The ‘PG Era’ of WWE is officially a thing of the past though the promotion will continue to adhere to its viewing guidelines for now.
WWE transitioned into a PG rating in 2008 in a move that saw the promotion tone back on its more suggestive storylines, ban chairshots and greatly reduce the amount of blading allowed on-screen. The ‘PG Era’ has often been criticized by fans as a time when WWE became ‘too kid-friendly’ compared to how it once was.
This era of WWE is officially dead, Dave Meltzer reports, as the promotion is all-in on its current period dubbed by some as the ‘Renaissance Era.’ The Rock’s scathing promos in the run-up to WrestleMania 40 played a factor in the “official end” of the PG Era. The Final Boss certainly didn’t hold back with his promos which at the time seemed entirely opposed to WWE’s rules about what was allowed to be said.
Paul Heyman’s Hall of Fame acceptance speech was also part of the end of the PG Era. The Bloodline’s special counsel responded to a ‘You deserve it’ chant with “You’re damn f***ing right I do!’ and told haters of ECW to “suck my f***ing d**k!”
While this era is a thing of the past, WWE programming remains PG for the time being. It’s entirely possible that ratings could change once Raw moves to Netflix in January 2025 or when WWE NXT heads to The CW later this year. Any potential change will hinge on what those broadcasters want and also what sponsors will be comfortable with.
WWE made a big deal about ECW WrestleMania weekend and it was reportedly for good reason.
With WrestleMania 40 taking place in Philadelphia it only seemed appropriate for WWE to induct Paul Heyman into the Hall Of Fame. The home of Extreme Championship Wrestling was in the “City Of Brotherly Love” and Heyman had a lot to say about Philly and the homebase fans.
Heyman hat-tipped not just the fans but the legends ECW helped to cultivate, shouting out names like Rob Van Dam and Bully Ray. He even donned the appropriate attire as he pulled out the hat, headset, cinderblock cell phone and leather duster. Heyman’s words immediately became an all-time Hall of Fame speech, but that speech could be bittersweet in the immediate.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Heyman’s speech signified WWE “spiritually closing” the book on ECW. This was also why Heyman was the primary induction for the year and the focus was put on Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Dudley Boyz.
ECW fans experienced a satisfying follow-up on night two of WrestleMania 40 as Bully Ray ended up being the surprise referee for the Philadelphia Street Fight between The Final Testament and The Pride.
WWE also had a full ECW entryway set-up installation on display at WWE World over WrestleMania weekend.
As for the actual ECW residence, the 2300 Arena on the corner of Swanson and Ritner, the venue stayed very busy with live events including a Busted Open Radio party and RVD in competition.
Dominik Mysterio says his elbow injury will not require surgery, despite reports to the contrary.
The third generation star injured his elbow on 4/15 in a match against Andrade on WWE Raw. This past week, he was slated to join JD McDonagh in a match against Andrade & Ricochet. However, he appeared with his arm in a sling and was unable to compete. Andrade & Ricochet faced McDonagh & Santos Escobar instead.
The latest Wrestling Observer stated that Dominik’s injury requires the ‘Tommy John’ procedure named after the MLB pitcher, but Dirty Dom is here to pour cold water on this report:
The current plan is to maintain Dominik’s presence on television as a character during his recovery period.
This is another unfortunate setback for the Judgment Day. Fresh off an incredible performance at WrestleMania against Becky Lynch, The Nightmare was forced to vacate her Women’s World Title after injuring her AC joint, and she will be out of action for a few months.
Dominik Mysterio Denies Surgery
Dominik has responded to the surgery reports on social media, denying them outright. He posted, “No Surgery for this guy,” and accompanied it with a well-known gif from Martin Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street.” The gif features Leonardo DiCaprio’s character announcing to his office, “Not F***ing Leaving!”
What is Tommy John Surgery
Tommy John surgery is something that fans hear about in professional baseball more than anywhere else. That procedure is becoming even more common as MLB shortened the pitch clock, which gave pitchers even less time to rest between throws.
Formerly known as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, Tommy John is a surgical procedure that repairs a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside the elbow. The procedure was first performed in 1974 by Dr. Frank Jobe, and it famously saved the career of Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John, for whom the surgery is named.
The surgery involves replacing the damaged ligament with a tendon from elsewhere in the body, typically from the forearm or hamstring. Following Tommy John surgery, patients are required to wear an elbow brace for approximately one month. Athletes generally undergo a longer recovery and rehabilitation period than non-athletes due to the significant stress that throwing imposes on the elbow.
Typically, the timeline for returning to baseball or similar activities extends to about 12 months, allowing for gradual healing and strength restoration in the ligament.
Since Dr. Frank Jobe first performed ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on Tommy John on September 25, 1974, more than 1,000 professional pitchers have undergone this surgery on their pitching elbows. There are a lot of pitchers who are expected to miss, at least, a majority of the 2024 MLB season due to Tommy John surgery. Now, we can add a WWE Superstar to the list.
A public relations firm with a history of high-profile clients is now representing Vince McMahon as the ex-WWE Chair continues to face serious allegations.
McMahon has obtained the services of Sitrick And Company, POST Wrestling reports, a firm with a lengthy history in the PR industry. Notable clients include Pepsi, Make-A-Wish, the late Kobe Bryant, and the late Roy Disney, the brother of Walt who was a long-term executive within the Disney corporation.
Sitrick And Company is led by Michael S. Sitrick, who like his client has garnered quite a reputation in his field, Fortune magazine once described Sitrick as “one of the most accomplished practitioners of the dark arts of public relations.” The L.A. Times had a similar take to Sitrick, calling him “a public relations puppet master who has pulled the strings behind some of the biggest stories in media.”
Team McMahon
Sitrick And Company are just the latest recruits in McMahon’s efforts to overcome the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant. McMahon’s legal team comes from Kasowitz Benson Torres and is headed by attorneys Marc Kasowitz and Jessica T. Rosenberg.
Whether Sitrick can improve McMahon’s public image remains to be seen. Even before the allegations filed in Grant’s lawsuit, McMahon had a very negative reputation among wrestling fans, both for his creative decisions and his choices made outside the industry. McMahon has continued to deny the allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking laid against him. He recently filed a motion to compel the case into arbitration, a move Grant’s legal team plans on fighting.
More on Vince McMahon
Here are some recent articles regarding WWE’s former Chairman and how things have been for him since his exit from the company:
Baby fever is in the air in WWE with several Superstars set to have their families grow thanks to new additions.
On social media, The O.C.’s Luke Gallows shared the news of the birth of his son Thomas. Gallows appreciated that Thomas arrived into the world “on a day Dad was home” and added that it’s “going to be so much fun raising you T-Bone!” Thomas Hankinson is the former Raw Tag Team Champion’s fifth child, the same number as his tag-team partner Karl Anderson.
Gallows isn’t the only Superstar who’s family is growing. On Instagram, Valhalla and Viking Raider Erik shared that a new baby is coming to their family this November. In February 2021, Valhalla gave birth to a son after a 44-hour labor and the announcement of baby #2 featured their first child wearing a shirt bearing the message ‘big brother.’
In the comments, several WWE Superstars including Nikki Cross, Natalya, Ivar, Indi Hartwell, and Piper Niven shared their congratulations. This news of course means that Valhalla won’t be competing anytime soon which explains why she is not eligible in the upcoming WWE draft. Erik has been out of action since late 2023 and underwent neck fusion surgery in November. There’s no word yet on when fans can expect him back in the ring. WWE has opted to keep his tag-team partner Ivar on-screen and the remaining Viking has done quite well for himself as a singles Superstar.
Baby News
Here are some recent articles about wrestlers who have welcomed are set to welcome babies into the world.
AEW will soon see the debut of two more former WWE NXT Superstars. The Grizzled Young Veterans are very prepared for their first match in Tony Khan’s company.
The Grizzled Young Veterans’ AEW debut will take place on this week’s Collision (4/27). The company made this announcement via a video on social media.
The former NXT Superstars are in the land of All Elite to make a statement. They also said The Acclaimed have been on their radar for “a few years now,” and they will collide this Saturday. Gibson and Drake promised to teach Max Caster and Anthony Bowens a lesson.
Grizzled Young Veterans’ WWE Exit & Return To Indies
There was a time when Grizzled Young Veterans had some steam in WWE. They made their mark by winning the NXT UK Tag Team Championship Tournament in 2019 and went on to become the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions. The two were then brought to Orlando’s version of NXT, but things didn’t pan out for them.
After a run in NXT UK as Grizzled Young Veterans, the two entered NXT, but were written off television. James Drake and Zack Gibson were eventually unveiled with Joe Gacy’s in his Schism faction, adopting the ring names Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler as The Dyad.
They were unhappy with the creative direction that WWE was taking them toward. After their departure, they have made this very clear in an interview with Metro.
“In a nutshell, this is one of the big driving forces as to why we wanted to leave and get out because without going into too much, we just weren’t particularly happy with how things were going,” said Gibson. “It all felt a bit boring. And ultimately, you know, this is our job, but it’s also it’s our hobby, and it’s our life. So we want to be enjoying what we’re doing.”
“Our decision to move on wasn’t necessarily like, ‘We don’t like that company anymore!’ It’s not a big middle finger to the company, the company is doing great business, it’s just we felt that as a product, we weren’t doing the best business,” Gibson explained.
The Grizzled Young Veterans have been making the rounds since exiting WWE. They re-appeared in DPW, spreading their message that they are not a cookie cutter tag team enhanced by sports entertainment’s creative influence. During the event, they answered an open challenge set by DPW’s tag team champions, The Workhorsemen.
They have also launched ‘Burning Heart Pro Wrestling‘ which has been “created by wrestlers, for wrestlers and fans.” The promotion’s first event will take place on June 21, at the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, England.
James Drake and Zack Gibson could do big things in AEW. SEScoops will keep an eye on this story to see if Tony Khan locks them down with contracts.
Cameron Grimes has said that diving nose-first into his popular ‘To the Moon’ character made him recognize that his chances in WWE weren’t promising.
Grimes was amongst those released from WWE as part of the first wave of cuts under the promotion’s new era. The former NXT North American Champion shared news of his release in an emotional video on social media.
The 30-year-old wrestler’s arguable peak in WWE came during his ‘To the Moon’ phase which saw Grimes become incredibly wealthy thanks to GameStop stock. On Busted Open Radio, however, Grimes revealed how learning more about business only made him realize his future wasn’t looking good.
“Starting the stock market gimmick, it made me see businesses in a different light. Following these companies and playing with stocks. I would see things in a different light. So I knew [after being called up] that I hadn’t worked in over a year and I’m making a decent salary. So I knew that if somebody was to look at the books, I’m going to be the first person who’s going to be cut.”
It’s currently unclear as to why Grimes was released, but it may indeed be a case of somebody looked at the books. Now, Grimes will continue to work as Trevor Lee but will have to wait until July before he can work elsewhere. The talented wrestler has a history with TNA, where he is a former X-Division champion, but it’s possible AEW could give him a call when the time is right. Whatever the future holds, Grimes will be able to appreciate the business machinations of what’s to come.
More on Cameron Grimes
Here are some recent articles about Cameron Grimes and how news of his release from WWE came as a shock to those still with the promotion:
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Could WWE’s main roster become home to mid-card championships for the women of the company? The Undertaker certainly hopes so.
While the Intercontinental and United States Championships have been staples in WWE for decades, mid-card gold has been absent throughout the promotion’s history. On a recent edition of his Six Feet Under podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer gave his support to mid-card gold for the female roster.
“The division [is] deep. I would like to see a Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and possibly, because there are two brands, a Women’s US Champion.”
WWE will launch its first women’s mid-card title later this year with the NXT North American Women’s Championship. The historic new title was first introduced during NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2024 by NXT General Manager Ava. There’s currently no word on how and when the inaugural champion will be crowned.
Though WWE hasn’t (currently) got a women’s mid-card championship, the same can’t be said for their main rival. AEW introduced its TBS Championship in January 2022 with Jade Cargill beating Ruby Soho to become the first champion. Ironically, Cargill currently works for WWE, so could become a Women’s mid-card champion again if the promotion follows the words of The Undertaker.
Vince McMahon has submitted a motion to compel arbitration in the lawsuit brought against him, WWE, and John Laurinaitis by Janel Grant. This is his latest move in the ongoing legal situation brought on by Grant’s earth-shattering allegations.
On January 25, Janel Grant initiated a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, claiming sex trafficking, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. The lawsuit details Janel’s experiences of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse.
McMahon is now pushing to move the case to arbitration, per Wrestlenomics. He is aiming to handle the dispute over the nondisclosure agreement privately, rather than in a public courtroom.
The NDA that was the focal point of this situation, agreed upon by McMahon and Grant, includes an arbitration clause. Although Grant’s complaint argues that the NDA is not enforceable.
In his defense, McMahon claims that Grant’s allegations of sexual abuse and coercion are fictional and aimed at attracting publicity, contradicting her own previous statements.
McMahon asserts that he and Grant had a consensual relationship, denying any coercion or mistreatment. Grant’s January-filed complaint accuses McMahon and Laurinaitis of sex trafficking and details sexual assault. She claims that several of WWE’s top executives were aware of her relationship with McMahon.
In his motion, McMahon also refutes Grant’s assertion that she was grieving her parents when they met in 2019, noting that her father died in 2017 and her mother earlier. He references a 2017 lawsuit about the foreclosure on Grant’s parents’ home. McMahon mentions that Grant was living with her fiancé in the same condo complex during their relationship.
Vince McMahon’s argument describes it as “nonsensical” that Grant would return to her fiancé, located four floors below, without any issues after the alleged acts. McMahon also notes that neither Grant’s fiancé, Brian Gonvalves—a lawyer and executive at TelevisaUnivision—nor anyone from the building, police, or Grant’s friends contacted him about the alleged abuse.
McMahon’s legal team insists the lawsuit should be paused while the matter proceeds to arbitration, pointing out that the NDA was signed by McMahon personally and on behalf of WWE, and argues that Laurinaitis and WWE should also be compelled to arbitration with Grant.
Latest on Laurinaitis’ Side of Things
John Laurinaitis has been implicated in the significant lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. He is accused of facilitating the sexual abuse that Janel Grant experienced, although he presents a different version of events.
Laurinaitis has also released a statement concerning these allegations. While not denying any acts in Grant’s lawsuit, he did claim that he was a victim in the situation.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has thrown his name among the mix of people hoping to see WrestleMania come to the UK capital city.
Khan, no relation to WWE’s Nick or AEW’s Tony, made his bold claim while on the campaign trail ahead of the mayoral election on May 2. The 54-year-old Labour Party member brought up WWE’s flagship show in a press release when speaking about London’s potential as a sporting juggernaut.
“I’m determined to go even further and fully cement London’s reputation as the undisputed sports capital of the world. I believe that London has the potential to host the first international WrestleMania.”
Khan’s comment earned a response from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque who was seemingly interested in discussing the matter further.
Khan is hardly alone in his belief that the UK is deserving of a WrestleMania. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance in London and shared his mission to bring WrestleMania to the city.
Following Cena’s comment, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones shared her support for a London-based WrestleMania and touted the economic benefits of the event. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is also on the UK bandwagon. At a recent WWE live event in London, the American Nightmare advocated for WrestleMania to take place in the UK.
While many fans in the UK and Europe hope to see a WrestleMania closer to home, that is proving to be easier said than done. WWE President Nick Khan recently noted that ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. WWE’s next PLE outside the continent will be Clash at the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland this June followed by WWE Bash In Berlin this August in Germany.
Plans for WrestleMania
Here are some recent articles about upcoming WrestleMania plans and where fans can expect the shows to take place:
The Rock was able to reflect on his relationship with his late father Rocky Johnson with an incredible act of generosity to a long-time fan of the Final Boss.
On Twitter, the TKO board member shared a video of himself meeting a fan named Ricardo and his son Isaiah. The Rock spoke about how Ricardo does everything to try and help his family, much like the late Johnson did for his own kin.
In an incredible moment of generosity, The Rock gifted Ricardo a truck to help with his cleaning business, an industry Johnson was also once a part of. The gifts didn’t stop there as The Rock also gifted Ricardo and Isaiah $100,000 to help with the business.
Sometimes I just miss my dad. Wish I could give him my truck or give him a little cash. (my old man was an OG so he was all about that cash;)
When I met Isaiah’s dad, Ricardo – he immediately reminded me of my old man. Hard worker, struggled with hard times, but always did what… pic.twitter.com/2R1VJVT29z
Rocky Johnson and his son had a sometimes strained relationship, as documented in NBC’s Young Rock as well as his 1999 New York Times bestseller ‘The Rock Says.’ Despite this, The Rock inducted his father into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008 in an induction that saw ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia be posthumously inducted.
The release of Cameron Grimes came as a surprise to those in WWE despite his infrequent use on the main roster’s programming.
Grimes was released earlier this week as part of the first wave of roster cuts under the ‘new era.’ Grimes was visibly emotional in a video in which he shared news of his release and addressed always wanting to make it in WWE.
Grimes’ release was unexpected by many in WWE for a variety of reasons, Fightful Select reports. One such reason is that Grimes’ skill set far exceeded others who were released from the promotion. During his five years with WWE, the consensus within WWE was that Grimes was always improving in the ring, which was part of the reason why he was ‘over’ in WWE NXT.
Another reason his release came as a surprise is that Grimes was a regular at WWE events, despite not being used. The former NXT North American Champion was even around last week’s SmackDown, which is when the releases of Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, Xia Lia, and Xyon Quinn was revealed.
Despite his skills and his presence backstage, Grimes was still released from WWE. Now, he will have to wait 90 days before trying to make a name for himself elsewhere. A return to TNA could perhaps be the plan, as Grimes is a former TNA X-Division Champion. With that said, AEW could also be interested in hiring the immensely talented former WWE Superstar.
What’s Next for Those Released?
Here are some articles revealing what those cut from WWE can look forward to after being released by the promotion:
After Jimmy Uso lost to his brother at WrestleMania 40, he was booted from the Bloodline in dramatic fashion. According to Fightful Select, he’s dealing with an undisclosed injury. He joins a growing list of WWE Superstars who are out, including Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, CM Punk and Cruz Del Toro.
Uso was kicked out of the Bloodline stable during the SmackDown after WrestleMania 40. Tama Tonga jumped him, and now the faction is going in a brand-new direction. It is unclear how long Jimmy Uso will be out of action, but we are wishing him a speedy recovery.
Jimmy Uso sustained a knee injury during a ladder match at WrestleMania 36, which led to him being off television for nearly a year, just as the Bloodline storyline began. During his absence, his brother took on the role of “Main Event” Jey Uso, Roman Reigns’ right-hand man, and significantly advanced his career in the process.
Jey Uso recently stated that he felt as though his Mania match against Jey was a let-down. Perhaps Jimmy’s injury could take some of the blame for this.
Other WWE Injuries
Jimmy Uso is not the only notable injury in WWE right now. Rhea Ripley was taken out of action after WrestleMania 40. She suffered a sprained AC joint during that segment and had to vacate the Women’s World Title.
Seth Rollins is also taking time off from WWE after WrestleMania 40. He has a nagging knee injury, as he injured his MCL in January and had to take a few weeks off to recover on the road to the show of shows.
Posted April 24th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: Jimmy Uso.
Sheamus is hungry for the King of The Ring crown, fella. ‘The Celtic Warrior’ made his memorable return to WWE over a week ago on WWE RAW and quite the chatter revolved around Sheamus’ new waist size.
While the former WWE Champ hasn’t missed a beat in the ring, Sheamus has clearly put on a couple pounds and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans or his colleagues. Fortunately for Sheamus, he’s self-aware of his own size.
Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger after Burger
This past week on RAW, Sheamus confronted an old friend in Drew McIntyre, noting that he took his eye off the ball at WrestleMania and blew his World Title reign to a one-armed CM Punk. Sheamus shot straight with McIntyre, but so did Drew, criticizing his long-time buddy’s noticable weight gain. Sheamus laughed off the criticism, noting to McIntyre that he’s been getting at better one-liners.
McIntyre sat at ringside to witness Sheamus defeat RAW, but his comments on Sheamus’ size lingered long after the tape stopped rolling.
Sheamus took to social media to share a picture of the longtime creepy Burger King mascot, indicating that he wants to be known has the “Burger King” after he wins the King Of The Ring in Saudi Arabia.
Sheamus Takes Another Shot At Drew McIntyre
Sheamus wasn’t finished with his quips against McIntyre, but neither was Drew. McIntyre shared the classic Scott Steiner interview clip calling Samoa Joe “fat.”
Sheamus shot back, stating once more that McIntyre fumbled his shot at a lengthy World Title reign.
“After you gave him a deranged lapdance at Mania… CM Punk Kicked Your Arse.”
The 2024 WWE Draft will take place Friday, April 26 for SmackDown and Monday, April 29 for RAW. To make things easier for everyone, they separate the rosters into Draft Pools. Now, we know the Superstars who are up for grabs.
WWE has revealed the list of Superstars for each night of this year’s WWE Draft Pool. The number of Superstars up for grabs is far greater on RAW, and because it is a three-hour show. There will also likely be a supplemental draft.
While it is unclear if WWE will split up any teams or factions this year, that is always a possibility. Each night also noted that NXT Superstars will be eligible for call-ups, so fans can likely expect a few new faces on the main roster.
While injured Superstars like Rhea Ripley are absent, it is notable that Braun Strowman appears in Monday’s Draft pool. He underwent neck fusion surgery on his C4 and C5 vertebrae in mid-2023 and has been out of action since.
2024 WWE Draft Pool
2024 WWE Draft Rules
The company also revealed the rules for this year’s Draft with a social media post.
For the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown will conduct four rounds, totaling 16 picks, while RAW will have six rounds with 24 picks. The red brand is a longer show, so they will need more picks.
Champions from each brand are protected from being drafted. Women’s Tag Team Champions are also eligible to be picked.
SmackDown is set to make the first selection on Friday, and RAW will have the first pick on the following Monday. The rosters will be officially locked on Monday, May 6th.
WWE just signed massive television deals for RAW and SmackDown, where SmackDown is moving to the USA Network and RAW is heading to Netflix. We will have to see what happens to RAW between October and January 2025 when that Netflix deal actually starts. Unless WWE surprises us with another roster shake-up, these rosters will usher in those upcoming media rights deals.
Posted April 24th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: WWE Draft.
Jey Uso has moved on from WrestleMania, but does admit to having mixed emotions about the bout with his brother.
Uso took on Jimmy in a “brother vs. brother” match in Philadelphia, ‘The City Of Brotherly Love,’ but the match didn’t quite deliver from a fan perspective. That thought didn’t go past Jey who did admit that his brotherly battle wasn’t up to the “uce” standards.
“I do kind of feel like we did let the people down … I wanted to go out there and have a straight-up banger too. I wanted to do the wrestling part, let alone make sure the emotion part was there.”
Jey vs. Jimmy ended up going 11 minutes, but Jey did state that they had to tackle a time adjustment to the card.
“You’ve just got to play your position on the team. That’s what happened. But I am still happy that I got a singles match on WrestleMania with my brother, that’s the big picture. So I will always have me and him in the face-off at WrestleMania. I’m gonna frame a picture, it’s marked off our box.”
Jey said that someone did let him and Jimmy know that they lost a few minutes and they had do go out there and handle business.
The Future Of The Usos
Despite the let-down of the match, Jey Uso certainly finds himself in a great spot as he’s the number one contender to the WWE World Championship as he’ll face Damian Priest at Backlash.
Jimmy, on the other hand, finds himself in dire straits as he was attacked by his other brother Solo Sikoa and effectively kicked out of The Bloodline.
WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H believes Trick Williams’ future looks bright after the latter captured the prized NXT Championship.
Williams defeated Ilja Dragunov to claim the coveted title during this week’s NXT Spring Breakin’ Week One. The stipulation stated that Williams would be banished from the brand had he lost the bout. However, he came out on top and was crowned the new champion.
