SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Jade Cargill, Naomi & Bianca Belair Triumph Over Damage CTRL at WWE WrestleMania 40

    Jade Cargill, Naomi & Bianca Belair Triumph Over Damage CTRL at WWE WrestleMania 40

    The trio of Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Bianca Belair proved to be a force to be reckoned with by emerging victorious at WWE WrestleMania 40.

    In the fifth match of WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, the trio dispatched of Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Kairi Sane.) The finish of the match saw Asuka accidentally mist Kairi Sane before the Empress of Tomorrow was dispatched of by Bianca Belair. Cargill would then level Dakota Kai to get the win for her team. 

    You can check out some highlights from the match below.

    The Storm is Here

    Going into this six-woman tag-team match, there was a lot of interest in how Jade Cargill would fare at her first WrestleMania. It wasn’t long into the match that “We Want Jade” chants rumbled throughout the massive crowd inside Lincoln Financial Field. Cargill certainly looked like she belonged in the ring at WrestleMania 40 and fans can expect the Storm to be at many WrestleManias and other Premium Live Events to come. 

    Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023 and was immediately treated as a massive high-profile acquisition for the company. Before arriving in WWE, Cargill made her name in All Elite Wrestling, where she was the first AEW TBS Champion. Her 508-day reign with the gold remains the longest title reign of any champion in AEW history.

  • Jey Uso Wins ‘Uso Civil War’ Over Jimmy Uso At WWE WrestleMania 40

    Jey Uso Wins ‘Uso Civil War’ Over Jimmy Uso At WWE WrestleMania 40

    WrestleMania usually features high-profile stories, as they reach a climax at the show of shows. This year saw two twin brothers face off in a dream match for a lot of fans.

    Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso battled at WrestleMania 40. In the end, Main Event Jey Uso was able to topple his twin brother Jimmy and win at Lincoln Financial Field.

    The Match Finish

    Near the end of the match, Jimmy Uso got on his knees and begged for forgiveness, and Jey accepted it, only to eat a superkick from Jimmy. This resulted in a near fall, as they also teased an Usos reunion in the process.

    Jey nailed a spear after that and climbed up top to nail a splash for the win. This was a clean win, where Michael Cole proclaimed that “Jey Uso wins the Uso Cival War!”

    WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi was mentioned several times throughout this match for a reason. He is the father of Jimmy and Jey Uso, along with Solo Sikoa as well.

    Jimmy and Jey Uso entered WWE together, and they were inseparable for the longest time. Then, a knee injury in 2020 caused Jimmy to miss a lot of action, but Jey continued as part of Roman Reigns’ Bloodline story. By the time Jimmy returned, fans knew that the twins were destined to throw down. That went down at WrestleMania 40.

    Special Entrance

    Lil Wayne was a part of Jey Uso’s entrance, but he didn’t do much. He did not debut any new song, and only did around four bars of A Milli before Jey came out. It was still fun to see Weezy on the grandest stage of them all.

    Weezy is in the middle of a world tour right now, with a few more dates scheduled out until June. You may find more information about Lil Wayne’s tour schedule here.

  • Jason Kelce & Lane Johnson Assist Rey Mysterio & Andrade In Getting The Win At WrestleMania 40

    Jason Kelce & Lane Johnson Assist Rey Mysterio & Andrade In Getting The Win At WrestleMania 40

    WWE usually brings massive names in for WrestleMania events. This tradition was no different for the 40th anniversary of the showcase of the immortals. 

    Rey Mysterio and Andrade teamed up at WrestleMania 40 to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio. In the end, two unexpected WrestleMania guests got involved. 

    During the tag team match, two massive luchadors showed up at ringside. They helped Mr. 6-1-9 and Andrade win the match. Then the two masked men revealed themselves to be Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson.

    WrestleMania 40’s Importance For Jason Kelce

    This was a big surprise for the Lincoln Financial Field crowd, as the pro football players celebrated with Rey Mysterio and Andrade. In the end, both Kelce and Johnson also tore off their shirts in the midst of the excitement. 

    Jason Kelce played 13 seasons in the NFL, and in every one of them, he was the starting center for the Eagles. At 36 years old, he is now retired and he had a great time at Mania.

    It was previously reported that WWE had reached out to Jason Kelce about making an appearance at WrestleMania 40. Travis Kelce apparently couldn’t make it, but they were able to land the former Eagles center for the show of shows.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back throughout the show, and afterward for more headlines!

  • A-Town Down Under Win SmackDown Tag Titles At WrestleMania 40, Awesome Truth Win Raw Tag Gold

    A-Town Down Under Win SmackDown Tag Titles At WrestleMania 40, Awesome Truth Win Raw Tag Gold

    The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships are no longer thanks to the six-pack tag-team ladder match at WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday. 

    The match was the second of the night at WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday and was presented by Wheatley American Vodka. The match began with both the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships being hoisted separately, leaving fans speculating that the titles would be split up. 

    This theory was all but confirmed when R-Truth suggested that he and The Miz go for the SmackDown Tag Titles and leave DIY to go for the Raw Tag Tea, Championships. Neither team would be able to grab the gold though. Instead, it was Grayson Waller who captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, and Samantha Irvin confirmed that A-Town Down Under officially were the champs of the blue brand. 

    This win marks the first Tag Title Championships for A-Town Down Under. It also marks Waller’s first championship victory in WWE and Theory’s first taste of gold since holding the WWE United States Championship in 2022. 

    New Raw Tag Team Champions

    With the SmackDown Tag Team Titles captured, all attention turned towards the Raw Tag Team Championships. In the end, Awesome Truth captured the gold, ending the reign of the Judgment Day. This win marked the first tag title win for Awesome Truth as a team, though both men have held tag gold with other partners in the past. This was also Truth’s first win at a WrestleMania. 

  • WrestleMania 40: Rhea Ripley Retains Women’s World Title After Grueling Battle Against Becky Lynch

    WrestleMania 40: Rhea Ripley Retains Women’s World Title After Grueling Battle Against Becky Lynch

    WWE sold out the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for WrestleMania 40. This was an epic show, and they kicked things off with a Women’s World Title match.

    Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch opened up WrestleMania 40 with their Women’s World Title match. The crowd was hot and ready to go, and they got an impressive opening match in the process.

    After a grueling contest, Rhea Ripley defeated Becky Lynch to retain the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. This will continue her reign as she carries on with over a year as champion.

    The Match Finish

    At one point, mid-way through the match, Lynch nailed the Man-Handle Slam, but Ripley kicked out at two. Then, Rhea Ripley nailed a Riptide, but Becky Lynch kicked out in return. After they kicked out of each other’s finishers, things picked up even more.

    Ripley was eventually caught in the Dis-Arm-Her, but she lifted Lynch up, and they went tumbling over the top rope to the outside with an electric chair drop. Becky kicked out after a massive frog splash from Ripley when they returned to the ring, and the two continued until she nailed Lynch with a Riptide onto the turnbuckle, followed by a second in the middle of the ring for the win.

    Becky Lynch won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth to get this title shot. Rhea Ripley’s championship reign was at 371 days as she walked into the showcase of the immortals.

    Special WrestleMania 40 Entrances

    Both Ripley and Lynch received special entrances. The Man’s entrance was themed around her book, “Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl.”

    The Nightmare received a musical entrance as Motionless In White rocked out before the champion made her way out.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of the WrestleMania 40 event. Keep checking back for more headlines throughout the show, and after.

  • Trick Williams Defeats Carmelo Hayes In Historic NXT Stand & Deliver Main Event

    Trick Williams Defeats Carmelo Hayes In Historic NXT Stand & Deliver Main Event

    WWE brought an action-packed show for NXT Stand & Deliver. The main event match certainly brought it on every level, as Trick Williams sought vengeance on Carmelo Hayes.

    Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams battled in the main event of NXT Stand & Deliver. They made history in the process as the first-ever all black main event for an NXT premium live event. In the end, Trick Williams defeated Carmelo Hayes in the middle of the ring.

    The crowd was on fire for this match, which included a few notable close call two-counts. Trick Williams and Melo avoided each other’s finishers, but then Melo nailed his Nothing But Net diving ax-kick for a two-count.

    Ava told the referee to give the two stars leeway in this match, because she wanted to see a definite winner.

    They kept going, and Melo started to use a chair, until Trick Williams landed his trick shot knee to Melo’s face, and he got the clean pinfall after that.

    The Wells Fargo Arena crowd chanted “Whoop that trick” loudly as he celebrated during the closing moments of the premium live event. This was a historic win for Williams, as it elevated him in a huge fashion.

    Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes’ History

    After the two were a duo for the longest time, Trick started teasing the idea that he wanted to break off on his own while still remaining friends, which he eventually did. Hayes didn’t take the split too well.

    Hayes shocked everyone by admitting he was the one who had attacked Williams back in October 2023. The two were enemies from that point on, and things escalated in a hurry.

    At NXT: Roadblock on March 5, Tony D’Angelo used Williams’ entrance music to distract Hayes during their match. Tony D won that match to become #1 contender, and then Trick attacked Melo for real after the match.

    The conflict between Hayes and Williams intensified the next week on NXT when Williams challenged Hayes to a match at NXT Stand & Deliver. 

  • Roxanne Perez Defeats Lyra Valkyria For NXT Women’s Title At Stand & Deliver

    Roxanne Perez Defeats Lyra Valkyria For NXT Women’s Title At Stand & Deliver

    WWE has focused on this weekend for months now, and we are finally here. Roxanne Perez knew that she had to giver her all to walk out of Philly as champion, and she did just that.

    Roxanne Perez battled Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Women’s Title at NXT Stand & Deliver. In the end, Perez won the title in front of a packed Wells Fargo Center crowd.

    Roxanne Perez eventually latched on her crossface submission, and Lyra had no choice but to tap out after trying to get out multiple times.

    Perez’s Road Back to the NXT Title

    This marks Perez’s second reign as NXT Women’s Champion. She will start this reign as the company prepares to debut a new NXT Women’s North American Title as well. It will be interesting to see who steps up to face her next, and who vies for the new title.

    Perez’s journey had its highs and lows. She entered her first Royal Rumble match on January 28, 2023 as NXT Women’s Champion. Then, at Vengeance Day, Perez successfully defended her title in a triple threat match against Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne. She then beat Meiko Satomura at Roadblock, but collapsed after the match. She required medical attention and was written off television after that.

    Perez declared her intent to defend her title at Stand & Deliver, however, she lost the title to Indi Hartwell in a ladder match at the event.

    Following unsuccessful attempts to reclaim the title, including a triple threat match at Spring Breakin’, Perez entered the NXT Women’s Championship Tournament at Battleground. Despite defeating Jacy Jayne in the first round, she was defeated by Stratton in the semifinals.

    The 22-year-old Prodigy was distracted from the title chase after that for a while, but she eventually turned back around to focus her eyes on gold once again.

    Roxanne Perez’s road back to the NXT Women’s Title took over a year. Since her heel turn, she has showed a brand-new side for her character. Her heel promos have focused on how WWE paid more attention to Becky Lynch as champion instead of her.

  • Giulia Debuts at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024

    Giulia Debuts at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024

    WWE has brought in some of the best talent from all over the world, and now we have confirmed that Giulia is one of them.

    Giulia was spotted in the audience just before the NXT Women’s Title match featuring Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez. This was the first time she has been seen on screen in NXT.

    WWE has historically debuted new Superstars in the crowd during premium live events. They could change Giulia’s name at this point, but they did refer to her as her previous pro wrestling moniker in the nameplate as she stood up to take in the Wells Fargo Center crowd.

    Giulia’s STARDOM Exit

    Rossy Ogawa was ousted from STARDOM, and Kairi Sane saw the writing on the walls, so she got out early. Rossy’s release was the final nail for some talent in the company to leave. Giulia was one of those stars.

    In early February, news surfaced that Giulia opted to postpone her WWE debut in order to honor her commitment to aid STARDOM founder Rossy with his latest venture. Prior to this, Giulia had expressed her intention to address outstanding matters in Japan before transitioning to WWE.

    Since arriving in America, she has received props for her attempts to learn English. She will start on NXT, where she will likely be a prominent face for the brand.

    With NXT introducing a new Women’s North American Championship soon, Giulia’s arrival might be right in time to get into that mix. 

  • Bray Wyatt Statues Revealed At WWE World, Uncle Howdy’s Return Teased at Panel

    Bray Wyatt Statues Revealed At WWE World, Uncle Howdy’s Return Teased at Panel

    Two new statues of the late Bray Wyatt have been unveiled at the WWE World convention taking place in Philadelphia, PA ahead of WWE WrestleMania 40. 

    Bray Wyatt tragically passed away in August of 2023 after being pulled from programming earlier that year. The three-time WWE World Champion was 36 years old and tributes have poured in for Wyatt ever since. 

    At WWE World, WWE unveiled two statues of the late wrestler. One depicts Wyatt from his 2022 return to WWE, holding a lantern and a mask. The second depicts Wyatt during his time as ‘The Fiend’ which was a hit with audiences from 2019 until his WWE release in 2021. It also features a Fiend-inspired lantern. 

    The Return of Uncle Howdy

    At WWE World, a panel was hosted highlighting the life and career of Wyatt. The panel included some of the people who knew Bray best, including Big E, Natalya, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, The Undertaker, his widow JoJo Offerman, and Wyatt’s brother Bo Dallas, among others. 

    The panel proved to be an emotional event for the guests and the fans and there was a tease at the very end of the festivities. On a screen, a video was shown, teasing the return of Uncle Howdy. 

    Dallas played Uncle Howdy on WWE TV shortly after Wyatt’s return to the promotion in 2022. It’s unclear when or how WWE will reintroduce the Howdy character to TV. During the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Bo and his sister Mika paid tribute to Wyatt during their induction speech for the US Express. 

  • WWE NXT Women’s North American Title Unveiled During Stand & Deliver

    WWE NXT Women’s North American Title Unveiled During Stand & Deliver

    WWE is adding another title to the mix for NXT, and this is a long-awaited addition to the women’s division.

    During NXT Stand & Deliver, Ava appeared for a huge announcement after the six-women tag team match. The Rock’s daughter lauded the women’s division before revealing that they will be crowning a new women’s champion soon.

    Ava announced they will be crowning a new NXT Women’s North American Title. This announcement was very well-received by the Wells Fargo Center crowd.

    They followed this announcement up with Lyra Valkyria’s NXT Women’s Title defense against Roxanne Perez.

    Fans have wanted another women’s title in NXT for a long time. Now, they are finally getting their wish. The NXT North American Title has already developed a reputation of producing great matches and elevating its champions. Now, the women’s roster will get a shot.

    It was not announced when this new title will be crowned, or how they will determine the first champion. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available. 

  • Becky Lynch Fighting A Cold Heading into WrestleMania 40, Special Entrance Planned

    Becky Lynch hopes to stand tall at WWE WrestleMania 40 but The Man is walking into the upcoming two-night mega show a tad under the weather. 

    At WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Lynch will challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. Lynch earned this title shot by winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia last February. 

    Unfortunately for Lynch, she won’t be feeling her best when she performs inside Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. During a Q&A session with the media, Lynch shared that she is under the weather and will be battling a cold when she steps in the ring with the ‘Mami’ of the Judgment Day. 

    Lynch isn’t the only WWE Superstar who isn’t facing the best of luck going into WrestleMania 40. The tour bus of Cody Rhodes recently caught fire but everyone involved is thankfully safe and okay. Rhodes will compete on both nights of WWE WrestleMania 40. 

    A Special WrestleMania Entrance

    During the Q&A, Lynch also disclosed some information about her entrance for WrestleMania 40. The Man said that her new book ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl‘ will be factored into her entrance somehow. This will be a huge marketing opportunity for Lynch. 

    While Lynch will have a special entrance at WrestleMania, the same can’t be said for Bayley. The Role Model had hoped that Paramore would perform as part of her entrance at WrestleMania which lead-singer Hayley Williams was also on-board with. On Twitter, Bayley explained why this wouldn’t be happening and shared a highlight video featuring the band’s hit ‘Simmer.’

  • The Rock As ‘The Final Boss’ Has Electrifed WrestleMania 40 To The Next Level

    The Rock As ‘The Final Boss’ Has Electrifed WrestleMania 40 To The Next Level

    It feels like many moons ago when The Rock showed up on RAW in San Diego to hinder Jinder, doesn’t it?

    WWE and pro wrestling is far from the pop culture heights that the genre reached in the late 1990s, but The Rock is certainly elevating the modern WWE into its own animal. His reinvention into “The Final Boss” just raised the difficulty level from “medium” to “hard” in the “No Mercy N64” of pro wrestling. If the talent is good enough to answer the call, it should cause everybody in pro wrestling to up their game.

    Either way, the fans have greatly benefited from The Rock being back in the fashion that he is. It’s something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Ironically enough ,thats in credit to the “Cody Crybabies” who lamented for ‘The American Nightmare.’

    ‘The American Nightmare’ Perpetuated ‘The Final Boss’

    Rhodes has revived the long-forgotten role of the “ultimate babyface” where he’s the all-American John Wayne type character that his daddy adored. The fans can easily live vicariously through Cody Rhodes because of his willingness to connect with fans in a matter that hasn’t ever been done before on this type of major platform. Hulk Hogan never was the best man at a fan’s wedding nor did Hulkamania run wild at some random five-year old’s birthday party. Cody is putting those “prayers and vitamins” where his mouth is and he’s created a unique connection to people in a time where people are always connected.

    As much as The Rock can cultivate an air of unattainability due to the Hollywood heights he’s reached, Cody can sit down with the father of three living paycheck to paycheck. It creates two ultimate adversaries, both with legacies in the industry and a genuine love for the one true sport.

    And that “unattainability” that The Rock has harnessed is what makes this ‘Final Boss’ persona all the more engaging. We thought Dwayne was past the point of consistently showing up on WWE television, yet here he is – furthering a storyline that has him in a heel role where he’s calling fans inbreds and mocking Cody’s dog. ‘The Final Boss’ was nothing anyone expected, yet something the industry benefits from. WrestleMania 40 could have absolutely rolled right along with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes, but The Rock going ‘Super Shredder’ on his 1998 identity feels every bit of Thanos ready to snap his fingers. That was all the more telling with that entrance Rocky made on Monday before bloodying up Dusty’s youngest boy.

    The big complaint of Rock’s involvement is that it hurts Roman, but “The Tribal Chief” is just one manipulative monologue away from turning the table he claims to sit at the head of. Reigns, if he loses, will only be elevated by an extended exit. The same goes for his older cousin, whose involvement had made us all take the scenic route on the road to WrestleMania.

    Hope you enjoyed the ride.

    Follow Dominic DeAngelo on X @DominicDeAngelo.

  • Tiffany Stratton Wants Main Event of WWE WrestleMania 41 In Home State Of Minnesota (Exclusive)

    WWE has a lot of plans in the pipeline, but they have not revealed where WrestleMania 41 will be yet. Although it’s rumored to take place in Minneapolis, that hasn’t been confirmed by WWE. Tiffany Stratton certainly heard those rumors, and she wants in.

    Tiffany Stratton has attracted a massive amount of attention since debuting on the WWE main roster. She had a standout performance at the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, but she is somehow absent from the WrestleMania 40 card. She wants to change that next year.

    While speaking to SEScoops‘ Muscle Man Malcolm, Tiffany Stratton stated that she wants to main event WrestleMania 41 in Minnesota. She even called her shot, as the girl from Prior Lake, Minnesota wants Charlotte Flair as her opponent.

    “So actually I heard that WrestleMania 41 is going to be in Minnesota, or like it’s rumored to be in Minnesota, and I’m from Minnesota. So, I think night one main event, me against Charlotte Flair.”

    Latest on WrestleMania 41 Location

    WWE has not yet officially announced the location for their biggest event of 2025, which is a departure from their usual practice.

    Recent reports indicate that Minneapolis is the leading candidate to host WrestleMania 41 in 2025. Public statements from city officials strongly suggest this, and an official announcement is anticipated within the next week or two, in line with the customary timeline for this year’s WrestleMania. Minneapolis also reportedly put in a bid to host WrestleMania 41 as well.

    Should Minneapolis be selected as the host city, U.S. Bank Stadium would likely serve as the venue for WrestleMania 41. The stadium, which opened in 2016 and is home to the Minnesota Vikings, boasts a maximum capacity of 73,000 attendees.

  • Triple H: Wrestlers Succeeding Elsewhere Doesn’t Mean They’re Right For WWE

    Triple H: Wrestlers Succeeding Elsewhere Doesn’t Mean They’re Right For WWE

    As WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque is tasked with completing an abundance of responsibilities. Given this increased workload, though, Levesque has admittedly taken a bit of a backseat in WWE’s recruiting department. often leaning on others, such as William Regal, to primarily scout potential future WWE Superstars. Nevertheless, Levesque asserts that he is still keeping tabs on a number of prospective talents. 

    WWE Recruiting

    During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Levesque addressed the process of recruiting potential WWE stars. While he may listen to the recommendations and feedback of the company’s scouts, Levesque prefers to formulate his opinion by seeing a talent’s work with his own eyes. Levesque also pointed out that a talent succeeding in one promotion doesn’t necessarily guarantee that they will flourish in WWE.

    “I get reports on everybody,” Levesque said. “I know who is out there, I know how good they are, I know what their potential is. I see what’s out there. I don’t subscribe to the ‘Oh, this guy says they are good, that guy says they are good.’ I have to see it and feel it. It’s just keeping track of who is out there, how good they are, and what you think they can do.”

    Success In WWE Is Not Guaranteed

    Levesque also pointed out that a talent succeeding in one promotion doesn’t necessarily guarantee that they will flourish in WWE.

    “Because they succeed someplace else, doesn’t mean they’ll succeed at the big time. How many players go from college football at a high level and fail in the NFL? It’s massive. It’s a different game, it’s a different world. If they are not here to be all in on this — like when I see people coming out of trying to make it, and then they pick a job where they go, ‘Well.’ They work less, the schedule is lighter. Alright, then I’m glad I didn’t get you. If you’re not in it for the grind, at that point early in your career, you have no business being here.” 

  • Carmelo Hayes Reveals Origin of His Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ Gimmick (Exclusive)

    Carmelo Hayes Reveals Origin of His Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ Gimmick (Exclusive)

    Everyone has to start somewhere, even HIM. Carmelo Hayes is a breakout star on NXT with a WWE main roster call-up on the horizon, but his current character took a lot of work to find itself.

    While speaking to SEScoops‘ Muscle Man Malcolm, Carmelo Hayes dove into his first-ever pro wrestling gimmick, and where it came from.

    Melo had a Michael Jackson impersonator persona, and HIM recounted that gimmick as something he did to get his feet wet in the pro wrestling business. He eventually became Christian Casanova, a gimmick that was more true to who he really is.

    “The Thriller of New England […] I remember my coach was like, ‘you need something, you need to be something,’ and I was like, ‘I don’t know,’ and he goes, ‘what do you like?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, I like this, this, Michael Jackson,’ and I did a moonwalk or something, and he goes, ‘yeah, play into that.’”

    “I was like, ‘alright I need an identity.’ So, I remember doing that kinda identity and I kinda got stuck in it for a year and some change, and finally I found myself and I broke out. But, it was really to get my feet wet. I used to tell people that all the time. Just to get my feet wet and get comfortable being a character and then after that, I became kinda more true to me.”

    Melo also stated that he has his own barber shop now. He kicked Trick Williams out, and now a guard is stationed at the door to make sure he doesn’t come back. We will see the two collide at NXT Stand & Deliver.

    Carmelo Hayes’ Main Roster Call-Up

    WWE doesn’t want to rush anyone’s call-up to the main roster, especially someone with the potential that Carmelo Hayes has. He is certainly in line for a call-up, but he needs to get Stand & Deliver taken care of as well.

    Hayes was selected by Shawn Michaels to represent NXT in SmackDown’s WWE United States Championship #1 Contender Tournament. In his debut match on SmackDown on December 15, he secured a victory over former rival Grayson Waller in the first round of the tournament. However, Hayes lost to Kevin Owens in the semifinals.

    There are some within WWE who reportedly want to see Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams take their feud to the main roster. Those two, while they were outstanding partners, are even better enemies, and they will prove it on April 6 at the Wells Fargo Center. 

    NXT: Stand & Deliver starts at noon EST. You can check out the updated card below:

    • Singles Match: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
    • NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo
    • NXT Women’s Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez
    • NXT North American Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs
    • NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker (c) vs. Axiom & Nathan Frazer
    • Thea Hail, Fallon Henley & Kelani Jordan vs. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James & Izzi Dame
    • Pre-Show Match: Shawn Spears vs. Joe Gacy
  • Rey Mysterio On WrestleMania Rematch With Dominik: ‘I Have to Teach Him a Lesson Again’ (Exclusive)

    Rey Mysterio On WrestleMania Rematch With Dominik: ‘I Have to Teach Him a Lesson Again’ (Exclusive)

    Rey Mysterio is ready and willing to teach Dominik Mysterio a lesson that he believes the Judgment Day member should have learned last year at WrestleMania. 

    At WrestleMania 39, Rey defeated Dominik in Los Angeles, California, following months of goading by ‘Dirty Dom.’ At WrestleMania 40, the two will face off again in a tag-team match that’ll see Rey team with Andrade to face Dominik and Santos Escobar. Speaking exclusively to SE Scoops, Rey shared his thoughts on being called a ‘deadbeat’ by his son and gave a warning to his opponents. 

    “Man, I’m kind of tired and over it. I thought I’d taught him a lesson last year at WrestleMania. Obviously, he didn’t learn his lesson, or he probably did and just somehow got convinced by Santos [Escobar] ‘Hey let’s go beat up on your dad or at least try to beat up on your dad once again.’ They have no idea what’s coming to them.”

    Dominik and Santos may have “no idea” what’s coming, but up until the April 5, edition of WWE SmackDown, neither did the fans. During the go-home show before WrestleMania, Dragon Lee was replaced by Andrade as Rey’s WrestleMania partner. 

    Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania

    WrestleMania 40 will mark the 12th’Mania match for Rey Mysterio, who made his debut at the event back in 2003 on the pre-show against then-Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy. Rey often has comic-book-themed costumes at WrestleMania and has worn attires inspired by The Flash, The Joker, Captain America, and Mysterio, among others.

    Rey has had some huge victories at WrestleMania, including winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 2006 and the WWE Intercontinental Championship three years later. Despite this, the WWE Hall of Famer currently boasts a less-than-impressive 4-7 win/loss record at the Showcase of the Immortals. 

  • WWE Signing Top Prospect: Giulia Set to Join NXT Brand

    WWE’s NXT brand is likely going to get a new boost of star power, especially on the women’s division. Giulia is close than ever to making her debut for the company, and now we know that she is not main roster bound right away.

    Giulia has long been rumored to be on her way to WWE following a brief stint in Rossy Ogawa’s new promotion. SEScoops can confirm Giulia is slated to join the WWE Performance Center and NXT soon.

    Giulia is slated to finish up her existing commitments before reporting to Orlando, according to Corey Brennan of Fightful.

    Giulia’s Stardom Exit

    Rossy Ogawa, a founder of STARDOM, was terminated from the company, sparking speculation that many top stars would depart. Giulia was one of them, and she did leave the company.

    Giulia had informed STARDOM officials of her departure in March. This came as no surprise to them, given the months of speculation surrounding her potential exit.

    In early February, reports emerged that Giulia would delay her WWE debut to fulfill her commitment to assist STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa with his new promotion. The STARDOM standout had previously stated that she had unfinished business in Japan.

    Now, it appears that she is on her way to NXT soon enough. We do not have any confirmation on when she will be out of her obligations with Rossy, but she is WWE Performance Center bound.

  • Jade Cargill Reveals Multiple Factors Behind AEW Departure

    Jade Cargill Reveals Multiple Factors Behind AEW Departure

    Jade Cargill’s departure from AEW surprised a lot of fans. It did not take long for her to sign with WWE, but the company has certainly waited for the right moment to debut her.

    Cargill is set to team up with Bianca Belair and Naomi as they take on Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 40. That will mark Cargill’s first-ever actual match in WWE, and it will happen on the grandest stage of them all. As her WWE star shines even brighter every week, many believe that AEW dropped the ball with her.

    During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, host Dave LaGreca said that he feels as though AEW didn’t make the most of Jade. When asked if this was a reason for her AEW departure, she confirmed that many factors played into this decision.

    “There are a couple of things that made me go to WWE other than the fact that the machine is ridiculous over here, the connections, the history, the legacy, it’s one of one, you know? AEW was a new company, they’re still figuring things out, obviously. That happens with every company, right? You have to figure out what’s good and what’s bad.” “I’m 31. I don’t have time to grow with the company at my age. I have to be in an established company, and I have to go over there and let it be known, because I can’t do this forever.”

    She said that fans want to see “20 somethings on TV,” and she knew that her time is limited in the pro wrestling business. Jade went on to say that “time was not on my side, and I knew I had to make the best decision for me, and my family.” So, she decided to join WWE.

    Jade Cargill’s AEW Exit

    Tony Khan revealed that AEW offered Cargill more money to stay with them than she asked for. She still decided to do what was best for herself and make the jump to WWE.

    Jade Cargill remained undefeated for nearly three years and was prominently featured by both AEW and WBD as one of their top talents. She was even showcased as the main athlete at the network’s upfronts for the past two years. Despite achieving everything possible in AEW, Cargill felt that only a move to WWE would allow her to reach the next echelon in the pro wrestling business.

    In September 2023, Jade Cargill parted ways with AEW as her contract with the company came to an end. Just days after her departure, WWE secured Cargill with a multi-year contract.

  • Top WWE Prospect Spotted Backstage At 4/5 SmackDown

    Top WWE Prospect Spotted Backstage At 4/5 SmackDown

    WWE is keeping a close watch on the pro wrestling scene, with one major prospect possibly on the horizon. Giulia’s contract with STARDOM reached its end, and she is already on WWE territory for WrestleMania weekend. 

    Giulia, who has been a long-time prospect for WWE, departed from STARDOM. As fans wait for her next move, it appears she may have already made it.

    PW Insider reported that Former STARDOM owner Rossy Ogawa and GIULIA, who WWE has been wanting to sign, were both backstage at SmackDown in Philadelphia for the April 5 episode. 

    Giulia was also spotted at WWE World. So, they aren’t really keeping her necessarily hidden. She has showed interest in WWE for a while, and it appears that she may be getting even closer to that destination. 

    Giulia’s STARDOM Exit

    The STARDOM standout said in the past that she had unfinished business in Japan. So, her WWE debut didn’t come in a hurry, but it may happen sooner than later at this point.

    Rossy Ogawa, one of the founders of STARDOM, was fired, and many top stars were reportedly on the cusp of leaving too. Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Mai Sakurai, and Yuzuki’s contracts ended in March, along with Giulia’s deal.

    Giulia told STARDOM that she was leaving in March, which wasn’t a surprise as there have been rumors about it for a while. Stephanie Vaquer also won the NJPW Strong Women’s Title from Giulia as she was finishing up her time with the company.

    In early February, it was said that Giulia would delay her WWE debut to help Rossy Ogawa with his new promotion. Now, it appears that wait may be over. SEScoops will keep our eye on this story for any further updates.

  • The Rock Explains How His WrestleMania 40 Feud Came Together

    The Rock Explains How His WrestleMania 40 Feud Came Together

    The Rock has been the mastermind behind his recent heel turn that perfectly fits in the storyline involving The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes.

    ‘The Final Boss’ has been promoting WrestleMania 40 and on the Will Cain Show, he revealed that he decided to become the biggest heel of all time after making his massive return to WWE. 

    The Rock discussed WWE fans turning against him when he tried to take Cody’s spot against Roman Reigns. Thereby, he kept the Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes intact but remained involved in the storyline and brought back the iconic ‘Hollywood Rock’ persona.

    “Back in January, I called Nick Khan, our friend. And I said, I have an idea. How about this? Why don’t we take care of the people. Give them this story of Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. And Nick said, great. And I said, however, it’s a little bit of a twist. He said, what’s that? I said, what if I became the greatest bad guy of all time?”

    The Rock is set to make his highly-anticipated comeback to the squared circle at WrestleMania 40. On WrestleMania Saturday, he will join forces with Roman Reigns to face the team of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. 

    The outcome of the match will determine the stipulation for Sunday’s main event. If The Bloodline wins then Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes under ‘Bloodline Rules’. 

    However, if Cody and Seth Rollins win, the next night’s main event will be free of The Bloodline.

    The Rock’s future 

    The Rock’s involvement in the Road to WrestleMania 40 has certainly helped to garner more attention to the ‘Biggest WrestleMania Ever.’ However, it seems his commitments in Hollywood will prevent him from making appearances in WWE following the ‘Show of Shows.’  

    He will soon start filming his next movie, The Smashing Machine which will affect his schedule and he might not be available for WWE dates after the upcoming PLE. 

  • Watch: Bray Wyatt Acknowledged With Touching Tribute At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    Watch: Bray Wyatt Acknowledged With Touching Tribute At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    A heart-touching tribute was rightfully paid to the late WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) at the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Induction ceremony.

    In an emotional segment, the Rotunda Family honored Bray Wyatt, who tragically passed away in August last year. While Wyatt was not inducted, his father, Mike Rotunda, alongside Barry Windham was inducted as part of the U.S. Express.

    Tribute to Bray Wyatt

    Wyatt’s real-life brother, Taylor Rotunda (better known as Bo Dallas in WWE) and his sister Mika Rotunda did the honors of inducting the legendary U.S. Express into the Class of 2024. During the segment, they paid homage to Wyatt.

    “We would be remiss not to take a moment not to acknowledge Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt. He should also be standing on this stage with us tonight. He may not be on this stage. But we know he’s here.”

    After the speech concluded, Mike Rotunda urged the fans to join him and light up their phones like Wyatt’s entrance. This was a fitting tribute to the late superstar.

    “I wish that our son Windham could have been here, he would have liked to see his old man go in the Hall of Fame.”

    The segment concluded with Mike and the crowd lighting up their phones with Bray Wyatt’s entrance song playing in the background.

    This year’s class included Paul Heyman, U.S. Express, Bull Nakano, Muhammed Ali and Thunderbolt Patterson. There had been talks of Bray Wyatt possibly being inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame Class but that didn’t happen.

    Bray Wyatt’s legacy

    Wyatt gained massive success when he revamped his persona as the leader of the Wyatt Family back in NXT. The character would lead him to great heights after joining the main roster where he won the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship. 

    Eventually, he debuted his popular ‘Fiend’ gimmick which was widely well-received by the fans. However, he was released by the company in 2021 but would go on to make his comeback the following year.

    In his returning match, Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match at Royal Rumble last year. Unfortunately, it was his final match before passing away.

    Bray Wyatt is not with us anymore, but his legacy will live on forever. 

  • The Rock Presented With the ‘People’s Championship’ At WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony

    The Rock Presented With the ‘People’s Championship’ At WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony

    The Rock may not have the people on his side anymore, but he was presented with a custom ‘People’s Championship’ at the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 ceremony. 

    The Final Boss was at the ceremony to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of this year’s class. Before this induction though, The Rock was invited to the ring by Lonnie Ali, the widow of the legendary Muhammad Ali. Lonnie spoke about The Rock asking for permission to use the term ‘People’s Champion,’ a moniker that had often been associated with the boxing icon. Lonnie then presented The Rock with the People’s Championship which features the Brahma Bull logo. 

    Who Has Been Called the People’s Champion? 

    While Ali and The Rock have been known as the People’s Champion, they’re not the only individuals to have been bestowed with that moniker. In World Championship Wrestling, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was referred to as the People’s Champion before the name was given to The Rock. During an Inside the Ropes event, Page recalled discussing the name with the Brahma Bull. 

    “I hear, ‘Hey Diamond’… he says, ‘You know, there’s only one people’s champion’… I just look at him, took that pregnant pause and said, ‘you know, Rock, you’re right… And you, well, you’re looking at him‘.”

    There have also been ‘People’s Champions’ outside the world of wrestling. In addition to Ali, boxers Michael Spiknks and Manny Pacquiao have used the moniker. Cricketer Usman Khawaja, Snooker player Alex Higgins, and Basketball player Will Barton have also used the term.

  • Kevin Owens Doesn’t Care About CM Punk’s Return: ‘We’re Not Each Other’s Type of Person’

    Kevin Owens is “perfectly fine” with CM Punk’s return to WWE as the two do not have any kind of working relationship in the world of professional wrestling. 

    Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 in an act that immediately sparked discussions about whether he could co-exist with the roster. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Owens was asked for his thoughts on Punk’s return. 

    “Well, we have no relationship. No, we’re not each other’s type of people I don’t think. There’s a ten-foot vicinity that if we enter in, then we have to kinda ‘Hey. Hi.’ Otherwise, we just don’t, and it’s fine. It’s perfectly fine.”

    Since Punk’s return, there’s been a lot of talk about how the Best in the World has changed since walking out of WWE in 2014, with Triple H making clear Punk had changed during the post-Survivor Series press conference. When asked if he’s noticed a change, Owens was curt with his response.

    “I don’t know that and I don’t care, to be honest. I am who I am. He is who he is, and it’s fine that way.”

    CM Punk’s Return

    While Owens may not care one bit about CM Punk’s return to WWE, his unlikely comeback has had a lot of people talking. So far, reports about Punk’s conduct in WWE have been glowing, with the ex-AEW star being open to ideas and eager to help at the WWE Performance Center.

    Last month, Booker T claimed that he and CM Punk had a ‘run-in’ at a WWE NXT taping. Many were skeptical of the claim given that nobody saw the alleged altercation and given Punk’s exemplary track record since returning. Booker quickly said after his initial claim that fans were making too big a deal of things. Booker later admitted that this was his attempt at “clickbait” and he was “just playing around.”

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

  • The Rock Gets Into Verbal Altercation With Fan At WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Ceremony

    The Rock Gets Into Verbal Altercation With Fan At WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Ceremony

    The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony saw some controversy towards the end as The Rock had a verbal altercation with a fan in attendance. 

    The Brahma Bull was on hand to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the closing moments of the show, however, The Rock could be seen having a tense face-off with a fan who was in the front row. 

    The fan told the Final Boss that “Cody’s coming for you,” referencing Cody Rhodes’ efforts to ‘finish the story’ at WWE WrestleMania 40. The Rock told the fan to “watch your f***ing mouth.” 

    You can check out another perspective of the altercation in the tweet below: 

    Lia Maivia is the third person that The Rock has inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In 2008, on the eve of WrestleMania 24, The Rock inducted his father Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather (and Lia’s husband) ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia. 

    This interaction with the fan highlights The Rock’s heel persona which has been a hit with audiences since WWE decided to turn him into a villain. The character change has also been praised by those who know the Brahma Bull best. 

    The Rock at WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes hopes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania 40 but The Rock is planning on ruining the American Nightmare’s weekend. On WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face The Rock & Roman Reigns. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night. 

    On WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This match will either be under ‘Bloodline Rules’ or see the Bloodline banned from getting involved. No matter the stipulation, this match will be Cody’s final title shot at Reigns, an edict put in place by The Rock. The Final Boss flexed his muscles as part of TKO’s Board of Directors to make this stipulation happen. 

  • AEW’s Keith Lee Makes Accidental Appearance At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    AEW’s Keith Lee Makes Accidental Appearance At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. 

    The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way. 

    Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.

    This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake. 

    Keith Lee

    In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021. 

    Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.