SEScoops

Category: WWE

  • Big E: Seth Rollins’ Speaks For The Locker Room With Comments About Roman Reigns & The Rock

    Big E: Seth Rollins’ Speaks For The Locker Room With Comments About Roman Reigns & The Rock

    Seth Rollins’ comments about The Rock & Roman Reigns echo what many on WWE’s roster are feeling, according to Big E. 

    Rollins has been vocally opposed to both the Tribal Chief and his cousin. Rollins’ issue stems from Reigns being a part-time champion, an issue that he feels will only be exacerbated if The Rock enters the title picture. Rollins has held the World Heavyweight Championship since May of last year after besting AJ Styles in the finals of a 12-man tournament at WWE Night of Champions 2023. The World Heavyweight Champion was introduced in part due to Reigns’ stranglehold on the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

    Speaking for the Locker Room

    In stark contrast to Roman Reigns, Rollins has proven to be a fighting champion and had 99 matches in 2023 to Roman Reigns’ eleven bouts. Speaking on a recent edition of WWE’s The Bump, Big E addressed the harsh comments Rollins has had for Roman Reigns and his title reign. 

    “He speaks for, in many ways, the locker room of guys who are there week in and week out, who are there on a nightly basis. That grind, it really builds a certain camaraderie and a certain respect for each other.”

    Despite this, Big E doesn’t fault Roman Reigns or The Rock for accepting the very lucrative roles both are in. 

    “Who could ever blame a Roman or The Rock for being in a position like that… we all want to be in that Rock/Roman position, too, but you also have a certain love for the guys with you who are grinding.”

    Big E has his own history with Roman Reigns. At Survivor Series 2021, the two faced off in Champion Vs. Champion action which saw Reigns defeat the then-WWE Champion. 

  • WWE Makes Grand Entrance on Panini Blockchain for Digital Trading Card Launch

    WWE Makes Grand Entrance on Panini Blockchain for Digital Trading Card Launch

    WWE recently settled a significant lawsuit with Panini after the latter sought to terminate their trading card company partnership prematurely. WWE struck up an agreement with Fanatics, but their deal with Panini prevented them from commencing it early. Now, Panini and WWE have a new venture in the NFT space.

    WWE’s New NFT Project

    WWE Superstars are now part of Panini Blockchain through the launch of Blockchain Donruss Elite WWE. The press release that they sent out to announce this partnership noted that Panini’s digital cards will feature WWE Superstars such as John Cena, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Lyra Valkyria.

    The platform provides a secure space to purchase and virtually open digital packs of Panini’s distinct brands. Collectors can also engage in collection challenges to acquire cards not found in packs and participate in digital crafting events, converting common cards into numbered exclusive cards.

    The initial Donruss Elite release features over 100 WWE Superstars, including special inserts like Star Status, Spellbound, and Title Waves.

    Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations, stated, “For the past three years, our focus has been on delivering a premier Blockchain product to our collectors. Adding a renowned brand like WWE to our lineup, with its passionate audience and rich history, aligns with the expectations of our community.”

    More Blockchain WWE releases are slated to follow, featuring other exciting brands such as Panini’s flagship brand, Prizm. If you want to check this out for yourself, you can click here. The NFTs aren’t extremely expensive, with one of the highest priced Roman Reigns cards going for $150. 

    It is also interesting to note that the term “NFT” doesn’t appear one time in the entire press release. Yet, the Panini Blockchain is most certainly an NFT project. Their website is nft.paniniamerica.net.

    Sidenote On That Fanatics Deal

    Interestingly enough, when WWE and Fanatics announced plans to launch various offerings, it included encompassing e-commerce, licensed merchandise, physical and digital trading cards, and NFTs. Now, Panini America has unveiled a substantial digital collaboration with WWE. 

    We will have to see how this project pans out, but even John Cena admitted that WWE’s first attempt in the NFT space was a disaster. 

  • WWE Exit: Senior Writer & Producer Jennifer Pepperman Departs From The Company

    WWE Exit: Senior Writer & Producer Jennifer Pepperman Departs From The Company

    WWE has seen some notable departures already this year, but it’s the action outside their roster that has really gained attention. Now, Jennifer Pepperman, a Senior Writer and Producer for WWE, has decided to leave the company.

    Jennifer Pepperman’s WWE Departure

    PW Insider verified the news of Pepperman’s exit. It was further clarified that she departed by her own choice, rather than being released by WWE. Pepperman’s departure marks the conclusion of her tenure with the organization.

    Upon hearing about the news of Pepperman’s exit, WWE producer Adam Pearce posted on Twitter/X to express how much she meant to the company. Her contributions were immense throughout the organization.

    Shout out to @JenPepperman . I have always appreciated your creativity, passion, and the countless time you’ve given to help me and others backstage over the years. I’ll miss your energy, but I know you’ll be great wherever you may roam. My gratitude forever!!!

    Exclusive Note on Jennifer Pepperman’s WWE Departure

    I was told that Pepperman’s departure from WWE was “totally unexpected” to those on the creative team and for everyone else backstage as well. That being said, there is a belief and rumor going around that she already has a job lined up elsewhere.

    Jenn Pepperman Before WWE

    Pepperman joined WWE in April 2017, bringing extensive experience from television production. Prior to her tenure with WWE, she worked as a Producer and Director for several acclaimed soap operas, including shows like One Life To Live and As the World Turns.

