SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • YeetMania: Jey Uso is Pumped For Promo Battles With Jimmy Uso in WrestleMania Program

    YeetMania: Jey Uso is Pumped For Promo Battles With Jimmy Uso in WrestleMania Program

    WWE is well on their road to WrestleMania 40, and it appears that a couple dream matches are possible. The Bloodline splintered, and Jey Uso is on RAW, but it appears that twin warfare is coming.

    Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso are expected to collide at WrestleMania 40. When thinking about his potential Mania match, Jey is hyped for the promos that await fans.

    YeetMania

    Jey Uso discussed the possibility of facing his brother. After all, they are slated to face each other at WrestleMania 40. Uce is very excited about the possibilities, especially the build.

    Following Jimmy Uso’s interference that led to Jey Uso losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Roman Reigns at WWE SummerSlam, it appears that the twin siblings are heading towards a showdown at WrestleMania 40.

    In the buildup to their potential clash, tensions escalated on the February 19 episode of WWE Raw when Jimmy’s actions caused Jey’s defeat against GUNTHER in a match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

    While addressing the situation on Battleground with Tim & Eli, Jey shared his thoughts on the prospect of facing Jimmy in the ring. He can’t wait for the promos.

    “Personally, I’m a little kid all over again. Hopefully it’s me and Jimmy at WrestleMania. If it is, I’m a little kid. It’s going to be so easy. We’re just going to do what we do all the time. What I’m most excited about is the lead up, the promos. I love talking. I’m trying to talk. You thought you had emotion in the Bloodline storyline with me and Roman, and me and Sami, watch me and my twin go at it. Ya’ll are going to be like, ‘They are 100% real.’ That’s what is going to make it fire. It’s going to be real. I’m excited to pump that out to the fans and give them that. It’ll be different from every other angle.”

    The Road to WrestleMania

    The Bloodline Saga has lasted years at this point, and we all knew a Jimmy vs Jey match was coming. It seems that we are getting that match this year.

    Roman Reigns and The Rock will also be busy at WrestleMania. They will face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins during the first night of WrestleMania 40. Then Roman will defend the Undisputed Universal Title against Cody Rhodes on the next night.

    The only Bloodline member left without a match is Solo Sikoa so far, as even Paul Heyman is accepting a WWE Hall of Fame induction. Odds are, Solo will find something to do so he can get a Mania paycheck.

    SEScoops will have full coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for the updates and headlines you need!

  • Pretty Big Deal: Nia Jax Opens Up About The ‘Honor’ Of Headlining WWE Elimination Chamber 2024

    Pretty Big Deal: Nia Jax Opens Up About The ‘Honor’ Of Headlining WWE Elimination Chamber 2024

    Last month, WWE made their way to Perth, Australia for the 2024 Elimination Chamber. In addition to featuring two marquee Elimination Chamber matches, this premium live event also served as a homecoming for four superstars — Indi Hartwell, Grayson Waller, Nia Jax, and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

    Given the setting, WWE boosted Jax and Ripley, who were facing off in a women’s title match, to the main event of the card. As it turns out, though, Jax didn’t become aware of this decision until the night before Elimination Chamber. 

    “I didn’t know until the night before,” Jax  recently told The Hall of Fame podcast. “I think somebody had like sent a card to me, and I’m like ‘Wait a minute, does this mean that we’re on in the main event?’”

    An Immense Honor

    Realizing that she was now also positioned as one of the show’s headliners, Jax felt an elevated sense of nervousness heading into her WWE Women’s World Championship match. Despite the added pressure, Jax firmly cherished the opportunity to not only perform before her home country of Australia, but to also do it in the main event. 

    “Not gonna lie, it felt like a lot of pressure because you had some pretty stacked Elimination Chambers, a great tag on the card, and then you had the Grayson Waller Effect. Being main event of that show, it was a pretty big deal for me,” Jax said. “I just wanted to put on the best match I possibly could with a great story. [It was] easy with Rhea Ripley, but I wanted to be able to tell a really good story to the fans and hope that it resonated to them. It was an honor to be a main event in front of all those people.”

    Ultimately, it was Rhea Ripley who emerged victorious in the Elimination Chamber main event, as she laid out “The Irresistible Force” with the Riptide to secure the pinfall and retain her title.

    Looking forward, Ripley now has her sights set on Becky Lynch, who is set to challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

  • CM Punk Set For Chicago WWE RAW Before WrestleMania 40

    CM Punk Set For Chicago WWE RAW Before WrestleMania 40

    CM Punk made his grand return to WWE back in November in the closing moments of Survivor Series 2023 from Chicago. He began feuding with Seth Rollins and they were on track to have a top match at WrestleMania 40. Unfortunately, Punk tore his right tricep in the Royal Rumble, underwent surgery and won’t be cleared for action any time soon.

    Since then, he’s made a few public appearances. Punk was at UFC 298, along with Bianca Belair and Montez Ford. He’s appeared in front of the live crowd after WWE Raw has gone off the air, and explained to fans why he’s not part of the WWE 2K24 roster. We now know when CM Punk will be back on WWE television.

    WWE has announced that CM Punk will be there live in person when Monday Night Raw stops through Chicago, IL on March 25. 

    Here’s the official announcement for CM Punk’s appearance when the ‘Road to WrestleMania’ runs through the Windy City:

    CM Punk’s Injury

    CM Punk tore his right tricep in the Royal Rumble, underwent surgery and is now on the road to recovery. 

    Although it’s unclear exactly how long CM Punk will be out of action, he probably won’t be wrestling for several more months.

