R-Truth was able to stop and smell the proverbial roses by taking in his Tag Team Championship win alongside The Miz at WrestleMania 40.

Truth and Miz captured the Raw Tag Team Championships in Philadelphia which also marked Truth’s first victory at a WrestleMania. The titles underwent a serious rebranding during the April 15, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

Outside of his many 24/7 Championship reigns, this title run marks Truth’s first taste of championship gold since 2019. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Truth was asked about his win and said he was pleased that he was able to appreciate the moment which is a rarity given his busy profession. 

“We live life so much, we be lifin’ so much we don’t take time to stop and smell the roses… That time I did. And I had my son there, that was a little baby when I first got into the business… and for him to say ‘Dad, man, I’m so proud of you. I haven’t seen you wrestle in so long.’

“It was so many things that were going through my head at that moment. Me and Miz, I mean I’m getting emotional now… Miz has had my back in this business. It was just a moment that was, it was a surreal moment.”

??“It was a surreal moment”

?The #WWE World Tag Team Champion #RTruth (@RonKillings) reflects on his ?? #Wrestlemania Moment ?? with @_denisesalcedo and @TheMarkHenry

?Full Conversation on the #bustedopen247 Podcast????https://t.co/tuJ5gnpXVO pic.twitter.com/8WfKXDgkOq

— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) April 20, 2024

What’s to Come? 

The Awesome Truth’s victory at WrestleMania evidently means a great deal to Truth but the pair are now the target of every tag team on Monday Night Raw. During the April 15, episode, DIY earned a title match by emerging victorious in a triple-threat tag-team match that included the Creed Brothers and the New Day. 

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

Fans won’t be seeing Seth Rollins in the ring for some time, but Cody Rhodes was able to pay tribute to his friend and former rival during a recent WWE live event. 

At WWE’s recent event Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rhodes headlined the show with an Undisputed WWE Championship match against Shinsuke Nakamura. For his entrance, Rhodes wore a ring jacket that featured both his logo and Rollins’ logo. Given that Cody hadn’t worn this particular jacket at previous nights of the tour, it appears this was in response to the news that Seth is currently recovering from knee surgery. 

You can check out Cody’s jacket in the video below which also sees the WWE Champion give some lucky young fans a special moment. 

Cody with the Seth jacket tonight????pic.twitter.com/hupTMltcIi

— Britt- |Fan Account| (@sethlovesbritt) April 20, 2024

Latest on Seth Rollins

Rollins’ knee surgery was disclosed by his wife Becky Lynch during an episode of RTE One’s The Late, Late Show. This revelation came after it was reported that Rollins would be taking time off following WrestleMania 40, an event that saw Seth in action on both nights. Earlier this year, Rollins suffered an MCL tear and partial meniscus tear during his match with Jinder Mahal but was able to avoid having surgery. 

At this time, there’s no confirmation as to how much time Rollins will miss due to his surgery. Typically, surgeries for MCL tears can take anywhere between six to twelve months to fully heal. After a 316-day reign as Champion though, Rollins has earned himself some time off and we’re wishing him a full and speedy recovery. 

Former WWE Superstar Sanga has shared his disappointment over the promotion’s lack of Indian representation considering how popular WWE is in the country. 

Sanga, alongside Veer Mahaan, Jinder Mahal, Xia Li, and Xyon Quinn, was released from WWE as part of the first wave of cuts under the promotion’s new era. Sanga had been with WWE since 2018 and left without winning any championship gold in the promotion. 

In a video shared to Twitter, Sanga said that he, Veer, and Mahal are all keeping positive despite what has happened. Sanga then shares his disappointment that WWE wants viewers from India, especially on social media, but when it comes to pushing Indian talent, they won’t do it.

https://twitter.com/Sanga_WWE/status/1781719820314030164

Sanga understands that creative differences happen but pointed out that India has a population of 1.4 billion people who love WWE and want to see national talent on an international stage. That’s why Sanga is so disappointed that WWE rejects pushing Indian talent and said fans can look at the history of the company to see that. 

The ex-Superstar made clear that he’s not specifically talking about himself, but that somebody from India should be up there. He adds that there is no Indian employed by WWE and the company will have to answer to the Indian fanbase one day.

Sanga ends on a positive note, stating that God has given him opportunities before and he will again. He concludes by saying that his fans are positive people and he hopes that remains the case, and he will not let India’s pride be hurt in any way.

Sanga is obviously very proud of his national background and feels strongly about a lack of representation within WWE. Whether his strong words for WWE change things remains to be seen, but if the company does push an Indian Superstar to the top, it likely won’t be Sanga himself. 

WWE superstar Drew McIntyre hopes to stay on the road despite a recent setback. McIntyre’s was having a very successful year up until WrestleMania. He won the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match on February 24 and later dethroned Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight title at the biggest show of the year.

Then, things took a turn for the worse. The title reign ended after just a matter of minutes when Damian Preist successfully cashed in the Money in the Bank contract and walked out as champion.  We’ve now learned the Scottish Warrior was in serious pain for the short match against the Judgment Day member.

Drew McIntyre “badly hyperextended” his elbow at WrestleMania during his match against Seth Rollins, according to a report by PWInsider. He worked this week’s United Kingdom live events tour, but may need some time off afterwards to heal. 

It’s an ironic setback for McIntyre, who has been trolling CM Punk for his tricep injury and inability to stay healthy. He’s not currently advertised for WWE’s next premium live event, Backlash France. This might end up as a blessing in disguise., as the two people he’s currently feuding with (CM Punk and Seth Rollins) are also unable to wrestle any time soon.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract winding down has been a hot topic of conversation for wrestling fans wondering if he could follow Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone to AEW. 

If WWE can’t re-sign McIntyre, he could be wrestling elsewhere this summer. That said, he’s having one hell of a run with WWE. He’s working a top program against CM Punk that is sure to draw both of them a lot of money when they’re healthy. Most importantly, he is having fun and enjoying himself.

The WWE roster will miss Jinder Mahal and Xia Li and many believe that the two were not given fair opportunities on the main roster. 

Mahal and Li were released from WWE in the first wave of talent cuts in this ‘new era.’ Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xyon Quinn were also let go. The talent will have to wait out 90-day non-compete clauses before they can take bookings elsewhere. 

Mahal’s release was something of a surprise given that 2024 started for him with a segment with The Rock and a high-profile feud with then-World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. A handful of talent believe that when it comes to his work with The Rock, Mahal nailed his side of things only for WWE to never follow up with anything substantial for him, PW Insider reports. Perhaps that is why Mahal gave a curt announcement regarding his release, stating that he’d quit WWE. 

I Quit. Maharaja Out ?.

— The Maharaja (@RajTheMaharaja) April 20, 2024

Mahal’s early 2024 also saw him ‘feud’ with AEW President Tony Khan, who had some choice words regarding Mahal’s World Heavyweight Championship push. The running joke amongst some WWE talent is that Mahal will be feuding with Khan on AEW Dynamite during this summer. 

For Xia Li, there is a feeling that she suffered because of her stop-start pushes on the main roster. Li, the first Chinese female Superstar, was called up to the main roster in 2021 though arguably didn’t have her first actual storyline until two years later. 

Given how infrequently she had been used, Li’s 2023 feud with Becky Lynch met a cool response from fans as audiences didn’t believe Li would get the better of one of wrestling’s biggest stars. Talent also believe that Li being introduced in the Vince McMahon era did not help her chances either. 

Li and Mahal were said to be extremely well-liked within WWE, as demonstrated by the positive messages from the remaining talent. It’s never easy to lose a job, especially one from the biggest professional wrestling promotion in the world, and now Mahal, Li, and the rest will have to forge the next chapter of their careers outside of WWE.

The cryptic teases continue in build for what could potentially be a return for Bo Dallas and WWE had two different methods of such on SmackDown.

The one that was on air involved a sudden QR code appearing during Triple H’s entrance, but another tease happened in between commercial breaks. There was a point in the middle of the show where the lights dim and a Billie Holiday-like song began to play.

This prompted fans to light up their phones and it even prompted a Bo Dallas chant afterwards.

The Billie Holliday tune is playing during commercial. More tease for Bo Dallas? #SmackDown @sescoops pic.twitter.com/jdpgWMDtjE

— Dominic DeAngelo | 1TS (@DominicDeAngelo) April 20, 2024

What Is The Song That’s Playing?

Although the singer sounds like Billie Holiday, it’s actually a late artist by the name of Marti Amado and the song is called “Nightbird.” The lyrics certainly hearken to Wyatt Family allusions as you can read them below.

The nightbird calls and shadows creep

Into my mind, into my sleep

I do not know if I shall rise

Or open up these weary eyes

The withered trees, how they creak and moan

Beneath the moon, how the demons groan

They come to me and pull me down

Down into the swamp without a sound

I sink again, just like a stone

My body’s cold and I’m all alone

I do not think that I shall rise

Or open up these weary eyes

[Verse 2]

I sink once more, just like a stone

The darkness chills me to the bone

Th? water’s deep, I shall not rise

No more to lift th?se weary eyes

No more to lift these weary eyes

A big tease for a Bo Dallas (and potentially Uncle Howdy return) first sparked at the end of the Bray Wyatt documentary trailer and that’s when speculation began flying as to what could come for the future of the angle.

Recent free agent Matt Hardy began making posts about his past with Bray Wyatt and former Wyatt Family member Erik Rowan actually removed himself from an independent booking due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, Braun Strowman is still apart of WWE.

Bo Dallas was reportedly playing Uncle Howdy back during Bray Wyatt’s return, but fans hadn’t seen the younger Rotunda brother for years since he and Curtis Axel were members of the B-Team.

Someone who is an advocate for a Bo Dallas return under the “Wyatt Universe” is the brothers’ father, WWE Hall Of Famer Mike Rotunda. Speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Rotunda talked about the potential of his sons flourishing with those gimmicks.

“Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family was one of my favorite gimmicks of all time. Both boys, I think they could have gotten a lot more mileage out of Bray Wyatt and the Wyatts, and also with Bo. Bo was the youngest NXT Champion they ever had. He was probably 18 or 19 years old. He caught the business quickly,”

Keep tabs on SEScoops as this storyline develops.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

Once SmackDown went off the air, there were not one, but two matches still on tap for the WWE fans in Pittsburgh, PA.

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory were presented with the new WWE Tag Team Championships on Friday night, which gave them the opportunity to not shake Triple H’s hand during the reveal. The champs did happen to stick around for the fatal four way tag match between New Catch Republic, The Street Profits, AOP, and Legado Del Fantasma to see Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins become the number one contenders.

Waller and Theory’s night was not done however as the new champs had to put their new hardware on the line against Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. Popular Pittsburgh Steeler, Cam Heyward happened to be sitting behind commentary and Waller was quick to talk smack on the mic to the big defensive lineman. 

Mysterio then grabbed the stick and made it clear that he and Dragon Lee had a different agenda.

“Let me give you a little update, you don’t want to show [the titles to them] it’s all good. Once we take those titles, we’ll bring them over there to them.”

After #SmackDown @GraysonWWE called out @CamHeyward & the @steelers but @reymysterio had a different goal in mind. @_Theory1 pic.twitter.com/PrXIaTFePm

— Dominic DeAngelo | 1TS (@DominicDeAngelo) April 20, 2024

Waller and Theory continued the smack talk during their first title defense as both jaw-jacked with kids at ringside. Lee and Mysterio almost got the victory when Rey just about hit the 619 but the heel duo got the definitive three count on the WWE Hall of Famer to retain.

A “Steel City Street Fight” Also Takes Place

Even though Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee didn’t come out victorious, fans were still anticipating a “Steel City Street Fight” Between Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross. Kross and Lashley slugged it out but it was “The All Mighty” getting the W when he speared Kross through a table and got the 1-2-3.

The stars were out at a recent WWE live event in the UK as the promotion’s ‘new era’ continues to be a hit with audiences around the world. 

On Friday evening, WWE hosted an event in the O2 Arena in London, England, which served as the host of WWE Money in the Bank 2023. As seen in the photos below, some huge names from the world of sport were in attendance. Soccer legend Wayne Rooney was spotted in the crowd while boxer Anthony Joshua was able to meet Natalya and the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. 

This event in the O2 isn’t Rooney’s first foray into the world of WWE. In 2015, Rooney attended an event in London and was confronted during the show by King Barrett. Undeterred by the former Nexus leader, the Manchester United alum delivered a swift slap to Barrett. 

As for Joshua, he hasn’t competed since his knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March but has plans to fight again this September. While the Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time World Boxing Champion has yet to step into a WWE ring, Joshua said in 2021 that he wanted to try his hand at pro wrestling. 

The two celebs watched on as Natalya beat Shayna Baszler while Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. If WWE’s recent wave of momentum is anything to go by, the pair had a great show at the O2, and it may not be the last time we see these names and other celebrities at a WWE event. 

Officials in St. Petersburg, FL will be hoping to see WWE return as more details have come out about the highly successful Royal Rumble 2024 event. 

The January 27, show saw Cody Rhodes win his second Royal Rumble match and become the fourth man ever to achieve this feat back-to-back. On the women’s side of things, Bayley won the Women’s Royal Rumble match with a record-breaking performance in the bout. 

The show generated $47,047,401 in overall economic impact with $28,337,038 of that coming from direct spending, a new economic impact study has revealed. There was also $2,923,664 million tax dollars generated by the popular Premium Live Event. 

Ferg’s Sports Bar, which is located near Tropicana Field, did seven times its usual business during the day of the Royal Rumble PLE. Fans were indeed ready to enjoy the show with a drink as Green Bench Brewing Company saw a 10-15% increase in custom over a typical Saturday in the city. 

Fans in Florida weren’t just there to drink and watch wrestling. For those able to survive the post-Royal Rumble hangover, the Imagine Museum had a 25 percent increase in attendance the day after the Royal Rumble. The Sun Runner bus had a 95 percent increase in ridership on the day of the Royal Rumble.

The Royal Rumble is always a popular event and that was no exception this year. The event gave fans what they wanted to see to kick off the WrestleMania season and these immense figures make the ongoing success of WWE on all metrics hard to ignore.

A new QR code that aired on the April 19, episode of SmackDown has once again left fans sifting through the symbols and clues to find out what’s to come. 

WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was at this week’s SmackDown in his latest efforts to demonstrate the promotion’s new era. Mere days after new titles were introduced on Raw, The Game and Nick Aldis revealed new WWE Tag Team Championships to A-Town Down Under. 

During Triple H’s entrance, however, a QR code appeared for a brief moment, the latest in a bizarre string of instances ever since the post-WrestleMania 40 Raw. Users who scanned the QR code were taken to a website featuring a mysterious hooded figure dressed in black. 

This website also contains a hidden link. Clicking it takes you to an image and coordinates (45.7455 N, 13.4674 E.) Following these coordinates takes you to a cave in Slovenia. This cryptic site also has the following video. 

QR Code from earlier also had a video hidden, here it is #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sc9nuTE2h0

— The House that Kami Built (@KamitronPTW) April 20, 2024

Decoding the Message

Following on from the coordinates, the video in question features cave imagery, which was pseudo-prevalent for the video fans found by deciphering the clues on this week’s Raw. That video featured imagery to the philosophical works of Plato, specifically his allegory of the cave. 

Plato argued in his work Republic that man spends his time looking at a cave and what we see are mere shadows of the real world cast by an outside light. The shadows that appear on the wall are man’s reality, they are not accurate representations of the real world and are merely a fraction of the actual reality. The text in the SmackDown video that alludes to ‘opening eyes’ adds more credence to the overall theme of perception of reality. 

The video also includes an image of a crow or raven, both of which are birds associated with darkness. Both birds are scavengers and are generally associated with dead bodies. A group of crows is called a ‘murder’ while a group of ravens is an ‘unkindness.’

A unique symbol also appears in the SmackDown video and also appeared in the Raw video. This symbol of a circle inside a bisected cup is the symbol of the dwarf planet Pluto, and has been since 1933. In astrology, Pluto is associated with secrets and monumental changes experienced over a lifetime. 

What’s to Come?

Many believe these teases are building to the return of Uncle Howdy, previously played by Bo Dallas who has been under contract since 2022. WWE teased the return of Uncle Howdy following their Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. WWE also used QR codes and unique marketing for the ‘White Rabbit’ angle that resulted in Wyatt’s return at Extreme Rules 2022. 

The WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship belts have officially been retired, with the new WWE Tag Team Titles being introduced on the 4/19 WWE SmackDown. 

WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was on the show to introduce the new titles to A-Town Down Under, who won the SmackDown Tag Titles at WrestleMania 40: Saturday. This reveal wasn’t a massive surprise, however, as the Game had revealed the new World Tag Team Titles on Raw mere days earlier. 

The new championship designs are a throwback to the original WWE Tag Team Championship design that proved immensely popular with fans. No doubt this new championship design will only help solidify that this is a new era, one in which the fans feel they are being listened to. 

While A-Town Down Under were pleased to receive the new gold, they pushed their luck with Triple H. The pair continued to taunt the Game which resulted in SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis stepping in and threatening to deal with the pair personally. 

New Challengers

With new WWE Tag Team Championship titles, there was also a need for new challengers. Immediately after this presentation, a four-way tag-team match saw The Street Profits overcome New Catch Republic, Legado del Fantasma and The Authors of Pain to become the No. 1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Titles. The Profits are one of three teams to have held the Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Tag Team titles are are now eager to add another pair of belts to their collection. 

Jinder Mahal is among the names released by WWE today.

The former WWE Champion posted an ominous message on Twitter today. The Maharaja claimed that he had ‘quit’ implying that he was leaving the company.

I Quit. Maharaja Out ?.

— The Maharaja (@RajTheMaharaja) April 20, 2024

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful then provided an update and noted that alongside Mahal, Xyon Quinn and Xia Li have also been let go by the company. You can check out the updated list of talents released in April 2024 below:

• Jinder Mahal
• Xyon Quinn
• Xia Li
• Veer Mahaan 
• Sanga

This is the latest WWE shake-up to take place. In the past month, the company has parted ways with major behind-the-scenes names such as Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, Dan Ventrelle and Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development Trent Wilfinger.

The release of longtime WWE Director of Community Relations and Hall of Famer Sue Aitchison raised a lot of eyebrows and Artist Rob Schamberger also confirmed his departure from the promotion earlier this week.

Wrestling World Reacts To April 2024 WWE Releases

Veer Mahaan took on his Twitter to write a message in Hindi after the news of his release became public knowledge. His tweet translates to: “When it comes to the honor and respect of Indians, sacrifice comes first. Good Bye WWE”

??? ?? ?? ??????????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????? Good Bye WWE ??

?? ?? ??????? ??????

— Rinku Rajput (@VeerMahaan) April 20, 2024

Xia Li posted a statement on Twitter thanking Triple H and everyone else who helped her through this run. She said that it’s not the end but a new beginning. Kairi Sane who is a close friend of Xia was among the people who reacted to her post:

I’ll miss you.?
Thank you @XiaWWE ??? pic.twitter.com/YJfG1cxZId

— IYO SKY (@Iyo_SkyWWE) April 20, 2024

I don't want to believe it.
I'm really sad.
I don’t know how many times your kindness has saved me…

Love you so much, @XiaWWE . pic.twitter.com/QdxVWAVuRS

— Kairi Sane (@KAIRI_official) April 20, 2024

Not only is @XiaWWE a star, she’s an even better person.

I know this isn’t the end for you & I can’t wait to see what you do next. ???? https://t.co/KvKHUHtKiq

— The Virtuosa (@DeonnaPurrazzo) April 20, 2024

You’re a ?? @XiaWWE!! You’ve got this, the world has been put on notice ? https://t.co/bjQwvtDGwl

— TAYA VALKYRIE (@thetayavalkyrie) April 20, 2024

Latest WWE Releases

This is the second time Jinder Mahal has been released by WWE after his initial release in 2014. He returned to the company in 2016 leading to his WWE Championship reign in 2017. He returned to NXT for a run most recently as well.

Xia Li was signed by the company in 2017 after a tryout in China. She became the first Chinese woman to compete in a WWE ring when she entered the 2018 Mae Young Classic tournament. After an NXT stint she made her main roster debut in 2021.

Xyon Quinn had a somewhat similar WWE experience. He signed a development contract with NXT in 2018. Quinn made his on-screen debut for the company during a SmackDown episode in April 2020 losing to Sheamus in a singles match.

He continued his stint with NXT despite multiple main roster appearances. He was declared a free agent during the 2023 Drafts and made occasional appearances on both of WWE’s premiere shows.

Mahal noted on his Twitter bio that the standard 90 days non compete clause applies to his release and the same should be true for the other departures as well.

Considering the backstage shakeups preceding the latest set of WWE releases, more names leaving the roster can emerge in the next few hours. You can stay tuned to SEScoops for any updates.

Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins will be out for the foreseeable future as he is recovering from knee surgery. 

Rollins hasn’t appeared for WWE since his loss to Drew McIntyre at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday. During an appearance on RTE One’s The Late, Late Show, Becky Lynch was asked about how she and Rollins handle wrestling and being parents and disclosed her husband’s recent surgery. 

“So he just got surgery on Tuesday, he had knee surgery. He tore his meniscus a little while before WrestleMania. His rehab, I suppose, is running after a little 3-year-old now. That’ll be great for his knee.”

Becky mentioned that seth had knee surgery on tuesday pic.twitter.com/St4qqrF5qd

— Alex-Louise ? (@lynchskota) April 19, 2024

News of Rollins’ surgery shouldn’t come as a massive surprise to fans. In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, much had been said about the physical condition of the then-World Heavyweight Champion. Post-WrestleMania, it was reported that Rollins would be taking a break from programming. 

While an initial report said that Rollins wouldn’t miss much time at all, this surgery will have presumably extended the length of his hiatus from the ring. Rollins suffered a partial meniscus tear during a match on Raw in January and opted to rest so that he could still wok both nights of WrestleMania 40. 

After a 316-day reign on top that saw Rollins lead the way in the absence of Roman Reigns, Seth has certainly earned some time off and can hopefully make a full recovery. At this time, it’s unclear when fans can expect him back but we’re wishing him all the best.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will put the title on the line against AJ Stlyes at Backlash: France, in what’ll be a first-time showdown between the two. 

Styles became the number one contender for the title on the April 19, episode of WWE SmackDown with a victory over LA Knight. The previous week, Styles had qualified for the number one contenders match by winning a triple threat that included Kevin Owens and Rey Mysterio. 

Rhodes didn’t appear in person during WWE SmackDown as he has been in the UK as part of his first overseas tour as Undisputed WWE Champion. In a video promo from London’s O2 Arena, Rhodes spoke about Styles and dubbed him the modern-day ‘Excellence of Execution.’ Rhodes added that his fellow ‘Georgia Boy’ rarely misses, but he doesn’t miss either and he’s looking forward to the showdown in Lyon, France.

The Undisputed WWE Champion @CodyRhodes has a message for the No.1 Contender, @AJStylesOrg… ?

NEXT WEEK: #WWEBacklash Contract Signing! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/696QbhMobi

— WWE (@WWE) April 20, 2024

Despite the lengthy careers of both men, this’ll be the first time that Rhodes and Styles face off in singles action. It would only be a handful of months after Styles joined WWE in January 2016 that Rhodes left the company under the bbeleif that he could become something bigger outside WWE. 

Though AJ and Cody have yet to go one-on-one, Styles knows what it’s like to step into the ring with a Rhodes. In October 2003, Styles faced the American Dream Dusty Rhodes in TNA Wrestling for Styles’ NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The Phenomenal One left with the gold that night and hopes to do the same at Backlash: France when the Undisputed WWE Championship is on the line. 

Tiffany Stratton is one of WWE’s fastest  rising stars. Following an impressive showing in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, the former NXT Women’s champion joined the SmackDown brand and has earned victories over Liv Morgan, Naomi, and Zelina Vega. 

Stratton spoke with SEScoops earlier this month during the WWE Media Day in Philadelphia over WrestleMania 40 weekend about wanting to wrestle Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 41 and more. 

A Thunderous Pop In Perth

Ahead of the 2024 Elimination Chamber event, WWE held a special press event before the members of the WWE Universe, as well as the media, in Perth, Australia.

In an effort to hype the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, the likes of Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, and Tiffany Stratton were brought out onto the stage. Naturally, Belair and Lynch were greeted by their usual round of cheers, but in a surprise turn of events, a heel Tiffany Stratton was as well. She tells SEScoops correspondent MuscleManMalcolm:

“I remember being backstage at the press conference, and I remember Triple H said my name and they popped like crazy. It was like the loudest pop, and then they were chanting ‘Tiffy Time’ before I even came out there. It was just so amazing! It was such a good experience for my first PLE.”

Chants for “Tiffy Time” later extended to the Elimination Chamber event itself, as the people of Perth proudly shouted Stratton’s catchphrase not only during the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, but also during the men’s.

High School Musical Hot Take

The former WWE NXT Women’s Champion has previously credited the character of Sharpay Evans of the “High School Musical” film series as one of the inspirations behind her wrestling persona. As such, Stratton was asked to identify which of the three “High School Musical” films was her favorite.

While she thoroughly enjoys the second iteration, Stratton admits to having a particular affinity for the series’ finale, “High School Musical 3.”

“I’m going to go with two and three, but kind of leaning more to three,” Stratton said. “I just feel like the characters were more grown up and I feel like the the cameras were better quality.”

The Rock is ready to do much more as the ‘Final Boss’ of WWE following the historic WrestleMania 40 Premium Live Event. 

WrestleMania 40: Sunday went off the air with Cody Rhodes standing tall as Undisputed WWE Champion, despite the efforts of The Rock and The Bloodline. On the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock made clear that he’ll be back one day and that he’s coming for the American Nightmare. 

The Rock is expected back on WWE programming, and his return could happen before 2024 is up, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. It’s said that there is a chance of The Rock doing a match later this year, with fans speculating that a Saudi Arabia show could be in his future. 

Whether The Rock wrestles again in 2024 or not, his focus remains on Cody Rhodes. The report adds that a match with Rhodes has been tentatively penciled in for WrestleMania, though whether Cody is the champion or not by then will play a factor in booking decisions. 

Whatever comes next, The Rock’s metamorphosis into the Final Boss has been a hit with fans and is seemingly here to stay. Taking to Instagram, The Rock deemed WrestleMania 40 merely the first chapter of what’s to come with this character. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C582jMOxCOz

With The Rock part of the TKO board of directors, his connection to WWE is arguably the strongest it’s been in decades. There are still some questions remaining, including where the long-rumored showdown with Roman Reigns will take place. The Tribal Chief is also off of WWE programming for the time being, but for The Rock, his return isn’t an if, but when. 

WWE star Cruz Del Toro will be out of action after undergoing surgery for an unspecified arm injury in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday, April 18.

Cruz’s last televised match took place during the go-home SmackDown before WrestleMania 40, where he participated in the WrestleMania Tag Team title qualifying tournament on SmackDown.

On Thursday he dropped an Instagram post from the Birmingham Surgery Center in Homewood, Alabama, where he underwent a procedure to repair an unspecified injury. In the image, Del Toro is shown with a cast on his left arm.

Cruz Del Toro shared the news of his injury on Instagram, where he thanked everyone for their motivation and kind words. Several WWE talents, including Natalya, Michin, Adam Pearce, and Byron Saxton, commented on Del Toro’s post with messages of support, but he must start a new journey back to the ring now.

A special thank you to Dr. McKeon and the team at Birmingham Surgery Center for their care, the surgery was a success. Thank you for your messages of support and good wishes. I will be back soon and better than ever. Like someone said… #todayisdayone

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C56gn-LPXZg

The LWO member last competed in the ring during the April 5 SmackDown show in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. His partner, Joaquin Wilde participated in a singles match on NXT this week in a losing effort against Ridge Holland.

Prior to his injury, Del Toro and partner Joaquin Wilde have been active on both the SmackDown and NXT brands. They participated in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic on NXT and the WrestleMania Tag Team title qualifying tournament on SmackDown.

The LWO in WWE

The current members of the LWO are Rey Mysterio, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, Zelina Vega, Carlito, and Dragon Lee. The stable was revived in 2023 as Mysterio was being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

During Rey Mysterio’s US Title match against Logan Paul at WWE Crown Jewel, Escobar appeared at ringside to take brass knuckles from a member of Paul’s entourage, but he left them on the ring apron as he chased off Paul’s’ friends. This allowed Paul to use the brass knuckles on Rey to win the match.

Santos Escobar sealed the deal for his direction by turning on Mysterio during the November 10 episode of SmackDown.

After taking some time off due to injury, Rey Mysterio returned on the March 1 episode of SmackDown to help Carlito defeat Escobar in a street fight. Rey later challenged Escobar to a match on SmackDown, which he lost the following week due to interference from his son, Dominik.

In a surprise that reunited Andrade and Zelina Vega, he stepped in for Dragon Lee to help Mr. 6-1-9 defeat Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 40.

WWE’s new era will see the company form a working relationship with Rossy Ogawa’s new Marigold wrestling promotion, it has been reported.

Ogawa, the recently-fired founder of STARDOM is hoping to bring stars including IYO SKY and Kairi Sane to a Marigold event expected to take place this summer. Whether that happens or not, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that a working agreement will be in place between the two companies. 

The main star who’ll benefit from this working agreement is Giulia, who is expected to sign with WWE in the near future. The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is expected to compete for both WWE and Marigold before an eventual move to the U.S. Giulia, who appeared at NXT Stand & Deliver alongside Ogawa, is expected to appear on a few big Marigold events per year in addition to her full-time WWE commitments. 

Great to have you at #StandAndDeliver, @giulia0221g! pic.twitter.com/hv2kySgsHQ

— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024

Giulia is set to appear at Marigold’s debut event in May 2024 alongside a talented roster of women including NXT alum Sareee. Her WWE in-ring debut is expected to be at July’s NXT Heatwave event, possibly with championship gold on the line. 

WWE forging a working agreement with Marigold, one that’ll seemingly last for multiple years, is a massive change from how the previous administration did business. In stark contrast to Vince McMahon’s ‘don’t play well with others’ approach, WWE is said to be exploring forging working relationships with other companies and Tony Khan has said that he’d be interested in a WWE-AEW partnership, under the right circumstances.

WrestleMania and the WWE Draft give the company a chance to shuffle the deck in a number of ways. Fans can look forward to a new pairing that will present fresh matchups wherever they wind up. 

This week’s WWE RAW broadcast from Montreal concluded with Sami Zayn’s hometown hero victory. He retained the Intercontinental Title against Chad Gable, but the Underdog from the Underground’s celebration didn’t last long. Gable attacked him, turning heel in the process. 

WWE is believed have big plans for the Olympian: an alliance with pro wrestling’s most technically capable tag team. According to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“The belief going around is that the Creeds are going heel to form a unit with Gable.”

WWE had a handful of factions for this new trio to work against on both Raw and SmackDown, a scenario we are very excited to see play out.

Creed Brothers’ History Before WWE

Julius and Brutus Creed, real names Jacob and Drew Kasper, are brothers with an outstanding background in amateur wrestling.

The siblings from Lexington, Ohio took over amateur wrestling in high school. Julius Creed, 31, attended Duke University, where he graduated in sociology and excelled in wrestling, earning multiple NCAA honors and setting university records. He also competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials and later coached wrestling at Duke.

Brutus Creed, 27, went to Otterbein University, where he studied exercise science and had a notable wrestling career, achieving a 108–13 record and earning NCAA Division III All-American honors twice before his final season was cut short by the pandemic.

WWE obviously wanted the Creed Brothers, as Gerald Briscoe scouted them in 2018. In October 2020, WWE signed Julius Creed, and in February 2021, following a successful try-out, Brutus Creed inked a three-year contract with WWE.

The two stand out performers were aligned with the Diamond Mine stable in NXT for a while, where they had a run as NXT Tag Team Champions.

During the 2023 WWE Draft, the Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile were called up to the RAW brand, which is where we find ourselves today.

Aligning Chad Gable with the Creed Brothers could be a real recipe for success. They all have similar backgrounds, as Gable is a former state champion in high school. Gable was named as 2012 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. He also won the 2012 the U.S. Olympic Trials, which secured him a spot to compete at the London Olympics in the 185-lbs division for Greco-Roman wrestling.

The Undertaker never got the opportunity to lock horns with fellow WWE Hall of Famer ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at WrestleMania. Could Austin break The Phenom’s legendary undefeated streak? Well, Taker thinks so. 

Each month, the ‘Dead Man’ does an exclusive Q&A Session for Patreon members of his Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway show. The fan questions often produce interesting quotes and this show was no exception. One question asked which wrestler could have ended the Streak earlier than 2014, when Brock Lesnar ‘conquered’ it at WrestleMania XXX. The 59-year-old Hall of Famer said it would have to be ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. 

“It’d have to be Stone Cold. That’s really one of the only guys I didn’t get to work with at Mania. That would have been huge. The Streak may have gotten broken earlier, but still, it would have been nice to work with Steve at Mania.”

The idea of Undertaker vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania prompted discussion about what the reaction would have been if Austin ended the streak instead of Lesnar. Wrestling fans were furious when WWE’s ‘Best Incarnate’ did the unthinkable, but would Austin get a similar response?

Taker feels that Austin’s popularity was unrivaled, and that would have helped offset some of the backlash, but some fans would have still taken issue with the Streak ending and he could still expect some mixed reactions.

“Steve was over at a level… That was just a whole ‘nother level that he was over at. It would probably be, just like anything else, half the people would love it, half the people would hate it. That’s how it is. Everybody has an opinion but that’s the guy that I would have liked to work with at Mania that I never got a chance to.”

• Undertaker Merchandise at WWEShop

The Streak

The Undertaker is synonymous with WrestleMania. His fabled undefeated “streak” remains to be one of the greatest chapters in WWE. While WrestleMania is a spectacle itself. Every year, the eagle-eyed fans also anticipated ‘The Deadman’ putting his streak on the line against some of the biggest superstars in the company. 

The Undertaker famously ‘claimed the souls’ of some of the all-time greats at Mania over a couple of decades until Brock Lesnar did something unimaginable – ending the streak at WrestleMania XXX. ‘The Phenom’ suffered another loss at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ against Roman Reigns in a No Holds Barred Match at WrestleMania 33. 

• The Undertaker: The WWE Locker Room Was ‘Pissed’ When The Streak Ended

WrestleMania 40

The Undertaker was involved at WrestleMania 40 when he hit a chokeslam on The Rock during the headlining match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

Reports suggest that it was Steve Austin, who was originally in the plans to get involved instead of Taker but that didn’t materialize.  

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes believes that the success of WWE’s product will help lure The Rock back into the squared circle. 

Rhodes is currently in the UK as part of an ongoing tour by WWE, his first overseas tour as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Rhodes was asked about the possibility of a showdown with The Rock. 

“I think it’ll really come down to can I be a good champion or a great champion, Roman Reigns was a great champion, and will that be enough to entice The Rock?”

While Rhodes put a great deal of pressure on himself to be a champion worthy of The Rock’s return, he acknowledged that WWE’s success as a whole would play a factor. 

“This run, it’s a whole new generation, a whole new locker room. Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, myself, Rhea Ripley, all these people. I think the more we keep this, the better we do, the more chances it lures Rock back into the fray.”

Is The Rock vs Cody going to happen? ?

Undisputed WWE Champion @CodyRhodes talk all things WrestleMania, The Rock and WWE’s UK tour! pic.twitter.com/Wmn2pEeabr

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 19, 2024

The Rock and Rhodes were at odds during the build to WrestleMania 40 including an assault on the American Nightmare that left Cody battered and bloodied in Chicago. On the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw, the Final Boss vowed to return to WWE programming one day and is coming for Cody Rhodes. 

If Cody believes that a successful WWE will bring The Rock back to the ring, then the Great One’s next match is all but guaranteed. WrestleMania 40 broke several records for the promotion and was critically well-received by fans. WWE, by its own admission, is in a ‘new era,’ one without Vince McMahon’s involvement. 

WWE is certainly doing big business right now and that won’t go unnoticed by The Rock who is also a member of TKO’s board of directors. With those in WWE of the opinion that WrestleMania 40: Saturday was not The Rock’s last match, it appears Cody Rhodes will get his wish. 

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was left standing tall after WrestleMania 40 went off the air, and now hopes to bring the annual mega-show to the UK. 

Rhodes has been headlining WWE’s recent tour of the UK, which also features Becky Lynch despite rumors of time off. At an event in Birmingham, England, Rhodes marked his first title defense with a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. 

After the match, Rhodes spoke about keeping his promise to the fans after stating at a previous WWE event that the next time he’s in the UK, he would be a champion. Amid chants of ‘You Deserve It’ from the crowd, Rhodes said that the fans deserve a WrestleMania in the UK. 

“If anybody deserves anything, I’m going to echo John Cena saying the United Kingdom deserves a WrestleMania.”

While Rhodes, John Cena, and countless fans hope to bring WrestleMania to the UK, this monumental feat is easier said than done. The time difference between the UK and the United States would be a huge factor as PLEs in the UK air much earlier in the day States-side. 

Despite WWE bringing more events overseas in recent years, it appears that WrestleMania won’t be making the move just yet. WWE President Nick Khan recently stated that the company’s big four events (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) will remain in North America for the foreseeable future. 

WrestleMania’s Future

The location of WrestleMania 41 has yet to be publicly confirmed, with Las Vegas and Minneapolis currently the front runners. While the Minnesotan city has been treated as a ‘lock’ for the 2025 event, some believe that WWE will head to Vegas following the chilly conditions of WrestleMania 40. 

Burke Nihill, the President/CEO of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, has said that WWE has committed to bring WrestleMania 43 to Nashville in 2027. WWE has yet to confirm this. 

WWE superstar Sheamus made his highly anticipated return to the company on the April 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. He took on Ivar in a physical matchup that saw him win with his signature Brogue Kick. Although some fans were happy to see him back after neck surgery, he drew criticism over his physique. 

Sheamus appeared noticeably heavier than when he last appeared on WWE TV. While he competed similar to what he had in the past, some fans couldn’t help poking fun at his body. This has led to a debate on social media and memes from fans criticizing ‘The Celtic Warrior’ appearance. 

After his match with Ivar, the WWE superstar noticed the fan reaction and tried to play it off. The following day, he responded to fans’ body-shaming by writing on Twitter that “I’m just big boned.” 

After hearing more complaints from the internet wrestling community, Sheamus took to Twitter again to defend himself. 

Sheamus Comments On Body-Shamming From Fans

On Twitter, the former WWE Champion acknowledged the body shaming he’s received by posting a meme about himself. He also shared that he wasn’t supposed to compete on the April 15 episode while preparing for a return at the WWE Draft. However, he has been working to get back into the shape he desires. 

Ok Ok take your best shots.. Whalemus, Too Many Pies, etc.. and then we’re done with the photoshopping & shaming. I was aiming for the Draft & got an early call-up. My bad. On me. Been sleeping in the gym ever since SO watch this space ?? i appreciate the love too #Sheamoose pic.twitter.com/KlO6TmWTz4

— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) April 18, 2024

Unfortunately, some of the WWE fanbase continued to body-shame Sheamus, leading to his supporters coming to his defense online.

Fans Come To Defense Over Sheamus Being Body-Shamed 

In response to the criticism over Sheamus’s physique, wrestlers and wrestling content creators have come to his aid on Twitter. One of the notable support came from Impact Wrestling superstar Jordynne Grace.

“Every single person I’ve seen talking shit either doesn’t have a profile or look like they haven’t lifted a weight in their entire life,” wrote Grace. 

More support has come in for Sheamus. Here are a few. 

You don't owe none of these shits an explanation!! As long as you're healthy and happy.. we're happy!!

— Stephanie Hypes (@StephanieHypes) April 18, 2024

LEAVE HIM ALONE!!! https://t.co/xY4dbgPmLI

— ?Lovely? (@ItsLovelyLaveau) April 18, 2024

I’m just thankful to have Sheamus back in the ring ??

Anyone clowning him & his body can fck off

Sidebar: I hope he brings back Celtic Warrior Workouts…really appreciate those vids & him jumping out of his comfort zone ?? pic.twitter.com/Yt7bYAbrxb

— ? ?????? ? (@itsJustinRitch) April 17, 2024

If I see anyone body shaming Sheamus, it’s an instant block. You’ve got to have rocks for brains if you think Sheamus can’t beat you to a pulp and then steal your girl.

— Auntie Collins | Fightful Overbooked ?????? (@_queerauntie) April 16, 2024

The USA Channel Twitter account has also expressed support for ‘The Celtic Warrior’ by posting, “You look great!”

What’s Next For Sheamus?

Although Sheamus is receiving negative backlash, he also has fans who are happy that he is back and ready to speak in his defense. As stated in his tweet, he prepares to make the best of his return. 

The win over Ivar was an excellent showing for his comeback and set up opportunities for the future. Sheamus will be involved in the WWE Draft from April 26 through April 29. It’s unclear what he’ll sign with, but the former WWE Champion will likely want to make his presence felt. If his match with Ivar indicates his condition and motivation, Sheamus could be a force to be reckoned with in WWE.

Cities all over the world compete for the opportunity to host major WWE events. WrestleMania 40 proved to be another financial success for both WWE and Philadelphia, which may see upwards of $200 million added to the local economy. 

WWE President Nick Khan spoke at the World Congress of Sports convention on Wednesday and provided some new details on the company’s outlook for future locations. 

Key takeaways:

• The location for next year’s WrestleMania 41 has not been finalized, but Las Vegas is one of the finalists under consideration.
• WWE is looking to run more stadiums that have hosted the Super Bowl, but fewer stadiums on the East coast.
• WrestleMania will probably move to a different weekend to avoid competition with the NCAA basketball tournament.

WWE Making PLE Travel Plans

The WWE CEO recommitted their plans to hold more International premium live events. Their goal is to have the ‘big five’ shows in the US and all the others in other countries like we’ve seen for Elimination Chamber Perth and Backlash France.

“We sat down together a few years ago and decided, so the big five premium live events … should be in the United States or Canada. All of the other events, the goal is to have them from international locations.”

WWE fans have needed to set their alarms to different times in the past so they can watch a premium live events. Shows in Saudi Arabia air in the afternoon for fans on the East Coast, and Australia’s Elimination Chamber event started at 4:00 AM EST. This will become more of a trend as the company continues announcing more PLEs.

NBCUniversal secured a $1 billion streaming agreement with WWE, designating Peacock as the exclusive platform for all pay-per-views, specials, and library content. Their streaming agreement with Peacock is set to expire in 2026.

With Peacock as the company’s primary streaming partner, it does not matter to them if fans watch the PLEs live. The money is still coming in for WWE, as fans in North America can watch at their leisure whenever they like.

WWE’s merchandising partnership with Fanatics continues to be lucrative for both companies. Executives from both companies, including Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, Nick Khan and Fanatics’ CEO Michael Rubin were among the business leaders who spoke at SBJ’s CAA World Congress of Sports conference earlier this week in Los Angeles, CA.

Fanatics works with some of the world’s top sports leagues, including NFL, NCAA, MLB NASCAR and many more. Rubin has seen it all, but even he underestimated the insatiable demand for WWE merchandise. 

“The biggest growth sport in my mind Well, are we looking at percents, dollars? What’s wild, I’ll tell you honestly, what’s going on with WWE is insane. If I look at the growth in our WWE business, and it’s a big business already, it’s absolutely insane.”

“NFL is a multi-billion dollar business. Baseball is a multi-billion dollar business. We look collectively within our overall business, if you talk about growth percent, what’s going on with WWE is spectacular.”

When WWE and Fanatics announced their long-term partnership in 2022, Rubin explained it was a great fit. “WWE is one of the most widely admired sports and entertainment properties worldwide, and it made perfect sense to activate many parts of our Fanatics global platform to create a first-of-its-kind, all-in fan experience.” 

His statement in the press release continued, “From e-commerce and licensed merchandise to trading cards and more, we’re going to offer up an incredible set of capabilities to help WWE’s passionate fans worldwide celebrate their favorite Superstars, marquee events and the WWE brand overall.”

For more, check out Sports Business Journal’s coverage of the WWE panel at the conference: Levesque, Khan tout WrestleMania, Netflix deal

H/T to Arash Markazi from The Sporting Tribune on his coverage of the World Congress of Sports