    What’s Next

    Jennifer Pepperman will no doubt find something else to do in the entertainment world. She was also the Director of Season 3 of After Forever on Amazon Prime, and that project is still ongoing.

    Everyone at SE Scoops would like to wish Jennifer Pepperman the best success in her future endeavors.

  • LA Knight Has A Special Idea For Usher’s Involvement At WrestleMania 40

    WWE superstar LA Knight has a unique idea for Usher to perform at WrestleMania 40. But he wants it to be a collaboration. 

    ‘The Megastar’ has become one of the most popular superstars in recent times. He is currently on a meteoric rise. He receives a warm ovation from the fans irrespective of the venue. LA Knight has everybody saying, “YEAH!” along with him, and now he is trying to bring more energy at WrestleMania 40 with Usher. 

    The R&B singer recently grabbed the attention with his stunning performance at Super Bowl LVIII. It seems that LA Knight feels there could be a collaboration between him and Usher at ‘The Show of Shows.’

    LA Knight wants to come out to Usher’s ‘Yeah’

    LA Knight recently made an appearance on WWE: The Bump and Megan Morant told Knight that she was thinking about Knight when Usher was performing “Yeah” at the summit clash. Usher’s “Yeah!” single was released in 2004 with rappers Lil Jon and Ludacris. 

    After this, LA Knight pitched an amusing idea about performing at WrestleMania with Usher. He said:

    “Wait a minute. Can we get this set up? Is he coming to WrestleMania for my entrance or what?… I’m coming out and I’m [performing ‘Yeah’] with him. Let’s go.”

    As the WrestleMania 40 lineup is still being finalized, LA Knight is yet to have an opponent. However, ahead of that, he will compete in the Elimination Chamber match to determine the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. He recently revealed his aim to capture gold at ‘Show of Shows.’ 

    You can read more about his comments below:

  • Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Status After NXT Tag Title Win

    Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Status After NXT Tag Title Win

    Bron Breakker replaced Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He got all of Lesnar’s spots, even destroying JD McDonagh after his elimination. That being said, his recent big win in NXT has cast doubt on his main roster placement. 

    Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up

    I previously reported that the 2024 Royal Rumble marked Bron Breakker’s main roster call-up. He will finish up his time in NXT, but he is now a part of main roster angles. The first one is determining where he will call his new brand home,

    After Breakker made his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble, it became evident that he still had unresolved matters in NXT. Despite winning the NXT Tag Team Championship this week, that has not derailed his main roster plans.

    During this week’s episode of NXT, Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker picked up the NXT Tag Team Titles, marking a significant milestone for both Superstar. Corbin celebrated his first championship victory in years, coinciding with Breakker’s impending move to the main roster. 

    While Breakker has hinted at deciding between RAW and SmackDown, no definitive choice has been made in the storyline. I was told after his call-up that creative was leaning toward placing him on the RAW brand.

    PW Insider reported that Bron Breakker is still scheduled to participate in Friday’s double SmackDown tapings in Salt Lake City. He will be around for the blue brand’s show this week, as they are taping two shows due to the fact that the Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

    What’s Next

    Bron Breakker is a second generation Superstar with a ton of potential. He did practically everything there is to do in NXT, even picking up a tag team titles. Breakker isn’t the only Superstar who was called up to the main roster with stories to wrap up in NXT. Only time will tell how long his reign with Corbin as champions lasts, but he will soon have a full-time home on the main roster.

  • Daily Drop (2/15): Elimination Chamber Shakeup, WWE Release, Scary Moment For Jeff Hardy After AEW Dynamite & More

    Daily Drop (2/15): Elimination Chamber Shakeup, WWE Release, Scary Moment For Jeff Hardy After AEW Dynamite & More

    Welcome to a new feature for SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place. 

    Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can catch up and the wrestling news you need.

    WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 51 days days away

    Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 15, 2024:

    WWE News

    – The Rock and Roman Reigns are advertised for tomorrow’s WWE SmackDown from Salt Lake City, Utah. (Tickets)

    – WWE released Matt Camp from his contract sometime last week. This news broke on February 14th, and it was also a big shock for many. Camp never missed an episode of The Bump, and his departure was not mentioned on this week’s show, either.’  We’ve updated our WWE Releases tracker to reflect this departure.

    – Jade Cargill was removed from her planned spot in the Elimination Chamber match. Cargill made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble and was slated to be part of the upcoming Chamber match from Australia, based on a graphic that leaked on WWE.com showing the participants. This would have been another chance to feature Cargill in a multi-person match that would have protected her, but it seems those plans have been scrapped.

    – Shotzi Blackheart was legit injured during the NXT television taping this week. She seriously hurt her knee, and reports later confirmed that she left the NXT Arena on crutches. We’re still awaiting word on her condition.

    – The new WWE Experience exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia opens tomorrow. WWE-themed events center will be located at Boulevard City.  (Tickets)

    “Dive into the world of WWE, where fans walk in the footsteps of legends, immersing in sights, sounds, and epic stories of global stars. Every guest will enjoy a front-row seat, unparalleled access to exciting opportunities, and moments exclusive to WWE.”

    AEW News

    – During AEW Dynamite this week, they finally announced Sting’s final match. The Icon will team with Darby Allin to take on The Young Bucks in an AEW World Tag Team Title match at AEW Revolution on March 9th.

    – Jeff Hardy was possibly injured during the AEW Rampage taping this week. Sammy Guevara went for a shooting star press, and it appeared that his knee struck Hardy in the head. The match was then called off. We do not have any more updates at this time.

    – QT Marshall is returning to AEW. He will not be wrestling, but he will work with the company in a backstage capacity. Marshall left the company at the end of 2023, but came to terms on a revised role. 

    Marshall’s ‘new’ promotion Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling is expected to continue. TCW held its return event last week at the Nightmare Factory training facility, where they crowned inaugural champions.

    – Rob Van Dam returns next week in an all-star 6-man tag match on AEW Dynamite. The ECW legend will team with Hook and Hangman Page against Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage.

    What’s Next

    – WWE Elimination Chamber takes place next weekend, Saturday, February 24 from Perth, Australia. This will be the final stop on the road to WrestleMania 40.

    – The following weekend, All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Revolution 2024 live on pay-per-view from the historic Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The event will feature Sting’s retirement match and Samoa Joe defending the AEW World championship against Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland.

    Check back tomorrow for the next installment of the Daily Drop wrestling news report and make sure to Follow SEScoops on Google News, Facebook and Twitter.

  • Nic Nemeth On WWE Departure: I got to a point where I was ready to go

    Nic Nemeth On WWE Departure: I got to a point where I was ready to go

    Former WWE star Nic Nemeth (previously known as Dolph Ziggler) recently revealed that he was ready to leave WWE to explore new avenues.

    Nemeth had a storied career in WWE but that’s all in the past. He recently ended a 19-year run with the company as he was part of the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings.

    Following his release, Nemeth arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he introduced his ‘Wanted Man gimmick.’ He eventually showed up in TNA Wrestling. Nemeth had previously disclosed that several individuals contacted him after his release and wanted to sign him into their company.

    Nemeth will be a part of Title Fight Friday on night one of New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23. 

    Nic Nemeth revealed he had been planning to exit WWE

    Ahead of his debut, Nic Nemeth spoke to NJPW on whether there had been a big culture shock in that adjustment after his exit from WWE, or if was it more of an exciting process. Here is what he said:

    “It’s a little bit of both. The first six or seven years of my career, I would get to every Monday after Wrestlemania thinking ‘well, this is the day when I’m gone!’ (laughs). So I would think about, OK, I can go back to school, go to law school, be a manager at Chipotle… you start thinking about all these things and get ready to go so you’re not blindsided by being told you’re released.”

    The former World Champion revealed that he was well aware that he was a mainstay in WWE but still got to a point where he was determined to leave. He said: 

    “But after about ten, 15 years of that I started realising, OK I’m a mainstay here, I’m needed. But I got to a point where I was ready to go. I’d asked the company a few different times whether I was ready to go, and they told me I was signed, and they weren’t letting me go. So I started asking them, ‘hey, can I start doing this, can I start something else’. So I was prepared to be done and to start exploring other avenues.”

    Nic Nemeth further outlined how he prepared himself to attain what he’s been planning to. He said:

    “I spent the last six, eight months, a year, saying ‘I’m going to be in the best shape of my life when all this goes down,’ and when it finally got to the point where I asked (WWE) enough and they gave me my release, then it became ‘OK, well you asked for this for the last five years, you’d better deliver.’ So, OK, I’ve got this, I’m doing this, I have insurance ready, I’ve been training in the ring, watching different things, and I’m ready to go. So let’s go.”

    At New Beginning, Nic Nemeth is all set to challenge the inaugural NJPW Global Champion David Finlay for the title. 

  • Drew McIntyre Hasn’t Re-Signed With WWE Despite Being Promoted for Event Past Expiration Date

    Drew McIntyre Hasn’t Re-Signed With WWE Despite Being Promoted for Event Past Expiration Date

    Drew McIntyre’s future with WWE remains uncertain despite being advertised for an event past his current contract’s expiration date. 

    The Scottish Warrior’s future with WWE has been under speculation for some time. Last year, it was reported that his contract was going to expire in early 2024. In September, McIntyre said that has no intentions to work elsewhere. It was also reported that time has been added to Drew’s WWE contract due to his post-WrestleMania 39 hiatus.

    Drew McIntyre Has Yet to Re-Sign

    Earlier this week, WWE announced an event on May 1 in Bologna, Italy that McIntyre is being advertised for. This led to speculation that Drew had signed a new contract given that his current deal expires in April. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer made clear this is not the case. 

    “The answer to that is no he has not signed a new deal, but he seems very happy so far with his new character and he’s really excited about it, and they’re working with the idea that he’s not going anywhere.”

    Addressing reports that McIntyre could let his WWE deal expire so he can have time to go back to Scotland, Meltzer said it was unlikely.

    “I think the talk of him taking a lot of time off and everything like that – probably not. He’ll probably sign a new deal. But it’s still just a ‘probable’ until it happens.”

    What’s Next for Drew McIntyre?

    During a recent episode of SmackDown, McIntyre earned a spot in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. The winner will earn a World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins at WrestleMania 40. 

    WWE in Bologna, Italy

    WWE will host its Italy live event on May 1, mere days before WWE Backlash: France on May 4. Other names being advertised include Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso. 

    Ticket and VIP packages are already being advertised for the event. As always, the talent is subject to change. At this time, no matches have been confirmed.

  • Ex-WWE Diva Claims Higher-Up Encouraged Her to Oil Her Body to Get Vince McMahon’s Attention

    Ex-WWE Diva Claims Higher-Up Encouraged Her to Oil Her Body to Get Vince McMahon’s Attention

    Francine may have portrayed a sex-heavy character in ECW, but there was a line she wouldn’t cross when she arrived in ECW. 

    The ECW original joined WWE in 2006 following the relaunch of the extreme promotion as a third brand. After appearing at that year’s One Night Stand event Francine made a handful of appearances, mostly in bikini contests or similar segments. Her in-ring debut would be in an ‘Extreme Catfight’ during the September 26, 2006, edition of ECW on Sci-Fi. She was released from WWE the following month. 

    Absolutely Not!

    Francine’s time with WWE was underwhelming, but the former ECW ‘vixen’ wasn’t going to degrade herself to get ahead in the company. During a recent edition of her Eyes Up Here podcast, Francine recalled a member of management encouraging her to use oil on her body to get the attention of Vince McMahon. 

    “I mean when I worked there were stories floating around. And again, when I worked there I was told by somebody higher up that if you want to be seen, go get a bottle of oil… rubbing oil all over my b**** and knocking on Vince’s door and going in there and leaning on his desk and trying to get noticed. That’s what I was told to do. And, I said absolutely not. I’m not doing that.” 

    There has been renewed interest in McMahon’s relationship with women in WWE due to the lawsuit filed against him by Janel Grant. McMahon resigned from TKO and WWE last month after it was alleged that he had been sexually abusive to Miss Grant and trafficked her to other men in WWE. 

    McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.”

  • Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins To Appear On Grayson Waller Effect At WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins To Appear On Grayson Waller Effect At WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes will have a unique role at this month’s WWE Elimination Chamber PLE as the guests on the Grayson Waller Effect. 

    In a video shared on WWE’s Twitter account, Waller spoke about being sick and tired of hearing about ‘stories.’ Waller also poked fun at Cody for being slapped by The Rock during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference last week. Despite this, Waller recognized Cody’s quest against the Bloodline as “the biggest story in entertainment.” 

    The self-professed Prime Minister of Australia then said that he’d bring this story to his home country. Waller then confirmed that he will be giving the ‘Grayson Waller Rub’ to Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. 

    The Grayson Waller Effect

    Waller will no doubt be hoping that this edition of the Grayson Waller effect goes better than the last time he hosted Cody Rhodes. At WWE Payback, Rhodes was the guest on Waller’s show but would introduce Jey Uso as Raw’s newest Superstar. After Waller got in Jey’s face, the ‘Main Event’ talent would attack the Australian.

    WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

    Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands: 

    • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
    • Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. 3 TBD (Elimination Chamber match for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL)
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
    • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs 2 TBD (Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XL)

    What other events can the WWE Universe look forward to in 2024… 

  • Velveteen Dream Emerges in Surprising Setting to Advocate for New Cause

    Velveteen Dream Emerges in Surprising Setting to Advocate for New Cause

    Velveteen Dream was released from WWE in 2021, and he hasn’t made any noise for another pro wrestling company since. That being said, headlines about the former NXT North American Champion were not hard to come by as arrests and other allegations followed him. Now, he is onto his next venture, and he’s advocating to preserve rural America. 

    Velveteen Dream’s Next Phase

    According to Star Exponent, Patrick Clark frequently visits Culpeper to reunite with family and appreciates its rural ambiance. Recently settling in the county for three months, he is introduced as the cousin of Don Haight, a Stevensburg farmer advocating for local farmer programs and the preservation of the county’s rural essence.

    Although Clark originally hailed from Washington D.C, he has seemingly found a new home in Culpepper, and he loves the vibe there. During the February 6th Culpeper County Board of Supervisors meeting, he urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of implementing large-scale solar power. 

    While expressing apprehension about technological and political changes, he cautioned against external influences jeopardizing Culpeper’s distinct identity.

    “I’m afraid that there is a technological and a political gentrification that may occur if we allow outside forces to corrupt Culpeper.”

    “Culpeper has this sweet nature to it, sweet as black garlic if you will. It’s got this nature that I’m afraid is going to be corrupted if you all let personal interest affect the decisions that affect the citizens of Culpeper.”

    Clark also noted the backing the board receives from residents on this issue, drawing a parallel to his own encounter with dwindling support.

    “I lost my job because I took for granted the support that was given to me by the people who paid good money to see me perform.”

    In May 2017, Clark debuted a new Prince-inspired persona on NXT named Velveteen Dream. He gained traction and clinched the NXT North American Championship once. However, after a lengthy hiatus due to WWE’s investigation into allegations of Clark’s misconduct involving children, he was released from WWE in May 2021.

    Allegations Against Patrick Clark

    Patrick Clark was making reference to the allegations that surrounded his WWE departure. In April 2020, there were allegations of misconduct involving minors against Clark. He denied these allegations, and the WWE conducted an investigation, which found no evidence supporting the claims. He was never formally charged.

    Allegations of drug use and setting up a camera in a bathroom to snap photos of male Superstars without consent were also made. His name has been ripe with controversy, and he has addressed these accusations in the past.

    WWE tried to use Velveteen Dream on television after that, with Triple H even saying that they determined that nothing out of line happened after concluding an investiation. Still, #FireVelveteenDream popped up and trended on Twitter every time he made an appearance on television.

  • Surprising Release: WWE Fires Matt Camp After Years With The Company

    Surprising Release: WWE Fires Matt Camp After Years With The Company

    WWE has made some surprising moves this year, and they’ve already seen some notable exits. Now, the company has fired another long-time employee in a rather surprising manner.

    Matt Camp Was Released By WWE

    PW Insider reports that WWE made a decision to release one of their key on-air personalities. Matt Camp, who had been with the company for years, serving as the host of WWE’s The Bump and other roles, was reportedly released last week.

    Camp joined WWE in 2019, and he never missed an episode of The Bump during his tenure with the show. Despite his consistent presence, there was no mention of his departure on last week’s episode. 

    Prior to his time with WWE, Camp had worked on various WWE shows, including Raw Talk and Smackdown Lowdown. His most recent appearance was on the WWE NXT Vengeance Day Kickoff.

    Reaction To Matt Camp’s Release

    The reaction to Camp’s release has reportedly been a shock to several people within WWE. As of right now, there is no explanation provided by the company for his release, and there have been no internal statements made regarding the matter.

    Before joining WWE, Matt Camp had worked as the lead announcer for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion and served as the lead Fantasy Football Analyst for Bleacher Report. Odds are, he will land on his feet, and we are wishing him the best in his future moves.

  • Jade Cargill Nixed: WWE Reportedly Changes Up Elimination Chamber Plans

    Jade Cargill Nixed: WWE Reportedly Changes Up Elimination Chamber Plans

    WWE signed Jade Cargill away from AEW after Tony Khan offered her more money than she asked for to stay. Her 2024 Royal Rumble in-ring debut brought here a lot of attention, and WWE certainly noticed that huge pop for her in Tropicana Field. She was expected for the Elimination Chamber, but now that doesn’t seem to be the case.

    Jade Cargill’s Elimination Chamber Plans Change

    According to PW Insider, as of yesterday, Jade Cargill is no longer slated for the Women’s Elimination Chamber on February 24th in Perth. 

    I was able to confirm that Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, and Jade Cargill were originally slated for the Women’s Elimnation Chamber match. Now, it appears those plans for Cargill have changed.

    As of this writing, I am still awaiting confirmation on Cargill’s Chamber status, and what might have happened to faciliate this change.

    Elimination Chamber Date, Location, and Start Time

    The 2024 Elimination Chamber event is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. This marks WWE’s return to Australia since Super Show-Down in October 2018 and is the sole WWE event in the Asia–Pacific region for 2024. 

    The event will start at 4:30 AM for fans in the Eastern Time Zone. It will certainly be an interesting time for a premium live event, but anything can happen on the road to WrestleMania.

  • Adriana Rizzo Gets Breakout Attention After February 13th WWE NXT

    Adriana Rizzo Gets Breakout Attention After February 13th WWE NXT

    WWE fans are paying attention to Tony D’Angelo new associate, Adriana Rizzo. Her name trended like wildfire after her appearance during the February 13th episode of WWE NXT.

    Fans Want Rizzo

    After Rizzo’s match with Jaida Parker on NXT this week, fans wanted to know more about her. Her name was a breakout topics on Google’s search engine, and this is a very good thing for her.

    WWE pays attention to search trends, and it was pretty impossible to miss the fact that fans wanted to know more about Adriana Rizzo. Odds are, this extra attention will also be great for The Family, even if Tony D’Angelo and Stacks lost the NXT Tag Team Titles to Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin this week as well.

    Who Is Adriana Rizzo

    Anna Keefer, now known as Adriana Rizzo in WWE, took an unexpected path to signing with a pro wrestling company. As a high school graduate in 2017, she excelled in track and field, securing four individual state outdoor titles. During her time at the University of North Carolina, she achieved first-team All-America honors in the indoor long jump in 2022 and second-team All-America recognition in the 200m event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:ChIM_D1thBD

    Following the conclusion of her collegiate track and field career, Rizzo had aspirations of pursuing a professional athletic career. However, she decided on a whim to attend a WWE SummerSlam Tryout in Nashville. After that tryout, she was offered a contract to join the WWE Performance Center Fall 2022 Rookie Class. Now, she is a regular on NXT television on a consistent basis.

  • Drew McIntyre Mocks The Walking Dead After Hit Series Uses His Line to Promote New Show

    Drew McIntyre Mocks The Walking Dead After Hit Series Uses His Line to Promote New Show

    Fans of The Walking Dead may be thrilled to see the show return with ‘The Ones Who Live‘ but Drew McIntyre isn’t pleased. 

    The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will see series regulars Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) return to the post-apocalyptic United States that has been ravaged by a zombie apocalypse. The show will serve as a direct sequel to the original The Walking Dead series. 

    The Ones Who Live will be the sixth spin-off and overall seventh television series in The Walking Dead franchise. The show will premiere with its first episode ‘Years’ on AMC and AMC+ on February 25. 

    Drew McIntyre Takes On The Walking Dead

    This week, the Walking Dead Twitter account shared a promo video featuring Rick Grimes in combat gear. Borrowing a line from the first Scottish-born WWE Champion, those behind the Walking Dead’s Twitter account prayed for the return of Rick and it happened. 

    Unimpressed, McIntyre shared a prayer of his own, saying he wanted the show to end after its third season in 2013. 

    WWE and Zombies

    No WWE Superstar has appeared in The Walking Dead but the promotion is no stranger to Zombies. In the 2010s, WWE released a series of Zombified action figures, depicting the Superstars of the time as members of the undead. In 2021, zombies would infamously invade the WrestleMania Backlash match between The Miz and Damian Priest, in which Priest was the victor. Despite being devoured by the thronga of the undead, The Miz later told people he was feeling great. 

  • Netflix & Chill? WWE Superstars Reveal Their Favorite Shows to Binge (Exclusive)

    Netflix & Chill? WWE Superstars Reveal Their Favorite Shows to Binge (Exclusive)

    The Superstars of WWE are kept plenty busy in the ring, but they also find the time to unwind by binging their favorite Netflix shows. 

    Last month, it was announced that Raw will move to Netflix as part of a $5 billion deal with the streaming giant. Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India.

    The Superstars’ Favorite Shows 

    Alpha Academy’s Maxxine Dupri said that she had just finished The Crown, the historical drama series based on the lives of the British Royal Family. The show’s sixth and most recent season addresses 1997 to 2005 and covers the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the early relationship of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. Dupri said the show was “so good” and that she was “obsessed.”

    ‘Big’ Bronson Reed has been enjoying an Australian show called Boy Swallows Universe. The story revolves around Eli Bell, a working-class youth who enters Brisbane’s underworld to save his mother from danger. It is based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Trent Dalton. When not watching that, the former NXT North American Champion enjoys the relaxed competition of the Great British Bake Off. 

    Ivy Nile enjoys documentaries but has also been watching You, which the Raw Superstar admits is not her typical kind of show. The four-season show follows Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who obsessively follows a woman he becomes infatuated with in the show’s first season. 

    Nia Jax loves stirring up some drama, so it makes sense that she enjoys Safe. The show focuses on Tom Delaney (played by Dexter’s Michael C. Hall) who uncovers a web of secrets as he frantically searches for his missing 16-year-old daughter. Jax also enjoys Peaky Blinders. the period crime drama about the Birmingham, UK-based gang of the same name and their escapades following World War 1. 

  • Rhea Ripley Would “110% Be Down” For Challenging For WWE’s Men’s Championships

    Rhea Ripley Would “110% Be Down” For Challenging For WWE’s Men’s Championships

    Rhea Ripley has dominated as WWE Women’s World Champion and now ‘Mami’ has made clear she’s open to winning titles from the men. 

    Ripley captured the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39, with a victory over Charlotte Flair. In June, the title was rechristened the Women’s World Champion after Ripley was drafted to Raw, and Asuka (then the Raw Women’s Champion) was placed on SmackDown. The Women’s World Championship shares a similar design to the Men’s World Heavyweight Championship held currently by Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins.

    Challenging for the Men’s Gold

    In an interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Ripley was asked about possibly challenging for championships held by men. The Australian Superstar was more than up for the challenge. 

    “Oh, 100%. I’m always down for a challenge. I love a good challenge. So if that opportunity were to arise, I would 110% be down.”

    What’s Next? 

    When it comes to her own sex, Ripley’s next title match will come in her native Australia. Ripley will face Nia Jax at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth on February 24. The WWE Women’s World Champion will defend her title against the winner of the Women’s Elimination Chamber match at WWE WrestleMania 40 this April.

    Women Holding Men’s Gold

    In WWE, there have only been a few examples of women holding gold which was traditionally for male Superstars. During her career, Chyna became a two-time Intercontinental Champion, while Jaqueline captured the Cruiserweight Championship in 2004. From 1998 to 2002, four women held the Hardcore Championship (Molly Holly, Trish Stratus, Terri Runnells, and a ‘ho’ of the Godfather.)

    Could Rhea Ripley’s title reign come to an end at WrestleMania 40…

  • Shotzi Suffers Serious Knee Injury At WWE’s 2/13 NXT TV Tapings

    WWE’s NXT brand pre-taped next week’s episode already, and that included a packed night of action for fans. Sadly, one match did not turn out as anyone would have liked, as Shotzi battled Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Women’s Title. 

    Shotzi Injured 

    Shotzi sustained a knee injury while attempting her apron DDT during tonight’s taping for next week’s WWE NXT Championship match. She will undergo evaluation to confirm the severity of the injury.

    Fightful’s Corey Brennan reported that the NXT Women’s Title match needed to be stopped midway through the contest.

    Shotzi and Lyra Valkyria’s NXT Women’s Title match during tonight’s second #WWENXT taping was stopped due to a serious knee injury suffered by Shotzi.

    Shotzi had been slated to compete against Tiffany Stratton in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match on this week’s WWE SmackDown, but the status of the match is now uncertain. For what it’s worth, I was able to confirm that Tiffany Stratton is in the Chamber match, so Shotzi was likely losing her qualifying match anyway.  

    Fightful Select later noted that this is not a work. Shotzi was in a ton of pain backstage, and she wasn’t able to place any weight on her leg.

    After speaking to several sources in NXT, Corey Brennan was able to confirm that Shotzi was not able to place weight on her injured knee and was forced to hop to the back with assistance from WWE’s medical team. It was apparent when Shotzi arrived backstage that she was in a large amount of pain. Officials backstage were said to be very concerned for Shotzi and she was immediately taken for medical evaluation. 

    SE Scoops will provide more updates as information is made available. 

    Next Week’s WWE NXT

    Next week’s episode of NXT promises to be a good episode. Apart from the NXT Women’s Title match, former WWE NXT Women’s champion Roxanne Perez will take on Wren Sinclair.

    On the men’s side, NXT will feature a singles bout between Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, which may finally close the book on their story. Additionally, following their face-to-face confrontation on tonight’s episode, Lexis King will challenge NXT North American champion Oba Femi for his title.

  • New Champions: Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin Win WWE NXT Tag Team Gold

    Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin were an unlikely team, but the two have proved that they are quite a pair. Now, they are NXT Tag Team Champions to top it all off.

    New NXT Tag Team Champions

    The Family, Tony D’Angelo and Stacks, were NXT Tag Team Champions. Then their match against the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners was set for this week’s episode.

    Breakker and Corbin battled D’Angelo and Stacks in the main event of this week’s show. Fans in the NXT Arena were also pulling for a title change. That finally went down as Breakker scored the pinfall after a spear.

    This was a hard-fought match, as The Family was able to create some devastating offense to really slow down their opponents. Breakker also took a table break right before the finish went down, but he was able to make his way to the ring.

    What’s Next

    Bron Breakker was called up to the WWE main roster as part of his 2024 Royal Rumble entry. He appears to be going to the RAW brand, as I was told, but his time in NXT is obviously not over yet.

    WWE has let champions in NXT get their main roster call-ups, only to lose the belts later. Sometimes, a title is relinquished instead of actually dropping it. Either way, Corbin and Breakker are starting a new run as champions.

    SE Scoops will have more on this story as more information is made available. 

  • Bully Ray Questions If Seth Rollins Can Hang With The Rock

    Bully Ray Questions If Seth Rollins Can Hang With The Rock

    Bully Ray doesn’t believe that Seth Rollins or the WWE World Heavyweight Title was framed in the best light during the WrestleMania Kickoff press event in Las Vegas.

    Speaking on Monday’s Busted Open Radio with Mark Henry and co-host Dave LaGreca, The Dudley Boy paid attention to detail when it came to Seth Rollins on stage in Las Vegas.

    Not only did Bully believe Roman Reigns disparaged the World Heavyweight Champion, but noticed something between The Visionary and The Rock.

    “Seth has had some s*** to say about The Rock lately, hasn’t he? Did you notice when Rock came on stage what Seth did not do? Mark, he didn’t make eye contact with him.

    “If you’re gonna talk s*** and now you get to see the guy? You better look him in the eye because Rock was looking right at Seth when he came out and you know how we are, Mark. ‘Go ahead, talk your s*** now. I’m standing on stage, I’m right next to you, talk your s*** now.’ Seth never looked at Rocky, Seth just kept looking ahead at Roman. That’s the moments that I look for.”

    Bully puts himself in The Rock’s position and how “The People’s Champ” hypothetically put Rollins in his place.

    “’Now our characters are out there in front of the world. Watch what my character does to your character in an instant. If I wanna expose you I can,’ and all Rock needed to do is walk past Seth slowly and spread his wing slowly like a giant, jacked-up peacock. I noticed that and I was like, ‘Oh my God, Seth looks so small and so out of place standing next to Rock.’ Remember, this is just my perception of what I’m seeing.”

    Please credit Busted Open Radio and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • Is Roman Reigns Still Head Of The Table? WWE Vet Says The Rock Plays Second To Nobody

    It’s all about positioning in WWE, figuratively and literally, and Mark Henry says The Rock is well aware of that.

    During Busted Open Radio on Monday, Henry was chatting with Bully Ray and co-host Dave LaGreca about the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference that took place in Vegas last Thursday. Both WWE Hall of Famers made note of how The Rock pulled the Tony Atlas trick of positioning himself closest to the stage so he would look bigger on camera. 

    It paid off for Dwayne Johnson, who just by a visual standpoint, made Roman Reigns look smaller than himself. Henry thinks that move was intentional.

    “Because The Rock knows better and he would not allow that to happen. He knows that he’s not the second guy in any equation and they have to fix that.”

    Bully Ray adds that after the presser during the backstage segment, The Rock was leading while Roman was trailing. Henry said Roman should have flipped that and gave Rock permission to do that.

    “Some of that is [WWE] not being able to tell Dwyane no. He’s very persuasive and he wants it the way that he wants it.”

    Henry even recalls during his Nation of Domination days where The Rock would tell him to step on the opposite side because “The World’s Strongest Man” looked too big in front of “The Most Electrifying Man.”

    “He’s the principal, but just know, that you going to have to tell me not to take the spotlight.”

    Please credit Busted Open Radio and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • LA Knight Calls Out Seth Rollins After Qualifying For Elimination Chamber

    LA Knight Calls Out Seth Rollins After Qualifying For Elimination Chamber

    LA Knight is tired of hearing of his own hype and wants to put his money where his mouth is.

    Before he took on Ivar on WWE Raw in hopes to qualify for Elimination Chamber, LA Knight had gold on his mind, but after Monday, he got one step closer when defeating the Viking Raider. 

    Knight will join Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley in the Elimination Chamber, but had someone specific in mind when speaking with Cathy Kelley on “Raw Talk” after his win. 

    However, Knight first made perfectly clear he isn’t looking for praise before Perth. He may have won the Slim Jim battle royal and challenged Roman Reigns, but that amounts to nothing as he looks ahead.

    “What do I really have to hang my hat yet on at this point? What do I have to sink my teeth into just yet and I say a big fat goose egg! 

    “Save the congratulations. Give me the congratulations when I walk out of Elimination Chamber the number one contender for that World Heavyweight Championship and then congratulate me two times when we get to WrestleMania and I take it off of Seth Freakin’ Rollins. Nice middle name ya got there, pal, but what you’re gonna to call yourself after that is ‘former’ Champion because right now you’re looking at the future Champion.”

    This past Friday on SmackDown, Knight happened to cost AJ Styles his qualifying match against Drew McIntyre when he interfered and it opened up Styles for a Claymore Kick and a 1-2-3.

  • The Undertaker Says WWE Talent Should Be Happy The Rock Is Back

    The Undertaker revealed his thoughts on The Rock’s return to the WWE as WrestleMania 40 draws near, expressing positive sentiments about The Rock’s comeback. On the  latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Phenom addressed his former rival having such a pivotal role in wrestling’s biggest PPV of the year.

    Co-host Matthew Lyda mentioned that some WWE superstars aren’t thrilled about The Rock’s comeback.  He’s He’s one of the most famous people in the world and commands lots of attention. It will be great for the financial success of the show, but what about the performers who are getting even less of that spotlight?

    The Undertaker admits even he would have mixed feelings, if it was him getting pushed one more spot down the card.

    “No one will say that, but it’s in the back of their head,” The Undertaker said. “It’d be in the back of my head. There’d be that side of me that said, ‘Yes, this is good for business. This is the biggest star in the world. But I’m the one that goes out and grinds every weekend of every year.” 

    The Dead Man says this new dynamic with The Rock in the mix adds a level of realism to things on and off television. At the end of the day, it’s going to make WrestleMania XL even bigger.

    “That’s what makes everything so cool,” Undertaker continued. “That’s what makes it real. WrestleMania’s gonna be fire. It is gonna be fire.”

    The Rock and WrestleMania XL

    The Rock set his sights on the road to WrestleMania by making an appearance on Raw: Day 1 on January 1, where he called out Roman Reigns. It seemed like he would be challenging Reigns at WrestleMania XL. 

    However, during the WrestleMania XL Kickoff media event in Las Vegas on February 8, it was revealed that Reigns would instead face Cody Rhodes, who asserted his right to choose the main event after winning the Royal Rumble.

    Pre-Order WWE 2K24 Now (Amazon)

    Rhodes then confronted Reigns, suggesting that his family would be disappointed in him. This confrontation led to The Rock slapping Rhodes across the face, with Seth Rollins siding with Rhodes.

    In a later Instagram post, The Rock addressed the confrontation, stating, “Your hero f*cked around and he found out quick what happens when you talk about our family with disrespect. Lines crossed and blurred – bring it. We don’t toe the mark for no one.”

  • Drew McIntyre Being Advertised For Event Past WWE Contract Expiration Date

    Drew McIntyre Being Advertised For Event Past WWE Contract Expiration Date

    Drew McIntyre could be sticking with WWE for the foreseeable future if the line-up for an upcoming European event is anything to go by. 

    McIntyre’s future with WWE has been under speculation for some time. Last year, it was reported that his contract was going to expire in early 2024. In September, McIntyre said that has no intentions to work elsewhere. It was also reported that time has been added to Drew’s WWE contract due to his post-WrestleMania 39 hiatus.

    McIntyre is reportedly open to letting his current deal lapse if he feels it is right. The first Scottish-born WWE Champion has long stated that he would like to spend some extended time back in Scotland. It has been years since he’s had the chance to have more than a quick visit with his family as these days he lives full-time in the United States.

    Drew McIntyre Being Advertised

    Drew McIntyre is being advertised for the upcoming WWE live event in Bologna, Italy. That event will take place in May, despite McIntyre’s current deal with WWE being set to expire shortly after WrestleMania 40 in April. Neither McIntyre nor WWE have publicly confirmed whether a new deal has been reached. 

    WWE in Bologna, Italy

    WWE will host its Italy live event on May 1, mere days before WWE Backlash: France on May 4. Other names being advertised include Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso. 

    Ticket and VIP packages are already being advertised for the event. As always, the talent is subject to change. At this time, no matches have been confirmed.

  • WWE Experience Opens Feb. 16 at Riyadh’s Blvd City: First Look, Tickets

    WWE Experience Opens Feb. 16 at Riyadh’s Blvd City: First Look, Tickets

    The WWE Universe in Saudi Arabia will soon get to participate in the ‘WWE Experience’ which will open its doors later this week. 

    The WWE-themed events center can be found at Blvd City and will open on February 16. The WWE Experience is part of the latest Riyadh Season, which is an annual state-funded entertainment and sports festival. Riyadh Season starts in October and ends towards March during winter and spring in the Saudi Arabia capital. 

    The WWE Experience 

    The center features several areas for wrestling fans to explore. Attendees can attempt to escape The Undertaker’s graveyard or walk among the Hall of Immortals which features some of WWE’s all-time greats. For those looking to the future, they can participate in the ‘Become a Superstar’ experience which allows them to make their own unique entrance. 

    In a tweet, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared his excitement for the WWE Experience and shared where fans can purchase tickets. 

    WWE and Saudi Arabia

    In 2018, WWE marked the start of its lengthy deal with the Middle Eastern kingdom with the Greatest Royal Rumble show. At the time, WWE faced heavy criticism for signing a deal with the nation, given the country’s stance against LGBTQ+ people and women’s rights. Many found the deal to be in opposition to WWE’s ‘Women’s Revolution.’ 

    More recently though, WWE talent have had a much more positive view of these Saudi Arabia shows. Women are allowed to compete at the events and many Superstars were said to have had a great experience at last year’s Night of Champions PLE. 

    A certain WWE Hall of Famer recently made his presence felt in Riyadh for the Season Cup finals between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr…