WWE Clash at the Castle is set for June 15 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sami Zayn will be there with an Intercontinental Title match.
On this week’s WWE RAW, Sami Zayn appeared, soon joined by the Alpha Academy. Maxxine Dupri read a note from Gable, who didn’t show up himself. Zayn then booked an IC Title match against Gable at Clash at the Castle.
Gable then attacked Zayn, leading to chaos. Akira Tozawa and Maxxine were knocked off the apron, and Otis acted like he would stand up to Gable. This gave Sami time to recover and get his revenge.
After the segment, Alpha Academy was shown backstage, with Chad Gable the only happy one. Maxxine Dupri and Tozawa sold their injuries, while Otis looked conflicted. Gable kissed Otis on the cheek, saying they will come together at Clash at the Castle to ensure he wins the IC Title.
With Gable’s WWE contract nearing its end and this storyline heading to the premium live event, it seems the Alpha Academy’s meltdown will happen in Scotland.
Damian Priest (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Piper Niven – Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable – Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
WWE contracts are running out all over the place, and while some are re-signed, there is no guarantee that a new deal will be reached. Now, Angel Garza’s WWE contract is in the picture.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that Angel Garza is set to have his WWE contract expire on August 1. This information, which Sapp and Corey Brennan have confirmed, follows a recent report by Lucha Libre Online about Garza’s contract status. Garza, also a former 24/7 Champion, has been performing with Legado Del Fantasma lately.
Negotiations between the former Cruiserweight Champion and WWE are ongoing, and there is an offer on the table from WWE. Angel’s last match on WWE television was on May 17, 2024, when #DIY defeated Legado del Fantasma on WWE Friday Night SmackDown.
The 31-year-old Garza has also performed in TNA and AAA, among other companies. He signed with WWE in the spring of 2019, after wrestling under the name Garza Jr. Interestingly, his real first name is Humberto, the same as his tag team partner. Garza has been performing on the Smackdown brand and is scheduled for this weekend’s show. He can continue using the “Garza” name outside WWE, but not “Angel.”
It may be a strategic play to allow your contract to expire, so a new one can be arranged. We will have to see what the future holds for Garza.
Other WWE Contracts & Cuts
Chad Gable’s WWE contract expires within the next two weeks, and Becky Lynch became a free agent on June 1. WWE also opted not to renew Jerry Lawler’s contract, although he remains under a Legends Contract.
On the corporate side, WWE recently cut several executives. Michael Levin, former Vice President of International Events, was let go on May 11. Steve Rubin, Senior Director of TV Event Relations, and Kristen Prouty, Senior VP of Entertainment Relations, were also released in May. Additionally, Tavia Hartley, Talent Operations and Appearances Manager, and Beth Fisher, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, were let go in late May.
You can find our updated 2024 WWE Releases and Departures tracker below.
Liv Morgan shocked the WWE Universe when she defeated Becky Lynch in a steel cage match on RAW last week. Then she doubled-down on that by kissing Dominik Mysterio. They opened this week’s show by continuing that storyline.
The WWE Women’s World Champion started RAW by welcoming fans to the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour. She said that while some claim revenge isn’t as sweet as it seems, she disagreed. Morgan gloated about taking out Rhea Ripley and becoming Women’s World Champion. She added that she put Becky Lynch into early retirement last week, and the cherry on top was kissing Dominik Mysterio.
Dominik’s music hit, and he made his way out. The injured Judgment Day member said he didn’t know what game she was playing, but Rhea Ripley wasn’t playing it.
He also said that The Nightmare will “kill” her when she comes back. Morgan replied that Ripley will probably “kill” Dominik, too. This is interesting, because the term “kill” has been on WWE’s banned words list for a long time, because that’s just a promise you can’t deliver on in a pro wrestling match if you expect to keep making money in the business.
Liv Morgan then asked how long Dirty Dom would keep lying to himself. Morgan followed up as she said Dominik came to the ring last week to be closer to her. She moved closer to him, saying she wanted to take everything from Ripley, including him. Dominik backed away as Morgan flirted with him. Liv said that she meant it when she said she is going to take everything from Rhea Ripley, and that includes Dominik Mysterio.
Suddenly, Finn Bálor entered the ring and told Morgan that Dominik and Judgment Day wanted nothing to do with her. Morgan asked Bálor “what if Dominik didn’t want her to leave,” but agreed to exit the ring. Morgan flirted with Dominik once more by playing with his hair before she left.
This is obviously not the end of this storyline, as things are just heating up. Rhea Ripley is out of action with an A/C joint injury, which usually takes two to three months to recover. So, Morgan may not have much longer to play her games until The Nightmare returns.
Later on, in a backstage segment, Finn advised Dominik to not play with fire. When WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest asked about the situation, Finn assured him that it was taken care of. Dominik Mysrterio said that he has spoken to Rhea, and he’s giving Mami “her space.”
After WWE RAW was over, Morgan carried on with her Dirty Dom obsession. While quoting Katy Perry’s breakout hit, the WWE Women’s World Champion proclaimed that she kissed a boy, and she liked it.
Finn Balor was glad to show his support for the LGBTQ+ community as part of his entrance at WWE WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
Balor’s first time competing at the Showcase of the Immortals saw the Irish Superstar compete in a triple-threat match for the Intercontinental Championship. In the lead-up to the event, many had predicted that Balor would use his ‘Demon’ persona for the show. Instead, Balor donned a jacket that featured the LGBTQ+ rainbow design and had fans with him on stage.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Balor recalled his entrance and shared how his appearance at WrestleMania 34 came to be.
“It was about three weeks before ‘Mania, and I brought it to Hunter [Triple H] and Stephanie [McMahon], and they jumped on it straight away and said, ‘100%, you can do that.’ They helped me get in touch with the LGBT+ community in New Orleans, and they [the people who appeared] were actually members of the community from there. They weren’t extras or anything like that. It was legit having them up on stage.”
While some fans will have been disappointed that the ‘Demon’ didn’t rise at WrestleMania, being able to express inclusion meant a lot more to WWE’s first Universal Champion.
“For me, that was a more important moment than any Demon entrance could have ever been.”
LGBTQ+ Support
F inn Balor is hardly the only name to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. For the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, Chelsea Green wore an attire that featured the LGBTQ+ flag. The attire meant even more considering the event took place in Florida which many have criticized for its stance regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Green has previously teamed with Sonya Deville, WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar, and is currently teaming with Piper Niven, who is bisexual.
In 2023, an AEW Rampage segment went viral as Harley Cameron spoke about Anthony Bowens being into her, oblivious to the fact that Bowens is gay. When Bowens corrected Cameron, this led to a positive ‘He’s Gay’ chant from the crowd. Many at the time noted how the response to a wrestler identifying as gay was vastly different to how things were like during the Attitude Era.
In May 2024, WWE Shop saw notable sales in their apparel category, and we have a full list of top-selling products.
Wrestlenomics reports that CM Punk emerged as a top seller for May 2024, showing his strong connection with fans, even though his injury hiatus. Jey Uso followed closely, which shouldn’t be a huge surprise considering the incredible reception his Yeet entrance has received in recent memory.
Cody Rhodes, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock also featured in the sales rankings, showcasing the appeal of both current and legendary figures in wrestling. Other superstars such as Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Rey Mysterio, and Liv Morgan also made the top ten list, reflecting a range of interests among the WWE fan base.
Best-Selling Items
When it comes to individual items, the “Men’s Black Jey Uso Yeet T-Shirt” led the pack, staying in the top 10 for 22 days throughout the month. This was followed by the “Men’s Black Return of CM Punk T-Shirt,” which also enjoyed significant daily sales.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s merchandise, particularly the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin & Booker T Rivals T-Shirt and the classic “Stone Cold” Steve Austin 3:16 T-Shirt, remained fan favorites. CM Punk’s “Best In The World” ringer T-shirt and The Rock’s “Final Boss” T-shirt also saw strong sales.
It’s also notable that Liv Morgan topped WWE’s sales charts after her King & Queen of the Ring Women’s World Title win, which landed her the #10 spot for the entire month.
Top-Selling WWE Merchandise for May 2024
Top Superstars:
CM Punk
Jey Uso
Cody Rhodes
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Rock
Randy Orton
Roman Reigns
Bray Wyatt
Rey Mysterio/Mysterios
Liv Morgan
Insights and Trends
The data from May 2024 reveals a few key trends. The continued sales of CM Punk’s merchandise underline his lasting impact and popularity. Jey Uso’s rise in the rankings reflects his growing influence and appeal within the WWE universe.
The presence of both legendary figures like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, alongside current superstars such as Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, indicates a broad spectrum of fan interests spanning different eras of WWE.
Overall, WWE Shop’s apparel sales for May 2024 highlight the dynamic nature of wrestling fandom and the continued popularity of both past and present WWE superstars.
Pro wrestling is going through a booming period, and let’s take a look at some of the biggest players in their advertising game.
EDO, a TV advertising analytics company, has profiled WWE and AEW, giving strong marks to both. Wrestling remains a major draw for TV advertisers due to its large, engaged audience.
WWE’s Monday Night Raw, the longest-running weekly episodic program, will move to Netflix in January 2025. This transition signifies a major shift in the platform for WWE’s flagship show. Meanwhile, AEW has established itself as a strong competitor in the wrestling world. Its Dynamite show frequently tops cable ratings on Wednesday nights, demonstrating its popularity among viewers.
WWE’s rise is thanks to Endeavor merging the company with the UFC and Vince McMahon departed from the company, leaving things to Triple H and Nick Khan’s vision. That momentum has been noticed all over.
AEW’s ad effectiveness has seen notable growth, particularly on its Rampage program. Brands such as Bud Light and Crest have experienced increased engagement through their advertising on AEW shows.
WWE’s programs, including Raw and SmackDown, also show significant ad engagement. Top advertisers like Credible and Purple have reported impressive results from their campaigns on these shows. Advertisers benefit from the high engagement rates of these programs, making them effective platforms for brand promotion.
Top 10 AEW Advertisers
Here are the top 10 most effective advertisers on AEW programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024:
Innovation Refunds (+284% more effective than the average AEW advertiser)
Just for Men (+201%)
Pampers (+195%)
Ferrero Rocher (+182%)
Bud Light (+169%)
Crest (+108%)
Miller Lite (+102%)
Schwarzkopf (+97%)
Applebee’s (+93%)
Diet Coke (+93%)
Top 10 WWE Advertisers
The top 10 most effective advertisers on WWE programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024, include:
Credible (+2,978% more effective than the average WWE advertiser)
Seth Rollins’ Monday Night Messiah character dominated WWE television for a good run, but the idea was allegedly jacked from another Superstar.
Elias, who was released from WWE last year, claims the company stole one of his ideas. He shared with Metro.co.uk that he was always brainstorming to evolve his character. One idea he was enthusiastic about was the “Monday Night Messiah.”
“There was a character that I really thought could have been incredible myself, it was the Monday Night Messiah. And if you realize, Seth Rollins and AOP ended up – for lack of better terms, they just gave it to those guys.”
“I had a real vision of me being the Pied Piper of Monday Night Raw and controlling people, with kind of a cult-like leader. The biblical themes and things like that, I always love that Messiah stuff,” he added.
No Hard Feelings
The former WWE Superstar, who was best known for his musical Drifter persona, insists there is no ill will towards Seth Rollins, though he feels he had a great vision for the character.
Elijah mentioned that his pitch was just one of many he submitted to the creative team until his last day, noting that it’s common for such ideas to be given to wrestlers who are more prominent.
Elias explained that higher-paid wrestlers or those in the spotlight often receive more resources and attention. He emphasized that this was not a criticism of Seth Rollins, whom he acknowledged as an incredible talent, but rather an observation of how the system operates and the inherent risks in sharing creative ideas.
Seth Rollins found great success with the “Monday Night Messiah” persona, which eventually evolved into his “The Visionary” character.
WWE has proven to be very successful in the world of wrestling, but the TKO entity has done very little with the UFC according to Dana White.
Speaking at the post-show press conference for UFC 302, White was asked about working with WWE under TKO. The UFC President admitted that little has actually been done with WWE despite the merger.
“It’s very separate. I haven’t worked with them at all. I do what I do, and they do what they do. They’re using some of the people from my team to help them in different areas, business-wise, but as far as putting on live events, I mean, WWE is very good at what they do. And we’re very good at what we do. And yeah, that’s about as far as it goes.”
TKO Group Holdings was launched in September 2023 with the merger of WWE and UFC. It had been confirmed back in April 2023 that Endeavor would be acquiring WWE as part of a $9 billion deal. Endeavor (known as WME/IMG at the time) acquired UFC back in 2016 for around $4 billion.
The road to WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will continue forward with the June 3, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.
WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Scotland will take place on June 15, from the OVO Hydro venue in Glasgow. With less than two weeks to go until the historic event, the Superstars of Monday Night Raw have plenty to do ahead of the event.
Liv Morgan To Appear
Merely seven days after her win over Becky Lynch as well as THAT kiss with Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan will be appearing on Monday Night Raw. What will the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion have to say now that Lynch is gone and after locking lips with ‘Dirty’ Dom?
Karrion Kross has set his sights on Xavier Woods in recent weeks and has even offered Woods a role with the Final Testament. Instead of accepting, Woods and Kofi Kingston will take on AOP (Akam and Rezar) in a tag-team match on the upcoming show.
The feud between these two European Superstars has already gotten very physical and fans can expect much more of that on tonight’s Raw. The four-time WWE World Champion will meet the right-hand man of Imperium in a match we imagine King of the Ring GUNTHER will be watching very closely.
Damian Priest Vs. Rey Mysterio
It was last week that Damian Priest attacked Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee after Rey’s match with Carlito. Now, the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Hall of Famer will do battle. With a title match with Drew McIntyre looming and the internal issues in the Judgment Day, will Priest be able to keep his mind on the task when he faces WWE’s Ultimate Underdog?
The heavyweights of UFC could soon be sharing the Octagon or a wrestling ring with WWE Superstar Rezar if the Final Testament member gets his wish.
UFC 302 took place on June 1, at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey. While the show was airing, Rezar took to Twitter to make clear he’s eager to face some UFC talent. The former Tag Team Champion also made reference to his ongoing feud with The New Day ahead of a showdown on the June 3, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.
— Gzim Selmani / Rezar (@AlbanianPsycho) June 2, 2024
Rezar boasts an impressive 6-2 record in the cage with his most recent fight being at Bellator 130. At the October 2014 event, Rezar lost to Daniel Hallemore in the second round by TKO. His most recent victory was at BAMMA 15 where he defeated Oli Thompson in seconds with a Guillotine Chike in the first round.
Rezar isn’t opposed to stepping into the cage once again.
On the May 31st edition of Friday Night SmackDown, The Mega Star, LA Knight wasted little time clarifying his next goal in WWE, and he doesn’t seem willing to accept no for an answer.
Knight entered SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis’ office at the beginning of the evening and directly asked him where the WWE United States Champion Logan Paul was. Later, WWE backstage reporter Kayla Braxton caught up with LA Knight, asking him what he and the GM spoke about. The former TNA World Champion made it clear he was coming for the gold around Logan Paul’s waist.
“You wanna know what we were talkin’ about? … Here’s the answer I can give you, there wasn’t much to tell ya. Nick didn’t have much for me. The only answer he had for me was that Logan Paul isn’t here this week…
…[Well] I’m here, I’m in Albany, I’m here at SmackDown – YEAH! – and what that means is if I’m not gonna get the answer I want, than I’ll make the answer I want. So what I’m telling you right now, Logan Paul – I want that United States Championship!”
While the reigning United States Champion was not at SmackDown this week in Albany, The Maverick did find time to record a response to LA Knight’s Challenge. In a 20-second clip posted on social media, Logan Paul laughed and mocked Knight’s challenge. Dismissing him and making it clear that he doesn’t care what he wants.
“You want what I have huh? *Laughts* That’s funny brother, here’s the thing, I don’t give a damn what you want. I don’t care, I’m chillin’ and I’m livin’ my life – as the champ. Went on a date with my honey tonight, she’s pregnant. I got a whole life ahead of me, but that life doesn’t involve you! *laughs*”
Not even a few minutes later, The Mega Star would respond with his own social media post. Sharing a photo of the two men standing face-to-face with a short message saying, “Whenever you’re ready, Champ.”
While the two have never competed in a one-on-one match, they have crossed paths with each other multiple times before. Both men competed in the 2023 Men’s Money In The Bank Match in London, England, and the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia.
The WWE Universe has been clamoring to see LA Knight have championship success on the main roster. While always close, Knight is always just out of reach of the brass ring. Could the 41-year-old finally get his big win and be the man to end Logan Paul’s over 200-day reign? We will have to wait and see!
WWE fans have gotten used to the QR Code teases at this point, when even Michael Cole referring to them as “those damn QR Codes,” and now whoever is behind this has taken over WWE’s official website.
Uncle Howdy’s influence is spreading across WWE. His presence has been felt in 2K24, TV shows with QR codes, and the company’s Twitch stream. Recently, WWE.com was hacked, displaying a message that seems connected to the enigmatic figure.
The message tells a story about value, explaining that value isn’t tied to utilization. Even if something is crumpled and ignored, it retains its worth. This concept extends to people, who often feel devalued due to others’ ignorance. The message admits to having once allowed others’ expectations to determine self-worth but emphasizes that understanding one’s true purpose can lead to liberation from such negativity.
It conveys that the writer, identifying with everyone and no one, found freedom by rejecting others’ preconceived ideas and lies. This realization allowed them to help others see the truth. The message ends with a call for redemption, stating that the past must be destroyed, and warning that a “massacre is coming.”
Uncle Howdy took over
A massacre is coming…
Full Text:
hello. hello. I’d like to tell you a story.?A story about value.?We often equate value with utilization.?That is not the case.?If a piece of currency is crumpled, ignored, and tossed to the side, does it lose its… pic.twitter.com/AdHMMzZ5hd
During WWE SmackDown this week, a QR code went to a link on WWE’s website, which included video links to a variety of different messages from Uncle Howdy, most of which have already appeared throughout his takeover of WWE programming on various platforms.
The first tease of this new faction appeared during the closing moments of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. The idea being shared at the time was that Wyatt’s creative legacy may live on, as someone else carries the torch.
Something is coming, and it’s only a matter of time before it happens. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are expected to join the new faction linked to Uncle Howdy, forming a new iteration of the Wyatt Family.
WWE and AEW may be the most direct competition of one another, but that doesn’t mean that a crossover between the companies isn’t possible.
Since AEW launched in 2019, both companies have taken aim at each other both on and off TV. While AEW Dynamite won the Wednesday Night Wars, it was WWE NXT that won the October 2023 ‘Tuesday Night War’ against AEW’s weekly flagship show.
Swerve Strickland On WWE-AEW Crossover
Reigning AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland knows what it’s like to work in both companies, though his WWE tenure ended long before the current regime. Speaking to The Bootleg Kev podcast, Strickland was asked about a potential crossover between WWE and AEW.
“If there’s ever a time it could happen, now is more likely than it’s ever been. I don’t think either person [Tony Khan and Triple H] is opposed… I don’t think there’s ever been a time that’s more likely than now.”
It’s not hard to see why Strickland feels like a team-up is more likely than ever before. In recent years, WWE has become more open to working with other promotions, as seen with TNA’s Jordynne Grace’s appearance on the May 28, WWE NXT. Grace will face NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground.
Though a crossover event has yet to happen, WWE and AEW have worked together in the past. Billy Gunn was allowed to appear at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2019 despite being part of AEW at the time. The future ‘Daddy Ass’ was inducted as part of D-Generation X.
In 2022, multiple AEW stars appeared on Raw to wish John Cena congratulations on the 20th anniversary of his WWE debut. Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight were among those who sent their best to John, with this sign of cohesion showing just how much respect Cena carries across pro wrestling.
Style’s segment was similar to Mark Henry’s iconic ‘Retirement’ segment. Back in 2013, ‘The World’s Strongest Man,’ wearing a salmon pink suit, teased his retirement. He even gave a passionate speech and tearfully bid adieu to the fans. He pretended that he had his last battle.
However, then-WWE Champion John Cena approached to hug him but Henry laid him out with the World’s Strongest Slam, creating one of the most iconic moments in Henry’s career. AJ Styles pulled off the same trick and it worked wonders for him.
Taking to his X account, Mark Henry praised AJ Styles for taking a page out of his book. He wrote:
AJ Styles was denied a second title shot against Cody Rhodes and he decided to take things in his hands. On last night’s SmackDown, ‘The Phenomenal One’ teased his retirement and addressed the fans. He called out Cody Rhodes to the ring and they shared an emotional moment. However, fans were stunned when Styles launched a brutal attack on ‘The American Nightmare.’ The former WWE Champion proceeded to hit Styles Clash on Rhodes from ring steps to the floor to end the show.
‘The Phenomenal One’ had been attempting to claim the Undisputed WWE Champion for a long time. He failed to capture the title when Roman Reigns was the champ. He had another shot at the title when he challenged Cody Rhodes at last month’s Backlash: France. However, he once again endured a defeat. That match marked the first time they battled. It seems that AJ Styles is not yet backing down from getting another title shot.
Late WWE star Bray Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) is no longer with us but JoJo Offerman is still trying to feel the former’s presence in her life.
Bray Wyatt was engaged to JoJo Offerman before he tragically passed away at the age of 36 on August 24 last year. The couple has two kids. Taking to her Instagram story section, JoJo posted an emotional note, revealing that a moth visited her and landed on her glass and then on her hand before flying away. She believes that it was a sign from Wyatt and he was greeting her. Her caption read:
“This beautiful moth visited me tonight while having a glass of wine and watching the kiddos play. It landed on only my glass despite other glasses being around and this same moth proceeded to land on my hand and sit there a moment before flying away. I see you Windham. I know it was you saying hello. I love you forever.”
Wyatt was dealing with health issues prior to his passing away. He was pulled from the WWE shows earlier that same year. He was involved in a feud with Bobby Lashley and a match between the two at WrestleMania 39 was in the pipeline. It is needless to mention that Wyatt has been one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time and his tragic death sent shockwaves through the industry.
Bray Wyatt’s legacy is immortal
Peacock released a documentary titled: ‘Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal’ which premiered on April 1. The documentary captured his remarkable career and was narrated by WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker (Mark Callaway). Recently, WWE star Braun Strowman also stated that he feels Bray Wyatt’s presence.
Wyatt had one of the most creative minds in the pro wrestling business. His creation of Uncle Howdy, played by his brother Bo Dallas has kept the fans anticipated. WWE is currently building the return of Uncle Howdy with a series of mystery QR codes. Even AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has said that he wishes to have a creative mind as deep as ‘The Eater of The Worlds.’
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shown his support for young darts sensation Luke Littler for the 17-year-old’s debut shows in the United States.
In a video shared by WWE, William Regal speaks with ‘The Duke’ at the WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT. Little was shown a video from Cody Rhodes who had some kind words
“I heard you were going to WWE HQ, getting a little tour-ski. I love it. I heard you are a fan of WWE. I love that even more. My friend, we are fans of yours… My man, you are a champion’s champion from one champion to another. Luke, my friend, see you down the road.”
At just 17 years old, Little has taken the professional darts world by storm and already has many championships and accolades to his name. Littler is the current Premier League Darts champion, PDC World Youth Champion, the current Bahrain Masters Champion. He also holds championship wins in both the Belgian and Austrian Darts Open
Littler’s WWE fandom is hardly a secret. The darts star uses Greenlight by Pitbull as his walk-out theme, which was inspired by him attending Wrestlemania 33 in 2017 as an 11-year-old. For his first game in the U.S. this week, Littler used Kingdom by Downstait, the theme of Cody Rhodes. Littler demolished his opponent Matt Campbell 6-0 in just 10 minutes to advance to the next round.
There has perhaps never been a better time to be a woman in the world of professional wrestling, according to WWE SmackDown Superstar Naomi.
The treatment of women in WWE has made leaps and bounds over the past ten years after decades of female talent being seen as an afterthought at best or titillation for male fans at worst. Nowadays, the women of WWE can be found headlining Premium Live Events and being part of complex storylines that revolve around more than a man or a title.
A 15-year veteran of the industry, Naomi has certainly seen the wrestling world change its stance on women dramatically. Speaking to Fault Magazine, Naomi discussed how the industry has changed.
“I think now is the best the business has ever been for a female wrestler thanks to women over the decades continuously breaking down barriers. I’ve seen a lot of growth and change in the industry since I started my career in 2009 with the way women are represented and treated in the business!
“Slowly but showly women wrestlers have and are continuing to prove that we are draws, deserve the tv time and wages equal to the men.
Naomi is a former champion in WWE and TNA Wrestling.
Naomi has been a part of that change in the wrestling industry. In 2022, Naomi and Mercedes Mone walked out of WWE, unhappy about the creative plans for the then-Women’s Tag Team Champions. The plan had been for both to enter (and likely lose) singles title feuds, a storyline that wouldn’t have been made for the men’s tag champions at the time.
Upon joining TNA Wrestling in 2023, Naomi (who went by Trinity) would be featured as one of the company’s top stars, a position that until recent years was rarely held by a woman. Now back in WWE, Naomi remains focused on showing what women can do in the ring and demonstrating why success in the industry should not be defined by sex.
Bill Goldberg feels that fans have quickly forgotten just how much of a beast he was in WCW, perhaps thanks in part to his run in the ring in recent years.
During his WCW tenure, Goldberg flattened opponent after opponent to rack up a (contested) undefeated streak of 173-0. It was only thanks to Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and a stun cane that this streak was eventually ended at WCW Starrcade 1998. The Hall of Famer would rack up a similar (albeit shorter) winning streak upon joining WWE in March 2023 before being bested by Triple H (again with help) at that year’s SummerSlam.
Despite his impressive career, Goldberg’s legacy has taken a battering of its own in recent years, thanks in part to his booking during his most recent WWE run. Racking up losses to Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, and Drew McIntyre, as well as an error-laden showdown with The Undertaker, would lead to a consensus among many fans that Goldberg was a ‘has been’ who was no longer able to go in the ring.
Speaking on the Von Erich podcast, Goldberg hit out at this consensus and argued that many today wouldn’t hang with him in his prime.
“People forgot about me and the fact that I’d go out there and absolutely smashed people and then leave. Now, the audacity to think that any of these morons could stand two seconds with me? It’s funny that people’s identities get wiped away quite quickly.
Part of Goldberg’s legacy in wrestling is tied to Bret Hart as it was a kick from Goldberg that resulted in the concussion that would ultimately end Hart’s career. While Goldberg has apologized for years, Hart has never shied away from mocking Goldberg and his skills. In the interview, Bill made reference to the Hitman.
“I’m not even gonna mention his name, the moron I kicked in the head, but unfortunately, things like that happen. It’s a rough business. As long as there’s not malicious intent, I mean, hey bro, you’re in the wrong business if you b***h and moan about getting slapped or getting punched errantly.”
Ultimately, Goldberg will continue to share how he feels about the wrestling world and his past with Bret Hart. While Goldberg has said he hopes to have one final match before he hangs up his boots for good, it was said in April 2024 that such a retirement match isn’t in the works anymore.
For the first time since 2013, Rebecca Quinn, better known to the WWE Universe as Becky Lynch, does not have a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. The former Champion’s deal has expired as of midnight on June 1st, 2024, officially making her a free agent.
It was widely speculated that Becky Lynch was planning on taking some time off following her loss to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40. However, when Ripley went down with an injury, Lynch was called upon to step up and take on the mantle as the company’s Women’s World Champion.
Lynch lost her title in Saudi Arabia at WWE’s King & Queen Of The Ring PLE to Liv Morgan. On this week’s edition of Monday Night RAW, Lynch lost a Steel Cage match against Morgan, with inadvertent assistance from Dominik Mysterio. This was Lynch’s final WWE match under her previous contract.
According to a report from Fightful Select, despite WWE and Lynch having yet to reach terms on a new contract, the promotion is committed to continuing to work with the 7-time world champion on a new deal. Sources from within WWE noted to the outlet that Lynch has been “class” to work with, and those close to both WWE and Lynch herself do not suspect that she will go to another promotion.
However, it’s expected that the 37-year-old will receive significant offers. Fightful Select reports that Lynch is expected to receive one of the biggest offers in professional wrestling history for female talent.
Livy better be prepared to do what she’s never done before because The Man is coming for a fight at King & Queen of The Ring. @WWEpic.twitter.com/niABWPgnK9
Lynch commanding big money should be no surprise to anyone. From being The Lasskicker in NXT to becoming the biggest babyface in the promotion, Lynch has always stood as a beacon of quality and hard work. Once considered the “forgotten” member of The Four Horsewomen, Lynch has easily become one of the most well-recognized and respected female stars not only in WWE but throughout the entire professional wrestling industry.
There’s no question that Becky Lynch is one of WWE’s biggest stars of the last decade, and her absence will be felt. No matter how brief a period.
Could Becky Lynch go to another promotion like AEW?
The conversation surrounding Becky Lynch’s contract expiration has unsurprisingly led people to speculate what Lynch could do outside of WWE. To be clear, all current reporting indicates that Lynch will re-sign with WWE at some point, however until pen is put to paper, anything is possible.
One promotion that many fans are pointing to as an alternative option to her former employer is All Elite Wrestling, WWE’s biggest rival in the industry. AEW has shown it’s interest in signing big-name female free agents, including former WWE Superstars Saraya (fka Paige) and Mercedes Moné (fka Sasha Banks).
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about the possibility of Becky Lynch joining his company. While Khan carefully tiptoed around the subject so as not to find himself “contract tampering,” he did admit that Lynch is a “great star.”
Recently, current AEW star Chris Jericho was asked by TMZ Sports about the prospect of Lynch joining AEW, and here’s what he had to say:
“Five years ago, Becky would have no other options. [I’m] not saying that she’s coming but there is an option and who knows what could happen? No one thought that Jericho would come to AEW. No one thought that Moxley would come or Bryan Danielson or Adam Cole or any of these guys that have come over.
So it’s exciting for the fans. It’s exciting for the wrestlers, the talent, because now suddenly if there’s a bidding war that just benefits us. So I think it’s it’s very important.”
Could we see The Man appear as a full-time star in another promotion? It would certainly be a massive shock, but as we’ve learned in recent years, money talks. Could a promotion like AEW create an enticing deal that Lynch cannot afford to say no? We will have to wait to see how things play out.
Again, it should be emphasized that Lynch was looking to take time off following WrestleMania 40, regardless. So it may be a while before we see The Man pop back up on the wrestling scene for the next chapter of her career.
Drew McIntyre is not letting his rivalry with CM Punk cool down anytime soon and he is even ready to offer the Straight Edge Star a world title match just to get his hands on him.
This week’s episode of SmackDown came live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York featuring The New Bloodline and Kevin Owens among other names.
There were a couple of dark matches that took place after the cameras stopped rolling as well, one of which featured the Scottish Psychopath in action. The former WWE Champion faced off against ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso in the match after SmackDown went off air.
Though before the bell rang, he took the time to call out CM Punk. Drew McIntyre referred to Punk as a ‘scared little bitch’ and even offered him a world title shot after he wins the championship at the upcoming Clash at The Castle PLE:
What Happened On SmackDown
Elsewhere in the show we saw the coronation ceremony for the new Queen Of The Ring Nia Jax and a segment between Paul Heyman and Kevin Owens.
The matches on this week’s SmackDown included Austin Theory facing Tommaso Ciampa and The New Bloodline taking on The Street Profits.
The main event of the show featured AJ Styles who pulled a Mark Henry and faked his retirement to ultimately get his hands on the Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. You can read more about the segment here.
WWE could soon be hosting a Premium Live Event in Mexico if Hall of Famer and former World Champion Rey Mysterio gets his wish.
In recent years, WWE has become much more open to the idea of hosting Premium Live Events outside of the United States. Speaking with Graham “GSM” Matthews for Bleacher Report, Mysterio addressed the idea of a PLE being held in Mexico.
“I’m hoping that it happens in the next three years. I think my people deserve something as good as a PLE. I’m truly hoping. We have a huge stadium over there, Estadio Azteca, which I believe is being remodeled this year. I think the fans would go crazy.
“Mexico has always been an incredible crowd for wrestling and what better than to pay it off with WWE coming over there and giving them something as special as a PLE?”
Events Outside the U.S.
WWE currently has four confirmed Premium Live Events that are scheduled to happen outside the U.S. Later this month, WWE will host Clash At The Castle: Scotland in Glasgow before WWE Money in the Bank comes to Toronto, Canada. In August WWE Bash In Berlin will mark the promotion’s first PLE in Germany while the next Saudi Arabia show will be the Crown Jewel show on November 2.
As for whether a PLE comes to Mexico, that will be a decision WWE higher-ups will have to make. But with Mysterio’s time in the ring winding down and Mexico being a nation rich with wrestling history, it’s possible that the Hall of Famer will get his Mexico PLE before hanging up his boots and mask for good.
Cody Rhodes needs a new challenger for the Undisputed World Title, and AJ Styles figured out a great way to jump the line.
AJ Styles is at an important moment in his career. He wanted another shot at the World Title, but SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis told Styles that he’s at the back of the line. Styles has made it clear that he doesn’t have the patience for this setback.
In the closing segment of SmackDown this week, AJ Styles addressed the WWE Universe. While he was accompanied by Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, Styles explained his reasons for considering a step back from the business. Styles mentioned it might be time for him to focus on being a father instead.
Styles then invited Cody to the ring, stating that SmackDown is the house he built, and he was now handing the keys to The American Nightmare. What started as a touching moment took a dramatic turn as Cody was raising Styles’ hand in front of the fans.
Styles turned on Cody, launching a brutal attack on the Undisputed WWE World Champion. The assault concluded with a Styles Clash onto the floor from the ring steps. SmackDown ended with Styles looking very pleased with himself, and Cody was selling the attack.
This segment was very reminesant of another classic angle, one that fans might remember as Mark Henry’s most memorable segment that didn’t involve Mae Young giving birth to a hand.
In 2013, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry faked a retirement speech to get one over on John Cena. While wearing a now-legendary orange suit, The World’s Strongest Man acted like he had wrestled his last match, only to change his mind by attacking Cena. This time it was AJ Styles playing the same trick on Cody Rhodes.
WWE appears to be in cost-cutting mode again, and NXT star Brooks Jensen is no longer with the company.
Brooks Jensen tweeted a screenshot with his booking information and the caption, “You know how it goes #WWENXT,” indicating his departure from the company.
SEScoops will keep our eyes open for any further updates, because WWE often releases talent in waves.
On the December 27, 2023 episode of NXT, Josh Briggs, Fallon Henley and Jensen agree to go their separate ways splitting up the team.
Jensen’s recent storylines in NXT didn’t showcase him positively. After his partnership with Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley ended, with Henley and Briggs moving on to bigger roles as singles stars, he didn’t do much.
Jensen’s character struggled with a depressed storyline, questioning his place in NXT. Brooks Jensen’s last match was on March 12, 2024, at WWE NXT. He competed for the WWE NXT North American Title, where Oba Femi defeated him in 11 minutes and 34 seconds.
We hope Brooks Jensen finds great success in his next venture.
WWE has released several talents and executives this year. This does not include lower-level office employees whose departures don’t make headlines. You can check out our ongoing WWE release and departure tracker for 2024 below.
Gable Steveson‘s WWE run ended like a disappointing mid-season NFL halftime show, overhyped by the network and met with apathy.
While that might come across as a bit harsh, there truly isn’t much else to say when it comes to Steveson’s time in WWE. The Gold Medalist was introduced to fans at WrestleMania 38 and ended his career with a handful of dark matches before being released earlier this month.
One of the few Superstars who had a chance to work with Steveson was former NXT standout Trevor Lee, known to the WWE Universe as Cameron Grimes. Of Gable Steveson’s five main roster Dark Matches, Lee competed in two of them, and it seems like the experience wasn’t exactly something that
Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, is signing with the Bills, per his agent Carter Chow.
Steveson now will try to join Bob Hayes as the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. pic.twitter.com/TfJn4Cd7B1
Today news broke that Steveson was signed by the NFL team Buffalo Bills, drawing various reactions from fans, media personalities, and others alike. In response to a post from former WWE media personality, Kazeem Famuyide, who asked “what position” Steveson would play, Trevor Lee gave what could only be described as a blunt answer:
“Whichever one requires the least amount work and has other people make him look good I’m assuming? Wait wrong sport….”
Gable Steveson’s only televised match in WWE came via its developmental brand’s Great American Bash PLE in 2023. When the 24-year-old Indiana native took on Baron Corbin in one-on-one action. During the match, it was clear that Steveson still had a lot of work to do. The crowd in Austin, Texas turned on the young star and was cheering for the clear heel in Corbin.
Although becoming a WWE Superstar wasn’t in the cards for Steveson, the National Football League may be the environment he needs. There is no doubt that he’s an incredible athlete, and with the right training, an NFL career could work out very well for the University of Minnesota alumni.
WWE has been doing record business, grossing $1.32 billion in sales last year. The company’s $5 billion deal with Netflix to bring WWE Raw to the streaming platform in January 2025 will bring another massive windfall of cash. However, many fans wonder how much of that trickles down to the athletes we see on television.
Top Superstars spark bidding wars and command multi-million dollar contracts. Setting aside stars like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair, a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter sheds light on the current annual baseline.
According to Dave Meltzer, the current minimum salary for WWE Superstars on the main roster is $350,000 per year. Most wrestlers sign multi-year deals, and you can be sure the top stars on each brand are making far more than the minimum. WWE is in a strong position to make lucrative financial offers to talent. However, there’s a trend emerging that should not be ignored.
Numerous Contracts Expiring
WWE is heading into an interesting dilemma as several featured stars on the main roster contract will expire soon. One of the most significant examples is Becky Lynch, who could be a free agent by the end of the week. As of now, it doesn’t seem they have yet to reach a new agreement.
Another talent that could test free agency is Chad Gable. Although he has been heavily featured on Monday Night Raw and involved in a feud with Sami Zayn, his contract will expire at the end of next week.
It’s unclear why so many talent contracts are set to expire so soon. Although numerous superstars are near free agency, they may ultimately re-sign with WWE. Wrestling fans should have more clarity soon as the company must expeditiously reach new agreements with their superstars.
