Archive for the ‘WWE’ Category

Rhea Ripley Excited For Future Dream Match With Jade Cargill

All eyes are on Jade Cargill as she aims to dominate the WWE women’s division. She made her impressive in-ring debut with the company in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match on January 27 and had fans wanting more. After two months of inactivity, she teamed up with Bianca Belair and Naomi in a win against Damage CTRL(Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) at WWE WrestleMania 40 on April 6

As she continues to build momentum in the company, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley already has her eyes on Cargill. 

During a surprise appearance at the Cheat Heat Live event over WrestleMania weekend,  host Peter Rosenberg asked Ripley if she was looking forward to a potential clash with the new WWE superstar. She replied that she was excited to step into the ring against Cargill.

“…I mean, it really excites me. It does. I love a good challenge, and Jade Cargill is someone that I think could bring that to me,” said Ripley. The champion also spoke highly of her potential rival and what impresses her about Cargill. “… She looks the part. She acts the part. She talks the part. She dresses the part. She does everything correct and when that day comes, I think that’s a big match feel. I don’t know when that will be, whether it is WrestleMania 41, WrestleMania 42, (WrestleMania)43, I’m not sure, but when that day comes, people are going to be talking about it, and people are going to be looking forward to it, so I’m also looking forward to it.”

Ripley also confidently said she will champion when she finally faces Cargill. Although fans and Ripley are looking forward to a dream match, it seems it won’t happen soon. 

What’s Next For Jade Cargill?

Both Cargill and Ripley’s future is uncertain, as both are expected to be involved in the upcoming WWE Draft. It will start on the April 26 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown and continue on the April 29 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. It’s unclear what brand either superstar will end up on.

 However, the company has also decided to pair Cargill with Belair as they try to dominate the women’s tag team division.

On the April 12 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, Cargill teamed with Belair to defeat former tag champions Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. After the match, WWE Commentator Corey Graves teased that they could be looking to take over the women’s tag division. In a backstage interview, Cargill and Belair confirmed their intentions, saying that they like working together and want to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship from the Kabuki Warriors(Asuka & Sane).

After defeating Damage CTRL at WWE WrestleMania 40 and recently Green and Niven, it seems only a matter of time before Cargill and Belair get a title opportunity. If true, fans shouldn’t expect the new WWE superstar to be on the hunt for Ripley’s championship for some time. Although the dream match won’t occur anytime soon, the more Cargill accomplishes in WWE, the bigger the eventual showdown will be when it happens. 

Rhea Ripley Vacates Women’s World Title on WWE Raw, Will Be Out For Months Due to Injury

Rhea Ripley has been forced to relinquish the WWE Women’s World Championship due to an injury that doctors have told her will keep her sidelined for months. She was injured during the backstage attack from Liv Morgan on the RAW after WrestleMania 40.

The April 15 edition of WWE RAW started with Rhea Ripley making her way to the ring with her arm in a cast. She also had a sullen look on her face, and a bit frustrated at her current situation.

Ripley started by saying, “obviously you guys know what’s going on,” before explaining that she is not medically cleared to compete for a few months. She will also need to vacate her title, The Nightmare was not happy about this.

WWE Women’s World Title Vacated

Rhea Ripley put her title down, and Montreal members of the WWE Universe were not happy about seeing Mami go.

The fans chanted “bullsh*t,” while Ripley said she agreed with them. She also said the Women’s World Title means the most to her, but she had to put it down anyway.

After laying down her title, Rhea Ripley cut a promo directly to whoever wins the Women’s World Title. Mami said her revenge tour will before blood.

Liv Morgan has been flexing online after the news broke of her injury. It remains to be determined how WWE will crown a new champion, but you have to imagine that Morgan will be in the running.

Morgan came out to rub salt in Ripley’s wounds after being warned that the Eradicator will hurt her. Security had to separate them, and then Ripley took out a security guard with a headbutt for good measure.

It was later announced during RAW that they will crown a new Women’s World Champion next week in Columbus, Ohio during their 4/22 episode.

Drew McIntyre WWE Contract Update As Free Agency Approaches

Drew McIntyre has yet to sign a new contract with WWE and may soon become one of the biggest names to hit free agency marketing in quite some time. The Scottish Warrior’s contract situation has been well-documented over the past several months. 

McIntyre recently confirmed the key details of his situation. During a recent appearance on the Masked Man Show, the multi-time World Champion said he’s younger than people think, feels like he’s in prime of his career and plans wrestle for many more years. 

When could we see him wrestle elsewhere as Drew Galloway? According to Fightful Select, Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract expires in June 2024 and negotiations remain ongoing. 

His likeness featured prominently on advertisements for the upcoming WWE Clash at the Castle: Scotland premium live event scheduled for Saturday, June 15 from Glasgow.

Drew McIntyre remains one of the most talented and capable wrestlers in WWE. Approximately 7 years into his second run with the company, he’s been a mainstay of the main event scene. 

He ended Seth Rollins’ historic reign to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, albeit for just a matter of minutes. That reign was short-lived due to Damian Priest cashing in Money in the Bank on a fallen McIntyre, who had just been taken out by CM Punk.

He’s been embroiled in a heated feud with CM Punk, although that match will wait until Punk’s injury heals and he’s medically cleared to compete. The recent World title win and (highly entertaining) rivalry with the company’s most controversial figure show that WWE thinks a lot of McIntyre and feels confident they’ll ultimately reach an agreement.

The Undertaker Finally Got Closure On His WWE Career

WWE fans are still buzzing about the ending of the Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. The bout’s climax saw run-ins from various legends, including John Cena , The Rock and The Undertaker. 

‘The Deadman’ prevented The Rock from attacking Rhodes and choke-slammed him before disappearing in front of the crowd. Rhodes capitalized on the help from his peers and finally defeated Reigns to become the new champion. The moment Rhodes finished his story may be remembered for quite some time, and The Undertaker is happy he was involved in it. 

On the Six Feet Under Podcast, The Undertaker shared that WWE WrestleMania 40 gave him closure on his wrestling career. He noted that he has struggled with being fully retired but that his involvement in the Rhodes vs. Reigns match finally put his mind at ease. 

“…I’ve been struggling with it since I retired, but this weekend gave me closer. It really did,” said The Undertaker. 

He noted that he had fun getting involved in the main event, especially with how it was one of WWE’s biggest storylines for the event. 

The WWE Hall of Famer continued, “…When it was over, and I’m running out of the building, I’m like, I’m good now, and I don’t know if I needed, because you know, my last match was the Boneyard, so there is nobody there. It’s cinematic. It was, I don’t know how you say, it was like a moment of clarity that I had like I’m okay now.”

Will The Undertaker Make Another Appearance For WWE?

The Undertaker also noted that he wouldn’t mind WWE asking him to be involved in similar situations in the future. However, the wrestling legend feels after WWE WrestleMania 40 confirmed that he doesn’t have the same drive to want to wrestle again. 

“…I don’t have that feeling in my chest like I’ve had since I retired that I need, like, you know, I hadn’t come to peace with it, and I knew just like I knew when the Boneyard Match at four in the morning, like I’m good,” said Undertaker. 

He continued to speak positively about how much it meant to be involved at WWE WrestleMania 40 and how good it felt to have closure. While anything can happen in wrestling, The Undertaker seems optimistic that he can remain away from in-ring activity if WWE doesn’t ask him to. WWE WrestleMania 40 continues to be a show to remember, as it may be the last chokeslam fans will ever see from ‘The Deadman.’ 

Rhea Ripley Injured, May Need To Vacate WWE Women’s World Title

Rhea Ripley is dealing with an injury that has WWE officials seriously considering vacating her Women’s World Championship. PWInsider reports, “the issue is severe enough that the talk internally is that Ripley may be forced to vacate her championship, possibly as soon as tonight’s episode of Raw.”

Ripley was injured on last week’s 4/8 WWE Raw during a backstage brawl with former ally Liv Morgan. The melee began when Morgan threw a chair at Ripley’s head, which may have caused the injury. Tonight on WWE Raw, she’s scheduled to address the attack.

Ripley has held the title since WrestleMania 39 (when it was the SmackDown Women’s Championship) and recently defended the gold at WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch.  It’s a terribly unfortunate situation for Ripley, who has established herself as one of the biggest and brightest stars in WWE. 

Since capturing the gold in 2023, the Judgment Day member has proven to be a hit with WWE fans around the world and her popularity led to her main eventing in Australia at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

With that in mind, the decision to vacate the title will not be an easy one for those involved to make but, may be a necessary one. As for now, we at SEScoops wish Ripley the very best. 

WWE Champ Logan Paul & Nina Agdal Expecting Their First Baby

Influencer, businessman and podcaster Logan Paul can add “expectant father” to his long list of titles.

Fresh off another successful WWE United States title defense last weekend at WrestleMania 40, the PRIME Superstar just dropped his biggest announcement yet: he and fiancee Nina Agdal  are expecting their first child together.

In typical Logan Paul fashion, the news was delivered via an Instagram post that included the caption, “Another Paul coming this Fall.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5yaunQOq5V

Nina Agdal is a Danish supermodel who has graced the covers of magazines and appeared in popular television shows (Entourage), a Super Bowl commercial and more. 

Paul and Agdal have been dating since 2022. They were engaged last summer amid this jaw-dropping setting in Lake Como, Italy.

SEScoops wishes congratulations to the happy couple!

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:CuemMXqu2PO

WWE Raw Preview (4/15): Rhea Ripley, Chad Gable IC Title Shot, Sheamus Returns & More

WWE returns to Montreal, Quebec, Canada tonight for WWE RAW at the Bell Centre. Nearly 12,000 fans will be on hand to see the next chapter in this new era as we look ahead to WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4. Here’s a quick preview, followed by our detailed breakdown of what to look forward to:

Matches

  • Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor
  • Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn (c) for the Intercontinental Championship
  • Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
  • Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Segments:

  • WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley addresses Liv Morgan attacking her last week
  • Sheamus returns for the first time since last summer
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes will appear

Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor

Last week, Jey Uso secured himself a future title shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, which is currently held by Damian Priest. Before he vies for the title, though, Uso will test himself against Priest’s Judgment Day stablemate Finn Balor on tonight’s episode of WWE RAW. While Uso and Balor have frequently shared the ring in tag team competition, this will mark their first-ever televised singles match

WWE Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable

Ahead of WrestleMania 40, Chad Gable provided Sami Zayn with advice on how to beat “The Ring General” GUNTHER, with the expectation that Zayn would later repay Gable in some fashion. Zayn’s implementation of Gable’s advice later resulted in a triumphant victory at WrestleMania 40, as he unseated GUNTHER to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion. Following his win, Zayn has now extended an invitation for Gable to vie for the Intercontinental Championship on “WWE Raw.”

For Zayn, tonight’s title match will not only mark the first defense in his current reign, but also a homecoming, as he grew up in the Quebec province. For Gable, tonight serves as an opportunity to capture his first singles championship in WWE.

Sheamus Returns

The WWE Universe last saw Sheamus on the August 18 episode of SmackDown as he battled WWE Hall of Famer Edge in what would be their first, and last, singles match. After an 8-month hiatus, “The Celtic Warrior” will now return to WWE, greeted by a new landscape and a new era.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes Appears

After meeting face-to-face with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on last week’s episode of RAW, newly-crowned Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes is slated to appear in a promo segment of sorts tonight. While the topic of this segment has yet to be revealed, it is worth noting that Rhodes is one step closer to finding out the identity of his first challenger. 

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Following a loss to Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair on WWE SmackDown, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven have an opportunity to regain their momentum as they take on Kayden Carter and Katana Chance later tonight. These pairs last met on the January 8 episode of Raw – a month after Chance and Carter defeated Green and Piper to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.

Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio

At WrestleMania 40, Andrade and Rey Mysterio defeated Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio with the help of the NFL’s Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. Later tonight, Dominik Mysterio will have the opportunity to avenge his loss when he battles Andrade in singles action.

Dominik previously attempted to recruit Andrade to The Judgment Day. Ultimately, those efforts were done in vain, as Andrade opted to align himself with the Latino World Order instead. 

Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

For the last month, Candice LeRae has directed several ill-mannered remarks toward Alpha Academy’s Maxxine Dupri. Naturally, this led Dupri’s ally Ivy Nile to stand up in her defense. On tonight’s episode of WWE RAW, this feud will seemingly culminate as Dupri and Nile square off against LeRae and Indi Hartwell in tag team action.

This tag team contest will mark the third in-ring encounter for these competitors, with each team heading into tonight with one previous victory. Who will win the rubber match?

Rhea Ripley Addresses Liv Morgan’s Attack

Fueled by the feeling of revenge, Liv Morgan brutally attacked WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley with a chair last week. On tonight’s episode of RAW, Ripley will respond. What will the champion have to say?

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

5 Things We Learned From Reading Ronda Rousey’s Book ‘Our Fight’

Ronda Rousey has an incredible story to tell. I recently read her new memoir, ‘Our Fight.’ The outspoken star’s fighting spirit jumps off the page as she vividly recounts the highs and lows of her personal life and career. Known for her combative style, Rousey speaks candidly about her years of competition – whether in the squared circle, the octagon, or her facing her own personal challenges. 

Synopsis: ‘From New York Times bestselling author and trailblazing athlete Ronda Rousey, an unfiltered chronicle of loss, resilience and finding meaning in life’s journey.’

Here are five things I learned from reading Ronda Rousey: Our Fight:

She Contemplated Suicide After A Devastating UFC Loss

After 15 consecutive wins in UFC, many of which came in mere seconds, Rousey was rocked in November 2015 when she lost to Holly Holm. As the biggest female fighter in the world, the loss was especially hard for the future WWE star. 

In her book, Rousey openly admits that she wanted to kill herself after the fight, adding that OD’ing on painkiller was what she considered in the moments after the loss. Thankfully, Rousey would be talked off the proverbial edge by her future husband Travis Browne, who shared a look of pure love to her backstage after the fight, convincing Rousey to continue living. 

Her Role During the Hall of Fame Bret Hart Assault

At the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame, Bret Hart received his second induction for his role as part of the Hart Foundation alongside the late Jim Neidhart. Unfortunately, a ‘fan’ decided to use the moment to attack Bret but was quickly subdued by a gaggle of WWE names with Rousey’s husband Travis Browne leading the pack. 

In Our Fight, Rousey says that Browne was the first to move to protect Hart, and that she had told him to “get him” referring to the attacker. Fearing how dangerous her husband, an accomplished MMA fighter in his own right, could be, Rousey also told Browne “Don’t kill him.” She adds: 

“It did not escape me that everyone was so lost in their fantasy world that when s**t got real, my husband was the realest motherf****r in the room. Everyone froze. Everyone except Travis Browne.”

She Was Told Not to Do Moves Because of the Guys

At WrestleMania 35, Rousey made history as part of the first Women’s main event in the show’s history. Despite this historic feat which WWE would bring up ad nauseam to make themselves look good, the men of WWE still took priority to the producers. 

Rousey explains that WWE left the actual booking of the match until the night before, a play that would not happen with the men’s matches. Rousey also recalls pitching a powerbomb spot before being told that the move was off-limits, as “the guys are doing a powerbomb before your match. 

“‘Of course’ I said in a tone that means that’s bulls**t.”

Rousey was far from pleased that an undercard men’s match could call ‘dibs’ on a move over the Women’s main event. Undeterred, the spot made it to the match anyway.  

Survivor Series 2022 Was Her WWE Low Point

After returning and winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2022, Rousey put the title on the line against Shotzi at that year’s Survivor Series. The match would be lambasted by fans as one of the worst bouts of the year, thanks in part to multiple mistimed spots. 

Rousey explains that she felt humiliated by the match and compared her walk backstage to being pulled off by a giant cane on a stage. Backstage, Rousey was asked if the ref’s call to ‘go home’ was because of the botches but Triple H claimed that the previous men’s match had gone six minutes long, so time was taken from her match. The idea of men being given preferential treatment over women is a recurring theme of Our Fight

Rousey was mad that fans began a #FireRonda movement after the match and noted that similar movements weren’t made against male talent following Big E’s broken neck injury earlier that year, or Madcap Moss’ injury scare during a spot with Drew McIntyre. Weeks after Survivor Series, Rousey felt dejected in wrestling and described sitting in a Florida swamp reflecting on what’d happened as “her lowest point.”

She Doesn’t Care What You Think of Her Last Match

Rousey’s WWE career ended at SummerSlam 2023 when she lost the first ‘MMA Rules’ match to Shayna Baszler. While on-screen rivals at the time, the match had been one Rousey requested to give her friend and WWE trainer a huge boost on TV. 

The match did not receive the best of reviews from fans, though Rousey hardly cares about that. In her book, she says that she heard “This is boring” chants and expected that fans weren’t going to understand or appreciate the match. Rousey calls the match her “last f*** you” to the fans and WWE and is proud of how she went out. 

Eric Young Reveals His WWE NDA Prohibits Him From Discussing Vince McMahon

Non-disclosure agreements became a hot topic in pro wrestling, thanks to the hush money scandal that led to Vince McMahon’s WWE departure. The company’s practice of NDAs extends past that scandalous situation, as even Eric Young agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement with WWE.

Eric Young requested and was granted his release from WWE in April 2023, shortly after re-signing with the company in November 2022. At the time, it was reported that his decision came after Vince McMahon returned to an official capacity in WWE as part of the deal with Endeavor.

Speaking to Sunday Night’s Main Event, Eric Young revealed that when he rejoined WWE, he never physically left his home for work. He signed a non-disclosure agreement, which still restricts him from naming specific people, but he did acknowledge that he refused to return due to someone who was around.

I actually never left my house (after agreeing to return to WWE in 2022). I mean, the whole story’s wild. Again, I had to sign an NDA, and I’m not allowed to say names… (Host asked if Young’s NDA is as ironclad as Janel Grant’s NDA) I don’t know. It depends if it goes federal or not. I mean, I might be able to say everything here within a few months but, the truth is, I don’t need to talk badly on it.

It is what it is and I talked to Hunter and he hired me back and wanted me back there and I was and another person came back and I won’t work for that person, I won’t be around that person and I said that when I left there the first time when I got fired and I meant it and you know, for me, there was tons of professional reasons.

WWE’s Non-Disclosure Agreements

On January 25th, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, alleging sex trafficking and sexual assault. McMahon resigned from his position on the TKO Group Board of Directors after Slim Jim pulled their sponsorship on the day before the 2024 Royal Rumble event. He has since denied the allegations, stating his intention to clear his name.

The lawsuit led WWE to distance itself from McMahon, who had previously led the company for over 40 years. In the summer of 2023, McMahon was served with a grand jury subpoena for documents related to allegations of sexual misconduct against current or former WWE employees.

Additionally, it was revealed that Janel Grant and at least four other women had previously entered into Non-Disclosure Agreements with McMahon regarding similar allegations. Grant’s legal team has since said that the amount of people coming forward to issue their own complaints about McMahon is overwhelming.

Eric Young’s Impact Wrestling Exit

Young expressed confidence that he could still work at WWE today. He remains in close contact with Triple H and holds him and the majority of the WWE staff in high regard.

Regarding his departure from IMPACT, Young disclosed that he had no plans to return after signing a four-year contract with WWE.

In 2022, Eric Young concluded his time with IMPACT Wrestling, as he exited their television stories after he was stabbed by Cody Deaner. This angle was designed to write him off as he was transitioning back to WWE, a move that never truly materialized.

Matt Hardy Is Talking With “Everyone” After Entering Free Agent Status

AEW signed a few notable names over the past few months, but they did not re-sign Matt Hardy. The veteran tag team specialist is now a free agent after his deal with Tony Khan’s company expired.

Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, the veteran pro wrestler opened up about his contract situation. He is a free agent right now, but he is still talking to AEW. Hardy also made it clear that he is speaking with “everyone” at this time.

“Yes, I am a free agent now. Just negotiating, talking. I have interacted with everyone, still interacting with AEW, and that’s where we’re at right now. Whenever my deal ended up running out, that gave me the opportunity to negotiate and speak to everyone available, really weigh in my options, and that’s what I’m doing right now.”

Matt Hardy’s AEW Run

Matt Hardy entered AEW on the March 18, 2020, episode of Dynamite. He brought his Broken gimmick to the company, but it was abandoned during those Daily Place episodes. Later on, he transitioned his character into more of his Big Money Matt persona before starting the Hardy Family Office stable.

In 2022, Jeff Hardy finally joined Matt in AEW, and he turned babyface in the process. Although Jeff and Matt’s contracts were initially set to expire at the same time, AEW froze Jeff’s deal due to the time off he took to deal with personal issues. 

While the 49-year-old Hardy’s AEW contract was set to expire, there were discussions within the company regarding an extension. The idea was that this extension might last a few weeks past WrestleMania, but no such agreement was arranged.

AEW’s Recent Cuts

Although AEW has signed a few big names recently, including Kazuchika Okada, Mercedes Mone, and Will Ospreay, they also released several names as of late. 

The list of released talent includes Anthony Henry, The Tate Twins who are also known as “The Boys,” Stu Grayson, Gravity, Dasha Fuentes, Slim J, Parker Bordeaux, Jose The Assistant, and Jora Johl. Not signing Matt Hardy to a new deal could also be considered a cut as well.

The Rock’s Sunday Drop: Health Update, WrestleMania Future And More

The Rock has provided an update on his condition after the 45-minute WrestleMania 40 main event.

The Great One returned to the ring after almost 8 years to deliver one of the biggest WrestleMania main events in the history of the show. He teamed up with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a grueling match. The Hollywood star delivered the punishment he had promised and finally won the match for his team by pinning The American Nightmare.

Though the People’s Champion didn’t come out unscathed from the Show of Shows. In a Sunday video drop on Instagram, he provided an update on his condition and further teased future WWE plans.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5wzPBAvN-h

The Biggest WrestleMania of All Time

The Rock started off by saying thank you to the fans. He mentioned that he wanted to help create ‘the biggest WrestleMania of all time’ and they were able to shatter every record because of the fans:

“Okay, so a few things. Number one, let me just start with Thank you. Let me say thank you so, so much. For all the incredible support going into WrestleMania, the build up to WrestleMania, I wanted to help create the biggest WrestleMania of all time, the biggest buildup of all time, make wrestling cool again. Professional wrestling is cool again from the final boss.

I want to say thank you so much for all of your support. We shattered every WrestleMania record this past WrestleMania. We shattered every WWE record, and we did it because of you the fans, and we did it for you, the fans. So thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The Rock Provides Health Update

Speaking about his physical condition coming out of the brutal PLE main event on April 6, The Rock mentioned that he has spent the past week recovering. However, while he is banged up coming out of the tag match, the good news is that there are no injuries to report:

“How my body feels after WrestleMania? Banged up like a son of a bitch. But that’s to be expected. That’s just the world we’re in. Whether it’s pro wrestling, or MMA, UFC, pro boxing, you go into these events, you prepare as best you can. You have your training camps, and you get banged up like a son of a bitch.

