SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • WWE WrestleMania Match Changed During 4/5 Go-Home SmackDown

    WrestleMania kicks off tomorrow, but it’s not too late to change the show of shows. This week’s SmackDown saw a big change for the LWO’s tag team match.

    Dragon Lee was supposed to team with Rey Mysterio to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 40. Then, this week’s show saw Dragon Lee get taken out with a backstage attack.

    Andrade, who initially appeared to align with Dominik and Santos, turned on the heels to join the babyfaces. This was a big moment as it put Zelina Vega and Andrade on the same side once again.

    It was later revealed that Dragon Lee will not be able to compete at WrestleMania 40. Since Lee was not medically cleared, Andrade agreed to take his place. Carlito entered the scene after that with the news that Dragon Lee couldn’t compete, but he was already too late to get in the match. Instead, Carlito told Andrade to take out Santos Escobar at WrestleMania 50.

    Now, Andrade and Rey Mysterio will take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at the showcase of the immortals. 

    You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

    • Night 1 Matches:
      1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
      2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
      3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
      4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
      5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
      6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Andrade) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
      7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
    • Night 2 Matches:
      1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
      2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
      3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
      4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
      5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
      6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)

  • Bronson Reed Wins 10th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal On 4/5 WWE SmackDown

    WrestleMania 40 is a loaded show, so they held the annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the go-home SmackDown episode.

    The 10th annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal was the first match on this week’s episode of SmackDown. The Wells Fargo Center was pumped to get things going. In the end, Bronson Reed won the big match to kick off WrestleMania weekend the right way from the big man from Australia.

    Bronson Reed, Omos and Ricochet received special entrances, while all the other Superstars were in the ring already. Omos made his way to the ring last, and he had MVP with him.

    Andrade, Ricochet, Chad Gable, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, Omos, Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, Ivar, Akira Tozawa, Otis, JD McDonagh, Apollo Crews, Veer, Sanga, Cameron Grimes, Kit Wilson, Elton Prince, Ashante Adonis, and Cedric Alexander were some of the participants in the match.

    In the end, Bronson Reed and Ivar were the two final contestants. The two battled as fans chanted “meat.” Ivar missed a moonsault from the top rope, and then Reed nailed a rolling senton before clotheslining him over the top rope to secure the win.

    Previous Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winners

    Bronson Reed’s name now joins a list of former winners, some of them are future WWE Hall of Famers.

    The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner list includes a few notable names. Sadly, the big win doesn’t always translate into a massive push. Past winners include: Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley.

  • Brandi Rhodes Reacts To Cody’s Bus Catching Fire Before WrestleMania

    Brandi Rhodes Reacts To Cody’s Bus Catching Fire Before WrestleMania

    Cody Rhodes is set for the biggest match of his career at WrestleMania 40. That being said, he doesn’t need any distractions, let alone his bus catching fire, but that is exactly what happened.

    The American Nightmare updated fans to let them know that his bus caught fire last night in Philadelphia. Everyone seems to be fine, but he was able to grab a couple of things before making it off the bus.

    Cody Rhodes dropped a message on Twitter/X to update his fans. He also wanted to make sure that they heard it from him first. He also thanks the Philly fire department for their prompt response.

    Before you hear it elsewhere – my tour bus caught fire last night. Everybody is safe and okay The 2 items I grabbed before I got off will probably pop wrestling fans Again, thank you @PhillyFireDept

    Brandi Rhodes commented to say that this incident was one “hell of a curveball.” Obviously, they were not expecting something like a bus fire to be involved in their WrestleMania week plans.

    Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Plans

    Cody Rhodes will wrestle twice at WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare will team up with Seth Rollins to take on The Rock and Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania on April 6.

    If the heel team wins, then it will be Bloodline rules for the Undisputed Universal Title match on April 7. If Cody and Seth are able to win, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside.

    You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

    • Night 1 Matches:
      1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
      2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
      3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
      4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
      5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
      6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
      7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
    • Night 2 Matches:
      1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
      2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
      3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
      4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
      5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
      6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)
  • Triple H Confirms Another WWE Draft is Soon

    Triple H Confirms Another WWE Draft is Soon

    WWE is known to mix things up after WrestleMania with a draft, and this year will be no exception. Another edition of the WWE Draft is coming soon enough.

    While appearing on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Triple H confirmed that the WWE Draft will be coming back. He said that fans will see if again in a couple of months.

    Right now, the 2024 WWE Draft is planned for sometime in May. It was May 1 in 2023, so they are right on schedule if that is the case.

    This year’s WrestleMania and WWE Hall of Fame saw Triple H book his first events without Vince McMahon’s input. That will also be the case for the upcoming WWE Draft.

    WWE will likely wait until their Saudi Arabia trip is out of the way before implementing a new draft. We will have to see what they decide to do when it comes to timing.

    WWE Draft History

    The draft was first started in 2002 alongside the introduction of the brand split. Over the years, it was further renamed as the WWE Brand Extension Draft in 2006 and eventually simplified to the WWE Draft from 2007 to 2011.

    Now, fans get the WWE Draft every year as a way to mix up the rosters. The company is also known to proclaim several Superstars as “free agents,” meaning they can pop into any brand where they can be of most use.

    WWE is known to surprise fans with their yearly draft. Now with three brands in the mix, that can also mean that main roster call-ups are in store for NXT Superstars. 

  • Drew McIntyre Trains With AEW Wrestler Ahead of WrestleMania

    Drew McIntyre is going the extra mile in preparation for his upcoming battle against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ was spotted doing a workout session in the gym with none other than AEW star Brian Cage.

    We are just a few days away from what is being billed as ‘The Biggest WrestleMania Ever’ and Drew McIntyre is pushing himself in the gym. The former WWE Champion took to his Twitter/X account and dropped a video clip of a bench press session with Brian Cage being the spotter. McIntyre said that it was his last chest workout session before ‘The Show of Shows’. His caption read: 

    “It’s #WrestleMania week and the beast has been let out the CAGE.”  

    Brian Cage took note of the post and replied to McIntyre:

    Drew McIntyre and Brian Cage in gym

    Drew McIntyre is set to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ has overcome a lot of hindrances on his way to this weekend’s high-stakes match. He outlasted five other competitors to win the 2024 Elimination Chamber match and secured his title opportunity.

    He has been involved in a rivalry with CM Punk as well. From time to time, McIntyre has taken shots at ‘The Second City Saviour.’ Notably, CM Punk was the original challenger planned for ‘The Visionary’ at WrestleMania 40. But those plans were nixed when Punk suffered a torn tricep at the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match and it came upon as a blessing in disguise for McIntyre.

    Drew McIntyre’s future 

    Fans are buzzing about his future. Though McIntyre is set for a huge match at WrestleMania 40, it’s quite interesting that his contract with WWE is running out soon. A new deal hasn’t been inked yet which means he could be a top free agent on the market shortly. 

    AEW has been the preferred destination for the free agents in recent memory. It will be no surprise if Tony Khan splurges a massive sum of money to rope in ‘The Scottish Warrior’ similar to how he has signed stars such as Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada. 

    Well, all that depends on what McIntyre wants in the future. Will it be WWE? or AEW? Only time will tell.

  • AJ Styles Would Love To Step In The Ring With CM Punk Despite Past Animosity

    AJ Styles Would Love To Step In The Ring With CM Punk Despite Past Animosity

    AJ Styles has expressed his eagerness to battle CM Punk despite ‘expecting a problem’ after the latter’s return to WWE.

    ‘The Phenomenal One’ was asked to share his thoughts on CM Punk’s return to WWE during his interview on The Ringer Wrestling Show. Styles admitted that he predicted it would be a problem to have his former rival in WWE but all seems well. The former WWE Champion further said that he would want to share the ring with Punk. He said:

    “I mean, if you know anything about AJ Styles and CM Punk, you would know that we really don’t care for each other. But if you want me to ruin everything that you think you know, I can. Past performance predicts future behavior, right? Some over at AEW are my best friends – love ‘em, trust ‘em, know ‘em. And I was expecting a problem when [Punk] came here – and I was wrong. The guy looks like he’s happy to be here. He looks like a guy that I’d want to step in the ring with and tear the house down with.”

    It is no secret that AJ Styles and CM Punk have had a tumultuous relationship since the 2000s. They previously shared the ring when they were a part of the ROH roster but Styles parted ways with the promotion in 2004. That was the last time they battled each other and notably Styles has been vocal about not wanting to face Punk ever again. 

    AJ Styles and CM Punk’s involvement in WrestleMania 40

    AJ Styles is set to face LA Knight at this weekend’s WrestleMania 40. On the other hand, things haven’t turned out too well for CM Punk lately. ‘The Second City Saint’ scripted one of the historic moments in WWE when he made his comeback at Survivor Series: WarGames PLE last month. Without question, the pro wrestling world was shocked by what transpired in Chicago. He soon gained momentum and seemed that a title shot would be on the cards for WrestleMania 40.

    However, he sustained a torn tricep during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match which has kept him on the shelf. But he has made it clear he would be still involved in the ‘Show of Shows’ in some capacity.

    With Styles changing his stance and CM Punk returning to the squared circle in the next few months, we could certainly witness the two legends work with each other again.

  • Xfinity Gets Into WrestleMania 40 Spirit With WWE-Themed Custom Browsing Experience

    Xfinity is getting into the spirit of WWE WrestleMania 40 with new customizable features on its platform ahead of the two-night mega-show. 

    WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. A statement sent to SE Scoops reads: 

    In celebration of WrestleMania XL, Xfinity customers with the X1 platform can customize their browse experience with all new WWE themes. Fans can show their support for their favorite WWE Superstars with customized timeline pucks and guide cursors featuring WWE Superstar logos and colors (screenshots attached). Choose from:

    Cody Rhodes

    The Rock

    Roman Reigns

    Seth “Freakin” Rollins

    Bianca Belair

    IYO SKY

    The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

    WWE WrestleMania XL

    Customers can say “Change my theme,” “WWE” or “WrestleMania” into their X1 voice remote to choose their favorite WWE Superstar theme ahead of WrestleMania XL this weekend.

    WWE WrestleMania 40

    This year’s WrestleMania will air on Peacock and will also be the final WrestleMania that’ll stream on the standalone WWE Network. From January 2025, the service in various countries will shut down with WWE content moving to Netflix. The show will air on Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Disney+ in the Philippines, Binge in Australia, Abema in Japan, and SonyLIV in India. 

    The upcoming two-night event from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field will also be the first of its kind under the TKO banner and with WWE not under the control of the immediate McMahon family. With that said, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque will still oversee the show as the promotion’s Chief Content Officer.

  • Vince McMahon’s WrestleMania 40 Absence Sparks Sense Of Excitement Within WWE

    Vince McMahon’s WrestleMania 40 Absence Sparks Sense Of Excitement Within WWE

    WWE saw a huge change when Vince McMahon resigned from the company before the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Now, Triple H is holding the book, and this year’s event will mark a huge landmark for the company.

    A new report from Fightful Select noted that there is a sense of excitement among WWE talent, described as an “aura of excitement” by one prominent figure, due to Vince McMahon’s absence. While the allegations against McMahon aren’t disregarded, the apprehension of his potential interference has gone away.

    Furthermore, McMahon’s absence extends beyond WrestleMania, with sources reportedly suggesting that he isn’t expected to make an appearance at the show at all. There have been instances where McMahon’s presence wasn’t necessarily welcomed in the past.

    Looking ahead, WWE’s RAW After Mania also has a sense of excitement surrounding it without McMahon’s influence. Many within the company believe that this year’s RAW After Mania has the potential to be a memorable event, free from McMahon’s last-minute changes that marred previous episodes.

    Vince McMahon’s Removal From WWE Creative

    McMahon originally retired from WWE after the story about hush money payments broke. Then, he returned to the company a short time later to help usher in a sale.

    Leading up to WrestleMania 39, McMahon had reasserted himself within WWE, exerting influence over creative decisions. Despite not directly engaging with the creative team, McMahon’s impact was felt as he would later intervene to alter aspects of the show via zoom or telephone call.

    Although McMahon had been absent from shows for several months, he resurfaced during last year’s WrestleMania weekend, reportedly altering the outcome of at least one match. While McMahon had favored Roman Reigns retaining over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, this decision had already been finalized beforehand.

    However, McMahon’s influence has waned significantly for this year’s WrestleMania, with reports indicating that he no longer has any sway over the event directly or indirectly. Additionally, it’s been noted that McMahon’s focus has shifted towards addressing pressing issues, such as the allegations involving Janel Grant.

    Now, Triple H is the Chief Creative Officer, calling the shots on what fans see during the company’s weekly television shows. This includes WrestleMania 40, where Vince McMahon is not expected to be seen at all.

  • Triple H on Scouting Talent: ‘I Need to See For Myself That They’re Good Enough for WWE’

    WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque insists on seeing a prospective Superstar for himself to see if they’re the right fit for the promotion. 

    As part of his many roles as Chief Content Officer, Levesque oversees talent relations and ultimately has the final say over who is hired to a contract. On the Pat McAfee Show, the Game shared why he thinks it’s vital he personally sees a talent’s work for himself. 

    “I see what’s out there. I don’t subscribe to, ‘this guy says they are good, that guy says they are good.’ I have to see it… Because they succeed someplace else doesn’t mean they’ll succeed at the big time.”

    Levesque compared the situation to football, stating that players who performed at a high level in college often fail to make waves in the NFL. 

    Triple H on ‘The Grind’

    Being a WWE Superstar is far from an easy job as talent are expected to compete almost every night across the globe. WWE is also not the only option for a young wrestler as various promotions exist in the U.S. and abroad. On the show, Levesque shared his skepticism for any wrestler who’d choose a promotion because it may be easier than WWE. 

    “When I see people coming out of trying to make it, and then they pick a job where, well, they work less, the schedule is lighter, then I’m like, ‘I’m glad I didn’t pick you.’ If you’re not in it for the grind, at that point early in your career, you have no business being here.”

    Triple H as Head of Talent

    In 2011, Levesque was officially made Executive Vice-President of Talent and Live Events, a role that expanded to include live events and creative two years later. In July 2022, following the resignation of Vince McMahon, Levesque was promoted to Executive Vice-President of Talent Relations and was named Chief Content Officer in September. In October 2023, Ari Emanuel ensured that Vince McMahon (who was back with WWE at the time) would not interfere with Levesque’s work and it was said the Game controlled “99.9% of the creative” at the time. 

  • EXCLUSIVE: Shawn Michaels Explains Why Gallus Was Chosen To Train With The Rock Ahead WWE WrestleMania 40

    EXCLUSIVE: Shawn Michaels Explains Why Gallus Was Chosen To Train With The Rock Ahead WWE WrestleMania 40

    WWE Superstars all have their own ways of preparing for WrestleMania. The biggest show of the year will see The Rock return for a match, and he had some special assistance. 

    Gallus is a stable that has been largely underutilized by WWE, but they put them to good use when training The Rock for his WrestleMania match. Wolfgang, Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey were up for the task.

    During WWE’s media day before WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels spoke to SEScoops about Gallus training with The Rock. He said that this came out because the faction is so reliable, and they are also incredibly professional.

    These are three guys who know what they’re doing, understand every aspect of it, sometimes you need a guy who’s younger who can fly around, but sometimes you need guys who are mature, and professional, who can adjust to everything to what Rock wants. Obviously, I’m partial to those guys, they’re fantastic guys, they’re professional and very dependable.

    HBK then said that he received a photo of Gallus and The Rock doing the stable’s trademark pose. We hope that they release that soon. It seems that WWE picked the right people for the job to help train The Rock.

    More on The Rock’s WrestleMania Training

    The Rock had a lot of help to prepare for his in-ring return. After all, he is promoting this as the biggest tag team match in history, and it very well may be. 

    WWE assisted in transporting two rings, one to Los Angeles and the other to Hawaii, working with Johnson’s team to secure warehouses for training venues. This arrangement provided The Rock with the necessary resources for his training regimen.

    During his training, The Rock participated in simulated matches with NXT’s Gallus faction. As he prepared for an upcoming tag-team match, Johnson needed three wrestlers to practice in-ring sequences and refine his timing. Therefore, Wolfgang, along with real-life brothers Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey, were selected for this specific task.

    Supervising the training sessions were Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode, accompanied by referee Chad Patton. Additionally, WWE medical personnel were present to oversee the safety of the rehearsals.

  • Cody Rhodes & Others “Safe & Okay” After Tour Bus Catches Fire Ahead of WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes & Others “Safe & Okay” After Tour Bus Catches Fire Ahead of WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes is doing okay after his tour bus caught fire in what could be a bad omen for the American Nightmare ahead of WrestleMania 40. 

    Taking to Twitter, Rhodes wanted fans to hear the news from him first before anywhere else. The 2023 & 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner then shared news of the fire before making clear that everybody was safe and okay. Rhodes added that he grabbed two items from the bus that will ‘pop’ fans and expressed his gratitude to the Philadelphia Fire Department. 

    Cody Rhodes’ Busy Weekend

    A bus fire is hardly a great omen for Rhodes to kick off arguably the biggest weekend of his professional wrestling career. At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team up with Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns & The Rock. 

    The next night, Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The stipulation for this match will be determined during the previous night’s tag-team match. This match will come one year on from Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, CA. 

    Win or lose this weekend, Rhodes will have little time to reflect on what happens at WWE WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare is expected to appear on the post-WrestleMania edition of Monday Night Raw from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. If history is any indicator, this show will be a raucous night thanks to the international flavor of fans who traveled to Philly for WrestleMania. It’ll also be the final Raw after WrestleMania on broadcast television. 

  • Triple H Speaks On Possibility Of Wrestling Again as He Still Trains Every Day

    Triple H Speaks On Possibility Of Wrestling Again as He Still Trains Every Day

    The ring has called many retired Superstars back for another match. Although Triple H is around every single week, he doesn’t intend on booking himself in matches any time soon.

    WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque appeared on The Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend at WWE World. During that appearance, Triple H was asked a very interesting question about his future in the ring.

    McAfee inquired if Triple H continues to train, despite his heart issues.“I still train, I still do all that,” Levesque said.

    The return of The Rock this year sparked rumors online about Triple H possibly returning to the ring for a feud with The Rock or another wrestler at 54-years-old.

    The Game was asked if he has any intention of getting back in the ring. He made it clear that time has passed for him.

    “I don’t think so. I don’t think I should be out there taking bumps.”

    Triple H’s Pro Wrestling Career

    Triple H did just about everything he can in the pro wrestling ring. The Game has won the WWF/WWE Championship nine times, the World Heavyweight Championship five times, and the WWF/WWE Intercontinental Championship five times.

    He also racked up many other title wins in the company. Moreover, Triple H is a WWE Hall of Famer as part of DX.

    After becoming WWE COO after Vince McMahon departed, he holds the creative reins. Needless to say, things have gone very well for Triple H, and he is enjoying his current situation in a big way.

  • Watch: AJ Styles Bloodied Brawling With WrestleMania Opponent LA Knight at WWE Media Day

    Watch: AJ Styles Bloodied Brawling With WrestleMania Opponent LA Knight at WWE Media Day

    WrestleMania starts tomorrow, and the company’s Superstars are doing their rounds for media day. This is normally a mild-mannered affair, but things escalated quickly today with LA Knight and AJ Styles.

    Knight and Styles are set to battle at WrestleMania 40, but they couldn’t wait to brawl. The two saw each other at media day, and chaos ensued.

    SE Scoops is there on location, and we acquired video of the altercation. This was quite a way to build for their match. As the two fought among the media, people scattered to give them space.

    AJ Styles participated in media interviews during the 9-10:30 am session. LA Knight arrived around 10:30 am as part of the second wave. He was stationed right next to Styles. Soon after, they began exchanging glances, and Knight got up to confront AJ. He then grabbed a headlock, and a brawl ensued between the two wrestlers. Security was absent for approximately three minutes during the altercation. Styles was also busted up a bit in the process, as his nose did bleed some.

    The two went at it until someone from WWE, who was wearing an NXT shirt, finally stepped in to break them up. This is not over between the two at all, and they will settle things at WrestleMania.

    WWE did a good job of not putting babyfaces and heels next to each other for media day. Styles and Knight should not have been next to each other, but the Phenomenal One was running a bit late in his last interview, so they happened to be beside each other as Knight came in to start his interview. They did not last long sitting next to each other until a brawl started.

    AJ Styles and LA Knight’s Road to WrestleMania 40

    AJ Styles showed up at the Elimination Chamber, just as it looked like LA Knight may have been in a position to win the match. He attacked Knight, leaving him easy to eliminate from the chamber.

    The two started a program for WrestleMania after that, with AJ Styles refusing to attend television and LA Knight showing up at his house to jump him in the process. The two have a lot of history with each other, so they will collide at the show of shows.

    You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

    • Night 1 Matches:
      1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
      2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
      3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
      4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
      5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
      6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
      7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
    • Night 2 Matches:
      1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
      2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
      3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
      4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
      5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
      6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)
  • WaleMania 2024: Highlights From Ultimate Night of Hip-Hop and & Wrestling Fusion

    WaleMania 2024: Highlights From Ultimate Night of Hip-Hop and & Wrestling Fusion

    WrestleMania weekend is always packed with events. There are indie pro wrestling shows going on, and other fan conventions. WaleMania went down at the Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on April 4, and there are a ton of highlights.

    Since its first show in 2015, WaleMania has combined hip-hop and wrestling. It stands apart from other events during WrestleMania weekend, serving as a gathering where fans and wrestlers come together, and every year it’s usually the best party all weekend. 

    Pro wrestlers from practically every company on the planet linked up for WaleMania this year. As you can see, it was quite a party, and there are many highlights to feature.

    WaleMania 2024 Highlights

    First off, we have to give Samantha Irvine all the flowers for this one. She not only rocked Razor Ramon’s theme music, but she did it on a flute. 

    Rob Van Dam was there, smoking on stage, alongside Katie Forbes. It was quite a party as the crowd fed into the performance on stage, who were having just as much fun as the fans.

    R-Truth was present at WaleMania, and he gave fans in attendance a different kind of show than they’re used to seeing from him. He grabbed the microphone and spit some fire bars for the fans.

    Although he’s not booked for WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer RVD was also present. NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap a photo with the Whole F’n Show.

    Big E couldn’t miss WaleMania, either. The New Day member cut one of his trademark promos for fans, where he introduced Wale. As you can see in the clip, Trick Williams was there as well, and he had a wonderful time ahead of his main event match at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Carmelo Hayes.

    Zilla Fatu didn’t miss the show, either. He was there in attendance at WaleMania, and he had a great time. As you can see in the video below, he also spent some time on the stage.

    Although it was all fun at WaleMania, things did get a big tense as Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes had a chance to trade some words on stage.

    Kiera Hogan stunned the crowd with her dancing skills. Willow Nightingale didn’t miss WaleMania, either, as the two AEW stars had a great time on stage in front of the live crowd.

  • Massive Priority Free Agent Spotted At WWE World Event in Philadelphia

    Massive Priority Free Agent Spotted At WWE World Event in Philadelphia

    One of the most popular free agents on the market has been spotted at the WWE World event in Philadelphia amid reports of major interest by the promotion. 

    Giulia was seen walking the floor at the event and took photos with fans who recognized her. Giulia was seen alongside STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa who was ousted from the promotion earlier this year. 

    In November 2023, it was reported that WWE had shown great interest in Giulia, a former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. At the time it was said that the company had a “massive” interest in obtaining her services. While it was believed she would be attending a private try-out at the WWE Performance Center, those plans fell apart. 

    Delay in Joining WWE? 

    Giulia told STARDOM higher-ups last month that she was planning on leaving the promotion. While several signs point to Giulia joining WWE, it may not happen as quickly as the company would hope. 

    Giulia has spoken in the past about having ‘things to do’ in Japan before she leaves for WWE. It is believed that she will first do work for Rossy Ogawa’s rumored promotion. Ogawa was fired from STARDOM after it was claimed he was ‘poaching’ talent. 

    Giulia gave her word to Ogawa that she would help out if he launched a promotion which has taken priority over joining WWE. Ogawa has refuted the claim that he poached talent away from STARDOM. With his exit, Bushiroad, the parent company of STARDOM, has appointed Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager in charge. 

  • Chelsea Green Demands Loser Leaves Town Match with Adam Pearce At WWE World

    Chelsea Green Demands Loser Leaves Town Match with Adam Pearce At WWE World

    Chelsea Green is ready to be rid of WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce for good and has proposed a loser leaves town match with the ‘Scrapdaddy.’ 

    Appearing on an episode of The Bump from the WWE World event in Philadelphia. , Green once again shared her gripes about Pearce. At the event, the self-prescribed Hot Mess suggested a ‘Loser Leaves Town’ match between herself and the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. Not done yet, she added that if she wins the match and sends Pearce packing, she should become the new General Manager of Raw. 

    This caught the attention of Pearce, who neither accepted nor refused the match. Instead, the Raw General Manager took to Twitter to claim that he’d easily pin Green and have her escorted away by security. This was seemingly a nod to Green being mistaken for an escort at a hotel a few days earlier. 

    Responding, Green was far from amused by what Pearce had to say. 

    Chelsea Green: WWE’s Resident Karen

    Since her historic (if not for the right reasons) return in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Chelsea Green has been a thorn in the side of Adam Pearce. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has repeatedly complained to Pearce about what she considers unfair treatment and has also complained about Pearce not resolving her minor gripes. 

    Green’s act since returning to WWE has proven to be popular with audiences. The former TNA Knockout has been nominated for ‘Social Star of the Year’ at this year’s Slammy Awards. Green is up against Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, and Grayson Waller in her category. The Slammys will take place at WWE World on April 7. 

  • WWE WrestleMania 40 Stage Revealed Ahead of Two-Night Megashow in Philadelphia, PA

    WWE WrestleMania 40 Stage Revealed Ahead of Two-Night Megashow in Philadelphia, PA

    The stage of WrestleMania 40 has been officially revealed by WWE ahead of this weekend’s two-night show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

    On YouTube and social media, Kayla Braxton and Jackie Redmond were at Lincoln Financial Field to introduce the dance group ‘The Ninja Kidz.’ The group performed in the ring before the WrestleMania stage was revealed. The set includes this year’s WrestleMania logo as well as large ‘XL’ letters, as these are the Roman numerals for 40. 

    The stage for WrestleMania 40 is certainly impressive, though isn’t entirely a surprise. In the days leading up to the reveal, candid photos had given a tease as to what the stage would look like. 

    WrestleMania 40: What’s in Store? 

    This year’s WrestleMania is already one of the most hotly-anticipated ‘Manias of all time thanks to its stacked main events across both nights. On WrestleMania 40: Saturday, The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring to team with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. The following night, Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line against Cody Rhodes. 

    Drew McIntyre will seek to finally win a World Championship in front of a live crowd when he competes at WrestleMania 40. This’ll be easier said than done for the Scottish Warrior, who’ll be facing off with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. 

    This match will be see CM Punk serve as a guest commentator. The Second-City Savior has had issues with both men since his return to WWE. McIntyre has even taken credit for the injury Punk suffered during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. 

    For full coverage of WWE WrestleMania 40 and other events across WrestleMania weekend, keep checking back here at SE Scoops. 

  • Cody Rhodes Teases Changing WWE Universal Title Design If He Wins At WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes Teases Changing WWE Universal Title Design If He Wins At WrestleMania 40

    A victory for Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday wouldn’t just see him ‘finish the story’ but could also usher in a new Undisputed WWE Universal title design. 

    Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns on Night Two of the upcoming WrestleMania 40 Premium Live Event. Speaking at WWE World, Rhodes was asked about his plans for a potential title reign. 

    “If I do [win the Championship] maybe we change how the title looks.”

    Rhodes earned the opportunity against Reigns by winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. Cody’s ‘Road to WrestleMania’ has not been easy, as for a time, WWE intended on having The Rock challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40 instead. 

    Cody’s Title Design Changes

    If Cody does change the design of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, it wouldn’t be his first time. After capturing the Intercontinental Championship in 2011, Rhodes brought back the classic white-strap version of the gold. This design lasted until 2019 when it was replaced with the Intercontinental Championship design currently held by GUNTHER. 

    In May 2022, one month after his stunning return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, Rhodes appeared on an episode of WWE After The Bell. During the show, Rhodes teased bringing back the ‘Winged Eagle’ WWE Championship design that had been held by Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels in the past. 

    “I think there’s a particular design of the WWE Championship that people are very fond of… It really would be something to achieve the ultimate industry dream, being the best of the best ever in terms of that moment in time, and then perhaps give it a fresh coat of paint with the Winged Eagle.”

    In addition to his match with Reigns, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40: Saturday. 

  • Shayna Baszler & WWE NXT’s Charlie Dempsey Triumphant At Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X

    Shayna Baszler & WWE NXT’s Charlie Dempsey Triumphant At Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X

    Shayna Baszler’s step through the ‘forbidden door’ was a successful one for the Queen of Spades, who earned a big win at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. 

    At the event, Baszler made a rare non-WWE appearance to take on TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. Both women had back-up as Baszler was accompanied by Zoey Stark while Slamovich arrived alongside reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace. 

    The crowd was at a fever pitch, delivering a “Holy S**t” chant before things for underway. The two combatants traded leg locks and fought to a stalemate to get things started. The crowd was noticeably pro-Slamovich and anti-Baszler, though this could have been more pro-GCW and anti-WWE. 

    Baszler took control with jabs to the ribcage while Slamovich fought back with strikes and a flying armbar. Baszler tried to lock in an armbar of her own before Slamovich reversed the attempt. 

    The finish saw Baszler slip out of an armbar and lock in an ankle lock. Slamovich tried to escape but Baszler released the hold and hit a flurry of stomps so brutal the ref called for the bell. There were loud boos and “F**k You Shayna” chants as she was declared the winner.

    https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1776008128502390847

    Charlie Dempsey in Action

    Baszler wasn’t the only WWE name in action at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. Earlier in the show, Charlie Dempsey got a submission victory over Matt Makowsi. The finish of the fight saw Dempsey hit a stiff European uppercut on the BJJ Black belt and follow with a German Suplex and double wrist-lock to get the submission victory. 

  • WrestleMania 40: The Rock Makes Fans Wait Hours For WWE World Appearance

    WrestleMania 40: The Rock Makes Fans Wait Hours For WWE World Appearance

    The Rock made an appearance at WWE World today, Thursday, April 4. Everything was supposed to kick off at 4 PM EST, but that is not how things went down at all.

    Fans showed up to WWE World on Thursday to see The Final Boss, but he was very late. Some fans were a bit impatient, and they released some of their frustrations on social media. The Rock did show up two hours after he was supposed to be there.

    The Rock used his busy schedule as an excuse for his tardiness. He explained that he arrived late for his WWE World appearance because he got caught up watching Jalen Hurts lose in the playoffs on YouTube.

    The Rock’s Original WrestleMania Plans

    Dwayne Johnson’s return to WWE saw him take on a Hollywood heel persona. He initially wanted a match against Roman Reigns, but that didn’t pan out. Due to fan reaction from the “Cody Crybabies,” he conceded that the main event should give Cody a chance to finish his story.

    Original plans called for Cody Rhodes to miss Mania due to a kayfabed injury. CM Punk was also set to take on Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but things shifted after Punk’s injury.

    Now, The Rock will team up with Roman Reigns to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of WrestleMania on April 6. The Rock will leave WWE once again after WrestleMania, because his next project, The Smashing Machine, is set to start production just a couple of weeks after WrestleMania 40.

  • Charlotte Flair Was Originally Set to be Involved in Damage CTRL’s Breakup Plan

    Charlotte Flair Was Originally Set to be Involved in Damage CTRL’s Breakup Plan

    WrestleMania is right around the corner, and Bayley got to call her shot for the grandest stage of them all after she won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. The breakup with Damage CTRL that followed was a long time coming.

    WWE fans saw Damage CTRL break up as Bayley declared her shot at IYO Sky’s WWE Women’s Title. That split came in a hurry, but there were plans in motion already for the stable’s demise.

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select to explain that plans regarding Bayley and Damage CTRL’s breakup dates back to last year.

    The split within Damage CTRL was strategically planned several months prior to the actual breakup, and Charlotte Flair was supposed to be involved as well. It was reported that, “the idea was for Charlotte to aid Bayley in fighting off Damage CTRL when the turn eventually happened.”

    Mercedes Mone’s Involvement

    Mercedes Mone and WWE were in talks, but they hit a financial roadblock. Her involvement in Bayley’s breakup with Damage CTRL was never factored into any plan.

    It was also noted that things may have changed if Mercedes had worked out a deal with WWE. However, that never came to pass. It was also nothing that ever got far enough along to plan out.

    One source in WWE said that Mercedes signing with WWE when they had talks definitely could have changed things, but that wasn’t the working plan and things didn’t get far enough for advanced creative pitches.

    Bayley will battle IYO Sky for the WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania 40, and that will be a crescendo for a long storyline. We will have to see if Bayley will be able to overcome her former faction on the grandest stage of them all. 

  • John Cena Will Be Restricted If He Makes WWE WrestleMania 40 Appearance

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will be a massive event. Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and John Cena have been reported for possible appearances. That being said, Cena will be restricted if he shows up.

    Filming for “The Peacemaker” series’ second season starring Cena is scheduled to start this summer, a detail corroborated by James Gunn. Cena’s health is very important to that project staying on schedule.

    PW Insider reports that if John Cena can make WrestleMania this year, then “he will be off the board for anything major in the physical WWE realm for most of the remainder of 2024.”

    It was also noted that John Cena’s WrestleMania 40 appearance hasn’t been confirmed, but there are many in the company who believe that he will be there.

    Likely WrestleMania Appearances

    John Cena and Steve Austin were both featured on WrestleMania 40 trucks in the background of WWE RAW two weeks ago. It was reported that them appearing on those truck wraps was not an accident at all.

    SEScoops was first to report in February that John Cena is going to try to do “something” for WrestleMania 40. As we get even close to the show of shows, it seems likely that fans will see Cena, but he won’t be taking any bumps.

    The Undertaker will also be in town for another one of his 1 deadMAN SHOW engagements. That event is sold out, but this is common for Taker’s one-man show gigs at this point. We will have to see if The Deadman makes an appearance at WrestleMania 40 as well.

  • Cody Rhodes: We’re No Longer in the Attitude Era’s Shadow, This is the Renaissance Era

    Cody Rhodes: We’re No Longer in the Attitude Era’s Shadow, This is the Renaissance Era

    Cody Rhodes is proud to be part of a ‘renaissance’ in professional wrestling which he believes has not only met but has surpassed the much-acclaimed Attitude Era. 

    While the Attitude Era is often heralded as the greatest period of wrestling, it’s hard to ignore how well WWE and other promotions have done as of late. In a recent interview with FOX News Digital, Rhodes compared the product of today to that fans consumed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

    “I’ve heard it coined as the Renaissance Era, and I really like that outlook on it. For me, as a wrestler, I’m most excited that we no longer have to stand in the shadow of the Attitude Era because of the last two years we’ve done better business than they ever did — and they did exceptional, unbelievable, amazing business. I’m only making comparisons on a black and white level, dollars and cents, in terms of what WWE’s been able to do over the last two years.“

    WWE’s Renaissance

    It could be argued that WWE’s renaissance began at WrestleMania 38, the night Cody Rhodes returned to the promotion. Since then, the promotion has seen significant changes, with Triple H being granted greater creative sway behind the scenes. 

    With Vince McMahon out of the picture (seemingly for good,) the Game has been allowed to try things that would’ve never made it to TV under his father-in-law. This has ranged from more long-term storytelling to giving opportunities on unlikely talent like Chad Gable and Ivar. WWE’s new era has even allowed for talent to work outside the promotion, with Shinsuke Nakamura competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2023 and Charlie Dempsey wrestling for All Japan earlier this year. 

  • Lil Wayne Debuting Song Featuring Young Thug At WWE WrestleMania 40

    Lil Wayne Debuting Song Featuring Young Thug At WWE WrestleMania 40

    WWE’s biggest show of the year usually draws celebrities appearances. Lil Wayne isn’t going to miss WrestleMania this year.

    Weezy was on WWE RAW this week, where he confirmed to Jey Uso that he will be on hand for WrestleMania 40. He will also debut a new single in Lincoln Financial Field.

    Lil Wayne is set to make an appearance at WrestleMania this weekend, where he will unveil a fresh single from his forthcoming album, Tha Carter VI, but the big question remains about which song he will pick. A recent social media update from Wayne hints at the possibility of the track being “Bless,” featuring Young Thug.

    The Young Money founder posted a blatant tease that “Bless” is the track that they will debut at WrestleMania 40. This came with a video that features a cartoon of Wayne and Thugger in a wrestling ring setting.

    Young Thug Won’t Be At WrestleMania 40

    Although Lil Wayne will be at Mania, most likely debuting “Bless,” Young Thug will not be there. He is still incarcerated in Georgia, where he is subject to a state RICO case.

    In May 2022, Thug was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

    Atlanta News First just reported that prosecutors have provided an amended witness list to the presiding judge in Young Thug’s case. The updated list, comprising 153 individuals, will be a part of what has already been an incredibly lengthy trial. 

  • The Rock Used WWE NXT Faction To Help Train For WrestleMania 40 Match

    The Rock Used WWE NXT Faction To Help Train For WrestleMania 40 Match

    The Rock is training hard for his tag team match at WrestleMania 40. This requires a lot of work, and WWE is helping him get ready for greatness on the grandest stage of them all.

    ESPN ran an article about The Rock’s return to the ring, and just how much work he’s putting into getting ready. Dwayne Johnson established a training camp, reminiscent of those commonly seen in MMA or boxing circles. Johnson first began training for WrestleMania in February.

    WWE facilitated the transportation of two rings, one to Los Angeles and the other to Hawaii, collaborating with Johnson’s team to secure warehouses for use as training venues. That gave The Rock the tools he needed for this training schedule.

    The Rock had mock matches alongside NXT’s Gallus faction. Given his upcoming participation in a tag-team match, Johnson required three wrestlers to rehearse in-ring sequences and get his timing down. So, Wolfgang and real-life brothers Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey made the trip for this special assignment.

    Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode were also there to supervise the training sessions, with referee Chad Patton there as well. WWE medical personnel were also present to ensure the safety of the rehearsals.

    WWE is promoting the WrestleMania 40 tag team match as the biggest of all time. The Rock will team up with Roman Reigns to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 on April 6.

    Plans After WrestleMania 40

    The Rock is training hard for his return to the ring for WrestleMania 40, but he’s already making plans afterward. The Great One will start filming on his upcoming movie, The Smashing Machine, a couple of weeks after WrestleMania 40.

    The possibility of The Rock’s return to a full-fledged singles wrestling match remains uncertain. However, his impact will keep going, both within and beyond the wrestling world. He made it very clear that he will still be on TKO’s Board of Directors, so his influence will remain within the company.

    “I’m not off the Board after WrestleMania. I’m still on the Board, and I will always be a part of this & we are in it now. This is our thing & will forever be our thing.”

    The Rock’s writer Brian Gewirtz clarified to ESPN that The Rock’s presence on RAW won’t necessarily become a regular occurrence. We will have to see if the stars can align for another return run of any kind for the shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer.