SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • WWE Tough Enough Alum & Ex-GOP Candidate Daniel Rodimer Arrested for Murder

    WWE Tough Enough Alum & Ex-GOP Candidate Daniel Rodimer Arrested for Murder

    A former WWE Tough Enough participant and developmental talent has turned himself in after being wanted in connection to a Las Vegas murder. 

    Daniel Rodimer has been accused of the murder of Christopher Tapp, who was killed in October of last year, KLAS reports. Tapp’s death at a Resorts World suite was initially ruled as an accident but the Clark County Coroner’s Office later determined it a homicide after discovering ‘blunt force trauma’ to his head.

    Tapp was a recently exonerated man who had served 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of killing his friend Angie Doge in 1996. Carol Doge, Angie’s mother, had previously stated she did not believe he had killed her daughter.

    Rodimer turned himself in to Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday evening. His legal team said he “vigorously contests” the allegations. PW Insider reports that he was released from prison on a $200,000 bond and is due for a court hearing on April 10. 

    Daniel Rodimer in the Ring

    Rodimer was part of WWE’s 2004 season of Tough Enough which also featured The Miz, Ryback, and Marty’The Boogeyman’ Wright. Despite not winning, he was signed to a developmental contract in 2006. His debut match would be in Deep South Wrestling where he defeated Heath ‘Slater’ Miller. In 2007, he was moved to OVW and debuted on Heat that same year with a win over Eugene. After two more Heat appearances, he was released in August 2007. 

    Daniel Rodimer and the Law

    Rodimer has been accused of assault three times, but has no convictions. He was arrested on charges of battery in 2010 and admitted to committing the offense. After a six-week anger management course, the charge was dropped. 

    Daniel Rodimer in Politics

    Rodimer ran for Nevada State Senate on the Republican ballot in 2018 but despite outspending his rival nearly two-to-one, lost to Valerie Weber. The following year, he lost to the incumbent Susie Lee in a bid for Nevada’s 3rd congressional district. 

    In March 2021, Rodimer announced his candidacy for Texas’s 6th congressional district special election. His campaign caught attention as he dramatically changed his accent and persona in his campaign ad to appear more Texan. He also claimed that he had been personally endorsed by former President Donald Trump, which Trump’s team denied. He placed eleventh in the primary with 2.6% of the vote share. 

  • Drew McIntyre Channels CM Punk’s Infamous Hangman Page Tirade To Call Out Seth Rollins

    Drew McIntyre Channels CM Punk’s Infamous Hangman Page Tirade To Call Out Seth Rollins

    Drew McIntyre continues to twist the knife in two of his most recent rivals in CM Punk and Seth Rollins 

    McIntyre continues to show the manipulative new side of himself with a recent social media post. The Scotsman pulled an old chestnut out of CM Punk’s pocket when stealing a quote from his notorious airing of grievances on Hangman Page during AEW All Out 2022. 

    During the now-famous press conference, Punk laid out his laments on Hangman for going into business for himself in a promo from AEW Dynamite earlier in the year, however, it is McIntyre who repurposed Punk’s words so he to disparage Rollins for not minding his own business on WWE Raw this Monday.

    McIntyre headlined WWE Raw this past Monday against Jey Uso. McIntyre took advantage of a distraction by Jimmy Uso to defeat Jey and get another win to follow up his big WWE Elimination Chamber victory.

    Post-match, The Bloodline beat down Jey when Seth Rollins ran past McIntyre to make the save.

    Ever the opportunist, McIntyre made the most of Rollins’ run-in to save Jey Uso by catching the WWE World Heavyweight Champion with a Claymore Kick. 

    Drew is set to challenge Rollins at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, but the road still has over a month to go.

  • Battle of the Shirts: The Rock & Cody Rhodes Take Beef to WWE’s Merchandise Store

    Battle of the Shirts: The Rock & Cody Rhodes Take Beef to WWE’s Merchandise Store

    The Rock and Cody Rhodes have taken their WrestleMania feud to a whole new level: WWE Shop, pro wrestling’s premiere merchandise store.

    At last month’s WrestleMania XL Kickoff event from Las Vegas, the ‘American Nightmare’ announced his intention to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The decision enraged The Rock, who envisioned himself battling Reigns in what he saw as the biggest match in WWE history. 

    Rhodes delivered a scathing message to the Bloodline, claiming their ancestors would be ashamed of them. The Rock responded by slapping the lips off Cody’s face in what Paul Heyman would later dub, The People’s Slap. 

    Battle of the Shirts

    If you’ve been following WWE television as closely as most of our readers, you know things haven’t quieted down since then. 

    The Rock’ “Slap” T-Shirt

    First, The Rock released a new t-shirt mocking Cody Rhodes, his ‘Cody Crybabies’ fanbase and the The People’s Slap. As seen below, the shirt invokes the popular ‘Batman slapping Robin’ meme.

    WWEShop: The Rock “Slap” T-Shirt

    Cody Rhodes “Slap” T-Shirt

    Now, Rhodes has fired back with a shirt of his own. While this one still includes The Rock’s slap last month, the defiant Rhodes makes clear that the Brahma Bull should ‘get ready to learn the lyrics to Kingdom.’

    Rhodes’ message is clear: No matter what, his theme will be playing after the main event of WrestleMania 40 with Cody standing tall as the new Undisputed WWE Champion

    WWEShop: Cody Rhodes “Slap” T-Shirt

    What’s Next? 

    Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins will be at this Friday’s episode of SmackDown, where they will confront The Rock and Roman Reigns. The show will be the first face-to-face between the four men since the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event. It is believed that Rhodes and Rollins will respond to the challenge laid out last week for a tag match at WrestleMania 40. 

  • John Cena Teases WWE WrestleMania 40 Appearance: “Fingers Crossed!”

    John Cena Teases WWE WrestleMania 40 Appearance: “Fingers Crossed!”

    WrestleMania 40 is scheduled as a two-night event on April 6 and 7, 2024, to be held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show of shows usually brings out the biggest stars the company can get, and this year’s event is no different.

    John Cena mentioned WrestleMania 40, and he said “fingers crossed” about appearing. He also made it clear that he will break out the classic jorts for that appearance if it can happen.

    Will John Cena be at WrestleMania 40?

    I exclusively reported on SEScoops that John Cena is trying to come back to do “something” at WrestleMania 40. Now, that report has been confirmed by the man himself.

    While appearing on ESPN’s First Take, John Cena was asked about a potential WrestleMania 40 appearance. He did not squash the idea at all. In fact, he backed up the idea that he is going to try to make it to the show of shows.

    When asked what attire he may go with, Cena said, “it depends, WrestleMania 40, and fingers crossed, it will be the jorts.”

    We will have to see what John Cena is able to do on the grandest stage of them all. His current Hollywood obligations may prohibit him from doing a ton in the ring, but it will be nice to see him anyway.

    John Cena’s Most Recent Match

    At WWE Crown Jewel 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on April 11, 2023, John Cena faced Solo Sikoa in a match that lasted 16 minutes and 10 seconds. Cena lost that match, and then he needed surgery on both of his arms after that.

    Now that Hollywood SAG-AFTRA Strike is over, John Cena returned to work. Only time will tell what he can do at WrestleMania 40, but he isn’t closing the door on that idea at all.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as additional information is made available. 

  • John Cena Picks His Top 5 Favorite Female WWE Superstars

    WWE’s Women’s Division consistently earns a spotlight due to the amount of talent on their roster. John Cena has witnessed that division transform over the last decade as well, and he has a top 5 of women who capture his interest in the ring.

    John Cena listed his top five women’s wrestlers, stressing that the order didn’t matter. He named Becky Lynch, Bayley, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and Charlotte Flair, praising each for their unique contributions and skills in the ring.

    Cena’s Female Top 5

    During an interview on ESPN’s First Take, John Cena shared his admiration for women’s wrestling by listing his top five female wrestlers. He emphasized that his list was not in any particular order.

    First on Cena’s list was Becky Lynch. Next, he mentioned Bayley. Both Lynch and Bayley are challengers as they walk into their own title matches at WrestleMania against Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky respectively.

    Cena also acknowledges Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley on his list. The final name he came up with was Charlotte Flair.

    WWE’s Rise In Women’s Wrestling

    WWE’s Women’s Revolution saw interest in women’s wrestling total revived thanks to the #GiveDivasAChance movement. They are also no longer “Divas,” as they are now Superstars, and that butterly title is also a thing of the past.

    There is already a new generation of women’s wrestling from NXT that will help carry the women’s division for years to come. Tiffany Stratton was just the most recent call-up with a ton of potential, because the NXT brand still has names like Fallon Henley, Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade and Blair Davenport who all have amazing potential.

    Any Top 5 list is totally subjective, and John Cena certainly has his opinion on things. Keep checking back with SEScoops for more updates on this story, and so many others in the pro wrestling world. 

  • TKO’s Mark Shapiro On Vince McMahon, Raw’s Netflix Deal, WrestleMania Celebrities

    TKO’s Mark Shapiro On Vince McMahon, Raw’s Netflix Deal, WrestleMania Celebrities

    Mark Shapiro has once again reiterated that Vince McMahon is gone from TKO Group Holdings and that he will not return. 

    While McMahon was able to force his way back into WWE in January 2023, his most recent resignation happened under much different circumstances thanks to the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. 

    Mark Shapiro on Vince McMahon

    Speaking at the Morgan Stanley conference, TKO’s COO Mark Shapiro addressed McMahon’s departure and his recent offloading of TKO stock. Shapiro made it clear that TKO did not participate in the sale. Shapiro added that McMahon does not work for TKO, does not go to the offices and is not coming back to the company. 

    Plans for Branding

    Over the past year, WWE has seen an increase in branding usage on camera at WWE events. During the conference, Shapiro said that “not to criticize Vince McMahon” but he believes WWE didn’t utilize enough branding opportunities in arenas. UFC, the other half of TKO, uses arguably too many, according to Shapiro, who said that WWE will continue to use sponsors on WWE ring assets. 

    WWE RAW & Netflix

    In January 2025, Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix in a blockbuster deal that will mark the end of WWE’s flagship show on broadcast television. Shapiro said that “not in my wildest dreams” did he expect Netflix for the Raw deal, and that the conversation was originally about WWE NXT. Shapiro credits WWE President Nick Khan and TKO CFO Andrew Schleimer for negotiating the deal.

    What’s to Come? 

    Shapiro was pleasantly surprised by the buzz that this year’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber events made. Looking ahead, he said fans can expect celebrities from the William Morris-Endeavor (WME) agency at WrestleMania. Partnering with Fanatics for WWE World is going well, and can be considered a blueprint for future projects.

  • WWE Hall of Fame 2024: Bull Nakano Joining This Year’s Class

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024: Bull Nakano Joining This Year’s Class

    This year’s edition of the WWE Hall of Fame is a special year. Triple H will pick his first class of inductees, and now we know the second name on his list.

    Paul Heyman was announced this week as the first entrant in the 2024 Class of the WWE Hall of Fame. This was a huge addition to the Philly festivities. Now, Bull Nakano’s name is joining this year’s list of inductees.

    Bull Nakano’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction

    ESPN broke the story today that Bull Nakano will be joining Paul Heyman as an inductee in the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.

    WWEShop: Bull Nakano Green 2024 WWE Hall of Fame T-Shirt

    The 56-year-old Japanese pro wrestling legend spoke about this big honor. She has raked up a lot of championships throughout her career, but she was always missing a Hall of Fame induction.

    “During my active years, I was able to get championship belts in Japan, America and Mexico. But just one thing was missing — I didn’t get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I wanted this. Finally, in 2024 in WrestleMania week, I am able to get this.”

    Who is Bull Nakano

    Nakano entered Japan’s women’s wrestling circuit, known as “joshi,” in the early 1980s. At that time, women’s wrestling experienced significant popularity in Japan, often attracting larger crowds and higher TV ratings than men’s wrestling.

    As a formidable heel with face paint, Nakano emerged as a prominent figure in All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling, becoming one of its top attractions. She claimed victories in the AJW championship and WWWA title matches, engaging in historic encounters alongside and against renowned names like Dump Matsumoto, Kyoko Inoue, Akira Hokuto, and Aja Kong.

    In the 1990s, Nakano ventured beyond Japan, taking her talents to Mexico where she secured the CMLL World women’s championship in 1992. Among U.S. audiences, Nakano gained recognition for her feud with Alundra Blayze in WWE. She also beat Blayze for the WWF women’s title at the Tokyo Dome in 1994, an event that was seen by over 42,000 fans in attendance. While it was uncommon for a WWE title to be defended in Japan, Nakano won it there, and she defended it once before relinquishing it back to Blayze in 1995.

    WWE Hall of Fame Date

    The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame is an upcoming professional wrestling event created by WWE, marking the induction of the 25th class into the WWE Hall of Fame. The ceremony is scheduled for April 5, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, occurring the evening prior to WrestleMania 40.

  • Triple H Adopts Fresh WWE Commentary Approach, Distinct from Vince McMahon’s Tactics

    Triple H Adopts Fresh WWE Commentary Approach, Distinct from Vince McMahon’s Tactics

    Vince McMahon’s aggressive control of WWE programming was infamous during his time as Chairman of the Board. Now that he’s gone, things are very different.

    Triple H is now in control of WWE’s programming. As Chief Content Officer, he has also decided not to berate his announcers with constant directions. Corey Graves can attest to this fact, because he lived through the transition and is very much enjoying The Game’s time in charge.

    Corey Graves Speaks On Triple H

    Corey Graves is a prominent figure in WWE, particularly as part of Friday Night SmackDown’s commentary team. He remembers the days when Vince McMahon was in his ear all night, commanding him to hit certain lines on commentary. That is not the case anymore.

    With experience both as a wrestler and announcer in NXT, WWE’s developmental brand overseen by Triple H, Graves expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by Paul “Triple H” Levesque. He sees the King of Kings are one of the primary reasons he was so successful in the company.

    While speaking to Short and to the Point podcast, Graves highlighted Triple H’s supportive approach and acknowledged the creative freedom afforded to announcers under his leadership.

    “Triple H is another guy I owe a great deal, if not everything in my career, to. He was the one that took a chance on me as a wrestler in NXT. If I need something, I’ve never hesitated to go to him and ask. He’s cool and refreshing in the sense that he gives us [announcers] space.”

    Differences Between Triple H & Vince McMahon

    Graves continued to explained that Triple H recognizes the importance of allowing announcers to express themselves authentically as fans.

    “Instead of being directed to adhere to specific instructions or language, Triple H understands that we’re all fans. As the industry progresses, you have to loosen the reins a bit. I still have boundaries, but they feel more flexible now.”

    In contrast to Vince McMahon’s notorious habit of shouting at announcers through their headsets, Triple H doesn’t take that tactic at all. Instead, The Game has a much more cerebral approach to things.

    “I’ve been on TV for seven years between RAW and SmackDown. In the last few months, communication through my headset has been exceptionally quiet and clear. I only receive feedback if I’m making a significant mistake or if a joke lands. If I say something that resonates, he’ll build on it or enhance the joke in my headset.”

    Vince McMahon’s WWE Exit

    Vince McMahon initially retired from WWE in 2022, amid allegations of sexual misconduct. At the time, WWE announced a special committee would investigate McMahon. However, his retirement didn’t last long, and he returned to the company to help usher in a sale/merger era for the company.

    McMahon made creative adjustments remotely for a long time during that period. The whole time Triple H was still acting COO of the company.

    That misconduct for Mr. McMahon was later detailed in gruesome ways with Janel Grant’s earth-shattering lawsuit. After Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship right before the Royal Rumble, Vince had no choice but to totally resign from the company.

    In more recent memory, Vince announced his intention to sell over $400 million in TKO stock, leaving him with around 8% of the company in his control, which is not enough to secure his place back in the company once again if he ever tried another return.

  • WWE NXT Star Andre Chase Mourns Father’s Passing After Roadblock Event

    WWE Superstars have lives outside the ring, and sadly, one member of the NXT family is dealing with a big personal loss. Andre Chase, who has been around the NXT brand consistently since the 2.0 days, revealed he lost his father.

    Andre Chase shared that his father recently passed away over the weekend. He saved this announcement until after his big NXT Tag Team Title match at Roadblock.

    Chase’s Sad Announcement

    At NXT Roadblock, Chase and Duke Hudson teamed up to challenge Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Despite their efforts, they were unable to secure the title, marking their second unsuccessful attempt. The whole time, the NXT Arena was very much behind Chase U.

    After the event, Chase took to social media to announce the passing of his father over the weekend. In a heartfelt message, he reflected on his father’s strength and expressed how he honored his memory by standing up for himself, even in defeat.

    As some of you may know, my father unexpectedly passed away over the weekend.My dad had the heart of a lion and never backed down from a fight. Tonight, even in defeat, I hope I honored him by pulling myself up off of the mat even when I thought I had nothing left. #WWENXT

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C4KBePDOYzT

    Our thoughts are with Andre Chase as he deals with this great loss in his personal life. He has a ton of fans who are very much behind him, along with everyone at the Performance Center. So, we’re hoping that he has plenty of support during this time.

    SEScoops will have more updates on the pro wrestling world, so please keep checking back for additional headlines.

  • Daily Drop (3/6): Surprise WWE NXT Returns During Roadblock, Sting’s Sons Speak Out

    Daily Drop (3/6): Surprise WWE NXT Returns During Roadblock, Sting’s Sons Speak Out

    Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Wednesday, March 6h. NXT Roadblock was last night. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.

    Days until WrestleMania XL: 31

    Before we get into things, WWE 2K24 is coming out in a matter of days, and you should be excited. SEScoops has a full review of the game up already, and you should definitely check it out here.

    WWE:

    – John Cena revealed that WWE had plans for him to turn heel in his WrestleMania 28 program against The Rock. He even had new ring gear and music made for the change.

    – Haku is rumored to get a WWE Hall of Fame induction this year.

    – WWE has plans to make their way back to Saudi Arabia for another event in May.

    – William Regal returned to WWE NXT this week as “Mr. Regal.” He had a great little segment with his son, Charlie Dempsey, and we’re hoping this leads to more.

    – Sol Ruca also made a return during WWE NXT Roadblock. She attacked Blair Davenport, the same woman who was behind all of those mysterious attacks last year, Ruca’s being one of them.

    – Rhea Ripley teased that she wants a match against CM Punk.

    – An old WWE legend has been debunked. During A&E’s Biography on Sgt. Slaughter, it was confirmed that WrestleMania 7’s venue move happened because of poor ticket sales. I wasn’t due to more salacious reasons, like Slaughter has said for years. 

    AEW:

    – Sammy Guevara was suspended over that whole botched spot ordeal with Jeff Hardy.

    – The company debuted a brand-new logo for Dynamite. You can check it out here. Fans will get to see that logo in action on this week’s show.

    – Former AEW producer BJ Whitmer received what many are considering a slap on the wrist for some rather heinous charges. You can find all that controversial info here.

    – It turns out that, even after bleeding like a stuck pig at Revolution, Darby Allin only needed 12 stitches to repair his back. Many of those cuts were small, but they certainly bled.

    – John Cena told MJF he hopes he ends up in WWE during their meeting at The Iron Claw premiere. 

    – Sting’s son, Garrett, commented on playing his role at AEW Revolution. He wrote on his YouTube channel as an update: “Alright, it’s time for an update and a bit of a reveal. Last night, my dad, Sting, retired from his completely legendary pro wrestling career. My brother and I got to play a small part in his final match as younger versions of his character. I’ve got the American outfit, my brother has the red (or, Surfer Sting and Wolfpack Sting for any wrestling fans!) It was absolutely insane, and by far the coolest night of my entire life. The admiration and love from the fans toward my dad made me even more proud of him than I already am. So, this is obviously why I’ve been a bit absent the past month or so. I was largely focused on looking as good as possible for the show, so lots of hours that would have been spent grinding Destiny were instead spent in the gym haha. All that to say, thanks for being patient. I can’t wait to upload again soon, and I’ll for sure try to do a recap video that goes more in-depth on this weekend.”

    – Sting’s other son, Steven, also commented on his appearance. He did so with a humorous post on Twitter/X where he expressed his inner thoughts before nailing that Stinger Splash at AEW Revolution.

    AEW Dynamite March 6th, 2024 Lineup:

    • Kyle Fletcher vs. Will Ospreay
    • Riho vs. Kris Statlander
    • More AEW Revolution fallout

    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.

  • WWE Debunks 33-Year-Old Myth About Why WrestleMania 7 Moved Locations

    WWE has come clean about why WrestleMania 7 pay-per-view spectacular was moved from it’s original venue, the Los Angeles Sports Coliseum, to the far-smaller Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

    WrestleMania 7 occurred March 24, 1991 during the waning days of the beloved ‘Golden Era’ of the World Wrestling Federation. The company would look very different in just two years time, but in early 1991, the beloved ‘Hogan Era’ was still in full swing. The card featured a total of 15 matches, including The Undertaker winning his WrestleMania debut, the Ultimate Warrior retiring the Macho Man Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan dethroning Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship.

    WrestleMania 7 was initially booked for Los Angeles Sports Coliseum, a historic venue that’s hosted the Summer Olympic games twice. It has a maximum capacity around 77,500. WWE had just run the SkyDome in Toronto the prior year, so it wasn’t a crazy idea to book another big stadium the following year. 

    WWE Comes Clean

    Several months into tickets being on sale, the company made an unprecedented announcement. WrestleMania 7 festivities were being drastically scaled down and would take place in the adjacent Memorial Sports Arena.

    The company cited security threats stemming from Sgt. Slaughter’s gimmick at the time, an Iraqi sympathizer who was dear friends with Saddam Hussein. WWE went all-in on Slaughter’s betrayal of America, which certainly got people talking. However, not in the way WWE hoped for. Instead of sparking business and turning around the decline that was starting to take hold, WWE received a lot of negative attention for ‘exploiting’ the military conflict. 

    WWE has always asserted that WrestleMania 7 was moved due to the heated nature of the Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter feud, but the truth has come out 33 years later.

    During the recent A&E’s Biography special on Sgt. Slaughter that aired Sunday night, WWE finally acknowledged WrestleMania 7 changed locations due to poor ticket sales. Just a month before the event, only 12,500 tickets had been sold, nowhere close to filling up the outdoor stadium. 

  • Rhea Ripley Says She’s Ready to Step in the Ring with CM Punk

    Rhea Ripley Says She’s Ready to Step in the Ring with CM Punk

    Rhea Ripley has never been afraid to go toe-to-toe with male Superstars in WWE, and now she wants her shot with the Best in the World. 

    During an interview with the BWGS Podcast, Ripley spoke about growing up watching WWE and being enamored by the likes of Triple H, The Miz, and CM Punk. When asked about which of the three she’d like to face, Ripley set her sights on the Best in the World. 

    ”I would like to face Punk… with the way that he did his promos and the way that he just did everything. It was always entertaining and I feel like if I were to step into a storyline… it would definitely help skyrocket Rhea Ripley to the next level sort of thing.”

    Rhea Ripley Vs. The Men

    Ripley hasn’t been shy when it comes to taking on male Superstars during her tenure with WWE. Before his inclusion in the Judgment Day, Dominik Mysterio often fell victim to attacks by Ripley in 2022. Superstars who have fallen victim to ‘Mami’ include AJ Styles, Matt Riddle, Akira Tozawa, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Luke Gallows, as seen in the video below. 

    What’s Next for Rhea Ripley? 

    Ripley won’t face a man at WrestleMania, but rather ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch. The Irish Superstar won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match last month to earn a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40. This will be the sixth title match for Lynch at WrestleMania, and the fourth for Ripley. 

    H/T – POST Wrestling

  • Legendary Return: William Regal Makes Surprise Comeback During WWE NXT Roadblock Special

    Legendary Return: William Regal Makes Surprise Comeback During WWE NXT Roadblock Special

    WWE’s NXT brand held their Roadblock special tonight. As the road to WrestleMania 40, and Stand & Deliver, is drawing close, the brand saw a couple big moments. A Superstar returned after being out of action for nearly a year, but that wasn’t the only big comeback during the show.

    When William Regal left AEW for an office job with WWE, he had a very interesting clause in this release paperwork. It was stated that Regal couldn’t appear on WWE television for a full year, which is why he wasn’t around to announce WarGames. That clause has now expired, and Regal is back in NXT.

    William Regal’s NXT Return

    During WWE NXT this week, the No Quarter Catch Crew took the ring with the Heritage Cup. Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Damon Kemp and Myles Borne looked intense, and they had a message for the rest of the NXT roster.

    The stable proclaimed that they will defend the Heritage Cup as a stable, meaning anyone in the faction can put the title on the line. The said that they plan to represent the championship as true athletes.

    Suddenly, William Regal’s music stopped everything. Regal then came out to a rousing ovation from the NXT crowd. “Welcome back” chants erupted at Regal. Obviously, fans in the NXT Arena didn’t forget about the former General Manager.

    Those chants soon transitioned to “He’s your Father” directed at Dempsey. Regal didn’t have a ton to say, but he did make it very clear that he will have his eye on that Heritage Cup, because of how much it means to him and everyone from the rich European pro wrestling tradition.

    What’s Next For William Regal

    We will have to see when William Regal shows up on WWE television again. It was certainly a very nice surprise to see him pop up during NXT Roadblock. He is currently the company’s Vice President of Global Talent Development.

    For more on this story, and many more, please keep checking back with us here at SEScoops. 

  • Shockwaves in WWE NXT as Long-Absent Superstar Returns at Roadblock

    Shockwaves in WWE NXT as Long-Absent Superstar Returns at Roadblock

    There are a few members of the WWE roster who are out of action with injuries. This week, a promising young talent made her long-awaited return to NXT.

    WWE’s NXT brand presented their Roadblock event this week, and that included a surprising return. Sol Ruca is back on the active roster after a very long injury hiatus. She did so by costing Blair Davenport a win, the same woman who was responsible (in storyline) for her injury.

    Sol Ruca’s Return

    This week’s NXT featured Fallon Henley taking on Blair Davenport. That match saw Ruca make her return during the closing moments, where she nailed Blair to help Henley pick up the win.

    Several months ago, Blair Davenport revealed herself to be the mystery attacker who was taking out so many members of the women’s division, including Sol Ruca. Now, Ruca is back, and she’s taking her vengeance out on the woman responsible for taking her out of action.

    It was reported on Fightful Select today that Sol Ruca’s return was expected for Roadblock. Her return has been in the pipeline for a while, as she’s been recovering for over 10 months at this point.

    Sol Ruca’s Injury

    In May 2023, Sol Ruca suffered an ACL injury, sidelining her from action. She was incorporated into a storyline leading to Blair Davenport’s NXT debut, portrayed as the masked attacker who incapacitated Ruca. Surgery was required to address the ACL injury, and since then, Ruca has been focused on her recovery and eventual return to the ring.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of NXT, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world, so keep checking back for more updates!

  • Locking in Plans: WWE’s Return to Saudi Arabia Unveiled In New Report

    Locking in Plans: WWE’s Return to Saudi Arabia Unveiled In New Report

    WWE’s decade-long deal with Saudi Arabia is still going strong. The initial controversy after the company secured that contract has dwindled, and WWE fans expect big events every time they travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Now, we know when they will be back.

    The most recent WWE event held in Saudi Arabia was the Crown Jewel Premium Live Event in November of last year. During this event, LA Knight faced off against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship but fell short of securing the victory. It appears that WWE is going back to Saudi Arabia in May.

    WWE’s Next Saudi Arabian Event

    WWE is currently in the process of finalizing plans for its return to Saudi Arabia, a tradition known for its afternoon broadcasts, as part of the company’s longstanding partnership with the Saudi General Sports Authority. This upcoming event is expected to be consistent with past arrangements, with WWE hosting two events per year in the country and receiving substantial compensation in return. 

    According to reports from PW Insider, WWE is targeting late May for its next pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia, following last year’s Night of Champions in May and Crown Jewel in November.

    WWE’s Plan for 2024

    In addition to the Saudi event, WWE has outlined its schedule for the first half of 2024, which includes various events such as NXT Stand & Deliver in Philadelphia, WWE WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, WWE Backlash France in Lyon-Decines, France, NXT Battleground in Savannah, GA, WWE Money in the Bank and WWE NXT Heatwave in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and WWE Bash in Berlin, Germany.

    SEScoops keeps a daily tracker of upcoming pro wrestling events, breaking stories, and everything you might have missed in our Daily Drop. We invite you to check out today’s edition by clicking the link below.

  • Trash Talk Heats Up As Rollins & McIntyre Command WWE WrestleMania 40 Spotlight

    Trash Talk Heats Up As Rollins & McIntyre Command WWE WrestleMania 40 Spotlight

    Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre’s war of words continued after this week’s Raw and their feud may be the most personal one fans see at WrestleMania 40. 

    McIntyre earned a World Heavyweight Championship match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. This will be the third World Championship match for both men at WrestleMania. The match will mark Rollins’ first title defense as a WWE World Champion at the Showcase of the Immortals. 

    A Spotlight Junkie

    During this week’s Raw, McIntyre had some choice words for Rollins and declared the World Heavyweight Champion a “spotlight junkie.” McIntyre’s point was that when something big happens, Rollins can usually be found latching on to it. Drew gave several examples including CM Punk’s return to WWE last year, Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, and his involvement with The Rock’s return and alliance with The Bloodline. 

    McIntyre added that Rollins should have been focusing on Monday Night Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship. The Scottish Warrior added that the title in question deserves better than Seth whose life as a ‘junkie’ has also cost the champion physically. 

    Seth Rollins Fires Back

    Rollins wasn’t going to take the notion that he hasn’t been focused on Raw or the World Heavyweight Championship. In a scathing response made after Raw, Rollins said that he had been working for the last two years to ensure “jackoffs” like McIntyre have a championship to compete for at WrestleMania. 

    McIntyre had a response of his own, questioning where this focus has been from the World Heavyweight Champion. 

    WWE WrestleMania 40

    WWE WrestleMania will take place on April 6, and April 7. The show will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. 

  • Antler Adorned: Michael Cole Realized ‘Boyhood Dream’ On 3/4 WWE RAW

    Antler Adorned: Michael Cole Realized ‘Boyhood Dream’ On 3/4 WWE RAW

    WWE provided Michael Cole with a fantastic life where he can experience some incredible things. It seems that this week’s episode of RAW included a moment that he’s been dreaming about since his childhood.

    Valhalla from the Viking Raiders is known for her fierce energy, face paint, and antlers. Whenever she doesn’t have the antlers, Cole is a sad man. This week on RAW, the former Sarah Logan placed those antlers on Michael’s head, and it was a joyous experience, to say the least.

    Michael Cole Living The Dream

    Michael Cole and Pat McAfee have incredible chemistry on commentary, and there is no debating that. So, when Cole gets excited, Pat gets hyped as well. This all added up to an incredible moment during the February 4th episode of RAW.

    During the latest episode of RAW in San Antonio, Michael Cole experienced a memorable moment when Valhalla showed up with her antlers after several weeks without the presence of her headgear. Every time she showed up without antlers, Cole it out and he was noticeably bummed about it.

    In an unexpected turn, she adorned Cole with the antlers, who seamlessly continued his commentary while wearing them. Michael even held his headset in his hand, only speaking into the microphone to accommodate his new Viking drip. He was very happy to make this change, as he obviously had nobody in his ear giving direction during that match.

    While taking to Twitter, Michael Cole uploaded a photo of himself alongside Pat McAfee, with Cole wearing the antlers. Cole expressed that his boyhood dream had finally come true. It might have been the antlers, or fans chanting his name, but it was still an incredible moment. 

    ”A boyhood dream has come true.”

    What’s Next For Michael Cole

    Michael Cole has dedicated 27 years to his tenure in the company, and he has been able to separate his home life and career in WWE. Only time will tell when he steps away from commentary, but bringing McAfee back to join him on the RAW announce team has arguably revived the seasoned play-by-play announcer.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, just in case there are further developments with Michael Cole and Valhalla’s antlers.

  • Watch: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins & Jey Uso Share Unique Gifts After 3/4 WWE Raw

    Watch: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins & Jey Uso Share Unique Gifts After 3/4 WWE Raw

    The excitement didn’t stop once this week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air from San Antonio, Texas. 

    The March 5, 2024, edition of the red brand saw WWE continue on the road to WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins declared that they are coming to this week’s SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns & The Rock. It’ll be the first time the four men have come face to face since the explosive WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. 

    What Happened After Monday Night Raw?

    In the chaotic closing moments of Raw, Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso thanks to interference from Jimmy Uso. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins would send Jimmy scarpering but Rollins would eat a Claymore Kick from the man who’ll face him at WrestleMania 40. 

    After Raw went off the air, Cody would deliver some payback for his ally by attacking McIntyre with a steel chair. In the ring, Rhodes, Rollins, and Jey regrouped. After speaking of a fan who’d used a whistle throughout the show, Rhodes thanked the fans in San Antonio for coming out. He and Rollins gifted a couple of steel chairs to members of the WWE Universe while Jey threw his signed shoes into the crowd. 

    What’s Next? 

    As mentioned, Seth Rollins will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at the event. It is believed that a tag match, pitting Rollins and Rhodes against Reigns and The Rock will headline WrestleMania: Saturday. 

    Currently, no plans have been confirmed for Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40. It is believed that he will face Jimmy at the two-night April show, and their father Rikishi would like to be a part of that feud. 

  • Legendary Tough Wrestler Rumored For WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Induction

    Legendary Tough Wrestler Rumored For WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Induction

    One of wrestling’s most legitimately tough men and a former WWE Tag Champion could be joining Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. 

    On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, it was noted that Haku’s name has come up as a potential WWE Hall of Fame inductee.

    Haku is the father of Tama Tonga, who recently signed with WWE after wrapping up his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. TKO Board Member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has previously called Haku his uncle, though the pair are not blood-related. 

    Haku in the Ring

    Haku’s sole championship win in WWE saw him hold the Tag Team Championships with Andre the Giant. Haku held several titles in the NWA and other promotions, including Puerto Rico’s WWC. 

    During his time in WCW, Haku, known as Meng, won the WCW Hardcore Championship. In one of the final defections of the Monday Night War, Haku returned to the WWF in January 2001 while still holding the WCW Hardcore title.

    The Toughest Man in Wrestling

    Haku, who also competed as Meng, is widely regarded by wrestlers to be one of, if not the toughest man to ever step in the ring. 

    Ric Flair once described Haku as “the toughest son of a b**** I’ve ever met” and said he would have dominated MMA had he entered the Octagon. 

    Many more of his contemporaries have acknowledged Haku as the most legitimately tough person in wrestling, Hulk Hogan, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Goldberg, Big Van Vader, and The Rock. 

    One legendary tale of Haku’s toughness saw the wrestler get into an altercation with some men at a Baltimore Airport bar in 1989. After the men called wrestling fake, Haku handily fought the men, despite being outnumbered, and bit the nose off of one of the individuals. 

    Shane Douglas once said that he’d be better off fighting the U.S. Army than legitimately fighting Haku. He also recalled an incident when law enforcement attempted to restrain Haku, who was able to fight them off. 

    During the altercation, Haku was hit in the face with a baton while sprayed with a can of mace but neither caused him any pain. 

  • WrestleMania Twist: John Cena Unveils WWE’s Shift in Firefly Fun House Match Plan With Bray Wyatt

    WrestleMania Twist: John Cena Unveils WWE’s Shift in Firefly Fun House Match Plan With Bray Wyatt

    WrestleMania is known for larger than life match-ups, and you never know what will happen on the grandest stage of them all. John Cena and Bray Wyatt made history in their Firefly Fun House match, but it turns out that they didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for things.

    The pandemic halted a ton of plans for the entire world. Thankfully, WWE was able to figure out how to operate in Florida, a state that deemed pro wrestling as an essential service. All of that craziness surrounding logistics for WrestleMania 36 also only gave them three days to figure out what to do at the show of show with Cena and Wyatt.

    WWE’s Original Plan For WrestleMania 36

    John Cena recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, where he revealed a lot of things. Not only did he admit that a heel turn was planned several years ago, but he even had new music and gear made up for that turn. Cena also revealed something very interesting about his confrontation with Bray.

    That match against Bray Wyatt was actually supposed to be a standard match. The Firefly Fun House aspect was tacked on later, and they had to figure out what that match even was in a very short amount of time.

    “I remember three days before we filmed the Firefly Fun House match. It was the last TV taping where they came in and they’re like, ‘You’re gonna have a Firefly Fun House match’, and I remember there were three people in one of the conference rooms in NXT with me. I said, ‘What’s a Firefly Fun House match?’ They said, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Great! What can we do’, and that was like, oh, man, again, control the controllable. I wish we had an audience. Performers are like. I wish there could be blood. I wish we could do chair shots to the head. I wish we could swear. I wish I could flip people off. Control the controllable. Use the tools in your tool belt. How do we make something entertaining over a two day period with no audience, and they gave us a stipulation.

    Everybody else has a regular match and it’s your stip. It’s not a doctor of Thuganomics match or a Hustle, Loyalty, Respect match that’s completely different. You have these definitive characters. You have all this ammunition. You have all this personality and that’s what people really radiate towards. Holy sh*t. We can make this a meta look at my life and we can get away with it. What do we have up in the warehouse? We have the fist. We have the blue cage. I can get some NWO stuff. We can make this work. I remember this the only match I’ve ever written from start to finish. My poor wife, I made her print it out and I’m writing and giving her paper. She said, ‘What is this? What does it even mean?’ ‘Just print it. I need it’, and somewhere I still have the original draft in my handwriting of the Firefly Fun House. Bray couldn’t have been better.

    He knew what was up and he knew the whole thing. I wrote it the night before so I’m trying to text these guys like, I got something weird. I think I might have a picture of the draft still in my phone. I don’t have it with me, but I have it saved as a text that I sent him the night of the match, especially after we saw The Undertaker’s match the night before. Oh, my man, they crushed it, and there was a whole lot more physicality. We got one punch and I texted him how nervous I was, but I wanted to thank him for being so brave and trusting me and I think I couldn’t have done any more. I think we gave it our best shot and hopefully, it works, and it was an effort that I am very proud of.”

    Things worked out in the end, as John Cena got to work that whole match without any physicality until the final moments. Bray Wyatt also gave a fantastic performance throughout, adding another amazing highlight to his ingenious character.

    John Cena’s Candid Interview

    John Cena also revealed what he said to MJF during The Iron Claw premiere. He wanted to know when the Salt of the Earth might switch sides and play for WWE. Only time will tell if that actually happens any time soon.

    Cena certainly made a ton of memories during his time in WWE, and he can speak candidly about that now. Sadly, Bray Wyatt passed away in August 2023, and the pro wrestling world is still mourning that great loss. At least, Cena was able to mix it up with the Eater of Worlds to create an unforgettable WrestleMania moment.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, so please keep checking back for updates!

  • John Cena Reveals Abandoned WWE Heel Turn Before Classic WrestleMania Match

    John Cena Reveals Abandoned WWE Heel Turn Before Classic WrestleMania Match

    John Cena is a shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer at this point, and he is a bona fide Hollywood heavy-hitter as well. Although he’s been a good guy for his entire career, there was one big plan that would have changed history.

    The Rock and John Cena battled at two consecutive WrestleMania events in a row at Mania 28 and 29. It seems that WWE had a plan to turn Cena heel during that first encounter, and he even had new gear made. So, the idea got far enough along for Cena to drop money on the idea of a new character.

    John Cena’s Nixed Heel Turn

    During the conversation with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, John Cena reflected on his experience while preparing for his first Once In A Lifetime match against The Rock. It seems that a heel turn may have been in the pipeline for a time.

    Upon learning about the plan, Cena swiftly took action, recording a new song, acquiring fresh gear, and contemplating his character’s direction. However, he admitted feeling unprepared for the transition to “Ruthless Aggression.” 

    Despite the rush, Cena embraced the challenge, delving into the mindset of a heel. He deliberately contrasted his previous persona by embodying traits opposite to his usual demeanor, such as laziness, untrustworthiness, and disrespect. Rather than focusing solely on physicality, Cena prioritized crafting compelling narratives and character development to evoke a genuine sense of antagonism. Ultimately, he acknowledged that while the concept had potential, it was ultimately deemed impractical.

    “I heard rumblings of, we’re going to do it, and in 48 hours, I had a new track, a new studio mix theme song, and a final mix. I had seven new singlets, low-cut singlets with boxing-type robes. I already had the boots in storage, so I dusted them off. I was ready to go and already thinking about what I could do with the story. Okay, what is a heel? A heel is not just new gear. The objectivity, or the message behind the singlet and the boxing robes and the boots is the exact opposite of what you saw with the street gear, the jeans shorts, the t-shirt, the ball cap, the sneakers.”

    John Cena’s WWE Future

    Of course, John Cena never turned heel, and he will probably never be a full-on bad guy in WWE at this point. His career may not be over, because he still wants to, at least, do something at WrestleMania 40. The fact is that WWE makes way too much money with Cena as a babyface.

    Only time will tell what is in the future for WWE. They may just find themselves with another career babyface, because it would be hard to turn someone like Cody Rhodes at this point. There will certainly never be another John Cena, because no matter how many times they could have turned him heel, Vince McMahon never pulled that trigger.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story in case there are any additional updates. 

  • John Cena Suggested That MJF Play For A Different Team During Viral Meeting

    John Cena Suggested That MJF Play For A Different Team During Viral Meeting

    MJF is one of AEW’s pillars, and Tony Khan certainly doesn’t want to lose him. That being said, there is a whole pro wrestling world who would be very interested to see if the Salt of the Earth could excel in another environment. 

    When John Cena and MJF were caught having a little chat at The Iron Claw premiere, fans didn’t know what to think. It turns out that Cena was suggesting to MJF that he join a different team in the future.

    Cena Tells All

    John Cena and MJF made headlines when they had a chance to meet at The Iron Claw premiere. The two had a bit of a conversation, and everyone was wondering what was said. Now, we have a much better idea.

    While speaking to Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cena revealed that during their encounter, Cena found MJF to be remarkably courteous and professional, contrary to any initial assumptions he might have had. He expressed regret for any misconceptions and commended MJF for his professionalism. Despite the potential for theatrics at the movie premiere, MJF conducted himself admirably.

    John Cena went on to say that he had a couple interactions with MJF that night. First off, he apologized to him for not knowing how professional he would be. Then Cena made a comment to MJF about trying to get him to play for a different team down the line.

    “Sports entertainment is a finicky business, and again, there’s a lot of chances to make moments. This is one of their top performers for AEW and I don’t know if I’m going to be the target of a moment. I’m just going to support my friend in a movie. He couldn’t have been nicer. He couldn’t have been more cordial. We met each other and I got pulled away to take some pictures and then we were about to go do everything else before I even got to you, and I was like, ‘Hold on. Give me two minutes.’ I shook his hand. I said, ‘Man, I’m so sorry. Excuse my ignorance, I didn’t know what to expect from you today. You are a class act. I can’t believe you’re as professional as you are. That’s just my ignorance. I’m sorry I had that judgment. I want to thank you for being so special. Thanks for making my night.’ Then we got back and I was able to talk to him more and I kind of was like, ‘Maybe we can get you to play for the right team one day’, and all that. There’s no denying the fact that he’s doing good work and I don’t think that I should ignore that. Honestly, I was floored by his professionalism. Where it would have been an easy target at a wrestling movie premiere to have yourself a moment, and we did have a moment, and it was one that the internet paid attention to. It was one where I was hoping that this person that I met, I could once bet on like, ‘Man, oh, we just get you over here. That’d be awesome’ but it was great. It was great to meet a professional, classy, driven young man.”

    MJF’s Contract Situation

    MJF’s contract situation is a very interesting one. Many believe that he inked a new deal with AEW in 2022 prior to his return from hiatus. Others are not so sure, because he claims that no contract was signed.

    I asked people throughout WWE about the possibility of MJF signing. The overall belief is that he is still under a contact with Tony Khan, and that is not going to change any time soon.

    We will have to see what the future holds. Right now, MJF is enjoying a break from AEW television, after a long run as World Champion. His body is healing, but you never know what he will decide to do so he can get everyone talking about him again.

  • WWE Triumphs On Cameo As Platform’s #1 Searched Category

    WWE Triumphs On Cameo As Platform’s #1 Searched Category

    WWE’s current product is doing big business and has proven to be a hit with fans and the company’s efforts are also being recognized by users of Cameo. 

    On Twitter, Cameo asked its followers what they think is the most searched term on the platform, before revealing that WWE has taken the top spot. This caught the attention of the USA Network, which hosts Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT, who was pleased with the result.

    Wrestling’s Top Cameo Earners

    Cameo allows fans to receive personal videos from their favorite WWE Superstars and legends for a price that can vary. In November 2022, Mick Foley was revealed as the highest-earning sports figure on the platform, earning over $500,000 that year. Second to Foley was Bret Hart followed by AEW’s Matt Hardy and Danhausen. 

    WWE And Cameo

    WWE has had a unique history with Cameo. In 2020, WWE clamped down on third-party deals featuring Superstars. Then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself oversaw a meeting in which he made clear that deals with Twitch, Cameo, and Only fans would no longer be allowed.

    This decision saw backlash from fans, given that the COVID-19 pandemic meant that Superstars were unable to make extra income from in-person interactions (such as at conventions.) The situation worsened when WWE announced that The Undertaker would be making Cameos to mark his ‘Final Farewell’ that November, while full-time Superstars were still banned.

    When Zelina Vega spoke against the van and expressed her support for unionization, she was fired minutes later. Vega was brought back to WWE the following year and WWE relaxed its ban on third-party deals in 2022.  

  • Daily Drop (3/5): Sting Gets Love From WWE, Another AEW Star Exits The Company

    Daily Drop (3/5): Sting Gets Love From WWE, Another AEW Star Exits The Company

    Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 5th. We had WWE RAW last night, and it was quite a show. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.

    Days until WrestleMania XL: 32

    WWE

    – WWE gave Sting love during RAW this week for his retirement match. This came after fans called out the company for snubbing The Icon.

    – Paul Heyman is the first inductee into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. It turns out that he rejected this honor in the past, and you can click here to find out why he previously turned it down.

    – Seth Rollins revealed during WWE RAW that he received his medical clearance today for that pesky MCL issue.

    – Vince McMahon cashed out over $400 million in TKO stock. This move got a lot of people talking.

    – Rhea Ripley survived a hacking attempt. She didn’t seem too bothered by the event though.

    – John Cena may have teased a 17th World Title run. While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, he said, “My next one. I have often said that the time is coming for me to hang them up and I’m not lying when I say, but it’s not tomorrow. It’s probably soon but not tomorrow, so you never know.”

    – The NXT brand is presenting Roadblock tonight on the USA Network. They have quite a card ready, and you can check it out below.

    • Carmelo Hayes vs. Tony D’Angelo: Singles match to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver
    • Dijak vs. Joe Gacy: Asylum match
    • The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley: Tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
    • Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin (c) vs. Chase University (Andre Chase and Duke Hudson) (with Riley Osborne): Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
    • Shawn Spears vs. TBA: Singles match

    AEW:

    – Mike Santana is no longer All Elite. He departed from the company, and there is a lot to unpack there.

    – SEScoops put up a new article breaking down AEW’s new 9 pay-per-view schedule.

    – Sting said his relationship with Darby Allin was mutually beneficial.

    – Lance Archer teased that his AEW contract may be coming up soon. While speaking to Wrestling Purists, he said, “I mean, there could be some renegotiations pretty soon (for my AEW deal) but, everything’s good right now.”

    – Despite his return at AEW Revolution, Kyle O’Reilly revealed on Instagram that he is still waiting on his medical clearance.

    – Deonna Purrazzo addressed her recent loss on Twitter, confirming that she tapped out Toni Storm and breaking her silence on the surprising defeat. She said, “Toni Storm tapped out. That is all.”

    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.
  • WWE Hall of Fame Rejection: Why Paul Heyman Turned Down Past Induction Opportunities

    WWE Hall of Fame Rejection: Why Paul Heyman Turned Down Past Induction Opportunities

    WrestleMania is in Philadelphia this year, and that city means a lot to Paul Heyman. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, which is a perfect location for him to receive that honor. It turns out that this was not the first time WWE tried to enshrine him into their Hall of Fame.

    This year will mark the first year that Triple H gets to pick his Hall of Fame. Paul Heyman just so happens to be the first name that was announced under this new era. Although it’s not clear when WWE tried to induct him before, Heyman turned down that spot in the past.

    Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction

    Paul Heyman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this year wasn’t unexpected, given his longstanding contribution to WWE programming. As we stated above, the Philly location made everything perfect.

    During a segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed insights into Paul Heyman’s induction. He highlighted that this year’s class was selected by Paul Levesque rather than Vince McMahon, signifying a shift in decision-making authority.

    Meltzer mentioned that Heyman had previously declined the offer to join the Hall of Fame but accepted this time, likely influenced by being the inaugural Paul Levesque inductee and the connection to Philadelphia, the birthplace of ECW, a pivotal chapter in Heyman’s career. Additionally, Meltzer speculated that Heyman’s inclusion might fulfill the requirement for a main eventer in the class.

    “Yeah, so trivia note, this will be the first Hall of Fame class chosen by Triple H, and not Vince McMahon. So, Paul Heyman is the first Triple H Hall of Famer. He’s been offered the Hall of Fame before, but he turned it down with the idea that, you know, he’s still active. He didn’t want to be in the Hall of Fame until his career was over. I think the idea of being the first Triple H inductee, and it’s in Philly where ECW is from, and one of his main career claims to fame is ECW, maybe his biggest in a lot of ways, so there’s that.”

    It was noted that “he has been offered this before,” but this year was a year he took the honor. It’s unknown exactly why Heyman didn’t turn it down this year, but fans in Philly will certainly show up to give Paul E his flowers.

    2024 WWE Hall of Fame

    As of this writing, we do now know who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame. We will have to see who else receives an honor this year to round out the class.

    The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will go down after the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 40. Although no other inductees have been announced, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer mentioned that they heard a rumor that Haku is receiving an induction this year as well.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information is made available.