Hopefully you come out of it, not injured, doesn’t always happen that way. My body’s banged up. This whole week I spent recovering, getting rid of all the inflammation, lactic acid, but no injuries. So that’s the key.

So anytime you could go through a match like that, whether it’s 45 minutes, like our match, or whatever it is. It’s WrestleMania. You leave it all out in the ring like every woman, like every guy did in that locker room. You get banged up, and hopefully you don’t get injured, so no injuries here to report. My body feels great.”

The former world champion mentioned that he had an intense 12-week training camp before the show. He revealed that he had rings set up in Hawaii, Southern California, and Georgia and wrestlers were flown in to help him get into the ring shape. The Rock noted that he weighed 284lbs at the time the bell rang but still felt fast and athletic.

The MVP Of WrestleMania 40

While the Chapter of WrestleMania 40 has been closed with Cody Rhodes finally defeating Roman Reigns in the night two main event, the story is not finished just yet.

Speaking about the unfavourable outcome for The Bloodline, The Rock first congratulated both Cody and Roman Reigns and acknowledged Seth Rollins as the MVP of the whole arc leading to the PLE:

“I want to say congratulations to the men I was in the ring with. These guys are the best on the planet. Congratulations to Cody Rhodes, the new Universal Champion. As I had said, when the final boss returns, he’s coming back for you. Make you bleed again, boy. Congratulations, Cody Rhodes.

Congratulations to my cousin Roman Reigns on an incredible three-and-a-half-year run, maybe even four years. Just incredible and iconic and historic, very, very proud of you uso. Also congratulations to who I feel is a real MVP of the entire WrestleMania weekend – Seth Rollins. Seth freaking Rollins.”

The Rock finally ended the video referencing the tense confrontation between him and Cody Rhodes on Raw After Mania, and teased his involvement in WrestleMania 41:

“What an honour it was to share the ring with you three. What an honor it was to for us to break records and now my sights are set on the next WrestleMania but that’s conversation down the road.”

The Rock is expected to step away from WWE for his other projects for a while. Some major post-WrestleMania developments, however, speak of him not being done with Rhodes, or The Bloodline for that matter by a long shot.

Big E Reveals Relationship with ‘Michin’ Mia Yim’s Sister Kris In Hilarious Photoshoot

Big E’s future in pro wrestling may remain uncertain but the New Day member will be traversing what’s next in his life with his new partner Kris Yim. 

On Instagram, Big E shared the big news, stating “My neck is broken but my heart is whole.” The former WWE World Champion also shared a hilarious photoshoot with Kris, who he also tagged. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5wER7bO3tp

In the comments, several names from the world of professional wrestling were excited to see the relationship made official. Mia Yim was pleased to see things “publicly official” while the caption ‘broke’ Mia’s husband Keith Lee. Naomi called the pair “My fav couple” while Renee Paquette said that the pair of Big E and Kris are “perfect” for each other. 

Who is Kris Yim? 

While best known to WWE fans as the sister of Mia Yim, Kris is also an avid dog lover as seen on her social media profiles. In the bio for her Instagram, Kris has a link to Oakland Animal Services which encourages people to adopt otherwise unwanted dogs instead of shopping for a new puppy. 

Kris is also quite the traveler and has made several trips to Europe as well as Jamaica and other destinations. She was the maid of honor to Mia Yim when the SmackDown Superstar married Keith Lee in a ceremony officiated by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley in February 2022. 

This budding romance is great news for Kris and Big E, the latter of whom continues to be out of action after suffering a broken neck in March 2022. Big E recently admitted he’s not sure if he will ever be cleared to wrestle again, but has said that he is happy and living without pain which is very important. 

WWE Releases Shakeup: Looking At This Week’s 4 Surprising Office Exits

WWE just celebrated the biggest WrestleMania weekend in company history. With over 200,000 fans attending the events in Philly, the company was quickly back to business as they fired some high-profile internal names.

The recent round of “spring cleaning” came as Dan Ventrelle, Sid Scala, Trent Wilfinger, and Sue Aitchison were let go. Each one of those cuts were notable.

Dan Ventrelle

Many fans were surprised to discover that Dan Ventrelle, formerly WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, was released on April 11. He had been with WWE for many years, working closely with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque. He entered WWE by way of the NFL, where he joined the Oakland Raiders in 2003, rising to executive vice president and playing a pivotal role in the team’s move to Las Vegas and new stadium construction. After being appointed interim president of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, he focused on community integration and initiatives like vaccine verification before his departure in May 2022.

Trent Wilfinger

WWE cut Trent Wilfinger, who was Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development. He started his tenure at WWE in the summer of 2021, concentrating on Global Athlete Strategy & Development under Paul Levesque. Prior to WWE, he spent more than ten years at the fitness company EXOS.

Sue Aitchison

WWE Hall of Famers were not immune from the recent releases. Sue Aitchison was the longtime Director of Community Relations at WWE. After joining WWE in 1986, Aitchison had a 38-year tenure. During her time in WWE, she significantly influenced WWE’s community outreach and enhanced the company’s partnership with Make-A-Wish. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Warrior Award at the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019, inducted by Stephanie McMahon.

Sid Scala

Known as the British Superstar for many fans, Sid Scala was released from WWE in the last wave of internal cuts. He had been part of the company since the start of the NXT UK brand in 2017, serving as the Assistant General Manager with Johnny Saint. The NXT UK brand was absorbed by the OG NXT show, with NXT Europe still in the pipeline, but delayed due to the Endeavor takeover.

WWE’s New Era

WWE is entering into a new era under Triple H’s leadership. Vince McMahon is out of the picture, and some notable exits have followed, including long-time WWE executive producer Kevin Dunn in December 2023.

Lee Fitting, who entered WWE from outside the pro wrestling business, brought his expertise from ESPN to replace Dunn as head of production. We will have to see how these remaining spots that came open this week will be filled.

The company went through a major change as Endeavor merged WWE with the UFC. Now as a new company, fans are seeing how things will operate after WrestleMania, and there have already been some notable changes roll out this week. 

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Arranges Meet & Greet For Young Fan Celebrating His Birthday

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is proving to be a champion of the people after agreeing to meet a young fan celebrating their birthday. 

On Twitter, a user by the name of Nicole shared a video of a young fan named Brentley who was ecstatic to receive tickets to an upcoming WWE event for his birthday. When Nicole said she and Brentley would love to meet Rhodes, the American Nightmare was confident something could be arranged and wished Brentley a happy birthday. 

Cody Rhodes & The Fans

This is hardly the first time Rhodes has gone the extra mile to make a show special for a fan. Recently, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding.

Last year, Rhodes began gifting pieces of tables used in Extreme Rules matches to fans at WWE live events. For the final live Raw of 2023, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan.

Speaking of the Holidays, Rhodes made one young fan’s season extra special by sending a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. Rhodes’ gifts to fans have even gone into bizarre territory as the American Nightmare gifted a fan Rhea Ripley’s gum earlier this year

In January 2024, Rhodes agreed to be the best man at a fan’s upcoming wedding. He also gifted tickets to WrestleMania 40 the popular ‘Wrestling Club’ of KIPP AMP Middle School In Brooklyn, New York so they could see him finish the story in person. 

Cody’s generosity seemingly knows no bounds and he has shown once again why he can be the face of WWE. Fans can expect much more from Cody Rhodes in this new era, both in and out of the ring. 

IShowSpeed Wants WWE Event For Content Creators

WrestleMania 40 may not have gone well for IShowSpeed, but the popular streamer is ready to get back in the ring for a proposed event. 

At the 40th ‘Showcase of the Immortals,’ Speed dressed as a bottle of PRIME Energy and aided WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul in his title defense against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton. The interference would come back to haunt him as he took an RKO by the Viper. 

The Big Idea: Content Creator Mania

Now, IShowSpeed is looking to be part of a brand-new concept for WWE. During a recent stream, the popular streamer proposed a WWE show that’d see content creators face off. 

“[How about an] event of content creators, a WWE event? I was thinking about that when I was at the WWE.

What if I set up a wrestling.. a WWE event but with content creators? Let me know if that’s a W [win] or an L [loss.]”

While WWE has never hosted a content creator-exclusive event, the idea has been done before. Creator Clash sees content makers face off against each other or athletes. At Content Creator 2 last April, Harley Morenstein, best known for Epic Meal Time, was beaten handily by AEW’s Johnny TV (John Morrison.)

With WWE in its new era, we can’t rule out a show like the one IShowSpeed has suggested. Content Creators have millions of fans that WWE would love nothing more to get hooked on professional wrestling. Logan Paul has already proven that a content creator can make it in the world of wrestling so don’t be surprised if this event happens one day. 

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

Jade Cargill Is Waiting For The Right Moment To Use “Viral” Cosplay In WWE

Jade Cargill hasn’t left her cosplay days behind her but the ‘Storm’ is waiting for the right opportunity in WWE to show her costuming skills. 

Since joining WWE in September 2023, Cargill has been quite the talking point among fans but has yet to use any of the cosplay costumes that fans saw from her in All Elite Wrestling. Speaking to Evan Mack over WrestleMania week, Cargill suggested that her days cosplaying in the ring are not over just yet. 

“I love cosplay. I’m just trying to save it for those phenomenal moments so it can go viral, like all my cosplay that I’ve done for every entrance that I’ve done at AEW, guys.”

Jade Cargill’s Cosplay

During her AEW run, Cargill used cosplay for several prominent matches with the company. At AEW Revolution, Jade would live up to her name by cosplaying as Jade from the Mortal Kombat video game series. 

 At the now-infamous AEW All Out 2022 show, Cargill cosplayed as She-Hulk from Marvel Comics. She would also cosplay as Cheetara from the Thundercats series and Miruko from My Hero Academia. 

Cargill’s biggest inspiration however is Storm, the X-Men character and inspiration behind her ‘The Storm’ moniker. During an interview with ComicBook.com, Cargill said she’d love to play the Goddess of the Weather in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

“Yes, I would love to! Guys, Come on guys, like Marvel, do you not see this? We don’t need, what is it called? The enhancement… this is real guys. Come on!”

Cargill is relatively new to her WWE career and the future looks very bright for ‘The Storm.’ With a spotlight on her, expect cosplay from Cargill when the time is right. 

Erick Redbeard Cancels Indie Wrestling Appearance Due to “Contractual Issues”

Erick Redbeard, formerly known as Erick Rowan, has withdrawn from an upcoming East Coast Pro Wrestling event due to new “contractual obligations.” This sudden cancellation ahead of next week’s event adds more fuel to the fire that Redbeard may be gearing up for a return to WWE.

The idea of Uncle Howdy’s return to television has been bolstered by ongoing teases on the company’s television shows since WrestleMania. Someone like Erick Rowan would fit right into that scenario if it came to fruition. Many stars have needed to cancel events after signing with WWE, and “contractual obligations” is a very popular reason given to avoid outright saying they inked that deal.

East Coast Pro Wrestling had a show scheduled with Erick Redbeard, but plans had to change. The former Erick Rowan of the Wyatt Family had to pull out due. Despite this setback, the show will still feature Brian Kendrick and Vanessa Kraven,

WWE Teases That Something Is Coming

The timing of this cancelled appearance for Erick Redbeard with the current string of strange occurrences going on during WWE programming is not lost on us. 

WWE RAW saw glitches appear during the show after WrestleMania 40, temporarily disrupting Bronson Reed’s promo. The live crowd also received a sample of a strange song before the event started.

On April 11, the company’s official Twitter/X account posted and deleted a message with “Hello” repeating several times. The post was up long enough to make an impression, and many believe it is tied to Uncle Howdy’s return.

Screenshot of deleted WWE “Hello” tweet

We also can’t forget about the intention tease of Bo Dallas’ in-ring return at the end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. WWE is cooking something, and it may involve Erick Rowan as a part of that plan. 

Update on Hikuleo’s NJPW Contract, Potential Jump to WWE

Hikuleo, the 6-foot-8 inch son of wrestling legend Haku, will soon finish up with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The big man’s deal expires June according to Fightful, and we have reason to believe he’ll soon follow his brother Tama Tonga to WWE.

Hikuleo 33 years old and has been wrestling for NJPW since 2016. You may have also seen him in AEW and TNA. He and Tama negotiated with WWE in late 2023. This was around the time of Vince McMahon’s ill-fated return to the company’s board of directors, which halted a handful of potential signings.

Tama made a surprise debut on Friday’s WWE SmackDown, the first episode following last weekend’s WrestleMania 40 premium live event. In a shocking development, he attacked Jimmy Uso and joined forces with the new and improved Bloodline. Tama Tonga signing with WWE, these new details about Hikuleo and the buzz surrounding Jacob Fatu’s next move indicate we’re in for an exciting few months ahead.

Meanwhile, Hikuleo’s tag team partner El Phantasmo, may also be free to wrestle else. His NJPW contract was set to expire in January. He continues to wrestle for the company (including at Friday’s NJPW Windy City Riot event) but we’ve been unable to get confirmation that he’s currently working on anything beyond a per-appearance deal.

WWE Superstars To Go Head-to-Head On Upcoming Celebrity Edition Of Family Feud

The Superstars of WWE will be able to flex their game-show muscles as part of an upcoming episode of Celebrity Family Feud. 

Taking to Twitter, Bianca Belair shared some photos from the taping and revealed that she is the captain of her team which consists of Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega. 

The quintet of women will be up against Belair’s husband Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight. 

In a tweet of his own, Austin Theory was his usual cocky self at the Celebrity Family Feud taping. 

It’s also worth noticing that Sonya Deville was part of the taping and did not need any sort of leg brace. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion has been out of action since June 2023 with an ACL injury, and the fact that she was able to do this taping unimpeded suggests that a return to the ring may be in the near future. 

WWE On Game Shows

WWE appearances on Family Feud date as far back as 1992. In 2022, Rey Mysterio led a team of his family against The Miz. Team Mysterio would feature Dominik mere months before he turned on his Hall of Fame father to join The Judgment Day. 

WWE Superstars have also appeared on The Weakest Link, with Triple H, Kane, and Xavier Woods proving their mental superiority in separate episodes. Superstars have also appeared on Wheel of Fortune. 

The fact that WWE Superstars are set to appear on the show is another sign of the promotion’s ongoing popularity in the mainstream. With WWE firing on all cylinders right now, expect more big moves by the Superstars both in and out of the ring. 

Shawn Michaels Calls AJ Styles His Dream Match But Believes Window of Opportunity Has Closed

Shawn Michaels would have loved for the chance to step in the ring with AJ Styles but believes the time for such a dream showdown has come and gone. 

Styles didn’t officially join WWE until 2016, at which point Mr. WrestleMania had been retired for close to six years. Speaking recently to Gorilla Position, Michaels was asked about his dream match and set his sights on the Phenomenal One. 

“I think the one I really want to see is me and AJ. That’s where I go with. It’s also, as you know, more talent comes along and you start looking at them. I always, I still do it now. I look at them like ‘Oh boy. I could do cool stuff with him.’  But I think AJ, I think AJ and I [have] got similar styles and stuff like that so I always feel that would be what people would want to see. So that would be my go to [answer.]”

When asked if there’s a chance of the match happening or if it’ll remain in WWE 2K24, Michaels admitted that there’s slim chance of either possibility. 

 “Well [for] one, I couldn’t even play it in the game now. That’s how slow I am. But I think that time has passed. It’s time for generations to move on.”

The Dream Match

This match never happened, though not for lack of trying by the Phenomenal One. During a 2019 interview with WWE, Styles revealed that he requested a match with Shawn but Michaels said he couldn’t do anything about it at the time.

Ultimately, the match can’t happen these days, and even if it could, Michaels would not be able to go at the level he did 20+ years ago. Nevertheless, the two men have forged incredible careers in their own rights. 

The Rock Thanks Everyone For WrestleMania 40

The Rock sure must feel cool because he has indeed helped make “pro wrestling cool again.”

‘The People’s Champion’ caught wind that WWE WrestleMania 40 became Peacock’s most streamed entertainment event ever in it’s short history and it caused ‘The Final Boss’ pause. He took the time to thank all the viewers who put their eyes on the app last weekend.

“Thank you to everyone who tuned in. Pro wrestling is in my blood and it was an honor to help build and deliver this event to the world. – The Final Boss

During the night one press conference of WrestleMania, The Rock was asked if he had a specific moment when he felt it was the right time to make his way back to WWE. The Rock noted that it was the moment when Ari Emanuel, the owner of Endeavor, gave him a ring on the phone to tell him that he was going to buy WWE. That’s when the two decided to work out.a strategy.

The Rock Can Also Thank Cody Rhodes

While The Rock was undoubtedly a major piece to the WrestleMania 40 puzzle, so was his night one dance partner in Cody Rhodes, who ultimately “finished the story” on night two against Roman Reigns.

“The American Nightmare” doesn’t just have the “Cody Crybabies” to make his case, but Rhodes has the actual numbers to back it up.

Over WrestleMania weekend, Cody has sold over $1 million of merchandise and after WrestleMania went off-the-air, he was the most Googled Superstar, even above ‘The Final Boss’ himself.

Jey Uso To Face Judgment Day Member Ahead Of His WWE World Title Match

Jey Uso won’t be able to rest on his laurels despite being the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Uso earned that right on the WWE RAW after WrestleMania as he defeated Drew McIntyre, Bronson Reed and Ricochet in the main event with a little help from CM Punk. However, now it appears Jey may need a little extra help as he’s got more than Damian Priest to deal with.

