SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers Will Soon Be A Dangerous Pairing

    Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers Will Soon Be A Dangerous Pairing

    WrestleMania and the WWE Draft give the company a chance to shuffle the deck in a number of ways. Fans can look forward to a new pairing that will present fresh matchups wherever they wind up. 

    This week’s WWE RAW broadcast from Montreal concluded with Sami Zayn’s hometown hero victory. He retained the Intercontinental Title against Chad Gable, but the Underdog from the Underground’s celebration didn’t last long. Gable attacked him, turning heel in the process. 

    WWE is believed have big plans for the Olympian: an alliance with pro wrestling’s most technically capable tag team. According to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

    “The belief going around is that the Creeds are going heel to form a unit with Gable.”

    WWE had a handful of factions for this new trio to work against on both Raw and SmackDown, a scenario we are very excited to see play out.

    Creed Brothers’ History Before WWE

    Julius and Brutus Creed, real names Jacob and Drew Kasper, are brothers with an outstanding background in amateur wrestling.

    The siblings from Lexington, Ohio took over amateur wrestling in high school. Julius Creed, 31, attended Duke University, where he graduated in sociology and excelled in wrestling, earning multiple NCAA honors and setting university records. He also competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials and later coached wrestling at Duke.

    Brutus Creed, 27, went to Otterbein University, where he studied exercise science and had a notable wrestling career, achieving a 108–13 record and earning NCAA Division III All-American honors twice before his final season was cut short by the pandemic.

    WWE obviously wanted the Creed Brothers, as Gerald Briscoe scouted them in 2018. In October 2020, WWE signed Julius Creed, and in February 2021, following a successful try-out, Brutus Creed inked a three-year contract with WWE.

    The two stand out performers were aligned with the Diamond Mine stable in NXT for a while, where they had a run as NXT Tag Team Champions.

    During the 2023 WWE Draft, the Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile were called up to the RAW brand, which is where we find ourselves today.

    Aligning Chad Gable with the Creed Brothers could be a real recipe for success. They all have similar backgrounds, as Gable is a former state champion in high school. Gable was named as 2012 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. He also won the 2012 the U.S. Olympic Trials, which secured him a spot to compete at the London Olympics in the 185-lbs division for Greco-Roman wrestling.

  • The Undertaker: Steve Austin Could Have Ended My WrestleMania ‘Streak’ A Decade Earlier

    The Undertaker: Steve Austin Could Have Ended My WrestleMania ‘Streak’ A Decade Earlier

    The Undertaker never got the opportunity to lock horns with fellow WWE Hall of Famer ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at WrestleMania. Could Austin break The Phenom’s legendary undefeated streak? Well, Taker thinks so. 

    Each month, the ‘Dead Man’ does an exclusive Q&A Session for Patreon members of his Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway show. The fan questions often produce interesting quotes and this show was no exception. One question asked which wrestler could have ended the Streak earlier than 2014, when Brock Lesnar ‘conquered’ it at WrestleMania XXX. The 59-year-old Hall of Famer said it would have to be ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. 

    “It’d have to be Stone Cold. That’s really one of the only guys I didn’t get to work with at Mania. That would have been huge. The Streak may have gotten broken earlier, but still, it would have been nice to work with Steve at Mania.”

    The idea of Undertaker vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania prompted discussion about what the reaction would have been if Austin ended the streak instead of Lesnar. Wrestling fans were furious when WWE’s ‘Best Incarnate’ did the unthinkable, but would Austin get a similar response?

    Taker feels that Austin’s popularity was unrivaled, and that would have helped offset some of the backlash, but some fans would have still taken issue with the Streak ending and he could still expect some mixed reactions.

    “Steve was over at a level… That was just a whole ‘nother level that he was over at. It would probably be, just like anything else, half the people would love it, half the people would hate it. That’s how it is. Everybody has an opinion but that’s the guy that I would have liked to work with at Mania that I never got a chance to.”

    The Streak

    The Undertaker is synonymous with WrestleMania. His fabled undefeated “streak” remains to be one of the greatest chapters in WWE. While WrestleMania is a spectacle itself. Every year, the eagle-eyed fans also anticipated ‘The Deadman’ putting his streak on the line against some of the biggest superstars in the company. 

    The Undertaker famously ‘claimed the souls’ of some of the all-time greats at Mania over a couple of decades until Brock Lesnar did something unimaginable – ending the streak at WrestleMania XXX. ‘The Phenom’ suffered another loss at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ against Roman Reigns in a No Holds Barred Match at WrestleMania 33. 

    WrestleMania 40

    The Undertaker was involved at WrestleMania 40 when he hit a chokeslam on The Rock during the headlining match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

    Reports suggest that it was Steve Austin, who was originally in the plans to get involved instead of Taker but that didn’t materialize.  

  • Cody Rhodes Believes WWE’s Success Will Lure The Rock Back Into The Ring

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes believes that the success of WWE’s product will help lure The Rock back into the squared circle. 

    Rhodes is currently in the UK as part of an ongoing tour by WWE, his first overseas tour as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Rhodes was asked about the possibility of a showdown with The Rock. 

    “I think it’ll really come down to can I be a good champion or a great champion, Roman Reigns was a great champion, and will that be enough to entice The Rock?”

    While Rhodes put a great deal of pressure on himself to be a champion worthy of The Rock’s return, he acknowledged that WWE’s success as a whole would play a factor. 

    “This run, it’s a whole new generation, a whole new locker room. Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, myself, Rhea Ripley, all these people. I think the more we keep this, the better we do, the more chances it lures Rock back into the fray.”

    The Rock and Rhodes were at odds during the build to WrestleMania 40 including an assault on the American Nightmare that left Cody battered and bloodied in Chicago. On the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw, the Final Boss vowed to return to WWE programming one day and is coming for Cody Rhodes. 

    If Cody believes that a successful WWE will bring The Rock back to the ring, then the Great One’s next match is all but guaranteed. WrestleMania 40 broke several records for the promotion and was critically well-received by fans. WWE, by its own admission, is in a ‘new era,’ one without Vince McMahon’s involvement. 

    WWE is certainly doing big business right now and that won’t go unnoticed by The Rock who is also a member of TKO’s board of directors. With those in WWE of the opinion that WrestleMania 40: Saturday was not The Rock’s last match, it appears Cody Rhodes will get his wish. 

  • Cody Rhodes Agrees With John Cena: ‘The United Kingdom Deserves A WrestleMania’

    Cody Rhodes Agrees With John Cena: ‘The United Kingdom Deserves A WrestleMania’

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was left standing tall after WrestleMania 40 went off the air, and now hopes to bring the annual mega-show to the UK. 

    Rhodes has been headlining WWE’s recent tour of the UK, which also features Becky Lynch despite rumors of time off. At an event in Birmingham, England, Rhodes marked his first title defense with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. 

    After the match, Rhodes spoke about keeping his promise to the fans after stating at a previous WWE event that the next time he’s in the UK, he would be a champion. Amid chants of ‘You Deserve It’ from the crowd, Rhodes said that the fans deserve a WrestleMania in the UK. 

    “If anybody deserves anything, I’m going to echo John Cena saying the United Kingdom deserves a WrestleMania.”

    While Rhodes, John Cena, and countless fans hope to bring WrestleMania to the UK, this monumental feat is easier said than done. The time difference between the UK and the United States would be a huge factor as PLEs in the UK air much earlier in the day States-side. 

    Despite WWE bringing more events overseas in recent years, it appears that WrestleMania won’t be making the move just yet. WWE President Nick Khan recently stated that the company’s big four events (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) will remain in North America for the foreseeable future. 

    WrestleMania’s Future

    The location of WrestleMania 41 has yet to be publicly confirmed, with Las Vegas and Minneapolis currently the front runners. While the Minnesotan city has been treated as a ‘lock’ for the 2025 event, some believe that WWE will head to Vegas following the chilly conditions of WrestleMania 40. 

    Burke Nihill, the President/CEO of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, has said that WWE has committed to bring WrestleMania 43 to Nashville in 2027. WWE has yet to confirm this. 

  • Sheamus Responds to Online Body Shaming

    Sheamus Responds to Online Body Shaming

    WWE superstar Sheamus made his highly anticipated return to the company on the April 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. He took on Ivar in a physical matchup that saw him win with his signature Brogue Kick. Although some fans were happy to see him back after neck surgery, he drew criticism over his physique. 

    Sheamus appeared noticeably heavier than when he last appeared on WWE TV. While he competed similar to what he had in the past, some fans couldn’t help poking fun at his body. This has led to a debate on social media and memes from fans criticizing ‘The Celtic Warrior’ appearance. 

    After his match with Ivar, the WWE superstar noticed the fan reaction and tried to play it off. The following day, he responded to fans’ body-shaming by writing on Twitter that “I’m just big boned.” 

    After hearing more complaints from the internet wrestling community, Sheamus took to Twitter again to defend himself. 

    Sheamus Comments On Body-Shamming From Fans

    On Twitter, the former WWE Champion acknowledged the body shaming he’s received by posting a meme about himself. He also shared that he wasn’t supposed to compete on the April 15 episode while preparing for a return at the WWE Draft. However, he has been working to get back into the shape he desires. 

    Unfortunately, some of the WWE fanbase continued to body-shame Sheamus, leading to his supporters coming to his defense online.

    Fans Come To Defense Over Sheamus Being Body-Shamed 

    In response to the criticism over Sheamus’s physique, wrestlers and wrestling content creators have come to his aid on Twitter. One of the notable support came from Impact Wrestling superstar Jordynne Grace.

    “Every single person I’ve seen talking shit either doesn’t have a profile or look like they haven’t lifted a weight in their entire life,” wrote Grace. 

    More support has come in for Sheamus. Here are a few. 

    The USA Channel Twitter account has also expressed support for ‘The Celtic Warrior’ by posting, “You look great!”

    What’s Next For Sheamus?

    Although Sheamus is receiving negative backlash, he also has fans who are happy that he is back and ready to speak in his defense. As stated in his tweet, he prepares to make the best of his return. 

    The win over Ivar was an excellent showing for his comeback and set up opportunities for the future. Sheamus will be involved in the WWE Draft from April 26 through April 29. It’s unclear what he’ll sign with, but the former WWE Champion will likely want to make his presence felt. If his match with Ivar indicates his condition and motivation, Sheamus could be a force to be reckoned with in WWE.

  • WWE News: WrestleMania Changes & Locations, More International PLE’s

    WWE News: WrestleMania Changes & Locations, More International PLE’s

    Cities all over the world compete for the opportunity to host major WWE events. WrestleMania 40 proved to be another financial success for both WWE and Philadelphia, which may see upwards of $200 million added to the local economy. 

    WWE President Nick Khan spoke at the World Congress of Sports convention on Wednesday and provided some new details on the company’s outlook for future locations. 

    Key takeaways:

    • The location for next year’s WrestleMania 41 has not been finalized, but Las Vegas is one of the finalists under consideration.
    • WWE is looking to run more stadiums that have hosted the Super Bowl, but fewer stadiums on the East coast.
    • WrestleMania will probably move to a different weekend to avoid competition with the NCAA basketball tournament.

    WWE Making PLE Travel Plans

    The WWE CEO recommitted their plans to hold more International premium live events. Their goal is to have the ‘big five’ shows in the US and all the others in other countries like we’ve seen for Elimination Chamber Perth and Backlash France.

    “We sat down together a few years ago and decided, so the big five premium live events … should be in the United States or Canada. All of the other events, the goal is to have them from international locations.”

    WWE fans have needed to set their alarms to different times in the past so they can watch a premium live events. Shows in Saudi Arabia air in the afternoon for fans on the East Coast, and Australia’s Elimination Chamber event started at 4:00 AM EST. This will become more of a trend as the company continues announcing more PLEs.

    NBCUniversal secured a $1 billion streaming agreement with WWE, designating Peacock as the exclusive platform for all pay-per-views, specials, and library content. Their streaming agreement with Peacock is set to expire in 2026.

    With Peacock as the company’s primary streaming partner, it does not matter to them if fans watch the PLEs live. The money is still coming in for WWE, as fans in North America can watch at their leisure whenever they like.

  • Fanatics CEO Surprised By ‘Absolutely Insane’ WWE Merchandise Sales

    Fanatics CEO Surprised By ‘Absolutely Insane’ WWE Merchandise Sales

    WWE’s merchandising partnership with Fanatics continues to be lucrative for both companies. Executives from both companies, including Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, Nick Khan and Fanatics’ CEO Michael Rubin were among the business leaders who spoke at SBJ’s CAA World Congress of Sports conference earlier this week in Los Angeles, CA.

    Fanatics works with some of the world’s top sports leagues, including NFL, NCAA, MLB NASCAR and many more. Rubin has seen it all, but even he underestimated the insatiable demand for WWE merchandise. 

    “The biggest growth sport in my mind Well, are we looking at percents, dollars? What’s wild, I’ll tell you honestly, what’s going on with WWE is insane. If I look at the growth in our WWE business, and it’s a big business already, it’s absolutely insane.”

    “NFL is a multi-billion dollar business. Baseball is a multi-billion dollar business. We look collectively within our overall business, if you talk about growth percent, what’s going on with WWE is spectacular.”

    Replica Championship Titles at WWE SHOP

    When WWE and Fanatics announced their long-term partnership in 2022, Rubin explained it was a great fit. “WWE is one of the most widely admired sports and entertainment properties worldwide, and it made perfect sense to activate many parts of our Fanatics global platform to create a first-of-its-kind, all-in fan experience.” 

    Michael Rubin, Fanatics CEO

    His statement in the press release continued, “From e-commerce and licensed merchandise to trading cards and more, we’re going to offer up an incredible set of capabilities to help WWE’s passionate fans worldwide celebrate their favorite Superstars, marquee events and the WWE brand overall.”

    For more, check out Sports Business Journal’s coverage of the WWE panel at the conference: Levesque, Khan tout WrestleMania, Netflix deal

    H/T to Arash Markazi from The Sporting Tribune on his coverage of the World Congress of Sports

  • Roman Reigns Remaining Involved With The Bloodline’s Creative Direction During WWE Hiatus

    Roman Reigns Remaining Involved With The Bloodline’s Creative Direction During WWE Hiatus

    Roman Reign is off filming a movie while on ‘indefinite hiatus’ from WWE, but he’s remain a driving force behind The Bloodline both on television and behind the scenes.

    Reigns’ world came crashing down at WrestleMania 40. Once thought to be invincible, his historic title reign is finished and The Bloodline has undergone a dramatic shakeup. Jimmy Uso is out, Tama Tonga is in and Solo Sikoa is the group’s new on-screen figurehead.

    We later learned Tribal Chief made the call for Jimmy to be removed, a sign of how his character will be kept in the mix while he’s off TV. According to WWE insider Wrestlevotes, Reigns “will still have substantial creative input in the evolving Bloodline storyline over the course of the next few months.

    The Bloodline’s Creative Process

    Roman Reigns’ creative direction has been closely guarded since his evolution into the Tribal Chief and the rise of The Bloodline. the Bloodline chapter of his career started. Only a select few people have been involved in the Bloodline’s storyline development and that number is even smaller with Vince McMahon’s departure.

    The Rock brought in Brian Gewirtz during his road to WrestleMania 40 for the Final Boss storyline. Since the show of shows is in the rearview mirror, Dwayne Johnson and his writer went back to Hollywood. 

    The Tribal Chief and the Wise Man

    Paul Heyman recently spoke about The Bloodline with Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast. The ‘Wise Man’ says one of their keys to success is their ‘collaborative teamwork’ approach.

    “You know the old expression, ‘it takes a team?’ It certainly has with us. There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to make this work. It kind of all filters through Roman Reigns’ field. There are several people that come to me to present things to Roman, and then Roman and I will talk about it and comeback with either something that fits into their narrative or something that we would hope, we could perhaps enhance it or put it in our own words, or come back with, ‘that doesn’t work for us, what about this?’ and start a different process and we’re bouncing ideas off of them.”

    Heyman said creative rumblings for the Bloodline storyline began under Vince McMahon’s leadership and continued without disruption when Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over. 

    He also praised Michael Hayes for his exceptional ability to weave a narrative into wrestling matches, a rare and valuable skill. The SmackDown writing team, led by the often overlooked Ryan Callahan, along with Michael Kirshenbaum, Chad Barbash, and Zach Hyatt, are also involved in these discussions

  • Details On Roman Reigns Heist Comedy ‘Good Fortune’ With Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer

    Details On Roman Reigns Heist Comedy ‘Good Fortune’ With Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer

    Roman Reigns has his hands full with an acting project during his time away from WWE and will soon sharing the silver screen with some prominent Hollywood stars. The former Undisputed WWE champ generated buzz earlier this week when actress Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer posted a photo with working with Reigns on a new project.

    SEScoops has learned Roman Reigns (Joe Anoa’i) will appear in ‘Good Fortune,’ a heist comedy film due out in late 2024. The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, and comedian Aziz Ansari making his directorial debut.

    ‘Good Fortune’ tells the story of Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) a guardian angel, while Ansari’s character is burdened with taking on the odd jobs of Jeff (Seth Rogen).  

    We’re looking into Reigns’ character, but in the photo that surfaced online, he looks right at home sitting on a throne, surrounded by money, gold bars, and beautiful women. 

    Reigns’ Future in Hollywood

    Reigns’ historic 1,316-day title reign ended at WrestleMania 40. It also marked the conclusion of the most transformative chapter of his career, when he commanded the Acknowledgement of everyone and cemented himself as an all-time great.

    He’ll be back, but it’s newsworthy that he’s taking this time off to continue building his acting career. Now in the later stages of his days traveling the world and taking bumps, Reigns has a very clear path to follow for the next phase of his career.

    ‘Good Fortune’ would mark his fourth film role. In the past, he shared the screen with his cousin, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’. Roman Reigns also made an appearance in Netflix’s ‘The Wrong Missy’ and lent his voice to Paramount+’s ‘Rumble.’ 

    IMDB has Reigns listed as the lead cast member in ‘Action Force.‘ Limited details are available, but we know it’s in pre-production and will co-star Tom Budgen, better known to our readers as AEW star Malakai Black.

    The 38-year-old superstar has had a light WWE schedule and he can’t be grinding inside the ring forever. Thereby, as his wrestling career slows down, a transition to Hollywood seems suited. 

    The call from Hollywood has been a long time coming for him, especially the way he has established himself over the past few years. Roman Reigns could soon shift to Hollywood and it wouldn’t come as a surprise given The Rock and John Cena’s influence on him.  

  • Vince McMahon Remains In Contact with The Rock & John Cena Amid WWE Exit

    Vince McMahon Remains In Contact with The Rock & John Cena Amid WWE Exit

    Vince McMahon’s days in WWE may be a thing of the past, but the former Chairman remains in touch with some huge names from the world of pro wrestling.

    McMahon resigned from WWE for the second time in January 2024 and unlike his 2022 retirement, he is not expected to return. WWE has made a concerted effort to distance themselves from McMahon including launching a new ‘era’ with WrestleMania 40, the first ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ without McMahon’s involvement. McMahon recently listed the remainder of his stock in TKO for sale which if all is sold, would give him no shareholder influence over the company.

    Loyal Friends

    While WWE has avoided referencing McMahon on its programming, the billionaire remains in contact with TKO board member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, NBC News reports. The Brahma Bull was appointed to the board around the same time that the Janel Grant lawsuit against McMahon that resulted in his resignation came to light. 

    The 78-year-old billionaire also remains in contact with John Cena though there’s no word on what either man discusses with McMahon. This isn’t the first time Cena’s name has been linked to McMahon following his resignation. The 16-time World Champion’s recent comments about loving McMahon despite the allegations against him spawned a backlash for the wrestler-turned-actor. 

    As the top dog in professional wrestling for decades, McMahon built the careers of countless individuals so it’s hardly a surprise that some remain loyal to the controversial billionaire. While it’s been stated that nobody in WWE is defending McMahon, Ronda Rousey isn’t so sure and recently claimed that as long as Bruce Prichard is involved in WWE, McMahon has a direct line to influence decisions. 

    More Exits

    McMahon’s departure from WWE is arguably the biggest exit in company history but he isn’t the only veteran to leave the squared circle behind. Kevin Dunn left WWE after over four decades in late 2023 despite hopes within the promotion that he’d stay on until WrestleMania 40. He has been replaced as Head of Production by Lee Fitting. 

    Sue Aitchison is another long-time WWE name who has left WWE. Aitchison oversaw WWE’s outreach department and played an intrinsic role in nurturing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. For her efforts, she received the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award in 2019. 

    Right now, it’s hard to ignore the ‘changing of the guard’ atmosphere within WWE as those who ruled the company for decades are no longer in the picture. With that said it’ll still be some time until Vince’s people are fully phased out of the promotion’s internal workings. 

    As McMahon prepares for possibly the biggest fight of his life, at least legally speaking, the fact that some of WWE’s top names have kept in touch with him is an interesting development, and suggests that McMahon could indeed have an interest in WWE greater than what those in the promotion are letting on.

  • WWE’s Piper Niven Hopes to Inspire ‘Bigger Kids’ to Stand Up For Themselves Against Bullying

    WWE’s Piper Niven Hopes to Inspire ‘Bigger Kids’ to Stand Up For Themselves Against Bullying

    WWE Raw Superstar Piper Niven hopes that she can be a role model to ‘bigger kids’ and show them that it’s okay to stand up for yourself against bullying.  

    While the Scottish Superstar has made quite a name for herself, her call-up to the main roster saw her be rebranded ‘Doudrop.’ The name has some unfortunate definitions online and Niven has spoken about not being fond of the name in the past. 

    Niven got her original WWE name back during the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match and the former Women’s Tag Team Champion hasn’t looked back since. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Niven spoke about what the Piper name means to her. 

    “For me, Piper was always the person that I wanted to be when I was younger. I wasn’t allowed to be angry, I wasn’t allowed to fight and stand up for myself. Piper was that person that I always wanted to be.”

    Niven added that she hopes that her work on TV can help inspire kids who may be heavier than the norm to realize their own worth in the face of bullying. 

    “I know that there’s a lot of kids that are bigger kids, maybe they get picked on. I hope that when they see Piper, she makes them feel that they can stand up for themselves as well.”

    Niven’s goal is admirable as there’s no place for bullying in the world. Niven and Chelsea Green scored their first win as a tag team in months on Raw with a victory over Katana Chance & Kayden Carter. 

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

  • NBA Legend Charles Barkley Gives Props to The Rock’s WWE Return Performance

    NBA Legend Charles Barkley Gives Props to The Rock’s WWE Return Performance

    The Rock’s WWE return on the road to WrestleMania saw a few changes along the way, but Dwayne Johnson’s charisma was turned up to 11 the whole time. Charles Barkley was watching at home, and he noticed how the Great One didn’t lose a step.

    Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Charles Barkley praised The Rock’s recent performance in WWE. The two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer has been paying close attention to WWE programming, and he had to give The People’s Champion his flowers.

    “Pat, you know I’ve been watching you guys for a couple of months, and does The Rock have the best personality and charisma on television? Obviously, Roman and Cody and all those guys are fantastic, but The Rock … he’s got that thing, you know when you see a player and go ‘he’s different from everybody else.’ Man, when you see The Rock perform and you go, ‘damn, he’s good.’ His personality, when he’s talking, you’re like ‘oh I gotta watch this.’

    Sir Charles said that he loves Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and everyone else, but The Rock stands alone. He commended Dwayne Johnson for going away for so long and coming back with “the charisma bug,” something that gained a massive amount of attention for The Final Boss as Cody Rhodes fought to finish his story.

    Barkley went on to say of The Rock, “I was impressed. I’ve known him, we’re not great friends, but I’ve known him for a long time, and when I saw him, I was like, ‘He has that thing,’ and when he’s working, I want to watch. He plays the heel perfectly. His charisma, it’s an honor.”

    The Rock’s Road to WrestleMania 40

    The Rock first called his shot for WrestleMania 40 when he showed up during the Day 1 episode of RAW this year. His reference of sitting at the head of the table was not lost on anyone. After Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble match, he brought The Rock out the next night as he seemingly stepped away from an Undisputed WWE World Title match at the show of shows.

    Original plans for WrestleMania 40 did not include the card fans saw in Lincoln Financial Field. The Rock wanted a one-on-one match against Roman Reigns, and that would have happened if the “Cody Crybabies” didn’t speak out. The Rock eventually conceded that Cody should have the main event.

    The Rock vs Roman Reigns was the original plan for WrestleMania, with Cody Rhodes not wrestling at the event due to a kayfabed injury. Seth Rollins vs CM Punk was also supposed to happen, but that match was changed to Drew McIntyre after Punk’s triceps injury took him out of action.

    The main event matches for both nights of WrestleMania 40 were then changed to facilitate the new direction. The Rock teamed with Roman Reigns to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the first night, with Cody vs Roman getting to battle it out in a Bloodline rules stipulation on WrestleMania 40 Sunday.

  • Logan Paul Responds To Samantha Irvin Calling Him A ‘Cringe Overreactor’

    Logan Paul Responds To Samantha Irvin Calling Him A ‘Cringe Overreactor’

    Logan Paul’s fans have watched him for years, looking for his reactions to a variety of subjects. When Samantha Irvin called him a “cringe overreactor” after seeing a video of him in the crowd at WrestleMania 40, he just had to say something.

    WrestleMania 40 left many fans swimming in a sea of emotions. Cody Rhodes raised his title at the end of the two-night event as the company embarked on a new era. Logan Paul saw it all go down, and he was admittedly emotional. 

    Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast, Logan Paul brought up how Samantha Irvin called him a “cringe overreactor” in response to a video of him watching the WrestleMania 40 main event go down. In the end, The Maverick just saw it as ironic, because it was coming from her.

    “I got emotional watching Cody win, and the ring announcer bullied me. The ring announcer, Samantha Irvin, bullied me. The fiancé of Ricochet, who I beat twice, she bullied me on Twitter. She called me a ‘cringe overreactor.’ It got a ton of favorites. I took it as irony, because if you see the video of her announcing Cody, she’s sobbing. It’s a funny way to take a dig at me, because I’m a cringe overreactor, bro, I’m an overreactor as f*ck. But, she reacts too, so I thought it was kinda funny.”

    Logan Paul in WWE

    As the current WWE United States Champion, Logan Paul has a deep respect for the pro wrestling industry. Logan Paul’s last defense saw him retain in a triple threat match against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 40.

    Logan Paul made a name for himself outside WWE before making his way to pro wrestling. Triple H had to admit that he even laughed at the thought of the YouTuber turned boxer becoming a WWE Superstar.

    After seeing a real dedication to the business, even John Cena sang his praises. He said of Paul, “I wish we had found him years ago and this would be his calling. I’m glad he’s found us, because he fits perfectly in what we do here.”

    Samantha Irvin’s WrestleMania 40 Performance

    WWE fans noticed Irvin’s voice crack at the end of WrestleMania Sunday as she announced Cody Rhodes as the new Undisputed WWE World Champion. She had to fight through real tears to make that call to the Lincoln Financial Field crowd. 

    Samantha Irvin’s name trended during WrestleMania 40 due to her fantastic job as ring announcer. The legendary Michael Buffer even gave her flowers after seeing how she owned the microphone, even through genuine emotions.

  • Michael Cole Encourages WWE Broadcasters to Find Their Own Voice

    Michael Cole Encourages WWE Broadcasters to Find Their Own Voice

    WWE picks their announcers carefully, as they are responsible for providing a soundtrack for the action in the ring. Everyone has their own voice, and Michael Cold has helped the company in significant ways.

    Michael Cole entered WWE in 1997, and he has remained a part of the company since then. First as a backstage interviewer, he eventually made his way to the commentary table, where he never left.

    WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph spoke with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV insider, where he revealed that Michael Cole wants to help each WWE commentary team member discover who they really are.

    “Michael Cole is the greatest of all time. I’ll say it again. He is the greatest of all time. I’ve learned so much from him. Here’s the thing about Michael Cole. He doesn’t want me to be Michael Cole. He doesn’t want Corey Graves to be Michael Cole. We all have our own distinct voices. It’s how you as a listener hear it.”

    “When I went to NXT, I didn’t want to be Mauro [Ranallo]. I don’t want to be Michael Cole. I want to be myself. But if you’re the greatest of all time why would you not want to pick a few things from them? There is no quarterback in the world that’s not looking at Tom Brady’s mechanics or Patrick Mahomes’ footwork. If you don’t study people who are the greatest, I think it’s foolish if you don’t. I will take as much as I can from Michael Cole and Corey Graves, for that matter, and mold it into my own. Then hopefully get to their level.”

    WWE Commentary Teams

    The company has several television shows, with different commentary teams on each program.

    • WWE’s RAW: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. 
    • WWE SmackDown: Corey Graves and Wade Barrett  
    • NXT: Vic Joseph and Booker T 
    • NXT Level Up: Blake Howard and Byron Saxton 
    • Main Event: Blake Howard and ‘Road Dogg’ Brian James

    WWE will switch around their commentary teams occasionally. The last change came when Kevin Patrick was fired, and that caused the change to what we have today.

    The WWE Draft is coming on the April 26th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The draft will then continue on the April 29th episode of Monday Night Raw. We will have to see how the commentary teams look when the next roster shake-up goes down, but each show has a strong team already.

  • Details On How Rhea Ripley Was Injured

    Details On How Rhea Ripley Was Injured

    Rhea Ripley was forced to vacate her Women’s World Championship after she sustained a “freak injury” at the hands of Liv Morgan on last week’s Raw. She will be away from in-ring action and her recovery time is yet to be determined.

    It is believed that ‘The Eradicator’ suffered the injury when Liv Morgan attacked her backstage and sent her into the wall. ‘Mami’ injured her AC joint where her collarbone and right shoulder are connected.

    Initially, it was believed that the chair shot from Liv Morgan might have caused the injury but the outlet reported that wasn’t the case. 

    Rhea Ripley as Women’s World Champion

    Rhea Ripley has established herself as one of the top stars of the stacked WWE women’s division. She has had a dominant run as the champion and her latest title defense took place against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 40. 

    She captured the Women’s World Championship (then known as WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship) after defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39. Holding the title for 380 days, Rhea eclipsed Bayley’s longest reign of the title (379 days) but her dominating reign has now ended in an unfortunate fashion. 

    It has been announced that WWE will crown a new Women’s World Champion on next week’s Raw which takes place in Columbus, OH. It is currently unknown how the new champ will be determined. 

    We will keep you updated on the situation when more details emerge. Keep an eye on SEScoops for the latest updates.

  • Roman Reigns Spotted Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

    Roman Reigns Spotted Filming Keke Palmer Project Amid Ongoing WWE Hiatus

    It remains to be seen when Roman Reigns will be in the ring again, but the Tribal Chief is keeping busy with a new major filming project.

    The former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The loss marked the end of Reigns’ historic 1,316-day title reign and marked the dawning of a ‘new era’ in WWE which has been referenced several times since WrestleMania. 

    It’s unclear when Reigns will appear on WWE TV again, but he is working on some kind of project with Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer. Taking to Instagram, Palmer, an actress and singer who worked on several acclaimed projects including Jordan Peele’s Nope, shared an image of Reigns as part of an upcoming production. 

    Roman Reigns has dabbled into the world of acting before so this new project isn’t entirely foreign territory for the former World Champion. In addition to several WWE Studios projects, Reigns appeared alongside his cousin The Rock in 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. He has also made multiple appearances on TV in animated roles. 

    What’s to Come? 

    When Roman Reigns eventually returns to WWE, he’ll find a promotion that’s much different from the one he’s left behind. With Reigns gone, Solo Sikoa has taken it upon himself to lead the Bloodline and was dubbed the Tribal Chief by the recently debuted Tama Tonga. 

    Some fans believe that a feud within The Bloodline is coming that’ll see Reigns lead a team against Sikoa’s faction. It’s also been suggested that Reigns will be a face upon returning (though not like he was before.) Cody Rhodes and others have given Reigns his proverbial flowers since WrestleMania with a ‘Thank You Roman’ chant breaking out during the post-WrestleMania 40 episode of Raw.

  • WWE Next Gen Star Julian Baldi Signs with Promotion, Has Been On A “Crazy Ride”

    WWE Next Gen Star Julian Baldi Signs with Promotion, Has Been On A “Crazy Ride”

    Fans can expect to see much more of Julian Baldi as the young athlete has publicly confirmed that he has signed a contract with WWE. 

    Taking to Instagram, Baldi shared the news and shared about his difficult journey to WWE. Visa issues kept Baldi from competing after he was offered a contract and moved to Florida. This led to Baldi “surviving barely on savings” but he is now ready to “make some news” and represent his beloved Italy. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5v3KaJublS

    Baldi was part of the WWE: Next Gen series which airs on The Roku Channel. The show chronicles the journey of young athletes trying to make it to WWE. 16-time WWE Champion John Cena is an executive producer on the show. 

    Baldi has also been competing at WWE NXT live events. His most recent match took place at the April 13 event in Venice, Florida which saw him on the losing end of a six-person tag-team match against Joe Gacy, Dion Lennox, & Drake Morreaux.

    Before coming to WWE, Baldi played Football for Valdosta State University. In 2021, he played in all 14 games for the team and would lead VSU to the program’s sixth national championship game and third-straight Gulf South Conference title. 

    Like many before him, Baldi is ready to trade in his football career for a future in a wrestling ring. As seen in the clip above, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque believes that the next Roman Reigns could be among the crop of talent as part of WWE Next Gen. As for whether Baldi reaches the heights of the Tribal Chief, that remains to be seen. 

  • Man Suing WWE & AEW For Plagiarism Lands Behind Bars, Asks Judge To Pause Lawsuit

    Man Suing WWE & AEW For Plagiarism Lands Behind Bars, Asks Judge To Pause Lawsuit

    A man who waged a lawsuit against WWE and AEW for plagiarism is now behind bars and has he asked the judge to pause his suit. Anthony Duane Wilson filed a request with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 10th to pause his lawsuit because he is currently incarcerated. This request for a stay could delay the proceedings against WWE and AEW until Wilson’s circumstances change, or he is able to participate in the legal process.

    Wilson penned a letter to the judge, as obtained by PWInsider. In the writing, he asked for his lawsuit against WWE and AEW to be paused, since he cannot properly handle things at this time. He has also already sunk a lot of money into the proceedings.

    “Due to my current state of being incarcerated at Trumbull County Jail, located at [deleted], I am unable to properly handle and follow the status of this case in a timely manner at this time.”

    “I ask the court to grant my request to stay the case because I have put forth alot of my time and money to file the lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling, and being that I am of self representation and cannot do it properly at this time, see it necessary to file this motion.”

    “I seek this stay not for the purpose of delay but that justice may be done.”

    The Lawsuit Against WWE & AEW

    Anthony Duane Wilson initially filed a lawsuit against WWE and AEW in August 2023, seeking $250 million in damages and the return of his intellectual property.

    WWE and AEW were accused of using his wrestling concepts—like gimmicks, names, slogans, and likenesses—without permission. He claimed this infringement hindered his plans to start his own wrestling company, which also allegedly affected negotiations with Bullet Club members.

    Wilson argued that the unauthorized use of his work caused him a variety of damages, which includes lost market opportunities. He also alleged that a conspiracy was at play, where the greater pro wrestling companies were out to derail his plans.

    The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Benita Y. Pearson on November 3rd, 2023, because neither defendant was served within the required 90 days after the lawsuit was filed in August. The dismissal was without prejudice, which allowed Wilson to re-file the lawsuit.

  • Rey Mysterio On His Daughter Reuniting With CM Punk, Winning the WWE Title (Exclusive)

    Last year, Rey Mysterio was honored as one of the inductees in the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class, while also battling his son, Dominik Mysterio on the grand stage of WrestleMania 40. This year, Mysterio found himself facing Dominik once again only this time in tag team action.

    SEScoops correspondent MuscleManMalcolm caught up with Mysterio at the WWE media day in Philadelphia ahead of WrestleMania, Mysterio revealed that his daughter recently reunited and reconciled with CM Punk after the two worked together on WWE television over a decade ago.

    Rey Mysterio’s Daughter Aalyah Reunites With CM Punk

    Back In 2010, Rey Mysterio was immersed in a storyline with the leader of Straight Edge Society, CM Punk. It was a memorable storyline that’s still talked about today, due to its personal nature.  On one occasion, Punk confronted Rey in the ring, daring him to fight him in front of his family. He also mockingly sang “Happy Birthday” to Rey Mysterio’s daughter, Aalyah Gutierrez.

    We asked Rey Mysterio about this angle and he revealed that Aalyah and CM Punk reconnected in person earlier this year backstage at a WWE live event. Despite their rocky past, Mysterio says they “got along great” and it’s awesome that they get along now.

    “Believe it or not, she went to the show in San Diego for New Year’s, January 1st, and she knew that CM Punk was there. She goes, ‘Dad, can I take a picture with Punk?’

    I said, ‘Let me tell him,’ and he was very ecstatic that she wanted to take a picture with him. They took a picture together. They got along great. So it was awesome. They get along now.”

    A long time has passed since 2010, but Punk never forgot about Aalyah Mysterio (or her birthday). Last summer, when Mysterio wished her a Happy Birthday on Instagram. Punk trolled them both with a special message.

    Grateful For Short WWE Title Reign

    Rey Mysterio has held many championships throughout his storied career, including the coveted WWE Championship, which had been vacated in July 2011. He won a tournament to crown a new champion on  the 7/25/11 episode of WWE Raw. He wouldn’t have much time to celebrate, as John Cena dethroned him by the end of the night.

    His reign with the industry’s top prize lasted a matter of hours, but he’s still proud to be amongst greats like Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan.

    “It was such a cool moment,” Mysterio said. “Moments that definitely stand out for the rest of your life. Just to be able to say I had it, whether it was like you said, for that moment being, it’s just such a cool experience. You are now attached onto the legacy books.”

  • The Undertaker Fired Up Over Muhammad Ali-WWE HOF Backlash

    The Undertaker understands the backlash surrounding his induction of Muhammad Ali into the WWE Hall of Fame earlier this month. 

    The Dead Man played a pivotal role in this year’s WrestleMania and discussed the entire weekend in-depth on his Six Feet Under podcast. The Undertaker shocked fans by appearing in the Bloodline Rules main event to lay the smack down on The Rock one more time. The experienced provided him a sense of closure on his decades-long WWE career. However, the weekend was not without controversy.

    Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was a cultural icon and a highly controversial figure. Much of the conflict surrounded his unwillingness to conscript in the US Army during the Vietnam War back in 1967. The Undertaker says some people called him out and even questioned his patriotism for honoring Ali. He has a special message for those folks, as you can read below. 

    “I mean, my goodness!”

    The Dead Man explained that even through he doesn’t agree with Ali’s decision to avoid serving in the US military when called upon, he is still able to recognize what Muhammad Ali accomplished as a boxer and humanitarian.

    “I was there and I was so tickled to be there and be able to induct Muhammad Ali. I’m glad you brought that up. So I got a little heat from part of the veteran community. For people that don’t know, Muhammad Ali, I don’t know who wouldn’t know this, but Muhammad Ali refused to go into the army.

    He didn’t want to go to Vietnam. He didn’t see why that he was gonna go 6000 miles away from home to fight somebody that had no….and he didn’t do it and he ended up losing everything. To be honest, for a large part of my life, I resented Ali over that.”

    “But the thing when you look at everything that Muhammad did and not even the athletic end of it, not even the boxing side of it, but the things that he did as a humanitarian and everything. I don’t agree, I still don’t agree with not going. Your country asked you to go do something, you could do it.

    That’s how I am and I wouldn’t, but when you think about the conviction that he must have had in the beliefs, such a strong belief in what he thought was right and what he thought wasn’t. He gave up everything.”

    The Undertaker shares strong political opinions and knows that many people disagree with. However, he’s not going to stand for anybody hurling insults at him or questioning his loyalty to the United States of America.

    “I think too it was like ‘I thought Undertaker was a patriot.’ Man, kiss my ass! Kiss my Patriot ass. It just rubbed me a little bit. There are a lot of reasons.. I get some of it but to give me hate over inducting Muhammed Ali. I mean, my goodness.”

    Muhammad Ali registered for conscription in the US Army on his 18th birthday in 1962. As a result of his refusal to join the Army for the Vietnam War, the New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license.

    The World Boxing Association then stripped him of his title and other boxing commissions followed suit. A case was also registered against Ali but his conviction was reversed by the Supreme Court in 1971.

  • Philadelphia Would Love to Host WrestleMania Again, Will Have Conversations with WWE

    Philadelphia Would Love to Host WrestleMania Again, Will Have Conversations with WWE

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will not be the last time that Philadelphia hosts the annual two-night mega-show if those in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ have anything to say about it. 

    The April 2024 Premium Live Event marked the launch of WWE’s ‘new era’ and has proven to be a hit with fans. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, Larry Needle, executive director of the PHL Sports division shared his eagerness to see WrestleMania return to the city. 

    “We know there’s a long line of cities clamoring to host, and that’s just the reality of an event of this magnitude. But needless to say, we would be thrilled to have WrestleMania back, and at the right time we will engage in those conversations with the WWE.”

    It’s hardly a surprise that those in Philly would love to host WrestleMania once again. The show is estimated to have made as much as $200 million for the city, local tourism officials told Axios prior to the event. 

    WrestleMania’s Future

    If Philadelphia does host a WrestleMania in the future, it is unlikely to be next year. Minneapolis is said to be the favorite to host WrestleMania 31 at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings.

    Fans in the United Kingdom are hoping to see a WrestleMania in their country at some point in the future. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance and shared his intention to bring WrestleMania to London. If successful, it’ll be the third WrestleMania outside of the United States and the first outside of North America. 

  • Gable Steveson & Tamyra Mensah-Stock Qualify For Paris Olympics, Not Expected to Compete

    Gable Steveson and Tamyra Mensah-Stock have qualified for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team but that doesn’t guarantee that fans will see them in Paris this summer.

    Both WWE signings have qualified for the upcoming games though neither are listed as competing, the Wrestling Observer Daily Update reports. It’s added that neither competitor was expected to compete given their WWE standings. While Mensah-Stock hadn’t shown any public interest in competing at the upcoming games, Steveson had suggested that he was seriously considering a role at the events in Paris, France. 

    Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 shortly after his gold medal victory at that year’s games in Tokyo. That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, becoming the first Superstar to be drafted without having a match. 

    After having no matches as a Raw Superstar, Steveson would eventually make his in-ring debut as part of NXT Great American Bash 2023. That show saw a much-criticized double count-out draw against Baron Corbin though he has been picking up wins at live events. 

    Mensah-Stock signed with WWE in May 2023 and made her in-ring debut with the promotion in March 2024 at a WWE NXT live event. While Steveson’s development was slower than WWE had hoped, the same can’t be said about Mensah-Stock.

    Training for the Olympics would have required the whole focus of Steveson and Mensah-Stock and would have put any WWE training or plans by the promotion on pause. By opting not to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, it appears both are making clear that they are committed to their roles as WWE Superstars in the making. 

  • Hope For Coyote Vs. Acme? WBD Says Claim John Cena Film Is A Tax Write-Off Is “Inaccurate”

    Hope For Coyote Vs. Acme? WBD Says Claim John Cena Film Is A Tax Write-Off Is “Inaccurate”

    Movie-goers may still yet see Coyote Vs. Acme after a Warner Bros. Discovery source rejected the notion that the film had been destroyed as a tax write-off. 

    In November 2023, it was confirmed that WBD had nixed the project despite filming having been completed for some time. This led to a ton of backlash against WBD and efforts by audiences for the film to be released in some format either in cinemas or online. 

    While it had been rumored that the final cut of the film had been destroyed, that no longer appears to be the case. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery told The New York Times that claims the notion that the film is being destroyed to facilitate a tax write-off is “inaccurate.”

    In December 2023, it was reported that Netflix and Paramount had made formal bids to try and gain the rights for Coyote Vs. Acme. WBD is said to want more than $70 million for the project which would cover the cost of the initial tax write-off. Amazon is said to be mulling over the project. 

    Coyote Vs. Acme

    The much-anticipated film features Wile E. Coyote of Looney Tunes fame hiring a lawyer to sue Acme, the creator of his many gadgets and traps that often backfire. John Cena was set to play Coyote’s former boss at Acme.

    Coyote Vs. Acme wasn’t the only film WBD nixed, supposedly for tax write-off reasons. Other projects that were canned include a Scooby-Doo animated film that was finished, as well as a live-action Batgirl film that was set to feature Michael Keaton’s return to the role of Batman. 

  • Becky Lynch Pokes Fun At Time-Off Rumors Ahead Of WWE European Tour

    Becky Lynch Pokes Fun At Time-Off Rumors Ahead Of WWE European Tour

    Becky Lynch is excited to be a part of an upcoming WWE tour of Europe, despite what some on social media would have you believe. 

    Following Lynch’s loss to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania, some online suggested that she would be taking time off. These rumors were galvanized after it was reported that Lynch’s husband Seth Rollins would be taking time off following his own loss at WrestleMania 40. 

    Taking to Twitter, Lynch poked fun at the notion that she is going to be out of the ring for a significant amount of time. When the WWE UK promoted Lynch for an upcoming tour, Lynch feigned surprise given that “the internet” had said she was taking a break. 

    Becky Lynch’s Contract Status

    While Lynch doesn’t plan on taking a break from the action (regardless of what the internet may have to say) her time with WWE is ticking away. The former Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Women’s Champion recently disclosed that her current deal will expire within a couple of months. She also revealed that she is confident that WWE will come up with a new deal for her to consider. 

    As one of the biggest female wrestling stars in history, WWE would be wise to keep Lynch on board. There’s no word publicly on whether Tony Khan has his sights set on the man though acquiring The Man would be quite the acquisition to AEW’s women’s division. 

    Lynch will ultimately do what’s best for her and has said that she doesn’t think a full-time role in the ring will be for her when her daughter Roux starts school. Wherever The Man goes next, fans should enjoy her while they can.

    Becky Lynch’s future may be uncertain, but you can find all about her incredible journey in wrestling and life so far.

  • Artist Rob Schamberger Excited For A New Chapter In His Career After Revealing WWE Exit

    Rob Schamberger, the artist behind many epic pieces of WWE artwork, is looking forward to the future after wrapping up his time with the promotion. 

    Taking to Instagram, Schamberger shared the news that he has parted ways with WWE and was appreciative of the opportunities the promotion had provided him. He also shared his excitement for the new chapter of his life that is set to begin.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5zf-KYrTBi

    Schamberger was the official ‘WWE Artist in Residence’ but was still allowed to work outside the promotion. While Schamberger operates an independent store, most of his WWE artwork was purchased by the company to be sold through their official channels. Schamberger also hosted the Canvas 2 Canvas show on the WWE Network and the promotion’s YouTube channel in which he’d unveil portraits of past and current Superstars. 

    WWE Departures

    Schamberger is the latest notable name to part ways with WWE as of late. In recent days, Dan Ventrelle left the promotion after years as WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. He had been associated with Nick Khan and Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. 

    The same day as Ventrelle’s exit, Trent Wilfinger, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development also left the promotion. He had been with WWE since the summer of 2021. 

    One of the most notable names to leave WWE recently was Sue Aitchison who had been with the company since 1986. Aitchison was a key figure in WWE’s community outreach efforts and played a pivotal role in developing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. She also appeared at WWF Backlash 2001 as the ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ for a match between William Regal and Chris Jericho in which the Duchess’ rules greatly favored the British wrestler. For her (non-Duchess) work, Aitchison received WWE’s Warrior Award in 2019.