    The injury was a devastating setback for the controversial figure, who had been away from WWE for nearly a decade prior to his return. Punk arrived in WWE the same way he did in AEW: seemingly rested, refreshed and excited to write the final chapter of his career on his own terms.

    Whenever CM Punk does return, we can expect a motivated veteran eager to get back to his game-plan to remind fans why he’s still the Best in the World. 

  • Charlotte Flair Donates 200 Items of Clothing to Women& Children’s Shelter in Amazing Act of Generosity

    Charlotte Flair Donates 200 Items of Clothing to Women& Children’s Shelter in Amazing Act of Generosity

    Charlotte Flair’s efforts to thin her impressive wardrobe has resulted in the WWE Superstar donating 200 items of clothing to a shelter. 

    On her Instagram Stories, Flair noted that her closet was getting out of hand. Rather than just throw away items of clothing, the former WWE Women’s Champion donated 200 pieces to a local women’s and children’s shelter in an incredible act of generosity. Flair also shared a before and after photo to show the difference to her closet. 

    Charlotte Flair’s WWE Status

    During the latter part of her December 9, match with Asuka, Flair was hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. The injury happened when Flair came off the top rope at an awkward angle and her legs bounced off the ropes. Despite this, Flair was able to finish the match that saw Asuka get the victory. 

    This injury wasn’t enough to keep Charlotte from supporting her husband Andrade at a CMLL event, in what would be one of the former NXT Champion’s final appearances before returning to WWE. In January, Flair had knee surgery and has been showing significant improvements. 

    What’s Next for the Queen? 

    Charlotte was recently spotted at the WWE Performance Center with John Cena, which many have taken as a good indicator of her health. With that said, Flair is still expected to miss months of action, and will likely miss SummerSlam 2024 as well as WrestleMania 40. Next month’s Showcase of the Immortals will have some ‘flair’ as Charlotte will be making an appearance at the WWE World experience in Philadelphia. 

  • RVD On If He’d Be The Right Person To Induct Paul Heyman Into The WWE Hall Of Fame (Exclusive)

    Rob Van Dam is a bonafide WWE Hall Of Famer and now so is the man who put him on the map in Paul Heyman, but who will induct the original orchestrator of extreme?

    In the upcoming episode of “1 Of A Kind With RVD” Van Dam said that he wasn’t originally planning on attending the WWE Hall Of Fame this year, but with Heyman getting announced, RVD said he’ll have to make plans.

    Per usual, a lot of the fun speculation heading into WrestleMania is who will induct the inductees and there are several names who are worthy of inducting Heyman, including RVD. However, Rob had his own thoughts regarding that matter.

    “I think they can definitely find somebody better than me. You know, it’d be an honor. And of course, if I was, nominated and asked to do it, I would give it my best.”

    Who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame?

    If I were to induct Paul Heyman…

    Van Dam added that if he were to induct Heyman, he’d want input from other wrestlers who were impacted by Heyman, but named three names who would be more fitting to do the actual induction.

    “I mean, [Tommy] Dreamer, Bubba [Ray Dudley]. Taz, those guys, they know Paul a lot more than I do. They were in New York. 

    “I would see him on the weekends. They’d see him all week too and they were there in the office and the production studio helping move the TV forward, also with the merchandise and just booking towns.”

    Taz or RVD would both be interesting names considering both have a working relationship with AEW, but Van Dam is featured in WWE 2K24 and has an upcoming figure set to be released by Mattel.

    Heyman leads a Hall Of Fame class that so far has Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express and Muhammad Ali.

    The new episode of 1 Of A Kind With RVD releases Monday at 4:20 PM ET.

    Please credit “1 Of A Kind With RVD” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • WWE Raw Preview (3/11): Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan, Gauntlet Match To Challenge Gunther at WrestleMania

    WWE Raw Preview (3/11): Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan, Gauntlet Match To Challenge Gunther at WrestleMania

    The Road to WrestleMania rolls on as WWE heads to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw

    Here are the 3 matches announced for Raw, followed by our detailed preview into each one:

    • Gauntlet Match (Winner will challenge Gunther for Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40): Ricochet vs. Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. JD McDonagh
    • Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
    • Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) 
      (c) vs Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark

    Here’s what you need to know heading into this week’s WWE Raw:

    Gauntlet Match: Winner Challenges GUNTHER at WrestleMania

    After a successful title defense over Jey Uso, Intercontinental Champion Gunther declared that he was on the hunt for his WrestleMania 40 challenger. Naturally, this statement then boasted several possibilities. In the weeks following, various members of the WWE Raw locker room pitched their case as to why they should be the one to oppose “The Ring General.” 

    While Chad Gable is out for familial vindication, Ricochet pointed out that he was the last person to hold the Intercontinental Championship before Gunther’s historic reign began. Sami Zayn, on the other hand, is simply eager to secure his spot on the WrestleMania card (as well as potentially tacking on a fourth run with the title).

    Who will challenge Gunther at WrestleMania 40?

    With many names expressing interest in facing Gunther, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce finally narrowed the field down to six. In addition to Zayn, Gable, and Ricochet, the likes of JD McDonagh, “Big” Bronson Reed, and Shinsuke Nakamura will have an opportunity to punch their ticket to WrestleMania when they compete in a number one contenders match.

    The winner, of course, will also earn the right to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at the two-night premium live event.

    What goes around, often comes back around. That certainly was the case for Becky Lynch last week.

    Two weeks ago, Nia Jax blindsided Becky Lynch with an attack from behind on WWE Raw. Lynch later retaliated with an ambush of her own while Jax competed in a match against Liv Morgan. As a result, Morgan was handed a loss via disqualification, and Adam Pearce set up a rematch between Lynch and Jax. 

    Though Jax and Lynch were keen on settling their score, Liv Morgan used their match as an opportunity to get some revenge of her own. As Jax stood on the outside of the ring, Morgan launched herself off the barricade to deliver an elbow to Jax’s face, forcing the referee to call for the bell.

    Upset by Morgan’s actions, Lynch confronted her backstage, and subsequently challenged her to a fight on this week’s episode of Raw.

    Women’s Tag Title Match

    Six days after successfully defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley on WWE NXT, Kairi Sane and Asuka look ahead to their next challengers — Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.

    Sane, Asuka, in addition to IYO SKY and Dakota Kai, watched on as Baszler and Stark defeated Kayden Carter and Katana Chance on last week’s episode of Raw.

    Seemingly impressed by their performance, Kai announced that the two would earn an opportunity to challenge Sane and Asuka for their titles tonight. Kai, however, also vowed that Sand and Asuka would leave the both of them crying, much like they did with former Damage CTRL stablemate Bayley.

  • Mixed Tag Mania: Becky Lynch Pins Grayson Waller To Win Match During WWE Live Event

    Mixed Tag Mania: Becky Lynch Pins Grayson Waller To Win Match During WWE Live Event

    WWE offers fans a great time for their live events. It’s worth the price of admission whenever they’re in town, and fans at a recent house show got quite a treat, especially if they are fans of The Man.

    On March 10, 2024, at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, in a mixed tag team match, Becky Lynch and Kevin Owens emerged victorious against Grayson Waller and Nia Jax during the WWE Road To WrestleMania house show. The interesting part is that it was Lynch who pinned Waller.

    How The Match Went Down

    Becky Lynch joined forces with her friend, Kevin Owens, in a tag team match against her rival, Nia Jax, and Grayson Waller. The matchup went down as a classic WWE mixed tag team encounter, where the men and women didn’t mix it up at all. Other companies might let a woman take a suplex from a man on television, but WWE isn’t going there, especially with TKO calling the shots.

    This match provided fans in attendance with an engaging spectacle. The chemistry between the stars added to the intensity, and they had some fun along the way. After all, Lynch and Owens are known to cut it up at house shows if the mood strikes them.

    In the closing moments of the match, Kevin Owens created an opening for Becky Lynch, allowing her to execute her Becksploder on Grayson Waller. With Waller on the mat, Lynch secured the victory for her team and took the pinfall.

    Fans in the building loved the finish of the match, and everyone was happy, except for the heel team of Waller and Jax. It was not the way Grayson Waller probably wanted things to go down, but he’s a pro and game to do anything possible that’s best for business.

    Grayson Waller has defended pro wrestling in the past, and everyone remembers how things got heated on that Australian morning talk show. Obviously, Waller was fine with having a future Hall of Famer like Becky Lynch pin his shoulders to the mat.

    Road To WrestleMania 40

    Becky Lynch is the only person in that match who has a match at WrestleMania. She won the 2024 Elimination Chamber match, and now she is set to take on Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Title at the show of shows.

    We will have to see how Grayson Waller and Kevin Owens are booked for WrestleMania. There are many things you could do with talent like them, and they both deserve a match on the showcase of the immortals after each of them had impressive achievements in 2023.

    Nia Jax was re-signed by Triple H, and she is still clawing at the top of the roster. Only time will tell if she gets involved with The Bloodline’s story. She is The Rock’s cousin, but WWE has done a pretty good job keeping her away from that situation by placing her on RAW.

    SEScoops will have even more of the road to WrestleMania. You never know what headlines will break next!

  • Muhammad Ali Joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024

    Muhammad Ali Joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024

    WWE has unveiled another addition to its 2024 class of the WWE Hall of Fame. In an announcement today, it was revealed that they will induct The Greatest. Muhammad Ali will be immortalized in this year’s hall of fame class.

    This year is Triple H’s first year to make the WWE Hall of Fame call, and he is going all out. Muhammad Ali will join this year’s class. Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, set to induct him.

    WWEShop is already selling this t-shirt commemorating Ali’s forthcoming induction.

    Muhammad Ali t-shirt on sale at WWEShop

    Muhammad Ali In Pro Wrestling

    Variety reported first that Muhammad Ali will be in the 2024 class of the WWE Hall of Fame. Ali’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame adds to the roster of esteemed inductees for the Class of 2024, which includes Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and the tag team the U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham).

    Ali is known worldwide for his legendary boxing career, also ventured into professional wrestling on several occasions. He was also involved in the pro wrestling world.

    He engaged in an exhibition match against Japanese wrestling icon Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976. Prior to that bout, he made a memorable appearance at a WWE event, where he challenged Gorilla Monsoon in the ring. 

    Ali was also a special guest referee for the main event of WrestleMania I in 1985, where Hulk Hogan and Mr. T faced off against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. That may be his most famous footnote in WWE history. 

    He was also the guest of honor at the historic “Collision in Korea” pay-per-view event held in North Korea in 1995, the same event that is still mysteriously absent from the WWE Network or Peacock. 

    Who was Muhammad Ali

    Renowned as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Ali achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including winning an Olympic gold medal for the United States in boxing in 1960 and becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion. 

    His boxing record includes victories over opponents such as Sonny Liston, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman, among others. His final professional boxing match went down in 1981, wrapping up his career with 56 wins, 5 losses, and 37 knockouts. Will Smith also played him in a 2001 biopic.

    Beyond his athletic achievements, Ali was also involved social activism, famously refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. That decision resulted in him being stripped of his heavyweight championships.

    Sadly, Ali passed away in 2016 at the age of 74, leaving behind an enduring legacy both inside and outside the ring.

    The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for April 5 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The event will be available for live-streaming on Peacock starting at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

  • Undertaker Breaks Silence on Michael Page Using His Iconic Music At UFC 299

    Undertaker Breaks Silence on Michael Page Using His Iconic Music At UFC 299

    The Undertaker carved out a big place for himself in pop culture. His iconic WWE entrance and all the pageantry that goes along with it is immediately identified as being a tribute to him. When Taker saw Michael Page’s entrance at UFC 299, he just had to say something.

    Michael “Venom” Page’s entrance during 299 was a big time tribute to The Undertaker. When The Phenom was made aware of the clip, he responded by complementing the entrance and also congratulated Page on his win over Kevin Holland.

    The Undertaker Reacts

    At UFC 299, Michael Page paid homage to The Undertaker with a tribute entrance. He walked out to The Undertaker’s iconic theme music, donning a robe with a hoodie that he discarded at the start of his entrance.

    The Undertaker’s distinctive gong continued to resonate, accompanying MVP as he made his way to the Octagon. Making his UFC debut against Kevin Holland, Page delivered an impressive performance, emerging victorious in the fight.

    The Undertaker responded to Michael Page’s tribute on Twitter/X, expressing appreciation for the tribute while congratulating Page on his big win over Kevin Holland.

    Nice entrance & congrats on the W, @MichaelPage247 .

    What’s Next For The Undertaker

    The Undertaker has seen plenty of tributes. His song is on regular rotation for many spots teams out there, and they have used his entrance theme for many introductions in the past. That doesn’t make it any less special whenever a new homage to Taker pops up.

    WWE fans may not see The Undertaker wrestle again, but he’s still around. The WWE Hall of Famer’s One DEADMan shows have become a fan-favorite event that will usually accompany a WWE show. He will have another one during WrestleMania weekend for fans as well.

    SEScoops will have any updates on this story as they are made available. For more on this story, and many more, please keep checking back on a regular basis.

  • Daily Drop (3/11): Brock Lesnar’s WWE Creative Status, AEW Talking To Released WWE Veteran

    Daily Drop (3/11): Brock Lesnar’s WWE Creative Status, AEW Talking To Released WWE Veteran

    Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Monday, March 11. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at, including RAW tonight. Let’s jump right into it.

    Days until WrestleMania 40: 26

    WWE:

    – Brock Lesnar is back on WWE.com’s roster, and that was very interesting. I asked around to see if there is any word about his return, and was I was told that the creative team has not heard anything new about him since his stories were nixed after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public.

    – John Cena got totally naked for the 96th annual Academy Awards last night. It was quite a segment, and you can check it out here.

    – For some reason, Sheamus has decided to deactivate his Twitter/X account.

    – Maryse had an update for fans about her current cancer issues.

    – WWE finally filed a trademark related to Shawn Spears, who is now back in NXT with a lot of steam after his run with AEW concluded.

    – John Cena revealed his guilty pleasure movie, and it is rather NSFW.

    WWE RAW Card for 3/11:

    • Intercontinental Champion Gunther to face the winner of a Gauntlet Match at WrestleMania
    • Liv Morgan is on a collision course with The Man
    • Shayna Basler & Zoey Stark to challenge WWE Women’s World Champions The Kabuki Warriors

    AEW:

    – AEW is talking to Shelton Benjamin, so we will have to see if Tony Khan can pull in another ex WWE Superstar.

    – Matt Hardy also reacted to Sammy Guevara’s suspension. Of course, Guevara was suspended after injuring Jeff Hardy.

    – Britt Baker made a special appearance at a Luke Bryan concert. She got to sing a duet during the show.

    – Jay Lethal paid tribute to his late mother during AEW Collision on Saturday.

    – We ran a story about AEW’s original plan for Sting’s retirement match, and we welcome you to check it out.

    Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
  • John Cena Comes Clean About His Life-Long Lie: “I’m Visible, People Can See Me”

    John Cena Comes Clean About His Life-Long Lie: “I’m Visible, People Can See Me”

    WWE’s own John Cena has revealed the truth that he’s buried for decades behind a lie; that he is visible and that fans can indeed see him. 

    Despite being one of WWE’s most prominently featured Superstars for years, Cena’s catchphrase ‘You Can’t See Me’ would become synonymous with Big Match John. The line has since branched off into a meme among fans who pretend not to be able to see Cena when he makes appearances both in and out of the ring. 

    John Cena Comes Clean

    During a recent interview with MTV’s Josh Horowitz, Cena and Ricky Stanicky co-star Zac Efron were asked whether they’ve ever lied in an interview. Cena (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) used the question to make his stark confession. 

    “[I lie in interviews] All the time. I don’t think there’s an ounce of truth in anything I’ve said. Ever. I’m living in a lie. I’m living a whole lie. I think I’m visible. I think people can see me.”

    The topic of dishonesty is a pivotal part of Ricky Stanicky. The film tells the story of friends who in their youth made up a fake friend (the titular Stanicky) to get our of trouble and obligations. Now grown up, the friends are confronted about Stanicky and hire an actor [Cena] to bring their fake friend to life. 

    What’s Next for John Cena? 

    Should the fans forgive Cena for his years of lying, the WWE Universe may indeed see John at WrestleMania 40. Cena is eager to do something at WWE’s annual two-night Showcase, though there are no confirmed plans for Big Match John publicly known at this time. 

  • RVD Says It’s Cool That Paul Heyman Is Getting His Flowers Ahead Of WWE HOF Induction

    RVD Says It’s Cool That Paul Heyman Is Getting His Flowers Ahead Of WWE HOF Induction

    Former WWE and ECW World Champion Rob Van Dam is pleased that Paul Heyman is getting his proverbial ‘flowers’ with his upcoming Hall of Fame induction. 

    Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year’s class on April 5. The honor is richly deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns‘ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company’s peak.

    Rob Van Dam on Paul Heyman’s Induction

    Few names did better under the watchful eye than RVD, who became a success in both the original ECW and WWE. In a recent interview with Wrestle Binge, the former World Champion was pleased that Heyman is getting his due. 

    “It’s pretty cool they’re giving him his flowers because he was the man. He was the one that made ECW happen… he’s the guy that made everything possible.”

    RVD also heralded Heyman’s work in WWE and recalled many in the company being opposed to Paul at first due to his ECW history. 

    “When I was there back then… he didn’t get a lot of respect in the way of the other agents didn’t like ECW, were trying to fight it, didn’t want it to come in. They were giving him a hard time.”

    Van Dam concluded by stating that ECW became a success of Heyman’s leadership, braveness, and passion, and is pleased to see the sacrifices Heyman has made pay off. 

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    Heyman will be part of what is shaping up to be a star-studded class of inductees. Bull Nakano will be inducted this year. The former WWF Women’s Champion had a successful run in and out of WWE and is currently the commissioner of Bushiroad. The US Express will also be inducted as part of this year’s class. 

    H/T – Fightful

  • WWE Megastars Collide: The Rock & John Cena Reunite Backstage At 2024 Oscars

    WWE Megastars Collide: The Rock & John Cena Reunite Backstage At 2024 Oscars

    WWE’s own John Cena was able to reunite with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson following the 16-time World Champion’s viral appearance at the 2024 Oscars. 

    Cena was on hand to present the award for ‘Best Costume’ but was hardly dressed for the occasion. In a throwback to the 1974 ceremony that saw a streaker interrupt a speech by David Niven, Cena appeared in the ‘nude’ and covered his unmentionables with a large envelope. During a video package for the nominees, Cena and co-host Jimmy Kimmel were able to fashion a makeshift outfit for the WWE megastar turned Hollywood powerhouse. 

    John Cena & The Rock Reunite

    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was also present for this year’s Oscars as he presented an award with fellow WWE alum Bad Bunny. In a photo shared online, Cena can be seen greeting his friend and former WrestleMania rival. 

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock will make his return to the ring at WrestleMania 40: Saturday. He will team with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. Should The Bloodline win, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match the next night will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’ Should Rhodes and Rollins win, then the Bloodline will not be involved in the next night’s main event. 

    As for John Cena, his future in WWE remains unclear. Cena is hoping to do something at WrestleMania, but no plans have been confirmed for the 16-time WWE World Champion. Cena was part of last year’s WrestleMania event where he lost to then-U.S. Champion Austin Theory in the Saturday opener. 

  • Paul Wight Comments On Transition To AEW: “Greatest Thing That Has Ever Happened To Me”

    Paul Wight Comments On Transition To AEW: “Greatest Thing That Has Ever Happened To Me”

    From Sting to Jim Ross if there is one thing AEW can take pride in, it’s their fair treatment of industry veterans and making them feel appreciated in the late stages of their career. Paul Wight is another such talent to whom AEW has given a second chance, and the former World Champion thinks it’s the best thing that could happen to him.

    The wrestling veteran recently spoke to Jack Curry of The Yes Network while visiting the George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to support the New York Yankees.

    During the talk, the former WWE star was asked about his transition to AEW. Paul Wight mentioned how he was fortunate to have a lengthy run with the TKO-owned promotion. He also explained how he is grateful for the opportunity that has been given to him by Tony Khan:

    “It’s been fantastic. I was blessed to work for a big company for a lot of years all over the world. Now at my stage of the game, to find myself useful in a company that allows me to spread a lot of my knowledge to the younger talent, get a chance to get on the microphone every now and then and enhance them, help their characters along and then get in the ring and mix it up.

    It’s probably the single greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m blessed, grateful and thankful for the fans that still like to see me do my thing.”

    Following a WCW stint, Paul Wight had a lengthy WWE career. After joining the company in 1999, he spent more than 2 decades in the promotion and won over a dozen titles. He finally left the company in January 2021 and debuted in AEW as a commentator a month later.

    You can check out Wight’s full interview below:

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

  • WWE’s Naomi & Zelina Vega Pay Tribute to Late Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama At Live Event

    WWE’s Naomi & Zelina Vega Pay Tribute to Late Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama At Live Event

    The Superstars of WWE paid a touching tribute to Akira Toriyama at a recent live event, following the manga titan’s death at the age of 68. 

    Toriyama’s death was announced last week. He had suffered an acute subdural hematoma, which is a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio reported. Toriyama is best known for creating the manga hit Dragon Ball, which has spawned shows, movies, video games, and more. The main series follows Goku and his efforts to collect the titular Dragon Balls to protect the Earth. 

    WWE Tributes to Akira Toriyama

    At a recent WWE live event, WWE’s Zelina Vega and Naomi paid a special tribute to Toriyama while in the ring. The pair performed a ‘Fusion’ move from Dragon Ball. In the hit series, this allows two characters to ‘fuse’ and become even more powerful than as two individuals. On Twitter, Vega shared the spot in question. 

    In a tweet of her own, Naomi said she was “fused for life” with her “sis” Vega. When a fan pointed out that the fusion in the show only lasts for 30 minutes, Naomi admitted that she’s still learning about Dragon Ball. 

