SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Sami Zayn on WWE’s Shift in Creative Strategy For His Character Under Triple H

    Since the departure of Vince McMahon from WWE, and the simultaneous rise of Paul Levesque as the company’s Chief Content Officer, discussions over each man’s differences in the creative process and booking philosophy have been a continuous source of conversation. 

    The King of King’s nearly 2-year reign as Head of Creative has been met with mostly positive reviews, with critics, fans, and pundits alike citing a more streamlined approach to storytelling, production, and usage of talent.  

    Current WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn recently sat down for an interview with Daily Mail‘s Alex McCarthy, where he described the staunch differences in how Triple H and Vince McMahon viewed his character. Here’s what he said, as transcribed by WrestleTalk:

    “I think Hunter sees me differently from how Vince saw me, especially as a good guy. I think Vince saw me much more as a bad guy, for a number of reasons. He saw my irksome qualities that he thought lent itself to being an irksome character.

    This distinction can be seen plainly when you examine Sami Zayn’s booking between WrestleMania 38 and 39. Zayn went from an intolerable heel in a comedic feud with Johnny Knoxville and the entire cast of Jackass, to becoming one of the biggest babyfaces in the company; locked in an intense, emotional, and tangled storyline with The Bloodline and his real-life best friend Kevin Owens. 

    Furthermore, Zayn spoke on the differences between Triple H and his father-in-law’s philosophy on booking weekly programming. As fans have heard several times before, the former NXT Champion detailed Triple H’s long-term booking strategy, and how that clashed with McMahon’s more haphazard, even at times “chaotic” approach. He would note, however, that there are pros and cons to both. 

    “Having said that, I think things were a lot more unpredictable because of the nature of Vince’s week to week kind of approach, that sometimes the marble would just fall in the right hole, and now you’re champion, whereas with Hunter, I think it’s much more he has longer-term vision, and if you’re not part of that vision, then the chances of breaking into that vision are much, much slimmer…It’s kind of a double edged sword. He might see me in a way that lends itself more to being in that mix and possibly winning it. But on the other hand, I could have just slipped on a banana peel and won the world title.”

    Since Triple H’s take over of the creative process, Sami Zayn has found himself at the center of some of WWE’s biggest storylines and matches. Becoming one of the company’s top babyfaces, proven more so at WrestleMania 40 when he became the first person to pin The Ring General since his call-up from NXT. Winning his fourth International Championship in the process

    While Superstars have gone on record to praise the new leadership and overall company direction, some former talent have expressed that changing the guard in WWE had unfortunate consequences. 

    Take former WWE Superstar Eric Bugenhagen, aka Rick Boogs, as an example. For the better part of 2021 and early 2022, Bugenhagen seemed to be a hot commodity in the eyes of the WWE machine; armed with an impressive physique and strong character.

    Unfortunately, Bugenhagen would find himself released by WWE in September of 2023, following a 9-month absence that began due to an injury he sustained at WrestleMania 38.  

    In the weeks and months that followed, Bugenhagen would express how some in the new regime didn’t quite see what Vince McMahon had seen in him. 

    While he has never directly implicated Triple H, he stated that his release was due to a “backstage powerplay“, and noting that before his release, he has only received positive accolades from McMahon and corporate. Bugenhagen went as far as to say that he feels some in the new management had a “grudge” against him. 

  • Charlotte Flair To Star In Indie Horror/Thriller Film ‘You Lose You Die’

    Charlotte Flair To Star In Indie Horror/Thriller Film ‘You Lose You Die’

    WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair is set to star in an upcoming independent horror/thriller film in a massive move from the former Women’s Champion. 

    You Lose You Die follows sociopathic tech expert Mr. Fantastik (Freddy Rodriguez, Six Feet Under), who runs a show on the dark web. Views get to vote on the challengers for prisoners to participate in with a defeat resulting in their grisly demise. Fantasik is aided in these sick broadcasts with the help of Mr. Creep (Anthony Alvarez) and Ms. Perfect (Flair.)

    Flair’s upcoming horror/thriller is a huge opportunity for the former WWE Women’s Champion. 

    This won’t be Flair’s first time working a big production outside WWE. Flair’s film debut came as Heather Rockrear in 2017’s Psych: The Movie, a spin-off of the popular show about a fake psychic investigator. In 2021, she starred as herself in a remake of Punky Brewster alongside fellow WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss. 

    Flair being involved in the project is a huge score for the second-generation Superstar who has been out of action since December 2023 with a leg injury. In a recent interview, Charlotte’s father Ric said the younger Flair is “so far ahead” in her recovery but will stick with the nine-month recovery window that places her return in the latter half of 2024. 

    Charlotte Flair won’t be the only WWE name attached to the project. Josh Bredl will appear as Mr. Large, who based on his name also works for Fantasik. Bredl won the 2015 Tough Enough alongside the late Sara Lee and was guaranteed a one-year contract with WWE. After a run at NXT live events under the name Bronson Matthews, he was released in November 2017. 

  • The Undertaker Isn’t Interested In Being Roasted But Knows Which WWE Legends Should Be

    The Undertaker Isn’t Interested In Being Roasted But Knows Which WWE Legends Should Be

    WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker isn’t a fan of the idea of being roasted but has some names he’d love to see in the proverbial hot seat. 

    The recent roast of NFL legend Tom Brady proved to be a huge talking point among sports fans, so it’s hardly a surprise that there’s speculation as to whether the Phenom could find himself on the receiving end of some light-hearted barbs. On his Six Feet Under podcast, the idea was brought up to The Undertaker who was not a fan. 

    “Will you stop saying that?! [he said in response to his co-host Matt Lida talking about a potential roast.] You know WWE, they monitor this, right?… I’m telling you what, if this somehow miraculously happens, me and you, we’re going to have problems.”

    While The Undertaker isn’t interested in being subject to a roast, he did have an idea as to which legends should be roasted.

    “There are a lot of guys that come before I did that need to be roasted. Hulk Hogan… [Ric] Flair would be good, but he’s affiliated with the wrong [company.]” 

    Don’t expect the Phenom to be the subject of a comedy roast. 

    Lida put forward Tony Hinchcliffe as the Master of Ceremonies for a roast of the Phenom, following on from Lida’s success with the Tom Brady roast. This again was met with resistance from The Undertaker who stated “I don’t know.”

    With decades of stories in the wrestling business, a roast of The Undertaker would surely be an entertaining affair. But while the Hall of Famer has left kayfabe behind, the Deadman remains adamant that The Undertaker won’t be subject to a roast anytime soon. 

  • “Rock On Fire Man” – Fans React After Dwayne Johnson Drops Footage Of His MMA Training For ‘Smashing Machine’

    “Rock On Fire Man” – Fans React After Dwayne Johnson Drops Footage Of His MMA Training For ‘Smashing Machine’

    The Rock is currently away from WWE, but he vowed to return and face Cody Rhodes. The Rock may be on a hiatus, but he continues to generate buzz from Hollywood to wrestling. The TKO Board Member recently released a new video showcasing his MMA training for the film “The Smashing Machine.”

    Dwayne Johnson is training intensely for his next film, “The Smashing Machine.” In this role, he will portray MMA fighter Mark Kerr, requiring him to refine his skills. Johnson is dedicated to preparing for this challenging role. He recently posted a video of his training regimen, showing the effort he is putting in to get in shape for the part. As expected, the post garnered significant attention.

    The Final Boss wrote on social media that his MMA training has been the hardest journey he’s ever been on, which is quite a statement considering everything that he’s accomplished.

    Fans reacted to The Rock’s post, and many of them were impressed. A fan named Dustin Burham gave Johnson his flowers as he said, “To be doing this at age 52 is insane and awesome.” Another fan commented to say, “Fire on the Rock man.”

    One fan named Ramboo said, “Eat Clean and Train Good,” with a heart emoji attached, so fans are very much behind the Brahma Bull.

    Japanese mascot Chiitan replied with a video of themselves on a treadmill with a caption reading: “One day, I’ll be able to run at 100 km/h..” Another fan named Calico Jack tweeted back to say, “Wrestling in your undies is wild.”

    The Smashing Machine

    Dwayne Johnson training for Smashing Machine

    Dwayne Johnson’s upcoming film,”‘The Smashing Machine’ is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, an MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC. At the peak of his career, he faces challenges with addiction, winning, love, and friendship in the year 2000.”

    The Rock has wanted to play Kerr for years, and this is a real passion project for him. He is making it happen, and then a return to WWE is always a possibility.

    The film starring Dwayne Johnson is set to release in 2025. There is already a 2002 documentary about Kerr’s life called “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr,” directed by John Hyams.

  • Report: CM Punk ‘Not Far’ From Returning, Could Wrestle At SummerSlam

    Report: CM Punk ‘Not Far’ From Returning, Could Wrestle At SummerSlam

    CM Punk is set to make his return from injury in the near future. ‘The Second City Savior’ is currently recuperating from a torn tricep injury that he suffered during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. He has shown impressive recovery after going under the knife and stopped using the brace just six weeks following surgery.

    Punk He is going the extra mile in rehab and there is a huge possibility that he could be back before the time set for this return. An encouraging update comes from Dave Meltzer, who passed along an update on Punk’s recovery this morning on Wrestling Observer Radio. 

    SummerSlam may be Clobbering Time

    Dave Meltzer says he’s expected to be back in the ring this summer, 7-9 months after the surgery.

    “Punk’s not that far from being back most likely. If he had his surgery at the end of January, you’re looking at the end of July, August, maybe September. It’s not that far away anymore. He might make SummerSlam. And if he can make SummerSlam, Punk and Drew for the title, that makes a lot of sense. Even if he can’t, you can do it a month after. Punk will be back fairly soon, it’s not as far away as sometimes you think because of that surgery.”

    The report certainly keeps the hopes of Punk working WWE SummerSlam alive. The event takes place on August 3.

    CM Punk’s bitter feud with Drew McIntyre

    The feud between Punk and McIntyre is getting more fierce and uglier. There has been blood between the two veteran wrestlers since Royal Rumble 2024. The Chicago legend suffered the aforementioned injury at the hands of ‘The Scottish Warrior and the latter has been boasting it for months.

    Punk managed to get even with his arch-nemesis when he cost Drew McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Punk launched an attack on ‘The Scottish Warrior’ that helped Damian Priest to cash in his Money In The Bank contract. While CM Punk remains away from in-ring action, he has had verbal exchanges with Drew McIntyre. Their feud continues to boil every week and once Punk is back, fans will certainly see them settle the matter in the ring. 

    CM Punk made his return to WWE last year in November. Now, he is also returning to WWE 2K24 after an absence of ten long years. 



  • Ilja Dragunov: “When I’m Pain, I’m an Entire Monster”

    Ilja Dragunov: “When I’m Pain, I’m an Entire Monster”

    Former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is seemingly unlocking his fierce side following his loss against Jey Uso on last night’s Raw. ‘The Mad Dragon’ headlined last night’s edition of Monday Night Raw when he competed against Jey Uso in the quarter-final match in the King of The Ring Tournament. Dragunov, who was recently drafted to the red brand, suffered a defeat and this marks his first loss on the main roster.

    Ilja Dragunov already making a mark on WWE’s main roster

    Dragunov was visibly frustrated when he spoke to Cathy Kelley in a Raw Exclusive. When he was asked about his defeat at the hands of Jey Uso, Dragunov said that though the loss was frustrating there is no shame that he lost to ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. He revealed that he was “tired” and in “pain”. However, he finds beauty in it as he becomes an entire monster when he is in pain. 

    “I mean, what should I say? It’s so frustrating, it is. But where is actually the shame to lose to the man the ‘Main Event’, right? All I know right now, I’m tired, I’m in pain, but the beauty of it is that in already very dangerous in this ring. But when I’m pain, I’m an entire monster.”

    When asked about sharing his predictions for the semi-clash clash, he showered praise on both Jey Uso and Gunther. He also quoted WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels and said:

    “Predictions? I mean, they’re both like the absolute bar. The only prediction I can make is for myself, and this prediction is, no one is safe anymore. To quote Shawn Michaels, ‘I’m what the kids call a real problem.”

    Jey Uso is now all set to face Gunther in the semi-final clash on next week’s edition of Raw. 

    Dragunov’s main roster call up

    Ilja Dragunov had a successful run in WWE’s developmental brand, NXT. He became the NXT Champion and defended the title against some of the top stars on the brand. His reign came to an end when he was dethroned by rising superstar, Trick Williams. 

    During the fourth round on the Night Two of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw bagged the signing of Ilja Dragunov which was certainly a massive pick. His performance in NXT was pretty impressive and his main roster call-up opens the door for some huge matches in the future. 

  • Report: Latest On What Vince McMahon Plans On Doing After Janel Grant Lawsuit

    Report: Latest On What Vince McMahon Plans On Doing After Janel Grant Lawsuit

    Vince McMahon has every intention to continue forward in the business world, which may explain his conduct regarding Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

    McMahon’s only business-adjacent actions since his WWE exit in January 2024 have seen the 78-year-old unload stock in TKO Group Holdings. More recently, McMahon filed a motion in which he made a series of claims against Grant that she wishes to see struck from the record. McMahon’s legal team have called Grant’s efforts to strike the claims the “height of hypocrisy.”

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed McMahon’s claims, in which he states that Grant was a willing participant in their relationship.

    “They need to rehabilitate his image enough to where he can do business as a businessman because that’s what he wants to do. Whether it’s wrestling, which apparently from what I’m told it’s not wrestling, but he absolutely wants to do this.”

    McMahon hopes to still be in business post-lawsuit, but a return to WWE isn’t expected. 

    If McMahon is able to re-establish himself in the business world post-Grant, it’s not expected to be as part of WWE. Not only has McMahon listed all his TKO stock for sale, but there is said to be nobody left defending him in the company. 

    It was added that McMahon hopes to avoid being compared to disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein. AEW President Tony Khan recently claimed that WWE was the Weinstein of wrestling while AEW is the Pepsi of the industry.

    “He wants to not have this name, he doesn’t want to be Harvey Weinstein. The only way he can do that is to basically make it look like and portray it as this crazy, lying woman. ‘I absolutely had an affair with her, but all that stuff that she said, every single bit of it, is not true.’”

    WWE and John Laurinaitis, who are also named as defendants have sided with McMahon in his efforts to compel arbitration. McMahon is being represented in proceedings by Kasowitz Benson Torres. Ironically, the firm recently settled a lawsuit against WWE that saw Major League Wrestling paid $20 million. 

  • Teddy Long Reveals Unlikely Origins Of His Signature Dance And ‘Playa’

    Teddy Long Reveals Unlikely Origins Of His Signature Dance And ‘Playa’

    Teddy Long may have been part of the wrestling business for decades, but some of his most signature traits came from outside of the industry. 

    During his time as SmackDown’s General Manager, Long would often dance to his theme song which was first used by Rodney Mack, a Superstar Long once managed. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Long shared how his dance came about. 

    “My grandson, he’s 19 now. Well when he was two years old, we were trying to learn him how to walk. So we bought this walker that we put him in… Every time we put him in this walker, all he would do would bop up and down like that. So I went to TV one night and they’re playing my music but I was just thinking about him. So I was having fun and just started doing the dance.

    “One night, I got ready to walk out, and just as I got to the curtain, Vince is standing up. He’s yelling ‘DO THAT DANCE!’ What dance? And he starts doing it! And that’s how the dance started.”

    Long’s dance was a hit with the WWE Universe. 

    Long’s signature dance would often be accompanied by him announcing some match or telling a wrestler ‘Let me tell you something playa.’ In the interview, Long explained how it wasn’t his grandson, but his dog that inspired his signature ‘playa.’

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

    Long is no longer a regular on WWE TV but is always met with cheers during appearances on programming. Whenever he does appear, odds are you’ll hear a ‘Playa’ or two and see his dance, a testament to how popular these parts of his character have become. 

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

  • New Vince McMahon Memorandum Claims Ex-WWE CEO Was Janel Grant’s “Best Friend”

    New Vince McMahon Memorandum Claims Ex-WWE CEO Was Janel Grant’s “Best Friend”

    Janel Grant wanted to be the best friend of Vince McMahon as well as surgery paid for by the ex-WWE Chairman, a legal representative of McMahon has claimed. 

    Grant has alleged that she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon and was used by others in WWE including John Laurinaitis. McMahon has denied all claims against him but stepped down from WWE in January 2024 due to the lawsuit. 

    In more recent weeks, McMahon and other defendants have tried to compel arbitration that would see the matter settled outside of court. Grant’s legal team has rejected the notion and has filed for recent comments made by McMahon to be struck from the record. These comments share “vicious falsehoods attacking Janel’s moral character” according to this motion. 

    In the most recent response from McMahon’s legal team, they claim that Grant’s effort to strike McMahon’s comments are the “height of hypocrisy” given what she has alleged about him. The new memorandum adds that the discovery in this case will show the following: 

    • That she [Grant] was in love with him [McMahon] and he was the love of her life
    • That he was her best friend
    • That she wanted to have sex with him and provided graphic detail
    • That she fantasized about being held down, enjoyed being in pain, and wanted rough sex
    • That she wanted Defendant to watch her have sex with other people and know about her sex with others
    • That she wanted Defendant to give her thousands of dollars for clothes, plastic surgery, and other gifts
    • That she wanted to have a future with Defendant even after signing the Agreement.
    • That she wanted Defendant to keep living in the same building, so she could continue to see him, even after signing the Agreement

    This is hardly the first time McMahon’s legal team have tried to assert that Grant was a willing participant in their ‘relationship.’ Jessica Rosenburg, a member of McMahon’s team, has claimed that Grant was in love with McMahon and her lawsuit is revenge for their relationship ending. 

  • Watch: What Happened With Gunther After (5/13) Raw Went Off Air

    Watch: What Happened With Gunther After (5/13) Raw Went Off Air

    Gunther almost gave in to the temptation of the Yeet after this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC went off air.

    The episode featured 4 quarterfinal matches for King and Queen of The Ring tournaments with both male and female competitors getting two matches each. Lyra Valkyria, Iyo Sky, and Gunther picked up the victories in the first three bouts.

    The fourth match between Jey Uso and Ilja Dragunov was the main event of the show. WWE had earlier teased a semi-final between Dragunov and the Ring General but Uso ended up picking the victory in the bout.

    This led to a confrontation between the former Bloodline member and Gunther to end the broadcast. After Raw went off air, Jey Uso tried his hardest to make Gunther break and do the yeet.

    Even the referee and ring announcer Samantha Irvin joined in on the celebration and it looked as if the former IC Champion may have given up to the temptation.

    Gunther however decided against it at the end and he chose to attack his future opponent. Though Jey managed to get the upper hand with a spear and he celebrated with the crowd as the former champion retreated:

    What Happened On Raw

    Elsewhere in the show we saw The Judgement Day picking up a win in a triple threat tag match. They earned the right to challenge Awesome Truth for the tag titles.

    The ongoing QR code mystery continued on Raw with another tease for Uncle Howdy. The code led to a bunch of images with one of them teasing a development in the story later this week.

    The King and Queen of the ring tournaments will continue on SmackDown on Friday. You can check out the updated results and the current standings of the same here.

  • Jesse Ventura: ‘WWE’s “Change in Direction” Allowed for Ongoing Legends Deal Negotiations’

    Talks between WWE and Jesse Ventura would not be happening if not for the promotion’s change of regime, the Hall of Famer has claimed. 

    In April, it was reported that ‘The Body’ was speaking with WWE for the first time in a considerable amount of years. On an edition of Frank Morano’s podcast, Venture gave further details about these talks. 

    “I am back negotiating with them. We’re in talks right now. I have contracts with my attorney right now with WWE. We don’t know right now fully. They want to bring me back under their Legends [deal].”

    Ventura noted that there aren’t many names associated with the first WrestleMania who are left. He named Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Andre the Giant, and Junkyard Dog as some of the many names associated with WrestleMania 1 who are no longer with us. 

    WWE’s change in direction under Triple H has helped Ventura enter negotiations. 

    The former Minnesota Governor has had a strained relationship with WWE for years, thanks in part to his successful lawsuit against Vince McMahon. The late 80s suit saw Ventura paid royalties for Home Video releases in which he provided commentary, despite McMahon insisting that only in-ring talent should be paid. On the podcast, Ventura said his ongoing talks only came about now that McMahon is gone., 

    “I can only say [negotiations] happened because of the change in direction of the company.”

    Despite the lawsuit, Ventura made a return as a guest referee at SummerSlam 1999 (which took place in Minnesota during his time as governor.) He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and made an appearance on Raw in 2009. It remains to be seen when fans will next see ‘The Body’ on WWE TV but with a Legends deal in the works, it could be sooner than you’d think. 

  • WWE King & Queen of the Ring Results From RAW, Updated Semifinals Brackets

    WWE King & Queen of the Ring Results From RAW, Updated Semifinals Brackets

    The King & Queen of the Ring quarterfinals are ongoing, and now we have some names in the semifinals.

    WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring tournaments are ongoing, with the brackets featured on the May 13 episode of WWE RAW. The finals will take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Shayna Baszler and IYO Sky threw down in the opening contest of WWE RAW this week. After a back-and-forth match, IYO Sky clinched the win with an Over The Moonsault to move onto the semifinals.

    Kofi Kingston and GUNTHER faced off in a match filled with tension. Before the match officially began, Kofi targeted GUNTHER’s legs, aiming to weaken his opponent. Kofi continued to press the attack, but GUNTHER turned the tide by catching Kingston mid-dive. From that point on, GUNTHER dominated, delivering significant damage to Kingston. Although Kingston mounted a brief comeback, GUNTHER ultimately forced him to submit, advancing in the tournament.

    Lyra Valkyria and Zoey Stark faced off in their quarterfinals match. It was a close contest, but Lyra secured the victory by countering Stark’s Z-360 into her own Nightwing finisher. The former NXT Women’s Champion will now take on IYO Sky in the next round.

    Jey Uso and Ilja Dragunov threw down in the main event of RAW this week. This was a stiff match with several hard-hitting spots. In the end, Uso surprised the former NXT Champion with a spear and an Uso Spash to secure the win, and a match against GUNTHER in the semifinals on RAW next week.

    King of the Ring:

    First Round Results:

    • Gunther defeated Sheamus
    • Ilja Dragunov defeated Ricochet
    • Jey Uso defeated Finn Balor
    • Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio
    • Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles
    • Tama Tonga defeated Angelo Dawkins
    • Carmelo Hayes defeated Baron Corbin
    • LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar

    Quarterfinals Scheduled:

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

    Semifinals Scheduled:

    GUNTHER vs Jey Uso

    Winner of Tama Tonga vs LA Knight against winner of Carmelo Hayes vs Randy Orton

    Queen of the Ring:

    First Round Results:

    • Iyo Sky defeated Natalya
    • Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai
    • Zoey Stark defeated Ivy Nile
    • Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri
    • Bianca Belair defeated Candice LeRae
    • Jade Cargill defeated Piper Niven
    • Nia Jax defeated Naomi
    • Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin

    Quarterfinals Scheduled:

    • Iyo Sky defeated Shayna Baszler
    • Lyra Valkyria defeated Zoey Stark
    • Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax
    • Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton

    Semifinals Scheduled:

    IYO Sky vs Lyra Valkyria

    Winner of Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton against winner of Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax

    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
  • Lilian Garcia Returns For Guest Ring Announcer Duties During 5/13 WWE RAW

    Lilian Garcia Returns For Guest Ring Announcer Duties During 5/13 WWE RAW

    Lilian Garcia made a return to WWE television during the May 13 episode of RAW. She received an amazing homecoming from fans as she filled in for guest announcing duties. 

    During Garcia’s appearance, she expressed her pride in Samantha Irvin, who had introduced her. Garcia then introduced Kofi Kingston for his match against GUNTHER in the quarterfinals of the 2024 King of the Ring tournament.

    Prior to her appearance, Lilian released a backstage video of herself and Samantha. They were very happy to see each other as they prepared for the night’s show.

    This was a fitting appearance for Garcia, as it took place on the day after Mother’s Day. Samantha Irvin posted a photo posing with the legendary WWE ring announcer, proclaiming that this counts as her photo to celebrate the Mother’s Day.

    Lilian Garcia’s WWE Departure

    In 2016, during her second tenure with WWE, Garcia’s father was battling cancer. This situation led her to leave her full-time role as a WWE ring announcer to spend more time with her ailing father.

    After leaving WWE, Lilian Garcia started hosting two podcasts, “Making Their Way to the Ring” and the Spanish-language “Luchando Con Lilian Garcia,” both distributed by Maria Menounos’ AfterBuzz TV network. On July 31, 2017, Garcia launched her new podcast, “Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia.”

    Despite her nearly ten-year absence from WWE, Garcia remains beloved within the company. 

  • WWE Raw QR Code Leads to Intriguing ‘5.16.24’ Floppy Disk Image

    WWE Raw QR Code Leads to Intriguing ‘5.16.24’ Floppy Disk Image

    WWE is not stopping with their mysterious QR codes. Many believe that these are signs that Bo Dallas’ new stable is on the way, and the signs are hard to ignore at this point.

    During the IYO SKY vs. Shayna Baszler Queen of the Ring quarterfinal match on WWE RAW this week, a QR code appeared on the screen. For the first time, the code was acknowledged by the commentary team of Pat McAfee and Michael Cole. The seasoned announcer made a mention to the strange code after it flashed on the screen, which could be a sign that we are getting closer to the big reveal.

    The code directs fans to a series of picture files, including a photo of a floppy disk labeled ‘5.16.24 4pm + WITCH.’

    Bray Wyatt had many friends in the Firefly Fun House, including Abby the Witch. It has been widely thought that this new stable will be Bray’s “Wyatt 6” stable come to life, which would include the witch character.

    New Stable Plans

    Currently, four other names are expected to be part of the new faction. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are all set to join the new Wyatt Family group. Each of these individuals has prior experience as faction members: Cross was part of Sanity, Gacy led The Schism, Lumis was a member of The Way, and Rowan was an original member of The Wyatt Family.

    Sadly, Bray Wyatt passed away on August 24 at the age of 36-years-old. Although he may be gone, his creative legacy will live on in the form of this new stable. 

  • WWE Shifting Start Times For Upcoming Premium Live Events

    WWE Shifting Start Times For Upcoming Premium Live Events

    The landscape of professional wrestling has changed significantly in recent years. Fans no longer need to stay up until midnight to see the conclusion of a WWE pay-per-view. Premium live events have become more concise, and now they are scheduled to start earlier. WWE will maintain the earlier start time for its events, per PWInsider. This will include NXT Heatwave, SummerSlam, and The Bash at Berlin. The current WWE PLE schedule reflects this decision. 

    In March, there were discussions about potentially shifting domestic PPVs to an earlier start time, but a final decision had not been made at that time.
    Traditionally, WWE has aired its pre-shows at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET. This timing was standard until a few years ago when the start time for the main card was moved to 8 p.m. ET.

    CEO Nick Khan recently confirmed WWE’s goal to host its five major PLEs (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank) within the United States, while looking to expand their international touring with the PLE’s. Since overseas shows typically begin much earlier for American audiences, the adjustment to earlier start times for these events should not represent a significant change.

    Upcoming Schedule

    WWE has several stadium shows and international PLE’s in the coming months

    Below is the current lineup of events on WWE’s calendar for the remainder of 2024. For the remainder of the year, check out our 2024 WWE/NXTPLE Schedule.

    • WWE King and Queen of the Ring (May 25, 2024)
      • Venue: Jeddah Superdome
      • City: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    • WWE NXT Battleground (June 9, 2024)
      • Venue: UFC Apex
      • City: Las Vegas, Nevada
    • WWE Clash at the Castle (June 15, 2024)
      • Venue: OVO Hydro
      • City: Glasgow, Scotland
    • WWE Money in the Bank (July 6, 2024)
      • Venue: Scotiabank Arena
      • City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • WWE NXT Heatwave (July 7, 2024)
      • Venue: Scotiabank Arena
      • City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • WWE SummerSlam (August 3, 2024)
      • Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium
      • City: Cleveland, Ohio
    • WWE Bash in Berlin (August 31, 2024)
      • Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena
      • City: Berlin, Germany
  • WWE Legend Afa Anoa’i Successfully Undergoes Aortic Valve Replacement

    WWE Legend Afa Anoa’i Successfully Undergoes Aortic Valve Replacement

    We have a positive medical update on WWE legend Afa Anoa’i after recently going under the knife. One-half of the legendary Wild Samoans underwent his impending surgery and it has come to light that he is recuperating well. posted an update on May 12 revealing Afa’s successful Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure to replace his Aortic Valve took place on Thursday, May 9. He was released from the hospital on May 11. The Facebook post read:

    One-half of the legendary Wild Samoans underwent his impending surgery and it has come to light that he is recuperating well. WXW Wrestling page on Facebook posted an update on May 12 revealing Afa’s successful Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure to replace his Aortic Valve took place on Thursday, May 9. He was released from the hospital on May 11. The Facebook post read:

    “On Thursday, our beloved patriarch Afa the Wild Samoan had a successful TAVR procedure to replace his aortic valve. Yesterday afternoon he was discharged from the hospital! We’re all so grateful that this final hurdle has been passed! Now he has more back rehabilitation to do, but our Pops kicked out again and is one of the strongest human beings in the world! Thank you all for your prayers and concern!”

    Afa’s Health

    In March, Afa suffered multiple fractures in his back following a fall. He was soon hospitalized and underwent treatment under specialist. Later that month, he underwent successful surgery to fix his back. 

    It has been a stressful year for Afa and his family. Before suffering the fall, the 81-year-old had a battle with pneumonia and also suffered a mild heart attack. Another heart attack impacted his health and it deteriorated considerably. However, the WWE Hall of Famer didn’t give up and overcame the setbacks. 

    Meanwhile, Afa’s WXW promotion was on the brink of closing amid his health crisis. However, two months later, his son and former WWE wrestler, Afa Anoa’i Jr. (better known as Manu) announced that he is taking charge of the promotion and will continue its operations.

  • Think You’ve Had A Bad Day? Bianca Belair Has You Beat…

    Think You’ve Had A Bad Day? Bianca Belair Has You Beat…

    WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair has shared what was a very bad day for her outside of the ring full of unfortunate situations. 

    Taking to her Instagram Stories, Belair shared that she dropped her phone in the toilet in what was only the start of her very bad day. From there, Belair’s hair caught on fire after coming in contact with a candle and she was also throw a knife. The EST’s bad luck wouldn’t be confined just to her as Belair would also step on the wedding dress of her sister. Despite all of this, the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion tried to remain optimistic and said that it had been a good day despite all these unfortunate situations. 

    Belair shared her very bad day on social media. 

    What’s to Come for Bianca Belair? 

    While Belair’s day may not have been the best (but still apparently good,) her role on WWE programming is especially high right now. Belair is in her first reign as a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. She and Jade Cargill won the titles at WWE Backlash France, in the first taste of any gold for Cargill since she joined WWE last September. 

    Both champions are part of the ongoing Queen of the Ring tournament and both were successful in their first-round matches. On the May 17, episode of WWE SmackDown, Cargill will face Nia Jax in the quarter-finals while Belair will take on Tiffany Stratton. Should Belair and Cargill win their respective matches, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions will face each other in the semi-finals on the May 24, episode of WWE SmackDown. 

  • Update On Plans for Jey Uso After Viral WWE Backlash France Entrance

    Update On Plans for Jey Uso After Viral WWE Backlash France Entrance

    The popularity of Jey Uso at WWE Backlash France did not go unnoticed by higher-ups who aim to capitalize on how ‘over’ he is. 

    At WWE’s first-ever French Premium Live Event, Jey challenged Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship. This marked Priest’s first title defense at a PLE after capturing the title by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract at WWE WrestleMania: Sunday. 

    Jey didn’t win the World Heavyweight Championship in Lyon but he was one of the most popular stars at the show, perhaps second only behind Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The reaction from the crowd to Jey’s entrance at Backlash France has caught the attention of WWE higher-ups, Fightful Select reports.  

    WWE intends to encourage fans to replicate the Lyon crowd’s reaction during Jey Uso’s entrances in future events. The lighting will continue to be dimmed during his entrance to encourage fans to use their phones as light like what we saw in Lyon. Any time Jey’s theme is played in mainstream media, such as at a recent NBA game, will be highlighted on WWE TV. 

    What’s to Come? 

    Fans will have ample opportunity to see Jey Uso on the May 13, episode of WWE Raw, where he will compete in a King of the Ring quarter-finals against Ilja Dragunov. Should he be successful, he’ll move on to the semi-finals where he will face either GUNTHER or Jey Uso. 

    WWE’s focus on promoting Jey’s entrance certainly bodes well for his future. After over a decade on WWE TV as a tag-team specialist, Jey is finding his stride as a singles star. And while he may not have become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in Lyon, there may be more opportunities lined up for ‘Main Event’ Jey.

  • WWE King & Queen of the Ring: Match Schedule For This Week’s RAW & SmackDown

    WWE King & Queen of the Ring: Match Schedule For This Week’s RAW & SmackDown

    With less than three weeks until the WWE King and Queen of the Ring premium live event, the tournaments continue with quarterfinal matches tonight on WWE Raw and this Friday on WWE SmackDown.

    The latest round of tournament matches were held over the weekend at WWE’s non-televised live events. Kofi Kingston and LA Knight advanced in the King of the Ring, while Shayna Baszler and Tiffany Stratton took steps closer to the throne on the women’s side. A schedule of this week’s tournament matches can be found below.

    WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring PLE takes place Saturday, May 25 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome. In addition to crowning a new King and Queen, WWE has also signed three championship matches:

    • Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul (c)
    • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
    • Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed

    Royal Report: Schedule, Injuries & Footsge

    Our King and Queen of the Ring Royal Report

    This week’s Raw and SmackDown will each feature 4 tournament matches:

    WWE Raw – Monday, May 13

    KOTR Quarterfinals:

    • Jey Uso v Ilja Dragunov
    • Gunther v Kofi Kingston

    QOTR Quarterfinals

    • IYO SKY v Shayna Baszler
    • Lyra Valkyria v Zoey Stark

    WWE SmackDown – Friday, May 17

    KOTR Quarterfinals:

    • Randy Orton v Carmelo Hayes
    • Tama Tonga v LA Knight

    QOTR Quarterfinals

    • Bianca Belair v Tiffany Stratton
    • Jade Cargill v Nia Jax

    Weekend Results

    Results from King and Queen of the Ring tournament matches held over the weekend at WWE live events:

    Saturday (Chattanooga, TN):

    LA Knight defeated Santos Escoba to advance and face on SmackDown.

    Tiffany Stratton defeated Mia Yim and will face Bianca Belair on SmackDown.

    Sunday (Macon, GA):

    Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio to advance and face Gunther on Raw.

    Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri, who had stepped in for reigning Queen Zelina Vega, who had to withdraw due to injury. She’ll face IYO SKY on Raw.

  • Zelina Vega Sidelined; Maxxine Dupri Takes Her Place in Queen of the Ring Tournament

    Zelina Vega Sidelined; Maxxine Dupri Takes Her Place in Queen of the Ring Tournament

    Zelina Vega, the current reigning Queen of the Ring, was all set to be in this year’s tournament. Sadly, she will not get to proceed.

    WWE SmackDown GM Adam Pearce announced that Vega is out of the tournament. She is not medically cleared, but they did not reveal her injury.

    She will be replaced by Maxxine Dupri. The LWO member was set to take on Shayna Baszler in the first round, but now the Alpha Academy representative will take her place at tonight’s WWE live event in Machon, Georgia.

    This is not the only change that WWE has been forced to make in this year’s tournament. Xavier Woods, who is the reigning King of the Ring, was replaced by Kofi Kingston in the tournament. Also, Bobby Lashley had to pull out, and he was replaced by Angelo Dawkins.

    SEScoops has updated our comprehensive coverage of the King and Queen of the Ring.

    Queen of the Ring First Round

    In the first round of the Queen of the Ring tournament, several matches concluded with decisive victories. Iyo Sky defeated Natalya, while Lyra Valkyria overcame Dakota Kai. Zoey Stark secured a win against Ivy Nile, and Bianca Belair triumphed over Candice LeRae.

    Jade Cargill emerged victorious against Piper Niven, and Nia Jax defeated Naomi. Tiffany Stratton also won her match against Michin.

    In the final match of the first round, Shayna Baszler will face Maxxine Dupri after Zelina Vega was replaced by Dupri.

    You can check out the quarterfinal matchups for the 2024 Queen of the Ring tournament below.

    • Iyo Sky vs. the winner of Shayna Baszler vs. Maxxine Dupri
    • Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
    • Jade Cargill vs Nia Jax
    • Bianca Belair vs Tiffany Stratton
  • Cody Rhodes Reaches Top 10 Of Overall Merchandise Sellers for Fanatics

    Cody Rhodes Reaches Top 10 Of Overall Merchandise Sellers for Fanatics

    The popularity of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is proving impossible to ignore with the SmackDown Superstar reaching a high-point with Fanatics. 

    Rhodes merch is often in high demand at WWE live events and all of those sales have been adding up. The American Nightmare is the only wrestler to appear on Fanatics’ top ten list of overall sellers, Fightful Select reports. This is no small feat for Rhodes as Fanatics carries NBA and NFL products amongst its catalog as well as WWE. 

    These figures will come as good news to higher-ups in WWE who have selected Rhodes as the face of the ‘new era.’ The report adds that The Undertaker recently did a signing for Fanatics but WWE is looking beyond Fanatics for moving their licensed merch. 

    WWE And Fanatics

    A deal between WWE and Fanatics was reached in March 2022, mere days before Rhodes’ return to the promotion at WrestleMania 38. The deal has seen Fanatics sell several items of licensed merch ranging from t-shirts to replica championship title belts. At the time of the agreement’s inception, then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon described Fanatics as an “industry leader” and Fanatics founder/CEO Michael Rubin as a “visionary.”

    The popularity of Cody Rhodes can’t be ignored. 

    What’s to Come? 

    Rhodes merch will surely be in high demand at the upcoming WWE King And Queen of the Ring event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The May 25, show will see Rhodes defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against the U.S. Champion Logan Paul. While Rhodes’ title is the only on the line at this time, Cody has teased on social media that the match will see both titles on the line.

  • Johnny Knoxville Goes Undercover At Sami Zayn’s ‘Netflix Is A Joke’ Comedy Show

    Johnny Knoxville Goes Undercover At Sami Zayn’s ‘Netflix Is A Joke’ Comedy Show

    Sami Zayn got some serious laughs at his performance at the Netflix Is A Joke festival, despite the presence of his WrestleMania 38 adversary Johnny Knoxville. 

    The Jackass and Bad Grandpa star went in disguise to the event that has taken over Los Angeles from May 2 to May 12. Knoxville donned a blonde wig and fake mustache to watch Zayn’s set. 

    Knoxville was in disguise to watch Sami Zayn perform. 

    Knoxville wasn’t the only notable name to appear during Zayn’s stand-up. WWE Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch was also at the show as well as Cathy Kelly, according to attendee Glenn Rubenstein. Ron Funches, Tony Hinchcliffe, and Wee Man also made cameo appearances. 

    Knoxville Vs. Zayn

    Johnny Knoxville and Sami Zayn became adversaries in 2022 and tensions grew after the actor cost Zayn the WWE Intercontinental Championship. The two did battle at WWE WrestleMania 38 in an ‘Anything Goes’ match that was won by Knoxville. 

    Even with Zayn now a babyface, the ‘animosity’ between the two continues. Knoxville was seen jeering and booing at WWE WrestleMania 39 when Zayn and Kevin Owens won the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships. 

    Fans shouldn’t count out one more match between the actor and Zayn, who regained the Intercontinental Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40. On Twitter, Rubenstein suggested that the pair “may have set up a rematch tonight.”

    As for Zayn, his next major match will come at WWE King And Queen Of The Ring later this month. The Canadian will defend against both Chad Gable and ‘Big’ Bronson Reed in Saudi Arabia. 

  • Dana White: ‘WWE PLEs Will Move Back to Sundays in TKO Brand Weekends’

    WWE Premium Live Events will eventually return to being hosted on Sunday under TKO Group Holdings, according to UFC President Dana White. 

    White appeared at the post-show press conference following the UFC Fight Night event in St. Louis. When asked about plans for UFC and his Power Slap promotions to host events over the same weekend, White shared news about the change for WWE’s Premium Live Events. 

    “We already have those dates set up right now, where Power Slap goes [on] Friday and UFC goes [on] Saturday. And then you’re going to see Friday Power Slap, Saturday UFC, and Sunday WWE. You’ll start seeing that stuff too.”

    For decades, WWE hosted PLEs on Sundays. The change came thanks to WWE President Nick Khan who felt that “big sports events were better on Saturday nights.” Speaking on the Recode Media podcast with Peter Kafka, Khan discussed the success of the move. 

    “We think the ticket sales are reflective of that [success.] We have a big big audience coming out on Saturday and a big gate to go along with it.”

    More Changes to WWE PLEs

    It’s unclear when WWE will make the move back to Sunday nights, but this isn’t the only change from the normal plans for PLEs. In recent years, the promotion has embraced hosting events outside North America. In addition to the bi-annual Saudi Arabia shows, WWE has hosted events like Clash At The Castle in Cardiff, Wales, Money in the Bank in London, England, and Backlash France. in Lyon. WWE’s next European event will be WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland in Glasgow this coming June, with WWE Bash In Berlin set for August. 

  • LA Knight & Tiffany Stratton Advance in King/Queen of the Ring At WWE Live Event

    WWE’s search for its next King and Queen of the Ring continued last night with LA Knight and Tiffany Stratton advancing at a live event in Chattanooga. 

    In the King of the Ring tournament first-round match, Knight qualified for the next round with a victory over Santos Escobar. This is the first KOTR tournament for either man. The crowd in Chattanooga’s McKenzie Arena was unsurprisingly unhappy to see the Megastar get the victory over Escobar. 

    The May 11, WWE live event happened to take place at ‘Tiffy Time’ as Stratton got the win in her first-round match. The former NXT Women’s Champion earned a victory over ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, who recently set her sights on the new NXT North American Women’s Championship. 

    What’s to Come? 

    With Knight’s victory, the SmackDown portion of the quarter-finals in the King of the Ring tournament has been filled out. The Megastar will face the Bloodline’s Tama Tonga on the May 17, episode of WWE SmackDown. The show will also see Randy Orton take on Carmelo Hayes in the other quarter-final match. 

    As for Stratton, she will face Bianca Belair on the May 17, SmackDown with a spot in the semi-finals on the line. The show will also see Belair’s fellow Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill take on Nia Jax. Belair, Cargill, and Jax advanced to the quarter-finals on the May 10, episode of SmackDown with respective wins over Candice LeRae, Piper Niven, and Naomi.

    The finals of both tournaments will take place at WWE King And Queen of the Ring on May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event will be the first tournament-based PLE since 2002 and will also see a huge Champion Vs. Champion match.

  • Kenny Omega Respects Triple H For Being A Body Guy

    Kenny Omega Respects Triple H For Being A Body Guy

    Kenny Omega appreciates the knowledge and work of two legends that have came before him and one of those names is Triple H.

    Speaking on his Twitch stream, Kenny Omega was asked about Triple H the wrestler and Paul Levesque the booker. Omega said he couldn’t really comment on him as a booker because he doesn’t specifically know what Triple H inputs creatively, but does like him in particular for his physique. He then compares Levesque to another WWE Hall Of Famer.

    “I really like Ravishing Rick Rude. He’s one of my favorites, actually, from the yesteryear era and I think he was a very underrated wrestler. He always had Bobby, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan so already his promos would be taken care of whether he said much or not, didn’t matter. He had Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan.”

    “For Triple H, I kind of look at him in the same light … I liked Triple H as a body guy.” 

    Omega mentioned how Triple H was influential in his promos and some talent try to replicate that, but Omega knew that he wasn’t able to do that. He and Triple H have different voices.

    “I can’t tell you one promo that really hit me off the top of my head, but I’m sure it was effect and his matches, he’s got some great ones.”

    Omega notes of Triple H’s memorable matches including his Royal Rumble 2000 match and the triple threat match against Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX.

    Please h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.