WWE announced that on this week’s RAW, Jey Uso will face Finn Balor in singles action. Balor is fresh off a tag team loss as he, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh were defeated by Awesome Truth and John Cena. WWE’s announcement for Balor vs. Uso is below:

Just one week after becoming the No. 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, “Main Event” Jey Uso will take on Damian Priest’s teammate Finn Bálor.

Uso is looking to capture his first singles title in WWE, but standing in his way of getting to Priest is Bálor as well as the looming threat of “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.

Will Jey Uso make it to his championship match against Priest? Find out live on Monday Night Raw at 8/7 C on USA!

Could We See Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso Reunite?

Jey Uso isn’t The only former Bloodline member to have his back against the wall. Just this past Friday on SmackDown, Jimmy Uso was beat down big time by Solo Sikoa and the debuting Tama Tonga, all but officially kicking him out of The Bloodline.

Jey defeated Jimmy at WrestleMania 40, but not before Jimmy tried pulling a fast one on his younger twin brother. However, now that Jimmy had a massive reality check, we may see the brothers form an alliance once more soon enough.

Ronda Rousey Admits To Hiding Concussion History From WWE

Ronda Rousey has not been afraid to speak her mind since her WWE exit, but ‘The Baddest Woman On The Planet’ doesn’t have her former company in her future plans moving foward.

Speaking on Steve-O’s “Wild Ride” podcast, Rousey opened up about her lengthy history with concussions all the way back from her early days of Judo and MMA training.

Rousey mentioned how she has suffered so many concussions that she became very susceptible to them as time went on. While in the UFC, Rousey didn’t clue Dana White in on her symptoms, noting that she had to keep a winner’s mentality in order for herself to be successful in the octagon. She said White would also force her tor retire if she did reveal that she was getting concussed. Ronda noted that sometimes even the smallest strikes would cause concussions.

“Stephanie McMahon and Nikki Bella slapping me with an open hand would give me a concussion. I couldn’t say anything.”

Ronda Rousey Remained Quiet When Moving To WWE

Ronda Rousey eventually did head to WWE in 2018, but much like she did with UFC, didn’t open up about her concussion history. She knew if she did she wouldn’t be stepping into the squared circle.

“When I wanted to go to WWE, they’ve had such a complicated past with concussions and stuff like that. They wouldn’t hire me if they knew it was that point. If I let them know how often I was getting concussions, they wouldn’t let me perform in matches. I had a lifetime of experience hiding the fact that I was concussed all the time. So, yea now I can finally talk about it because I don’t think I’ll be wrestling for WWE ever again.”

Rousey also did mention that her family has a history of Alzheimers and dementia and that remains one of her greatest fears.

Credit to “Wild Ride with Steve-O” and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

WWE Makes Production Call To Cut Down On Use of Augmented Reality

Augmented and virtual reality became a huge fad that is still picking up speed. That being said, WWE is going to pump the brakes on some of those virtual visuals that fans see on a weekly basis.

WWE plans to reduce the use of Augmented Reality content in its weekly RAW and SmackDown shows, per PW Insider. Although this technology will still appear occasionally, its presence will mainly be limited to Pay-Per-View events.

One source reportedly mentioned that the recent episode of SmackDown is likely the final time Augmented Reality will be used regularly. Additionally, as part of these changes, WWE is expected to reduce its staff and the amount of equipment, such as production trucks, at its events.

This change marks a shift from its previous frequent integration into weekly programming, indicating a new strategic approach to the use of Augmented Reality in WWE broadcasts.

WWE’s Use of Augmented Reality

WWE has really done up the augmented reality during Superstar entrances, with a majority of those setups involving some form of the practice. Judgement Day, The Bloodline, and Cody Rhodes all feature large objects on screen that are only available for fans at home.

Other Superstars like Becky Lynch may also see their augmented reality effects nixed with this move. The company has already stopped using some, as Drew McIntyre no longer carries Angela around, so he doesn’t get a big AR sword anymore. 

As Endeavor shifts WWE into whatever the new era of the company looks like, augments reality will become a rarity. This might bring a more realistic aspect to the product as things appear to have a real-fight feel rather than a spectacle for every single entrance.

Big E Neck Injury Update: He May Never Wrestle Again, But is Pain Free & Happy

WWE fans are hoping for Big E to deliver positive news about a return to wrestling. The New Day member is sharing the results from his latest neck scans two years after his career-threatening injury. Unfortunately, he is still not medically cleared to compete — a status that may be permanent.

The former WWE Champion’s biennial neck scans showed no significant changes. Although his C1 vertebra has healed, it did not form new bone. As badly he wants to get back to his fans, he accepts he may never wrestle again. He feels blessed to be pain free and maintains a grateful outlook on life.

Big E’s Injury and WWE Career

In March 2022, The New Day found themselves feuding with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. During their match on the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Holland performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Big E at ringside, causing the New Day member to land on the top of his head. He was immediately stretchered out and taken to a hospital.

Later, Big E announced on social media that he had broken his neck, specifically fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Fortunately, there were no ligament or spinal cord injuries, and surgery was not necessary.

Big E has stayed active with WWE through his injury as an ambassador and doing community work for the company. He has also helped out with some recruitment and sat in during tryouts as a scout. Big E has a lot to offer the business, even if his days in the ring are over.

He recently made an appearance alongside Kofi and Xavier once again at the WWE Hall of Fame as they inducted Thunderbolt Patterson.

During his WWE career, Big E raked up several championships, including the WWE Title for a 110-day reign. On top of two reigns as IC Champion, Big E also won the NXT Title in 2012, beating inaugural champion Seth Rollins in the early days of the brand.

In the tag team category, he earned the RAW Tag Team Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team belts six times as a member of the New Day. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods used the “Freebird Rule” with the titles as a trio as they cycled out who defended on each night.