SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • WWE Drops Deliberate Tease For Bo Dallas’ Return

    WWE Drops Deliberate Tease For Bo Dallas’ Return

    Bo Dallas was Uncle Howdy alongside Bray Wyatt, and the two had a lot of plans in motion. Sadly, those creative plans never came to pass as Bray Wyatt was taken from us far too soon. Now, there could be hope that Dallas will be back.

    WWE still has Bo Dallas under contract, and he has been so since 2022 when he returned. Now, a new report has given fans hope that hey might see him again.

    Bo Dallas’ Possible WWE Return

    Although Bo Dallas has not been seen on WWE television since donning the Uncle Howdy mask, a new report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select gives fans hope that he may be used on television again soon enough.

    The end of the new Bray Wyatt documentary included a bit of a teaser, and it appears that it was for Bo Dallas.

    In the final moments of the newly released Bray Wyatt documentary, viewers encounter familiar imagery. The video concludes with a signature ominous style reminiscent of Bray Wyatt, featuring a lantern panning out, followed by a voice commanding “run,” and the silhouette of a figure.

    https://twitter.com/joelarias24/status/1774789529582334318

    It is now reported that the teaser was indeed referring to Bo Dallas. At this time, we don’t have any expected return time for him, because they didn’t want to rush things.

    WWE sources have told Fightful it’s a teaser for Bo Dallas’ eventual return. We don’t know when that will be, but that it was a deliberate inclusion. We also haven’t learned what a return could look like as of yet. One WWE rep noted to Fightful months ago that they didn’t want to rush Dallas back after the untimely passing of his brother Bray Wyatt. Dallas has remained under WWE contract since 2022.

    Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal

    Bray Wyatt left a legion of fans and untold stories behind. Sadly, he will never get to see those come to pass, but there may be a chance that Bo Dallas could return in some form, perhaps even as Uncle Howdy, to help tell some of those tales.

    That new documentary is also reportedly tied to why Wyatt was not given an induction into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.

    We will have to see what WWE has prepared for Bo Dallas. He was heavily featured in the documentary, “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal” that debuted on Peacock and the WWE Network on April 1.

    SEScoops will have more on this story if there are any updates. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

  • The Rock Reveals What He Whispered To Cody Rhodes During Controversial WWE SmackDown Segment

    The Rock Reveals What He Whispered To Cody Rhodes During Controversial WWE SmackDown Segment

    We are less than a week away from WrestleMania 40, what could be the biggest Mania event of all time. The Rock entered the picture to make that happen.

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will team up to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of WrestleMania 40’s first night. That was not the original plan.

    A new mini-documentary is now out from Dwayne Johnson. This gripping piece of storytelling also gives fans an uncensored look at the events that led us to the showcase of the immortals this year.

    The New Rock Doc

    The Rock dropped the first part of a new multipart documentary series on his Twitter/X account. This first part tells the story of how things started on the road to WrestleMania 40.

    In the new mini-doc, The Rock reveals that he whispered “Let’s have the biggest WrestleMania of all time,” in Cody Rhodes’ ear during the February 2 SmackDown after The American Nightmare brought him out.

    This new little video also reveals several profanities that The Rock has spouted on WWE television. This is the first time we get to hear him threaten to slap Cody Rhodes’ “f*cking teeth down his throat” as well. You may check out the video below, but it’s only part 1 of a multipart series.

    WrestleMania 40’s Original Plan

    The Rock wanted a match against Roman Reigns, and he was the only one who could change that match. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that Cody Rhodes should be in the main event of WrestleMania 40 after so much fan reaction.

    There were a lot of things that played into the drama surrounding that WrestleMania change. You may find our comprehensive report, including exclusive insight and reports, here.

    If the Bloodline wins that tag team match at WrestleMania, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for the Undisputed Universal Title match. If the babyface team can win, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside.

    That reaction to Cody losing his Mania spot to The Rock also coined the term “Cody Crybabies.” They got what they wanted, and now Cody can finish his story. Now, we will have to see how everything transpires as we approach the show of shows this year.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as we get closer to WrestleMania 40. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more updates!

  • Tamyra Mensah-Stock Earns High Praise Within WWE Performance Center After NXT In-Ring Debut

    Tamyra Mensah-Stock Earns High Praise Within WWE Performance Center After NXT In-Ring Debut

    WWE’s NXT brand has a many potential future main event Superstars. When the company signed Gold Medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock to a deal, the world needed to pay attention. She is already making waves within the Performance Center.

    Tamyra Mensah-Stock marked her in-ring NXT debut in a match against Breanna Covington on March 30 in Melbourne, Florida. She has been garnering internal praise within NXT for several months.

    Great Internal Reviews For Former Olympian

    Tamyra Mensah-Stock won a gold medal in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, and is recognized as one of the best female wrestlers on a global scale. After inking a deal with WWE last year, she got to work at becoming a top WWE Superstar.

    As previously reported, Tamyra Mensah-Stock competed in her first match on March 30 in Melbourne, FL, during the NXT event. She beat Breanna Covington in that match.

    In his Daily Update on F4WOnline, Dave Meltzer noted that he has heard a lot of praise coming her way from within NXT. “Internally, we’ve heard nothing but good about her for months.”

    Tamyra Mensah-Stock’s WWE Career So Far

    Mensah-Stock made her WWE debut at the SummerSlam 2021 Premium Live Event, joining a segment alongside Olympic champion Gable Steveson. Reports surfaced in April 2022 about WWE’s interest in signing Mensah-Stock to the roster, following Steveson’s earlier signing with the company. She eventually signed with WWE in May 2023.

    We will have to see what she is able to do in NXT next. Her first win at an NXT house show is the first step. Shawn Michaels has a ton of talent in his women’s division right now, so it will be interesting to see how they place her in the grand scheme of things.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more from the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines! 

  • Mami On Top: WWE’s Rhea Ripley Hits One-Year Milestone as Women’s World Champion

    Mami On Top: WWE’s Rhea Ripley Hits One-Year Milestone as Women’s World Champion

    Rhea Ripley has reached a milestone in her WWE career by hitting one whole year as the WWE Women’s World Champion.

    The ‘Mami’ of the Judgment Day captured the title on April 1, 2023, at WrestleMania 39. Ripley won the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the event with a victory over Charlotte Flair. Ripley earned the match by winning the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, though her record-long performance was surpassed by Bayley this year.

    Rhea Ripley as Women’s World Champion

    Across WWE Premium Live Events, Television shows, and untelevised matches, Ripley has defended her title a total of 46 times since winning the gold. Her most recent title defense was in a dark match following the March 29, 2024, episode of WWE SmackDown. The ‘Mami’ retained against Shayna Baszler. 

    Rhea Ripley’s Gold

    Ripley’s reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion/Women’s World Champion is just the latest taste of gold for the Australian Superstar. She is also a former Raw Women’s Champion, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, NXT Women’s Champion, and NXT UK Women’s Champion. 

    All of these accolades make Ripley the seventh WWE Women’s Triple Crown Champion and the fifth Women’s Grand Slam Champion. She is the only woman to have held all of the titles listed above. 

    What’s Next for Rhea Ripley?

    Ripley has held the title for one year, but her reign could be over within a matter of days. At WWE WrestleMania 40, Ripley will defend the Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch. The Man earned the title match by winning the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match. 

  • Rey Mysterio Shows Entire Face In Unmasked TikTok Dance Video With Daughter Aalyah Gutiérrez

    Rey Mysterio Shows Entire Face In Unmasked TikTok Dance Video With Daughter Aalyah Gutiérrez

    Rey Mysterio is known as the Greatest Mask of All Time, but he isn’t covering his face all the time. That was very true for a recent TikTok video on his daughter’s profile.

    Rey Mysterio made a rare unmasked appearance in a TikTok video with his daughter, Aalyah Gutiérrez. This was a candid moment, where he showed off some of his family life behind the mask.

    Mysterio Goes Unmasked

    Rey Mysterio recently appeared without his mask in a TikTok video alongside his daughter, Aalyah Gutiérrez.

    While Mysterio started off the video with his face covered, as Marciano by Flako Stik kept playing, he revealed his whole face for the camera. Then, as the beat dropped, both he and Aalyah put on sunglasses and started dancing.

    Aalyah Gutiérrez has previously appeared on WWE television, notably during a feud involving Buddy Matthews and Seth Rollins against The Mysterio Family, where she was romantically linked to Murphy in the storyline. Ironically, the two were never an actual couple, but Matthews is in a real-life relationship with Rhea Ripley, who is linked up with Aalyah’s brother, Dominik Mysterio, in storyline now.

    Rey Mysterio’s Road to WrestleMania 40

    Mysterio’s return to WWE TV followed a period of absence due to knee surgery he underwent in late 2023. On a recent episode of SmackDown, he was involved in a match against Santos Escobar.

    While Mysterio’s unmasked appearance may not be new to longtime fans who recall his time in WCW when he couldn’t wear his mask due to contract stipulations, he typically keeps his identity concealed and rarely appears publicly without his mask. However, in the TikTok video, he and his daughter engaged in some lip-syncing, revealing his unmasked face.

    Rey Mysterio laid down a challenge for WrestleMania, and now the match is set. Mysterio will team up with the LWO’s newest member, Dragon Lee, to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio.

    Mr. 6-1-9 likes to do up his masks for WrestleMania, so we’ll have to see what he rocks on his face at the show of shows this year. If anything, we know he’s not going maskless like this TikTok video.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from throughout the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back on a regular basis for more updates!

  • Ex WWE Star Michelle McCool Shows Off New Look Days Before WrestleMania 40

    Ex WWE Star Michelle McCool Shows Off New Look Days Before WrestleMania 40

    It’s WrestleMania season, and many Superstars are freshening up their look. Even legends who aren’t booked for the show of shows are updating their appearance, and Michelle McCool proved that with a new photo drop.

    As of this writing, we have not heard anything about Michelle McCool getting booked for a WrestleMania 40 appearance. In any case, she is certainly looking great, and ready for those bright lights if they call her.

    Michelle McCool recently updated fans with a new photo that showed off a bit of an alteration for her trademark hair. She is going for a shorter cut now, and fans seem to be all about it.

    McCool’s New Look

    Michelle McCool recently made a change to her appearance, signaling a possible new chapter in her life post-retirement from professional wrestling.

    Recently, McCool shared a photo on her Instagram story revealing a new hairstyle, indicating a fresh start as she continues to enjoy life beyond the wrestling ring.

    Michelle McCool’s Pro Wrestling Career

    Michelle McCool’s journey in WWE started in 2004 when she participated in the Diva Search competition. Although she didn’t win, her talent caught the attention of WWE management, leading to a developmental deal and training in Deep South Wrestling and OVW.

    In 2006, McCool made her debut on the main roster as a villainous character with a teacher gimmick. Over the years, she underwent various character transformations and found success, notably forming the LayCool tag team with Layla in 2009 before retiring from wrestling in 2011.

    Despite retiring from in-ring competition, McCool made a special appearance at the 30-Woman Royal Rumble in 2023, where she had a memorable entrance and participated in the match, lasting 13 minutes before being eliminated by Rhea Ripley, who was the eventual winner.

    Michelle McCool and The Undertaker are enjoying married life at this point, as they are both retired. They are raising a daughter, and seem very happy with this stage of their life. Although Taker and McCool have retired from in-ring competition, you can never say never when it comes to seeing them again in WWE.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, as we get even closer to WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back throughout the day for more updates!

  • Roman Reigns Gets Emotional Hearing Words of Support From Late-Brother Matt ‘Rosey’ Anoai

    Roman Reigns Gets Emotional Hearing Words of Support From Late-Brother Matt ‘Rosey’ Anoai

    Roman Reigns may be a cool customer on WWE TV but the Tribal Chief couldn’t help but feel emotional when hearing from his late brother Matt. 

    During the recent WWE and A&E Biography: Legends episode on Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief was presented with a WWE.com interview with Matt Anoa’i. In the interview in question, Matt speaks about his brother’s dedication to excellence and predicts big things for Reigns. 

    “He had something special… That specialty was something to do with athletics. Just his focus in the gym, focus all through high-school and college, he knew. Joe was set for something great. He’s setting the bar for our family that much higher.” 

    Reigns was visibly overcome with emotion hearing the words from his brother as seen in the clip below. 

    Who Was Matt Anoa’i? 

    Matt began his career in 1995 and after a brief stint in the original ECW and the Samoan-owned WXW, would join WWE in 2002. He debuted in July on Raw as Rosey, one-half of 3 Minute Warning alongside Eddie ‘Jamal’ Fatu (later known to WWE fans as Umaga. The duo served as ‘hired guns’ for Raw GM Eric Bischoff but split in June 2003 following Fatu’s release from WWE. 

    Rosey would later become the sidekick of The Hurricane who dubbed Rosey his ‘Super Hero In Training (S.H.I.T.) The pair won the World Tag Team Championships in May 2005 but lost the gold to Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch that September. Rosey was released from WWE in March 2006. 

    In January 2014, Matt Anoa?i was hospitalized due to congestive heart failure which was related to weight gain as he struggled to keep active due to a chronic knee injury. On April 17, 2017, Matt died due to complications related to CHF, mere days after his 47th birthday.

  • Finn Balor Shows Off Gruesome Forehead Injury Ahead of WrestleMania 40

    Finn Balor Shows Off Gruesome Forehead Injury Ahead of WrestleMania 40

    The Judgment Day member Finn Balor recently revealed that he suffered a forehead injury which looks pretty nasty. 

    As we get closer to WrestleMania 40 this weekend, fans and the WWE Superstars are preparing for an epic event. However, fans are worried after Balor posted an update on his recent injury.

    Taking to his Twitter/X, one-half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions posted a short video clip in which his forehead can be seen swollen due to an injury but he didn’t look much concerned. 

    The caption read:

    “Easter Egg”

    It is currently not known when and how Finn Balor suffered the injury but that looks concerning, especially ahead of their tag-team title defense at WrestleMania 40.

    Finn Balor and Damian Priest to have a high-stakes match at WrestleMania 40

    The Judgment Day have a huge task at their hands to keep the gold around their waist at the ‘Show of Shows’. 

    Balor and Priest will put their Undisputed WWE Tag-Team Championships on the line in a Six-pack Tag-Team Ladder Match against some of the most popular teams: #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth), The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods),  New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) and A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller).

    Meanwhile, the other members are also gearing up for the event. Rhea Ripley will defend her WWE Women’s World title against 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Becky Lynch. 

    On the other hand, Dominik Mysterio will team up with Santos Escobar to take on LWO (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee).

    WrestleMania 40 takes place on April 6 & 7 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • Roman Reigns Was Against The Shield’s Split & Face Run But “You Have to Be a Good Soldier”

    Roman Reigns Was Against The Shield’s Split & Face Run But “You Have to Be a Good Soldier”

    The end of the Shield may have helped propel Roman Reigns to singles superstardom, but the Tribal Chief was no fan of splitting up the popular faction. 

    A year-and-a-half after their debut on the main roster, the Shield imploded during the June 2, 2014, episode of Monday Night Raw. 24 hours removed from the Sheild’s victory over Evolution at WWE Battleground, Seth Rollins betrayed his brothers and aligned himself with Triple H, becoming a part of the Authority. 

    Roman Reigns Was Against The Shield’s Split

    The end of the Shield was a shocking moment that marked a change for Rollins, Reigns, and Dean Ambrose, but Reigns was not on board at the time. During the A&E Biography: Legends episode about him, Reigns shared his reservations about the split.

    “I didn’t wanna break up The Shield. And I definitely didn’t wanna be a good guy. That’s exactly what was happening. I was so young on the rise. It’s not like I had a nest egg built up. It’s not like I had a whole bunch of options that I can just say ‘No I’m not feeling this.’ This doesn’t feel good to me or I wouldn’t say this. It was so hard to do that.”

    “When you don’t have that backup, when you don’t have that ‘f**k you’ money. And you can’t just stand on your art and your family is depending on you. Your livelihood is depending on you. You have to just be a good soldier and do what you’re told.”

    What Came Next? 

    Following the split, Rollins and Ambrose would feud for months with both men receiving new attires and themes for this post-Shield chapter of their careers. Reigns on the other hand continued to use the same theme song and the same attire for years after the Shield broke up. 

    Rather than enter the fray with Ambrose and Rollins, Reigns was quickly thrust into feuds with established names. This high-profile move to the main event scene would play a part in the fans’ rejection of Reigns that would continue for years.

    Shield Reunions

    While The Shield’s proper run ended in 2014, the faction would reunite over the years. The group saw reunions in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The final reunion saw the group go out on top as Ambrose’s final match for WWE saw the Shield defeat Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre. Ambrose would debut for AEW shortly after as Jon Moxley. 

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

  • Booker T Says He Approved All Of Controversial WrestleMania 19 Angle With Triple H

    Booker T Says He Approved All Of Controversial WrestleMania 19 Angle With Triple H

    Booker T had no issue with his angle with Triple H in early 2003, despite many believing that the angle leaned too heavily into racial insensitivity. 

    The angle in question saw Booker feud with the Game over the World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H’s verbiage in promos would raise eyebrows as he said that “people like you” don’t win world titles. Many took this as a nod at Booker being African-American, as there had not been a fully-black WWE World Champion at the time. 

    Amid backlash, WWE would try and play off the comment as Triple H making reference to Booker T’s criminal history. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer spent 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery at Wendy’s restaurants in Houston. This did little to quiet critics of the angle, as similar comments had not been made about white WWE Superstars who had fallen afoul of the law. 

     Booker T on the Storyline

    While many still take issue with the angle and the racial undertones, Booker does not have a problem with the storyline. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Booker discussed some of Triple H’s verbiage during the angle. 

    “The one line people remember the most is when Triple H said ‘People like you don’t deserve to be here.’ That’s motivation for all of us to get up off our asses and prove them wrong.”

    Booker then discussed how the angle played on his real-life background and said he approved of what was said in the storyline. 

    “It was as real as it could possibly be for me from an emotional perspective and a lot of the stuff that went into the angle, I approved all of it.”

    What Came Next? 

    While the angle was distasteful to many, it did build Booker as a sympathetic babyface. Many assumed that the vile heel Triple H would finally get his comeuppance at WrestleMania 19 by losing the World Heavyweight Championship. 

    Instead, The Game retained and the finish of the match also saw controversy. Triple H waited close to a minute after hitting the Pedigree on Booker before getting the decisive pinfall, which many felt was a ‘burial’ of the ex-WCW star. Booker would have to wait over three more years before he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Rey Mysterio in 2006. 

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

  • John Cena Believes ‘GOAT’ Roman Reigns Should Be Compared Only To Himself

    John Cena Believes ‘GOAT’ Roman Reigns Should Be Compared Only To Himself

    John Cena has praised the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns as a Superstar who is without comparison to anybody other than the Tribal Chief. 

    Reigns has been one of WWE’s very top Superstars for close to a decade now and has dominated as Universal Champion for over 1,300 days. This title reign has seen him defeat the likes of Bray Wyatt, Bill Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Edge, Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, and Cena himself. 

    John Cena on Roman Reigns

    As part of A&E Biography: Legends episode on Roman Reigns, Cena spoke candidly about his respect for the Head of the Table. In a tweet featuring a clip from the show, Cena went even further, saying that Reigns is, in his opinion, the greatest of all time. 

    “It is on the job training, no matter what. We learn the most from failure and Roman had his share of knocks. And finally, he was like ‘F*** it, I’m doing it my own way.’ And it has been a wrap ever since. It has been like [mic] drop, conversation over. There’s nobody like him. He should be compared only to himself.”

    John Cena Vs. Roman Reigns

    Cena and Reigns have shared the ring 15 times in WWE (not including Royal Rumble bouts.) Their first match took place at WWE Elimination Chamber 2013 and saw The Shield defeat Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback. The pair would later headline WWE SummerSlam 2021 in a match Reigns would also win. 

    The duo’s most recent match came on the December 30, 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown. The match saw Cena and Kevin Owens defeat Reigns and Sami Zayn, who was with the Bloodline at the time. The match also kept Cena’s streak going as the 16-time WWE World Champion has had at least one match on WWE TV since his main-roster debut in 2002. 

  • WWE Superstars Share Their Predictions for Massive WrestleMania 40: Saturday Tag Team Match

    WWE Superstars Share Their Predictions for Massive WrestleMania 40: Saturday Tag Team Match

    The WWE Superstars have weighed in on whether it’ll be The Rock & Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes who will be left standing tall at WrestleMania: Saturday. 

    In a video shared on WWE’s YouTube channel, the Superstars were asked who they predict will win the much-anticipated tag team match on WrestleMania Saturday. The match will see Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes face Roman Reigns & The Rock to decide the stipulation of the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match

    Who’s Backing the Bloodline?

    CM Punk said it’s hard to bet against the Bloodline (but easy to bet against Seth Rollins) and he expects Rock and Reigns to win the tag-team match. Jimmy Uso, unsurprisingly, was backing is cousin and the Final Boss in the upcoming match. 

    The Miz said he wouldn’t be surprised if The Rock & Reigns won and beatdown Cody and Seth to the point that their matches would be called on for WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The A-Lister admitted that these comments will leave fans very angry with him. 

    ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was also predicting a Bloodline victory, acknowledging the 1,300+ day reign of the Tribal Chief and the legendary status of The Rock. Santos Escobar was immensely confident that The Rock & Roman would win, calling it a “spoiler.” 

    Carmelo Hayes is also predicting a Rock-Roman win on WrestleMania: Saturday, as is Shayna Baszler. Otis, The O.C. and Byron Saxton also predicted a Bloodline victory. R-Truth, Zelina Vega, and Trick Williams also expect to see The Bloodline stand tall on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. 

    Finishing the Story

    While the majority of WWE Superstars expect The Rock & Roman Reigns to win this Saturday, not everyone believes this will be the case. Despite her differences with both Cody & Seth, Rhea Ripley expects the dream team will be standing tall on WrestleMania 40: Saturday.

    NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria is also expecting a win for Rhodes and Rollins and believes the American Nightmare will at last ‘finish the story’ the next night. Liv Morgan is also backing Rhodes and Rollins “just because.”

    Despite being dressed like 90s Rock for the video, Kofi Kingston expects Rhodes and Rollins to come out on top. Bianca Belair is also expecting the faces to win on WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

    Drew McIntyre Responds

    The final response was from Drew McIntyre who made it clear he doesn’t care who wins on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. McIntyre is instead only hoping that Rollins makes it through the match so they can have their World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40: Sunday.  

  • Philadelphia Street Fight Expected to Be Added to WWE WrestleMania 40 Card

    Philadelphia Street Fight Expected to Be Added to WWE WrestleMania 40 Card

    The WWE Universe could be in store for a Philadelphia Street Fight in a matter of days at WWE WrestleMania 40, it has been claimed. 

    WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will take place on April 6 and April 7 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

    WrestleMania Card Schedule

    As of writing, 12 matches have been confirmed for WWE WrestleMania 40. Dave Melzer of F4W Online reports that 13 matches will take place at WrestleMania. This will be divided over the two nights with seven matches on WrestleMania 40: Saturday and six matches taking place on WrestleMania 40: Sunday.

    A Philadelphia Street Fight

    Meltzer adds that the Street Profits & Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross & Authors of Pain was made “obvious” during the March 29, episode of WWE SmackDown but has yet to be announced. It’s also noted that as of last week, it was booked within WWE to be a ‘Philadelphia Street Fight.’

    On SmackDown, the Profits faced Grayson Waller & Austin Theory in a tag-team ladder match qualifier. Karrion Kross and Scarlett attacked Lashley and B-Fab backstage with the distraction costing the Profits the match. 

    WWE WrestleMania 40

    Here is the card as it stands for WWE WrestleMania 40:

    WrestleMania 40: Saturday

    The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins

    WrestleMania 40: Sunday

    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
    • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)

    Night TBA

    • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
    • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
    • 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, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
    • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)
    • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
    • Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
  • Status Of WWE’s Plan For Ilja Dragunov’s Main Roster Call-Up

    Status Of WWE’s Plan For Ilja Dragunov’s Main Roster Call-Up

    WWE could have big plans for a lot of NXT Superstars, and it only seems natural that the company wants to make a big star out of Ilja Dragunov. The question is how soon they will get that going.

    WWE NXT: Stand & Deliver will go down on April 6 during the afternoon before WrestleMania 40‘s first night. SEScoops will have coverage as the show starts at 11:30 AM EST.

    Ilja Dragunov is preparing for his NXT Championship defense at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Tony D’Angelo. While there are no immediate plans for him to move to the main roster, but it’s anticipated that he will transition to RAW or SmackDown after dropping the NXT Championship.

    Current Situation With Ilja Dragunov’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up

    Ilja Dragunov is heading into his next title defense at NXT: Stand And Deliver on WrestleMania 40 weekend. He will defend the title against Tony D’Angelo in a program that has been built like a Sopranos storyline.

    According to information from Corey Brennan of Fightful Select, there are currently no plans for Dragunov to move up to the main roster, but it’s expected that he will transition there after losing the NXT Championship. It was also noted that some within NXT believe he has outgrown the brand.

    Some fans have questioned if Dragunov was willing to make the move to the main roster and cite his trips home as a reason why. At this time, Fightful has not been told of any such issue, with WWE being more than happy to accommodate Dragunov’s schedule.

    Perspective on Ilja Dragunov

    In terms of WWE’s broader plans, there is a perception among some in NXT that Dragunov is viewed similarly to GUNTHER. Those plans to push him similarly once he joins the main roster may be in place.

    Dragunov’s performance in NXT has earned him praise, with producers noting his ability to excel with minimal direction compared to others on the roster.

    Fellow NXT talent have also given Dragunov big props for his ability to elevate his opponents in the ring and how much he gets the pro wrestling business. Additionally, he is described as easy to work with and a positive presence backstage, further enhancing his reputation within the company.

    We will have to see when Ilja Dragunov makes his way to the WWE main roster. At this time, it does not appear that there are any plans to rush the process.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more in the pro wrestling business. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

  • Alabama’s Rylan Griffen Lets WWE Fandom Loose With Crimson Tide Title After Final Four Berth

    Alabama’s Rylan Griffen Lets WWE Fandom Loose With Crimson Tide Title After Final Four Berth

    WWE has fans from all over, and after Alabama won their big Elite Eight game over Clemson, Rylan Griffen celebrated like a champion.

    Rylan Griffen was handed a custom WWE Alabama Championship Title during an interview after the Crimson Tide’s big win on March 30. He immediately let his fandom out in bold fashion, and he also reenacted Triple H’s iconic entrance.

    Celebrating Like A WWE Champion

    The Alabama men’s basketball team achieved a significant milestone on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, securing the program’s first-ever Final Four berth by defeating No. 6 seed Clemson. Alabama Crimson Tide Guard Rylan Griffen was obviously on-hand for the celebration, and he was blown away by something WWE sent his team.

    Griffen commented that the belt was “deadly,” and then he proceeded to pick out the kind of WWE entrance he wants. He decided to go with Triple H, and we’re sure The Game appreciates that. This was certainly a viral moment, and WWE signal blasted the post as well, as they re-posted it on Twitter/X along with the classic eyeballs emoji.

    WWE’s Custom Titles

    WWE has a new line of cross-promoted titles with a variety of sports. It is very possible to see WWE Title belts pop up at a variety of sporting events from MLB to the NFL with fans sporting their custom championships. You can find more about WWE’s custom title belts here.

    The Alabama WWE Championship Title was obviously a big winner for Rylan Griffen. It might be tough for him to make WrestleMania 40, because his team is facing UConn in their Final Four game on April 6.

    SEScoops will have more on this story if there are any necessary updates. Keep checking back on a regular basis for more headlines!

  • WWE Locks Down Several Names Across NXT & Main Roster

    WWE Locks Down Several Names Across NXT & Main Roster

    WWE has secured even more trademarks to make sure that nobody else uses their intellectual property. Those new trademarks span Superstars and on-air personalities from WWE and the NXT brand as well.

    WWE filed trademark applications for several names on March 29. Now “Andrade,” “Chase U,” “Vic Joseph,” “Alicia Taylor,” “Blake Howard,” and “Erik” are one step closer to being WWE property.

    WWE’s New Trademark Filings

    On March 29, WWE took legal action by filing trademark applications for several names including “Andrade,” “Chase U,” “Vic Joseph,” “Alicia Taylor,” “Blake Howard,” and “Erik.”

    These trademark filings cover a wide array of categories, primarily focusing on entertainment services related to wrestling exhibitions and performances by professional wrestlers. It is the usual language found in those type of trademark filings.

    The trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.

    WWE’s History Of Trademarking Names

    WWE locking down Andrade’s name is interesting, because he used Andrade el Idolo in AEW. Now, he is back in WWE and they are locking down his name.

    The company has a history of trademarking names, and that is why they have a proclivity to change someone’s real name once they enter WWE. They have also been known to alter ring names, just so they can make sure nobody has any claim to a moniker.

    SEScoops will keep an eye for any updates, and check back throughout the day for more headlines!

  • WWE Planning Meeting To Discuss Change For WrestleMania 40 Title Match

    WrestleMania 40 will be here before we know it, but the card is always subject to change. It appears that the tag team match for the Undisputed Titles may see an alteration in the next week.

    The grandest stage of them all is set to take over Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7, 2024. Some tickets still remain for the show.

    Although Grayson Waller and Austin Theory won their match to secure the final two spots in the multi-team ladder match for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 40, they might get pulled from the match. WWE is reportedly having a meeting about that this week.

    WrestleMania 40 Possible Change

    The WWE WrestleMania 40 card is being finalized just a week ahead of the event. The six-pack ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, is set to feature Finn Balor & Damian Priest, Team #DIY, Awesome Truth, The New Day, Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, and Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.

    During Friday’s SmackDown, the final two spots in the ladder match were secured. Waller and Theory emerged victorious against The Street Profits, earning their place in the match. Similarly, Dunne & Bate defeated Angel & Humberto in a qualifying tournament to secure their spot in the bout.

    During his discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned an upcoming meeting to determine if Waller and Theory will stay in the match at WrestleMania 40. The reasons for their potential removal and the possible replacements remain unclear, but this is apparently something they are discussing.

    “By the way, even though Theory and Waller won. It is not necessarily that they’re going to be in that match. They might be. There is a meeting upcoming where they will make a decision on that.”

    Additional WrestleMania Festivities

    WWE is planning a packed WrestleMania kick off event at the Wells Fargo Center on April 5th. There are also plenty of activities to keep fans engaged throughout the whole weekend.

    On April 5, both SmackDown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will also be hosted at the Wells Fargo Center. WrestleMania 40 itself will unfold at the Lincoln Financial Field on April 6 and April 7.

    Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson are among the inductees in this year’s Hall of Fame class.

    Additionally, it was announced during SmackDown that Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, CM Punk, Big E, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett will be leading WWE’s Countdown to WrestleMania pre-shows ahead of both nights of WrestleMania 40. These pre-shows will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 and April 7, with the main events kicking off at 7 p.m. Eastern on each night.

    WWE WrestleMania 40 Card (So Far):

    • The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Tag team match – Night 1
    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship – Night 2
    • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: TBD match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – Night 2
    • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
    • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn: Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
    • 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. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory: Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
    • LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens: Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship

    SEScoops will have more on WrestleMania 40, and everything surrounding the big event. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

  • Kevin Owens Has Good Reason For Not Winning The IC Title Ever Again

    Kevin Owens Has Good Reason For Not Winning The IC Title Ever Again

    A wrestling talent is generally always looking forward to winning their next championship. The WWE Intercontinental Championship however is one belt Kevin Owens doesn’t want to win again because of a very good reason.

    The Raw star has won the coveted title a total of two times in his career. Owens has held it for a combined 132 days in his two reigns.

    KO recently took part in a Fanatics live auction on the UpUpDownDown channel. While signing an IC title replica for the auction, the WWE star mentioned how he doesn’t want to win the championship again because his record is tied with the late Owen Hart:

    “This is the main event, it’s the replica championship of the Intercontinental Title I held for the exact same amount of days as Owen Hart. We both had two title runs, they total the exact same amount of days. So I technically don’t ever wanna win this again because I like that.”

    Kevin Owens and Owen Hart

    The Intercontinental Championship was Kevin Owens’ first singles title on WWE’s main roster. He defeated Ryback at the 2015 Night of Champions event to win the belt. His second title reign came not long after and he defeated Dean Ambrose at the February 21, 2016 episode of Raw for it.

    For Owen Hart, his first IC title run came very shortly after the formation of the legendary Hart Foundation in WWE in 1997. He defeated Rocky Maivia for his first title win and Faarooq for his second run with the title. Both times he would drop the championship to Steve Austin.

    Kevin Owens is currently in pursuit of another championship in the form of the US title. The belt is held by Logan Paul at the moment. Both Owens and Randy Orton will be looking to dethrone the YouTube star in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania 40.

    If you use the quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Becky Lynch: Charlotte’s A Huge Part of My Journey, I Love That We’re Friends Again

    Becky Lynch is pleased to have made amends with Charlotte Flair, and has said there’s nothing but love between herself and ‘The Queen.’

    Lynch and Flair were once as close as sisters but their relationship soured during their time on the main roster. Lynch and Flair began growing distant when they were sent to different brands during the 2016 draft, and the 2018 feud between them would also cause genuine friction between the two. 

    It’s All Love

    At WWE Survivor Series 2023, Lynch would return from a hiatus as part of Bianca Belair’s team inside WarGames. Her return would see Lynch team with Flair and the pair would embrace after the match. 

    Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, Lynch addressed her relationship with Flair. The Man was pleased that she is currently in a better place with her fellow former WWE Women’s Champion. 

    “She’s been a huge part of my journey in every capacity and such an important part. As best friends, then enemies, and the fallout. I talk about that [in my memoir] from my perspective, but also the undercurrent of all of it is love, right?

    “It’s always the people that you love the most that maybe hurt you the most. I know I’ve hurt her and it’s been reciprocal but I think when you can come back from all of that, that’s a special thing. I love that.”

    The 2021 Title Exchange

    In 2021, Lynch and Flair were part of a title exchange that did not go as planned. Rather than the intended exchange, Flair dropped the title she was meant to hand to Lynch, forcing the Man to bend down and pick it up. In her new memoir The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl, Lynch recalls being furious backstage. 

    “I felt she deliberately went off script, leading to me yelling in gorilla that she was a, to use my exact words, “crafty fu*king cu*t” right in front of Vince.”

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

  • Mama Rhodes Is Bringing Her Bear Spray to Deal with The Rock at WWE WrestleMania 40

    Mama Rhodes Is Bringing Her Bear Spray to Deal with The Rock at WWE WrestleMania 40

    Mama Rhodes will be prepared for anything at WrestleMania 40 after her name was brought up by The Rock during the March 25, episode of Monday Night Raw. 

    During the show, The Rock delivered the beating of a lifetime on Cody Rhodes which did not stop once the show went off the air. The Rock dared the matriarch of the Rhodes family to look at her son and had a weight belt emblazoned with ‘Mama Rhodes.’ The Rock smeared this belt with Cody’s blood, fulfilling a promise made before the show to have a special belt with Cody’s mother. 

    Mama Rhodes is Ready

    Unlike her son and late husband, Mama Rhodes, whose real name is Michelle, is not a name in the world of professional wrestling. On a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, Cody’s sister Teil shared her mom’s reaction to being thrust into the limelight thanks to being referenced on WWE shows. 

    “She gets it, but she doesn’t love it. You know what I mean? She’s up on Tuesday morning and her phone is just blowing up with all these like people, she hasn’t heard from in 25 years.”

    While Mama Rhodes isn’t the biggest fan of becoming an internationally-known figure, she’s heard what The Rock has had to say, and is prepared to deal with the Final Boss. 

    “‘The Rock’s talking about you on TV’… She’s mad. She said she was going to bring her bear spray to ‘Mania.”

    What’s to Come? 

    Bear spray or no bear spray, Mama Rhodes will have the chance to watch her son compete twice at WrestleMania 40. Cody will team with Seth Rollins on WrestleMania 40: Saturday to face The Rock & Roman Reigns. The match will determine the stipulation for the next night’s main event. 

    On WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Rhodes will challenge Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This will be Rhodes’ last chance at the Tribal Chief, an edict passed down by The Rock flexing his TKO board member muscles. 

  • Karrion Kross Wants to Unleash ‘The Truth’ From R-Truth

    Karrion Kross Wants to Unleash ‘The Truth’ From R-Truth

    What if R-Truth tried joining The Final Testament? Karrion Kross says he’d bring out a different type of person than the one The Judgment Day is currently dealing with.

    A fan proposed the hypothetical to Karrion Kross on X of R-Truth trying to hang with him, AOP, Scarlett and Paul Ellering and the former NXT Champion made it known he’d conjure up a R-Truth that WWE has yet to see.

    “What would we do? I remind & show the world about Ron “The Truth” Killings. And you would run for your life. Because Ron doesn’t joke or laugh until he puts you in the hospital. I like Ron. A lot. The world is lucky they’re getting the nice guy right now.”

    R-Truth like what he heard out of Kross because he reposted Karrion’s comments.

    Before he donned the R-Truth moniker, Ron Killings went by his real name in TNA and became the first African-American NWA Worlds Champion while there.

    At the moment, R-Truth is looking to become the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions with The Miz. The two have punched their ticket to WrestleMania 40 to be apart of the six-pack ladder match. Truth and Miz have a score to settle with Judgment Day and they’ll be battling Damian Priest and Finn Balor in the bout, along with four other tag teams.

    Funny enough, the first iteration of Awesome Truth did happen to feature a heel version of R-Truth and the two happened to take on The Rock and John Cena in tag action.

  • WWE Made Several Changes To Jade Cargill’s Entrance Before 3/29 SmackDown Debut

    WWE Made Several Changes To Jade Cargill’s Entrance Before 3/29 SmackDown Debut

    Jade Cargill is now in WWE, and she’s making a lot of noise. “The Storm is Here,” seems to be more than just a new catchphrase.

    A new report states that WWE had Jade Cargill’s entrance figured out well in advance. They also had input from a lot of people to make sure everything looked the best it could for the former TBS Champion.

    Jade Cargill’s SmackDown Entrance

    During the March 29th episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Jade Cargill debuted on the blue brand with a new entrance. This received a lot of attention from fans.

    According to Corey Brennan on Fightful Select, Cargill’s entrance underwent extensive planning, with adjustments made over recent weeks. Input on various aspects of the entrance, including angles, lighting, and sound, was provided by “all major producers” within the company. 

    Jade Cargill At WrestleMania 40

    Although WWE waited until late in the game, Cargill was booked for a WrestleMania 40 match during the March 29 episode of SmackDown.

    Cargill will join Naomi and Bianca Belair to take on Damage CTRL’s Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai in a six-woman tag team match. That will also mark Cargill’s second match in the company after her 2024 Royal Rumble debut.

    Cargill’s entrance is anticipated to undergo further modifications, possibly even at WrestleMania, although its foundational elements were established during SmackDown. We will have to see how things evolve from this point on.

    Cargill has been quite open about her AEW departure. Tony Khan offered her more money to stay with AEW than she asked for, but she left anyway. In the end, Cargill unapologetically says that she did what she had to do.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as Jade Cargill continues making her mark in WWE. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines.

  • Cody Rhodes Signs New Multi-Year WWE Contract Before WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes Signs New Multi-Year WWE Contract Before WrestleMania 40

    Contracts are always important in pro wrestling, and now it appears that WWE has done everything they could to make sure that Cody Rhodes is locked down.

    Cody Rhodes recently confirmed that he signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. This will keep him with the company past his 40th birthday.

    Cody Rhodes’ New WWE Contract

    Cody Rhodes is riding a wave of momentum, and the WWE Universe can’t wait to see if he finishes his story at WrestleMania 40. No matter how the show of shows turns out, he will be around WWE for a long time to come.

    During an interview with Justin Walker, Cody Rhodes confirmed he has signed a new multi-year contract with WWE. He did not confirm exactly how many years he signed on for, but it is certainly more than two. He had planned on retiring by 40, but plans changed for him.

    “I can tell you 40 is out of the question just because, not to give you scoop, it was widely reported, but I did sign a new contract with WWE. It extends beyond my 40th birthday.”

    “The plan is still, when it’s time to step out, to step out without it being a painful process. Solely because I saw my dad [Dusty Rhodes] as an old man wrestler and he loved it and enjoyed it, but as his son it was hard to see. My daughter is two going on three, there does have a be a time, just like he was with us, where I have to be home all the time and be there with her. It’s not 40 anymore. I’ll update the number. I hit the prime run late in the game. I often forget that I’m nearing 40.”

    Cody Rhodes is 38-years-old right now. Since his new deal will extend past his 40th birthday, WWE fans can look forward to a lot more moments from the American Nightmare.

    Cody Rhodes’ History of Betting on Himself

    Rhodes has a history of betting on himself. He left WWE in May 2016, when he didn’t like Stardust’s creative direction and, and he thought he could do better. That certainly transpired for him in the months following his WWE exit.

    After achieving an EVP spot in AEW, and being featured in many high-profile feuds, Cody Rhodes left Tony Khan’s company as he bet on himself once again. He never won the AEW World Title, because an early storyline in the company disqualified Cody from challenging for it in the future after he failed to beat Chris Jericho at Full Gear in 2019. Jericho won that match as MJF threw in the towel for Cody.

    Now, Cody Rhodes is back in WWE, and he’s not leaving. We will have to see what stories he helps tell in the future, and how many massive venues end up singing along to his famous Kingdom entrance.

    Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes will compete twice during the two-day WrestleMania event on April 6 and 7. He will team with Seth Rollins to take on The Rock and Roman Reigns during the first night of Mania. The second night will feature Cody vs Roman for the Undisputed Universal Title in the main event match.

    If Cody and Seth’s team can win during the first night of WrestleMania, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside during the main event of WrestleMania 40’s second night. If Roman and Rock win, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for the Undisputed Universal Title match.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more. Keep checking back for more updates throughout the day for more headlines!

  • Updated Plan For Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal On 4/5 SmackDown

    Updated Plan For Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal On 4/5 SmackDown

    WrestleMania is a week away, and now we know what is set to go down on the go-home edition of SmackDown next week. That will include a very special annual match, where the winner will receive an accolade they can brag about for the rest of their career.

    WWE will bring SmackDown to the Wells Fargo Center next week for SmackDown. Directly after the event, they will put on the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame as well.

    Next week’s SmackDown will see the return of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. This match has a long history around WrestleMania weekend. Even if it is no longer on the show of show’s card, it will get a featured spot this year on SmackDown. The participants in the match are yet to be determined, but they have the winner figured out.

    Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Return

    The WrestleMania 40 go-home episode of WWE SmackDown will feature the annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. During Friday’s SmackDown, WWE disclosed that the 10th edition of this memorial match is slated for the Friday, April 5 episode of SmackDown.

    No participants in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal were announced yet. We will have to see who gets in that annual match. Past winners include: Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley.

    Since its inception in 2014, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has been a staple of WrestleMania weekend, except for the year 2020. Initially held at WrestleMania itself from 2014 to 2019, the match has transitioned to the final SmackDown before WrestleMania since 2021.

    Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Plan (Exclusive)

    I asked around about the upcoming Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal on SmackDown next week. I was told that the complete participant list for the match is “to be determined.”

    So far, Superstars expected for the match include 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. Of course, plans can always change in pro wrestling. 

    I was, however, told that they have already determined who will win the tenth annual match.

    WWE SmackDown Card for 4/5:

    • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
    • Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
    • The KO Show with Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
    • New Catch Republic’s Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
    • Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez

    SEScoops will have full coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40. We never know what can happen with a week until the showcase of the immortals. WWE is certainly booking a loaded go-home SmackDown before the event.

  • Details On How Seth Rollins & CM Punk Are Getting Along Backstage

    Details On How Seth Rollins & CM Punk Are Getting Along Backstage

    Seth Rollins has made clear he isn’t a fan of CM Punk, but people change and time can heal all wounds.

    CM Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series in Chicago and an angle was worked where Rollins and Drew McIntyre in particular were “irate” at Punk showing up. All that certainly makes sense in today’s WrestleMania 40 landscape considering that the reported plan was for CM Punk to face Rollins, but Punk’s triceps injury clearly tabled that and Drew McIntyre has seamlessly fit into the role of a true “raw” antagonist who will challenge Rollins in Philadelphia.

    Punk made his return to the All State Arena in Chi-town this past Monday on RAW and eventually found himself in the crosshairs of Rollins and McIntyre. Rollins happened to take on a heelish persona as he ran down Punk, making note that he doesn’t even think about him and told him flat-out that would find it appropriate if Punk was on commentary to announce that he retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew.

    The Reported Dynamic Between CM Punk & Seth Rollins Backstage

    Last year, way before CM Punk came back to WWE, Rollins unbashedly called CM Punk a “cancer” when asked of his thoughts regarding ‘The Best In The World,’ making it quite clear he wasn’t exactly fond of Punk.

    To substantiate that, earlier this week, Wade Keller of the Pro Wrestling Torch wrote “by all accounts” there was no love loss between Punk and Rollins, but then reports how that dynamic has changed since Punk has been back in the fold.

    “While Seth harbored legitimate gripes with Punk, the two are getting along backstage when planning their segments. Punk continues to get all positive reviews from many sources regarding how he is carrying himself amongst colleagues and management.”

    CM Punk will indeed be guest commentator during the WrestleMania match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre.