Category: WWE

  • How WWE Feels About Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns Mocking Each Other’s Titles

    How WWE Feels About Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns Mocking Each Other’s Titles

    Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins may be taking shots at each other’s championships on TV, but that isn’t an issue for WWE management. 

    Following Cody Rhodes’ win in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, both Rollins and Reigns would take digs at the other’s championship. On Raw, Rollins stated that Rhodes should face him at WrestleMania 40, instead of the Tribal Chief. Rollins called Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship a ‘Hollywood’ title who those who politick their way to the top, while his title is for the workhorses like Cody’s father Dusty. 

    Not to be outdone, Reigns appeared on SmackDown to dismiss the World Heavyweight Championship held by Rollins since May of last year. Reigns made it clear that the title held by Seth is a runner-up prize for those unable to dethrone him. 

    WWE’s Response

    Two of WWE’s top Superstars have been belittling the company’s top two championships, but that isn’t an issue according to higher-ups who spoke to Fightful Select. One higher-up said “Look who we’re in business with now” when asked about these digs, a nod to WWE being partners in TKO with UFC, where this kind of trash-talk is more commonplace. 

    The source added that they want to create a discussion among fans and that both champions have a reason to say their championship is more valid than the other. Ultimately, it’s up to fans to decide if they find the title defended more to be the more valid, or if they prefer the title with a richer history that has been held by Reigns for over three years. 

  • Carmelo Hayes Turns On Trick Williams To Close Out WWE NXT Vengeance Day

    Carmelo Hayes Turns On Trick Williams To Close Out WWE NXT Vengeance Day

    WWE’s Vengeance Day main event match saw Ilja Dragunov defend the NXT Title against Trick Williams. The Tennessee crowd was more than ready for the match, as they chanted “WHOOP THAT TRICK” loudly. The end of the night included a shocking moment that fans will be talking about for weeks to come.

    Trick Williams’ NXT Title Match

    Trick and Ilja battled in a match where they were both bloodied. Trick was already busted open in the first match of the night, one where he and Carmelo Hayes lost the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic final to Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker. Then Trick busted Dragunov’s nose open early on in their match.

    This match got the crowd to a boiling point, and then Dragunov was able to pull off the big win. This came after several dramatic moments where it appeared that Trick Williams would pull down the title.

    The Mad Dragon retained his title at Vengeance Day. In the end, Carmelo Hayes told Trick Williams that he’s his boy, and “you were so close.” Suddenly, the moment Trick’s back was turned, Melo’s face changed.

    Carmelo Hayes Turns On Trick Williams

    Hayes nailed Williams with a chopblock, which sent the big man down holding his knee. Then Carmelo got a chair from underneath the ring to lay down a few chair shots on Trick’s knee for good measure.

    This turn has been coming for a while. Now, Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes are officially broken up. As “F*ck you Melo” and “Melo Sucks” chants rang out from the crowd, he left with a satisfied look on his face.

    As Carmelo Hayes left, he blamed the crowd, saying “you made me like this, it’s your fault.” We will have to see what’s next for Melo and Trick.

    Lyra Valkyria already retained her NXT Women’s Title during Vengeance Day. That match was changed into a triple threat match by a big surprise as Lola Vice cashed in her Women’s Breakout Tournament contract.

    What’s Next

    The NXT roster is now on the road to defend her NXT Women’s Title at March 5th’s Roadblock event. Then Stand & Deliver is coming on April 6.

    WWE NXT Vengeance Day took place on February 4, 2024, at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee, marking the first NXT livestreaming event to be held in Tennessee. 

  • NXT Star Says Pro-Cody Rhodes Spamming Is Sending the Wrong Message

    NXT Star Says Pro-Cody Rhodes Spamming Is Sending the Wrong Message

    Are fans of Cody Rhodes sending the wrong message by spamming various WWE accounts in support of the American Nightmare? One NXT Superstar thinks so. 

    On last week’s SmackDown, Rhodes graciously stepped aside to allow The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This booking decision has been reviled by fans. Despite being one of the most popular Superstars of all time, The Rock’s return is now WWE’s most-disliked YouTube video. It’s not just online that this disdain has been shown. At a WWE live event, fans booed a video showing The Rock’s return on SmackDown

    DIJAK Comments

    WWE Superstars, for the most part, have been silent about the backlash to the booking decision. With that said Logan Paul recently threw his support behind Rhodes, while Ricochet has stated that fans are showing a toxic side

    Now, NXT Superstar DIJAK has shared his two cents on the response from fans to this controversial booking. Taking to Twitter, DIJAK spoke about fans spamming the comments section of NXT: Vengeance Day in support of the American Nightmare. DIJAK argued that fans are sending the wrong message and if they insist on spamming accounts, they should stick to the relevant ones. 

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will be at a WrestleMania 40 press conference later this week. Cody Rhodes will be on this week’s Raw where he’ll face Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match. The American Nightmare will also be at Elimination Chamber: Perth later this month, an event neither The Rock nor Reigns are expected to be at. 

  • Mysterious ‘Three Faces’ Promo Airs During WWE NXT Vengeance Day

    Mysterious ‘Three Faces’ Promo Airs During WWE NXT Vengeance Day

    You never know what can happen in WWE, and they proved that during Vengeance Day. A mysterious promo for what could be a new Superstar aired, and fans have a ton of questions.

    Mysterious NXT Promo

    At NXT Vengeance Day, a vignette conveyed a concise message. Displaying on-screen text, it stated, “A man has three faces. One that the world sees… one that his family sees… and the real one that no one sees, reflecting the evil he truly possesses.”

    Nobody was actually seen in this promo, but the words got a lot of fans wondering what is going to happen next.

    This three faces tale is similar to an old Japanese proverb. This leads many fans to assume that WWE is bringing in someone from Japan. We do not know who this new Superstar might be, but rumors of Okada or Giulia are certainly floating around the fan base right now.

    What’s Next

    The NXT roster is now on the road to defend her NXT Women’s Title at March 5th’s Roadblock event. Then Stand & Deliver is coming on April 6. We will have to see when WWE NXT reveals this mystery.

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this mystery, and so much more in the pro wrestling world as more information is made known.

  • Lyra Valkyria Retains WWE NXT Women’s Title at Vengeance Day Despite Lola Vice Creating Impromptu Triple Threat

    Lyra Valkyria Retains WWE NXT Women’s Title at Vengeance Day Despite Lola Vice Creating Impromptu Triple Threat

    WWE NXT Vengeance Day took place on February 4, 2024, at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee, marking the first NXT livestreaming event to be held in Tennessee. The event brought some notable moments, including a massive one for Roxanne Perez.

    NXT Women’s Title Match at Vengeance Day

    Lyra Valkyria defended the NXT Women’s Title against Roxanne Perez at Vengeance Day. This match had the Tennessee crowd on fire, but they didn’t know what to expect.

    Lola Vice won the Women’s Breakout Tournament. With that win, she had a guaranteed contract for a title shot. Midway through Roxanne and Lyra’s match, right after Perez nailed Pop Rocks, Vice ran down to make this a triple threat match.

    After the match carried on a bit more, Roxanne Perez nailed Pop Rocks again, but Tatum Paxley ran in and took her out of the ring. The pandemonium ended as Lyra nailed Night Witch on Lola Vice instead, and she secured the win to retain the NXT Women’s Title.

     What’s Next?

    Lyra Valkyria is now on the road to defend her NXT Women’s Title at March 5th’s Roadblock event. Then Stand & Deliver is coming on April 6. 

    Her future opponents have not been determined yet, but odds are, they will address that in the coming weeks on NXT’s weekly USA Network television show.

  • The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Hype Post Flooded By Angry Cody Rhodes Fans

    The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Hype Post Flooded By Angry Cody Rhodes Fans

    WWE fans have reacted in a big way after The Rock made his return to television, skipping over Cody Rhodes in the process to claim a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. It seems that Dwayne Johnson can’t post anything at this point without getting flooded by upset fans.

    The Rock’s Latest WrestleMania Post

    Although it hasn’t been 100% confirmed yet, the current WrestleMania match is The Rock vs Roman Reigns. This match was booked for WrestleMania 37, but they couldn’t get things lined up. Now they will finally hold the match at WrestleMania 40, but fans’ aren’t happy.

    The Rock posted on Instagram to include a few reactions to his WWE SmackDown return. There were a couple live reaction videos, and it was overall positive. The caption he picked let everyone know that he is playing the long game as the People’s Champion.

    This is gonna be so much fun.Long game.~ people’s champ

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C27CCdhu-c5

    That post wasn’t up for very long before Cody Rhodes’ fans flooded it. The top reaction was “We Want Cody,” and many others commented to show their disapproval. This is not the kind of response that The Rock is used to getting.

    The Rock’s Recent Activity

    The Rock had a few big losses in a row. The XFL failed to make money, and Black Adam was panned in the box office. Young Rock was also cancelled by NBC after only three seasons.

    Then his WWE return was met with a huge backlash. As of this writing, it appears that Dwayne Johnson is playing the “long game,” but fans don’t seem to be 100% down with how he’s playing.

    WWE Sticking To WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)

    As I previously reported, this match is locked in. The Rock wanted the contest against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, and it is happening, no matter what fans think. CM Punk’s injury caused WWE to pivot and put Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes instead. A triple threat match with Cody vs Rock vs Roman was never on the table, either.

    After asking around, I received an additional note that said, No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but that doesn’t seem to sway WWE fans who were set on seeing Cody Rhodes finish his story.

  • Mark Henry’s Son Jacob Henry Commits To Wrestle For University of Oklahoma

    Mark Henry’s Son Jacob Henry Commits To Wrestle For University of Oklahoma

    Mark Henry is a WWE Hall of Famer, and he’s very proud of his body of work in the ring. Now, it is his son’s turn to get the spotlight, but he’s doing so under the bright lights in Boomer Sooner Country.

    Jacob Henry Is A Boomer Sooner

    Jacob Henry, son of Mark Henry, has announced his commitment to wrestle for the University of Oklahoma. He boasts an impressive high school athletic background. Prior to his senior season.

    Jacob Henry’s High School Career

    Jacob Henry attended Austin (Texas) Lake Travis, participating in wrestling, football as well as track and field. During his junior year, he achieved notable shot put throws of 50-7 and 50-6, securing a top-four finish in the Texas 6A 285-pound weight class. In his sophomore and freshman years, he consistently demonstrated strength with shot put throws ranging from 48-10.5 to 49-8.

    On the gridiron, Jacob Henry showcased his domination in the 2022 football season at Lake Travis. He concluded the junior season with impressive stats, tallying 46 tackles, 4 tackles for loss (TFL), 2 sacks, and 6 quarterback hurries. In his sophomore year, he recorded 28 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 QB hurries. This solid performance reflects his skill and impact on the wrestling mat.

    Jacob Henry has a wrestling record of 50 wins and 6 losses, with 36 pins, 3 tech falls, and 1 major decision. His rank value is 1.04 as of January 31, 2024, and these stats cover the period since February 4, 2023.

    Jacob Henry’s connections extend to his father, Mark Henry, a former professional weightlifter and one-time World’s Strongest Man. Mark Henry is still employed with AEW, and he has a gig on Busted Open Radio.

    Naturally, this gives Jacob Henry an edge over many. Obviously, Jacob Henry is destined for great things, and he’s doing it in Oklahoma. Jim Ross must be very happy about this announcement.

    Response Over the Jacob Henry News

    Mark Henry reacted on Twitter/X to say: “I am beyond proud of you Jacob. I know that nobody will work harder than you. Now you can add the University of Oklahoma fanbase as family. First honor God, then the Henry name, now the school that you represent. Hookem! and Go Boomer Sooner!”

    He then proceeded to flood his timeline with an Instagram link to his son’s big announcement, replying to a variety of random tweets for the next hour or so. Obviously, the World’s Strongest Man is incredibly proud.

    Big E replied to this announcement to say, “Maaaaaan. Thrilled for you, Jacob! Been so beautiful to watch your ascent.” Jacob has a cheering section that is certain to grow by leaps and bounds very soon.

    Swerve Strickland also commented to remark, “Let’s go,” as Matt Cardona also sent his congratulations to Mark Henry’s son over this big announcement.

  • Ricochet Calls Pro Wrestling Fans Online Toxic In Response To WrestleMania Backlash

    Ricochet Calls Pro Wrestling Fans Online Toxic In Response To WrestleMania Backlash

    The Rock’s return to WWE caused some fans to unleash fury online. They are not happy at all about how Cody Rhodes lost his spot to Dwayne Johnson, and, while he is a constant Cody Rhodes supporter, Ricochet is speaking out about this.

    Ricochet Speaks Out

    Initially expected to be in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal championship, Cody Rhodes shifted gears on a recent episode of SmackDown, opting to bring out The Rock instead, passing the torch for that WrestleMania main event match. Now Roman Reigns is in for a showdown with The Rock instead. 

    This decision sparked a strong reaction from the Internet Wrestling community, with overwhelming support for Rhodes and negative comments directed at The Rock and WWE. This was noticed by everyone, and WWE even realizes that fans aren’t happy. The match with Rock is on now, and that’s not changing. Ricochet had to speak out after seeing his timeline full of disgruntled fans.

    Taking note of the situation, Ricochet shared his perspective on social media. While acknowledging himself as Cody Rhodes’ supporter, he labeled the Internet Wrestling Community as a toxic space. This is something he said he saw amplified in recent memory.

    First, let me say there is no bigger Cody supporter than me, ask @SamanthaTheBomb

    2nd, you guys have shown me how truly toxic the IWC is haha

    Ricochet then sent out a second tweet a short time later, one where he made things very clear about how he feels about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot.

    WWE Won’t Be Changing Their Plans

    Although fans may want to cry out for a change, that is not happening. Now, it is The Rock vs Roman Reigns. As I previously noted, I was told that there is “no chance in hell” that they’ll give that match back to Cody Rhodes. That exact wording was used, but unlike Vince McMahon’s regime, who was known to make calls along this line, the fact is that The Rock is behind this as a massive power play. 

  • Backlash Over Cody Rhodes Losing WrestleMania 40 Spot To The Rock Will Not Change WWE’s New Plan

    Backlash Over Cody Rhodes Losing WrestleMania 40 Spot To The Rock Will Not Change WWE’s New Plan

    The Rock showed up during the February 2nd episode of WWE SmackDown, and the backlash has been considerable. The YouTube video of the segment, although it has now topped 4 million views, is also the most disliked video in the history of their YouTube channel. Now, another notable name has joined the crusade. That won’t change their plan, because Dwayne Johnson is back to get his match at WrestleMania against Roman Reigns.

    Backlash After The Rock’s Return

    Fans were not happy about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes spot, no matter how WWE booked it. That moment in the ring where Cody and Rock shook hands has been analyzed by many, and few have drawn a positive conclusion.

    Hashtags started and fans cried out for The Rock to give that match back, one that Rhodes earned after winning his second Royal Rumble match in a row. That hasn’t happened, but it’s not because of lack of support. 

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there was a sense of shock backstage when The Rock showed up to take Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. There was also a hope that fan backlash might sway WWE’s decision for The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Sadly, that is not happening and WWE is continuing with their plan.

    Cody Rhodes Gets Backup From Gabriel Iglesias

    Comedian Gabriel Iglesias is a super-fan, and he’s been spotted at WWE and AEW shows. He loves pro wrestling, and it appears he is also a member of the Nightmare Family.

    The famously Fluffy comedian posted on Twitter/X to drop a photo of himself with Cody Rhodes. Along with this photo, he included a very simple message that he wanted fans to retweet.

    #WeWantCody was the message, and he also included three clapping hands emojis for good measure.

    WrestleMania 40 and The Rock (Exclusive)

    For what it’s worth, I asked around about this situation with The Rock. I was told that this is a complete “power play” on Dwayne Johnson’s behalf. Upon asking if this situation is like when he tried to muscle his way into the DC Cinematic Universe with Black Adam, I was told that is a “great analogy.”

    When asking if the fan backlash is noticed within the company, that was also confirmed. It’s impossible to ignore at this point, as USA Today, TMZ and more have already run headlines about how fans are upset about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot on the show of shows.

    I was also able to confirm that Brian Gewirtz was brought back to the company, but only to work on The Rock’s things. He was a head writer for WWE until Rock took him to work at Seven Bucks Productions, where he is currently the SVP of Development. 

    After asking if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.” Yes, that was the exact wording used. No, Vince McMahon is not involved in this picture at all, but The Rock is definitely flexing in a huge way.

    Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes is the new match, something that was booked after CM Punk was taken out of action with an injury during the Rumble match. Now, fans have a much different WrestleMania 40 ahead, and they have yet to warm up to the idea.

    Update: WrestleMania Continues To Evolve

    I was further told that the only person who could change this match is The Rock himself. I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

    Cody Rhodes went on to make a decision to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. This caused The Rock to slap him during the company’s Las Vegas WrestleMania kickoff event in the T-Mobile arena. 

    SE Scoops will have continued updates as more information is made known. The Rock is not out of this picture yet, and he still wants the match.  He told Triple H to “fix” things as the Las Vegas event closed out.

  • Maria Kanellis Hopes ‘Justice Is Served’ In Vince McMahon WWE Scandal

    Maria Kanellis Hopes ‘Justice Is Served’ In Vince McMahon WWE Scandal

    Maria Kanellis wants light to be shed on the darkness of the ongoing Vince McMahon allegations, which gets muddier by the week.

    Just as WWE was set to celebrate Royal Rumble weekend, the Wall Street Journal released information on a 67-page lawsuit against McMahon and heinous allegations of sexual assaullt against former employee Janel Grant.

    Kanellis, a former WWE talent, has already gave her thoughts on McMahon in the past, but offered a new response since John Laurinaitis’ legal counsel issued a statement, claiming that he himself was a victim of Vince’s power.

    “All the news coming out is horrible. Many of us experienced or heard rumors of different levels of evil for years. Some tried to speak up to build momentum to change the culture in WWE. Many times we’ve been called bitter or crazy. Others have been paralyzed by fear. I just hope justice is served and I hope this brings some people peace. I pray for all of the victims, the ones that have spoke up, the ones no longer with us, and the ones that suffer in silence.”

    https://twitter.com/MariaLKanellis/status/1753488593828421905

    It’s not just former employees who have commented on the McMahon allegations as Cody Rhodes, Shawn Michaels and Triple H have all been asked to address the matter. Michaels was the latest, stating that everyone in NXT is aware of the matter and called it an incredibly sad situation. Both Cody Rhodes and Triple H were asked about Vince during the Royal Rumble Press Conference on Saturday and gave their own degree of a response.

  • Watch: Cody Rhodes’ Heartwarming Gesture Towards Impaired Fan at Live Event

    Watch: Cody Rhodes’ Heartwarming Gesture Towards Impaired Fan at Live Event

    WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes has yet again shared a heartwarming moment with a fan.

    ‘The American Nightmare’ has earned a reputation for his genuine kindness and memorable interactions with fans throughout his career. Despite being a larger-than-life figure in the world of pro wrestling, he has always made an effort to connect with his fans on a personal level.

    Cody Rhodes often takes time to meet fans, sign autographs, and take photos at events. Whether it’s a major wrestling show or a small indie event, Cody’s humble nature has left a lasting impression on fans. He certainly goes out of his way to make each encounter special and ensures that fans feel appreciated and valued.

    Cody Rhodes interacts with an impaired fan

    At a Saturday’s live event at Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, TN. Cody Rhodes spotted a fan who was impaired. In a video clip that surfaced on Twitter, ‘The American Nightmare’ read out the fan sign saying: 

    “Legally blind but trying to see Cody Rhodes”

    Cody then left the ring, went over the barricade, and hugged the fan before signing an autograph as the fans cheered on.

    Cody Rhodes recently won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. While everybody though that he would challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion,The Rock entered the fray. 

    ‘The Great One’ made his huge return on Friday’s episode of SmackDown and it stirred new controversy. The Rock took Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania main event spot against Roman Reigns.

    We previously reported how WWE fans have spoken out against The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot and they have even started a trend of Justice for Cody on social media as well as bombarding WWE’s posts on the matter.

  • WWE Trying To Figure Out How To Erase Vince McMahon From Company History

    WWE Trying To Figure Out How To Erase Vince McMahon From Company History

    Vince McMahon resigned from WWE after Janel Grant’s lawsuit was brought to the public. When Slim Jim pulled their Royal Rumble sponsorship, it could have been a slippery slope of dominoes falling after that, but they returned after Vince left. Now, it appears that 2k doesn’t want to even feature him. The company is also trying to figure out a way to erase him all together. 

    Allegations Against Vince McMahon

    Vince McMahon faces accusations of sexual trafficking, sexual assault, and misconduct from former WWE employee Janel Grant. She also alleges that McMahon shared explicit content of her without consent, involving WWE personnel, undisclosed executives, and wrestling stars.

    In the aftermath of the sexual trafficking lawsuit, Vince McMahon resigned from WWE and TKO Holdings, vowing to challenge the allegations and maintaining their complete baselessness.

    WWE 2K24 Reportedly Taking Action With McMahon

    WWE 2K24 is set to be released in a matter of months. The game is pretty much ready when it comes to the bigger elements, and Mr. McMahon could be a big part of that. Now, 2k is reportedly trying to do what they can to lighten the McMahon factor in the game.

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer approached this subject of McMahon and 2K. He said that the 2K team is trying hard to figure out a way to erase Vince McMahon from their game.

    Not only that, but they are also making an attempt to erase Vince from WWE history totally. That may be impossible, but they are going to do everything they can to avoid showing him, or mentioning him in any way.

    “They are trying to figure out a situation on how to get him out of the video game, and they’re trying to — which may not be possible, you know, and trying to figure out a way to erase him from history, which is completely impossible, you can’t do it, you know.”

    “It’s a very unique and interesting situation that we’re probably going to be hearing about constantly.’

    The new WWE 2K24 game will feature a Forty Years of WrestleMania mode. It will be very difficult to tell the forty-year story of the show of shows without mentioning Vince McMahon. He is undoubtably in many cut scenes throughout the storyline of that feature, but now it appears he may hit the cutting room floor.

    WWE has totally nixed others in the past, erasing them to the best of their ability. Interestingly enough, Rita Chatterton received that same treatment, as her allegation of sexual assault against Vince McMahon is now seeing a new spotlight.

    When WWE 2K24 Will Be Released

    WWE 2K24 will drop on March 8, 2024. Fans can already pre-order the game online.

    WWE 2K23, reviewed favorably by SEScoops, was launched on March 14th, 2023, available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

    SE Scoops will continue monitoring the evolving story of Vince McMahon, and whatever else happens next. It will be interesting to see how much of McMahon they are able to scrub from WWE 2K24.

  • Justin Gabriel: Vince McMahon’s Bats**t Crazy, But You Have to Be to Be a Billionaire

    Justin Gabriel: Vince McMahon’s Bats**t Crazy, But You Have to Be to Be a Billionaire

    Vince McMahon may be crazy, but perhaps craziness is what it takes to reach the heights he has reached, according to one former Superstar. 

    McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 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.”

    Justin Gabriel on Vince McMahon 

    One person who worked under McMahon for years as a WWE Superstar was PJ Black, better known as Justin Gabriel. On a recent edition of the Cafe de Rene podcast, Black was asked by Rene Dupree for when he realized McMahon was “bats**t crazy.”

    “From day one. I mean all billionaires, I work with a lot of billionaires and I know a lot of billionaires so you have to be crazy to think on that level, you know? But I mean there’s a fine line between crazy and genius. And at the end of the day he is a genius. Say what you want about him, he’s a genius. He’s a self-made billionaire. Anyone who’s a self-made billionaire is crazy and a genius and comes with a lot of different labels.

    “I’ve always had good interactions with him he’s he’s definitely a strange character, yeah. Bats**t crazy is the way to describe him. But you know like I there’s a good way to describe that and a bad way right I only saw the good sides of that so [I was]very fortunate. Very fortunate.”

    Justin Gabriel on John Lauriniaitis

    Former McMahon confidante John Lauriniaitis is also named in the litigation, though has claimed that he’s a victim in this situation, not a predator. On the show, Black recalled his relationship with ‘Johnny Ace’ and how his brothers once worked for the promotion run by Black’s father. 

    “He loved me. Because he’s the guy that signed me. He kind of knew who my dad was because his two younger brothers worked for my dad back in the day… they were big stars in South Africa. They looked great and my dad had them come to the ring with motorcycles and they had the badass metal music. They were just so over in South Africa and little did I know I was gonna get signed by their older brother one day.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESLgsHkbuC4

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

  • The Rock On WWE Return: My Connection With The People Can Never Be Broken

    The Rock’s connection with the ‘People’ can’t be broken, according to the man himself, despite his recent controversial return to WWE. 

    On SmackDown, The Rock confronted Roman Reigns, teasing a match at WrestleMania 40. Many feel that this match comes at the expense of Cody Rhodes, who’s been essentially cast aside to give The Rock the match with Reigns. The consensus is that after last year’s loss to Reigns and all the work he does year-round, Cody deserves to finish the story by beating Reigns at WrestleMania. 

    The Rock Comments

    Taking to Twitter, The Rock didn’t refer to the negative response he’s received from the WWE Universe. Instead, he thanked the fans for the “explosive, insane reaction” and said the connection with the fans can never be broken. Rock also thanked Cody for the love, before ending with a warning to his cousin. 

    The Fans React

    In the comments of the tweet, the ‘People’ were hardly thrilled with the People’s Champion. Many fans expressed their support for Cody Rhodes, while some suggested that The Rock should retire. One fan suggested that this could be the start of a heel turn for the Brahma Bull, while a more sympathetic fan simply said “Pretend that these replies don’t exist Dwayne.”

    What’s Next?

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear at an upcoming WrestleMania 40 press event, though there’s no word on whether Cody will be a part of the show. Cody will be at the Elimination Chamber: Perth event this month, a show neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected to appear at. Logan Paul has also been confirmed for the event.

    So Cody is out and The Rock is in. But how did we get here…

  • Logan Paul Weighs In On The Rock’s WWE Return: “We Want Cody”

    Logan Paul Weighs In On The Rock’s WWE Return: “We Want Cody”

    WWE United States Champion Logan Paul has thrown his support behind Cody Rhodes following The Rock’s return to the promotion. 

    On SmackDown, The Rock confronted Roman Reigns, teasing a match at WrestleMania 40. Though fans have been eager to see the two face off for some time, this match comes at the expense of Cody Rhodes. Fans have taken issue with WWE essentially moving Rhodes to the side to give The Rock the match with Reigns. The consensus is that after last year’s loss to Reigns and all the work he does year-round, Cody deserves to finish the story by beating Reigns at WrestleMania. 

    Logan Paul Weighs In

    WWE’s YouTube video of The Rock’s return has scored a record number of dislikes in just one example of the WWE Universe’s opinion on this situation. At a recent live event, fans booed a video featuring The Rock, in what is a far cry from the usual response the fans give the People’s Champion. 

    The WWE Superstars, for the most part, have kept quiet about The Rock being shoehorned into Cody’s spot at WrestleMania 40. Taking to Twitter, however, Paul made his views clear on who should be facing the Tribal Chief in Philadelphia. 

    The Rock & Logan Paul 

    It’s quite something for Paul to side with Cody Rhodes over The Rock, given his past friendship with the Brahma Bull. The pair teamed up for several videos from The Maverick before Rock cut ties with Paul following the latter’s controversial video taken from Japan’s ‘suicide forest’ back in 2017. On a recent edition of his Insight podcast, Paul admitted that it greatly hurt for The Rock, a personal hero of his, to cut ties with him.

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear at an upcoming WrestleMania 40 press event, though there’s no word on whether Cody will be a part of the show. Cody will be at the Elimination Chamber: Perth event this month, a show neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected to appear at. Logan Paul has also been confirmed for the event

    Cody is out and The Rock is in. How did we get here… 

  • WWE Crowds Are Already Turning Against The Rock At Live Events (Watch)

    WWE Crowds Are Already Turning Against The Rock At Live Events (Watch)

    The Rock may be known as ‘The People’s Champion,’ but the people weren’t happy to see the Brahma Bull at a recent WWE event. 

    On this week’s SmackDown, Cody Rhodes, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, said that he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania. Reigns was immediately confronted by The Rock, teasing a showdown between the two at the April supershow. After the show, the two continued to face off before Reigns headed to the back with Paul Heyman. 

    The Rock Booed at WWE Live Event 

    This booking decision has been reviled by fans, who believe Cody’s story should finish by standing tall over Reigns at WrestleMania. Many feel that The Rock’s role as a TKO Board member helped influence this change of plans, costing the much more deserving Rhodes the right ending to his story. 

    The fans’ distaste for the ‘People’s Champion’ hasn’t just been playing out on social media. At a WWE live event in Knoxville, Tennessee, WWE aired a video of The Rock’s return to SmackDown. Contrary to the usual, this appearance by The Rock was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd. 

    The Rock did not appear in person at the WWE live event in Knoxville. Cody Rhodes did, however, and defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the show’s Street Fight main event. The Rock and Roman Reigns will be at a WrestleMania 40 press event this coming week. There’s no word on whether the American Nightmare will be a part of the Thursday event. 

  • WWE Roster Reportedly Opposed To The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot Against Roman Reigns

    WWE Roster Reportedly Opposed To The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot Against Roman Reigns

    The Rock made his big WWE return on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, and that sparked a new controversy within the fan base. The Great One swooped in and took Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania main event match against Roman Reigns, and it’s hard to find someone who is incredibly happy about that right now.

    Internal Reaction To The Rock’s Return

    A report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select also detailed the internal reaction after Cody Rhodes lost his WrestleMania spot to The Rock. We previously noted that there was a sense of shock over the move.

    “I’ve known Dwayne a long time,” a wrestler reportedly shared with Fightful. “Not only did the look on Cody’s face tell a story, the look on Dwayne’s told a story. I think in that moment he knew that this decision wasn’t going to work out quite the way that he imagined it. He was experiencing the same thing that he and Roman experienced in Philadelphia. He was being co-signed for something the vast majority didn’t want.”

    WWE Roster Is Seemingly Against This Booking

    Everyone that reportedly discussed this situation with the outlet understood the business implications of running the match, but they also believed it wasn’t a good decision for long-term WWE business.

    “The Rock vs. Roman made sense several years ago when we were running back Roman and Lesnar repeatedly. It could have made sense this year had Cody won the title last year. This is one of the few years it just doesn’t make sense in any capacity.”

    A source in creative reportedly said that many on the team were deflated, and it felt like a decision they’d hear about being made under the previous regime at the expense of helping cultivate new crossover talent.

    Another source that had worked with the Rock was much more stern, saying, “The Rock eroded his trust with the comic and superhero community, with the film community, maybe with the football community, and might do it with the one he has almost universal goodwill with. He’s not a bad guy, don’t mistake that or get me wrong – he’s a great guy. However, bad timing and overexposure and fatigue will make fools of us all. You have to know when to take a back seat.”

    Fans Do Not Approve

    We previously reported how WWE fans have spoken out against The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania 40. They have started a trend of Justice for Cody on social media as well as flooding WWE’s posts on the matter.

    The Rock and Roman Reigns’ segment from last night’s SmackDown has now surpassed 300,000 dislikes in under 15 hours with 2.5 million views. It is now the most-disliked video that WWE has ever put on their channel. Brandi Rhodes and others have reacted to The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Fans have voiced their displeasure as well.

    WrestleMania 40 Plans Could Change Again

    It is important to note that WWE has not made Rock vs Roman official at WrestleMania 40 just yet. The fact that they are set to have a face-to-face during a WrestleMania kickoff event in Las Vegas certainly paints that picture.

    Fightful also noted that plans in pro wrestling can always change, and “there are many in the company that are cautiously optimistic that if the reaction that WWE received Friday night” could cause them to shift. 

    As it stands right now, Cody Rhodes will challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at Mania. This comes right after Reigns buried that title on SmackDown, calling it a “losers bracket title,” because he’s already beaten anyone in the running for that belt. 

  • The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Story: When & How Roman Reigns Main Event Match Came To Be

    The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Story: When & How Roman Reigns Main Event Match Came To Be

    The Rock is returning to the ring to face Roman Reigns. This move on WWE’s part left many shocked backstage. There is a lot to unpack in this situation as well.

    New Details On How The Rock vs Roman Reigns Was Booked For WrestleMania 40

    While Cody Rhodes expressed his intent to challenge Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble, as he pointed at the Tribal Chief and talked smack as his Kingdom song played on, Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there were reports circulating within the company on the afternoon of the Royal Rumble suggesting that The Rock had agreed to face Reigns. 

    The existence of Rock-themed WrestleMania merchandise prototypes, ones that had Rock in a Head of the Table graphic, further fueled speculation.

    Sources reportedly indicated that The Rock not only advocated for the match, but some believe he was pushing for a victory. TKO maintains that this move wasn’t driven by malice toward Rhodes, acknowledging his talent, but recognizing that the audience’s patience had worn thin on the situation.

    When Cody Rhodes Found Out

    Concerning the timeline, Cody was reportedly informed of the decision on Friday, ensuring he was aware before traveling to Smackdown. Talent, including The Rock, had already been booked for the February 8 press conference in Las Vegas, although The Rock’s involvement was not initially clear.

    It is also interesting to note, that not too long ago, Cody openly stated that he wasn’t worried about losing his WrestleMania spot to The Rock.

    While not directly associated with the scandals that Vince McMahon finds himself in now, any mainstream publicity was seen as potentially beneficial. It was noted that Rock was pulling for this match against Roman Reigns prior to Janel Grant’s earth-shattering lawsuit dropped. 

    The early word is that The Rock plans to work a full-length match at WrestleMania, although his willingness to continue wrestling beyond WrestleMania remains uncertain, given the face that he’s one of the busiest men on the planet. 

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this tricky situation as WWE makes their way down another road to WrestleMania. Things seemed to be going well, but The Rock’s return definitely stirred up a controversy that Triple H will have to book around now.

  • WWE Discussing Title Unification Win for Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

    WWE Discussing Title Unification Win for Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

    The WWE Universe may have to wait until SummerSlam 2024 to see Cody Rhodes dethrone Roman Reigns, in a match that could see huge championship possibilities.

    On this week’s SmackDown, Rhodes, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, said that he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania. Reigns was immediately confronted by The Rock, teasing a showdown between the two at the April supershow. This booking decision has been reviled by fans, who believe Cody’s story should finish by standing tall over Reigns at WrestleMania.

    Unification at SummerSlam? 

    Instead of Roman Reigns, it now appears that Cody will challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. PW Insider reports that there have been talks of Rhodes winning the title at WrestleMania 40, in the first of two huge title wins for the American Nightmare. The idea would be for Rhodes to challenge the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at SummerSlam in a title unification match.

    WWE’s Unifying History 

    If this goes ahead, it’ll come just over a year after WWE introduced the World Heavyweight Championship in May of 2023. The title’s inception came about due to Reigns’ dominant tenure as Champion and his part time schedule. WWE unified the WWE and Universal Championship at WrestleMania 38. In the main event of Night 2 of the April 2022 event, Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to unify the gold. 

    Randy Orton unified the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships at WWE: TLC 2013 with a victory over John Cena. At Vengeance 2001, Chris Jericho unified the WWF and World Championships by defeating ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night. 

  • The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot: Internal Aftermath Within WWE

    The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot: Internal Aftermath Within WWE

    Cody Rhodes was just about to proclaim that his 2024 Royal Rumble win would result in an Undisputed Universal Title match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Then that match was swiftly taken away when he introduced The Rock’s big surprise for the Tribal Chief.

    Backstage Reaction to The Rock’s Return

    Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that The Rock was around SmackDown all day prior to his big surprise return.

    It was also noted that, “One person at Smackdown said it was the most outside faces they’ve seen there in a long time.” The night was certainly a special one in Alabama this week.

    When The Rock returned during SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns, the WWE Universe wasn’t the only people who were surprised. Sapp noted that, “The reaction backstage to The Rock taking Cody’s spot was one of shock.”

    WWE Bringing in Former Writer for The Rock

    PW Insider reported that Brian Gewirtz will play a role as the voice representing The Rock in the WWE Creative process moving forward. He is not only a former lead writer for WWE, but he is also the current SVP of Development for Seven Bucks Productions.

    Some anticipate Gerwirtz’s presence during major shows, potentially serving as a “Plan B” if Endeavor ever decides to shift WWE’s direction towards a Dwayne Johnson-backed creative team in the future.

    How This Match Came About

    As we previously reported, according to Dave Meltzer on the F4W Online forum, The Rock passionately lobbied for the match against Reigns. Meltzer noted that the anticipated high-profile showdown between the Hollywood star and the Tribal Chief is likely to divert attention from the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal.

    “Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

    The Rock also just joined TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors. This came just before Vince McMahon resigned from the company due to the damning allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

    This Was Not A Burial Of Cody

    PW Insider reported that everyone is expected to consider The Rock’s ideas in WWE. The decision to involve him in the main event was not driven by malice to sideline Cody Rhodes, but rather based on the belief that Johnson would be the most lucrative choice, considering his new role within the company’s parent company.

    It was a strategic move aimed at bolstering Johnson’s overall political influence and demonstrating Endeavor’s confidence in his engagement. One source reportedly suggested that even Paul “Triple H” Levesque would “lose that power struggle with Johnson at this point.”

    Public Backlash Over WrestleMania Card

    Brandi Rhodes and others have reacted to The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Fans have voiced their displeasure as well.

    Fans also banded together online to voice their discontent. The Rock and Roman Reigns’ segment from last night’s SmackDown has now surpassed 300,000 dislikes in under 15 hours with 2.5 million views. It is now the most-disliked video that WWE has ever put on their channel.

  • WWE’s Plan For Cody Rhodes At WrestleMania 40

    WWE’s Plan For Cody Rhodes At WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes may not get to finish his story with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, but the American Nightmare will still be on the show. After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, he punched his ticket to Mania already, and now we know his match.

    WWE’s Plan for Cody Rhodes

    The Rock’s shocking return to WWE television meant that Cody is not facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Although Dwayne Johnson’s return to the picture shuffled the Mania card, Rhodes will still get a title match.

    According to PW Insider, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will throw down at WrestleMania. The two already have a lot of history with each other, as Rollins was Rhodes’ first feud out of the gate upon his return two years ago, and now they have more story to write.

    As far as the future for Cody, the current plan is for him to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, a direction change that a lot of readers we’ve heard from resent given that he’s been pushing to “finish his story” all year, that finishing that story was in reach after a Royal Rumble win and that even the WWE 2K24 video game (which Cody is on the cover for) is themed in part around fans “finishing” their own story.

    Public Response To Cody Losing Mania Spot To The Rock

    Fans expressed discontent with the recent booking choice, particularly the decision to have Cody Rhodes lose his WrestleMania spot to The Rock. This dissatisfaction manifested in a surge of dislikes on WWE’s YouTube video and ongoing discussions throughout the night regarding the significant segment.

    Compounding the situation, supporters initiated the ‘Justice for Cody’ campaign to amplify their stance. In a recent WWE live stream video titled “Best of Cody Rhodes full matches marathon,” they flooded the comments section, rallying behind the American Nightmare.

    WrestleMania Shake-Up

    The WrestleMania card was already getting a shake-up. Brock Lesnar was pulled from creative due to his association with the damning allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. CM Punk was also pulled from the show of shows due to a triceps injury.

    Since Lesnar and Punk were off the show, where they were set to face GUNTHER and Seth Rollins respectively, WWE brought The Rock in for that match against Roman Reigns that fans have talked about for years. 

  • Roman Reigns and The Rock Set To Face Off At WWE WrestleMania Kickoff Event

    Roman Reigns and The Rock Set To Face Off At WWE WrestleMania Kickoff Event

    The Rock shocked the pro wrestling world once again when he showed up during the February 2nd episode of SmackDown. He confronted Roman Reigns, and although the Great One didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. Now, fans are set to see what is next.

    The Rock & Roman Reigns Face-Off

    WrestleMania 40 seems to be the place for Rock vs Roman. Fans will see more from them soon enough, because the two will be in Las Vegas on the 8th.

    WWE has announced The Rock and Roman Reigns will engage in a face-off during an open-to-the-public fan and media event for the WrestleMania XL Kickoff. The event will take place live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 8th, at 4 PM PT.

    In the announcement that WWE sent out about the event, it was also revealed that the whole thing will stream on Peacock and other platforms.

    @WWERomanReigns and @TheRock will face-off at The #WrestleMania XL Kickoff, streaming live from @TMobileArena on Feb. 8 at 4pm PT across WWE social platforms and @peacock !

    Public Response So Far

    Fans don’t seem to be incredibly happy about this booking decision. Cody Rhodes losing his WrestleMania spot to The Rock was not taken well by some, and they spoke out. They blew up WWE’s YouTube video with dislikes, and posted all night about the big segment.

    Adding to the situation, fans started posting ‘Justice for Cody’ to strengthen the movement. During a recent WWE live stream video titled “Best of Cody Rhodes full matches marathon,” they also inundated it with comments to back up the American Nightmare.

    WWE’s Previous Creative Plan For The Rock at WrestleMania

    I exclusively reported WWE’s current situation with The Rock vs Roman Reigns. While some were saying that the match may be moved to Saudi Arabia, that is not the case. Those plans were kept very close to the vest. Now, it appears that the match is going to take place at the show of shows this year, and fans will not have to wait.

  • WWE Superstar Montez Ford Drops His First Music Album

    WWE Superstar Montez Ford Drops His First Music Album

    WWE Superstars can sometimes branch outside the pro wrestling bubble to do big things. Montez Ford has a new accomplishment that he can finally share with the world’s ears.

    Ford’s Big Announcement

    Montez Ford, who is 1/2 of The Street Profits alongside Angelo Dawkins, is known for his hard work in the ring, and now he has ventured into the music scene with the release of a new album. 

    Ford’s new record called ‘God Is Good’ dropped, and he’s very proud of what he has to offer. This has also been a project that took a lot of time to make sure he got it right.

    The eight-track album, which is now available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, shows off Ford’s abilities beyond the wrestling ring. Along with a link to the new album, Ford hyped fans about his new music drop.

    ”As promised, it’s finally here! GOD IS GOOD – ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS! It’s been a wild couple of weeks, but thank you all for your overwhelming & continued support with our reality show & everything. I hope you enjoy! -Tezzie”

    Montez Ford in WWE

    Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins recently teamed up with Bobby Lashley to form a new stable on SmackDown. The Pride is still doing their thing, confident in their current feud against Karrion Kross’ Final Testament faction with AOP.

    Ford is not hanging up his pro wrestling boots by a long shot. He has a lot more to accomplish, but at the same time, he can’t wait to share his musical endeavor with his fans. 

    Other Musical Superstars

    Montez is not the first WWE Superstar to drop a music album. In recent memory, Elias did the same. Sadly, that record was taken down after WWE released him. Prior to that, names like AJ Francis, R-Truth, Mickie James, Jeff Hardy, John Cena, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and more all dropped their own brand of music.

  • The Rock Says You Can Feel The Mana At WWE’s New Headquarters

    The Rock Says You Can Feel The Mana At WWE’s New Headquarters

    Finally, The Rock has come back to Stamford. 

    The People’s Champ is taking his new TKO Board Of Directors role quite seriously as he took to social media to share some photos of himself visiting the new WWE headquarters. The Rock then reflected on making the stop and had a lot to say about the ‘mana’ that the new building carries.

    “I needed to make one more final and most important visit – I wanted to come to Stamford, Connecticut to see our INCREDIBLE WWE HQ TEAM in person.

    “To express to everyone my deepest gratitude for their commitment and talents, as well as my boundless excitement to go shoulder to shoulder with everyone to continue to build our company. Face to face. Eyes to eyes. Handshakes and hugs. I was completely blown away. You can FEEL the mana, energy, love and momentum!

    “It’s a very exciting time for our companies and I’m forever proud to have played and continue to play a very small role in the growth of WWE. I’m honored to now sit at the table that my grandfather and my father helped to build. On the shoulders of giants, we stand. In the spirit of unity we grow. ~ Rock.”

    The Rock has been plenty active on social media since becoming part of the board and has been putting TKO over big time since the news broke last week. 

    Not only does he have the new job title to be happy about, but Dwayne Johnson also has got to be electrified by finally owning “The Rock” trademark, something he also posted about on Instagram.

  • Chris Jericho, DDP, Cody Rhodes & More Contribute Big Money To Ice Train’s GoFundMe Campaign After His Passing

    Chris Jericho, DDP, Cody Rhodes & More Contribute Big Money To Ice Train’s GoFundMe Campaign After His Passing

    The pro wrestling world is like a family in many ways. When someone is taken from us, many times the community steps up to help those who were left behind. After Ice Train’s passing, many of those who knew him are now helping his family through this trying time.

    Ice Train’s GoFundMe

    Ice Train passed away at 56-years-old, and many who worked with him during his days in the ring spoke out to grieve the loss. As of this writing, his cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, but he had health issues. Now, his family is in need of assistance. 

    The description for the GoFundMe, written by Diamond Dallas Page, explains how the money will be used to help Ice Train’s family. The two had a 30-year friendship, and now DDP wants to make sure that Harold Hogue’s family is taken care of to the best of his ability.

    Ice Train was born with congenital heart disease, so he couldn’t get insurance. Due to this, his family is in a terrible circumstance right now.

    Harold Hogue aka “Ice Train” aka “Smooth” (to me he was always “H”) was a warrior and one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. Our 30 year relationship was filled with laughter & brotherhood. We were always there for each other.

    Our families are one family.

    Harold was born with a congenital heart disease and passed away unexpectedly on January 23, 2024. Because of his condition, he was unable to get life insurance, leaving his wife Tiana and his 7 kids too soon…without their rock, and their primary provider.

    Please consider donating in honor of Harold, to help support his family after losing such a great husband, father, and friend. I love you H – DDP.

    As of this writing, they have raised $17,990 of their $50,000 goal. Some notable names have already contributed substantial donations for the campaign. 

    Notable Donations Already

    Several figures from the wrestling community have contributed to Ice Train’s GoFundMe campaign. Dallas Page donated $10,000, Chris Jericho contributed $5,000, and Cody Rhodes put in $1,000. 

    Our thoughts are with Ice Train’s family, friends, and fans at this time. We hope that they reach their goal, because his family could certainly use the assistance. You may visit the link here for more information on Ice Train’s GoFundMe account.