SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • WWE Superstars To Go Head-to-Head On Upcoming Celebrity Edition Of Family Feud

    WWE Superstars To Go Head-to-Head On Upcoming Celebrity Edition Of Family Feud

    The Superstars of WWE will be able to flex their game-show muscles as part of an upcoming episode of Celebrity Family Feud. 

    Taking to Twitter, Bianca Belair shared some photos from the taping and revealed that she is the captain of her team which consists of Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega. 

    The quintet of women will be up against Belair’s husband Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight. 

    In a tweet of his own, Austin Theory was his usual cocky self at the Celebrity Family Feud taping. 

    It’s also worth noticing that Sonya Deville was part of the taping and did not need any sort of leg brace. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion has been out of action since June 2023 with an ACL injury, and the fact that she was able to do this taping unimpeded suggests that a return to the ring may be in the near future. 

    WWE On Game Shows

    WWE appearances on Family Feud date as far back as 1992. In 2022, Rey Mysterio led a team of his family against The Miz. Team Mysterio would feature Dominik mere months before he turned on his Hall of Fame father to join The Judgment Day. 

    WWE Superstars have also appeared on The Weakest Link, with Triple H, Kane, and Xavier Woods proving their mental superiority in separate episodes. Superstars have also appeared on Wheel of Fortune. 

    The fact that WWE Superstars are set to appear on the show is another sign of the promotion’s ongoing popularity in the mainstream. With WWE firing on all cylinders right now, expect more big moves by the Superstars both in and out of the ring. 

  • Shawn Michaels Calls AJ Styles His Dream Match But Believes Window of Opportunity Has Closed

    Shawn Michaels Calls AJ Styles His Dream Match But Believes Window of Opportunity Has Closed

    Shawn Michaels would have loved for the chance to step in the ring with AJ Styles but believes the time for such a dream showdown has come and gone. 

    Styles didn’t officially join WWE until 2016, at which point Mr. WrestleMania had been retired for close to six years. Speaking recently to Gorilla Position, Michaels was asked about his dream match and set his sights on the Phenomenal One. 

    “I think the one I really want to see is me and AJ. That’s where I go with. It’s also, as you know, more talent comes along and you start looking at them. I always, I still do it now. I look at them like ‘Oh boy. I could do cool stuff with him.’  But I think AJ, I think AJ and I [have] got similar styles and stuff like that so I always feel that would be what people would want to see. So that would be my go to [answer.]”

    When asked if there’s a chance of the match happening or if it’ll remain in WWE 2K24, Michaels admitted that there’s slim chance of either possibility. 

     “Well [for] one, I couldn’t even play it in the game now. That’s how slow I am. But I think that time has passed. It’s time for generations to move on.”

    The Dream Match

    This match never happened, though not for lack of trying by the Phenomenal One. During a 2019 interview with WWE, Styles revealed that he requested a match with Shawn but Michaels said he couldn’t do anything about it at the time.

    Ultimately, the match can’t happen these days, and even if it could, Michaels would not be able to go at the level he did 20+ years ago. Nevertheless, the two men have forged incredible careers in their own rights. 

  • The Rock Thanks Everyone For WrestleMania 40

    The Rock Thanks Everyone For WrestleMania 40

    The Rock sure must feel cool because he has indeed helped make “pro wrestling cool again.”

    ‘The People’s Champion’ caught wind that WWE WrestleMania 40 became Peacock’s most streamed entertainment event ever in it’s short history and it caused ‘The Final Boss’ pause. He took the time to thank all the viewers who put their eyes on the app last weekend.

    “Thank you to everyone who tuned in. Pro wrestling is in my blood and it was an honor to help build and deliver this event to the world. – The Final Boss

    During the night one press conference of WrestleMania, The Rock was asked if he had a specific moment when he felt it was the right time to make his way back to WWE. The Rock noted that it was the moment when Ari Emanuel, the owner of Endeavor, gave him a ring on the phone to tell him that he was going to buy WWE. That’s when the two decided to work out.a strategy.

    The Rock Can Also Thank Cody Rhodes

    While The Rock was undoubtedly a major piece to the WrestleMania 40 puzzle, so was his night one dance partner in Cody Rhodes, who ultimately “finished the story” on night two against Roman Reigns.

    “The American Nightmare” doesn’t just have the “Cody Crybabies” to make his case, but Rhodes has the actual numbers to back it up.

    Over WrestleMania weekend, Cody has sold over $1 million of merchandise and after WrestleMania went off-the-air, he was the most Googled Superstar, even above ‘The Final Boss’ himself.

  • Jey Uso To Face Judgment Day Member Ahead Of His WWE World Title Match

    Jey Uso To Face Judgment Day Member Ahead Of His WWE World Title Match

    Jey Uso won’t be able to rest on his laurels despite being the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

    Uso earned that right on the WWE RAW after WrestleMania as he defeated Drew McIntyre, Bronson Reed and Ricochet in the main event with a little help from CM Punk. However, now it appears Jey may need a little extra help as he’s got more than Damian Priest to deal with.

    WWE announced that on this week’s RAW, Jey Uso will face Finn Balor in singles action. Balor is fresh off a tag team loss as he, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh were defeated by Awesome Truth and John Cena. WWE’s announcement for Balor vs. Uso is below:

    Just one week after becoming the No. 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, “Main Event” Jey Uso will take on Damian Priest’s teammate Finn Bálor.

    Uso is looking to capture his first singles title in WWE, but standing in his way of getting to Priest is Bálor as well as the looming threat of “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.

    Will Jey Uso make it to his championship match against Priest? Find out live on Monday Night Raw at 8/7 C on USA!

    Could We See Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso Reunite?

    Jey Uso isn’t The only former Bloodline member to have his back against the wall. Just this past Friday on SmackDown, Jimmy Uso was beat down big time by Solo Sikoa and the debuting Tama Tonga, all but officially kicking him out of The Bloodline.

    Jey defeated Jimmy at WrestleMania 40, but not before Jimmy tried pulling a fast one on his younger twin brother. However, now that Jimmy had a massive reality check, we may see the brothers form an alliance once more soon enough.

  • Ronda Rousey Admits To Hiding Concussion History From WWE

    Ronda Rousey has not been afraid to speak her mind since her WWE exit, but ‘The Baddest Woman On The Planet’ doesn’t have her former company in her future plans moving foward.

    Speaking on Steve-O’s “Wild Ride” podcast, Rousey opened up about her lengthy history with concussions all the way back from her early days of Judo and MMA training.

    Rousey mentioned how she has suffered so many concussions that she became very susceptible to them as time went on. While in the UFC, Rousey didn’t clue Dana White in on her symptoms, noting that she had to keep a winner’s mentality in order for herself to be successful in the octagon. She said White would also force her tor retire if she did reveal that she was getting concussed. Ronda noted that sometimes even the smallest strikes would cause concussions.

    “Stephanie McMahon and Nikki Bella slapping me with an open hand would give me a concussion. I couldn’t say anything.”

    Ronda Rousey Remained Quiet When Moving To WWE

    Ronda Rousey eventually did head to WWE in 2018, but much like she did with UFC, didn’t open up about her concussion history. She knew if she did she wouldn’t be stepping into the squared circle.

    “When I wanted to go to WWE, they’ve had such a complicated past with concussions and stuff like that. They wouldn’t hire me if they knew it was that point. If I let them know how often I was getting concussions, they wouldn’t let me perform in matches. I had a lifetime of experience hiding the fact that I was concussed all the time. So, yea now I can finally talk about it because I don’t think I’ll be wrestling for WWE ever again.”

    Rousey also did mention that her family has a history of Alzheimers and dementia and that remains one of her greatest fears.

    Credit to “Wild Ride with Steve-O” and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

  • WWE Makes Production Call To Cut Down On Use of Augmented Reality

    WWE Makes Production Call To Cut Down On Use of Augmented Reality

    Augmented and virtual reality became a huge fad that is still picking up speed. That being said, WWE is going to pump the brakes on some of those virtual visuals that fans see on a weekly basis.

    WWE plans to reduce the use of Augmented Reality content in its weekly RAW and SmackDown shows, per PW Insider. Although this technology will still appear occasionally, its presence will mainly be limited to Pay-Per-View events.

    One source reportedly mentioned that the recent episode of SmackDown is likely the final time Augmented Reality will be used regularly. Additionally, as part of these changes, WWE is expected to reduce its staff and the amount of equipment, such as production trucks, at its events.

    This change marks a shift from its previous frequent integration into weekly programming, indicating a new strategic approach to the use of Augmented Reality in WWE broadcasts.

    WWE’s Use of Augmented Reality

    WWE has really done up the augmented reality during Superstar entrances, with a majority of those setups involving some form of the practice. Judgement Day, The Bloodline, and Cody Rhodes all feature large objects on screen that are only available for fans at home.

    Other Superstars like Becky Lynch may also see their augmented reality effects nixed with this move. The company has already stopped using some, as Drew McIntyre no longer carries Angela around, so he doesn’t get a big AR sword anymore. 

    As Endeavor shifts WWE into whatever the new era of the company looks like, augments reality will become a rarity. This might bring a more realistic aspect to the product as things appear to have a real-fight feel rather than a spectacle for every single entrance.

  • Big E Neck Injury Update: He May Never Wrestle Again, But is Pain Free & Happy

    WWE fans are hoping for Big E to deliver positive news about a return to wrestling. The New Day member is sharing the results from his latest neck scans two years after his career-threatening injury. Unfortunately, he is still not medically cleared to compete — a status that may be permanent.

    The former WWE Champion’s biennial neck scans showed no significant changes. Although his C1 vertebra has healed, it did not form new bone. As badly he wants to get back to his fans, he accepts he may never wrestle again. He feels blessed to be pain free and maintains a grateful outlook on life.

    Big E’s Injury and WWE Career

    In March 2022, The New Day found themselves feuding with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. During their match on the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Holland performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Big E at ringside, causing the New Day member to land on the top of his head. He was immediately stretchered out and taken to a hospital.

    Later, Big E announced on social media that he had broken his neck, specifically fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Fortunately, there were no ligament or spinal cord injuries, and surgery was not necessary.

