AEW’s CJ Perry and Miro are moving on from one another.

Earlier today, TMZ Sports reported that CJ Perry (formerly known as Lana) and Miro (formerly known as Rusev) had “broke[n] up once and for all” in the winter of 2023 after several years of an on-and-off relationship. The couple, who officially tied to knot in July 2016, is said to have simply drifted apart. 

While the couple has yet to file for divorce, Miro reportedly moved back to his home country of Bulgaria shortly after he and Perry made the decision to break up. 

CJ Perry has since confirmed their split to TMZ, stating, “Miro and I have made the difficult decision to separate after many wonderful years together, and have decided to move on as friends, and hopefully onscreen characters somewhere down the road.” 

AEW Ventures

In the months following his release from WWE in 2020, Miro inked a contract with All Elite Wrestling, where he became a one-time TNT Champion.

In September 2023, Perry would follow suit as she attempted to save Miro from a post-match attack from Powerhouse Hobbs in her AEW debut, which took place at the All Out pay-per-view. Upon signing with AEW, Perry has reprised her role as an on-screen manager, taking on the likes of Action Andretti and Andrade El Idolo.

Perry’s most recent appearance occurred at AEW Worlds End in December, in which she accompanied Andrade to the ring in his match against Miro. However, in a surprise turn of events, Perry turned on Andrade, subsequently causing him to lose his aforementioned match to Miro. 

Andrade has since rejoined WWE.

Max Caster knows how to get under fans’ skin. He makes a living as a heel now, and the Bang Bang Scissor Gang gives him a lot of creative freedom. He may have gone over the line recently, but he was HACKED!

AEW’s resident rapper recently took to Twitter/X to said that all of his mean tweets last night was the result of a hacker. That being said, he’s not taking any of them down and agrees with each word that hacker had to say.

Max Caster’s “Hack”

Max Caster knows how to use his words in very creative ways. He recently went on a tear, where he released a few brutal tweets at fans.

On Monday morning, he logged back onto Twitter/X, where he made it very clear that he was the victim of a hack. This was all part of his character, because he’s not going to dismiss himself from anything that nefarious hacker said to fans.

He released a message along with a text graphic that let everyone know what he was up to. As he cleaned up the mess left by the hacker, he decided to leave all traces of this phony cyberattack.

From Max, Hello, users of X (formerly Twitter).

My followers, my former followers, and wrestling fans… Last night, while I was asleep, I was hacked by a hacker. That person proceeded to correspond antagonizing messages to you, the fans. They caused a lot of problems that I would never intend to start. Ironically, I stand behind all the opinions and statements made by my hacker, and I will not be deleting the posts. However, rest assured that I have full control of my account once again. Thank you for understanding.

Humbly, The Best Wrestler Alive

Never thought I’d have to do this… Please understand at this difficult time ? pic.twitter.com/KcfqlBBy06

— ''Platinum'' Max Caster (@PlatinumMax) March 11, 2024

You can check out a few of the mean tweets that Max Caster’s “hacker” sent out in the space below. They are still up, and there are a few more as well. He’s obviously not backing down from any of them.

Yeah… Kinda bad looking https://t.co/NA3PN7bGRA

— ''Platinum'' Max Caster (@PlatinumMax) March 11, 2024

Nope! We are trios champs! No one has come close to beating us! https://t.co/lOWU1Zqnv9

— ''Platinum'' Max Caster (@PlatinumMax) March 11, 2024

I’ve never choked on a freestyle https://t.co/sbZjEq3DhI

— ''Platinum'' Max Caster (@PlatinumMax) March 11, 2024

What’s Next

We will have to see what Max Caster does next to catch attention. He is known for catching headlines with controversial remarks, and this one was incredibly inventive.

Max Caster and Anthony Bowens’ drive in AEW was put on another level when Billy Gunn joined them. We have to wonder whose idea it was to pull off this hacker deal, but we have to give him credit.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for the headlines that you need.

AEW has faced criticism from all over the pro wrestling world for a variety of things from their booking to the wrestlers Tony Khan signs to a contract. The fact that injuries seem to be prevalent is also a topic of conversation.

Al Snow is a veteran in the pro wrestling business, and he has a lot to say. He recently expressed the idea that, unless things change, someone will die in an AEW ring.

Al Snow’s Deathly Prediction For AEW

Former WWE star and OVW owner, Al Snow, appeared on Vince Russo’s Youtube channel to share his concerns about the current AEW product, which he perceives as unsafe.

Snow explained to Russo why he believes that a wrestler may eventually suffer a fatal injury inside an AEW ring. Regarding the potential criticism of his views, Snow stated, “You’re going to have those that are going to defend it, and they’re going to get upset and take the… that I’ve got an axe to grind, and that I’m bitter, and I’m not,” emphasizing that he is satisfied with everything.

Snow highlighted his past efforts in advocating for standards of training and safety in wrestling, particularly during his tenure at OVW. He expressed his belief that the escalation of risks in AEW matches may lead to a tragic accident.

We now have escalated to where we watched Will Ospreay go up into a vertical suplex with the guy standing on the second rope and drop straight on his head. We watched Orange Cassidy get dropped bodily on the top rope and could almost be cut in half. OK? How much exponentially has the scale went up, that we’re going to watch someone die? Meaning… legitimately, they’re going to die right in front of your eyes in a match.

AEW & Injuries

AEW just suspended Sammy Guevara for injuring Jeff Hardy. There is also an idea that he ignored concussion protocol in the process. This suspension also sparked a lot of conversation within the pro wrestling fan base.

Tony Khan allows his talent to do a lot of things in their matches that a company like OVW or WWE wouldn’t touch. The use of real glass at AEW Revolution sent shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world, because that dangerous Darby Allin stunt could have gone much worse.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are available. Keep checking back for the stories and headlines you need.

Kenny Omega could put his wrestling knowledge to use by ranking matches on Twitch amid his current absence from AEW. 

The former AEW World Champion has been missing from AEW programming since late 2023 after being diagnosed with diverticulitis. At first, Omega believed he was dealing with a hernia, before receiving the accurate and alarming diagnosis. Despite recently being advertised for upcoming AEW events in his native Canada, there’s no timeline for when fans should expect Omega back in the ring. 

Kenny Omega on Twitch? 

While Omega hasn’t been competing, the AEW EVP has remained active on Twitch where fans can find him playing video games and sharing updates about his life and condition. Taking to Twitter, Omega said he’s thinking about delivering match ratings. the Cleaner admitted that the idea of rating matches may rub some fans the wrong way. 

I’ve been enjoying the streams lately but have been thinking about adding a new activity.

One that’s sure to unite all wrestling fans and encourage peaceful discussion.

I’m thinking of rating wrestling matches. pic.twitter.com/0z0JK2ftPa

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) March 11, 2024

Omega’s Many Stars

Kenny Omega isn’t rating matches yet but the former AEW World Champion knows all about giving high-star performances. Omega currently has 25 matches rated five or more stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. 12 of these matches surpassed the five-star scale. His highest rated match took place at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall and saw Omega and Kazuchika Okada give a seven-star performance. 

What’s Next?

It’s ironic that Okada and Omega had the seven-star match as it seems the pair will face off nice more. On last week’ AEW Dynamite, the Young Bucks fired Omega as a member of the Elite. That same show saw Okada debut and align with the Bucks, seemingly replacing Omega in the role. 

AEW has a number of former WWE Superstars on their roster. It appears that they may be adding one more, but that doesn’t mean it will be a universally praised decision.

Shelton Benjamin was released from WWE in September last year, but he hasn’t signed with another company yet. He may just end up in AEW at this point, and Max Caster couldn’t keep his opinion to himself. Caster doesn’t think AEW needs Shelton.

Max Caster Reacts

It was previously reported that AEW is in talks with Shelton Benjamin. That would be a great get for Tony Khan, because Shelty hasn’t ended up anywhere else since his WWE release in September 2023.

Max Caster apparently heard this report, and he couldn’t keep his opinion to himself. While reacting to this new story about another former WWE Superstar who may be coming into the Land of All Elite, Caster posted on Twitter/X to let everyone know how he feels about things.

We Don’t Want Him

We don’t want him! https://t.co/klLXzTc5rF

— ''Platinum'' Max Caster (@PlatinumMax) March 11, 2024

What’s Next For AEW & Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin’s release was a surprise for many, because he is a veteran and has a ton of tools to offer any company he works for. At 48-years-old, Benjamin still has a lot of gas in the tank, and he just may end up in AEW soon enough.

For what it’s worth, there have been people in AEW pulling for Tony Khan to sign Shelton Benjamin since before WWE released him. So, he does have people on the roster who are on his side. 

AEW is looking ahead for their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston this week. March 13th’s episode will likely see the debut of Mercedes Mone for the company. It’s anyone’s guess how much longer fans will have to wait until Shelton Benjamin joins the mix.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and everything else that AEW is doing to gain headlines. Please keep checking back for more details on the stories you need.

AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage is in for a world of hurt when he next faces Adam Copeland if the Rated-R Star is to be believed. 

Since arriving in AEW at WrestleDream, the WWE Hall of Famer has feuded with his former friend. At AEW Worlds End, Cage captured the TNT Championship from Cage, his first title victory since 2011. Unfortunately for Copeland, his reign was short-lived as Killswitch would attack him from behind and gift his guaranteed TNT title shot to Cage who promptly won the gold back. 

Copeland’s Surprise for Christian Cage

On the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Copeland ambushed Cage and challenged him to an I-Quit natch for the TNT Championship for the March 20, episode. The choice of date is no coincidence, as the show will take place in Toronto, Canada. 

On the March 9, edition of AEW Collision, Copeland once again got the better of Cage and the Patriarchy. He also teased having a surprise for Cage when they next face for the TNT Championship. Taking to Twitter, Copeland continued to tease having something special for his former friend. 

I had an idea on my way to a Cure concert and stopped off to show @Christian4Peeps a little surprise for our I Quit match in Toronto #SPIKE pic.twitter.com/NjM88ZLhMF

— Adam Copeland (@RatedRCope) March 10, 2024

What’s Next?

Hopefully, Copeland’s surprise will help nullify the numbers advantage that the Patriarchy gives the reigning AEW TNT Champion. In addition to Killswitch, Cage has Nick Wayne at his beck and call, as well as Mama Wayne. Copeland has some allies of his own in AEW, including Darby Allin and FTR. 

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

Days until WrestleMania 40: 26

WWE:

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

Brock Lesnar is back on the WWE website roster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be right back on TV.

After asking around I can confirm that the creative team has not been told that anything has changed with Lesnar.

He was supposed to be in the Rumble, face Dom at EC and…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 11, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

WWE RAW Card for 3/11:

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

AEW:

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

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

A recent AEW Collision match featuring Jay Lethal saw a tribute to the wrestler’s mother who sadly passed away very recently. 

On last week’s episode of Collision, Lethal teamed with Mark Briscoe and Jeff Jarrett to face the House of Black in a street fight. The match saw the House of Black get the win after Malakai Black put Briscoe through a flaming table. 

Jay Lethal’s Tribute

Those who watched the Collision match closely may have noticed an armband worn by Jay Lethal. This is because Lethal’s mother Shirley Shipman passed away on February 29, PW Insider has learned. A celebration of her life will take place at the Nesbitt Funeral Home tomorrow in Elizabeth, New Jersey. More information can be found here.

A Family Affair

Shirley Shipman, like her husband Ron, was deeply supportive of their son’s pursuit of wrestling glory. The Shipman’s even got involved from time to time in their son’s career. During a 2012 ROH show, Lethal challenged Kevin Steen (now Owens) for the ROH World Championship. During the match, Steen antagonized the Shipman’s who were sat at ringside by biting Jay. Ron fired back by throwing his drink at the Canadian, prompting Steen to spit in Shirley’s face. This exchange would fire up Jay to the delight of the crowd. 

During a JAPW show, Lethal and his father were outnumbered by heels for a six man tag where Ron was to team with his son against Steve Corino, Ricky Landell and Rick Silver. Shirley came out to proclaim that they had a partner before introducing Charlie Haas. 

We at SE Scoops would like to extend our deepest condolences to Jay and his family at this very sad time.

WWE released a list of talent in September 2024, and Shelton Benjamin was on that list. That being said, he has been conspicuously absent from any big announcement about going elsewhere. It turns out there is interest in him.

Shelton Benjamin has not ended up in TNA, AEW, NJPW, or anywhere. According to a new report, there are some suitors out there for the veteran former WWE Superstar.

Shelton Benjamin & AEW

According to reports from Fightful Select, Shelton Benjamin, who is currently unaffiliated with any company, has garnered interest from various potential promotions. 

While initially there was no contact between Shelton Benjamin and All Elite Wrestling upon his free agency, recent conversations between the two parties have taken place. These discussions revolved around the possibility of Benjamin making appearances for the company. 

It remains uncertain whether Benjamin would enter into a contract or a full-time deal with AEW, or if any formal agreements have been reached.

Talks regarding potential appearances for Benjamin reportedly started approximately a month ago, although the specifics of any arrangement were not disclosed. Obviously, he could provide a boost for any roster he joins.

Shelton Benjamin’s WWE Release & Beyond

Despite rumors last year about Shelton Benjamin’s WWE contract expiring, he was eventually released by the company in the fall of 2023. Benjamin’s release from WWE opened up the possibility for him to explore opportunities with other wrestling promotions. 

Having been with WWE since before the inception of AEW, Benjamin had not previously had the chance to work with Tony Khan’s company. Things may change in that regard soon enough.

Shelton Benjamin has a notable history in Ring of Honor. Benjamin’s extensive experience in the wrestling industry makes him an attractive prospect for potential employers. 

We will have to see where Shelton Benjamin shows up next, but he’s not out of the conversation entirely. SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are made available. 

Sammy Guevara is currently serving a suspension due to his involvement in a match against Jeff Hardy on February 14th. This was apparently news to Matt Hardy.

Matt Hardy has now reacted to Sammy Guevara’s suspension. He didn’t have a ton to say, but this was apparently breaking new to him when he heard that it happened. Matt was somewhat involved, because he got in the ring and gave Guevara the middle finger after the ordeal went down during that Rampage taping.

Matt Hardy Reacts

Sammy Guevara has maintained a consistent presence on AEW television since joining the roster in 2019. However, he has been involved with several incidents resulting in injuries to his opponents, including the most recent altercation involving Jeff Hardy. That doesn’t even count his backstage controversies, like his fight with Andrade. 

As a consequence of these actions against Jeff Hardy, Guevara has been suspended from AEW. Following Guevara’s suspension, Hardy has now responded to the situation. 

During the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt Hardy spoke briefly about Sammy Guevara’s suspension. He hadn’t heard anything about this suspension, but he did believe the report when he heard it.

“The whole thing about Sammy being suspended was all new to me until broken by Sean Ross Sapp, that was all new to me, but it is what it is, I guess.”

What’s Next For Sammy Guevara and Jeff Hardy

During this encounter in the ring with Guevara, Jeff Hardy sustained an injury, and it appears that proper concussion protocol was not followed. Additionally, Guevara executed his finishing move on Hardy, a maneuver that should have been avoided, but things transpired as they did.

Jeff Hardy did sustain a broken nose, but no concussion was reported. Now, he is in the middle of a slow process to receive his medical clearance once again.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, as things break in the pro wrestling world. You never know what can happen next, but we will be here witih the headlines you need.

Britt Baker’s time on AEW television was greatly limited last year. In fact, Tony Khan didn’t let her cut a single promo on Dynamite. That being said, she was welcomed to take the microphone at a recent Zach Bryan concert.

The former AEW Women’s Champion showed up at a Zach Bryan concert over the weekend. She got on stage, and was able to perform a duet in the process.

Britt Baker’s Big Musical Moment

AEW wrestlers can get some pretty cool opportunities thanks to their public status. Britt Baker took full advantage of her public figure status recently, and fans at the Zach Bryan were incredibly happy to see her.

During her hiatus from AEW, Britt Baker shared a video on Twitter of herself performing alongside country singer Zach Bryan at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

It was evident from the video that she thoroughly enjoyed herself at the concert. She also included a little caption to sum everything up

“Baptize me in a bottle of Beam”

“Baptize me in a bottle of Beam” pic.twitter.com/G6Ki10UJGo

— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 10, 2024

Britt Baker in AEW

Since her appearance on the September 16 episode of AEW Collision, where she faced Kris Statlander in a TBS Championship match and suffered a loss, Britt Baker has been dealing with a persistent injury that has kept her sidelined. Consequently, she has been unable to participate in any matches since that time, as she focuses on recovering from her injury and ensuring her long-term health and well-being.

She has been battling injuries for a while, even during his time as AEW Women’s World Champion. Hopefully, she will get back to good health, so she can compete at a  competitive level once again. In the meantime, fans in Brittsburgh were surprised to see their home city champion at the Zach Bryan concert.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are made available. Keep checking back for more of the headlines you need.

AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston may not have made it big in WWE, but the Mad King isn’t going to lose sleep over it. 

Before AEW was launched in 2019, Kingston had an ultimately unsuccessful try out with WWE. Speaking to Inside the Ropes recently, Kingston recalled his ‘attitude’ when stepping foot in the Performance Center. 

“A friend of mine hooked me up with it… but I went there with this attitude of ‘whatever f**k it, I don’t really care.’ I didn’t really care, I was like ‘they’re not looking at me anyway.”

Kingston added that at the time, WWE were more interested in hiring female talent for the Mae Young Classic. The all-female tournament meant Kingston walked in believing he had slim chances of being signed. 

Another WWE Offer

Kingston didn’t receive a WWE talent contract, but the company saw something in him, as he was approached about being a coach. During the interview, Kingston explained that he turned the offer down as the role didn’t suit him. Kingston also recalled being approached by his old friend Kevin Owens and how that made a lot of people take notice. 

“As soon as they saw me say hello to Kevin Owens and he gave me a hug, and a couple of other people that were there, next thing you know the next day everybody was my friend.”

No Regrets

Looking back on his try out, Kingston had no issue with how things went. He explained that he already had a number of independent bookings on the horizon that would have paid him good money. Things would work out for Kingston, who in addition to his AEW gold in the NJPW Strong Champion and the reigning ROH World Champion. 

H/T – Wrestling Inc

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Sunday, March 10. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 27

Before we get going, let’s talk about Vince McMahon. He just sold a ton of TKO stock, but how much does he really still own? We put out a nice article that breaks everything down and puts it into perspective. You can check that out here.

WWE:

– Brock Lesnar is back on the WWE roster page. We have no idea what this means, but it certainly isn’t a terrible sign for his status with the company.

– I ran an exclusive last night about WWE’s new direction for Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits’ stable, and you can check that out here.

– On another interesting note, WWE.com’s official gallery didn’t include any photo of The Rock last week. When I checked yesterday morning, there were still no Rock photos, as if the company skipped them on purpose. As of 3/9/24 in the afternoon, photos of The Rock from the 3/8 SmackDown are now up in the gallery, but they are out of order and tacked onto the end. I was told that this likely had something to do with photos of Dwayne Johnson needing special approval before they can be posted. It is certainly an interesting situation.

They added Rock photos to the end of the SmackDown gallery, out of order, and it was updated WAY after they put up the rest of the photos.

I was told that this likely had something to do with The Rock having to approve his image. https://t.co/WnzNohqfmj

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 10, 2024

– Former WWE Superstars Emma and Madcap Moss got married.

– CM Punk was spotted at an indie show in Chicago.

– Bayley re-shared that video of Paramore giving her permission to use one of their songs at WrestleMania. This was an old clip where Bayley slid into one of their live streams during the pandemic to request this song usage. Hayley Williams was more than thrilled to give Bayley permission years ago, and that hasn’t changed. We’ll see if Triple H gives Bayley that amazing entrance she wants at Mania this year.

– The Rock may put his grandmother into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

AEW:

– Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay was added to the AEW Dynasty card for April 21st. That match should be a banger.

– There was a bit of a stir during Collision this week as PAC returned, and he stood right up to Okada.

– MJF pulled out of a big fan convention in Lexington, Kentucky. He was replaced by Swerve Strickland during the event.

– Amanda Huber had something to say about The Rock calling Cody Rhodes a mistake, and then Ava, The Rock’s daughter, chimed in to clap back to her. It’s worth a look, and you can check it out here.

– AEW had a different original plan for Sting’s retirement match at Revolution.

– The company also announced the start of their new World Tag Team Tournament.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

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

AEW rolled out the red carpet for Sting at Revolution 2024, but there was a different plan for the Icon’s final entrance as a professional wrestler. 

In the main event of AEW’s pay-per-view, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. 

After the show, Sting spoke passionately to the fans in attendance and was grateful for all the support he has been shown during his retirement tour and throughout his professional wrestling career. 

A Different Entrance for Sting

For Sting’s entrance, the legend’s sons Steven and Garrett Borden accompanied their father to the ring. Steven was dressed in the red and black of nWo Wolfpac era Sting while Garrett wore the Surfer Sting attire worn at Great American Bash 1990. 

The presence of the brothers made the match extra special but this entrance was nearly different. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Steven explained that he was originally going to portray the black and white ‘Crow Sting’ fans are most accustomed to. 

“The plan actually until the very end… was for me to just do Crow Sting. So Garrett was going to be Surfer, I was going to be Crow…. There was never contention over who was going to do what.”

Steven added that it was Darby Allin who pointed out that Sting was already in his black-and-white attire and believed the Revolution show proved the perfect time to mix things up. 

“Darby actually made a point to my dad maybe a week or so before the match going, ‘well, you know, don’t you think if Garrett’s going to be Surfer, Steven’s going to be Crow, and then you’re also going to be Crow this is an opportunity to mix it up a little bit?'”

The tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions will officially begin on next week’s episode of Collision, it has been confirmed. 

At AEW Revolution 2024, Sting and Darby Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships. This match marked the final bout of Sting’s legendary career. During the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan announced that the titles had been vacated. This decision was reiterated during the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite in which Allin surrendered his AEW World Tag Team Championship. 

AEW World Tag Titles Tournament

It has been confirmed that the Young Bucks will be a part of the tournament, as well as Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta. On this week’s episode of AEW Collision, two-time former AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR also officially declared for the tournament. Tony Schiavone added that the tournament will begin in one week’s time on the March 16, episode of Collision. 

FTR’s promo would be interrupted by The Infantry. The pairing of Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean also alluded to potentially being in the tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions. 

#theINFANTRY have come face-to-face with FTR

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@CarlieBravo | @ShawnDean773 | @CashWheelerFTR | @DaxFTR pic.twitter.com/cYSFArDC3K

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 10, 2024

The AEW World Tag Team Titles

FTR and the Young Bucks share the record for the most AEW World Tag Team title reigns with two each. The Bucks hold the record for the longest individual reign, with their first lasting an impressive 302 days. The Bucks also hold the distinction for being the lightest champions, weighing in collectively at 350lbs. 

Sting and Darby Allin’s 25-day reign with the titles is the shortest in AEW history and the Icon holds the distinction of being the oldest champion (at 64.) Four decades his junior, Jungle Boy became the youngest champion at 24 when he and Luchasaurus won the gold in January 2022. 

AEW is adding another pay-per-view to their schedule this year, and April 21st will see a big show in St Louis. Dynasty is coming at fans, and now there is a massive match scheduled for the show.

Bryan Danielson stood up to Will Ospreay during the conclusion of AEW Dynamite this week. It was expected that the two will throw down, and now we know that April 21st is the date in St Louis.

AEW Dynasty Match Gets Booked

Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay are set to clash in the ring for the first time. During Saturday’s Collision, Ospreay officially issued a challenge to Danielson for a match at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. Danielson promptly accepted, and AEW swiftly confirmed the match.

Danielson secured victory against Shane Taylor in the opening match of Collision when Ospreay made his presence known. Ospreay mentioned that he anticipated Danielson had something to discuss with him after Danielson entered the ring during the conclusion of Dynamite. 

Danielson then informed Ospreay that he’s heard of him being hailed as the best in the world and wants to afford him the opportunity to validate that claim. The legend of Ospreay obviously traveled around the world. Now, he will lock up in St Louis.

Will Ospreay in AEW

Ospreay made his AEW debut at Revolution last weekend, triumphing over Konosuke Takeshita. He followed this with another victory against Kyle Fletcher on AEW Dynamite. Following the latter match, Danielson confronted Ospreay in the ring, setting the stage for their impending clash.

Ospreay turned down WWE interest in order to lock down a deal with AEW. He recently commented that he was a big banged up after his first tour with Tony Khan’s company, but he went home for a little rest.

Like Ospreay, Bryan Danielson also competed at Revolution, where he suffered a defeat to Eddie Kingston. In accordance with the match’s stipulations, Danielson extended his hand to Kingston in a display of sportsmanship following his loss. We will have to see how Danielson vs Ospreay pans out at Dynasty.

SEScoops will have more on this story and many more from all over the pro wrestling word. Keep checking back for more information.

AEW fans are well aware of the fact that there are a number of stars who are out of action for one reason or another. The long wait for PAC’s return to AEW television is now over, and he’s in line for a big match.

PAC returned to AEW television this week during Collision. He did so by squaring off with Kazuchika Okada. Now, he is set to compete in a huge six-man tag team match at AEW Big Business on March 13th.

THIS Wednesday, 3/13 on TBS@tdgarden Boston, MA
Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite#AEWBigBusiness 8pm ET/7pm CT

The Elite@rainmakerXokada + @youngbucks
vs
Continental Crown Champion
Eddie Kingston + @PENTAELZEROM + @BASTARDPAC

Big Business in Boston
on #AEWDynamite
THIS WEDNESDAY pic.twitter.com/EpR5W91eAf

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 10, 2024

PAC’s AEW Return

PAC is set to return to in-ring action at Big Business. During Saturday’s Collision, he made his comeback, assisting Penta El Zero Miedo and Eddie Kingston against opponents like The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada. Following this, PAC issued a challenge to the newest iteration of The Elite for a trios match scheduled for this Wednesday’s Big Business event.

A video teasing PAC’s return aired during the AEW Revolution Zero Hour pre-show last Sunday, marking the end of his months-long absence from AEW television since July. Fans knew it wouldn’t be long until he showed up again after that teaser video dropped.

PAC IS BACK as he stands face to face with Kazuchika Okada!

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@BASTARDPAC | @rainmakerXokada pic.twitter.com/oOggW0KKld

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 10, 2024

More Backstory on PAC’s Return Situation  & Big Business

The Young Bucks made waves on Dynamite last Wednesday by revealing Hangman Page’s suspension without pay and Kenny Omega’s dismissal from The Elite. They introduced Okada as the newest member, who attacked Eddie Kingston and aligned with Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, solidifying his new heel persona in AEW.

Additionally, a tag team match featuring Chris Jericho and Hook against the Gates of Agony was confirmed for Big Business. Hook came to Jericho’s aid on Collision after members of the Mogul Embassy targeted Jericho following his match with Titan.

EXCLUSIVE: The new ELITE, @youngbucks & @rainmakerXokada, assess what happened on #AEWCollision, and look forward to next week's #AEWBigBusiness! pic.twitter.com/7UMILL3ocp

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 10, 2024

The updated Big Business lineup includes expectations for Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defending against Wardlow, Darby Allin facing Jay White, The Elite versus Eddie Kingston, PAC, and Penta El Zero Miedo, and a matchup between Hook & Chris Jericho and The Gates of Agony. Plus, a showdown between Willow Nightingale and Riho is also anticipated.

AEW Big Business Dynamite 3/15 Card: 

• Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is expected
• AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Wardlow
• Darby Allin vs. Jay White
• The Elite (The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Eddie Kingston, PAC, and Penta El Zero Miedo
• Hook & Chris Jericho vs. The Gates of Agony
• Willow Nightingale vs. Riho

Kazuchika Okada has been one of several big-name free agents AEW has locked down and Tony Khan is hoping it helps signifies a new era for the company, but could he have gone to WWE?

A new report from Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated states that there was a real consideration on Okada’s behalf to ink a deal with WWE. He especially loved the idea of being apart of WrestleMania, however, there were several factors coming to to play with him signing with AEW instead.

Okada has been friends with The Young Bucks for nearly a decade-and-a-half so that obviously came into play. Another added element is that Okada was not expected to relocate to the United States if he did sign with AEW.

Not only that, but The Rainmaker believes that he’ll be given the greatest chance at succeeding in AEW and has a lot of trust in AEW President Tony Khan.

Okada made his greatly-anticipated debut for AEW this past week on AEW Dynamite and did so in a memorable way, swerving the fans with an immediate heel turn. 

After The Young Bucks made several announcements following their loss at AEW Revolution, Eddie Kingston came out to confront the brothers. Matt and Nick Jackson began attacking Eddie when The Rainmaker entered, making it seem like he was there to help Kingston. However, he joined in on the assault and aligned with The Bucks, officially becoming a member of the Elite.

With him attacking Kingston and indicating an interest in his AEW Continental Championship, one would likely believe that it could be Okada vs. Kingston at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis, MO.

MJF hasn’t been seen on AEW television in a while. As fans wait for his return to television, it seems that some fans who were expecting to see him in Lexington, Kentucky were a bit bummed out by having the former AEW World Champion pull out of an appearance.

It seems that MJF pulled out of a major fan event for the Lexington Toy & Comic Con recently. AEW was able to come up with a substitution with Swerve Strickland.

MJF’s Missed Event

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that MJF opted out of another comic con appearance this week, marking a notable absence from the event lineup. In response, Swerve Strickland stepped in to fill the vacancy at the upcoming Lexington Toy & Comic Con in Lexington this weekend.

It was not noted if MJF gave any reason for him pulling out of the event. Fans will get a chance to meet Swerve instead, so it’s a good trade. Still, some fans were probably a bit upset that The Salt of the Earth pulled out.

MJF’s Last Match

On December 30, 2023, at All Elite Wrestling’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view event held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, USA, MJF faced off against Samoa Joe in a high-stakes battle for the AEW World Title. In a match lasting 17 minutes and 52 seconds, Samoa Joe emerged victorious, clinching the championship title.

Adam Cole also revealed himself as The Devil, and that put a huge nail in the coffin for his partnership with the former NXT Champion.

This outcome marked a significant shift in the AEW landscape, with MJF conceding the title to Samoa Joe in a memorable showdown. That was also MJF’s last match to date. Only time will tell when he will re-emerge.

SEScoops will have more information on MJF’s status if new details are made available. Keep checking back for more on the stories that you need from the pro wrestling world.

Kevin Von Erich is all too familiar with what it takes to run a wrestling promotion and the wrestling legend credits Tony Khan for a strong ability to hit the reset button.

Speaking on the A2TheK, Von Erich talked about what he thought of AEW, who happened to showcase his sons, Ross and Marshall on their programming.

“I love those people. It’s a great company. I know this isn’t anything, but the catering was great! What good food. The people are really nice.

“Tony Khan is something else. Every company needs a guy like that. Somebody that loves the business. That can look at the business like it was his first day every morning. That’s that guy. I have a lot of admiration for him. The wrestlers, all great, old friends,”

The Von Erichs starting appearing on AEW programming back when The Iron Claw was being released in theaters. Marshall and Ross actutally recently appeared on an episode of AEW Rampage as they teamed with Dustin Rhodes in triple tag action.

The Von Erichs would certainly be a great fit for the upcoming AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament. Already in the mix is Orange Cassidy and Trent Barretta as well as the AEW EVPs, The Young Bucks, who inserted themselves into the equation. Both Ross and Marshall are former MLW World Tag Team Champions as they actually defeated Richard Holliday and MJF to become the champions. 

If you haven’t gotten to see The Iron Claw, we have several reviews on the site, including a recent write-up from B.J. Bethel.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

The Rock is going all out when it comes to being a big time heel this time around in WWE. He took a shot at Cody Rhodes this week that drew a lot of attention, and it cut deep for some people.

There was a bit of outrage when The Rock dropped his line about Cody Rhodes being a “mistake,” because of the age gap between him and his siblings. Amanda Huber made a crack at this line as well, and Dwayne Johnson’s own daughter read the message.

A SLAP for a SLAP. ??@TheRock took things too far and @CodyRhodes made sure he paid for it. We are SO ready. @CodyRhodes and @WWERollins vs. @TheRock and @WWERomanReigns at #WrestleMania XL! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7UqPOEPVHD

— WWE (@WWE) March 9, 2024

Ava Claps Back

Ava is an NXT Superstar now, and he is currently serving as the brand’s General Manager. She was formerly with The Schism, but that faction disbanded as their members found new places in the pro wrestling world. The Rock’s daughter was watching her father on SmackDown this week, and she also paid attention to social media.

Amanda Huber fired back at this line from The Rock about Cody being a mistake. She said, “Talking about an age gap when your own daughters are almost 20 years apart is a weird choice.”

Talking about an age gap when your own daughters are almost 20 years apart is a weird choice….

????? https://t.co/9avfQ6Px9p

— Amanda (@MandaLHuber) March 9, 2024

When Ava saw that post on Twitter/X, she only commented back to say, “What a mark,” with a re-post. It seems that she isn’t going to let this negative backlash shake her. 

pic.twitter.com/9pyVUEsrmt

— A V A (@avawwe_) March 9, 2024

Ava Received Death Threats Over The Rock’s WrestleMania Story

Ava is back on Twitter/X after leaving the platform. She actually deactivated her account for a minute after heat on her father’s WWE return was so severe that she started getting death threats. 

The Rock actually commented on Ava getting death threats, so it was a serious situation. He said it was a “crazy” situation. Thankfully, she is back on social media to chime in on matters like this. 

WrestleMania 40 Plans & Beyond

WWE confirmed this week that WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock and Roman Reigns take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of night 1 this year. If the heels win, then it’s Bloodline Rules in the night two Mania main event. However, if Cody and Seth can defeat Rock and Roman, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside during night 2. 

It is also rumored that The Rock may wrestle again, next time in Saudi Arabia. So, he may still get that singles match against Roman Reigns after all, or he may just have to take Cody Rhodes up on that one-on-one challenge. 

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates on the stories you need.

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Saturday, March 9. WWE SmackDown was last night, and we have AEW Collision tonight. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 28

Before we get started, we have to address Ricky Stanicky. John Cena’s new movie, directed by Peter Farrelly, is a brilliant R-rated comedy. If you loved movies like There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene, then this is a movie for you. It dropped on Amazon Prime a couple of days ago, and we have a great review of the film on SEScoops.

WWE:

– WWE’s YouTube subscribers hit 100 million. The Rock posted about this as he said the channel is “Only the 10th channel globally to ever do so! Helluva milestone that deserves the well-earned flowers of recognition.”

100 MILLION YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS! ????

Only the 10th channel globally to ever do so! Helluva milestone that deserves the well earned flowers of recognition ??

Hyped to see this growth, and much more exciting and expansive work is ahead of us.

Congratulations to our… pic.twitter.com/tkaYFAaaCq

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 8, 2024

– The Rock really upset a lot of people by calling Cody Rhodes “a mistake” on SmackDown this week. Tons of people have reacted online.

– Rey Mysterio will return to WWE SmackDown next week for their show in Memphis.

– Speaking of SmackDown in Memphis, WWE is reportedly planning a Rock Concert. So, we should expect The Rock to break out some of his musical chops next week.

– In other news about The Rock. It was reported that he has a big hand in picking the WWE Hall of Fame inductees this year. It was said that the intention of those choices will be made clear eventually. We will have to wait and see how that pans out.

– WWE and Prime’s new deal is the largest in company history. This will secure center ring placement for the first time for any advertiser as well. The exact details and money numbers of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely they will come out when the next financial earnings report drops.

The brand new deal between PRIME & WWE is the largest sponsorship deal in WWE history.

Length & financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. pic.twitter.com/1TzP2zL3Pu

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) March 9, 2024

AEW:

– Will Ospreay said he’s a bit banged up after his first AEW tour. He’s on his way back to the UK now to rest up and spend some time at home with his family,

– Tony Schiavone confirmed on his What Happened When podcast that Tony Khan did ask Martha Hart’s permission before Sting’s final descent from the rafters. He said, “Tony [Tony Khan] did call Martha Hart, I was there when he fucking called her. He told me, ‘Go let Sting, Darby, and the Bucks know that Martha Hart and I have talked and she has given it her blessing.’ I went and told them what the communication was. Would not have done it without first talking to Martha Hart.”

– Santana made his first remarks since his AEW departure. He dropped a length text graphic in a post on Twitter/X. You can check that out below.

Thank you, EVERYONE. ??@AEW pic.twitter.com/Wy8zUTBCnT

— Mike SANTANA?? (@Santana_Proud) March 8, 2024

– Matt Hardy took a moment to address his current AEW contract situation.

– Former WWE Superstar Elias, now going as Elijah, said to For The Love of Wrestling that he would like to go to NJPW, but also, “The same with AEW, or TNA, I mean I love the idea. I have plenty of ideas about how to evolve my character and take it to the next step, and I feel like you need a TV audience in order to show that. So we’ll have to see what kind of opportunities come my way and which way we go, but all three of them are very appealing.”

AEW Collision March 9th, 2024 Lineup

• Atlanta Street Fight: Mark Briscoe, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. House of Black’s Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews
• Chris Jericho vs. CMLL star Titan
• Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Taylor
• Mistico vs. Angelico
• Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks in trios action
• Mariah May will wrestle this week
• Toni Storm presents the first-ever Toni Award

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

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

Mike Santana has shared his gratitude to the fans, Ortiz, and others following the Inner Circle alum’s exit from AEW.

Earlier this month, . The tag-team specialist had been with the company since 2019 and had been a regular fixture of programming during the days of the Inner Circle. 

Mike Santana is Grateful

Taking to Twitter, Santana reflected on his exit from AEW. The wrestler was immensely grateful for the opportunities he received in the company. 

”Took a few days to reflect and I can’t tell you how truly blessed and grateful I feel. It’s been 5 years full of ups and downs, but above all it taught me so much about myself and this business. I’m thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of history at the ground level. I can say that I’ll forever be a part of that legacy right at day one. But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself. We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks.

You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in “When one door closes, a bigger door opens”, and im so excited for what the future holds for me. With that being said, I want to thank God and my father for continuing to guide me. My family for their endless support.”

”All the fans who have backed me endlessly no matter what. To Ortiz, for the years. And AEW for the knowledge and opportunity.

“I TOLD YOU THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

Thank you, EVERYONE. ??@AEW pic.twitter.com/Wy8zUTBCnT

— Mike SANTANA?? (@Santana_Proud) March 8, 2024

While Santana is gone from AEW, fans can still find him in other promotions. He is the current House of Glory World Champion. 

Kazuchika Okada is in AEW and is a heel, and this creative direction came from those at the very top of the company. 

The Rainmaker made his much-anticipated debut as an AEW wrestler on this week’s edition of Dynamite. While it has been rumored that he’d be joining WWE and potentially starting in NXT, it was reported last month that Okada had signed with AEW. His arrival on Dynamite came less than a month after Okada finished his lengthy career with New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Kazuchika Okada Joins The Elite

Okada’s debut this week saw him tease aligning with Eddie Kingston who was on the show to confront the Young Bucks. Instead, Okada attacked Kingston, certifying his role as a heel and shook hands with the AEW EVPs. With Kenny Omega fired as a member of The Elite during the same segment, Okada has seemingly replaced the absent former World Champion. 

There was no hesitation in bringing in Okada as a heel, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. All parties involved, that being the Bucks, Okada, and Tony Khan agreed that being a heel was the better fit, especially given his original big run in Japan being as a playboy heel. The idea that he should start as a heel came directly from Khan. Multiple sources confirmed that Okada has immense trust in the AEW President’s vision. 

What’s Next?

Okada competed in a six-man-tag at this week’s AEW Collision tapings, which will air tonight. SI reports that all indicators are that Okada will feud with Kenny Omega once the Canadian wrestler is ready to wrestle again. 

Is Matt Hardy’s time in AEW set to expire? The tag team legend addressed as much on the latest episode of his “Extreme Life” podcast.

A report from Fightful surfaced this week that Hardy’s AEW contract was set to expire this Month and “Extreme Life” co-host Jon Alba asked Hardy if he’d like to address the report. Matt did give details about his current status with AEW and decided to have a little fun with fans while doing so.

“It didn’t come from me because no one had known anything about it so once again, Sean Ross Sapp breaking the news, right? Yes, it is coming up in March and we’ve spoke about it, we’ve talked about it and I guess we’ll see what happens. So we’ll see, if you listen to the podcast just give me your feedback, tell me what you think I should do next. I’m a person of the people, I listen to the people.”

Alba calls Hardy the consummate teammate and Hardy says that’s what he’s about.

“If I work with you and you’re taking care of me, I’m gonna fly that flag high and with pride, that’s what I do, man and that’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s what being a wrestler is.”

Hardy mentioned how close he is with The Young Bucks and how much he likes Tony Khan as a person too.

“I love AEW. I’m cool with staying with AEW. I really enjoy the locker room there, I enjoy the vibe there, but if that’s not what happens then that’s not what happens and life goes on. It’s all good.”

Hardy first showed up in AEW in 2020 under his “broken” persona, but has gone through several persona changes since, including being the manipulative “Big Money” Matt Hardy alongside Private Party and eventually reuniting with his brother Jeff as The Hardys.

Please credit “The Extreme Life” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.