in my own matches.”

    Rhodes added that he’d be open to having a match against Marufuji in the future. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion believes Styles will look to impress this weekend.

    “… I can see AJ Styles, really showing out in Japan.”

    – Cody Rhodes

    : Cody Rhodes Previews AJ Styles vs. Naomichi Marufuji

    More On AJ Styles vs. Naomichi Marufuji

    Styles and Marufuji have enjoyed an ongoing successful career and are respected amongst their peers. Styles is on the short list of wrestlers who have won major titles in New Japan Pro Wrestling, TNA Wrestling, and WWE. Marufuji is a four-time GHC Heavyweight Champion and is currently on his ninth reign as a GHC Tag Team Champion.

    Both fan favorites have inspired other wrestlers with their accolades and longevity in the wrestling business. This weekend, Styles and Marufuji have the opportunity to showcase why they are still among the best wrestlers in the world. In the previews of their dream match, ‘The Phenomenal One’ has expressed that he wants to tear the house down with his opponent.

    NOAH’s Destination event is looking to be an event fans will not want to miss.

    Naomichi Marufuji: ‘AJ Styles Is Great! I Want More WWE Stars In NOAH’
  • Drew McIntyre Signs With Paradigm Talent Agency

    Drew McIntyre Signs With Paradigm Talent Agency

    Wrestling fans can expect to see more of Drew McIntyre outside of the ring in the years ahead. According to Joe Otterson for Variety, the three-time WWE World Champion, known as the ‘Scottish Warrior,’ has signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency.

    McIntyre recently signed a new multi-year WWE contract, but this new relationship indicates he’s eager to explore opportunities in the entertainment industry, such as television and film. Paradigm represents several other WWE superstars, including Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest, and McIntyre’s on-screen rival, CM Punk.

    McIntyre is currently serving a storyline suspension from WWE after putting his hands on Adam Pearce at Money in the Bank. The WWE RAW GM has promised to meet with him this coming Monday. If he isn’t reinstated, McIntyre has teased returning to TNA Wrestling.

    Drew McIntyre in The Killer’s Game

    Paradigm will undoubtedly open doors for Drew McIntyre in Hollywood, but he’s already getting his feet wet in that regard. McIntyre is set to co-star in WWE alum Dave Bautista’s next film, The Killer’s Game, which hits theaters on September 13. The film also stars Terry Crews, Pom Klementieff, and Ben Kingsley.

    Synopsis

    A veteran assassin is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and authorizes a kill on himself. After ordering the kill, an army of former colleagues pounce and a new piece of information comes to light. Insanity ensues.

    Trailer

  • WWE’s Natalya Reveals 4th Generation Hart Family Member is Training to Wrestle

    WWE’s Natalya Reveals 4th Generation Hart Family Member is Training to Wrestle

    Veteran Superstar Natalya has built a legendary WWE career that began in 2007. The third generation wrestler is member of the legendary Hart family wrestling dynasty. She’s the daughter of Jim Neidhart and granddaughter of Hart Family patriarch Stu.

    During a wide-ranging discussion with McKenzie Mitchell for Threads with McKenzie Mitchell, the ‘Queen of Harts’ revealed that her nephew Maddox is training to wrestle.

    Maddox Neidhart is the son of Natalya’s younger sister, Kristen. He’s only 12 years old, but he’s training at Natalya and husband Tyson Kidd’s world-renowned Dungeon 2.0 training facility.

    “Maddox is very inspired. I think there will be a fourth-generation Hart.”

    – Natalya Neidhart to McKenzie Mitchell

    Maddox Neidhart’s favorite wrestler is Jey Uso. Natalya says Jey sent Maddox a personalized video and sent him a few gifts, including a t-shirt he wore to the ring and a pair of his sunglasses.

    Check out Natalya Neidhart’s appearance on Threads with McKenzie Mitchell:

    Natalya Neidhart and the Hart Dynasty

    Natalya Neidhart’s father Natalya’s father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, married Ellie Hart, who is one of Stu Hart’s daughters. This makes Natalya a member of the Hart family through her mother. As a result of this lineage, she’s related to other famous wrestlers from the Hart family, including uncles Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Owen Hart.

    Her connection to the Hart family has played a significant role in her wrestling career, as she trained in the Hart family Dungeon under her uncles Ross and Bruce Hart.

    More from Natalya

    In another recent interview, Natalya recalled that wrestling legend Rey Mysterio gifted her a custom-made pair of wrestling boots, which she has worn on many occasions in the ring.

    Natalya also talked about which female star she admired during her early WWE days, who was a roster member and messaged Natalya on MySpace when she got hired by WWE.

    The Dungeon 2.0 is WWE Veteran Natalya’s ‘Love Letter’ To Wrestling
  • Stephanie Vaquer Joins WWE, Shawn Michaels: “See You In Orlando!”

    Stephanie Vaquer Joins WWE, Shawn Michaels: “See You In Orlando!”

    Chilean wrestling sensation Stephanie Vaquer has signed with WWE, as first reported by Record Mexico. Other outlets, including PWInsider, corroborated the report before WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels gave the official confirmation.

    Shawn Michaels Welcomes Stephanie Vaquer to WWE

    Michaels, WWE’s SVP of Talent Development, officially welcomed Vaquer to the family.

    Wanted by WWE and AEW

    Stephanie Vaquer and Mercedes Mone delivered a show-stealing performance at last month’s AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 pay-per-view. Mone was victorious, but it was Vaquer who received most of the buzz coming out of the show. Despite holding championships in Mexico, including the (since-vacated) CMLL World Women’s Championship, she received strong interest from both AEW and WWE.

    Stephanie Vaquer
    (AEW)

    Vaquer had been a part of CMLL since 2019 and was positioned as one of the top women in the company. She made her NJPW debut in 2023 as part of the tournament to crown the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s World Champion (won by Willow Nightingale.)

    While she came up short in that tournament, Vaquer would win the gold in early 2024 from Giulia, another top female name fans can expect to see in WWE very soon.

    Leaving CMLL & New Japan

    On Wednesday, Lucha Libre CMLL and New Japan Pro Wrestling issued a joint CMLL-NJPW Special Announcement stating that Vaquer has informed them she will not participate in her next scheduled match due to “personal reasons.” As a result, she’s no longer associated with either promotion and been stripped of the CMLL World Women’s Championship.

    “We want to inform you that Stephanie Vaquer has abruptly informed us that she will not participate, for personal reasons, in her next fight at FantasticaMania USA. As of today, he also no longer belongs to the CMLL and NJPW talent.”

    A new CMLL World Women’s Champion will be crowned at FantasticaMania USA in an inter-promotional trios match. Lluvia, representing CMLL, will face Viva Van of NJPW and AEW’s Willow Nightingale for the gold. CMLL apologized to fans for the abrupt departure.

    Vaquer’s Farewell

    Stephanie Vaquer CMLL NJPW

    Though these moves may come as something of a surprise, suspicions grew that Vaquer was parting ways with CMLL after what would become her final match for the promotion. After a recent match, Vaquer appeared emotional and embraced her opponent Tessa Blanchard

  • Logan Paul: ‘I’ll Become WWE Champion If I Put My Mind To It’

    Logan Paul: ‘I’ll Become WWE Champion If I Put My Mind To It’

    Logan Paul has already captured the WWE United States Championship, but the Maverick sees a richer prize waiting for him if he fully ‘commits’ to wrestling.

    Since arriving in WWE in 2021, Paul has impressed fans with both his character work and his skills in the ring. At WWE Crown Jewel 2023, Paul captured the U.S. Championship from Rey Mysterio, albeit under controversial circumstances thanks to the use of his signature brass knuckles. At close to 250 days, Paul’s reign is the second-longest U.S. title reign of the past decade, and he is the longest reigning champion of any current title-holder in WWE today.

    Logan Paul On The WWE Championship

    With Paul excelling as U.S. Champion, it’s hardly a surprise that some have speculated whether more gold could be in his future. On his ImPaulsive podcast, the Maverick addressed the possibility of becoming WWE Champion.

    “I’m going to do it, bro. I think I could become [WWE] champ if I just put my mind to it and commit. I like it.”

    While Paul has yet to win a WWE World Championship, that’s not for lack of trying. At WWE Crown Jewel 2022, Paul came up short against then-Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and suffered an injury in the match. He would return to action in the following January’s Men’s Royal Rumble match that was won by Cody Rhodes.

    A year later, Paul shared the ring with Rhodes at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring for Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship. Paul’s return to Saudi Arabia would not go like his U.S. title victory as he would fall short against the American Nightmare.

    WWE Champion Logan Paul: Could It Happen?

    The idea of putting a World Championship on Logan Paul would certainly be controversial given the lineage of the title he’d be winning. Fans will immediately point to David Arquette’s doomed WCW World Heavyweight title win in 2000 which hurt the company and the title more than it helped. Arquette, a prolific wrestling fan, was against the title change but went along with it under the hope it’d help garner interest (and money) in the Ready to Rumble film.

    Unlike WCW-era Arquette, Paul has more than proven he belongs in the ring and even his most ardent of critics can’t deny his skills. As a natural heel, Paul relishes in getting fans to hate him, and having him win the title would certainly do just that. Whether WWE would be willing to withstand a potential real backlash against the company in their efforts to have Paul be a top heel, however, is the $64,000 question.

    Reason WWE Teased Cody Rhodes Vs. Logan Paul Being Title For Title
  • Cody Rhodes Reflects on Career Post-WrestleMania XL Victory

    Cody Rhodes Reflects on Career Post-WrestleMania XL Victory

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently talked about his career trajectory following his monumental WrestleMania XL win over Roman Reigns, and revealed his future plans in the ring. Appearing on The Pivot Podcast, Rhodes discussed the Mount Rushmore of wrestling and his aspirations to secure his place among the industry’s legends.

    Rhodes stated that after achieving significant milestones in his professional wrestling career, he looks up to industry icons like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and John Cena, comparing his “numbers and stats” with theirs to ensure he matches or even surpasses their achievements.

    “There’s even like a post-WrestleMania blues psychology-wise, like what’s the next thing? So I always need a task; what’s my specific task? And that’s an area where I look to Steve Austin and I look to John Cena who are the lead dogs.

    This is not me in my ego, I have this [the championship], so I’m currently in front of the pack, right?
    I’m the lead dog, as long as I have this. I want to make sure that my numbers — and it’s not the most emotional goal or anything — but I want to make sure my numbers and stats match theirs or supersede theirs because you can’t argue with that.”

    Cody Rhodes on his career aspirations after WrestleMania XL win.

    After ‘Finishing The Story’ at WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes defended his title at Backlash France against AJ Styles and at King and Queen of the Ring against Logan Paul. On May 31, AJ Styles attacked Rhodes during what seemed like a retirement speech. Rhodes later defeated Styles in an “I Quit” match at Clash at the Castle, but was assaulted by The Bloodline afterward, with Randy Orton and Kevin Owens making the save.

    On June 21, Rhodes faced Solo Sikoa in a match that ended in disqualification due to Bloodline interference, followed by the debut of Jacob Fatu. At Money in the Bank, The Bloodline (Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Fatu) defeated Rhodes, Orton, and Owens in a six-man tag match, with Rhodes being pinned by Sikoa.

    The American Nightmare was recently featured in the Video announcing the return of WWE Bad Blood. Check out the details here.

  • What Do WWE Talent Make Of AEW’s Perceived High-Injury Rate?

    What Do WWE Talent Make Of AEW’s Perceived High-Injury Rate?

    WWE talent have hardly been surprised by the perceived high level of injuries that have occurred in AEW, it has been reported.

    While injuries are a work hazard for any professional wrestler, many have pointed at Tony Khan’s promotion for having a higher rate of injuries than other companies of its size. Currently, top names including Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, and Jamie Hayter are all out of action with injuries. Bryan Danielson has seen much of his AEW run disrupted due to injuries and similar setbacks also caused issues throughout CM Punk’s All-Elite tenure.

    Riho Confirms Arm Injury After AEW Return Match

    WWE Talent On AEW Injuries

    Talent in WWE have not been surprised by the apparent high rate of injuries in AEW, Mike Johnson of PW Insider reports. The belief is that instead of lowering the risk of injuries, AEW’s more relaxed schedule which sees talent compete maybe once or twice a week is actually making their situation worse. The reasoning is that with long breaks between matches, AEW talent aren’t able to callus their bodies which has resulted in bumps and moves hurting more. In contrast, WWE hosts events almost every night of the week which keeps talent toughened up in the long term.

    WWE Superstars were forced to wrestle much less during the COVID-19 pandemic when events happened behind closed doors, either at the Performance Center on inside the Thunderdome. The report adds that talent felt “off” by a few steps after touring resumed in July 2021 but were pleased that they would finally be able to compete more and therefore callus their bodies.

    Bayley was an unfortunate victim of this situation as mere weeks before touring resumed, she suffered an injury during training. The Role Model, who had been considered a highlight of the Pandemic Era, would miss a year of in-ring action before returning to TV at SummerSlam 2022.

    While it may seem antithetical, it appears wrestling more is decreasing the chances of injuries, at least when it comes to WWE talent. While AEW has flirted with untelevised shows in the past, it remains to be seen if the promotion will ever have a schedule close to WWE.

    Chuck Taylor’s Career-Ending Injury Reportedly Legitimate

  • Finn Balor: I’d Love To Work With The Wyatt Sicks

    Finn Balor: I’d Love To Work With The Wyatt Sicks

    The Judgment Day member Finn Balor is willing to work with the cryptic group, Wyatt Sicks.

    Finn Balor recently joined in for an interview on the What’s The Story podcast and shed light on possibly getting involved with the group led by Uncle Howdy. He is eager to work with them and believes they could create some great moments.

    However, he clarified that he wouldn’t bring back his ‘Demon’ persona for the potential storyline. ‘Demon King’ or ‘Demon has been Balor’s alter-ego, possessing supernatural powers. The former WWE Universal Champion said that he wanted to keep his Finn Balor character as a heel and the Demon character as a babyface.

    “I’d love to work with The Wyatt Sicks. I feel like we could do some cool s**t there… I would like to keep Finn as a heel and The Demon as the babyface and not blur the lines at all.

    Poor execution

    Following a successful showcase of Demon character in NXT, Balor introduced the character on the main roster. He has been using it rarely and saved it for big matches. While he usually won matches in his Demon character, things haven’t been going in favor of the gimmick in recent years.

    The ‘Demon’ endured a loss against Roman Reigns and the last time Balor donned the body and face paint was at WrestleMania 39 when he faced Edge in a Hell In A Cell match. However, he suffered another loss at the show.

    During the podcast, Balor said that the Demon character hasn’t been executed well in the recent years. He said:

    “But it’s so hard and I feel like The Demon’s kind of something that we haven’t executed very well the last couple years and I’d rather not-not do it than do it in a way that I’m not happy with so, and look, in six years time, they can throw me out there in Demon paint and I’ll do the entrance.

    Balor said that he might be performing in Demon gimmick again in the future but he is enjoying his current run as a heel. He might add more layers to his current character in comparison to his straightforward Demon gimmick. He explained:

    “But now, Finn’s having too much fun and I feel like I can give a lot more layers as a heel Finn than The Demon. The Demon’s just very straight-forward. He’s like a bulldozer. He just goes straight for the kill, where Finn’s a little bit more sneaky and there’s more story arcs you can tell with Finn versus a supernatural Demon so…”

    Finn Balor is one-half of the WWE World Tag Team Champions with JD McDonagh. Well, we might witness the return of Demon in the future as he is not leaving WWE anytime soon.

  • Chris Jericho Comments On John Cena Announcing His Retirement Tour

    Chris Jericho Comments On John Cena Announcing His Retirement Tour

    Pro wrestling veteran Chris Jericho feels that fans have a great time ahead of them as John Cena announced his farewell tour before hanging up his boots.

    Chris Jericho recently made an appearance on McGuire on Wrestling podcast and he was asked to share his insights on Cena’s retirement tour. It was mentioned to the former WWE star that Cena’s retirement means he has outlasted the 16-time World Champion. While Jericho agreed, he reckoned that John Cena always had a great connection with his fans and it’s an amazing way to end his career.

    “My career is already longer than John Cena’s. No, I mean it’s great. John’s always had a great love for wrestling and he’s got a great connection with the fans, so I think it’s a cool way to go about it.”

    ‘The Learning Tree’ is certain that Cena will be focused on ensuring that the retirement plans turn out well and he believes fans will enjoy watching Cena back in the squared circle for his final run. He said:

    “People know that this is it, and John’s not the type of guy to say anything lightly, so I’m sure he’s been focused on this and working with the company to make sure it’s right. I’m sure it’s going to be a really great year-and-a-half for Cena fans and for John Cena himself.”

    John Cena’s retirement

    ‘The Leader of Cenation’ made his surprise return during last Saturday’s WWE Money In The Bank PLE at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. He shocked the fans when he announced that he decided to hang up his boots next year. He didn’t specify when and where he would compete in his final match.

    However, he made it clear that next year will be his last time competing at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania. During the post-show press conference, he further shared details of his upcoming farewell tour.

  • Naomichi Marufuji: ‘AJ Styles Is Great! I Want More WWE Stars In NOAH’

    Naomichi Marufuji: ‘AJ Styles Is Great! I Want More WWE Stars In NOAH’

    AJ Styles may not be the only WWE Superstar competing in NOAH this year if the promotion’s very own Naomichi Marufuji has anything to say about it.

    The Phenomenal former WWE Champion will wrestle at NOAH’s Destination 2024 on July 13 against Marufuji. Despite a lofty career in Japan, this match will be Styles’ first time competing for NOAH. Marufuji on the other hand, has spent close to a quarter of a century with NOAH after debuting in 2000. He is a four-time GHC Heavyweight Champion and was appointed NOAH’s Vice President in 2009.

    Marufuji Wants More WWE Talent

    Sitting down with Planeta Wrestling, Marufuji discussed the upcoming match with Styles. The NOAH President was excited to step into the ring with the former WWE World Champion (h/t Fightful.)

    “He (Styles) is a great fighter in every way and one of the best in the world. I want the fans to really enjoy my exchanges during the match with him, and I think we can achieve that.”

    Marufuji added that he is interested in all WWE Superstars as potential names for NOAH events, but isn’t sure he’s ready to one day work a WWE show.

    “I am interested in all WWE wrestlers. I want to invite several wrestlers to compete in the NOAH ring. To compete in the WWE ring, I think I need more training before that, so I can’t say I want to do it right now.”

    Marufuji is certainly interested in doing much more with WWE which would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. The company’s new administration has been more open to working with other promotions including Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, and TNA Wrestling. These crossovers have left fans very excited to see what’s to come and fans can expect much more to come in the future.

    TNA’s The Rascalz Appear On 7/9 WWE NXT, Joe Hendry Wins Main Event
  • Big Strong Boy Down: WWE’s Tyler Bate Undergoes Surgery

    Big Strong Boy Down: WWE’s Tyler Bate Undergoes Surgery

    Former United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since the July 2nd edition of NXT when he and his New Catch Republic brother Pete Dune faced off against the team of Hank Walker and Tank Ledger.

    During the later stages of the match, Bate could be seen favoring his right arm, with WWE fans hoping that it was just some of the top-notch selling they’ve come to expect from the Englishman. Unfortunately, the pain on Bate’s face was very honest, as he announced on social media he was legitimately injured during the bout.

    In a short post on Instagram, Tyler Bate announced that he had torn his “…left pectoral major & tendon off the bone”.

    “Surgery yesterday was successful and all has been put back where it belongs. I’ll be gone for some time while I recover..”

    Bate would follow this up by stating that he had undergone successful surgery on Monday, July 8th, and that he would be out of commission for quite some time.

    There is no definitive timeline for how long Bate might be sidelined with his injury. A close comparison would be when WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes suffered a similar injury shortly before WWE Hell In A Cell in late 2022. Rhodes would ultimately miss eight months of action due to the injury.

    However, recovery times vary from person to person and can be influenced by numerous factors. In simple terms, it’s impossible to predict a definite timeline for recovery.

    From all of us at SEScoops, we wish Tyler Bate a speedy recovery and tons of luck on his journey back to in-ring competition.

  • Finn Bálor Details New 5-Year WWE Contract: “Fingers Crossed They Don’t Fire Me”

    Finn Bálor Details New 5-Year WWE Contract: “Fingers Crossed They Don’t Fire Me”

    Finn Bálor has signed a new long-term deal with WWE that will keep him with the world’s top wrestling promotion for man years to come. The 42-year-old star has been with WWE for over a decade. The Prince of The Judgement Day faction inked his first contract to join NXT back in May 2014.

    In April, nearly a decade later, the former WWE Universal Champion revealed on social media that he he’d re-signed with the Stamford-based promotion, exclaiming that he “…ain’t going nowhere.”

    During an appearance on the What’s The Story Podcast, Finn Bálor reveals

    During his time on the program, Bálor revealed that his new contract with WWE is a 5-year deal, meaning the star’s contract would expire when he’s 47. During his conversation on the show, Bálor detailed his thought process before signing his new contract, even going as far as to say that he thought his run in WWE may have ended.

    Finn Bálor’s New WWE Deal

    The Irish-born star mentioned that he wanted to remain in WWE and expressed excitement about his future with the company.

    “Yeah, another extension for five years…I’m super excited. You never know. I remember when I was 20, and I was like, ‘If I make it to 30, I’ll be doing well.’ Then, you’re in your 40’s, and I’m like, ‘Sh*t, do they want me to keep doing this? Am I able to keep doing it? How is the body going to feel?’ We sat down and had a couple of conversations, and the feelings were mutual. I wanted to stay; they wanted me to stay. We hashed it out, and I couldn’t be happier.”

    Uncertainty

    Despite all the success he’s achieved throughout his entire career, Bálor admits he wasn’t sure if he and WWE would reach an agreement to work together in the future. He wanted to remain with WWE, but feared his time as a WWE Superstar may be cut short.

    “It was a weird time… It was six months to when my contract was coming up. ‘Sh*t, is It the end of my run? Is it time to move on?’ Ten years is incredible… Now, I’m ten years in with another five years to go; fingers crossed they don’t fire me. It’s a pretty wild journey.”

    In his over 10-year career with WWE, Finn Bálor has accumulated an impressive resume as a member of the main roster and in the original “Black & Gold” days of NXT. Bálor became a Grand Slam champion in September 2023 and has feuded with some of the biggest names in WWE History. As of this writing, he’s one-half of the reigning World Tag Team Champions alongside JD McDonagh.

    Listen to Finn Bálor’s appearance on the What’s the Story? podcst:

  • Ozzy Osbourne Coming to WWE Champions Game In ‘Summer of Darkness’

    Ozzy Osbourne Coming to WWE Champions Game In ‘Summer of Darkness’

    Rock legend and WWE Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne will make his presence known in the WWE Champions mobile game for the upcoming ‘Summer of Darkness’ event.

    The 75-year-old English music legend will feature prominently in the event which will feature a brand-new character of Osbourne. Players will also have the chance to chase four new Superstars throughout the month. Players can collect Ozzy-themed items to progress in the Madman Collection Contest, including a poster of the rock star. Players who obtain his Poster can use him in his weekly 24-hour Tour and Showdown to earn additional rewards and progress toward unlocking the new Superstars.

    WWE Champions is a puzzle game released in January 2017 that features RPG elements. The game was developed by Kung Fu Factory and published by Scopely for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

    Ozzy Osbourne And WWE

    The Prince of Rock’s tenure with WWE dates back to 1986 when he appeared in the corner of The British Bulldogs. The duo of Davey Boy Smith and Davey Boy Smith defeated The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) to capture the WWF World Tag Team Championships. Osbourne appeared several times for WWE in the 2000s, including as a guest host of Monday Night Raw in 2009 alongside his wife Sharon.

    Osbourne’s tracks have also been used for WWE events, including War Pigs which has been used for events featuring the iconic WarGames match. For his efforts in entertainment and WWE, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2021 as that year’s celebrity inductee.

  • Will Ospreay On The WWE Entrance Song That Changed His Life

    Will Ospreay On The WWE Entrance Song That Changed His Life

    Will Ospreay has an ecletic taste in music, but his wrestling fandom runs as deep as his affection for his favorite songs.

    Speaking with Kerrang, ‘The Billy Goat’ listed 10 different songs that have changed his life and you better believe that one of them was a classic pro wrestling entrance song.

    In addition to ABBA, Oasis, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Will Ospreay listed Jim Johnston’s “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” as the song that reminded him of his “first love” and that love so happened to be the one true sport. If you’re not familiar with the song titles “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” is Stone Cold Steve Austin’s theme. Ospreay gives his reasoning as to why he chose Austin’s infamous song that begins with breaking glass.

    “From the first time I heard that glass breaking as a kid, and saw the audience go crazy as this guy just ran to the ring and beat everybody up, I was like, ‘Oh, wow, wrestling is cool!’ I don’t actually remember when the first time was that I heard that track specifically, but it was during the Austin vs. McMahon era. I’ll always remember the time in 2001 when [the old] WWF bought WCW [with the ensuing Invasion storyline] and Austin being a big part of that.”

    RELATED: Will Ospreay Embraces Autism as His Wrestling ‘Superpower’

    Austin’s theme was previously noted to be inspired by Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” and it’s arguably one of the greatest wrestling entrance songs of all time. In credit to Ospreay, he has himself a pretty catchy tune in AEW that cultivates that soccer chant mentality.

    In the interview, Ospreay said that Oasis’ “Live Forever” is a tune that gets him pumped up for the wrestling ring. Funny enough, he got inspired by watching Oasis perform at Wembley, something he did in 2023 and something he’s planning to do in 2024.

    RELATED: AEW Rumors: Massive Will Ospreay match not planned

  • ESPN Announcer Joe Tessitore Joining WWE This Summer

    ESPN Announcer Joe Tessitore Joining WWE This Summer

    WWE is boosting up it’s commentary bullpen in a big way with famed ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore. In a press release sent in to SEScoops, the company touted him as, “one of the most versatile and veteran voices in sports television. 

    He join the company as a play-by-play broadcaster beginning this summer working alongside analysts Wade Barrett and Corey Graves. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee will remain teamed up.

    Tessitore has been a lifelong wrestling fan. He’s been gearing up for this opportunity and expresses the utmost respect for the WWE Superstars and broadcasters he’ll be working alongside.

    “It’s an honor to be a part of WWE.  The recent success and trajectory are undeniable,” said Tessitore. “Being there at WrestleMania XL, one could feel it – from Cody, Seth, Roman and The Rock, to creative and production, these are some of the very best storytellers in TV.  Corey and Wade are absolute stars and it is my privilege to join their team. Pat and Cole are just magical together and Cole is the greatest to ever sit in that chair.  As a lifelong viewer, I’m humbled to join this team and to serve our fans.”

    Triple H on Joe Tessitore Joining WWE

    WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque had this to say in the press release:

    “Whether it’s a world title fight that’s got the globe buzzing or a college football rivalry that’s grabbed the nation’s attention, Joe’s voice provides that big event feel each time he is behind the microphone.

    We’re excited for Joe to join legendary WWE broadcaster Michael Cole and our esteemed announce team, bringing his signature energy and meticulous preparation to our WWE telecasts each week.”

    Over the past few months, Graves has steered the SmackDown ship as the lead play-by-play man with Barrett being on color commentary. Graves didn’t miss a beat in the new role as his usual broadcast partner Michael Cole joined up with Pat McAfee on WWE RAW.

    WWE’s Pat McAfee & Stephen A. Smith Have ‘Explosive’ Argument Over ESPN Plans

    Tessitore has a notorious commentary past in the fight game. He’s been the go-to voice for boxing on ESPN, led their Monday Night Football coverage and called College Football Playoff games.

    If you peel back the relationship layers, Tessitore signing with WWE makes plenty of sense has he has a long history with WWE CEO Nick Khan. Khan actually used to be the super agent for Tessitore and now the two will be under the WWE banner together.

    Experienced sports commentary names outside of WWE haven’t always been successful when they sit behind the pro wrestling commentary table. Mike Adamle and Adnan Virk both assumed play-by-play roles on WWE RAW and unfortunately, both didn’t last long.

    WWE RAW Video Highlights: July 8th 2024
  • Stephanie Vaquer Has Significant Time Left on Current CMLL Deal

    Stephanie Vaquer Has Significant Time Left on Current CMLL Deal

    After a recent report suggested that Stephanie Vaquer is set to leave CMLL with interest from WWE and AEW, a new report claims the female wrestler actually has significant time left on her current CMLL deal.

    According to Luchablog, the length of the current CMLL World Women’s Champion’s contract is “not expected to matter much,” as the promotion has granted permission to other wrestlers in the past if they receive a big offer from an American promotion.

    The blog also noted that Vaquer has a “lot of loyalty” towards CMLL, but the promotion won’t be able to match what AEW and WWE could offer.

    The interest from WWE and AEW stems from Vaquer’s performance at the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door event. While she lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title to Mercedes Mone, her performance has sparked significant interest from these companies.

    Vaquer has been part of CMLL since 2019, has held the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship, and is currently in her first reign as CMLL World Women’s Champion.

    Record reported that WWE and AEW executives approached Stephanie Vaquer after her performance at Forbidden Door. Vaquer is expected to decide which company to join in the coming days. The deal is anticipated to be a multi-year agreement.

    As of now, Vaquer is set to defend her CMLL World Women’s Championship against Lluvia at FantasticaMania USA 2024 on Saturday, July 31.

  • Trish Stratus Explains Why She Chose To Leave WWE In 2006

    Trish Stratus Explains Why She Chose To Leave WWE In 2006

    Trish Stratus is one of the most iconic professional wrestlers in the history of the business and people remember many moments from her career to this day. Though it’s surprising to know that her full-time run in wrestling lasted only 6 years and Stratus had chosen to retire from active competition when she was only 30.

    The WWE Hall of Famer recently had an interview with Inside The Ropes. She talked about things such as her storyline with Vince McMahon, her rivalry with Lita, and more.

    On the topic of her decision to leave WWE in 2006, the former Women’s Champion was asked if she was satisfied with her decision at the time. Trish explained that she got a lot of time to think about it before making the call:

    “Yeah, at the time I was definitely very confident in my decision. I felt very fulfilled in my career at that point, and had a good look at it. It wasn’t like I was yanked out of it, and was like, ‘Oh, I wait. I didn’t have that moment,’

    I had the chance, luckily, to decide, ‘Am I going to sign or not sign?’ Listen, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and that was one of the deciding factors that I was like, the universe is telling me it’s time to go.”

    I Was Ready To Move On: Trish Stratus

    Trish Stratus explained that she was already contemplating the idea of retirement and her mom’s illness made the decision clearer. The former champion also mentioned how she had worked with all the top women in the roster so she didn’t leave with the idea of any unfinished business:

    “I mean, I was already playing with the idea of like re-signing or not, but my mom getting cancer, knowing that if I was on the road in that schedule, I could not be with her for her treatment and that journey. And for me, yeah, I looked at the roster, looked at the women we have that can work.

    I’ve worked luckily, been blessed to have worked these great storylines and long storylines and really juicy storylines with Jazz and Victoria and Molly. Have these things that people remember to this day. This rivalry that people remember. So I was like, ‘I feel good.’ Like, I feel like I’m good. I was 30 years old, and I was ready. I was ready to move on.”

    The wrestling veteran had the final match of her original WWE run at the 2006 Unforgiven PPV in September. She defeated Lita in the PPV held in her hometown of Toronto to win her record seventh women’s title and retired as a champion.

    Trish Stratus has continued her association with WWE and continued making sporadic appearances. She most recently hosted the Money In The Bank PPV where the company teased a match between her and Tiffany Stratton.

  • WWE RAW Video Highlights: July 8th 2024

    WWE RAW Video Highlights: July 8th 2024

    The post-Money in the Bank WWE RAW show fallout was certainly busy, with several big moments occurring on the programme.

    WWE has now uploaded all of the video highlights for the show to their official YouTube channel, which we have compiled in an easy to view format on one page below.

    WWE RAW Full Highlights This Week

    If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE RAW this week via the video below:

    WWE RAW Segments This Week

    Here are all of the individual Video Highlights that WWE has released this week after RAW:

    As CM Punk rubs salt in the wounds of Drew McIntyre, Seth “Freakin” Rollins emerges to warn The Voice of the Voiceless to stay out of his way.

    As Jey Uso and Chad Gable square off, The Wyatt Sicks make matters difficult for the former Olympian.

    After defeating Pete Dunne, “Big” Bronson Reed mercilessly attacks his fallen opponent until Sheamus comes to the rescue.

    Bron Breakker dismantles Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn until Ilja Dragunov steps to the former NXT Champion.

    The Wyatt Sicks’ latest unnerving VHS tape reveals how Uncle Howdy’s family will be released.

    Liv Morgan once again puts “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio in a compromising position.

    Bron Breakker dismantles Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn until Ilja Dragunov steps to the former NXT Champion.

    Karrion Kross tells Xavier Woods that The New Day is dead.

    Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn enacts payback on Bron Breakker as Breakker battles Ilja Dragunov.

    After Lyra Valkyria, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance’s match with Damage CTRL, Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville beat down Valkyria and Damage CTRL.

    The Ring General gives a history lesson on his dominance.

    Mami made her stunning return, shocking “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan.

    “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio has to team with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan to take on Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega.

  • Shelton Benjamin Confirms Scrapped Plans For Hurt Business Reunion

    Shelton Benjamin Confirms Scrapped Plans For Hurt Business Reunion

    Former WWE star Shelton Benjamin has confirmed that WWE scrapped plans for a Hurt Business reunion last year.

    The Bobby Lashley-led faction was one of the highlights of the WWE programming during the pandemic era. With Lashley being presented as a dominant heel, the storyline quickly became a fan favorite. The decision to disband the group in early 2022 left fans puzzled and many people to this day believe that the whole thing had a lot of untapped potential.

    During a recent interview with Metro, Benjamin said that he considers the faction to be one of his ‘defining contributions’ to the business and claimed that it was cut too short. He then revealed that there was talk of reviving the group last year but it never came to fruition:

    “There was definitely conversation and planning for the Hurt Business to make a return. And then things just changed. They set dates, the dates changed and things changed. And then suddenly it was like, ‘Nope, we’re just not doing it.’ And that was… that was a kick in the balls. [laughs]”

    One Of The Biggest Mishaps: Shelton Benjamin

    Shelton Benjamin admitted that the decision was not in their hands and whatever the call maybe they have to live with it and move on. Though he still mentioned how the faction had the potential to elevate all its members:

    “I love being a part of helping people succeed. But in the case of the Hurt Business, I felt like there was so much more for every individual in that to really elevate themselves within the company. And I think the fact that there was no Hurt Business versus Bloodline war is one of the biggest mishaps in pro wrestling”

    WWE had teased a Hurt Business reunion in early 2023 when Benjamin reunited with Cedric Alexander with MVP taking credit for it. MVP even accompanied the duo at the ringside for a match but the angle was then quietly dropped. Shelton Benjamin was later released from the company in September 2023.