Becky Lynch is on the Road to WrestleMania 40, and paid tribute to a late WWE Hall of Famer inside the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Lynch won the match as one of the first two entrants. This match marked Lynch’s first time inside the Elimination Chamber. The Man was able to outlast Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Tiffany Stratton, and Naomi to emerge victorious in Perth.
Becky Lynch’s WWE Hall of Fame Tribute
Lynch rocked a unique attire for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match which featured a red dripping effect. As pointed out on Twitter, Lynch’s attire was reminiscent of the late Scott Hall.
Hall, also known as Razor Ramon in WWE, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. The Bad Guy was inducted as a singles Superstar in 2014. Years later, he would be inducted for his pivotal role as part of the New World Order.
In March 2022, Hall was hospitalized after suffering a fall and breaking his hip. During surgery, Hall suffered multiple heart attacks and was later taken off life support after his family were able to say goodbye. WWE announced his death later during that day’s Raw episode with a tribute video.
What’s Next?
With this win, Becky Lynch has earned a Women’s World Championship opportunity at WWE WrestleMania 40. She will face either Rhea Ripley or Nia Jax at the April 2024 event. This year’s two-night event will be the first WrestleMania to see the Women’s World Championship defended, as it was previously recognized as the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.
WWE has a lot of things going on, but their World Heavyweight Champion has been on the shelf for several weeks. Seth Rollins still plans on making his way to WrestleMania 40 for a big night to defend his title, and he will be cleared sooner than some expected.
Seth Rollins’ Big Injury Announcement
Seth Rollins recently provided WWE fans with an update on his potential return to in-ring action before WrestleMania XL on April 6 and 7. This took place during the Elimination Chamber event in Perth, Australia.
Rollins sustained a torn MCL and partially torn meniscus during a match against Jinder Mahal on the January 15 episode of RAW. Despite making multiple television appearances since the injury, the World Heavyweight Champion has yet to step back into the ring.
During Elimination Chamber, Seth Rollins mentioned that he is “days away” from being medically cleared to compete. Consequently, there’s a possibility of witnessing him wrestle on the journey leading to the main event.
Odds are, Rollins may very well compete on both nights of Mania, with a tag team match with Cody Rhodes against Roman Reigns and The Rock going down on the first night. If that happens, then his World Heavyweight Championship match should be a marquee contest on night one.
It will be interesting to see how Seth Rollins is booked from this point on. Roman Reigns’ recent burial of the World Heavyweight Champion as having a runner-up title wasn’t a great look. Still, he is one of the most beloved babyfaces in the company.
WWE brought the Elimination Chamber to Perth, Australia on February 24th, and the event was graced with a very special Grayson Waller Effect. He also had very special guests for this segment, as Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins joined him to progress a prominent WrestleMania angle.
Road To WrestleMania Backstory
The Rock re-inserted himself into WWE’s picture on the road to WrestleMania, and that brought a big change to everything that they previously had planned. There was a time when it appeared that Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes would collide for the World Heavyweight Championship instead, but then The American Nightmare decided to finish his story.
Now, Cody and Seth are on the same side, and they are in a very interesting situation. The two were in Perth, Australia for the Elimination Chamber event, but neither of them wrestled. Rollins is currently nursing a knee issue, and Rhodes was simply not booked to compete on the show.
The Grayson Waller Effect
Austin Theory had the mic first, and he dissed Australia’s love of Vegemite, and then he said he prefers Outback Steakhouse. Both of those jabs received a heel reaction. Then he introduced Grayson Waller, who came out to a mixed reaction. Waller also did a shoey at ringside.
After doing a chant with the Australian crowd, Waller introduced Seth Rollins, who came out to a big pop. Fans also sang his song in massive numbers, and that is always great to hear in a big stadium. Cody Rhodes received an even bigger pop and his “WOAH” was massive as well. He also got legit fireworks over the stadium during his Kingdom entrance after the second pose in the ring.
Seth Rollins said that he is days away from being medically cleared to compete. He can’t wait to face whoever win the Elimination Chamber match later on.
Then, they were questioned about The Rock coming back. A “Rocky Sucks” chant broke out in the crowd, Cody asked if there are any “Cody crybabies” here tonight? He asked it twice to really rile up the crowd and get them to accept the moniker.
Cody addressed why he stepped out of the Mania main event, just to step back in. Waller called The Rock “The People’s Champion,” but then Cody proposed that to be the People’s Champion, “you have to be around the people.”
This was followed by Cody Rhodes making a bit of an announcement himself. Then he told The Rock that he is “wide open” before the WrestleMania main event match. He said he wants to wrestle The Rock one on one, “any time, any place.”
Seth said that he admires Cody’s hatred toward the Bloodline, so he stepped in. He said that if The Rock takes him up on the challenge, he won’t be fighting the battle alone.
Then Austin Theory got in the middle of things, and he did an impression of The Rock. This was not received well by Cody and Seth, who proceeded to take him out.
WrestleMania 40 Drama
WrestleMania 40 takes place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. The show of shows promises to be a massive two-night spectacle, with massive main event matches on each night. Since Roman vs Cody will main event night two, so Rhodes can finish his story, night one also needs a main event match.
It certainly appears that The Rock and Roman Reigns will team up to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at the show of shows. While this is a big match, it is not the contest that The Rock wanted.
The Rock wanted to face Roman Reigns, and his eyes were set on that match alone. As we previously reported, he called his shot for WrestleMania 40 during the Day 1 episode of WWE RAW. WWE planned an injury angle to take Cody out of the situation, but that was abandoned after the public outcry that Cody received on his behalf.
As I previously reported, The Rock conceded that Cody Rhodes should be in the match. Then things were changed, and we have the current WrestleMania setup.
WWE fans were taken by surprise when superstar Bronson Reed failed to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber match on February 24. The Australian native expressed interest in competing at the premium live event but missed the opportunity. During WWE Elimination Chamber, Reed shared that WWE was initially planned to be on the show.
On Twitter, Reed revealed his original involvement at WWE Elimination Chamber and why he’s thankful he wasn’t on the show.
“…Originally, I was set to be at #WWEChamber. It would have been an incredible moment. Unfortunately, plans changed,” wrote Reed. He added, “But everything happens for a reason. My wife and I have had our baby early, I was supposed to miss the PLE to make sure I’m here for my family. Thank you for all your support. To all my friends and family who have reached out.
To
@TripleH
for guiding me.”
It’s worth noting that Reed didn’t exactly share why plans changed for him not to be competing at the PLE. However, it has allowed him to be around for the birth of his child.
Triple H (and many others) congratulated Big Bronson Reed on the blessing of becoming a parent.
Congratulations @BRONSONISHERE. Family is everything and fatherhood is amazing. I am proud of you for not only your work, but for the journey you’re now embarking on. Enjoy every moment.
Reed lost his opportunity in a match to Bobby Lashley to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber match on the February 12 episode of Monday Night Raw. It’s unclear if WWE may have had another featured match that Reed could’ve been involved in at the event. However, he isn’t involved in a storyline or a feud, so it seems unlikely.
What’s Next For Bronson Reed?
Although Reed has missed out on competing at the PLE in Perth, Australia, he could still be in the picture for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. The two-night event allows for more opportunities for superstars to be on the card.
WWE also has the annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which he could be involved with. However, the match has occurred the day before WWE WrestleMania in recent years, so it’s unclear if that will happen again this year.
Despite his current situation, Reed still has a bright career in WWE. Fans may be disappointed that he wasn’t on the WWE Elimination Chamber card. However, thankfully, he was around to be with his wife and newborn child.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event kicked off in Perth, Australia with the women’s match. The winner of the contest punched their ticket to WrestleMania in a Women’s World Title match. Now, we know who will go on to battle at the show of shows.
Liv Morgan, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, Becky Lynch, and Bianca Belair battled in the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Naomi and Lynch started off the match as the final two competitors who were introduced into the match.
This year’s Elimination Chamber match marked a first for both Becky Lynch and Tiffany Stratton, who was the third woman in the match, as her pod was released first. Stratton got to work immediately with some gymnastics and quick offense.
After trading some moves and some near falls, Lynch, Naomi, and Stratton were joined by Liv Morgan for the 5th Elimination Chamber match of her career. Morgan got right to work by ramming Stratton’s head against chamber pods to take her out for a moment.
Then, in a shocking move, Tiffany Stratton was able to get Naomi with a roll-up pin to take her out of the match, just before Raquel Rodriguez was released into the chamber. Rodriguez came in with a lot of energy, and she took her aggression out on Stratton at first.
Finally, Bianca Belair was the 6th entrant in the match, and she went right to work on Tiffany Stratton first as well. Stratton did some selling outside as the EST of WWE went in the ring to start punishing her competitors.
One spot saw Liv Morgan land a seated senton off the pod. Then Tiffany Stratton and Becky Lynch started battling on top of the pod before Lynch was knocked off. This was followed by Stratton launching herself off the pod to hit a swanton on Bianca, Lynch and Rodriguez for a huge pop and a “This is Awesome” chant.
Stratton was eliminated next by Liv Morgan, and that drew boos from the Australian crowd. They also chanted “bullsh*t” as Stratton left. This was followed by Rodriguez getting trapped in a Dis-Arm-Her from Lynch, but she got out. Then she ate a KOD from Bianca Belair for a pinfall.
Bianca, Liv, and Becky were the final three in the match. They continued this match as a triple threat, with plenty of reversals and some near falls for everyone. Then, Morgan was able to pin Bianca Belair with a roll-up pin. Suddenly, Lynch nailed a Man-Handle Slam on Morgan and won the match.
Now, Becky Lynch will go on to WrestleMania 40 for a Women’s World Championship match. She will either face Rhea Ripley or Nia Jax for the title, depending on who wins the title match later on in the show.
WrestleMania 40 takes place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. Before Elimination Chamber went down, Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes and Bayley vs IYO Sky were the only two confirmed matches for the show of shows.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 24. The Elimination Chamber started off the day with a very early, and exciting, event. Now, we have a lot to unpack.
– Also, Sylvester Stallone and WWE couldn’t work things out. I was told this is “old news,” because they nixed those plans last month due to a scheduling conflict.
I asked about the Sylvester Stallone story about showing up at WrestleMania.
I was told that, "They are months behind on the Stallone 'scoop.' Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn't match up."
– On another note, I was also told that Jade Cargill was never booked for the Elimination Chamber match in the first place. No plans changed for her, and there is nothing wrong with her in the company. Booking her in the Chamber match would have done her no favors, because she wasn’t booked to win. WWE is taking their time and taking care of Cargill.
– Bruce Prichard was back working at Raw on 2/19. He is a Vince McMahon ally, and he received some flack from Ronda Rousey for being McMahon’s “avatar” in the past.
– Rhea Ripley was very impressed by WWE 2K24 throwing in a throwback version of herself in the new game. WWE 2K24 drops on March 7th, and the hype is real.
– Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to a one-on-one match during an explosive Grayson Waller Effect segment at Elimination Chamber.
– Seth Rollins also announced that he will be medically cleared from his MCL injury in just a few days. So, he may wrestle on the road to WrestleMania.
– Becky Lynch and Drew McIntyre won the 2024 Elimination Chamber matches in Perth, Australia. They will now go onto WrestleMania 40 to battle for the WWE Women’s World Title and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, respectively.
AEW
– Saraya announced during AEW Rampage that her brother, Zak Knight, is now All Elite.
Saraya and Harley Cameron reveal the endgame of their plan of splitting up Ruby Soho and Angelo Parker!
– Malakai Black is set to compete in his initial AEW singles match since June 2022 on February 24th at AEW Collision.
– Sting is scheduled to make his last appearance on AEW Dynamite on February 28th.
– MJF and Alicia Atout celebrated their one-year anniversary as a couple. He famously called her “T*ts McGee from Whore Island” in the past, so they’ve known each other for a very long time. SEScoops is wishing them both the best.
Happy one year anniversary, Maxwell. ? There’s no other asshole in this entire universe that I’d rather have by my side to experience life with. The last twelve months have been — time to get gross — pure magic. ? I love you, ya prick. @The_MJFpic.twitter.com/bIxB21rnvA
– Tony Khan explained why AEW keeps running larger venues with smaller crowds showing up. He kind of skirted the question by replying, “A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages. They have a lot of sale contacts and really good marketing resources.”
AEW Collision Card for Saturday, February 24
Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
No DQ: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Sammy Guevara (Don Callis Family & Chris Jericho banned from the building)
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty
Malakai Black vs. Bryan Keith
Serena Deeb in action
Thunder Rosa in action
The Bang Bang Scissor Gang’s Jay White, Billy Gunn & Austin Gunn in trios action
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
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.
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 Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley is glad that she is part of the WWE Women’s division that WWE legend Chyna helped in building.
Late WWE Hall of Famer Chyna was one of the most dominant female superstars of WWE. She had carved the pathway for female wrestlers to compete against men, and surely, Rhea Ripley is carrying on that legacy. ‘The Eradicator’ has been on an unstoppable run as the Women’s World Champion and looks far from stopping anytime soon. It seems that her next aim would be to step into the men’s division. She has been vocal about having more intergender matches in WWE. She has even named her male dream opponents.
In the late 90s, Chyna was part of the iconic faction Degeneration X, alongside Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Similarities can be drawn as Ripley is currently part of The Judgment Day.
Chyna was the first woman to ever participate in the Men’s Royal Rumble and also competed in the men’s King of the Ring tournament. Interestingly, she is the only woman to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship, a title currently held by Gunther. Will Rhea Ripley achieve a similar feat in the future?
Rhea Ripley comments on leading the women’s division
“To win a men’s title would be absolutely incredible,” Ripley said via ESPN. “Because of my position in The Judgment Day, I get to mingle with the guys a lot more. Obviously, there are so many females in our division that are capable of doing what I’m doing. They just don’t have the opportunities to do it where I get to be the only female in a group of men, which is so wild.
“And to be the muscle for that group as well, it’s absolutely insane. It’s cool to be a part of what Chyna was doing for the women’s division as well. So, I’m glad I can be the Chyna of this generation while still being Rhea Ripley.”
Rhea Ripley is set to defend her title against Nia Jax in the headlining clash at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth on February 24.
R-Truth planned to be at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, but there was just a bit of a misunderstanding that at least Gunther would appreciate.
Truth was gung ho about being apart of the Australian experience for Saturday’s big PLE in Perth and shared his enthusiam and eventual despondency that he couldn’t find any of his fellow WWE Superstars – in Austria.
“Welp, I’m here in Austria. Where’s everybody at? I don’t see nobody. Been to the hotel, the arena’s empty. Should I just go back home? Hey good mate, back to the area port!”
Truth may not make it in time for Elimination Chamber, but he was a primary player this past week on WWE Raw, particularly when it comes to Judgment Day.
R-Truth took part in a multi-man tag to take on Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonafh on Monday, teaming with Team DIY (who he believes to be DX) and The Miz. R-Truth’s team came up short, with Truth evening taking the definitive pinfall against Damian.
However, Priest is likely more than pleased that Truth is not in Perth as he and Balor will have to set their focus on the New Catch Republic on Saturday. The Judgment Day duo will have to defend their WWE Tag Team Title gold against Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne.
R-Truth has had his share of troubles with Judgment Day. Not only did he have a match, but he also had a strong interview segment where he discussed his heartbreak over his issues with the group.
Pro wrestling fans fell in love with Dark Side of the Ring’s bold storytelling, as they uncovered many forgotten stories from pro wrestling history. The show has seen tremendous success, and now it’s coming back for its 5th season, and they are kicking things off in a big way.
Dark Side of the Ring Season 5
Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 will begin with the story of Earthquake. The show premieres on Tuesday, March 5, at 10pm ET on Vice TV. The announcement was made official on social media, as the Dark Side of the Ring account posted to hype the news.
Season 5 will kick-off with John “Earthquake” Tenta’s story. A larger-than-life heel in the ring and a die hard family man at home, Tenta’s passing at just 42 years old was an especially cruel ending for a man so universally beloved.
Season 5 will kick-off with John “Earthquake” Tenta’s story.
A larger-than-life heel in the ring and a die hard family man at home, Tenta’s passing at just 42 years old was an especially cruel ending for a man so universally beloved.
Season five of Dark Side of the Ring will feature episodes centered around Chris Adams, Sensational Sherri, Terry Gordy, Black Saturday (Vince McMahon acquiring Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1984 for its TBS time slot), Chris Colt, The Sandman, Harley Race, Buff Bagwell, and Brutus Beefcake.
Dark Side of the Ring Season 4
The average viewership rating for Season 4 of Dark Side of the Ring was approximately 0.181 million viewers per episode. For Season 1 in 2019, the average viewership rating was approximately 0.201 million viewers per episode. For Season 2 in 2020, the average viewership rating was approximately 0.273 million viewers each week. Then, Season 3 in 2021 saw an average viewership rating of approximately 0.195 million viewers.
Season 4 of Dark Side of the Ring aired in 2023, covering a variety of wrestling stories. From the lives of Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch to the backstage dispute at Bash at the Beach in 2000, each episode delved into different aspects of wrestling history.
Also, “The World According to Marty Jannetty” provided insight into Marty Jannetty’s experiences in the wrestling world. That was a wild ride as well.
WWE has announced ‘greatness returns’ next Friday when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns to SmackDown next Friday, March 1.
The People’s Champion will have Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso at his side when Friday Night Smackdown heads to Glendale, Arizona at the Desert Diamond Arena.
The Rock’s most recent WWE TV appearance took place last Friday on SmackDown. After cutting a scathing heel promo on the live crowed, he officially joined The Bloodline and made the group stronger than ever.
By next Friday, WrestleMania season will be in full swing and we’ll be just 5 weeks out from WWE’s biggest event of the year.
The Rock is not currently scheduled to compete at WrestleMania 40, but that could all change very quickly. The 51-year-old WWE icon turned Hollywood heavyweight has not competed in a full match since 2013.
He’s not scheduled to be at Elimination Chamber this weekend, but Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be. They’re scheduled for a special appearance on the Grayson Waller Show during the Chamber PLE. The Rock has warned them to keep his name out of their mouths, but good luck with that.
In addition to a rare appearance by The Rock, next week’s SmackDown will feature fallout from Elimination Chamber 2024 and continued hype for WrestleMania 40.
WWE legend John Cena has become one of the most prominent figures in the world mostly due to his storied career in WWE. His incredible physique and strength have been on display and his accolades make him one of the greatest to ever grace the ring.
Cena, a 16-time World Champion is certainly a powerhouse but he has had the figure while growing up. He has revealed that he was bullied as a child and picked up training to become a muscle man which he is today.
John Cena talks about his weight training journey
Cena had found his passion in workout and it helped him to seek and gain a degree in exercise science and kinesiology from Springfield College in Western Massachusetts. But growing up in his hometown, ‘The Leader of Cenation’ was bullied a lot.
Speaking with Howard Stern, John Cena revealed that he picked up the weights at the age of 13 and never looked back. Over the years he focused on training and during his high school days, he realized that the hard work paid off for him. He said:
“I was getting beat up every day. I didn’t always look like this. I was a small, scrawny kid. I had my dad buy me a weight set to be at home and I just started on my weights at home every day without fail,” Cena recalled. “Because I was getting beat up, I didn’t exactly have a huge social circle, so I had a lot of time to myself.”
He added that the coaches took notice and even wanted him to join the football team. Cena added:
“Three-and-a-half years of working out in the prime of adolescence, and eating well, started to show its yield. It kind of helped me get new pathways in life.”
Though he was all buffed up, Cena never beat up his old bullies and he never will.
“That would be very costly today — that’s a poor management decision,” he said with a laugh.
As Cena became more muscular, many questions surrounded him of using potentially using steroids. He recently cleared the air regarding the matter. Read about it below:
WWE’s 2024 Elimination Chamber is going down in Perth, Australia on February 24th, and fans will have to wake up early if they want to catch the show. The Chamber event is set to start at 5:00 AM for fans in the East Coast, and we have so much more information about the event in our official rundown. Logan Paul and Randy Orton are set to take part in the Men’s Chamber match, and they’re already having words.
During the company’s Elimination Chamber conference in Perth prior to the big event, Paul and Orton had a little interaction. The Maverick then jumped on Twitter/X to share that video, along with a little comment to poke The Viper.
The Apex Predator saw this, and he responded to say, “You’ll find out tomorrow, Jake.” One would argue that calling Logan his brother’s name wins this little social media battle for Orton.
The Elimination Chamber will set the stage for Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania. The Messiah is currently nursing an injury, so he’s likely going to stay out of the ring in any singles action until the show of shows.
I previously reported that there was serious talk of LA Knight challenging Logan Paul for the United States Title at WrestleMania, but you also never know if the company will book another multi-challenger match for that secondary title, and Randy Orton would be a prime contender to find a place in that contest.
WWE has seen quite a ride on the road to WrestleMania 40 so far. This included The Rock re-entering the fold, and plans changing multiple times. CM Punk’s injury also threw a wrench in WWE’s plans, so there were several things that they needed to address. Their plan to take Cody Rhodes out of the picture was also nixed in the process.
WWE Planned Injury Angle For Cody
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cody Rhodes was informed in the fall that he would face Reigns. However, he was not informed about Rock’s involvement in the match until January 3rd. Therefore, any interviews he gave about concluding the story before the Rumble assumed he was part of the match, despite rumors about The Rock.
The report also went on to say that WWE planned an injury angle for Cody to write him out of the WrestleMania 40 main event match once The Rock showed up. Of course, they pivoted from those plans in a big way.
[Cody] was told the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to swerve people as much a build a later match. But the fact it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was keep secret from almost everyone (obviously a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday a surprise. Even fewer knew the injury angle planned for Rhodes because even people who knew this complete story were not aware of the original idea of how to get Rhodes out of the match and Rock in.
WWE Changed More WrestleMania 40 Plans
The report also noted that Punk’s injury changed plans, but there was still no use for a men’s Elimination Chamber match because Rhodes was going to choose Rollins as his opponent. The Rock was also not wrestling in Australia, at an event that takes place at 5:00 AM on the East Coast.
The angle with Rhodes endorsing Rock, which was reportedly suggested by Triple H, was well-received by the crowd and WWE thought it went well at first. Then social media backlash changed things. Johnson reportedly already considered turning heel if fans booed him, which led the company to push in that direction.
I reported the entire time that The Rock was the only one who could change those plans. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that it should be Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns.
If the Rhodes injury angle was followed through with, they would have likely faced an even greater negative social media reaction. Now, fans have a chance to see Cody finish his story.
The Superstars of WWE certainly put on a show at this week’s press conference ahead of the Elimination Chamber: Perth event.
The February 24, Premium Live Event will be WWE’s first PLE in Australia since 2018. Understandably, the excitement in Perth is at a fever pitch ahead of tomorrow’s show. The show will feature two Elimination Chamber matches, with the Men’s and Women’s winners challenging for the World Heavyweight and Women’s World Championships at WrestleMania 40.
Things got heated between Men’s Chamber participants Kevin Owens and U.S. Champion Logan Paul which resulted in Triple H having to step in.
Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair, both of whom will compete in the Women’s Chamber Match, also came face-to-face in a tense stare down.
WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley certainly had the crowd on her side when she came face-to-face with her upcoming opponent Nia Jax.
And finally, Australia’s own Rhea Ripley and Grayson Waller celebrated WWE coming to Perth with the Australian good-luck tradition of doing a ‘Shoey.’
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth
Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:
Kick-off Show: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (Elimination Chamber Match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE WrestleMania 40)
WWE’s roster has some notable contracts that are set to expire this year, and one of them has not inked a new deal. Drew McIntyre’s contract situation is a very interesting one, especially considering everything they’re booking for the Scottish Warrior.
Drew McIntyre’s Contract Situation
Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract has a big question mark over it right now. At this point, he has not inked a new deal, but all signs point to the idea that he will be sticking around.
Not only is McIntyre throwing jabs at CM Punk with his latest merchandise, but he is also booked for shows past his contract expiration date. Although it appears that WWE has plans for him, Drew has not agreed to terms on a new deal.
McIntyre’s current contract is supposedly up after WrestleMania. WWE was able to extend it a bit due to time he missed.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, although Drew McIntyre has not signed on the dotted line just yet, all signs point to him agreeing to another contract with WWE.
While one would think McIntyre has signed his new deal, and I’d at this point be shocked if he goes anywhere given they’ve set up a major Rhodes vs. McIntyre program, seemingly for after Mania, and he’s got an already-written program with Punk that he’s been pushing hard for around November. But there is no new deal signed yet but clearly the expectation is that he’s staying and he’s in the best position he’s ever been given between his work and how hot the company is.
Drew McIntyre’s Future in WWE
Drew McIntyre and CM Punk seem destined for battle, but the Second City Savior will be out of action for a while with his triceps injury. Only time will tell if McIntyre is able to stay around WWE long enough to see Punk return to action.
In the meantime, McIntyre is in the 2024 Elimination Chamber match, where he is battling for a chance to take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40.
SEScoops will have more updates on this story as additional information is available.
Elimination Chamber 2024 goes down this Saturday, from Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. Wrestling fans can stream the show live on Peacock. The special start time is 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.
This is the final WWE PLE on the road to WrestleMania, just 42 days later. When all is said and done in Perth, we’ll have a much better idea of where things stand as the Road to WrestleMania kicks into high gear.
After Elimination Chamber, the #1 contenders and WrestleMania challengers will be determined for Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship and Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Championship.
Seth Rollins and Rhea Ripley will be watching this year’s Chamber matches closely
That’s what’s assured going into the event, but we will probably learn more than that. Cody Rhodes and Rollins will guest on the Grayson Waller Effect. Rollins has been directly involved in Rhodes’ ongoing feud with the new and improved Bloodline. The four men are also the focal point of the big-budget WrestleMania 40 trailer.
Rhodes will attempt to finish his story against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, while Rollins is expected to face the winner of the men’s Chamber match. If WWE is planning to somehow incorporate Rollins into a match with Cody and the Bloodline, Waller’s show would be an ideal venue to set it up.
Match Card
There are four matches on the main card, plus one match on the kickoff show.
Kickoff Show (4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT.)
Candice LaRae and Indi Hartwell vs The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Main Show (5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.)
The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate)
Rhea Ripley defends the Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax
Women’s Elimination Chamber Match: Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Men’s Elimination Chamber Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul
Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins
Enjoy the event and stick with SE Scoops for 24/7 WWE news coverage.
WWE fans were eager to see Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch go one-on-one, according to Lynch, but the match never happened.
Lynch and Rousey were scheduled to face off at Survivor Series 2019 before The Man was infamously concussed by an errant punch by Nia Jax. Instead, Rousey faced Lynch’s friend and rival Charlotte Flair at the Premium Live Event.
Becky Lynch On Ronda Rousey
After Lynch won the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble match, it seemed destined that she and Rousey would have their one-on-one encounter. After several booking changes however, Lynch’s WrestleMania 35 match would end up as a triple threat match including Flair. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lynch reflected on the one-on-one match with Rousey never happening.
“Do I think that was the match that everyone was clamouring for? Yes it was. Everyone wanted that singles match. And I think, people thought that moment in time would be evergreen and it wasn’t. That’s OK.”
“If she ever comes back again, maybe that season will be right there. Maybe it will be spring time on that story again, but it never got back to that.”
What’s Next?
Lynch will compete at tomorrow’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event. The Man will step into the Women’s Chamber match for the first time in her career and is a heavy favourite to win. The victor will challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
We have an update on former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes following a fatal shooting that took place earlier this month.
Haynes was arrested after cops were called to his home in the Lents neighborhood of Portland. After the gunfire, authorities were called. Haynes “eventually came out” of the house and was taken into custody following a lengthy confrontation with the offices.
Haynes was brought into prison two hours later. During the standoff, everyone in his neighborhood was told to stay inside their homes. Although the identity of those involved were not disclosed in the initial reports, it was later claimed that Billy Jack Haynes was the one arrested and that Janette Becraft, his wife, was the one discovered dead, purportedly as a result of a shooting.
Haynes is still in the hospital and he hasn’t been formally detained or prosecuted in connection with his wife’s death.
Billy Jack Haynes yet to be charged
Reports have emerged that Haynes will be charged with the murder, but they are going to be filed the moment he is discharged from the hospital. He is currently in at a local hospital where he is receiving medical attention.
PW Insider reported:
“Charges are forthcoming once Haynes is released and can be booked into jail and face arraignment.”
Haynes had been a massive popular star in the Portland territory and worked with the WWF/E in the late 1980s, in WCW (under as mask as Black Blood) as well as in Florida, World Class Championship Wrestling. Other promotions include Jim Crockett Promotions, New Japan, and other territories.
Haynes departed WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. It is claimed that Haynes quit the WWF after declining to do a job in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Another version of his exit states that he wrestled the match and agreed to the finish but he was fired afterward.
We will keep you updated when more details of the situation emerge.
WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event is preparing to take over Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th, and the company usually prepares memorable cards for the showcase of the immortals. Sadly, Sylvester Stallone won’t be able to make it.
Stallone and WrestleMania
There are a lot of rumors going around about WrestleMania this year, but one rumored megastar will not be on the show of shows. Sylvester Stallone has appeared for WWE before, but it’s not going to work out for Mania 40.
WrestleVotes reported that WWE has strong interest in Sylvester Stallone appearing at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. The extent of discussions or Stallone’s potential role remains uncertain at this point.
Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there’s hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined.Stallone, born in NYC, gained fame through the iconic Rocky films, deeply associated with Philadelphia.
Additionally, Stallone is no stranger to the WWE world, having inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
I asked around about this, and I was told that, “They are months behind on the Stallone ‘scoop.’ Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn’t match up.”
I asked about the Sylvester Stallone story about showing up at WrestleMania.
I was told that, "They are months behind on the Stallone 'scoop.' Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn't match up."
Dave Meltzer also reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to say that, “Those at WWE have confirmed the talk but said that as of earlier in the week Stallone had said there was a schedule conflict, so the deal hasn’t been done unless you can or wants to remove the conflict.”
We will have to see if WWE can get Sylvester Stallone to make an appearance at a future event. WrestleMania 40 in Philly seemed like the perfect location, but it just didn’t work out.
What’s Next
WWE has a lot of things planned for WrestleMania, and John Cena may just be in the mix. I exclusively reported that Cena is trying to do something for Mania this year.
As of this writing, Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns and Bayley vs IYO Sky are the only two confirmed matches. We will have even more after the Elimination Chamber event as well, because both Chamber matches will determine Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins’ opponents on the grandest stage of them all.
The Elimination Chamber event is set for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. With less than a day until the big event, the stage is already set.
The Elimination Chamber Stage
We previously reported the progress of the Elimination Chamber set, and now they are totally ready for the show. Optus Stadium will be packed full of fans the next time we see it.
A video of the completed set-up is now making the rounds, as it shows off all the work WWE’s crew has done in the stadium over the past week.
WWE’s Elimination Chamber event will start at 5:00 AM EST on February 24th. The card is stacked with matches that will directly impact the road to WrestleMania, with both Chamber matches set to determine who will face Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins at the show of shows.
2024 Elimination Chamber Card:
The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) (with Iyo Sky) vs. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell: Tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate): Tag team match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Raquel Rodriguez: Elimination Chamber match for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul: Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XL
John Cena recently shocked fans when he opened his first-ever OnlyFans page. That free account is in conjunction with the upcoming Ricky Stanicky movie, which will drop on Amazon Prime on March 7. Now, Randy Orton is commenting on this bold marketing strategy.
Randy Orton Reacts
Although John Cena’s OnlyFans page is a joke account for the Ricky Stanicky movie, it certainly got a lot of attention. When Orton saw that Cena is on OnlyFans now, he had a very clever reaction.
Orton saw Cena’s post, and he had a hilarious answer. He also obviously knows some of the OnlyFans lingo, as he asked the 16x World Champion if he would like to “collab.”
Randy Orton is on the road to WrestleMania 40, even though he doesn’t have a match yet. He may just take a pit stop in order to shoot some content with Cena, but it’s very likely that this was all in good fun, and they’re not serious at all.
In the meantime, John Cena’s WrestleMania hopes for this year are not over. I was able to exclusively report that the 16x World Champion is trying to do something on the grandest stage of them all this year, although nothing is locked in yet.
SEScoops will have more on this story as more information is available.
WrestleMania 40 is set to go down at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. With Royal Rumble winners Cody Rhodes and Bayley having already staked their claims for WrestleMania, the lineup is taking shape. John Cena might also grace the grandest stage of them all in Philly, if they can make things work.
Cena took off from WWE once again to make a return to work in Hollywood the moment he could after the SAG-AFTRA Strike ended. He has a couple of projects in the pipeline, and he’s doing promotion for Ricky Stanicky’s March 7th release. That promotion also saw Cena open his very first OnlyFans page.
The fact that Cena showed up at the WWE Performance Center was very interesting, especially since we’re on the road to WrestleMania. After all, Cena had to have surgeries on both arms after his Crown Jewel match against Solo Sikoa. As of this writing, Cena has not been advertised for the show of shows, but that could change.
After asking around, I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that John Cena is “trying to make it in” for WrestleMania XL “to do something.” Nothing is confirmed yet, but it is not out of the picture.
I’ve been told that John Cena is “trying to make it in” for WrestleMania “to do something.”
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of WrestleMania 40’s build, and everything else that comes with it. Keep checking back for more updates as more information is available.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 23 will see two pre-taped shows tonight for wrestling fans. AEW Rampage and WWE SmackDown were both filmed ahead of time. Of course, Rampage is usually taped, but SmackDown is in the can because the roster is in Australia for Elimination Chamber.
Coming up on February 24, Elimination Chamber kicks off bright and early at 5:00 am for fans on the East Coast, as the event takes place in Perth, Australia.
– John Cena and Charlotte Flair were spotted at the WWE Performance Center. Charlotte posted a photo of them together, while claiming that the photo was taken on Feb 22.
Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti vs Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander & Bryan Keith and Matt Sydal & Private Party
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
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.
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.
AEW Collision will be in for the fight of its life for ratings this April when the show goes head to head with WWE WrestleMania: Night One.
AEW will hold a live Dynamite on Wednesday, April 3, in Worcester, MA at the DCU Center. That same night they will tape the AEW Collision that will air that week. The show will air at the same time as WrestleMania 40: Night One, on TNT.
So far, no matches have been announced for either Dynamite or Collision. WrestleMania 40 has two matches currently confirmed. They are.
IYO SKY (c) Vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
This weekend, WWE will host its Elimination Chamber: Perth Premium Live Event from Perth Australia. Next weekend, AEW will host its Revolution pay-per-view from Greensboro, North Carolina.
TNA Wrestling Meeting
TNA will host a meeting this Saturday with it’s roster, ahead of the day’s tapings in New Orleans, PW Insider reports. There are some in the company who believe Anthem head Len Asper will be at the meeting. Anthem Entertainment recently fired Scott D’Amore and as TNA President and have replaced him with their own President Anthony Cicione. TNA’s roster has issued a letter to Anthem expressing their support for D’Amore. It has since been reported that
New Name for AXS TV
TNA Wrestling currently airs on AXS TV, which could soon be getting a rebrand. The report adds that the current front runner for a new name is ANTHEM.
The famed trunks worn by Mr. T during his match at WrestleMania 2 have gone on auction and already received significant interest.
The actor, best known for his role as The A-Team’s BA Baracus and as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, competed at the the 1986 event which was hosted at three separate locations.
Mr. T fought ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper at the event. The match headlined the New York portion of the show and saw T win over Piper after the WWF wrestler got himself disqualified.
Mr. T wore red and black trunks for the fight, featuring a yellow WWF logo. Now, these trunks have gone up for auction in association with Heritage Auctions.
This one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia has already received some huge bids with the current highest bid standing at $4,100. The trunks come with a certificate of authenticity from Heritage Auctions.
Mr. T in Wrestling
A year before his boxing showdown with Piper, Mr. T teamed with Hulk Hogan to defeat Piper and Paul Orndorff at the first WrestleMania in 1985. He returned to the WWF in 1987 when he’d serve as a special enforcer and confront The Honky Tonk Man.
In 2001, Mr. T appeared in the front row of Raw and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. His infamous acceptance speech saw several references to his mother and ran long before being interrupted by Kane.
Mr. T would also dabble in World Championahip Wrestling. After appearing for WCCW in 1989, the actor was in Hulk Hogan’s corner for his World Championship match against Ric Flair at Bash at the Beach 1994. At that year’s Starrcade, he defeated Kevin Sullivan.