    Big E has stayed active with WWE through his injury as an ambassador and doing community work for the company. He has also helped out with some recruitment and sat in during tryouts as a scout. Big E has a lot to offer the business, even if his days in the ring are over.

    He recently made an appearance alongside Kofi and Xavier once again at the WWE Hall of Fame as they inducted Thunderbolt Patterson.

    During his WWE career, Big E raked up several championships, including the WWE Title for a 110-day reign. On top of two reigns as IC Champion, Big E also won the NXT Title in 2012, beating inaugural champion Seth Rollins in the early days of the brand.

    In the tag team category, he earned the RAW Tag Team Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team belts six times as a member of the New Day. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods used the “Freebird Rule” with the titles as a trio as they cycled out who defended on each night. 

  • NXT UK Assistant General Manager Sid Scala Released From WWE

    NXT UK Assistant General Manager Sid Scala Released From WWE

    The new era of WWE will not go ahead with Sid Scala as the British Superstar has been cut from the company.

    Scala’s exit was first reported by PW Insider. He had been a part of WWE ever since the launch of the NXT UK brand in 2017. As part of the brand, Scala would serve as the Assistant General Manager to British wrestling legend Johnny Saint. 

    Scala would have a handful of matches as part of NXT UK and would rack up an unfortunate 0-5 record in WWE. His final match as part of the company would see him lose to Kassius Ohno as part of the September 1, 2019, tapings.

    Outside of WWE, Scala has wrestled for PROGRESS Wrestling and CZW, as well as the defunct Global Force Wrestling. His most recent match was a loss at PROGRESS Chapter 97 in October 2019. 

    WWE Exits

    Scala is the latest name to have left WWE recently. Mere hours before his exit from WWE went public, it was reported that Sue Aitchison had left the company after a 38-year run. Aitchison had been WWE’s Director of Community Relations and had been crucial in WWE’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. She also portrayed the ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ at Backlash 2001. 

    Dan Ventrelle also recently left WWE and had been the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development has also parted ways with the company. 

    The post-WrestleMania season is usually the time when WWE undergoes ‘spring cleaning’ and releases talent they aren’t using. While this is a new era, it remains to be seen if more follow Scala in the days to come. 

  • Beloved Employee For Over 38 Years Released By WWE

    Beloved Employee For Over 38 Years Released By WWE

    WWE traditionally makes personnel cuts following the WrestleMania season. With the 40th “Show of Shows” now concluded, several significant internal changes are underway.

    Sue Aitchison, the long-standing Director of Community Relations at WWE, has parted ways with the company, according to PWInsider.com. 

    Her departure follows the recent exits of two other high-profile employees: Dan Ventrelle, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, who was released on April 11, and Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, who also left earlier this week.

    Sue Aitchison’s Contributions to WWE

    Sue Aitchison was not only the longest-serving employee at World Wrestling Entertainment but also a 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Warrior Award recipient. Joining in 1986, she dedicated over 38 years to the company as the Director of Community Relations. 

    Sue Aitchison receives the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award

    Aitchison was instrumental in spearheading WWE’s community outreach, notably enhancing the company’s relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and initiating various community projects such as the WrestleMania Reading Challenge.

    Her outstanding work with Make-A-Wish was honored with the Chris Greicius Award in both 2006 and 2016. Aitchison’s departure is viewed by many as the end of an era in WWE history.

    WWE’s Pattern of Releases

    As WWE continues to evolve under its new leadership, the pattern of releasing key team members remains apparent. Historically, Vince McMahon would announce a series of roster cuts post-WrestleMania. 

    In recent years, these cuts have typically been postponed until after WWE’s event in Saudi Arabia, but precede the annual draft. 

    The next WWE Draft is scheduled for April 28 (SmackDown) and May 1 (RAW), and it remains to be seen if further roster cuts will be announced following this series of internal changes.

  • Vince McMahon’s Remaining TKO Group Holdings Shares Registered for Sale

    Vince McMahon’s Remaining TKO Group Holdings Shares Registered for Sale

    The Vince McMahon era is indeed coming to an end as the ex-WWE Chairman’s remaining shares in TKO Group Holdings have been listed for sale. 

    A filing published on April 12 revealed that 8,021,405 TKO shares belonging to Vince McMahon had been registered for sale. This allows for the shares to be bought and sold with less administrative friction. This move doesn’t necessarily mean that Vince will be selling all of his shares, although he might. Should every share be sold, it would mean that McMahon has no official stake in TKO Group Holdings.

    This move comes mere days after McMahon sold 1.642 million shares to Endeavor while TKO purchased 1.853 million shares. These two sales earned McMahon an approximate $293 million. 

    McMahon unloaded 5.35 million shares in early March and sold 3.48 million more shares that same month. With his 8,021,405 shares, McMahon retains a 4.7% stake in TKO. 

    A New Era Dawns

    McMahon’s selling of shares comes at a pivotal time for WWE as the promotion continues to distance itself from the former Chairman. Over WrestleMania week, there was a lot of talk of a ‘new era’ in WWE with Stephanie McMahon calling this the ‘Paul Levesque Era’ during WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

    It’s hard not to notice this ‘new era’ both on WWE programming and behind the scenes. WWE’s changes to its on-screen production have been praised by fans who appreciate the new style of Lee Fitting who has replaced company veteran Kevin Dunn. Behind the scenes, Dan Ventrelle has left WWE as the company’s Head of Talent Relations with Triple H and Shawn Michaels overseeing both talent and talent development. 

  • You Forgot About Us: WWE Continues Ominous Teases On 4/12 Post-WrestleMania SmackDown

    You Forgot About Us: WWE Continues Ominous Teases On 4/12 Post-WrestleMania SmackDown

    The WWE Universe was once again given an ominous message via a ‘glitch’ as part of the April 12, post-WrestleMania 40 edition of WWE SmackDown. 

    The glitch occurred during a tag-team match pitting Chelsea Green & Piper Niven against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Though it appeared for a fraction of a second, eagle-eyed fans were able to spot the message ‘you forgot about us.’

    What does this message on WWE SmackDown mean? 

    This wasn’t the only bizarre message in store for the fans who attended WWE SmackDown in Detroit. Before the show, eerie music was played, and the video screens displayed the WWE SmackDown logo in black and white. 

    What Does This Mean? 

    These incidents at the April 12, episode of WWE SmackDown aren’t the only bizarre sightings as of late. During the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw, a ‘glitch’ during a promo with ‘Big’ Bronson Reed bore the message ‘hello.’

    The prevailing theory among fans is that this is setting up the return of Uncle Howdy, who was portrayed by Bo Dallas in 2022 and 2023. The character was introduced following Bray Wyatt’s return at WWE Extreme Rules 2022 but was pulled from TV alongside Wyatt in early 2023. As one fan with a good memory pointed out on Twitter, Howdy previously described himself as ‘us’ during a segment. 

    The ‘us’ line has also had fans speculating that Uncle Howdy will not return alone, and that Alexa Bliss’ return to programming may be drawing near. Bliss was once associated with Wyatt but hasn’t competed in over a year due to pregnancy. The former Women’s Champion gave birth to daughter Hendrix last year. Before plans were nixed due to Bray’s illness, there were reported plans for a ‘Wyatt 6’ faction that would’ve included Uncle Howdy. 

  • Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After (4/12) SmackDown Went Off Air

    Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After (4/12) SmackDown Went Off Air

    Cody Rhodes wasn’t made fully aware of all the perks of being the top champion in WWE and he actually got surprised by his pyro during the dark match entrance after SmackDown went off air.

    The American Nightmare opened tonight’s show. He first talked about his Universal Championship win and then confirmed that he will be defending the title at the upcoming Backlash: France event.

    The new champion came out once again for a dark match after the show went off air. He successfully defended his title against ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio and cut a promo for the crowd after the match was over:

    What Happened On SmackDown

    Elsewhere in the show we also saw a huge change in the order of the Bloodline. While Roman Reigns wasn’t present for the episode, Paul Heyman alongside Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso were involved in a segment.

    Heyman first claimed that they take accountability for the WrestleMania loss. Before he could finish his promo, however, Sikoa took the mic and declared that losing has consequences. This was in reference to Jimmy losing his WrestleMania 40 match against brother Jey Uso.

    A hooded figure then appeared out of nowhere and beat down Jimmy Uso, essentially kicking him out of the faction. The figure revealed himself as the newest member of The Bloodline – Tama Tonga.

    Solo and Tonga delivered a brutal beatdown to Jimmy and the segment ended with Heyman joining them while they returned to the back.

    Elsewhere in the show, we also saw Bron Breakker winning his first singles match after saying goodbye to NXT and Jade Cargill teaming up with Bianca Belair for a victory over Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

  • Tiffany Stratton Cosplays As ‘Clueless’ On SmackDown

    Tiffany Stratton Cosplays As ‘Clueless’ On SmackDown

    Tiffany Stratton is ready to light up the SmackDown roster, and she did so with some special gear this week. The former NXT Women’s Champion rocked ring attire that paid homage to her “Clueless” character roots.

    Stratton wore a black and yellow outfit on SmackDown this week. Corey Graves dropped “as if” on commentary during that segment for a reason. Her look was very close to Alicia Silverstone’s famous costume from the classic teen comedy.

    Previous WWE Superstar Tributes

    WWE Superstars will pay homage to their favorite pop culture. Johnny Gargano is known for paying tribute to a variety of comic book characters. Becky Lynch famously wore a tribute to The Bride from Quintin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film.

    Of course, when you’re talking about cosplay, you can’t forget about Zelina Vega. The LWO member has dressed up as several video game and anime characters for years.

    Tiffany Stratton was born in 1999, years before “Clueless” was released in 1995, but that film is obviously a big part of her roots. Her tribute was certainly noticed on the blue brand’s show this week.

    What Happened This Week

    Bayley made her way to the ring, ready to embrace what is next after defeating IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Then Stratton entered the situation on SmackDown this week as she interrupted Bayley’s first promo as WWE Women’s Champion.

    Stratton wanted to cash in on an open challenge from Bayley, but the champion didn’t offer one. The former Damage CTRL leader wanted to face Naomi, and The Glow soon came down to claim a match with Stratton, one that the former Knockouts Champion won.

  • Tama Tonga Joins The Bloodline on 4/12 SmackDown, Jimmy Uso Kicked Out

    Tama Tonga Joins The Bloodline on 4/12 SmackDown, Jimmy Uso Kicked Out

    WrestleMania is in the rearview mirror, and WWE has been known to re-stack the deck. This week’s SmackDown included a big change for The Bloodline as Jimmy Uso was kicked out to make room for Tama Tonga.

    It is a new era for the Bloodline. The Rock is gone after WrestleMania, although he did promise to return for a match against Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns is also taking a break after losing his title.

    There is a new Bloodline, and Paul Heyman is reluctantly on board.

    Bloodline Changes After WrestleMania 40

    The Bloodline took to the ring this week on SmackDown, and they had a lot to address. The Wise Man Paul Heyman spoke about Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE World Title at WrestleMania.

    Suddenly, Solo Sikoa cut off WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman’s speech on SmackDown this week to make his own announcement. He called attention to Jimmy Uso and how he should be reprimanded for losing. Then Solo hugged Jimmy in the ring while saying, “you’re my brother, I love you.“

    Jimmy Uso is coming off a WrestleMania loss to his brother, Jey Uso. There are punishments for losing, and they made that point very clear when Tama Tonga jumped in the ring to attack Jimmy.

    After a brutal beat-down in the ring, which included wrapping a chair around Jimmy’s head in the corner followed by a running hip attack from Solo, brought a new chapter in the Bloodline saga.

    Paul Heyman famously said that we were only in the “bottom of the 3rd inning” at SummerSlam last year. We have to wonder where they are in the ballgame after this development after WrestleMania 40.

    The Wise Man looked scared in the corner, fearing that he was next in line. That beatdown on Heyman did not happen, as Solo brought him to join him and Tama as they did the Bloodline sign. Heyman, although a bit hesitant, did the pose alongside them.

    Who is Tama Tonga

    Roman Reigns and Tama Tonga are not related, but they share a connection through their Polynesian heritage. Tonga, real name Alipate Fifita, is of Tongan descent, while Reigns is Samoan, both belonging to the broader Polynesian cultural group. He is son of legendary pro wrestler Haku.

    Tama entered WWE after having a lengthy run in NJPW, where he won many titles along the way. He has won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times with Tanga Loa. Tama is a four-time NEVER Openweight Champion and has won the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship four times.

    He’s been on WWE’s radar for a while, but NJPW kept him locked in a contract. Needless to say, The Bloodline has a huge boost with Tama in their ranks.

    There are other potential future Bloodline members possibly on their way. Jacob Fatu and Zilla Fatu, who is Umaga’s son, are always possibilities. From the way they splintered things off, it looks like Jimmy Uso could use an ally to fight the new Bloodline now.

  • WWE SmackDown Preview (4/12): Cody Rhodes, Bayley & WrestleMania Fallout

    Tonight’s 4/12 WWE SmackDown takes place from Detroit, Michigan at the sold-out Little Caesars Arena. Over 13,000 wrestling fans will be on hand to witness the fallout from WrestleMania 40 and the start of a new era on Friday nights.

    Here’s what WWE is advertising for the show: 

    • Cody Rhodes will appear
    • Bayley will celebrate her championship win at WrestleMania

    Plus, a mini-tournament will also kick off tonight to determine the #1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. We’ll see two triple-threat matches, with the winners squaring off next week to determine the next challenger:

    • Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles
    • Santos Escobar vs. LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley

    This is expected to be an eventful show. WWE always shakes things up after WrestleMania with new storylines and feuds. The Bloodline is in utter turmoil following WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns has been conquered, The Rock is leaving again and Paul Heyman needs to figure out what to do with himself with the Tribal Chief cast into exiled. Could we see a New Bloodline emerge?

    Looking Ahead

    WWE DRAFT: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW. So, we only have a limited time left with these current rosters.

    BACKLASH: WWE Backlash: France takes place Saturday, May 4 from Lyon, France. Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match on Raw to become  the next challenger to new World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. While not confirmed, this clash is expected for Backlash.

  • IShowSpeed Gets Revenge On Randy Orton For RKO At WrestleMania

    Randy Orton landed an RKO on IShowSpeed at WrestleMania 40. It didn’t take Speed long to get his revenge, but it didn’t happen in a traditional ring.

    During a WWE2K24 livestreaming session, IShowSpeed faced off against the Viper while using a created character in his own likeness. When he delivered a devastating RKO to the digital Apex Predator, Speed erupted with his trademark enthusiasm.

    IShowSpeed at WrestleMania 40

    WrestleMania 40 was a two-day spectacle featuring a few notable celebrity appearances. Everyone knew someone had to be in that Prime bottle costume as it accompanied Logan Paul to the ring. KSI was under a similar disguise last year, and this year IShowSpeed took a turn.

    After the social media influencer ran his mouth a bit, Randy Orton seized an opportunity that many with they could as he nailed Speed with an RKO on the announce table. It didn’t break, but the Lincoln Financial Field crowd popped for the viral spot.

    Those shenanigans worked, because they all led to Logan Paul retaining the United States Title on the grandest stage of them all. Paul made Speed a Prime endorsed influencer after that before gifting him a Tesla Cybertruck.

    It remains to be seen whether Speed will make a return to WWE television at this juncture, but he might want to squash things with Randy Orton outside the video game realm.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-FowE4epw

    Who is IShowSpeed

    IShowSpeed started his YouTube channel in 2016, initially posting gameplay videos sporadically. By December 2017, he began to livestream and share videos primarily focused on games like NBA 2K and Fortnite, though initially attracting only two viewers on average.

    His channel’s growth accelerated dramatically over time, hitting significant milestones of 100,000 subscribers in April 2021, 1 million by June 2021, 10 million by July 2022, and reaching 20 million subscribers in August 2023.

    He racks up millions of views, creating viral moments at every turn. As of March 2024, the 19-year-old’s net worth is approximately $12 million. 

  • Why ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Missed WrestleMania 40

    Why ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Missed WrestleMania 40

    The ‘Bloodline Rules’ stipulation of Sunday’s WrestleMania 40 main event between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns allowed for several exciting surprise appearances. The jam-packed Lincoln Financial Field erupted when John Cena and the Undertaker made surprises appearances to assist the American Nightmare.

    Many fans were expecting to hear the infamous ‘glass shatter’ and see Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring for one more confrontation with his greatest rival, The Rock. As it turns out, WWE did negotiate with Austin regarding this exact scenario. Unfortunately, the two sides could not come to a financial agreement, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    In the months leading up to wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year, Austin was addressed the possibility of another WrestleMania appearance. He kept some hopes alive by saying “never say never,” but now we know why it didn’t materialize.

    Steve Austin shocked the wrestling world by coming out of retirement at WrestleMania 38 (2022) and competing in his first match in 19 years.

    It started with Kevin Owens calling out Stone Cold and inviting him to appear on the KO Show at WrestleMania 38. Austin accepted, but when he showed up for a talk, Owens had other plans in mind. An impromptu No Holds Barred match broke out and Austin got to show it’s still a very bad idea to cross him.

    Bloodline Rules

    Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a match contested under ‘Bloodline rules.’ The specific rules were not laid out in person, but it was essentially a no-disqualification match.

    The relaxed rules allowed for plenty of outside interference, with members of the Bloodline backing Reigns, and John Cena, The Undertaker and Seth Rollins evening the odds.

    In the end, Rhodes ‘finished his story’ and ended the Tribal Chief’s historic championship reign at 1,316 days. 

  • Daily Drop (4/12): AEW Faces Backlash Over CM Punk Footage, Zelina Vega Accused Of Ripping Off Artists

    Daily Drop (4/12): AEW Faces Backlash Over CM Punk Footage, Zelina Vega Accused Of Ripping Off Artists

    Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, April 12.

    We are a day removed from AEW releasing CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In fight footage, and that’s still the biggest talking point. Fans are also still mixing in their own audio tracks, and there is no shortage of great contributions out there.

    Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop…

    WWE:

    – Big Departure In Talent Relations: Dan Ventrelle, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, was let go on April 11. He had joined WWE years ago and was closely associated with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque within the company.

    – Another Notable WWE Exit: Trent Wilfinger, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, also left on the same day. He started at WWE in summer 2021, focusing on Global Athlete Strategy & Development under Paul Levesque. Before joining WWE, he worked for over ten years at the fitness company EXOS.

    – R-Truth’s Family Tragedy: Truth updated fans on Thursday to let them know that his cousin, Rosco, had a stroke. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

    – Zelina Vega Called Out: The LWO member was accused of underpaying artists for their work on her ring gear. She since came out to deny the allegations, and she said she will present proof of her innocence.

    AEW:

    – Send Hook: SEScoops ran an exclusive about Hook’s AEW contract status. His deal is running up and WWE is interested in him.

    – AEW Pay-Per-Views: We now have a comprehensive list of AEW pay-per-views scheduled for the rest of 2024.

    – Sting After Retirement: We ran a story about Sting’s plans after his retirement from AEW. His last match saw him retain the AEW World Tag Team Titles with Darby Allin at Revolution against The Young Bucks.

    – AEW Dynamite Viewership: AEW saw a viewership boost with their 4/10 episode. It looks like the hype behind that CM Punk and Jack Perry footage paid off.

    – AEW Disliked: The AEW YouTube page cut out the actual CM Punk and Jack Perry fight footage. That did not go over well with fans.

    – Don’t Shame Cole: Adam Cole fired back at fans who continue to body-shame him.

    Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

    • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

  • Zelina Vega Denies Accusations Of Unfairly Paying Artists — Claims To Have Evidence

    Zelina Vega was accused of commissioning work and not paying the artist in full. She has responded to deny the accusations against her, while promising to release more information that proves her innocence. 

    A prop maker named mecha_musume on Instagram accused Zelina Vega of underpaying them for WrestleMania gear. They claim to have created, printed, and decorated several items for the LWO member, such as a Mecha Chancla, cuffs, Mech wings, and a headset.

    After her experience, Mecha Musume said of Vega, “As a Puerto Rican, you are literally a disgrace and 100% not for your people, let alone small businesses.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5oAeGvrdVC

    Another artist named Sangre came forward to share their account of working with Zelina Vega. They also provided a screenshot along with their post.

    This new accuser said that they did not ask Zelina Vega for any monetary compensation, but she did get them backstage at a WWE event. The screenshot featured a conversation between the two, where Vega said she “would have” offered more work to the artist if they didn’t have this conversation about payment.

    https://twitter.com/sangrebomb/status/1778481485747822946

    Zelina Vega Responds

    Vega addressed this situation on Twitter/X. She promised to clear things up later, and she claims to have receipts.

    This controversy gave her a reason to reactivate her Twitter/X account. “Screenshots, photos & videos to come. Last thing my husband and I are, are scammers, so! Time to make things clear. Alllll of it,” Vega posted.

    Zelina Vega is outright denying that any shady business went down between her and costume designers. We will have to see what kind of evidence she has, but many fans are already commenting to point out that her accusers came with screenshot evidence as a part of their statement.

  • AEW’s HOOK Plans To Explore Free Agency This Year, WWE Interest (Exclusive)

    AEW’s HOOK Plans To Explore Free Agency This Year, WWE Interest (Exclusive)

    A popular second-generation pro wrestler is poised to let WWE and AEW compete for his talents. SEScoops has learned that HOOK (Tyler Senerchia) is interested in exploring his options in free agency once his contract with All Elite Wrestling expires later this year.

    A source familiar with WWE’s recruitment strategy commented, “I can see WWE clearly being interested in him.”

    Hook is the son of wrestling legend and AEW broadcaster Taz. He joined AEW in 2020 and is known as the ‘Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil.’ The 24-year-year-old from  achieved a great deal during his young career. He’s in his second reign as FTW Champion, a title introduced by his father in ECW.

    HOOK has not only improved his in-ring skills but has also shown a level of innate charisma that you either have or you don’t. Time at the Performance Center and integration into WWE’s unparalleled talent development system could significantly boost his long-term prospects.

    Wrestling free’s agency market is currently booming, with WWE and AEW both aggressively pursuing talent and offering substantial sums to secure contracts. 

    Recently, AEW has had notable success, signing wrestlers like Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, Kazuchika Okada, and Adam Copeland. Meanwhile, WWE has attracted Giulia and several former AEW stars including CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Andrade, Brian Pillman Jr., and Shawn Spears.

    The landscape could shift dramatically soon once again, as the contracts of WWE stars Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins and Sheamus are set to expire in the coming months.

  • WWE’s Shayna Baszler Obtains Black Belt Ranking in Judo

    Shayna Baszler has proven yet again that she’s not somebody to mess with after achieving the rank of black belt in Judo. 

    The news was shared by the Tampa Florida Judo Academy on Instagram that Baszler had achieved her black belt ranking by martial arts expert Dr. Rhadi Ferguson. Baszler was described as “one of the most accomplished athletes in the world of combat sports.” 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5mxsycMI7K

    Baszler’s accomplishment in Judo shows her dedication, skill, and pursuit of excellence in the world of combat sports. This hard work has evidently paid off for the ‘Queen of Spades’ who is considered one of the most legitimate fighters in WWE today. 

    Shayna Baszler: The Real Deal

    Shayna Baszler’s toughness cannot be denied whether in the world of professional wrestling or in combat sports. In WWE, she is a two-time NXT Women’s Champion, a three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and the 2020 Women’s Elimination Chamber winner. 

    Outside of the squared circle, Baslzer competed in the UFC after winning the 2013 reality show The Ultimate Fighter. She is also trained in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 

    Her MMA training would come at the hands of former UFC fighter Josh Barnett. It’s therefore fitting that Baszler mixed her love of wrestling and MMA at Barnett’s Bloodsport X event where she earned a hard-fought victory over TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. 

    Away from combat sports, Baszler has competed in roller derby, a sport that sees plenty of scrapes and injuries to its competitors. It’s therefore for the best that Baszler, the head coach for the Sioux Falls Roller Dollz, is also a certified EMT. 

  • Changes to Raw & SmackDown Stages Here to Stay As WWE Prioritizes Fan Attendance

    Changes to Raw & SmackDown Stages Here to Stay As WWE Prioritizes Fan Attendance

    A significant production change we saw earlier this week on WWE Smackdown and WWE Raw will continue.

    WWE utilized scaled-down productions setup for last week’s SmackDown, the night before WrestleMania Saturday, and Monday’s post-WrestleMania edition of Raw. Instead of a large stage, screen and ramp, the company opted to use a format that allowed the company to sell more tickets to the events. According to PWInsider, this approach will be “the norm moving forward.”

    This slimmed-down production setup is expected to be used on the June 28, episode of WWE SmackDown from Madison Square Garden.

    Changes to WWE Production

    This is the latest change in a broader overhaul to WWE’s approach to production. Following the departure of longtime production head Kevin Dunn, WWE appointed Lee Fitting for that position. The changes have been remarkable and unanimously well-received.

    WWE events will also look different in the ring moving forward. As fans saw at WrestleMania 40, the PRIME Energy logo was emblazoned on the ring mat in a historic first for WWE. This logo will feature on the mat for future Premium Live Events, a significant reversal of longstanding policy.

    WWE’s on-screen product will undergo its biggest change in January 2025 when Raw is moved off of broadcast television and begins streaming on Netflix. The $5 billion dollar deal will help the company remain at the cutting edge of TV and live event production.

  • Logan Paul Surprised IShowSpeed With A Tesla Cybertruck After WrestleMania RKO

    Logan Paul Surprised IShowSpeed With A Tesla Cybertruck After WrestleMania RKO

    IShowSpeed may still be feeling worse for wear after WrestleMania 40, but the popular YouTuber will have no problem getting around with his new Cyber Truck. 

    On YouTube, Speed shared a video of himself being gifted the vehicle by the Maverick. Paul said the truck was a gift for Speed’s help at WrestleMania which saw him take an RKO from Randy Orton on the English-commentary announce table. Speed was overjoyed with the gift and took the truck for a test drive and accidentally ran over the bow. 

    IShowSpeed Gets an RKO at WrestleMania

    Speed was dressed as the PRIME Energy mascot at WrestleMania 40 and aided Paul in his triple-threat match against Orton and Kevin Owens. The spot was similar to WrestleMania 39 which saw PRIME Energy co-founder KSI dress in the costume and try and help Paul out. Like IShowSpeed, that would backfire and he’d be sent through the announce table. 

    PRIME & WWE

    WWE and Prime Hydration struck a record-setting global partnership deal in March 2024 to make PRIME the company’s Official Hydration Drink Partner. The agreement also extends to the UFC, WWE’s ‘partner’ company as part of TKO Group.

    At WrestleMania 40, the synergy was on full display. Randy Ortton delivering an RKO to influencer IShowSpeed dressed in a PRIME Energy bottle costume went viral on social media. 

    Wrestling fan also couldn’t miss the PRIME Energy logo emblazoned on the WWE ring mat, a historic first that we’ll see plenty more of in the future. TKO executives have spoken about their plans to continue ramping up the sponsored branding the ringside area. 

    Prime Product Placement

    Logan Paul

    As for Logan Paul, his U.S. Championship reign remains intact with fans wondering what’s next for him. Paul was chosen to reveal that WWE SummerSlam 2024 will take place this August in his native Cleveland, Ohio. 

    Paul didn’t waste any time drumming up attention for the event by calling out one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, NBA kingpin LeBron James:

  • Will Ospreay Fires Back At Triple H’s “Not In It For The Grind” Insult

    Will Ospreay Fires Back At Triple H’s “Not In It For The Grind” Insult

    Will Ospreay took Triple H’s comments about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE personally. He returned fire on the 4/10 episode of AEW Dynamite.

    While speaking to the Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend, Triple H said, “When I see people trying to make it, and they pick the job where they go, ‘Well I work less and the schedule’s lighter,’ okay I’m glad I didn’t get you. Because if you’re not in it for the grind in that point in your career, you have no business being here.”

    Will Ospreay cut a promo on AEW Dynamite, where he answered Triple H’s comment about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE.

    “Normally I wouldn’t rise to this type of bait, right? But seeing how the guy who said it is only in the position because he was grinding the boss’ daughter, you have no business telling me what the grind is all about, my friend, because you have no idea what I fight for.

    It Was Ospreay’s Idea

    Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that it was all Will Ospreay’s idea to throw a dig at Triple H into the promo on Dynamite. He collaborated with the creative team on the promo. The media’s recent portrayal of him confused wrestlers from various organizations. A WWE member noted his efforts to honor the process and WWE, despite choosing AEW for his family’s benefit.

    AEW’s Recent Signings

    AEW signed three big names in a row with Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone. All of those stars were talking to WWE at one point, and they decided to take Tony Khan’s deal instead.

    Mone and WWE came to a financial roadblock. She signed an incredibly lucrative deal with AEW, one that is reportedly the largest woman’s deal in pro wrestling history.

    AEW locked down Kazuchika Okada with a three-year contract valued at approximately $13.5 million. Okada is earning about $4.5 million a year with his All Elite deal.

    Will Ospreay has been open about why he turned down a WWE contract. Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE, but he emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

    “I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

  • WWE’s Grayson Waller Trolls AEW Over Tease Of CM Punk All In Footage

    WWE’s Grayson Waller Trolls AEW Over Tease Of CM Punk All In Footage

    AEW is set to air footage from CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl and WWE star Grayson Waller couldn’t resist a little trolling on social media. Waller referenced tonight’s highly-publicized release of AEW All In footage by teasing a scandalous video of his own.

    Waller claims he and SmackDown tag team champion partner Austin Theory recently beat ip the entire WWE locker room backstage and the whole thing was captured on video. 

    There are several pro wrestlers from WWE, AEW and beyond who have proven to be experts and hurtling insults online. Waller recently took aim at NXT star Lexis King and compared the second generation star to the infamous Tiger King.

    SEScoops published an in-depth article about the footage that AEW will air on the 4/10 episode of Dynamite, including all the supporting information for this controversial chain of events.

    It seemed highly unlikely that the AEW All In footage would ever see the light of day, Tony Khan has doubled-down on his pledge to deliver what fans are expecting. 

    Naturally, the pro wrestling world is giving this situation a lot of attention, and that includes those in WWE.