SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Roman Reigns’ In-Ring Return Match Confirmed For Bad Blood

    Roman Reigns’ In-Ring Return Match Confirmed For Bad Blood

    Roman Reigns will be teaming up with an unlikely ally for his WWE return match against Bloodline at the upcoming Bad Blood PLE event.

    The SmackDown season premiere on USA Network opened with Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa in a cage match.

    The Bloodline didn’t like it when Cody managed to beat Solo once again with a Cross Rhodes to retain his title. The group attacked the American Nightmare once the bell rang. After Jacob Fatu landed a moonsault off the top rope, Sikoa ordered him to get to the top of the cage.

    Before Fatu could fly, however, Roman Reigns’ music hit, and the Original Tribal Chief came out to a huge pop. He brawled with the Bloodline for a bit and took out the group with help from Cody. The two stood in the ring unsure of each other to end the segment.

    Later in the episode, Nick Aldis revealed that Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu have challenged Rhode & Reigns for a match at the upcoming PLE. At first Cody declined the offer saying that he was done with The Bloodline and they were Roman’s problem.

    Roman Reigns Gets A Unlikely Partner

    The final segment of the show saw Roman Reigns taking the contract from Aldis and declaring that he didn’t need a tag team partner to take care of family business. Reigns proclaimed that he remains the Tribal Chief and that the WWE ring still belongs to him.

    Cody Rhodes took an exception to this claim. He came out to tell his WrestleMania 40 opponent that WWE is not his anymore since he got dethroned at the Show of Shows. Solo Sikoa then came out with Jacob Fatu while Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga tried to take out Rhodes and Reigns from behind.

    Roman and Cody sent the two crashing before Reigns signed the contract. Cody stared at him for a second before extending his hand to ask for the papers. The WWE Champion signed it as well, making the Head of the Table’s return match official.

    WWE Bad Blood will take place at the State Farm Arena in Cody’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, October 5. You can check out the other matches announced for the show here.

  • Watch: What Happened With Roman Reigns After (9/13) SmackDown Went Off Air

    Watch: What Happened With Roman Reigns After (9/13) SmackDown Went Off Air

    The first night of WWE SmackDown’s return to USA Network was pretty eventful with Roman Reigns’ big return opening the show and a big Bad Blood match being made official at the end of the episode.

    The Original Tribal Chief made his return to confront the Bloodline after Cody Rhodes scored another victory over Solo Sikoa in the cage match. He made the save for the Undisputed WWE Champion and the two worked together for a bit to take out the faction.

    Nick Aldis then announced that Cody and Roman will be teaming to take on The Bloodline at the upcoming WWE PPV. The American Nightmare declined the offer at first, claiming that he was done with the group.

    The main event of the show then saw a confrontation between the two top stars being cut short by an attempted sneak attack from Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga. Realizing that he had no other choice, Rhodes finally agreed to the tag bout, signing the contract to end the broadcast.

    WWE released a video of Roman Reigns after the show went off air. The former champion was the first to exit the ring and his expressions say that he is still not sure about the team up:

    This wasn’t all that happened after SmackDown however as fans also got to witness a SummerSlam rematch before the night was over.

    The World Heavyweight Champion Gunther was in the house and he successfully defended his title against Damian Priest to end the night.

  • Latest On The Motor City Machine Guns Amid WWE Reports

    Latest On The Motor City Machine Guns Amid WWE Reports

    WWE is home to some of the most talented tag-teams in the world, with The Bloodline, the Judgment Day, Nathan Frazer & Axiom, and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair currently holding gold. Now, the promotion is set to welcome one of the most successful tag teams in history which has held gold in several promotions.

    The Motor City Machine Guns have signed with WWE, several sources within the promotion have confirmed to both PW Insider and Fightful Select. The reported plan is for the pair to debut by the October 1, edition of WWE NXT, which will serve as the gold brand’s debut on The CW.

    The team of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley became free agents in April of this year after finishing their time with TNA Wrestling. After their departure, it was speculated that the pair would join AEW, two years after competing at the infamous All Out 2022 event. PWN reports that there were talks between the two sides for a short time, but talks had fallen through.

    In July, it was reported that Shelley and Sabin ha been in talks with WWE, and Shelley himself hinted as much on social media. In an Instagram post, Shelley spoke of spending July 4, competing in what’d be his final match for Beyond Wrestling “for a while” fuelling speculation that he’d signed somewhere that wouldn’t let him on the indies (WWE.) Days later, Shelley told fans at a West Coast Pro event that “I might not be coming back here” and called the announcement a “spoiler alert” on his future.

    Shelley and Sabin are considered one of, if not the greatest tag-teams in TNA history and the pair have held the company’s tag gold multiple times. Both men are also former X-Division and World Champions with Sabin becoming World Champion in 2013 and Shelley in 2023. Now, fans can expect the pair to bring their skills as a tag team and as individual talents to WWE NXT.

    WWE NXT – October 1

    Should the Motor City Machine Guns debut on NXT’s debut on The CW, they will be just one part of a stacked show. Here is the current lineup for the much-anticipated event next month.

    • NXT Championship Match: Ethan Page (c) vs. Trick Williams
    • NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia
    • Street Fight: Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz
    • Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair appear
    • CM Punk appears
    • The Miz hosts an episode of Miz TV
    • Possible: The Motor City Machine Guns debut

  • WWE SmackDown Video Highlights: Sep. 13, 2024

    WWE SmackDown Video Highlights: Sep. 13, 2024

    Here are highlights from Friday’s WWE SmackDown premiere on the USA Network:

    New SmackDown Intro Video

    Triple H welcomes us to SmackDown’s new era:

    Steel Cage Match: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa

    Randy Orton is Kevon Owen’s’ Mystery Partner against A-Town Down Under

    Nia Jax’s Bad Blood Chaleneger

    Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes

  • New WWE SmackDown Logo, Intro Video & Theme Song

    New WWE SmackDown Logo, Intro Video & Theme Song

    The new era of WWE SmackDown on the USA Network kicked off with a new logo, a new introduction video and theme song.

    “Neva Play” by Megan Thee Stallion featuring RM is the theme song for the latest SmackDown intro video package:

    SmackDown kicked off with Cody Rhodes successfully defendeing the Undisputed WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa in a steel cage match. This match saw the dramatic return of Roman Reigns, who interrupted The Bloodline from attacking Cody Rhodes.

    WWE SmackDown airs Fridays at 8/7c on the USA Network.

  • WWE SmackDown Preview: USA Premiere, Steel Cage Match

    WWE SmackDown Preview: USA Premiere, Steel Cage Match

    WWE SmackDown returns to the USA Network tonight at 8/7c. It’s Friday the 13th and a new era begins in just a few hours.

    With just 3 weeks until WWE Bad Blood, SmackDown will feature a match worthy of a premium live event: Cody Rhodes puts his Undisputed WWE Championship on the line inside of a steel cage against the Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa. This match will kick off the broadcast, so fans should be sure to tune in promptly.

    There’s also a surprise in store, with Kevin Owens teaming up with a mystery partner to face A-Town Under. Who will Owens call to have his back?

    Matches scheduled for tonight’s SmackDown on USA include:

    • Steel Cage Match: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
    • Mystery Tag Match: Kevin Owens and a Mystery Partner vs. A-Town Down Under’s Austin Theory and Grayson Waller
    • Best of 7 Series: Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes

    Roman Reigns, The Bloodline, LA Knight, Nia Jax, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are also advertised to appear.

    For more information about tonight’s SmackDown and ongoing WWE storylines, visit our WWE News section.

  • Update On Plans For Raw After Netflix Move

    Update On Plans For Raw After Netflix Move

    There has been a lot of chatter about how different WWE Raw would be on Netflix but one thing that won’t be changing is the inclusion of commercials.

    Many fans have been hoping that the show will ditch the ads once it moves to the streaming giant but it won’t be the case according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    In the latest edition of his newsletter, the wrestling journalist noted that one of the reasons Netflix has picked up the wrestling show is to make the incorporation of ads to their service easier:

    “One of the reasons Netflix picked up Raw is because they are trying to add commercials to programming and the Raw and pro wrestling audience is used to commercials on the shows.”

    The difference with Netflix would more be about the order of the commercials as they will be able to adjust the length of breaks and the placement of ads more freely.

    Another thing that fans have been discussing is the expected runtime of the Red Branded Show after it was announced that Raw would be reverting back to 2 hours for the rest of the year on USA Network from October 7.

    The belief is that the program will have a variable run time once it leaves the traditional cable network and they’ll be able to extend or reduce the time as needed.

    The flexibility will allow the company to change the length of the show to not only fit in things as required but also make the finish of matches less predictable.

    There has been no update on how the programming itself will change with the freedom of content offered by Netflix. A number of stars such as Roman Reigns and Dominik Mysterio have spoken in favor of keeping things family-friendly instead of opting for more mature content immediately.

  • The Great Khali Stars in Sci-Fi Sequel ‘Raduaa Returns’ This November

    The Great Khali Stars in Sci-Fi Sequel ‘Raduaa Returns’ This November

    Dalip Singh, best known to wrestling fans as The Great Khali, is a time-traveling, sword-wielding warrior in the upcoming Indian sci-fi film, Raduaa Returns.

    The storyline draws inspiration from classic science fiction tales, including H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. The movie follows a group of characters as they journey through time, from 1955 to the distant future of 2255, and back into the past.

    Scheduled for release on November 22, 2024, the highly anticipated sequel will see Khali taking on a significant role. Khali plays the character Mohd. Khan in the film, which is written and directed by Nav Bajwa.

    Raduaa Movie Poster

    Raduaa Returns is the sequel to Bajwa’s 2018 film Raduaa, which combined comedy and time travel in a story where the characters found themselves trapped in 1955 after an experiment gone wrong. In this new installment, the original cast, including B.N. Sharma, Gurpreet Ghuggi, and Satinder Satti, reunites for another adventure through time.

    A Blueprint for WWE Stars to Follow

    The film marks another chapter in The Great Khali’s successful post-WWE career, further highlighting his popularity in the entertainment world. Since leaving WWE in 2014, Khali has built a strong fanbase in India, where he is widely recognized as a national icon.

    According to his IMDB page, Khali has four other acting gigs in the works. As you can see, he’s such a recognizable figure that he portrays himself in several of these projects:

    • Zombie Brothel: Role: Brothel Security | Status: Post-production
    • Awara Pagal Deewana 2: Role: Hawa | Status: Pre-production
    • Necromancer: Role: The Great Khali | Status: Pre-production
    • Zombie Rome: Role: Gladiator Giant Singh | Status: Pre-production

    The Great Khali, along with stars like Dwayne Johnson, Dave Bautista and John Cena, have created the blue print for today’s WWE Superstars to transition to a thriving acting career after they hang up their boots.

    Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Damian Priest, Liv Morgan and Tiffany Stratton are all represented by the Paradigm agency to help them further branch out into the entertainment world.

  • Rey Mysterio Attending UFC 306 This Weekend At The Sphere

    Rey Mysterio Attending UFC 306 This Weekend At The Sphere

    The worlds of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts will overlap once again at this weekend’s UFC 306: O’Malley vs Dvalishvili pay-per-view.

    Rey Mysterio, one of WWE’s most iconic stars, has confirmed that he will attend UFC 306 this Saturday, which takes place Saturday, September 14 at The Sphere in Paradise, Nevada, as part of the Las Vegas Valley’s “Riyadh Season Noche.”

    The crossover between WWE and UFC continues to grow following the merger of both organizations under the TKO umbrella last year, with stars from both promotions increasingly appearing at each other’s events.

    Rey Mysterio at UFC 306

    In a post on the official TKO Group Instagram page, Mysterio appeared alongside UFC fighter Brandon Moreno. The two confirmed they were in Las Vegas for the fights. Mysterio, an avid fight fan who attended a UFC event from Mexico City earlier this year, said:

    “Yo, what’s up guys! This is Rey Mysterio, WWE Hall of Famer, and this is Brandon Moreno, UFC fighter. We’re very excited to be here in Las Vegas for Noche UFC 306. Let’s go, we’re ready!” Mysterio said in the video.

    UFC 306

    UFC 306: O’Malley vs Dvalishvili, also known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, is set to take place on September 14, 2024 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Here is the main pay-per-view fight card, and visit our affiliate site MMANews.com for more UFC news.

    Bantamweight Title Bout
    Sean O’Malley (c) vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    The main event sees bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley defending his title against Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley is known for his striking skills, while Dvalishvili is a relentless wrestler on a 10-fight win streak

    Women’s Flyweight Title Bout
    Alexa Grasso (c) vs. Valentina Shevchenko

    This trilogy fight for the women’s flyweight championship pits current champion Alexa Grasso against former champ Valentina Shevchenko. Their first two bouts resulted in a submission win for Grasso and a draw.

    Featherweight Bout
    Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes

    Former title challenger Brian Ortega faces rising contender Diego Lopes.

    Lightweight Bout
    Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics

    The undefeated Mexican fighter Daniel Zellhuber takes on Argentina’s Esteban Ribovics.

    Flyweight Bout
    Ronaldo “Lazy Boy” Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne

  • Micah Taylor, Ex-WWE Developmental Talent, Dies Aged 47

    Micah Taylor, Ex-WWE Developmental Talent, Dies Aged 47

    Michael Sharrer, a wrestler who was once signed to a developmental contract with WWE, has passed away at the age of 47. Sharrer’s passing was shared publicly by former WWE star Mike Mondo, who stated the following on Facebook.

    “This one isn’t easy. Still doing my best to process this. Mike Taylor was the first friend I made in OVW which carried over into a close friendship/brotherhood for the next 20+ years. We were just texting a couple weeks ago. You always looked and treated me like your younger brother. You’ve always had a huge heart. I’m grateful for all the great times we had in Louisville & of course the countless shoots on the west coast doing mocap. Those memories will last forever. I pray for Mikes family during this difficult time especially his kids Isaiah & Mina. I love you Big Mike. A-team for life. RIP buddy.”

    A former marine, Sharrer joined the world of wrestling in 2003 and signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2006. Assigned to OVW and Deep South Wrestling, Sharrer was named Micah Taylor and worked with future big names including MVP and Jake Hager. The peak of this run came in May 2006 when he and Tony Santarelli captured the DSW Tag Team Championships. Their five-month reign ended with them losing the gold to Deuce and Domino.

    On-screen, Sharrer competed on the October 21, 2003, edition of WWE Velocity where he teamed with Rob Begley in a losing effort to Paul London and Brian ‘Spanky’ Kendrick. He also lost a tag-team match in a dark match before the February 6, 2006, edition of WWE Heat.

    On Twitter, WWE Raw General Manager paid tribute to Sharrer and recalled performing motion capture with him for WWE video games.

    We here at SEScoops would like to share our condolences to Sharrer’s family, friends, and colleagues at this sad time.

  • Drew McIntyre Reveals Dave Bautista’s First Impression Of Him

    Drew McIntyre Reveals Dave Bautista’s First Impression Of Him

    The Killer’s Game is the latest Hollywood blockbuster from Dave Bautista, but WWE’s Animal isn’t the only wrestler involved. The film also marks the feature-film debut of Drew McIntyre who has addressed his relationship with his fellow former World Champion.

    During a Reddit AMA, McIntyre was asked if Bautista is “the big soft sweetheart” he seems to be in interviews. Not only did the Scottish Warrior confirm this is the case, but he gave an example of how Batista’s personality led a young Drew to believe that the Animal didn’t like him.

    “Yeah he is! Naturally introverted, much like myself, in fact a lot of us wrestlers are. When I first met him I thought he didn’t like me because he was so quiet, but then he started mentoring me when I was a youngster but it was more than that he really kept an eye out of me and clued me up on how to navigate the WWE. Now he’s doing the same as I step into this new world. All round great lad.”

    The Killer’s Game tells the story of Joe Flood (Bautista) a hitman who puts out a hit on himself after being diagnosed with a terminal disease. After learning that this diagnosis was inaccurate, Flood must fend off several contract killers including McIntyre’s Rory McKenzie. The Animal personally put McIntyre’s name forward for the role.

    The Killer’s Game marks the feature film debut for Drew McIntyre, but it may not be the last time fans see the former WWE Champion on the big screen. In July, McIntyre signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency, a group that represents other WWE names including Damian Priest, Tiffany Stratton, and most recently, Liv Morgan. McIntyre has spent years proving his screen presence in WWE and fans of the Scottish Warrior will be eager to see more of him in blockbuster movies.

    The Killer’s Game hits cinemas on Friday, September 13.

  • Kayla Braxton Opens Up About Emotional WWE MSG Farewell

    Kayla Braxton Opens Up About Emotional WWE MSG Farewell

    Kayla Braxton didn’t realize officials had a planned heartfelt farewell for her at her final WWE appearance until the last minute.

    The former WWE personality recently spoke to Adrian Hernandez. She discussed things such as meeting Ron Pearlman, her love for Game of Thrones, and more.

    Speaking about her exit from the wrestling promotion, Braxton mentioned how her responsibilities had been reduced significantly after WWE pulled The Bump off air. A number of other opportunities were knocking on her door at the same time and according to the female star she thought about the decision for a long time.

    Braxton mentioned that everyone at the company was very supportive of her when she finally made the call. Discussing her last appearance for the company, Kayla revealed that she had actually planned a go away party for all her colleagues:

    “I had no idea they were going to give me that kind of send-off. I was already—I keep telling people—it was my last day. I had a party planned. Peter Rosenberger helped me plan a go-away party; all the talent were coming. I was already in the last set, thinking about taking tequila shots, and I was getting ready to leave.

    And they’re like, ‘Kayla, don’t leave yet.’ I’m like, ‘Why?’ They’re like, ‘Don’t leave yet.’ I’m like ‘It’s my last day—I’m about to go party.’ They’re like, [don’t] And I’m thinking there’s a plan B, which is when the show runs short, they need us to run out and fill time with an interview.’ I’m like, ‘Fine.’”

    I Still Get Emotional: Kayla Braxton

    Kayla Braxton’s last WWE appearance came on the June 28th episode of SmackDown this year. The show held at the legendary Madison Square Garden saw Cody Rhodes cutting a heartfelt promo for the broadcast personality after the event went off air.

    The fans made things even special with huge applause for the former NXT star. According to her, the whole thing will always be one of the pinnacles of her life:

    “And then Triple H came up to me, and Nick Khan—I was like, ‘Something’s going on.’ So, I went to the gorilla, and then Cody was out there. That’s when I started realizing, ‘Oh, they’re about to do something really sweet for me.’ I was in tears.

    And then hearing all of Madison Square Garden erupt with ‘Thank you, Kayla’—which is something I hear my name like that—I still get emotional thinking about it. I am very aware that most people don’t get that kind of send-off, especially people who decide to walk away on their own. That will always be one of the pinnacles of my life. It was so great.”

    Kayla Braxton has since confirmed that she is not looking to join any other promotion and her time in wrestling has come to an end. Real name Kayla Becker, the former broadcast star has also revealed the first post-WWE project she has worked on.

  • Matt Riddle Says CM Punk’s WWE Return Shows He’d Be Welcomed Back

    Matt Riddle Says CM Punk’s WWE Return Shows He’d Be Welcomed Back

    Former WWE star Matt Riddle is not ruling out his comeback to the company despite his controversial departure. The Original Bro believes CM Punk’s homecoming proves anything is possible in wrestling.

    “The chances of me going back, I think they’re extremely high. If CM Punk, who filed a lawsuit against WWE, and then raked them through the mud for a decade, then goes to the competition, I’ll tell you this, if he can do that, everything can be forgiven. I know I wasn’t the easiest to work with at times. I think the door is always open.”

    – Matt Riddle, SI

    Riddle shifted his career to pro wrestling in 2014. The highly talented athlete honed his craft and made a name for himself in the independent circuit before joining WWE in 2018. He was in WWE’s developmental brand, NXT for less than two years and was called up to the main roster in 2020. During his run on the main roster, he won the United States Championship and famously won the tag team gold twice with Randy Orton as RK Bro.

    RK Bro, an odd pairing was an entertaining act on WWE Raw and the former UFC fighter star gained massive popularity during his run. However, Riddle’s WWE career was marred with several controversial matters including failed drug tests, backstage tiff, and sexual assault. The controversial wrestler was eventually released in September last year following an incident at JFK Airport, where he appeared to be intoxicated.

    Since leaving WWE, Riddle has been competing in the independent circuit and also making appearances for MLW and NJPW. Matt Riddle is set to face Tom Lawlor in a No-Holds-Barred Vale Rudo match in MLW on Saturday, September 14.

  • Kurt Angle Appearing For GCW

    Kurt Angle Appearing For GCW

    WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle is set to make an appearance on an upcoming Game Change Wrestling (GCW) show.

    The promotion has announced on social media that ‘The Olympic Gold Medalists’ has been booked for an appearance at the promotion’s Dream On event on Saturday, November 23. The show will take place at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tickets will go on sale this Friday at 10:00 am ET.

    Angle will be a part of the show which is set to feature the likes of Ricky Morton, Matt Cardona, Mance Warner, Masha Slamovich, Effy, Gringo Loco, and Sonny Kiss.

    The former World Champion has not been advertised to wrestle for the event. Kurt Angle retired following his “farewell match” against Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Since then he has maintained that way and has not wrestled.

    Most recently, another WWE Hall of Famer John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield shocked fans when he made an appearance at GCW’s Homecoming event. Earlier this month, JBL was at AAA TripleMania XXXII: Mexico City. The former World Champion was accompanied by fellow former WWE star Nic Nemeth for his AAA Mega Championship match against Alberto El Patron.

    Earlier this year, Angle revealed that he was still under contract to WWE. It is not clear whether that is still the case given the GCW booking. However, a handful of WWE stars who are under their contract have stepped through the ‘forbidden door.’ It includes Shayna Baszler and WWE NXT’s Charlie Dempsey who competed at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. This possibly indicates that WWE might have also allowed Kurt Angle to step through the ‘forbidden door.’

  • AJ Lee Asked About CM Punk’s Storyline With Drew McIntyre

    AJ Lee Asked About CM Punk’s Storyline With Drew McIntyre

    AJ Lee says she has no idea what’s going on with CM Punk and Drew McIntyre.

    The retired wrestling star has been mentioned a number of times during the feud between the two current WWE stars. The bracelet featuring her name and the name of her and Punk’s dog Larry has been the anchor of the whole storyline.

    The former Divas Champion spoke to ComicBook recently to promote her new comic release with Scrappy Hearts Production partner Aimee Garcia, Day of the Dead Girl.

    When asked for her thoughts on the ongoing WWE storyline between her husband and McIntyre, Lee claimed that she has no idea what’s going on:

    “I mean this in the most loving way, I have no idea what’s going on [laughs]. I’m weird about like — I don’t want to watch my husband wrestle live because I’m scared. It’s like a weird juju thing.”

    My Dog Is Famous All of A Sudden: AJ Lee

    The former WWE star, real name April Mendez mentioned how she is focused on her own projects and doesn’t keep up with the product. While Punk still gives her some updates, she is not really immersed in it as people would think:

    “I kind of don’t know what’s happening in the storyline. I know that my dog is famous all of a sudden! He’s got some surprise merch coming. I’ve been privy to that. But it’s cool. I’m happy that he’s happy and healthy and just killing it. I’m proud.”

    Fans have been rooting for an AJ Lee return for a long time. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez who has become a protege of Punk has expressed the desire to wrestle the former champion many times.

    The wrestling veteran, however, has been busy with outside projects. Punk himself has said that AJ knows there are options for her but he doesn’t want to give fans false hopes of her return.

  • Nikki Garcia Files For Divorce After Artem Chigvintsev’s Domestic Violence Arrest

    Nikki Garcia Files For Divorce After Artem Chigvintsev’s Domestic Violence Arrest

    Former WWE star Nikki ‘Bella’ Garcia has filed for divorce from husband Artem Chigvintsev after the latter’s domestic violence arrest late last month.

    This doesn’t come as a huge shock as the WWE Hall of Famer had been spotted without her wedding ring after the incident and she had reportedly been in the hunt for a divorce lawyer since then.

    According to TMZ, the retired wrestling star has hired lawyer Evan Craig Itzkowitz and she officially filed her petition after 2 years of marriage on Wednesday this week.

    Artem was briefly arrested in Napa, California back on Thursday, August 29 on a felony charge. This came after deputies responded to a domestic violence call and observed visible injuries on the alleged victim. Though he posted bail for $25,000 the same day.

    The couple have one child together, 4-year-old Matteo. Nikki has continued living in their family home in Napa Valley through this time while Artem has been staying over at a friend’s place.

    Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev’s Relationship

    Nikki Garcia and Artem first became friends when they were paired on the 2017 season of the Dancing With Stars reality show. Garcia was still dating John Cena at the time.

    After the WWE couple broke up, Nikki reconnected with Chigvintsev. The two announced their engagement in late 2019 and the celebrity duo welcomed their son in August 2020.

    They officially got married in Paris back in August 2022 and the unfortunate incident took place very close to their second marriage anniversary.

  • Natalya Reveals Why She Stepped Away from WWE Before Homecoming

    Natalya Reveals Why She Stepped Away from WWE Before Homecoming

    Natalya recently revealed that she had been busy with different projects which led to her absence from WWE for several months. “The Queen of Harts” returned on the latest edition of WWE Raw. This marked the season premiere of WWE’s flagship show, where she was revealed as the mystery partner of Lyra Valkyria and Zelina Vega.

    Neidhart had a triumphant return as her team defeated the Pure Fusion Collective trio of Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, & Sonya Deville. Making an appearance on Growing Up Von Erichs, she reflected on her return to her hometown, Calagary, Alberta, Canada. She then revealed that she had been working on a couple of projects which kept her away from the programming:

    “Yesterday, Monday Night Raw, I made my return back to the ring. I took the summer off, I was working on a couple of projects. We were back in Calgary, and that’s where my family started. It was so cool to make my re-debut in WWE back in Calgary. My whole family was there, Bret (Hart) was on Raw. I was able to win my match for my team. It was cool. It’s always nice to be back home.”

    She also revealed that she underwent eye surgery and how WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H granted her the time off.

    “I took a little time off this summer and the company was so great about it. They were like, ‘Take as much time as you need.’ It’s really changing so much in the best way and the culture is so different now. Our boss, Triple H, he is such a cool boss. I just recently got eye surgery to correct astigmatism in my eye and I needed a little bit more time off to get that done. He’s like, ‘Go get your eyes fixed.’ He’s like, ‘Don’t even worry about it.’ He’s like, ‘Take care of yourself’ and it was like, it’s just so cool to have a boss that’s human.”

    ‘Mental reset’

    During the conversation Natalya revealed that she took time off for her mental health as well. This marked Natalya’s first match since the June 4th edition of NXT where she faced Izzi Dame. Nattie explained that she wanted a little break to refocus as mental health is as important as physical health. She said:

    Even for me, just taking this break from WWE… I had my last match in June, so it was like, not even three months but, I took a little break because I was like, ‘I need a little mental reset.’ Or I just need some time to regroup, recalibrate, refocus… Again, it’s for my mental health because it’s one thing to be healthy and fit, like on a treadmill or you look great or you got abs but, if you’re not right up here, if your head isn’t right, you can’t do any of the fun stuff… And I always try to take the experiences that I’ve gone through and try to be there for the other girls in the locker room that may need guidance or help because life, whether you’re wrestling in WWE or you’re a mom or you’re a teacher or whatever it is that you’re doing, it’s hard. It’s day-to-day. Everything for me is just day-to-day.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrt5jip3mpw

    The former WWE Women’s Champion’s return on Raw was quite emotional and a ‘full circle moment’ for her. This week’s Raw emanated from the Scotiabank Saddledome in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and it also featured an appearance by her uncle and WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart.

    It’s worth noting that the venue was where Natalya first stepped inside a WWE ring when she joined the celebration of The Hart Foundation’s victory at 1997’s In Your House: Canadian Stampede.

    Natalya not going anywhere

    During her absence, there has been speculation that the third-generation wrestler might be jumping ship to AEW when her contract expires. However, she is not leaving WWE anytime soon. It has been reported that Natalya re-signed with WWE. She received a new deal from WWE in late June and it is reportedly a multi-year deal.

    Natalya has been with WWE for more than a decade and she holds a key place on the high-talented Women’s division. The veteran is in the later stages of her pro wrestling career and also exploring different avenues.

  • WWE Pulls CM Punk Bracelet From Shop, Creator & Drew McIntyre Comment

    WWE Pulls CM Punk Bracelet From Shop, Creator & Drew McIntyre Comment

    During the September 2, WWE Raw, Drew McIntyre made his feud with CM Punk even more personal by seemingly destroying the bracelet gifted to Punk by a fan. This week, WWE began selling replicas of the fan-made item, but now this unique piece of merchandise is no longer on the market.

    The replica bracelet is virtually identical to the one created by Victoria, a CM Punk fan who gifted him the bracelet over WrestleMania 40 week. In a lengthy statement shared on Twitter, Victoria made clear that while she has no issue with WWE for selling the $9.99 replica, some recognition would have been appreciated.

    Many Twitter/X users weighed in sharing their problem with WWE selling replica bracelets, believing that Victoria should be receiving a cut of the profits or at the very least some recognition. The bracelet has already been considered one of the worst pieces of WWE merchandise due to both the ethical implications, as well as the concept of paying $10 to buy yourself a friendship bracelet with another man’s family featured.

    Now, the bracelet has been pulled from WWEShop.com without any explanation being given by the website. Though this bracelet is gone, WWE is also selling bracelet three-packs for talent including Bianca Belair and The Rock.

    Drew McIntyre Comments

    It wasn’t just fans who shared their two cents about the bracelet as Drew McIntyre once again flexed his heel muscles on social media. Responding to an earlier post by Victoria, the Scottish Warrior suggested that Victoria has a bit too much in common with her hero.

    McIntyre’s war with CM Punk will see the two enter Hell in a Cell at WWE Bad Blood on October 5. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE Bad Blood including breaking news and live results from Atlanta, Georgia.

  • Worst WWE Merchandise Ever: Does The CM Punk Bracelet Make The List?

    Worst WWE Merchandise Ever: Does The CM Punk Bracelet Make The List?

    WWE has produced countless pieces of merchandise over the years, ranging from iconic t-shirts to questionable promotional items. While some have become timeless classics, others have left fans scratching their heads in disbelief. Let’s dive into some of the worst WWE merchandise ever created and determine if the ‘CM Punk bracelet’ deserves a spot on this infamous list.

    T-Shirts That Missed The Mark

    The $9.99 WWE Network Shirt

    One of the most egregious examples of poor merchandise decisions is the $9.99 WWE Network shirt. This shirt was nothing more than a walking advertisement for WWE’s streaming service, lacking any creativity or appeal. It’s baffling that WWE thought fans would pay to wear a shirt promoting a service they were already paying for. Pitiful.

    Carlito’s “Spit or Swallow” Shirt

    Another contender for worst merchandise is Carlito’s “Spit or Swallow” t-shirt. This shirt, released during the tail end of the Ruthless Aggression Era, attempted to capitalize on Carlito’s apple-spitting gimmick with a crude sexual innuendo. The design was not only in poor taste but also failed to capture the essence of Carlito’s character. Woeful.

    John Morrison’s “Jo Mo Sapien” Shirt

    John Morrison, known for his cool and stylish persona, was unfortunately saddled with the “Jo Mo Sapien” t-shirt. This bizarre design featured Morrison’s face plastered on a Bigfoot body, surrounded by monkeys. The shirt failed to align with Morrison’s character and left fans confused rather than excited. Pure, unadulterated crap.

    Accessories and Promotional Items

    The CM Punk Ice Cream Bar T-Shirt

    While not as notorious as some other entries on this list, the CM Punk Ice Cream Bar t-shirt deserves mention. This shirt, which featured a cartoon ice cream bar with Punk’s logo, was an attempt to capitalize on Punk’s famous pipe bomb promo where he mentioned bringing back WWE ice cream bars.

    However, the execution fell flat, and the shirt ended up looking more like a cheap promotional item than a must-have piece of merchandise.

    The Miz’s “I’m Awesome” Rubber Bracelet

    The Miz’s “I’m Awesome” rubber bracelet is another example of WWE missing the mark with accessories. While rubber bracelets were popular at the time, this particular item failed to capture the essence of The Miz’s character and came across as a lazy attempt to cash in on a trend.

    What is the CM Punk Bracelet?

    The CM Punk friendship bracelet has sparked considerable discussion among wrestling fans since WWE began selling it. Originally created as a gift for CM Punk by a fan named Victoria, the bracelet features the names “AJ” and “Larry,” referring to Punk’s wife, AJ Lee, and their dog. This seemingly innocent piece of merchandise has raised eyebrows and ignited debates about ownership, originality, and the ethics of WWE’s merchandising practices.

    Fan Reactions

    The fanbase’s response has been largely critical. Some fans have humorously pointed out the awkwardness of wearing a bracelet associated with Punk’s personal life. One user quipped about the potential for misunderstandings with significant others, while others questioned the appeal of such a product. The general consensus seems to be that the bracelet is an odd choice for merchandise, with many feeling it lacks the charm or significance typically associated with wrestling collectibles.

    Ethical Concerns

    The ethical implications of WWE selling the bracelet have also been a hot topic. Critics argue that the company should have sought permission from Victoria before commercializing her creation. Many believe that she deserves recognition or compensation for her design, especially since it has become part of a larger storyline in WWE programming. The lack of acknowledgment for her contribution has led to accusations of exploitation, with fans calling for WWE to treat creators with more respect.

    So does the CM Punk bracelet deserve to be on the list of the worst WWE merchandise ever? Yes, but more for the fact that you shouldn’t be buying YOURSELF a friendship bracelet.

  • “I’m So Ready” – Jey Uso Sets Targets First WWE Singles Title

    “I’m So Ready” – Jey Uso Sets Targets First WWE Singles Title

    Jey Uso is all hyped up after winning the No.1 Contender’s fatal-four way match for the Intercontinental Championship on last night’s season premiere of Raw.

    ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso defeated Pete Dunne, Ilja Dragunov, and Braun Strowman to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender’s Tournament. With the win, he has secured a shot at Bron Breakker’s WWE Intercontinental Championship. After WWE Raw went off the air, Jey Uso reflected on his victory and said that he feels ready to finally win a singles title. He stated that he is gearing up to win the Intercontinental title for the fans, his family, and himself.

    Uso joked that the match had a lot of “Brons” (Braun Strowman, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker) – but there was only one Jey Uso.

    “I’m so ready. I’m so ready, Uce. I’m ready to do it for the WWE Universe, for myself, for my family, really prove myself, Uce. Almost been a whole year since I was on Raw, since I left The Bloodline and started my journey, Uce. We gonna get there. Braun Strowman, me and you gonna dance, Uce. I don’t know if you can dance, Bron Strowman, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, whole lotta Brons going on, but look, there’s only one Main Event Jey Uso, and you’re looking at him. The new Intercontinental Champion, Main Event Jey Uso. Can I get a YEET?”

    Jey Uso’s singles run

    Jey has been thriving since venturing out as a singles performer in 2020. His initial run was brief as he competed when his twin Jimmy Uso was sidelined with a knee injury. His proper singles run started last year when he broke loose from The Bloodline.

    Jey has managed to showcase some incredible high-profile matches. He competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match and the Royal Rumble. At this year’s WrestleMania 40, he went up against his twin brother Jimmy Uso.

    Despite competing in title matches, a singles title has eluded him. However, he could put an end to the title drought next month.

    Jey Uso will challenge Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship at WWE Bad Blood PLE on October 5.

  • Sami Zayn Vows to Honor Bret Hart’s Legacy With World Title Pursuit

    Sami Zayn Vows to Honor Bret Hart’s Legacy With World Title Pursuit

    Former WWE Intercontinental Sami Zayn wants to honor the legacy set by WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart by winning the world title.

    Bret Hart returned on Raw but he was interrupted by the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. ‘The Ring General hurled insults at ‘The Hitman’ before Canada’s own Sami Zayn walked out wearing a Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames jersey. He paid tribute to Gaudreau, who tragically passed away along with his brother Matthew.

    Zayn spoke on Raw Talk about the emotional night in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He spoke about Johnny Gaudreau’s passing as well as sharing the ring with Bret Hart. He said:

    “You actually caught me at a really strange time because I’m feeling really emotional, to be honest. I’m wearing this jersey, not because I’m a Flames fan, everyone knows I’m a Canadiens guy, but to honor Johnny Gaudreau, who tragically passed away. I don’t know, it just makes you think about the time you have here and what you do with it, and to be able to share the ring with [Bret Hart], he was my hero growing up. To share the ring with him in Calgary, the significance, it’s not lost on me. So I’m in a really strange kind of head space.”

    Zayn said that listening to Hart speak about being a champion and Canadian champion in particular has “lit a fire under me.” The 40-year-old wrestler wants to honor Hart’s legacy as he aims to become the World Champion. He said:

    “But listening to him talk also kind of lit a fire under me. To hear him talk about what it meant to be a champion, and a Canadian champion. Listening to him, I realized, man, we haven’t had that in a long time, and I want it to be me. I want it to be me. I want to honor his legacy. I want to honor the template that he laid out for guys like me. So Gunther’s got something that, as far as I’m concerned, it’s on borrowed time because I’m coming. I’m coming for the World Heavyweight Championship.”

    Zayn challenged Gunther for the World Championship, but the latter turned him down. Hart called Gunther “a gutless yellow coward” for backing down. A brawl broke out between Zayn and ‘The Ring General’ before the officials intervened.

    While it is not official yet, it seems that Sami Zayn and Gunther will collide at next month’s Bad Blood PLE for the title. At WrestleMania 40, Zayn ended Gunther’s Intercontinental title run and now he has an opportunity to dethrone him again.

  • 49ers Acknowledge Roman Reigns at NFL Season Kick-Off Victory

    49ers Acknowledge Roman Reigns at NFL Season Kick-Off Victory

    Roman Reigns returned to WWE at SummerSlam to cost Solo Sikoa in his Undisputed WWE Title match against Cody Rhodes. Reigns has since been taken out by Sikoa and his new Bloodline but that didn’t stop the Original Tribal Chief’s presence being felt in the NFL this week.

    Reigns was recognized as part of the festivities surrounding the San Francisco 49ers, who kicked off their NFL season last night by taking on the New York Jets. Ahead of the game, the 49ers took to the field to Reigns’ WWE theme song.

    During the game, Fred Warner fired up his team with a pep talk that was given extra gravitas as Reigns’ theme filled Levi’s Stadium.

    Acknowledging the OTC clearly paid off for the San Francisco 49ers, who defeated the Jets 32-19. The 49ers made it to the Super Bowl last year but lost in a nail-biting game to the Kansas City Chiefs.

    Roman Reigns and Football

    Roman Reigns is a known fan of the San Francisco 49ers and correctly predicted they would make it to the Super Bowl ahead of last year’s season. Before dominating in WWE, Reigns was part of the off-season teams of the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars and in 2008 played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.

    As for his future in WWE, Reigns is expected to continue his feud with Solo Sikoa and the Bloodline once he returns to programming. Sikoa will challenge Cody Rhodes again, this time in a steel cage match, on this Friday’s SmackDown. The show will mark SmackDown’s premiere on the USA Network after five years with FOX.

  • WWE is Now Selling CM Punk’s Friendship Bracelet, Creator Responds

    WWE is Now Selling CM Punk’s Friendship Bracelet, Creator Responds

    In recent weeks, one of WWE’s hottest feuds hasn’t been centered over a championship, but instead, a bracelet crafted by a fan for CM Punk. While the bracelet seemingly met its end on the September 2 edition of Monday Night Raw, fans can now pick up their own replica of this unique piece of WWE canon.

    WWEShop is selling a replica of the bracelet, which bears the names of AJ and Larry, and is available to purchase for $9.99 plus shipping. A description of the team reads:

    “CM Punk keeps a reminder of his love for his wife and furry, four-legged family member, Larry, in the form of a Friendship Bracelet. Take a trinket that reminds you of your loved ones wherever you go like The Second City Saint does by making this CM Punk Friendship Bracelet yours. One look at this accessory lets everyone know you’d fight to get your piece of flesh if anyone questions your loyalty to those you hold dear.”

    This new item has caught the attention of Victoria, who created the original bracelet and gifted the item to Punk during WWE WrestleMania week earlier this year. On Twitter, Victoria shared that a ‘heads up’ would’ve been appreciated and admitted that the bracelet was supposed to be a one-of-a-kind item for the ‘Best in the World.’

    Later, Victoria clarified that she doesn’t have any beef with WWE and was simply taken by surprise by her creation now being used for merchandise.

    On this week’s Raw, Adam Pearce shared that McIntyre and Punk will meet once again at WWE Bad Blood in a Hell In A Cell match, Punk’s first since 2013. The AEW alum has also been confirmed for next week’s Raw and will have plenty to say about the man he’ll step into hell to face on October 5 in Atlanta, Georgia.

  • Logan Paul Fires Back At Kevin Nash: “I’m Better Than You Ever Were”

    Logan Paul Fires Back At Kevin Nash: “I’m Better Than You Ever Were”

    Logan Paul’s involvement in WWE has been a topic of debate ever since the Maverick’s arrival in 2021. While some believe Paul brings a natural heel charisma and eyes to the product, many others believe the controversial content creator is taking away spots that could benefit full-time talent.

    This week, Kevin Nash shared his two cents on Paul and didn’t hold back with his thoughts on the former U.S. Champion. On his Kliq This podcast, Nash recalled Paul admitting to Hulk Hogan on his ImPaulsive show that he did not know what ‘Shoot’ meant.

    “He’s not one of the boys. Where would he learn that s*** at? Where’s he f***** going up and down the road, f****** talking about our f****** jargon?… That motherf*****, from what I heard he’s making 5 million bucks for a limited f****** [dates], and those other motherf******s are out there making house shows, f*** you. That’s from the boys.”

    On Twitter, Paul responded, first by questioning who Kevin Nash is and admittedly that he’s “not as versed in the WWE and wrestling as I should be.” Paul, who considers himself one of the top five in WWE already, imagined what he’d be like if he dedicated more time to WWE and became one of the ‘boys.’ Paul’s harshest comments were saved for the very end and directly aimed at the two-time WWE Hall of Famer.

    “F*** me? F*** you. You’re one of the old guys who is bitter that I am better at your job than you ever were. That makes you pathetic. This will be my sport and I will continue to make guys like you eat your words when I devote a little bit of time to it. F*** me? F*** you.”

    Paul’s role in wrestling has always been a source of contention for many, but after re-signing with WWE in January of this year, fans can expect to see more of him in WWE. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Logan Paul and his time as a part-time WWE talent.

  • Watch: Bret Hart and Triple H Reunite At WWE Raw in Calgary

    Watch: Bret Hart and Triple H Reunite At WWE Raw in Calgary

    WWE’s September 9 episode of Monday Night RAW emanated from Calgary, Alberta, so it was only fitting that Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart made a rare appearance. Not only did the two-time WWE Hall of Famer have a segment in the ring, but the Canadian also had a special moment backstage with Triple H.

    Hart’s entrance was met with a thunderous ovation from the passionate Calgary audience and he spoke of representing Canaidan Wrestling. His segment was swiftly interrupted by World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER who proclaimed that Bill Goldberg is his favorite wrestler, an individual Bret has had issues with for decades. Sami Zayn would appear shortly after, once again making his claim to a title match against the man he beat at WrestleMania 40.

    Following the segment, Triple H shared a heartfelt backstage moment with Hart. The Game praised Hart for the reaction he got from the Canadian crowd while Bret shared his gratitude for being a part of the show.

    Bret’s appearance on WWE Raw was a treat for wrestling fans, and the promotion will return to Canada later this year. WWE Survivor Series 2024 will take place at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on November 30, marking the third time the show has come to the Great White North.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bret Hart as well as WWE’s impending return to Canada later this year for the 38th annual Survivor Series Premium Live Event.