SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Paul Walter Hauser In Talks To Portray Wrestling Legend Mick Foley

    Paul Walter Hauser In Talks To Portray Wrestling Legend Mick Foley

    Actor Paul Walter Hauser is excited at the prospect of playing Mick Foley and is ‘literally talking to him right now’ about turning this dream into reality. 

    Hauser is no stranger pro wrestling himself. He’s graced the squared circle on several occasions and boasts a record of 3-0. Many of his matches are hardcore in nature, involving weapons and violent stunts. During an interview with Mike Roe for The Wrap, Hauser reveals that he’s trying to secure a role that is near and dear to his heart.

    “I’m literally talking to Mick Foley right now about the potential of playing him in a movie or limited series,” Hauser tells The Wrap.

    “I don’t know which and I don’t know how, but he and I have become friendly, and I think he knows that that could be a really great stroke of genius in casting me to play him.”

    Hauser shares that he’s received offers to play wrestlers before. While he’s excited to work on a Mick Foley project, he won’t just sign on to play a wrestler because he likes the sport. He takes his work very seriously and takes pride in selecting roles that truly resonate with him and stories that he wants to share.

    “If TNA or AEW or MLW wanted to sign me, I would literally take that into consideration to be part of a contracted role somewhere,” Paul Walter Hauser to The Wrap.

    Hauser says that Mick Foley doesn’t look like the typical ‘bodybuilder wrestler, which works in his favor. He joked that his own body type is more similar to stockier wrestlers like Foley and the late Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart.

    In an industry overflowing with larger-than-life personalities, Mick Foley’s life story remains among the most captivating. There’s a reason his life story is a New York Times best-seller, which would make getting a project like this greenlit a lot easier.

    Hauser keeps a busy career in Hollywood, but he always makes time for wrestling and tries to blend those worlds whenever he can. Earlier this year, he brought pro wrestling to the Emmy Awards by name dropping the nWo, the Dudley Boyz and more during his acceptance speech.

    Paul Walter Hauser returns to the ring when he competes in the 40-person MLW Battle Riot event on Saturday, June 1 from Atlanta, GA.

  • Shark Week Hosted by John Cena Starts Sun. July 7 on Discovery

    Society has changed a lot over the years, but two constants that have remained cultural favorites for decades are Discovery’s ‘Shark Week’ and a certain jorts-wearing WWE Superstar with a penchant for dad jokes. This year, those worlds are colliding.

    Discovery has announced Shark Week 2024 kicks off Sunday, July 7 and will be hosted by John Cena. Last year’s week was hosted by Hollywood star Jason Mamoa, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson serving as Master of Ceremonies.

    This is notable due to Discovery’s connection to Warner Bros. Discovery and, by extension, AEW. It is likely that Cena will appear in promotional campaigns airing during All Elite Wrestling’s shows on TBS and TNT, similar to what we’ve seen with his obstacle course show Wipeout.

    The 16-time WWE Champion is currently on another hiatus from the company, thanks to his demanding Hollywood schedule. He was last seen during WrestleMania 40 weekend, where he had a cameo spot in Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns’ main event Bloodline rules match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He then wrestled an impromptu match on WWE Raw the following night.

    What is Shark Week?

    The annual, week-long television block on the Discovery Channel featuring shark-based programming originally premiered on July 17, 1988, and it kept returning thanks to strong turnout in the ratings.

    Over the years, Shark Week has only grown in popularity, becoming a major hit on the Discovery Channel. Since 2010, it has held the record as the longest-running cable television programming event in history. 

  • Drew McIntyre Ruthlessly Mocks CM Punk For Hyping His WWE 2K24 Character

    CM Punk hyped his return to WWE 2K24 in style and he took cheeky jabs at his arch-nemesis Drew McIntyre in the process. However, ‘The Scottish Warrior’ is not a man to hold back his thoughts and fired back at Punk. 

    The Chicago legend is making his return to the game as a playable character for the first time in ten long years. ‘The Second City Savior’ is among several other legends as part of the downloadable content, ‘ECW Punk Pack’ that the WWE 2K24 gamers can access with a Season Pass. WWE legends such as Terry Funk, Dudley Boyz, and Sandman are also part of the pack. Taking to his Instagram account, CM Punk posted a video message to promote the game and took a jibe at McIntyre. Here is what he said:  

    “Good news, everybody. CM Punk is finally available to play in WWE 2K24. It’s making waves on the internet, so you know Drew McIntyre’s watching it. I’m put in the Punk Pack, that includes myself and some hardcore legends from ECW like Sandman, The Dudleyz, and the most hardcore legend of all, Terry Funk.”

    “Now Drew, if you are watching this, let’s face it, it’s on the internet, so you’re watching it. You can finally play as your favorite wrestler and human being, me. CM Punk. Hope you have a terrible day, pal.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6_zjoxJeKF

    Drew McIntyre responds

    ‘The Scottish Warrior’ noticed Punk’s remarks and responded on X. He played a video clip of Punk in the WWE 2K24 game where he could be seen hobbling after performing a top rope move. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ yet again mocked Punk for his injury and wrote: 

    “lol he’s in the game for one day and already hurt”

    CM Punk sustained a torn tricep injury at Royal Rumble 2024 and McIntyre has been taking credit for the same. He has been mocking Punk for the same ever since. Punk is currently sidelined but he has shown impressive recovery after surgery. He even dropped the brace six weeks after undergoing surgery. 

    As Punk has showcased a great recuperation, reports suggest that he might be back in a matter of the next few months and even compete at the SummerSlam Premium Live Event in August. 

  • New CyberFight President Aims To “Strengthen Relationship” Between NOAH & WWE

    New CyberFight President Aims To “Strengthen Relationship” Between NOAH & WWE

    Pro Wrestling NOAH and WWE could be working a lot more closely in the coming months, at least if the new president of CyberFight has his way. 

    Yasuaki Okamoto has been appointed the new President of CyberFight Inc, the parent company of NOAH. During an introductory press conference, Okamoto shared that his goal is to strengthen the promotion’s relationship with WWE. 

    Okamoto’s appointment and goals with WWE wasn’t the only major announcement. In the press conference, it was confirmed that Keiji Muto has been appointed as a NOAH scouting advisor

    Muto competed for years for Pro Wrestling NOAH and is best known for his legendary tenure as The Great Muta. It’s fitting that Muto was part of the same press conference in which Okamoto shared his goals in relation to WWE. In January 2023, WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura was granted the opportunity to face Muta at a NOAH show as part of the latter’s retirement tour. 

    WWE Working With Others

    For a very long time, WWE refused to work with other companies though that stance has softened considerably in recent years. The 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble saw then-IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James while TNA Knockout World Champion Jordynne Grace was part of the 2024 match. 

    Even the idea of AEW and WWE working together can’t be counted out, with Tony Khan being open to a ‘World Cup’ event featuring talent from both companies. WWE President Nick Khan is considering potential collaborations with other promotions though nothing is currently publicly confirmed to be in the works. 

  • Asuka Confirms Her Knee Injury, Says She’s Very Grateful To Damage CTRL

    Asuka Confirms Her Knee Injury, Says She’s Very Grateful To Damage CTRL

    Damage CTRL member Asuka has revealed to her fans that she is dealing with a knee injury.

    Taking to her YouTube channel ‘Kana Chan TV’, the former WWE Women’s Champion stated that she is taking her time off after Backlash: France Premium Live Event to treat recover from a knee injury. In her vlog, Asuka expressed her gratitude towards Damage CTRL teammates, Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane for their help during the European tour. She revealed that he had not been at her best. She wrote the following caption in the video:

    “After the Backlash of my European tour, I had to take a break to treat my knee that I had been hurting for a while. My partners Kairi and Dakota helped me a lot during this tour as I could not move at my best. I am very grateful to both of them.”

    At the end of her vlog, she wrote “See you soon.”

    Injury scare

    Back in March, reports emerged that Asuka suffered a possible knee injury and missed house shows due to the injury. It took place during an edition of SmackDown and fans in attendance noted that the Japanese wrestler was hobbling in the ring which raised concerns.

    However, at a WWE Live Event in Springfield, Illinois on March 23, Asuka made her return to in-ring action. She joined forces with Damage CTRL teammates, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane, and faced the team of Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair & Naomi in a losing effort. 

    Asuka’s last match before her hiatus took place at WWE Backlash: France earlier this month. The powerful team of Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair dethroned Asuka and Kairi Sane to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, in the Queen of The Ring Tournament. ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ was replaced by Dakota Kai, who endured a loss against Lyra Valkyria in the First Round match. Check out the latest results of the tournament below:

  • Liv Morgan Efforts To “Save” Her Family Led To Early Struggles & Pressure In WWE NXT

    Liv Morgan Efforts To “Save” Her Family Led To Early Struggles & Pressure In WWE NXT

    Raw Superstar Liv Morgan was determined to “save” her family when she joined WWE, which led to the future Women’s Champion questioning all of her decisions. 

    Morgan was hired by WWE after her job at Hooters put her in touch with a wrestling coach. Speaking on the Insight podcast, the Raw Superstar admitted that her early days in WWE were much different than what she expected. 

    “It was overwhelming. I thought because I was a fan, I would be great right away, because I loved it so much. But it was so hard for me. I was very bad for a very, very, very long time.”

    Morgan’s love of wrestling started in her youth and she was able to enjoy WWE programming despite her family struggling financially. On the podcast, Liv explained that she had a goal to help her family which resulted in a lot of self-imposed pressure.

    “I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself because I’m like ‘I’m going to save my family. I’m going to make it to WWE and I’m going to change their lives.’ So I had all this pressure on me. I feel like anything I’m doing wrong, oh my gosh, I’m going to get fired… But eventually I, finally, improved and steady improvement. It was a journey. It was much harder than I’d thought.”

    Liv Morgan put a lot of pressure on herself in WWE NXT. 

    Morgan would eventually be called up to the main roster as one-third of Absolution in 2016, which is when she was able to recognize that she was talented and those talents were being recognized. Since then, she has become a Money in the Bank winner, a two-time Women’s Tag Team Champion, and a SmackDown Women’s Champion. Morgan is hoping to add more gold to her trophy cabinet at WWE King And Queen of the Ring. 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

  • Liv Morgan Shares How Role At Hooters Landed Her Dream Job With WWE

    Liv Morgan Shares How Role At Hooters Landed Her Dream Job With WWE

    Liv Morgan’s dream of becoming a WWE Superstar may have remained just a dream if not for her time behind the bar at the popular establishment Hooters. 

    Since joining WWE in 2014, Morgan has become one of the company’s most popular women in addition to being a multi-time champion. On the Insight podcast, Morgan recalled how working at the right Hooters helped turn her in-ring dreams into a reality. 

    “Everyone at Hooters knew I loved wrestling. I’d be doing my bar shifts, I’d put WWE on the TV… everybody knew it was my thing. Before my time [at Hooters] there was a wrestler who will not be named who used to manage this specific Hooters.”

    This unnamed wrestler clearly had a lot of love for his old job as he would also visit his specific Hooters whenever WWE was in town, which led to a meeting with Liv. 

    “Me being the big WWE fan that I was, I saw this wrestler come into Hooters and I knew they were exactly and I introduced myself… I talked to this wrestler for a while and I was like ‘I want to wrestle!’ And they were like ‘Haha, yeah.’ And I just spit all my wrestling knowledge to them and ‘Okay, you really do love wrestling.’

    “So they introduced me to this man Joe DeFranco. He’s a world-renowned strength and conditioning coach. He only trains professional athletes and he actually trained Triple H on a weekly basis so I went to his gym and he threw me right in with his NFL guys.”

    Liv Morgan was able to put her WWE love to use at Hooters. 

    Despite having no formal workout experience, Morgan’s tenacity impressed DeFranco, who would pass her name to those in WWE. By October that year, Morgan was under contract and made her debut as a Tyler Breeze fan during his NXT TakeOver: Rival entrance. The rest, as they say, is history, and now Morgan finds herself one of the top women in all of wrestling.

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

  • Alalshikh: Saudi Arabia Looking for Royal Rumble & WrestleMania In 2026 or 2027

    Alalshikh: Saudi Arabia Looking for Royal Rumble & WrestleMania In 2026 or 2027

    The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble and possibly WrestleMania 42 could take place in Saudi Arabia if higher-ups with the Middle Eastern Kingdom have their way. 

    During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast, Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh was asked about plans for the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania to happen in Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh explained that “we are talking around 2026-2027.”

    Alalshikh’s hopes for the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania in 2016 are hardly unfounded. A recent report revealed that Saudi authorities are hopeful that both shows will take place in the nation in the future. If so, it’ll be the first time either the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania has taken place outside of North America. 

    Events In Saudi Arabia

    Talk of WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia comes at an interesting time in the event’s history. Both John Cena and Cody Rhodes have advocated for the first non-North American WrestleMania to happen in the UK, an idea that has been supported by recently-reelected London Mayor Sadiq Khan. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. 

    As for the Royal Rumble, WWE held its ‘Greatest Royal Rumble’ in 2018 with the titular 50-man match being won by Braun Strowman. The event sparked controversy given that no women were allowed at the event though Saudi Arabia has since gotten rid of this ban. 

    Alalshikh at a WWE Crown Jewel press event with Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque.

    At the time, it was reported that Saudi authorities had requested Yokozuna and The Ultimate Warrior for the Rumble match despite both having been dead for years at that point. Though it wasn’t Yokozuna, WWE did involve sumo-wrestler Hiroki Sumi into the match. 

    WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia will be King And Queen of the Ring. The May 25, event will see the finals of the two titular tournaments as well as various title matches. 

  • Jey Uso Knows WrestleMania 40 Match With Jimmy Uso Let People Down

    Jey Uso Knows WrestleMania 40 Match With Jimmy Uso Let People Down

    Jey Uso knows that his WrestleMania 40 match with brother Jimmy Uso didn’t live up to the expectations and he believes that time constraints were the reason for it.

    The Raw star recently had an interview with DailyMail where he opened up about things such as splitting up with his twin brother, choosing his ring gear, and more.

    The former tag champion was then asked for his thoughts on how the match between the two brothers played out. Jey explained that getting a singles WrestleMania match against his brother was still surreal but he did feel like the bout failed to live up to the expectations:

    “To be honest, it was still a dream match, just me and my brother. I kind of felt I kind of let the people down, though. It was all due to timing issues, so our match was fairly quick. Sometimes you’ve just got to roll with it. It is what it is. “

    Uso said that the positive side of it is that they were able to check that box off. The former Bloodline member claimed that he isn’t mad at the other matches and he is just glad that he and his brother got a WrestleMania moment.

    There Might Be Another Time For It: Jey Uso

    Prior to the bout, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi had talked about potentially getting involved in the fight between his sons in some capacity.

    When asked about it, Jey Uso said that he always wanted his dad to be involved in some way whether it be in the match itself or the storyline leading up to it:

    “Hell yeah, I always wanted my dad involved, whether it be a referee… I just don’t think my dad could have kept up, just getting up and down, because referees, they’re doing like, push up burpees the whole match too, they’re getting a great workout. Maybe like a go home promo, just some kind of cool promo segment. There might be another time for it.”

    Jey also talked about his increased popularity since leaving the Bloodline and his unique entrance that has been garnering attention from not only fans but the WWE officials as well. You can check out the future plans for his entrance here.

  • “Made Me Sick” – Fans Irate Over Release Of Liv Morgan Arrest Police Body Camera Footage

    “Made Me Sick” – Fans Irate Over Release Of Liv Morgan Arrest Police Body Camera Footage

    Morgan faced legal trouble in Florida last December, leading to charges of marijuana and possible synthetic drug possession. Although the charges in the past, the police bodycam from the night of her arrest is now going viral.

    Morgan was arrested in Florida last December for ‘possession of marijuana (not more than 20 grams)’ and ‘possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoid.’ Prosecutors in Sumter County ultimately decided to drop the charge.

    According to the arrest report, Morgan admitted the bag of marijuana was hers but denied ownership of the vape pen containing the allegedly synthetic substance, stating that she “transports a lot of people in her vehicle.”

    The body camera footage showed police going through the WWE Superstar’s journals, and reading them. Fans have given Morgan a ton of credit for keeping her cool throughout the situation.

    The police officer acted like he had never heard of her. He ran across proof of her “wrestling work” while digging through Morgan’s belongings. The officer can also be heard wondering if she ever made it to WWE, solidifying the idea that he had no idea who he pulled over. 

    Wrestle Ops tweeted out to say, “In reference to new bodycam footage of Liv Morgan’s arrest for possession of Marijuana: Complaining/questioning the cop for revealing Liv’s personal diary/journal but then also spreading the clip in the same post is definitively not an abnormal choice to make.”

    Morgan is a beloved WWE Superstar, so fans are naturally flocking to stand by her now, as they did at the time of her arrest. Hanatas Wish tweeted out to say, “That Liv Morgan bodycam footage actually made me sick dawg. Genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve met in all my 24 years and I believe some of that footage shouldn’t of had been made to the public for not only her sake, for the cops involved too. Just felt too intrusive.”

    This was a very popular opinion, as nobody has taken the side of the officers involved in the search of Morgan’s vehicle. In the end, her charges were dropped, but she still had to go through this ordeal over some marijuana and a cart.

    Morgan spent virtually no time in detainment before her release. She will also not see any additional time behind bars for this infraction on Florida’s state law.

    Liv Morgan ran into no trouble with WWE over this arrest. She was out of action due to injury at the time, but she returned during the 2024 Royal Rumble right on schedule. She is currently a top heel on the RAW brand, as her revenge tour continues.

  • Ricky Starks Defends CM Punk Amid Hiatus From AEW Television

    Ricky Starks Defends CM Punk Amid Hiatus From AEW Television

    CM Punk may have left AEW in the midst of a mountain of controversy, but he doesn’t have the entire roster against him. Ricky Starks recently defended Punk from his detractors during an interview with WhatCulture. Starks praised Punk’s influence on his presentation on AEW Collision, a show that was initially built around his ill-fated final return to the company.

    He mentioned a frequently shared video clip featuring dramatic pyro effects, which was entirely Punk’s idea. Punk aimed to help certain people and foster collaboration. Starks recalled a conversation with Punk, where Punk emphasized, “It’s really up to you to sink or swim.”

    This motivated Starks to consistently exceed his previous performances, feeling a strong responsibility to live up to Punk’s support. Punk played a crucial role in advocating for Starks and suggesting new approaches for his character, showing a unique understanding of Starks’ potential.

    “I have no issues with Punk, I don’t give a f*ck what anybody tries to tell me, I don’t care. He has never done me wrong and you can have your opinions on him, but you shouldn’t vilify someone for thinking differently than you.”

    Ricky Starks’ AEW Status

    At the AEW Revolution post-show media scrum on March 3, 2024, AEW President Tony Khan addressed questions about Starks’ whereabouts. He acknowledged that he hadn’t heard any rumors circulating about the former AEW World tag team champion, but emphasized his’ importance to the AEW roster.

    Starks was involved in Sting’s first AEW match at the 2021 Revolution, where Sting and Darby Allin faced Starks and Brian Cage in a street fight. More recently, on the February 7, 2024, edition of Dynamite, Starks and Big Bill wrestled Sting and Allin, losing to the AEW World Tag Team Champions in a Tornado Tag match. He hasn’t competed since the loss to Sting and Allin and did not wrestle at Revolution this past weekend. However, it may be only a matter of time before he resurfaces.

    Many are under the belief that Starks will eventually end up in WWE. Not only is Cody Rhodes a very close friend, but he was also spotted with the American Nightmare before the 2023 Royal Rumble event. 

    Last month, we broke the news that Starks’ former Team Taz partner HOOK is planning to let his AEW contract expire so he can explore free agency and possibly join WWE. Don’t be surprised if Starks isn’t far behind, or even gets there first.

  • WWE Summer Tour 2024 Schedule Through SummerSlam Revealed By Cody Rhodes

    WWE Summer Tour 2024 Schedule Through SummerSlam Revealed By Cody Rhodes

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shared the official Road to SummerSlam 2024 live events tour that’ll happen before the August PLE. The tour kicks off this Friday, May 1 with WWE SmackDown live from Jacksonville, Florida. 

    This year’s Road To SummerSlam Tour includes eleven weeks of Raw and SmackDown TV tapings, several non-televised live events and five Premium Live Events, which are bolded in the schedule below. WWE live event tickets for this tour are available at Ticketmaster.

    WWE Summer Tour 2024 Schedule

    May 2024

    • 5/17: Jacksonville, FL (SmackDown)
    • 5/20: Greensboro, NC (RAW)
    • 5/24: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (SmackDown)
    • 5/25: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (King & Queen of the Ring)
    • 5/27: Savannah, GA (RAW)
    • 5/31: Albany, NY (SmackDown)

    June 2024

    • 6/01: White Plains, NY (Supershow Summer Tour)
    • 6/02: Binghamton, NY (RAW)
    • 6/03: Hershey, PA (RAW)
    • 6/07: Louisville, KY (SmackDown)
    • 6/09: Las Vegas, NV (NXT Battleground)
    • 6/10: Toledo, OH (RAW)
    • 6/14: Glasgow, Scotland (SmackDown)
    • 6/15: Glasgow, Scotland (Clash at the Castle)
    • 6/17: Corpus Christi, TX (RAW)
    • 6/21: Chicago, IL (SmackDown)
    • 6/22: Bloomington, IL (Supershow Summer Tour)
    • 6/23: Kalamazoo, MI (Supershow Summer Tour)
    • 6/24: Indianapolis, IN (RAW)
    • 6/28: New York, NY (SmackDown)

    July 2024

    • 7/01: Boston, MA (RAW)
    • 7/05: Toronto, ON (SmackDown)
    • 7/06: Toronto, ON (Money in the Bank)
    • 7/07: Toronto, ON (RAW)
    • 7/08: Ottawa, ON (SmackDown)
    • 7/12: Worcester, MA (RAW)
    • 7/13: Mexico City, Mexico (Supershow Summer Tour)
    • 7/14: Monterrey, Mexico (Supershow Summer Tour)
    • 7/15: Dayton, OH (RAW)
    • 7/19: Omaha, NE (RAW)
    • 7/22: Green Bay, WI (RAW)
    • 7/29: Saint Paul, MN (RAW)

    August 2024

    • 8/02: Cleveland, OH (SmackDown)
    • 8/03: Cleveland, OH (SummerSlam)

    WWE SummerSlam 2024

    SummerSlam 2024 will take place at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. News of the event’s location was shared on Logan Paul’s ImPaulsive podcast and as pointed out at the time, the show will mark the first time that SummerSlam has taken place in Cleveland since 1996.

    With the event over two months away, no matches have been confirmed yet. With that said, Paul, a proud Clevelander, has teased facing NBA legend Lebron James at the Biggest Party of the Summer. 

    If Paul is serious about competing at SummerSlam, then he may have more than the U.S. Championship to defend. The Maverick will challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at King And Queen Of The Ring. 

    One name fans could be seeing at SummerSlam 2024 is CM Punk who has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps injury during January’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. A recent report shared a positive update on Punk’s recovery with SummerSlam being (theoretically) possible for him. Despite his injury, Punk has been feuding with Drew McIntyre on Monday Night Raw. 

    WWE Schedule of Live Events through SummerSlam 2024

  • Steve Austin Names New Kitten After WWE Hall Of Famer

    Steve Austin has a new resident of the Broken Skull Ranch, and it’s a feline with a moniker fit for a one of a kind WWE Hall Of Famer.

    Over the weekend, ‘Stone Cold’ shared the unfortunate news that he found one of his cats, a black cat named Lefty, passed away inside of his barn, noting that the animal had been acting erratic as of late. The main eventer of the ‘Broken Skull territory’ has been Austin’s friendly cat named Pancho, who Austin noted was beside himself after losing Lefty. 

    ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ made plans to rectify that, noting that he’d be getting a new tag partner for Pancho in the near future. That came in the form of a little orange tabby kitten on Wednesday morning. 

    The kitten is only six weeks old, but clearly has a lot of energy. Austin shared a video of his new furry friend and it appears Pancho is more than appreciative of ‘Stone Cold’ merging the new ‘Mega Paw-ers’ together. In homage of such, Austin was sure to give the new kitten after the late great Randy Savage,

    “Introducing Macho. Macho is from a town called Austin, Nevada. Thanks to @huntressdivine for finding him for us. Pancho is already getting used to him, although he is letting him know who the boss is. With Pancho mentoring him, He should be a helluva cat. He certainly has a lot of personality. And is not afraid of anything. He is about 6ish weeks old.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6_Vb5hLUBe

    While Austin didn’t appear at WrestleMania 40 as many expected, ‘Stone Cold’ has stayed very busy enjoying his life out of the limelight and a big partner in crime for that has been Pancho. Now we will have to wait and see the rising star of Macho moving forward.

  • Johnny Knoxville Keeps His Feud With Sami Zayn Alive, Names Razor Ramon As His Favorite Intercontinental Champion

    Johnny Knoxville still thinks Sami Zayn is a jackass. 

    Knoxville got the better of the current Intercontinental Champion on the major stage of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, TX, but he didn’t receive as great of an opportunity to air out all his grievances during their program together.

    WWE shared a photo of Zayn with his Intercontinental Title with Becky Lynch, who was holding her Women’s World Title gold. This prompted Knoxville to unleash several insults Zayn’s way in the comment section, making clear that he’s way bigger fan of Scott Hall with the Intercontinental Title than Zayn.

    “Sami’s the Intercontinental Champion. My favorite Intercontinental Champion will always be Razor Ramon. Sami I doubt you know who he is since you’ve never heard of a razor you hairy f@‘k!”

    Knoxville was far from done.

    “I hate you as much as you hate going to the gym.

    “What a shame, the poor audience had to watch you bomb all night and then get humiliated by me and WeeMan AGAIN! Becky Lynch was terrific though. Why she associates herself with the likes of you I will never know.

    “I’d give you the shirt off my back. Just so I don’t have to see all the hair on YOUR BACK!

    “Remember when wrestlers used to shave and get tans? Sami certainly doesn’t.

    “I didn’t get enough time to get in all my insults so I will get them in here.

    “Hey everybody, Sami’s a vegan, just in case you didn’t think he was already annoying enough.

    Knoxville couldn’t care less that Zayn is currently a top babyface and made clear to fans that Kayfabe is very much alive in Knoxville’s camp.

  • WWE Submits New Filing Regarding Vince McMahon & Janel Grant Lawsuit

    WWE is aiming for the same outcome that Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis want in the Janel Grant situation.

    The company filed a motion with the Connecticut courts on May 14, requesting that Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE be moved to arbitration. The company stated that under the agreed-upon parameters, Grant consented to handle matters in arbitration rather than in the public eye.

    WWE claimed that Grant never attempted to resolve the lawsuit through private arbitration. Therefore, WWE is making this motion to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut to compel Grant to go through the allegedly agreed-upon private process. The motion obtained by PWInsider states:

    “Plaintiff Janel Grant brings this action against Vincent K. McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE alleging that, while employed at WWE, she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking by McMahon and Laurinaitis. WWE disputes Grant’s allegations. But, as a threshold matter, this dispute cannot be heard in court because Grant agreed to arbitrate her claims. WWE therefore moves to compel this action to arbitration.”

    Former WWE boss Vince McMahon and former employee Janel Grant

    Just this past week, McMahon’s legal team listed several reasons why Grant was a willing participant in the alleged abusive relationship. The memorandum filed lists several reasons why Grant wanted various matters out of a mutual relationship between her and Vince McMahon.

    What Is Private Arbitration?

    If you need clarification on what arbitration is, it is a process where the two conflicting parties go behind closed doors and try to reach a settlement privately, without airing their dirty laundry in public.

  • Drew McIntyre Pleads SGW Ground Landlord Not To Evict The Crew

    Drew McIntyre Pleads SGW Ground Landlord Not To Evict The Crew

    Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has a request for Mr. Sylus, the landlord of the ground where Soft Ground Wrestling (SGW) Uganda wrestlers perform and make videos.

    The Uganda-based wrestling promotion has recently gained some traction on social media and several popular wrestlers have extended their support. However, the ground where they perform is rented and they are experiencing financial strain to continue their operations.  

    The official SGW’s X account posted the message from ‘The Scottish Warrior’, who was thankful to the landlord, Mr. Sylus. The former WWE Champion showered praise on SGW for their passion which has garnered the attention of everybody in the pro wrestling industry. McIntyre further said that he is hopeful of WWE getting to Uganda and hosting a show. McIntyre also pled Mr. Sylus not to evict the SGW crew and wait for the funds to be raised for the purchase of land. Here is what he said in the video clip:

    “Mr. Sylus, Drew McIntyre here, just shooting a little message to say thank you so much for hosting Softground Wrestling on your land. I hear you’re a fan of Drew McIntyre, so I want to say thank you so much for all your support. I can also tell you I’m a big fan of yours. It’s awesome, what you’re doing to help everybody at SGW. Their passion has grabbed the attention of everybody in our industry, and I appreciate you for being such a big part of it. Hopefully, one day, WWE will make its way to your part of the world. We can host a show there. We can feel the passion through the screen from all the lads. Maybe we can grab a picture together. But until then, thank you.”

    SGW has become the latest sensation for its endeavors to contribute to the pro wrestling industry. The promotion uses a soil ring and string ropes instead of a traditional wrestling ring and ropes. The ring also has bamboo posts in place of steel posts. The promotion also helps in training the up-and-coming wrestlers as they train over 180 aspiring wrestlers. 

    Fans on social media have set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the promotion in their battle against financial strain. Will Ospreay was one of the first wrestlers who got familiar with SGW and even contributed a whopping sum of $2,000. 

    It recently came to light that over $28,000 was raised by the wrestlers and the pro wrestling community for SGW. Former WWE star Mansoor also stepped up and announced that his mother would purchase a van for SGW to show her support for the promotion. While the wrestlers are trying to provide financial assistance to SGW, the promotion is working on crowning their first champion.

  • Lilian Garcia Shares How Her Surprise WWE Monday Night Raw Appearance Came About

    Lilian Garcia’s appearance on the May 13, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw was something of a last-minute call, according to the former ring announcer. 

    Garcia appeared on the show and was introduced by current Raw ring announcer Samantha Irvin. Together, the pair introduced a King of the Ring quarter-final match with Irvin introducing GUNTHER while Garcia introduced Kofi Kingston. 

    Taking to her Instagram Story, Garcia shared all about her appearance on Raw. The announcer shared that at first she was only at the show to say hi and catch up with friends before plans changed. 

    “I just stopped by to say hi to everybody. Next thing you know, I was on the show. It was so much fun. Triple H, thank you so much for including me in the show. Doing that with Samantha was so awesome.”

    Garcia was also grateful for the response the WWE Universe gave her and admitted that she misses the weekly roar of the crowd. 

    “The fans and the reception that I got, you guys are amazing. I miss you. I’m just so glad that I can pop in every now and then. I hope you guys had fun tonight because there’s nothing like a live Raw event. Until next time, I love you.”

    Garcia was with WWE from 1999 to 2009 but made a one-off return in April 2020 after the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption left Justin Roberts overseas. She returned full-time in 2011 before departing again in 2016 and has made sporadic appearances for the company ever since. 

  • Erick Rowan Spotted At WWE Performance Center As Reports Of A Return Grow

    Erick Rowan Spotted At WWE Performance Center As Reports Of A Return Grow

    Fans can expect to see Erick Rowan on WWE TV soon enough, especially after the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion was spotted at the Performance Center. 

    Rowan was seen at WWE’s state-of-the-art facility in Orlando, Florida over the week, PW Insider reported. It is not clear what exactly Rowan did while at the Performance Center. In May 2024, it was reported that Rowan had been re-signed by WWE which came after he had to cancel independent show appearances due to a new contract. 

    It hasn’t been confirmed by WWE what the plan is for Rowan though the prevalent theory is that he will be part of the rumored Uncle Howdy-led faction. Since the post-WrestleMania Raw, glitches and QR codes have sowed seeds about Howdy’s return, possibly with a faction by his side. The most recent QR code takes fans to a website with 121212 in its URL, a reference to December 12, 2012, the date that Erick Rowan became part of the Wyatt Family. 

    Rowan was with WWE from 2011 to 2020 and is best remembered for his time with the Wyatt Family alongside Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper/Brodie Lee, and Braun Strowman. He later teamed with Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson before being cut from the company in April 2020. He appeared a handful of times for AEW and appeared on the August 25, 2023, SmackDown which was dedicated to Wyatt after his passing the day earlier. 

    More Names For The Faction

    Rowan isn’t the only name attached to this rumored Howdy-led faction. Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Nikki Cross are all said to be involved. At this time, there’s no word on whether Alexa Bliss will be involved despite the Goddess’ previous ties to Wyatt. Bliss hasn’t competed since January 2023 and gave birth to her daughter last December. 

  • Hidden Wyatt Family Reference Unearthed In Latest QR Code Mystery

    Hidden Wyatt Family Reference Unearthed In Latest QR Code Mystery

    A very subtle reference to the Wyatt Family has been discovered not in the video from the latest QR code, but in the URL for the video itself. 

    Since the Raw after WrestleMania 40, the WWE Universe has been presented with a series of ‘glitches’ and QR codes which have led to videos with cryptic imagery. This week’s Raw proved to be no different with a video centered around a floppy disk teasing that something big is coming very soon. 

    It is believed that these QR codes are leading to the return of Uncle Howdy, the macabre character played by Bo Dallas, who is expected to return with a faction. Erick Rowan recently re-signed with WWE and is expected to be a part of this group, especially after the very subtle tease during this latest QR code message. 

    Upon scanning this week’s QR code, fans were taken to a URL with a series of images with a cryptic message. It turns out that this URL was a clue in itself, as the link is wwe.com/121212. This is a reference to December 12, 2012, which was the night that Erick Rowan debuted as a member of the Wyatt Family on WWE NXT. 

    Given WWE’s efforts with these cryptic clues, as well as 2022’s White Rabbit, it’s hard to see this URL being a mere coincidence. The video also teases that May 16 will be an important date, so fans should get ready to learn more about plans for the new faction very soon. 

  • How Much Is Las Vegas Paying For WWE WrestleMania 41?

    Las Vegas is paying a small fortune for WWE to host WrestleMania 41 as higher-ups in Sin City are expecting the event to be a huge tourism trap. 

    It was announced in May 2024 that Las Vegas would be hosting the two-night event which will take place on April 19 and April 20. The show will be the latest in the calendar year a WrestleMania has ever taken place.

    Las Vegas won the right to host WrestleMania 41 despite there being a time when it was assumed that Minneapolis would be hosting the show instead. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) approved a $5 million payment to WWE to sponsor the event, 8 News Now reports. 

    Lisa Motley, vice president of sports and special events for the LVCVA was optimistic about the show’s prospects. 

    “The dates of the event will occur over Easter weekend, which is a typically slow time for Las Vegas… We anticipate more than 180,000 WrestleMania fans will occupy 144,000 incremental room nights over that time period.”

    While Las Vegas has paid a fortune for WrestleMania, they expect to make their money back and then some. And with 180,000 expected for WrestleMania, plus many more for non-WWE events hosted in the city, Las Vegas is right to expect a profit on its massive investment. 

    The Showcase of the Immortals is coming to Las Vegas. 

    What to Expect

    Fans in Las Vegas will get much more than just WrestleMania. The report adds that the WWE World convention will be returning for WrestleMania 41 week. The first WWE World event this year included panels, exhibitions, stores, meet and greets, and an edition of The Pat McAfee Show. 

    It is believed that WWE SmackDown and WWE Raw will be run at the MGM Resorts venue. A WWE NXT Premium Live Event is also likely to happen if recent years are any indication. 

  • Drew McIntyre On What Was Important To Him Re-Signing With WWE

    Drew McIntyre had good reason as to why he decided to put fresh ink to WWE paper. It was revealed last month that McIntyre re-signed with WWE after a WrestleMania season that was full of speculation. During a recent chat with the Daily Mail, the thorn in CM Punk’s side gave his reasoning for sticking around with WWE. At the end of the day, 

    “Being happy, at this point of my life and career all that matters is I’m happy and I can get time with my family that I’ve not had for 20 years.

    “When it comes to creative, I can only control the controllable. As we’ve seen, almost for the past couple of years, there’s been a lot more leeway given to talent, a lot more collaboration. It’s been awesome, as you can see across the board. A lot of people breaking out and an opportunity for myself to show what I can truly do.”

    Drew McIntyre

    McIntyre has worked for WWE from 2007-2014 and 2017 to present day. The company has undergone dramatic changes during those two runs. The Scottish grappler maintains a flexible and optimistic attitude, which has served him well and contributed to his longevity.

    “I know with that, it’s always going to be a case of roll with the punches, peaks and valleys, but there’s more to it than just that. We’ll see what the future holds, I just know that I’m in my prime and Drew McIntyre is not going to stop wrestling.”

    Creatively, McIntyre is doing some of the best work of his career. He’s leaning into being a insecure villain who is obsessed with colleagues achieving more success than him. Since Royal Rumble, he’s been embroiled in a bitter rivalry with CM Punk. Despite both men being injured an unable to settle their differences in the ring, McIntyre and Punk remain one of the most entertaining conflicts in all of pro wrestling.

  • Gunther Briefly Breaks Character With Jey Uso After WWE RAW

    Gunther Briefly Breaks Character With Jey Uso After WWE RAW

    In a surprising change of pace, GUNTHER momentarily broke character during his face-off with Jey Uso after WWE RAW this week. Despite his fierce reputation and focus on winning the King of the Ring tournament, the Imperium leader shared a brief light-hearted moment with Uso before swiftly returning to his serious demeanor and delivering a punishing attack.

    GUNTHER, known for his no-nonsense approach, had a remarkable run as Intercontinental Champion with a 666-day reign. Currently, he is focused on winning the King of the Ring tournament, with his next opponent being Jey Uso.

    Uce advanced in the tournament by defeating Ilja Dragunov, who was recently called up from NXT. Following WWE RAW this week, GUNTHER and Uso had an opportunity to face off. During their encounter, GUNTHER momentarily broke character, sharing a brief light-hearted moment with Jey.

    However, GUNTHER quickly returned to his serious demeanor and proceeded to deliver a punishing attack on the former Bloodline member. The Ring General remains determined as he continues his pursuit of the King of the Ring title.

    More Of What Happened After 5/14 WWE RAW

    After Raw went off the air, Jey Uso attempted to make GUNTHER join in on the “yeet.” Even the referee and ring announcer Samantha Irvin participated in the celebration, and it seemed as if GUNTHER might give in.

    However, GUNTHER chose to attack his future opponent instead. Despite this, Jey managed to gain the upper hand with a spear and celebrated with the crowd as GUNTHER retreated.

  • Tony D’Angelo Wins NXT Heritage Cup During 5/14 Episode

    Tony D’Angelo Wins NXT Heritage Cup During 5/14 Episode

    This week’s NXT saw Tony D’Angelo claim the Heritage Cup from Charlie Dempsey. Despite facing a hefty fine from General Manager Ava for past disruptions, D’Angelo triumphed in the main event, emerging as the new Heritage Cup Champion.

    Charlie Dempsey entered NXT this week as the Heritage Cup Champion, but his reign came to an end. Tony D’Angelo defeated him, claiming the trophy for himself. To make matters worse for Dempsey, his No Quarter Catch Crew allies, Damon Kemp and Miles Bourne, were not present to support him.

    Earlier in the night, General Manager Ava took a firm stance against Tony D’Angelo and the D’Angelo Family for their disruptive behavior during the previous week’s show. Ava addressed the issue of last week’s episode ending in chaos directly.

    Rather than canceling Tony D’Angelo’s Heritage Cup Championship match, Ava imposed a penalty of $20,000. Despite the fine, Tony D’Angelo remained unfazed and even offered to pay it in cash.

    After a hard-fought battle in the main event of NXT, Tony D’Angelo walked out with the NXT Heritage Cup. After the match, Tony’s Family joined him in the ring to celebrate.

    Before WWE NXT went off the air this week, they booked several matches for next week’s show on May 21. You may find those below.

    • Qualifying match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship: Thea Hail vs. Fallon Henley
    • Qualifying match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship: Brinley Reece vs. Jaida Parker
    • Triple-threat match to determine the next challenger for the NXT North American Championship: Josh Briggs vs. Ivar vs. Wes Lee
    • Tag team match: Lola Vice and Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya and Karmen Petrovich
  • See The Crowns To Be Worn By WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring

    See The Crowns To Be Worn By WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring

    There are indeed physical crowns at stake for this year’s King & Queen Of The Ring event in Saudi Arabia.

    For the past week and a half, WWE Superstars have been clashing in tournament matches to see which four fighters will ultimately compete for the throne and be dubbed the 2024 King and Queen Of The Ring.

    Photos have surfaced of what the respective crowns will look like which you can see below. Each one has an ornate appearance and is adorned with the WWE logo 

    The 2024 Queen Of The Ring crown.
    The 2024 King Of The Ring crown.

    WWE has really made the most of the tournament format on WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown as both the first and second round bouts have been taking place on the programs with several of them also being featured exclusively at WWE live events.

    On RAW, GUNTHER advanced to the semi-finals defeating Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso advanced when he defeated Ilja Dragunov. On the women’s side of things, Zoey Stark lost to Lyra Valkyria and Shayna Baszler lost to IYO SKY. 

    For the SmackDown side of the bracket, the men’s tournament will have Randy Orton will take on Carmelo Hayes while Tama Tonga will battle LA Knight. When it comes to the women, Nia Jax will square off against Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair will go up against Tiffany Stratton.

    LA Knight recently made note of how happy he was his opening round match took place at a live event where he defeated Santos Escobar.

  • Teddy Long Reveals How He Booking Matches With The Undertaker Became So Synonymous

    Teddy Long started off as a referee, but later became a manager and eventually the most popular SmackDown general manager of all time. During his tenure, he had fellow WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker on his roster and an unofficial catchphrase became Long booking talent in bouts against ‘The Deadman.’ 

    Long revealed on “Insight” with Chris Van Vliet that the bit became so familiar after he recalled a time when Vince McMahon wanted his daughter Stephanie to put more of an emphasis on a star’s name. Long was sure to do that for Taker.

    “Vince gave me free reign to say what I wanted to say. But he knew I was gonna say nothing that would get the company in trouble. They’d write stuff. I just add my stuff to it.”

    Teddy Long also got “playa” over in WWE and origins of that were even more unexpected.

    Long was asked where “playa” came from and instead of it just being a simple term to use, Long made it known “playa” first made its presence by having a dog in the household.

    “I had a labrador retriever, his name was Boss. I got him as a puppy but as he got bigger and bigger and started getting in the way. So every time, I’m like ‘Come on Playa. Get out of the way Playa, move.’ I’m just talking to him and one night I went to TV I started using slang, calling people Playa, that’s how I got the Playa started.”

    Please credit Insight and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.