SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Bayley Hopes Queen of the Ring Tournament Leads to WWE Evolution 2 Event

    Bayley Hopes Queen of the Ring Tournament Leads to WWE Evolution 2 Event

    WWE Women’s Champion Bayley hopes the success of the ongoing Queen of the Ring tournament will lead to the second-ever Evolution PLE. 

    It’s been over five years since WWE hosted its first (and to date, only) all-female Premium Live Event. Since that October 2018 night, WWE has continued to highlight women’s wrestling with WrestleMania 35 in 2019 seeing the first (but not the last) time that a women’s match headlined a night of the Showcase of the Immortals. 

    Right now, the women of WWE are embarking in a tournament to crown the next Queen of the Ring. Taking to Twitter, Bayley suggested that the tournament proves that Evolution 2 would be viable.

    Evolution 2: Is It Possible? 

    The reigning WWE Women’s Champion is hardly the first Superstar to share their hopes to a sequel to WWE Evolution. A year after the all-female event, Triple H shared that a possible second event was on the table but was unsure when it would fit into WWE’s calendar. More recently, Macey Estrella, who competed for years as Lacey Evans, said Evolution 2 was a must. 

    While there may be a calling for Evolution 2, getting the event green-lit is proving easier said than done. After the initial event, it was reported that WWE Evolution had fallen below expectations in terms of ticket sales despite the considerable push it had received compared to other events of its size that year. 

    WWE Queen Of The Ring

    The ongoing tournament is down to its final four Superstars. On the upcoming episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Lyra Valkyria will face IYO SKY for a place in the finals. On SmackDown, Nia Jax will face Bianca Belair. The winners of these two matches will face off for the crown at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring on May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

  • Ivar Confirms Serious Injury In New Statement After Conflicting Reports

    Ivar Confirms Serious Injury In New Statement After Conflicting Reports

    WWE star Ivar has addressed his current status amid all the conflicting rumors going around about his health and wrestling future.

    Chatter about the wrestling star’s status began after WWE pulled him from an announced match. At first it was reported that Ivar was just taking some time off from the company and he wasn’t really injured.

    Fresh reports since then, however, have contradicted the early statements. A photo posted by Andrews Sports Medicine team on Twitter further confirmed that the heavyweight star was dealing with a legitimate issue.

    One-half of the Viking Raiders tag team then took on his Twitter to set the record straight. Ivar confirmed that he is indeed dealing with a legitimate serious injury:

    The WWE star said that he will do everything he can to get back in the ring as soon as possible and thanked the fans for their support through this ordeal:

    “No matter what happens, I owe it to everyone who ever believed in me to do everything I can to get back in that ring, under those lights, and infront of the most amazing fans on the planet, see you as soon as I can! That being said, I Want to thank everyone for the out pouring of love and support, not only after finding out I was injured but thru out the last several months, I have heard you all!”

    Ivar’s Injury

    Ivar was originally scheduled to compete in a triple threat #1 contender’s match for Oba Femi’s NXT North American Championship at next week’s episode of NXT.

    However he, alongside the other two competitors of the match Wes Lee and Josh Briggs were taken out by Gallus on this week’s episode of the Tuesday night show.

    The company then taped next week’s episode of the development show in advance and excluded the heavyweight star from the lineup. Ivar was also replaced in the ongoing tournament to determine the #1 contender for Ricochet’s WWE Speed championship.

    Fightful Select later provided some more updates on the 40-year-old’s health. They claimed that Ivar has ‘long wrestled as if he’s on borrowed time after his double fusion surgery.’

    The nature or the severity of Ivar’s current injury is not known. So it’s hard to say how long he will stay out of action or when can we expect him back on WWE programming.

    SEScoops will continue monitoring the situation and you can follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with the wrestling star’s status.

  • Jey Uso Believes Aspiring Wrestlers Chasing Fame Are Bound To Fail

    Jey Uso Believes Aspiring Wrestlers Chasing Fame Are Bound To Fail

    Jey Uso believes any young person trying to break into the wrestling business should focus on learning the art of it properly instead of chasing the clout.

    The former Bloodline member recently had an interview with the Battleground podcast. He discussed things such as JoJo Offerman’s reaction to his viral Firefly entrance during Backlash France and more.

    Being the son of the legendary Rikishi and part of the renowned Anoa?i family, Jey has practically grown up in the business and knows everything there is to know about it.

    The Raw star was asked what advice would he give to a young talent trying to make a name for himself in the industry. Jey Uso explained that anyone who is focused on chasing the fame is going to fail:

    “If you’re trying to do this for like, some likes and views and fame this ain’t it bro. Because a lot of homies are lined up for that and they’re all gonna fail.”

    Protect What We Love: Jey Uso

    (WWE)

    The former tag team champion then claimed that aspiring wrestlers should first focus on getting the basics down and try to protect the business they all love:

    “I feel like just learn this craft. If you really love it, just start in the ring first. Learn the art of wrestling, right? Like it’s cool with characters, but I always take pride in [that]. Not a lot of people can do the entertainment part, the acting part, let alone do the athleticism in the ring – the moves, the bumps.

    The movement with someone else in there is different with two people, let alone four or five. Protect the art, protect the business. If you really want to, get down and learn. Just don’t do what you see on Instagram. You know what I’m saying, Uce? Just protect what we love. It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon.”

    Jey Uso has become a singles star since leaving The Bloodline in mid-2023. He most recently unsuccessfully challenged for Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash France earlier this month.

    The WWE star is currently competing in the King of The Ring tournament. He has defeated Finn Balor and Ilja Dragunov in the tournament and is set to face Gunther in the semi-finals during the May 20th episode of Raw.

  • Jey Uso Reveals JoJo Offerman Got Emotional Watching His Backlash: France Entrance

    Jey Uso Reveals JoJo Offerman Got Emotional Watching His Backlash: France Entrance

    Jey Uso has revealed that JoJo Offerman sent him a text after watching his viral Backlash: France entrance featuring the Fireflies.

    The ‘Yeeter of Worlds’ recently appeared on the Battleground podcast. He talked about things such as his match with brother Jimmy Uso at WrestleMania 40 and more.

    During the interview, Jey was asked if the crowd participation in his entrance made him feel validated as a singles star. The former Bloodline member claimed that the most validated he felt was when Bray Wyatt’s widow JoJo Offerman sent him a message after the show:

    “I think the most I was validated was (when) JoJo, Bray Wyatt’s wife, had texted me and said how emotional she was watching. She saw clips of it on YouTube and that let me know right there, ‘Alright, I’m gonna keep it.’ I hope it sticks with me, man. I never asked for it, I never…They did it and I just want to keep it with me now.”

    The Fireflies were originally made famous by Bray Wyatt with his Cult Leader gimmick. He used to come out with a lantern during his entrance and the fans started to join in with the flashlights on their phones.

    ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso

    Jey Uso also proclaimed that Backlash was probably his favorite moment in wrestling ever. To him, the arena looked like a wave of stars were falling in and that feeling would never be matched.

    Reports suggest that WWE officials were happy with the reaction the former champion got during his entrance in Lyon, France.

    The company plans to continue encouraging the fans to bring out the fireflies for him with dim lighting during Jey’s entrance. They also plan to highlight any main stream use of Uso’s theme song like we’ve seen.

  • What Happened With Damian Priest After (5/17) SmackDown Went Off Air

    World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest made a surprise appearance after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Vystar Veterans Memorial in Jacksonville, FL went off air.

    The Judgement Day star was there to compete in a dark match. He successfully defended his title in the bout against fellow Raw star Kofi Kingston.

    These two weren’t the only Raw stars stopping by as the rest of the Judgement Day were also in the building and ready to compete.

    Though unlike Priest, the duo of Finn Balor and JD McDonagh found themselves on the losing side when they challenged Awesome Truth for the tag team titles.

    What Happened On SmackDown

    Elsewhere on the show, the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and the United States Champion Logan Paul made their match official for the upcoming King and Queen of The Ring PPV in Saudi Arabia.

    The YouTube star, however, backed out of the originally agreed terms and decided that he didn’t want to defend his title against the American Nightmare after all.

    Paul tore down the old contract and introduced a new draft made by his lawyer which was for Cody’s title only. After some back and forth, the former AEW star signed the new contract making the match between them official.

    We also saw the King and Queen of The Ring tournament continuing on SmackDown. You can check out the results of the tournament matches contested on the show here.

  • Bo-Lieve Reference Revealed In QR Code Mystery From 5/17 WWE SmackDown

    Bo-Lieve Reference Revealed In QR Code Mystery From 5/17 WWE SmackDown

    WWE’s ongoing QR code mystery made a subtle reference to the Bo-lieve gimmick as many await the return of the character Bo Dallas played: Uncle Howdy.

    Since the Raw after WrestleMania 40, several QR codes have appeared on WWE programming and scanning them has led fans to cryptic videos with clues to decipher. More recently, WWE’s Twitch channel shared an hour-long video inundated with clues and hidden meanings. 

    Latest QR Code Mystery

    It is believed that these videos and clues are building to the return of Uncle Howdy, as portrayed in 2022 and 2023 by Bo Dallas. On the May 17, episode of WWE SmackDown, this continued as a QR code appeared during the match between DIY and Legado Del Fantasma’s Angel and Berto. 

    When scanned, a video filled with ominous symbols played which includes a young boy with creepy Joker-esque facepaint. A voiceover states “He is nobody. He is all of us,” before concluding with, “Do you want to meet him?” before showing a sketch similar to what fans recently saw on Twitch. 

    It’s unclear who the boy is in this video, perhaps a young Bo Dallas himself. At the end of the video, the number 4714 was briefly shown, leaving fans to wonder what this number means. As some have pointed out on social media, April 7, 2014, was the date of the initial Bo-lieve gimmick that led to Dallas being called up to the main roster. 

    Dallas isn’t expected to return as Uncle Howdy alone. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, and the recently rehired Erick Rowan are set to be part of a faction, an idea that had at one time reportedly been the plan for Bray Wyatt. There’s no word on when fans should expect Uncle Howdy on TV but the current signs on TV seem to indicate that his return is not far away. 

  • WWE King & Queen of the Ring Tournament Semifinals Matches Locked In During 5/17 SmackDown

    WWE King & Queen of the Ring Tournament Semifinals Matches Locked In During 5/17 SmackDown

    WWE SmackDown took place this week at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, focusing heavily on building anticipation for the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments.

    Tiffany Stratton and Bianca Belair threw down in the opening match of SmackDown. This match went around twenty minutes, and saw Belair win after a ton of near-falls. Fans were also especially invested after Stratton stirred the pot online with a controversial post, one that she got no internal heat with.

    Tama Tonga and LA Knight were the second quarterfinal of the night. This match went down with Solo Sikoa, Tanga Loa, and Paul Heyman standing at ringside as a constant presence. In the end, Tama won the match after a little distraction from Solo Sikoa.

    Bianca Belair already clinched her spot in the semifinals, which meant we were one step closer to seeing the EST of WWE face Jade Cargill. The former TBS Champion took on Nia Jax during the second hour of the show, and Cargill lost to the Irresistible Force via DQ. This resulted in a brawl after the match and the Jacksonville fans chanting “bullsh*t.” It looks like we won’t see Cargill vs Belair in the tournament.

    Randy Orton and Carmelo Hayes had burner of a main event. In the end, Orton won the match, and he promised to introduce Tama Tonga to an RKO in Saudi Arabia.

    The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will culminate on May 25 at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the finals for both tournaments will take place.

    King of the Ring Quarterfinals:

    • Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston
    • Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov
    • Tama Tonga defeated LA Knight
    • Carmelo Hayes vs Randy Orton

    Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals:

    • Iyo Sky vs. Shayna Baszler
    • Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
    • Jade Cargill lost to Nia Jax via DQ
    • Bianca Belair defeated Tiffany Stratton

    Queen of the Ring Semifinals:

    Bianca Belair vs Nia Jax

    Winner of IYO Sky vs Shayna Baszler against winner of Lyra Valkyria vs Zoey Stark

    King of the Ring Semifinals:

    Tama Tonga vs Randy Orton

    Winner of Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov

    WWE King & Queen of the Ring Card:

    • King of the Ring Tournament Final
      • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
    • Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
      • Raw bracket winner vs. SmackDown bracket winner
    • Women’s World Championship Match
      • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (Singles match)
    • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
      • Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed (Triple threat match)
    • Undisputed WWE Championship Match
      • Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (Singles match)
  • Brian Gewirtz Says The Rock & Cody Rhodes SmackDown Segment Was Supposed To Be More Uplifting

    Brian Gewirtz Says The Rock & Cody Rhodes SmackDown Segment Was Supposed To Be More Uplifting

    Brian Gewirtz was heavily involved in The Rock’s notorious 2024 return to WWE, and confirms matters were supposed to be a little different between ‘The People’s Champion’ and Cody Rhodes.

    Speaking on “The Masked Man Show”, the former head WWE writer talked about the notorious segment on SmackDown where Cody Rhodes relinquished his WWE Undispusted Universal Championship title shot to The Rock. Rhodes stoicly shook hands and hugged The Rock, appearing to putting his story on pause. However, the fans feedback made it become the most disliked video in WWE YouTube video history and an audible was called.

    Gewirtz said that all that was supposed to come across quite differently than originally planned.

    “Cody, it was supposed to be, in some form, ‘Yeah, f***in’ A! Go get em Rock! You’re going to get your ass kicked, Roman! Let’s do this!’ and this uplifting promo. Instead, he looked like someone shot his dog in the face in the parking lot. Just look at his expression. By the way, someone else, even when the team wins, looks forlorn and upset and despondent. [New York Knicks] Julius Randle [laughs].”

    Gewirtz didn’t think that demeanor helped matters, but made clear he understood where Rhodes was coming from regarding his feelings on the decision, stating that ‘The American Nightmare’ was one of the realest people he’s ever met. He feels that the fans felt that.

    “They felt like ‘he doesn’t mean a word of this. This is being forced for him to say.’ He’s despondent.”

    Please credit “The Masked Man” and h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Dave Bautista Assesses Early Acting Chops In Classic WrestleMania Commercial

    Dave Bautista Assesses Early Acting Chops In Classic WrestleMania Commercial

    Dave Bautista got to show some acting range early on in his pro wrestling career when WrestleMania went Hollywood, and he’s not a harsh critic when it comes to his initial on-screen work.

    The future WWE Hall of Famer took a look at the notorious WrestleMania 21 classic movie scenes that several WWE Superstars took part in at the time. John Cena and JBL did their take on A Few Good Men while Booker T and Eddie Guerrero may have stole the show with their Pulp Fiction performance.

    However, the world got to see Batista as one of several talents give their rendition of Robert DeNiro in Martin Scorcese’s Taxi Driver.

    On social media, Batista shared the vignette and himself re-watching the “scene,” critiquing his own acting skills, and wishing he still had a head of hair.

    “I’m not embarrassed by my acting, it’s not the greatest obviously, it’s not the best, but at this time I still absolutely had no desire to act. I didn’t want to be an actor, I wasn’t interested, I just wanted to wrestle, but I feel like watching this back it was like, ‘Man, maybe I was meant to do this, man.’ Anyway, maybe that’s just my ego talking.

  • Tiffany Stratton’s Status Unaffected by Recent Controversial Post, WWE Sources Say

    Tiffany Stratton became a breakout star on the WWE main roster after her official call-up during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Earlier this week, the former NXT Women’s Champion stirred up controversy after posting a video on Instagram of her delivering an elbow to Jade Cargill. The footage was backed by an audio clip that included the phrase “black b*tch” as she was striking Cargill.

    Wrestling fans were outraged and rightfully so. They trashed Stratton in the replies of that post and elsewhere, labeling her a racist and more. Many tagged Triple H and WWE’s corporate accounts, ensuring this would not be swept under the rug, despite the fact that she deleted the video quickly. Damage was done, but how much?

    This week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter shed light on the story, calling it “pretty significant situation.” Dave Meltzer observed, “Basically if this was someone who wasn’t a star they’d be fired instantly.” Several of the popular ‘engagement’ accounts on social media speculated that Stratton had “backstage heat” and her impressive momentum since recently joining the main roster would come to a screeching halt.

    We reached out to sources in WWE to clarify exactly where things stand. I was told this was reviewed at the highest levels and there is no “heat” on Stratton. Her ‘push’ won’t be affected and Jade Cargill (nor anybody else) made a big issue over it.

    Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net corroborates what I was told, reporting that “there is no internal backlash against Tiffany Stratton” and the matter “has been resolved.” This was also reported by PW Insider.

    WWE Superstar Tiffany Strattonand

    Tiffany Stratton’s versatile skill set, bolstered by her gymnastics background and charismatic personality, make her a valuable asset to WWE. She’s poised to make a big impact on the main roster, especially with so many former champions sidelined. That list includes, but is not limited to, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Carmella and Raquel Rodriguez.

    Stratton is scheduled for tonight’s WWE SmackDown, where she’ll compete against Bianca Belair in the Quarterfinals of the Queen of the Ring tournament. 

    Check out our interview with Tiffany Stratton from WrestleMania 40 weekend:

  • WWE SmackDown Preview: Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes, Cody Rhodes & Logan Paul Contract Signing

    WWE SmackDown Preview: Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes, Cody Rhodes & Logan Paul Contract Signing

    The Quarterfinals of WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continue tonight on WWE SmackDown from Jacksonville, Florida. Just 8 days out from next Saturday’s PLE, tonight’s show will be focused almost entirely on the event. 

    WWE SmackDown Preview (5/17)

    Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes is actually happening

    WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and United States Champion Logan Paul will officially sign the contract for their ‘winner takes all’ clash at the Jeddah Dome. Don’t be surprised to see a table flipped or someone struck with a chair, as these contract signings rarely go off without a hitch.

    Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals Matches

    • Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax
    • Bianca Belair vs. Tiffany Stratton

    King of the Ring Quarterfinals Matches

    • Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes
    • Tama Tonga vs. LA Knight

    Tickets for tonight’s WWE SmackDown from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville are still available at Ticketmaster.

    Catch up on the Top 10 moments from last week:

  • Rey Mysterio Will Retire When His Best Is Not Enough

    Rey Mysterio doesn’t have an exact date for when he’ll hang up his boots and mask but knows the exact circumstances when it’ll be time to walk away from the ring. 

    At 49 years old, Mysterio is one of the oldest Superstars on WWE’s active roster and is well aware that his career is in the final legs of its journey. Speaking on Rampage Jackson’s JAXXON podcast, Mysterio didn’t give a specific date but believes he’ll retire if he ever stops worrying about giving his absolute best. 

    “Every night [I worry about my performance] Even when it’s non-televised, I still get that jittering feeling like, ‘S***; I don’t want to f*** up. I want to make sure everything comes out right.’ I always tell myself, the day I no longer feel that, that’s the time to tap out.”

    Rey Mysterio On Retirement

    As a WWE Hall of Famer and arguably the most successful masked wrestler in WWE history, Mysterio has very little to prove in his remaining years in the ring. In March 2023, the Ultimate Underdog said he does not plan on wrestling past the age of 50. Rey will hit the milestone number this December. 

    Though Rey’s career in the ring will be ending in the relatively near future, his time in WWE won’t be over after he hangs up his boots. Rey signed a five-year deal with WWE in 2023 that should keep him around until he is 54 years old. It is possible that Mysterio could wrestle past 50 and if not, WWE would no-doubt benefit from keeping Mysterio around in some kind of backstage role, possibly as a trainer in WWE NXT. 

    Rey Mysterio began his professional wrestling career in Mexico at a very young age. His debut match took place in 1989 when he was just 14.

  • Update On Asuka’s Knee Injury

    Update On Asuka’s Knee Injury

    WWE Superstars put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of fans every time they step into the ring. Unfortunately, injuries are a regular part of the job and virtually nobody is exempt. Earlier this week, Asuka announced she’s been dealing with a knee injury and we’ve got an update that underscores the importance of this decision.

    Approximately two months ago, we covered when Asuka ‘tweaked’ her knee on WWE SmackDown. She’s wrestled a lot since then, which gave us a sense of optimism that she might be able to avoid time off. Unfortunately, the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirms it’s the same injury that persists.

    Now that she’s gotten through WrestleMania 40 and Backlash France, where she and Kairi Sane dropped the Women’s tag titles, Asuka will take some time to recuperate and get back to 100%.

    More WWE Injuries

    WWE Superstars regularly work through injuries, especially during WrestleMania season. Here are some additional wrestlers currently out of action for various reasons:

    Charlotte Flair: Torn ACL, MCL, & Meniscus, out since December 8, 2023, return timeline 9 months.

    Erik: Neck Fusion Surgery, injury date September 2023, recovery time unknown.

    Sonya Deville: Torn ACL, injury date July 28, 2023, recovery time 6 – 12 months.

    Seth Rollins: Suffered a Grade 2 MCL tear and a partially torn meniscus in his left knee in January. He underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus on April 16.

    Ivar: Storyline injury due to a backstage attack on NXT, to give the Viking Raider some time off.

    CM Punk: Successfully underwent surgery to repair torn triceps, stopped using brace, mobility improving through recovery and physical therapy.

    Alexa Bliss: Pregnancy, out since February 2023, return timeline unknown.

    Big E: Broken neck (fractured C1 and C6 vertebrae) that did not require surgery, injury date March 11, 2022. The former WWE Champion has dropped hints that he may never wrestle again.

    Carmella: Pregnancy, out since March 2023, currently dealing with drop foot syndrome.

  • Latest On Viking Raider Ivar Being Pulled Indefinitely from WWE Programming

    Latest On Viking Raider Ivar Being Pulled Indefinitely from WWE Programming

    More has come to light about Viking Raider Ivar and why the former Tag Team Champion has been pulled indefinitely from all programming. 

    With his tag-team partner Erik recovering from neck fusion surgery, Ivar has had an impressive singles run on Monday Night Raw and more recently WWE NXT. At the recent Spring Breakin’ event, Ivar challenged for the NXT North American Championship, his first singles title opportunity since coming to WWE in 2018. 

    Ivar Pulled From Plans

    During the taping of next week’s episode of WWE NXT, Ivar was not part of the triple threat number one contenders match he had been scheduled to participate in. Shortly after the taping, WWE revealed that due to an attack by Gallus, Ivar had been medically disqualified from competition and was out of action indefinitely. 

    Now, more has come to light about Ivar’s situation. On Twitter, the Andrews Sports Medicine account shared their appreciation to Ivar for placing his trust in the hands of their surgical team. The post also had the hashtag #Spine, suggesting Ivar has undergone surgery on his spine.

    Andrews Sports Medicine

    Ivar is certainly in good hands with Andrews Sports Medicine as some of WWE’s top Superstars have gone under the knife in the Alabama-based institute. Triple H, Cody Rhodes, and John Cena have all had surgery through Andrew Sports Medicine. In fact, Ivar’s tag-team partner Erik made the trip to Alabama last year for his neck fusion surgery. At this time, there’s no word on when either Viking is expected back in the ring. 

  • Uncle Howdy Hijacks WWE Twitch Stream

    Uncle Howdy Hijacks WWE Twitch Stream

    Something is happening on WWE television. The glitches and QR codes continue, hinting at a new force on the way. These interruptions have spread across RAW, SmackDown and NXT. Now, even WWE’s digital programming is being affected.

    During a stream on WWE’s Twitch channel, glitches appeared as Lilian Garcia introduced Kane to the ring. The disturbances caused static, and Garcia’s voice was manipulated to say “Wyatt.” As Kane made his way to the ring, the screen glitched again. A serene setting with an ominous chair in a corner was shown. The stationary shot remained unchanged, with no one else visible in the frame. The screen then flashed back to the old WWE program in progress. In the end, the takeover lasted about thirty minutes, with interruptions like this throughout that period of time. 

    At the end of the takeover, a woman was shown in the chair. She had a book and was asking the camera “what does this represent?” as she showed off something drawn on the page. The camera then flashed to a news article of a missing reporter.

    WWE teased Bo Dallas’ return at the end of the “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal” documentary, making it clear that something is coming. Fans have been analyzing the cryptic clues, waiting for what lies ahead.

    Bo Dallas’ Upcoming Stable

    Bo Dallas played Uncle Howdy during Bray Wyatt’s final run. Sadly, Windham Rotunda passed away, and we will never see what they had planned. Now a new chapter is beginning.

    Four names are currently expected to be in the new faction. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are all slated to join the new Wyatt Family.

    Each Superstar has previous experience in factions: Cross with Sanity, Gacy leading The Schism, Lumis as part of The Way, and Rowan as an original member of The Wyatt Family. It will be interesting to see how they fit into the picture once the new stable officially debuts on WWE television. 

  • Rey Mysterio Believes Separating From Him Was The Best Thing That Could Have Happened To Dominik

    Rey Mysterio Believes Separating From Him Was The Best Thing That Could Have Happened To Dominik

    Having a famous father is a double-edged sword for a performer trying to make his name in the same profession. On one hand, it can get you early opportunities but also create an unfavorable perception of you in people’s minds from the start. This is why Rey Mysterio believes that separating from him was the best thing for Dominik.

    The wrestling veteran recently appeared on the JAXXON PODCAST where he discussed things such as the importance of his mask, his WCW career and more.

    Rey also spoke about the struggles his son Dominik Mysterio had to face early in his career because of the comparison to his Hall of Famer father:

    “The career that I’ve had, the longevity. [I] started at the age of 14. I’m 49 now. So I’ve been grinding for the past 35 years in this business, this profession.

    For my son to come in out of nowhere and not have my style, have a different build. he’s 6’1. He’s about 190. So it was just, it was very hard for him at the beginning to try to adapt and find his role as a wrestler.

    The comparisons were, they were made and of course, he couldn’t live up to ’em. Not until we separated and he continued on his own path without having his dad by his side. And that was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.”

    Dominik Mysterio started making regular appearances on WWE programming alongside his dad back in 2019. His first official match for the company came at SummerSlam 2020 and the father-son duo even went on to win the SmackDown tag team titles in 2021.

    Though the evolution of the young star really started when he turned on Rey Mysterio at the 2022 Clash At The Castle event. He subsequently joined the Judgement Day faction. This move made him one of the most hated wrestlers in all of sports entertainment and helped him develop an identity completely opposite to his legendary father.

  • Latest On Gable Steveson’s NFL Hopes Following WWE Release

    Latest On Gable Steveson’s NFL Hopes Following WWE Release

    Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson may be headed to the National Football League. The former WWE Developmental prospect was quietly released from his contract last month after his wrestling career failed to launch. 

    Steveson recently met with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and even had a tryout for the team, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He’s expected to meet with several other NFL teams in the weeks and months ahead. 

    This crossover to the gridiron is especially notable because Gable didn’t even play high school football. However, he wouldn’t be alone there, as never even played high school football. WWE has been scouting collegiate athletes through its Next In Line series program, but now we’re seeing NFL teams recruiting players with little-to-no prior experience as well 

    Gable Steveson’s WWE Journey

    Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future ahead of him in WWE. To support his development, the company even established a remote training facility, allowing him to hone his skills while completing his studies at the University of Minnesota.

    He was given a few big-time spots during WWE premium live events, including WrestleMania 38, but fans didn’t latch onto him as expected. Instead, they seemed to push back against the Olympian’s forced push.

    In 2022, an ablation was performed on his heart to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White, and Gable took time off to recover, but he soon got back to training. He was given all the tools to succeed, but they couldn’t put things together and make them work.

    As WWE’s first-ever NIL signing, Steveson’s struggle to succeed in the company underscores the unique and demanding skill set required to thrive in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash highlighted this challenge, as the crowd’s chants of “You’re Not Angle” referenced the frequent comparisons made between Steveson and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. These chants served as a reminder of the high expectations and distinct abilities needed to excel in the wrestling world.

    We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his future NFL ventures, or wherever his path takes him.

  • Report: Plans for World Heavyweight Title Match at WWE Clash At The Castle

    Report: Plans for World Heavyweight Title Match at WWE Clash At The Castle

    The upcoming WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland event will see one of the nation’s top Superstars compete in a World Title match, it has been reported.

    Clash At The Castle: Scotland will be the promotion’s first Premium Live Event in the country. The show will take place from the OVO Hydro arena on June 15, with a WWE SmackDown taping scheduled to take place at the same venue the previous evening. 

    Given his standing as a main event and with this event being in Scotland, many are anticipating a huge role for Drew McIntyre at the event. That will be the case as McIntyre will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship in his home country, Dave Meltzer reports. 

    While not confirmed on WWE TV just yet, seeds are already being planted for a showdown between McIntyre and World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. On the May 13, episode of Raw, Priest and McIntyre came face-to-face in the ring. The segment ended with Priest promising McIntyre a title match. The pair did not specify when the match would take place. 

    McIntyre vs. Priest

    Of course, any plans for McIntyre to compete rely on him being cleared to wrestle. An elbow injury suffered during WrestleMania 40 has kept the three-time World Champion out of action and also resulted in McIntyre being pulled from the ongoing King of the Ring tournament. 

    McIntyre Vs. Priest may indeed be the plan for Clash At The Castle: Scotland, but the World Heavyweight Champion isn’t the only person on Drew’s mind. Despite his torn triceps injury, CM Punk has continued his feud with Drew McIntyre and recently teased showing up to Glasgow (perhaps inside of a haggis) to confront McIntyre. Drew has responded by saying if Punk does show up to Clash At The Castle: Scotland, he won’t be leaving in one piece. 

  • Chris Hemsworth On Hulk Hogan Biopic: “Nothing Official Yet”

    Chris Hemsworth On Hulk Hogan Biopic: “Nothing Official Yet”

    Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has provided an update on WWE legend Hulk Hogan’s biopic which is slated to be directed by Todd Phillips.

    Hemsworth is set to star in the upcoming Furiosa: A Max Max Saga. While discussing his new project, he is gave a tidbit about the Hulk Hogan biopic and it is upsetting for the fans. Speaking with Screenrant, Hemsworth said it would be an honor to work with Todd Phillips, but he’s not sure the project is actually happening. He says it’s been an interesting situation waiting for the ‘green light.’

    “To work with Todd Phillips, who we discussed making that film with, would be an honor and a fantastic opportunity. I can’t say it’s officially happening yet. If there was a green light, I’d get to work on it. But it’s interesting. Dementus’ vocal quality was something I could invent and it would be surprising to people, but there wouldn’t be any judgment or comparison.

    It’s a tricky thing to play a real-life character. I’ve done it once before, and people immediately have the measuring stick out and the critiques and so on. It’d be nerve-wracking, but if there’s a great script and a story to tell, I’d love to jump into it. But there’s nothing official at this point.“

    Earlier this week, actor/wrestler Paul Walter Hauser spoke about wanting to portray hardcore legend Mick Foley and expressed similar concerns about that setup. Hauser has been approached to play several wrestlers over the years, but he’s only interested if the story resonates with him.

    Hulk Hogan is one of the greatest superstars to ever grace the squared circle and transformed the pro wrestling industry like very few others have. In recent years, his fame has nearly been overshadowed by his various personal personal controversies.

    This Hulk Hogan project has been in development for over five years. It was first announced back in February 2019, with Chris Hemsworth attached as the lead. Helmsworth has spoken about the role, but it’s now mid-2024 and we’re wondering if this thing will ever get made.

  • WWE Hits A Snag Securing A Lucrative Trademark For Becky Lynch

    WWE Hits A Snag Securing A Lucrative Trademark For Becky Lynch

    Becky Lynch has used several nicknames throughout her WWE career, including The Man, which she used during her meteoric rise to the top of WWE. More recently, she’s been going by Big Time Becks, a moniker that takes the confidence of ‘The Man’ and turns the dial up a bit father into the realm of cockiness. Her on-screen character has evolved seamlessly, but ‘Big Time Becks’ may be getting phased out due to WWE’s inability to secure a trademark for the IP.

    WWE filed to trademark “Big Time Becks” in September 2021, but this application faced opposition from someone else who felt the name infringed on a mark they had the rights to. Legal proceedings have been ongoing, and the trademark remains listed as “pending” due to these unresolved issues.

    ‘Big Time’ Roadblock

    Here’s a timeline of events that led to WWE’s current legal predicament:

    • In September 2021, WWE filed to trademark “Big Time Becks,” Becky Lynch’s nickname during her heel run.
    • The trademark faced opposition nine days after the filing, with ongoing legal proceedings as recent as April 1, according to public records. A discovery conference was ordered in March.
    • The board recommended using the Accelerated Case Resolution process. Initial disclosures were due May 3, with the process potentially extending to August 2025.
    • According to the motion document, WWE was aware of the Opposer’s “Bigtime” trademark since 2006, when they received a cease and desist.
    • In September 2021, WWE filed the “Big Time Becks” mark. Opposer communicated opposition within nine days.
    • WWE was aware of the opposition and engaged in settlement discussions but did not follow up after March 2022.
    • Opposer filed two Letters of Protest and initiated Opposition Proceedings in November 2023 and WWE missed the deadline for filing an answer to the opposition.
    • WWE claimed the Christmas Day deadline caused the delay, but Opposer argues this is implausible given WWE’s resources and prior notifications.
    • The trademark remains listed as “pending” due to the ongoing legal proceedings.

    Previous Nickname Controversies

    This isn’t the first time Lynch’s nicknames have faced opposition. Ric Flair previously laid claim to “The Man,” expressing issues with WWE using that moniker for Lynch.

    Ric Flair and Becky Lynch’s conflict began in late 2021. Flair accused Lynch of using the nickname “The Man” without his permission. Lynch dismissed the accusation, calling Flair “sad” at one point. This feud was intense but never became a WWE storyline. The behind-the-scenes drama was as engaging as the on-screen action.

    Both sides have since reconciled. Becky Lynch and Ric Flair are now on cordial speaking terms. They eventually resolved the matter, and Lynch continues to use “The Man” nickname. You can read all about this settled beef right here:

  • “This is Insane”- Drew McIntyre Thanks CM Punk For Bringing Out The Worst In HIm

    “This is Insane”- Drew McIntyre Thanks CM Punk For Bringing Out The Worst In HIm

    Drew McIntyre is thankful to his arch-nemesis CM Punk for their epic promo segment ahead of WrestleMania 40.

    On the March 25 edition of Raw, McIntyre, CM Punk, and then-WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins traded personal shots. The segment gained traction due to Punk coercing McIntyre to mention Vince McMahon, who is not mentioned anymore in WWE due to allegations. This happened after the Scotsman referred to himself as ‘The Chosen One,’ the nickname that McMahon gave him.

    Punk is one of the best talkers in WWE and he possesses commendable promo skills. Speaking with Alex McCarthy of Mail Sport, McIntyre thanked Punk for the segment and said that he knew that the former WWE Champion would bring his ‘A-game’ during the exchange. He said:

    “I have to thank him for that I guess. One thing I can thank him for. If he’s got that microphone you know he’s bringing his A-game and perhaps the first time we were in the ring together he was still finding his feet being back in WWE. I think he realized – I know he realized, I could see it in his eyes – this isn’t the same Drew and I had his number the first time we were in the ring together, and I stomped his stupid little arm.”

    ‘Guns loaded’

    ‘The Scottish Warrior’ realized that CM Punk would bring his prime version of himself in the battle and the former kept his artillery ready. McIntyre is grateful for the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Punk on the mic and admitted that the “insane” segment escalated quickly. He said:

    “The second time, I could see it in his eyes, ‘Right, I’m back, I’ve got all my guns loaded,’ and this is the CM Punk of old. And I knew I could either step up to his level or I can drown and I don’t belong at his level. So it was cool to have that opportunity to go back and forth and have people go, ‘Oh my god, this is insane.’ When you thought it couldn’t get anymore insane it kept escalating and escalating. You have to be quick on your feet and you have to know exactly who you are in this industry if you’re going to compete at the top level.”

    McIntyre once again thanked Punk for the segment and even praised the addition of Seth Rollins. He said:

    “So I can say thank you to him for showing in that segment everybody that said well, Drew just went to-to-toe with Punk in his prime, on fire. And Seth also added to that segment in what has become something of a legendary segment. It’s all people talk to me about recently.”

    While CM Punk recuperates from a torn tricep injury, McIntyre is sidelined with an elbow injury. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ was set to face The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor in the first round of The King of The Ring tournament. 

    However, he was not medically cleared and was replaced by Jey Uso, who punched his ticket to the next round. CM Punk and Drew McIntyre will lock horns at a later date and reports suggest that it might be at SummerSlam in August.

  • Gunther Addresses Reports of Scrapped Brock Lesnar WrestleMania Match

    Gunther isn’t sure if a Brock Lesnar match is in the cards for him anymore.

    There were strong rumors before WrestleMania 40 that The Ring General was on his way to face The Beast Incarnate in a big showdown at the Grandest Stage of Them All. The company had planned to build this rivalry up starting at the 2024 Royal Rumble.

    All plans for the former Universal Champion, however, were scrapped by the creative team when Lesnar was linked to the Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit.

    The former IC Champion addressed the rumors about his planned match with Lesnar at WrestleMania in an interview with DailyMail. Gunther claimed that he also heard something about it:

    The Ring General explained that he has always been presented as the final boss in different phases of his WWE career, whether it be his run as the UK Champion or the most recent IC title reign. Brock Lesnar similarly was the final boss of the whole WWE for a long time. To reach the position the former UFC champion was in, the Austrian star has to get in the ring with him.

    I’m More Than Up For It: Gunther

    (Photo: WWE)

    Gunther also discussed the potential of a future showdown between the two. He noted that he is not informed about the current status of Brock with the company, but he is more than ready for something like that if it comes his way:

    “We’ll see if there’s a chance for it to happen again. I’m more than up for it. How the situation is exactly right now, I’m really not that informed about it, to be honest. I think we had that one face off in the Royal Rumble, the reaction that was there and that was a confirmation for me.”

    Triple H confirmed during the post-WrestleMania 40 press conference that Brock Lesnar was not done with the company and was just resting at home.

    Considering the gravity of the accusations against Vince McMahon, it’s very much possible that we may never see Brock Lesnar on WWE TV again if he gets implicated in the proceedings of the case in any way.

    Though the company is certainly keeping their options open by not completely cutting ties with Brock the same way they have done with the former chairman of the boards. So there is a distinct possibility that he could return to act as ‘The Final Boss’ for Gunther down the line.

  • WWE-Nike Bloodline-Inspired Air Jordan Sneakers Coming In January 2025

    WWE-Nike Bloodline-Inspired Air Jordan Sneakers Coming In January 2025

    Sneaker fans worldwide will be able to acknowledge Roman Reigns and The Bloodline with a new set of shoes set to launch next year. 

    The new shoes are black with blood-red stylings, according to mock-up photos shared by Sneaker News. The shows will be available at select Jordan Brand retailers in-store, online, and at Nike.com. The snazzy new footwear will retail for $200 USD. 

    The new Bloodline-inspired Sneakers will retail for $200 USD. 

    Roman Reigns & Sneakers

    The Tribal Chief’s love of sneakers is no secret. In matches, Reigns often wears sneakers instead of traditional wrestling footwear. Speaking to Complex in 2021, Reigns recalled wearing Jordans when he announced that his leukemia was in remission in 2019. 

    “I felt so much confidence… That was one of those situations where I was able to come out of the Roman character and just be Joe. And that’s why you saw me the way I was. That’s why I was wearing the Jordans. Just kind of a casual look. For the most part for the Roman character, especially earlier on I stayed in the fatigues and the boots and stuff like that. But from that moment, I took that character armor off and exposed the real me.”

    Roman Reigns Out of the Ring

    The former Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 but he’s not been taking it easy. The Tribal Chief has been shooting a heist movie that’ll include Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and others. 

    While Reigns is off WWE TV, his presence continues to be felt. In his absence, Solo Sikoa has become the new leader of a new Bloodline that includes Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Paul Heyman has been noticeably concerned about the change that Sikoa has claimed that the order to take leadership of the faction came from Reigns himself. 

  • Liv Morgan Discusses The Role Of The Riott Squad In Her WWE Career

    Liv Morgan Discusses The Role Of The Riott Squad In Her WWE Career

    Before Liv Morgan became WWE’s Queen of Extreme, she began her wrestling career as a member of The Riott Squad. A trio of NXT standouts which featured Morgan, Sarah Logan, and the team’s fearless and conniving leader Ruby Riott (now known as Ruby Soho in AEW). During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former Women’s Champion provided some insightful commentary on her formative time with the trio. 

    When asked about as chapter in her career where she saw a lot of personal improvement, Morgan said it was when she got called up to the main roster in late 2017. Shenoted how being a part of the Riott Squad as a rookie on the main roster helped her shed self-doubt and insecurities about her in-ring work. Furthermore, she stated how the team’s heavy work schedule helped her get good “reps” in.

    “Honestly, probably when I got called up to SmackDown. I don’t know what it was, I think because in NXT, I felt like I was trying to make it to the next level so I felt, I guess very insecure because I felt like any mistake I made would enable me from making it to the next level.

    Then when I finally got called up, I didn’t really have that fear anymore. So I don’t know, it’s just I was able to flow better. I had less pressure and less fears and I had The Riott Squad with me, I owe so much to Ruby and Sarah for kind of taking me under their wing and guiding me and teaching me.

    So I feel around that time is when I really progressed. Also we were doing so many live events. When you’re doing so many reps it’s hard not to get better because we were just working so much.”

    While The Riott Squad lasted for a little over two years on the WWE main roster, the trio never quite conquered the women’s divisions of RAW and SmackDown like they would have liked. The team was essentially dissolved in April 2019, when Morgan was drafted to SmackDown in a “Superstar Shakeup”. 

    Despite their eventual breakup, the three talented stars remained good friends through it all. In 2021, Liv Morgan reposted a photo of all three stars getting matching tattoos to commemorate the anniversary of their debut on the main roster, dubbing November 21st as “Riott Squad Day”

    Liv Morgan looks walk out as Champion at The King and Queen of the Ring

    Morgan is set to go one-on-one with World Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at the King and Queen of The Ring Tournament in Saudi Arabia next week. 

    The 29-year-old star has never defeated Becky Lynch in a one-on-one match, and her last PLE title win was last summer. When she and Raquel Rodrigez won the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Morgan hasn’t held single’s Gold since 2022. 

    Becky Lynch won the World Women’s Championship on the April 22nd edition of Monday Night RAW, shortly following Rhea Ripley’s relinquishing of the belt due to an injury caused by Liv Morgan. The Man of WWE won the title in a grueling 14-woman Battle Royal, last eliminating Morgan to secure the win. 

    Liv Morgan’s main event status has been called into question several times by her critics,  but a win over one of the biggest female stars in WWE would instantly silence them. 

  • WWE Announces Wrestler Injury, Tournament Substitution

    WWE Announces Wrestler Injury, Tournament Substitution

    Following a vicious assault from the returning trio Gallus, WWE Superstar Ivar was one of several laid out at the closing of this week’s edition of NXT. Unfortunately, it seems as though Ivar will not be able to get his revenge anytime soon. 

    According to WWE, Ivar has sustained an injury following the backstage attack and will be “out of action indefinitely”. Along with Ivar, Gallus took out Wes Lee and Josh Briggs. The three men were set to take part in a triple-threat-match the following week to decide the #1 contender to Oba Femi’s NXT North American Championship.

    While Ivar’s status for the upcoming triple-threat match is still up in the air, WWE has decided to remove the former RAW Tag Team Champion from the ongoing Speed Tournament. 

    The tournament was set to name a #1 Contender to face current Speed Champion Ricocohet. The company announced via social media that Apollo Crews will replace Ivar and face Tyler Bate in the Semi-Finals of the tournament.

    Ivar did comment on the announcement, only posting broken heart emojis on X. 

    At this time, it’s unknown if Ivar’s injury is legitimate or a part of a larger storyline with Gallus. WWE has been faced with a bit of an injury bug as of late, with a seemingly ever-growing list of top talent sidelined with injury. Names include Drew McIntyre, Asuka, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, and more. 

    Ivar himself dealt with an undisclosed injury earlier this year, causing him to be deemed “medically unable to compete” on the March 25th edition of Monday Night RAW. The high-flying Viking would return to action soon after.  

    Ivar’s been flying solo since his tag team partner Erik was injured in September 2023. In November of that year, Erik announced that he had undergone successful neck fusion surgery. Recently, Erik revealed that he is receiving Stem Cell treatment as part of his recovery.