    Zelina Vega and Dragon Ball

    While Naomi is a newbie to the world of Dragon Ball, Vega’s love for the series can’t be denied. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, Vega wore an attire referencing series villain Frieza, but was unsuccessful in the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match that was won by reigning WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY. 

  • The Rock & Bad Bunny Link Up For 96th Academy Awards

    The Rock & Bad Bunny Link Up For 96th Academy Awards

    The Rock is back in WWE as a big-time heel, but he was all smiles at the Oscar Awards on Sunday night. The People’s Champion also had a chance to rub elbows with another WWE Superstar that he hadn’t had a chance to meet yet.

    Bad Bunny is a bona fide WWE Superstar at this point, but he is just very busy with his career as a global celebrity and rapper. He was on hand at the Academy Awards, and he also shared the stage with The Rock.

    The Rock and Bad Bunny

    The presence of wrestling extends far beyond the confines of the ring, permeating various aspects of entertainment and pop culture. This fact was more than proven at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Bad Bunny appeared together. They presented the Best International Film at the awards.

    Despite their distinct career paths in acting and music, both individuals have left their mark on the world of professional wrestling. The Rock is obviously known as one of the most iconic Superstars in WWE history. Similarly, Bad Bunny, known for his chart-topping hits and persona in the music industry, has made waves in the wrestling world, including appearances at WrestleMania and a San Juan Street Fight at WWE Backlash 2023.

    John Cena Bears All At Oscars

    John Cena also had quite a time at the 96th Academy Awards. He showed up without any clothes on and had a nude streaker bit on stage.

    During the ceremony, The Rock encountered John Cena backstage, coinciding with Cena’s appearance as he prepared to present the award for Best Costume Design.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world and beyond. Keep checking back for more stories and updates.

  • John Cena Bares All: Goes Totally In Birthday Suit For Oscars Streaking Stunt

    John Cena is rarely seen in WWE nowadays, but his charm has taken over Hollywood. The Oscar Awards is a huge night for the entertainment industry, and Cena didn’t miss it. Unfortunately for him, he forgot his clothes.

    Cena was on hand for the 96th Academy Awards to present the award for Best Costume. He also didn’t have to worry about what he what was going to wear, because he was streaking.

    John Cena Streaks At The Oscars

    Jimmy Kimmel introduced the Best Costume category by referencing a streaker who bombarded the ceremony with unexpected nudity in 1974. Then he gave an obvious cue to John Cena, who was standing off-stage in his birthday suit.

    Cena appeared sheepish and said he changed his mind about streaking. Jimmy wanted him to do it next, and a back-and-forth resulted that produced a few big laughs from the crowd.

    When Jimmy told John that he wrestled naked, Cena said, “I wrestle in jorts.” Then Kimmel replied, “JORTS ARE WORSE THAN BEING NAKED!” The crowd ate that up.

    Finally, John Cena took the stage, totally nude, while covering his bathing suit area with the Best Costume category envelope. It was a moment of hilarious irony with nudity taking over the Best Costume category, as everyone saw Cena.

    Cena did a quick change afterward, so nobody on television actually saw him nude. It was still a hilarious moment, and also proved that the 16x World Champion is now a beloved Hollywood star at this point.

    What’s Next For John Cena

    John Cena is going to try to make it back to do something for WrestleMania 40. He also strongly hinted that he will wear jorts as well.

    Cena’s last match took place in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel. He needed surgery on both of his arms after his loss to Solo Sikoa. Then, he was back to Hollywood after the SAG-AFTRA Strike concluded.

    Ricky Stanicky, Cena’s new movie available on Amazon Prime, just dropped. We have a full review of the hilarious movie here, and we also highly recommend it if you want to see him do more R-rated antics like that streaking stunt. Cena also opened up an OnlyFans for the new Ricky Stanicky character, and he’s been very active on it as well.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, as we approach the road to WrestleMania. You never know when John Cena will pop up next, or how much of him we will see.

  • Social Media Shut Down: Sheamus Shocks Fans with Abrupt Twitter Exit

    Social Media Shut Down: Sheamus Shocks Fans with Abrupt Twitter Exit

    WWE Superstars use social media all the time to connect with fans, hype their matches, and comment on society. Now, fans have one less Superstar to follow on Twitter/X.

    Sheamus has been out of action since last year with a shoulder injury. Word is that his contract is up this year, but he still hasn’t returned. Now, the Celtic Warrior has taken himself off Elon Musk’s social media platform.

    Sheamus Leaves Twitter/X

    Although it is unclear why Sheamus would have nixed his Twitter/X account, that is the case. He hasn’t had any controversial posts, but he still exited the site.

    His hiatus from WWE television aligns with a significant shoulder injury he’s been dealing with. Coincidentally, this absence also corresponds with the nearing expiration of his WWE contract, prompting speculation among fans regarding his potential re-signing with the company.

    Sheamus is known for his active presence on Twitter, often providing updates on his status during his WWE break. That being said, he hasn’t upset anyone or had any reason to deactivate his account. Even though that is the case, his sudden deactivation of his Twitter account has come as a surprise to many.

    What’s Next For Sheamus

    It is very possible that WWE is freezing Sheamus’ contract, so he can’t leave so soon. We will have to see when he returns, but the Brawling Brutes faction was also disbanded in the meantime.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, in case there are new updates. Hopefully, Sheamus will be back soon, because you know if would rather not miss WrestleMania 40.

  • Chad Gable Gets Intense In Compelling New Video Ahead Of WWE Raw

    Chad Gable really wanted to show wrestling fans that his potential Intercontinental Championship opportunity does indeed mean more for him.

    On WWE Raw, Gable will be one of the six participants competing in a gauntlet match to earn a shot at Gunther and his Intercontinental gold at WrestleMania 40. Gable had his first chance on a September 2023 episode of Raw, but came up short. 

    However, a fire was lit under him when Gunther made his daughter cry and ever since, Gable has been adamant at facing the unprecedented champion once again. That point was further hammered home on social media over the weekend as Gable posted a new vignette of himself expressing how important Monday’s match is to him.

    “I’ve been running the gauntlet in my own head since that match with Gunther last September. Trust me, the only tears you wanna wipe off your child’s face are tears of joy, but if I want that chance, a new gauntlet stands in front of me. “

    Gable says the match is full of “demons” of his past but that him going battling those is a chance at redemption for him.

    “It’s a rare chance to rewrite history, we don’t get those every day so I intend to claim it and become a beacon of perseverance that my fans and my family can be proud of so I will endure, because for Chad Gable, this match just means more.”

    Coming from a storyline perspective, Gable and Sami Zayn are the two stars in the match who have made the greatest case to compete against Gunther at WrestleMania. The other participants in the fight are Ricochet, JD McDonagh, Bronson Reed and Shinsuke Nakamura.

  • Paul Heyman Tells All On Previously Turning Down the WWE Hall of Fame

    Paul Heyman Tells All On Previously Turning Down the WWE Hall of Fame

    Paul Heyman has shared why he turned down the WWE Hall of Fame ahead of his induction the night before WrestleMania 40. 

    Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year’s class on April 5. The honor is richly-deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns’ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company’s peak.

    Turning Down the WWE HOF

    While Heyman will be inducted this year, the Bloodline’s spokesman has turned the honor down in the past. Sitting down with TMZ Sports, Heyman explained his reasoning for why he didn’t want to be inducted years earlier during his run with Brock Lesnar. 

    “If I had accepted the award while I was The Advocate for Brock Lesnar and none of my work with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline was part of my Hall of Fame induction, then by now, we’d be sitting there saying, ‘Oh, how did we induct him five years ago and missed this whole chapter of his career.’”

    The only flaw of Heyman’s plan, as he pointed out in the interview, is that he has no plans on wrapping up his career despite his impending induction. 

    “Roman Reigns and I are not going anywhere. We plan on sticking around. He will continue to be the reigning defending Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion in the greatest title run of all time.”

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    Heyman will be part of what is shaping up to be a star-studded class of inductees. Bull Nakano will be inducted this year. The former WWF Women’s Champion had a successful run in and out of WWE and is currently the commissioner of Bushiroad. The US Express will also be inducted as part of this year’s class. 

  • WWE Hall of Fame 2024: Bray Wyatt Likely Lock For Induction This Year

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024: Bray Wyatt Likely Lock For Induction This Year

    WWE’s Hall of Fame is getting a big focus, because they dropped several names this week. One name that is expected, is still missing, but Bray Wyatt’s flowers may still be on the way.

    Paul Heyman was revealed as part of the WWE Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. The US Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham) and Bull Nakano were also been confirmed, with Haku and Lia Maivia rumored as well. There is a very likely chance that Bray Wyatt will be announced for this year’s class, joining his father, Rotunda, and uncle, Windham.

    2024 WWE Hall of Fame & Bray Wyatt

    WWE has announced a few names for their 2024 WWE Hall of Fame so far. This will be the first year without Vince McMahon’s input, and Paul Heyman was the first name announced. More names are expected, and one of them could be the Eater of Worlds.

    The pro wrestling world is still in mourning over the tragic loss of Bray Wyatt. He left JoJo Offerman and his children behind, along with so many incredible stories left to tell. As WWE announces their Hall of Fame inductees this year, fans are waiting for Wyatt’s name to be called.

    “I’m surprised they haven’t announced Bray Wyatt,” Dave Meltzer remarked on Wrestling Observer Radio. It was then noted that the US Express are Wyatt’s father and uncle, so it would be clear synergy with the whole thing.

    “It’s his family, you know, Barry’s his uncle, and Mike’s his dad, um so, maybe that’s part of the synergy. They should [induct Bray Wyatt] absolutely they should. He was the first guy I thought of when they were doing this year.”

    We will have to see who has their name announced for the WWE Hall of Fame next. Honoring Bray Wyatt with a Hall of Fame induction only makes sense. If his name is added to this year’s lineup, then Triple H would have booked an incredible first class of the WWE Hall of Fame.

    The Rock has a Say in 2024 WWE Hall of Fame

    The Rock also has a say in the WWE Hall of Fame this year. It is reported that he is going to place is grandmother into this year’s class. They will apparently work Lia Maivia’s induction into his WrestleMania storyline.

    Bray Wyatt’s Legacy in WWE

    Bray Wyatt certainly deserves a WWE Hall of Fame induction, if not three. One for himself, another with the Wyatt Family faction, and a third as the Fiend, because that character stretched beyond the pro wrestling bubble. Hopefully, Wyatt gets his flowers during WrestleMania 40 weekend.

    WWE signed Bray Wyatt to a Legends contract. They are also giving 100% of the proceeds of all of his merchandise to JoJo Offerman. There is also a new project about Wyatt in the works. The company continues to take care of Windham Rotunda’s family, so it’s very likely they will honor his legacy in the best way they can.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, as things progress down the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back, because we will have Hall of Fame announcements posted as soon as they are officially revealed. 

  • Watch: Seth Rollins Triumphant in First Match Back From Torn MCL Injury

    Watch: Seth Rollins Triumphant in First Match Back From Torn MCL Injury

    Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins’ return to the ring proved to be a triumphant night for the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion. 

    In January, Rollins suffered an injury during a title defense on Monday Night Raw against Jinder Mahal. Despite this setback, Rollins has continued to appear on WWE programming. The Architect has become an ally of Cody Rhodes in the American Nightmare’s war with The Bloodline. 

    Seth Rollins Returns to the Ring

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rollins shared the news that he was very close to being cleared to wrestle. At last night’s WWE live event in Alexandria, LA, Rollins competed for the first time in close to two months. The World Heavyweight Champion teamed with Cody Rhodes to defeat Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. Rollins would pick up the win for his team with a stomp on Jimmy Uso.

    What’s Next? 

    Rollins will make up for lost time at WrestleMania 40 by competing twice at the Showcase of the Immortals. Rollins and Rhodes will team again to face Roman Reigns and The Rock on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. If Rhodes & Rollins win, there will be no Bloodline presence during the Sunday main event between Reigns and Rhodes. Should the Bloodline win, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’

    The next night, Rollins will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior and self-professed ‘savior’ of WrestleMania earned a title match by winning the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match.

  • Watch: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes Epic Undertaker Entrance At UFC 299

    Watch: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes Epic Undertaker Entrance At UFC 299

    UFC fighter Michael ‘Venom’ Page made quite the impression at UFC 299 with an epic tribute to WWE’s ‘Phenom’ The Undertaker.

    UFC 299 took place on March 9, 2024, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. To the backdrop of speculation about the much-anticipated UFC 300 show, UFC 299 was headlined by Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera. Though Vera won their first encounter at UFC 252 in August 2020, this week’s event saw O’Malley get the win a unanimous decision victory after five rounds. 

    Page’s Undertaker Entrance

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page, also known as MVP, arrived to his fight with Ken Holland to the iconic theme song of The Undertaker. While he didn’t don the Deadman’s trademark coat and hat, Page wore a black cloak for this portion of his entrance. You can see Page’s entrance down below. 

    Not only did Page make an Undertaker-themed entrance, but he also matched the Deadman’s dominance in the cage as he’d win the fight via decision in the third round. 

    Wrestling Themes and UFC

    At UFC 276, Israel Adesanya went one further, using an entrance based on The Undertaker. In addition to using the Phenom’s theme song, Adesanya wore an Undertaker-themed hat and solemnly walked to the cage with an urn. At that same event, Jessica Rose-Clark would walk to the cage for her fight to the theme of one of The Undertaker’s greatest rivals: Shawn Michaels.

    More recently, Chris Curtis used Adam Copeland’s theme at UFC 297.  When the UFC returned to Calgary, Alberta in July 2018, it was fitting that Ion Cutelaba walked out to Bret Hart’s WWE theme

  • Frustration Within WWE Over Women’s Tag Title Booking

    Frustration Within WWE Over Women’s Tag Title Booking

    The road to WrestleMania 40 has been quite a ride so far. The Kabuki Warriors are still holding the company’s Women’s Tag Team Titles, as Kari Sane and Asuka are fighting champions. This may have caused a bit of an issue.

    A new report has dropped saying that there is some frustration over having The Kabuki Warriors defending their titles on RAW next week after a brutal defense at NXT Roadblock.

    Some Upset Over Title Picture

    Asuka and Kairi Sane had a successful title defense at NXT Roadblock against Tatum Paxley and Lyra Valkyria. There is no rest for the champions, as they are already set to defend their titles on RAW.

    Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler have a title shot on the March 11th episode of the longest running weekly episode show in history. That is not being received too well by some backstage.

    Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that officials expressed their happiness with Asuka and Kairi Sane’s presence on the Roadblock show. That being said, some aren’t too happy that Sane and Asuka have to turn around to defend those titles again.

    ”Officials were very happy to have Asuka and Kairi Sane on the show. However, there was some frustration with the champions having a title defense booked for next week’s Raw during Monday’s show.”

    What’s Next for the Kabuki Warriors

    The Kabuki Warriors do not have a match booked for WrestleMania 40 yet. IYO Sky will defend her title against Bayley during the show of shows, and it’s anyone’s guess whether they will be around for that match.

    Damage CTRL is covered in gold. It’s anyone’s guess how the faction will look after they leave the grandest stage of them all, but the road to WrestleMania has been a wild one for the stable so far.

    SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are made available. 

  • The Heir Apparent! Michael Cole Sees Corey Graves As The Future of WWE Broadcasting

    The Heir Apparent! Michael Cole Sees Corey Graves As The Future of WWE Broadcasting

    Fans should get used to hearing Michael Cole on commentary for years to come, at least if Michael Cole is to be believed. 

    Cole has been with WWE for close to three decades after joining the promotion in 1997 on the recommendation of Todd Pettengill. A former war correspondent, Cole’s career in WWE has seen him call the action at countless events, enjoy a brief heel run, and even get a win at WrestleMania 27. 

    The Heir Apparent

    With decades in the industry, Cole has developed a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t at the commentary table. In a recent interview with Awful Announcing, the veteran spoke about Corey Graves’ journey in WWE thus far and teaching him the proverbial ropes. 

    “[It was] a matter of giving him the opportunity to sit side by side for many years, to watch, learn, study, and see how I do things.”

    Cole added that he is pleased that Graves was given the opportunity and sees a very bright future for the SmackDown commentator.

    “And at the end of the day, when we gave him the shot? He’s been killing it. I believe he’s the heir apparent.”

    Corey Graves

    While Cole sees Graves as his heir, the 40-year-old is hardly a newbie to the commentary desk. After his in-ring retirement in 2014, Graves joined the NXT commentary team before being moved to the Raw desk in 2016. Graves current calls the action on SmackDown alongside Wade Barrett.