WWE has ushered in a new era with Triple H at the helm and it’s the dawn of a new era for WWE’s developmental brand as well with Trick Williams claiming the top prize of the brand. Hunter is quite impressed with the “well-deserved victory” after a “hard-fought” match and feels the era of Trick Williams is “looking bright”. Check out this Tweet below:
The match featured some thrilling moments which ultimately culminated into Trick Williams securing the coveted title. In the final moments of the match, Williams hit the finisher to get the pinfall and bagged the title. Following the match, Dragunov showed sportsmanship and hugged his opponent as the fans chanted ‘Whoop that, Trick.’ The brand-new champ also explained what this title win means to him.
With this triumph, Williams put an end to Dragunov’s 206-day reign and became the 30th man to capture the title. Williams and Dragunov previously fought for the title at Vengeance Day in February. That night, the Mad Dragon was able to successfully defend his title.
What’s next?
Trick Williams had all the momentum by his side heading into the title match. He scored a couple of massive wins in matches against his former buddy, Carmelo Hayes. They had squared off at NXT: Stand & Deliver and then in a cage match on NXT. It will be worth witnessing how his championship reign pans out.
On the other hand, Ilja Dragunov is heading to the main roster as he declared himself for the 2024 WWE Draft which commences on Friday, April 26 on SmackDown and will conclude on Monday, April 29 on Raw. It will be interesting to see which brand lands the signing of Mad Dragon.
The days of wrestlers having to wait at home after being released from WWE may be over following a landmark ban on non-compete agreements.
The Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to implement a ban on noncompete agreements for all workers, with these new rules set to come into place within the next 120 days. This could be a milestone change for WWE, who use non-compete clauses that range between 30 to 90 days when a talent is released.
These clauses essentially mean that the ‘buzz’ around a wrestler cools down after they are released. Rather than a WWE release generating excitement by showing up in AEW or TNA mere days after being cut, they’re forced to wait for months doing nothing in wrestling as the business moves forward.
BREAKING: The FTC just banned non-compete agreements.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a final rule making it illegal for bosses to make workers sign noncompetes in any scenario, and voiding nearly all existing noncompetes.
While this ban is a huge victory for workers, it remains unclear how it’ll impact those in the wrestling business. Several promotions classify their talent as “independent contractors” rather than typical employees. If this ban does affect professional wrestling, then it’ll mark a massive victory for the wrestlers and quite a blow to how WWE conducts business.
The FTC and WWE are no strangers. Last year, the FTC approved the merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings. This massive deal has led to a promotional crossover between the two sides with WWE talent being spotted at UFC events and vice versa. The two companies will grow even closer later this year when an upcoming NXT event is hosted at a UFC venue.
Trick Williams’ rise to the top of NXT was an amazing story to watch, and it reached a peak during Spring Breakin’ Week One on 4/23. Williams defeated Ilja Dragunov to become the new NXT Champion.
This match had a special stipulation for Trick, because he would be banished from NXT if he lost. In the end, he walked out of the NXT Arena as the brand’s top champion.
Before he went out, Williams was on the phone with his mother, who is in the hospital. She was certainly a source of inspiration for him during this match.
Williams entered this match 0-3 against his opponent. He and Dragunov last battled for the NXT Title at Vengeance Day in February. That match ended with the Mad Dragon retaining his championship.
After ending Dragunov’s 204-day reigns as champion, Trick Williams is the 30th man to hold the NXT Title. He was elated to speak about his win after Spring Breakin’ was over.
This match had a big-fight feel to it as it main evented the Spring Breakin’ special. The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile were also sitting in the front row, cheering Trick on.
This match saw many high-intensity spots, including Williams putting Dragunov through the announce table with a Rock Bottom. They continued in the ring, where Trick kicked out of two H-Bomb finishers from the Russian.
Finally, Williams nailed a Trick Shot to secure the clean win and become the new NXT Champion. After the match, Dragunov hugged Trick before he left the ring while the NXT Arena chanted, “Whoop that, Trick!”
After entering WWE as Carmelo Hayes’ right-hand man, Trick quickly gained a following of his own. He eventually broke the news to Hayes that he wanted to maintain their alliance, but he needed to do things on his own.
Trick Williams is coming off of two big matches against Carmelo Hayes. He defeated HIM at NXT: Stand & Deliver on April 6 during WrestleMania 40 weekend. He then met, and defeated, Melo once again last week in a cage match on NXT. Those matches paved the way to this big match for Trick.
Trick Williams has been on WWE’s radar for quite a long time, and in line for a push. Shawn Michaels also gave special care to his program with Carmelo Hayes, ensuring that they snagged the main event spot at Stand & Deliver.
It was previously reported that WWE has paid attention to Trick Williams, and officials took notice of the reaction he got in his surprise SmackDown appearance back in January. There have also been pitches for Trick and Melo to continue their rivalry on the main roster.
The 29-year-old Williams actually entered WWE by way of an XFL tryout. He had aspirations on the gridiron in his eyes prior to accepting an offer to test his abilities at the Performance Center.
2024 WWE Draft
Ilja Dragunov already declared that he will be in the 2024 WWE Draft. Those important dates are coming up sooner than mater, as it will kick off with Friday, April 26 for SmackDown and Monday, April 29 for RAW.
‘The Man’ competed in the battle royal to crown the new Women’s World Champion in the main event of this week’s edition of Raw. She outlasted superstars like Natalya, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, and many more to capture the World title.
Following the match, she told Jackie Redmond in a Raw Exclusive that she is delighted after the championship victory. Becky talked about “burning the candle out” and went on to mention that her book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl became the New York Times best seller.
Lynch had been away from her daughter Roux but she has made it clear that it was worth it. She says it feels great to hear her introduced as WWE Women’s world champion, a title she’s never held before.
“Look at it, it’s beautiful, it’s beautiful. Look, for the last few months, Rhea even said it, I’ve been burning the candle all out. I’ve been away from my daughter for weeks on end. Got myself a New York Times bestseller for a damn near month. But man, it’s worth it. It’s worth it because the words of my book are written on my gear. It reminds me why I do this, where I started, where I’ve gotten to. We’re just going up, baby.”
Lynch further added that she hopes her daughter is proud of her and is excited to bring the gold back to their household once again. She said:
“Everything that I do, I want to make her proud. I hope she’s proud. She did [stay up late to watch the match]. I got a text from my husband [Seth Rollins], who’s recovering from surgery. At all stages, we need at least one champ in the house, so I’m bringing it home, baby.”
Cameron Grimes has been released from WWE. He announced the news in a video he released on Tuesday shortly after learning the news.
After introducing himself as Trevor Lee, he delivers the news that he’s been released from WWE and thanked everybody he worked with. It’s been difficult being off television for a year, but he’s spent that time honing his skills and learning everything he can from whoever he can. He plans to get back out there soon and show the fans what he can do.
The former Million Dollar Champion also told a heartfelt story involving his father, who is no longer alive. Lee says the last thing he told his father before he passed away is that he signed with WWE, which meant a lot to him then and still does today.
Support from a lifelong friend
Wrestling legend Matt Hardy replied to Trevor Lee’s video with a supportive message for his longtime family friend. Hardy was very close with Lee’s father Tracy Caddell, the wrestling promoter and OMEGA Wrestling co-founder who passed away in July 2018.
The Hardy Boyz and Trevor Lee (2013)
Hardy has known Lee his entire life and visited him in the hospital the day he was born 30 years ago. The ‘Broken’ one wrote on X:
“Trevor, I love your passion & your raw emotion. I’ve been in your life & known you since you were literally born. I am IMMENSELY proud of you. So is your father. The first release from your dream hits hard, but it ushers in a period of personal growth & mandatory change. It’s also a great time to show the world exactly who you are.”
Hardy commented Lee as, “one of the most gifted pro wrestlers I’ve ever seen.” He’s got a bright future in the business because, “It’s in your blood, in your soul.”
WWE’s Recent Releases
Cameron Grimes’ WWE release joins a recent list of roster cuts over this past week, including Jinder Mahal, Sanga, Veer Mahaan, Von Wagner, Xyon Quinn and Xia Li.
Additional office/other departures include Dan Ventrelle, Trent Wilfinger, Sue Aitchison, Sid Scala and Rob Schamberger, who already has something in the works with AEW.
Tommaso Ciampa is having a hard time processing that he and Johnny Gargano blew their opportunity to claim the World Tag Team championship on this week’s WWE Raw. DIY were unsuccessful in dethroning Awesome Truth.
Despite the disheartening loss, sportsmanship was on display in some capacity, as Gargano shook hands with the champs after the battle. However, fans were surprised to Ciampa did not express the same level of sportsmanship. He turned his back on the winners and left the ring frustrated and leaving his tag-team partner behind.
Backstage after their match DIY spoke to Jackie Redmond, who sought information about where they go from here. Ciampa said that the plan was to win the World tag team titles.
“What’s the next step? This was the next step. Becoming the World Tag Team Champions was the next step. There’s no next step.”
Ciampa was also asked to explain why he didn’t shake hands with The Miz and R-Truth following the match. He said that it would be a waste of time and walked out on Gargano. Johnny Wrestling defended his partner saying that he was emotional and had a tough night.
Ciampa and Gargano have had multiple tag-team runs in the company whether it’s in NXT or on the main roster. However, they have held the NXT tag team titles only once and the tag team titles on the main roster have eluded them.
What’s next?
Sometimes heartbreaks lead to gimmick changes for WWE superstars. Is a similar transformation waiting for DIY as well?
In the past, both Ciampa and Gargano have tasted success during their heel runs and there is a huge possibility that they could embrace their darker side once again, dropping DX-inspired gimmick in the process.
Jinder Mahal has revealed the lengths WWE Creative went to keep his segment with The Rock a surprise and when he actually found out that he was working with The Great One.
Officials had announced the return of a ‘former WWE Champion’ for the Day 1 episode of Raw. The segment was planned for the Hollywood star, but the Maharaja came out first to swerve the audience. This created even more excitement for The Rock when he came out and delivered a people’s elbow to Mahal after a verbal exchange.
The 37-year-old spoke to Chris Van Vliet over the WrestleMania 40 weekend. In the interview that was released on April 23, Mahal was asked if he ever thought he was intended to be the announced former WWE champion for Day 1.
Jinder explained that he pieced together the fact that he was going to be involved in the segment somehow after the travel department messaged him personally instead of their group chat with Indus Sher:
“So I put it together, I kind of pieced it together. I got a text from creative ‘Hey, you guys have nothing this week.’ And then actually travel text says ‘Hey you guys are not flying out.’ I’m in a group chat with Indus Sher with our travel department.
Then 20 minutes later I get a separate text saying, ‘Actually, you are going’ I thought it was a little weird that it was just me and not Indus Sher but I didn’t think anything of it.
Then like a few hours later, I see the announcement on Twitter – Former WWE champion returns. I knew it wasn’t gonna be me but I figured like I’m going to be a part of it. So I texted Indus Sher ‘Hey, are you guys going to Raw?’ They said, ‘No.’ Alright, it’s just me going.”
The Segment With The Rock
Jinder Mahal revealed that the creative plans were not relayed to him even after this. He found out about the segment with The Rock only a couple of days before the show:
“So I’m like, ‘okay, good chance. I think it’s me.’ And actually it was Christmas week. I was with my family in Calgary. I flew back I think on the 30th. Yeah, I was flying back on the 30th. When I was in my flight, I got a text from one of the writers ‘Hey, can you talk on the phone?’
I said ‘I’m in the plane for a few more hours when it lands I’ll call you.’ When I landed just one of the writers he said ‘Yeah, so we got you in a segment….with the Rock.’ They’re like ‘Kayfabe.’ I said ‘Yes. Yes. 100%. Looking forward to it.’ So that’s how I found out. I found out two days before.”
The segment led to a prolonged buzz for Jinder Mahal. He was put in a world heavyweight championship match with Seth Rollins right after it. Many people came to his defense when Tony Khan decided to name-drop him on Twitter to defend his booking of AEW star Hook.
Mahal unfortunately has been released from his WWE contract since then and the former champion is currently waiting for his non-compete clause to expire.
Xyon Quinn & Von Wagner’s time with WWE ended after being evaluated for their work (or lack thereof) on the promotion’s main roster.
The two wrestlers were among those cut by WWE as part of the first wave of talent releases since the launch of the new era. Quinn and Wagner were joined on the proverbial chopping block by Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xia Li.
Reasons for Release
Quinn and Wagner had been making waves as part of WWE NXT, but that wasn’t taken into consideration when the promotion decided to release them. Dave Meltzer reports that the pair were considered to be main roster talent when WWE was reevaluating its rosters. Since these so-called main roster talents were not being used on the main roster, the decision was made the “dump” the pair of Superstars.
Despite being best known for their runs in WWE NXT, both Wagner and Quinn had sporadic runs on the main roster. Wagner (under his real name Cal Bloom) would be used as enhancement talent on Raw and SmackDown in 2020 and, as Wagner, appeared on WWE Main Event years later.
Quinn similarly was used as an enhancement talent on the main roster before he was brought into WWE NXT. Like Wagner, he had been making appearances on WWE Main Event before being released. His final match outside NXT was on the March 1, 2024, SmackDown in a decisive loss to Bron Breakker.
If Wagner and Quinn were indeed considered main roster talent, then they are likely subject to a main roster non-compete clause. While NXT talent only have to wait 30 days after being cut, those on the main roster have to wait 90 days. This means those released will be free agents in late July 2024.
What’s Next for Those Released?
Here are some articles revealing what those cut from WWE can look forward to after being released by the promotion:
One lucky WWE fan could soon be in possession of a new Ford F-150 truck, courtesy of none other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Taking to Twitter, the Final Boss shared the giveaway in association with his ZOA Energy line of beverages. Fans hoping to win the ‘People’s Truck’ need to scan the in-store QR code at a 7-11 store near them to be in for a chance at winning. Not only is The Rock giving away the car, but the Brahma Bull has a “cool idea” of how he plans to deliver the truck to the winner.
Yo I want you to WIN this insane brand new MANGO SPLASH WRAPPED FORD F-150 🛻🥭💦🔥
BIG DWAYNE ENERGY = BIG ZOA GIVEAWAY! To celebrate our @ZOAEnergy Mango Splash flavor, exclusively sold at @7eleven stores in the US, I’m giving away this – one of one – Ford F-150 Raptor
The Rock may be focused on his ZOA beverage range right now, but the Final Boss still has an eye on the world of WWE. During the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and made clear that he’ll be back and is coming for the American Nightmare. A match between the two is expected with some speculating it could be later this year.
What’s New with The Rock?
Here are some recent articles about Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and what the Final Boss has been up to as of late: