The countdown to Penta El Zero Miedo’s WWE debut is officially on.
WWE provided the biggest hint yet regarding Penta’s anticipated arrival, with the latest vignette aired during the December 30th episode of Raw. At the end of the teaser, Penta El Zero Miedo’s iconic mask was prominently displayed, confirming weeks of speculation about his signing.
The cryptic vignettes began airing several weeks ago, with one featuring a zero symbol crossed by a line, sparking speculation among fans about the arrival of a former AEW star. Penta departed AEW earlier this month and was rumored to be heading to WWE. His trademark for “Cero Miedo,” translating to “Zero Fear,” added further credibility to the rumors.
Penta is expected to join the Raw roster just in time for the January 6th Netflix debut episode in Los Angeles, marking a significant milestone for WWE programming.
Meanwhile, Penta’s tag team partner, Rey Fenix, has also drawn interest from WWE. However, with AEW reportedly extending Fenix’s contract to account for missed time, it’s believed his deal now has close to a year remaining. Once Fenix is free and clear of his AEW obligations, he is expected to reunite with his brother Penta in WWE.
WWE introduced a new entrance theme for Judgment Day during this week’s episode of Raw, marking a notable change for the faction. The new theme debuted ahead of a six-man tag team match featuring Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Finn Balor against The War Raiders and Damian Priest. The babyface team secured the victory in the bout.
The year has been a rollercoaster for Judgment Day. Both Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley left the faction earlier in 2023, with each member experiencing significant individual storylines. Ripley, while still a part of the group, held the Women’s World Championship before being forced to vacate it due to injury.
Priest had his moment in the spotlight by winning the World Heavyweight Championship after cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre, only to lose the title to GUNTHER at SummerSlam.
Next week’s Raw—the highly anticipated Netflix debut episode—will feature Liv Morgan defending her World Championship against Ripley in a match billed as the definitive end of their rivalry. However, as of now, there are no announced plans for Priest or Judgment Day to appear on the show.
WWE is bringing back Big E for the premiere festivities surrounding WWE Raw on Netflix, set to debut on January 6. During this week’s episode of Raw, Joe Tessitore announced that he, Wade Barrett, and Big E would host the post-show for the premiere episode. Commentary for the event will feature Michael Cole and Pat McAfee.
Big E, a former WWE Champion, has not wrestled since suffering a neck injury on the March 11, 2022, episode of SmackDown. The injury occurred when he took an overhead belly-to-belly suplex at ringside from Ridge Holland, landing on his neck and fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Despite his recovery progress, Big E has yet to be medically cleared to return to in-ring action.
Since his injury, WWE has utilized Big E in various non-wrestling roles, including as a scout, host, and behind-the-scenes contributor. Most recently, his status as “not medically cleared” was referenced in a storyline on the December 2 episode of Raw. During the segment, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston dramatically ousted Big E from The New Day, marking the start of their current heel turn.
This new direction for Woods and Kingston has resonated strongly with fans, with The New Day emerging as one of the most over heel acts on the roster. Big E’s involvement in the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere highlights his continued value to WWE, even outside the ring.
Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie has filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, Jonathan Coyle. According to a report by TMZ Sports on Monday, Marie filed the paperwork earlier this month, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their separation.
Eva Marie is best known for her two stints in WWE. During her initial run, she became a prominent figure on Total Divas, the reality series on the E! Network, where she was paired with The Bella Twins before transitioning to SmackDown. Her second tenure included appearances in NXT and a return to the main roster before departing WWE in 2021.
Court documents reveal that the couple, who tied the knot on October 20, 2014, separated in October 2023. The pair first met during a CrossFit workout, and Coyle proposed after just a few months of dating.
Their decision to elope was featured on Total Divas, followed by a formal ceremony in Napa, California. The event was attended by notable names from the wrestling world, including Nikki and Brie Bella, Summer Rae, Cameron, and Layla.
Outside the wrestling ring, Eva Marie has had a successful career in entertainment. She competed on Celebrity Big Brother, finishing in seventh place, and has appeared in several films, showcasing her versatility beyond professional wrestling.
Posted December 30th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: Eva Marie.
Cody Rhodes is riding high as the Undisputed WWE Champion, solidifying his place at the top of professional wrestling. After dethroning Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 following his second consecutive Royal Rumble victory, Rhodes has successfully defended his title against top-tier challengers such as AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and more.
However, Rhodes recognizes that his time as an active competitor won’t last forever. Speaking on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, the 39-year-old champion revealed that he doesn’t plan to wrestle full-time beyond the age of 45.
“Well, 39 now, I’d say, my contract is running until…I don’t want to wrestle full-time definitely past 45. Drop in, for sure, keep myself in shape. I could see [being involved in the wrestling world]. I would love to tell stories like we do in the ring in a different fashion.”
Rhodes also expressed an interest in creative endeavors outside the ring, such as producing shows and movies:
“I’d absolutely love to do it [when asked about making shows and movies]. But I’ve always been so linked into wrestling and coming back to WWE where winning the championship for WWE is essentially like being the quarterback of the team.”
Despite his aspirations outside the ring, Rhodes remains committed to wrestling at a high level for the foreseeable future:
“I don’t think I’d be able to do it on this level [beyond 45]. Because I feel the best I’ve ever felt. Plus, we have all these new kids. I was working with one the other day, Carmelo Hayes, and to be able to see him hear things and hear an audience—this is why that didn’t work, this is why it did work. I’d love to do it at this level up until probably 45.”
For now, Rhodes continues to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship, with his next challenge coming at the Royal Rumble. He is set to face Kevin Owens in a high-stakes ladder match, promising yet another thrilling chapter in his championship reign.
LA Knight has revealed that he was involved in a minor car accident before tonight’s WWE Holiday Tour house show from Baltimore, Maryland.
The former WWE US Champion faced Santos Escobar at the live event. Before the bout, Knight took the mic and told a short story.
The SmackDown star revealed that he was involved in a ‘fender bender’ before the show but he still made it to the CFG Bank Arena because he had to ‘stomp down’ a dummy:
The Baltimore live event also featured names such as Liv Morgan, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and more. CM Punk teamed up with Rey Mysterio at the show to defeat The New Day.
The duo of Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston declared during their entrance that they were sick of the New Day theme song and it appears they’ll be getting new entrance music in the coming times.
LA Knight dropped the US Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura at the most recent WWE Survivor Series PPV event on November 30. This ended his 119-days-long reign with the title. The former TNA star has since started feuding with the New Bloodline.
He’s faced Solo Sikoa in a singles match and Knight also recently teamed up with Andrade and Apollo Crews for a six men tag against the faction.
Braun Strowman shared a special moment with the sons of Brodie Lee and Bray Wyatt after this week’s episode of SmackDown went off air.
December 26 was the 4th anniversary of the former Luke Haprer’s untimely passing. WWE had invited Amanda Huber & their kids as well as Jojo Offerman & her son to the latest WWE TV event.
Throughout the night many WWE stars greeted both the families during their segments. This included Natalya and Cody Rhodes who gave a shoutout to Brodie Jr. as his friend during his promo at the end of SmackDown.
Strowman and Jey Uso came out after the show to save Sami Zayn from a beatdown from the New Bloodline. After taking out Solo and his cousins, the Monster Among Men invited both Brodie and Bray’s kids into the ring for a heart-touching moment:
Before this, the main event segment of SmackDown saw The American Nightmare confronting his former friend Kevin Owens after the latter brutally attacked him at the end of Saturday Night’s Main Event and stole the Winged Eagle title belt.
Kevin was demanding a rematch for the Undisputed title where a referee couldn’t screw him over. After an exchange of words, Rhodes proposed a ladder match which Nick Aldis made official for Royal Rumble.
CM Punk is set to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Title in a highly anticipated dream match against GUNTHER. The match is scheduled for the December 29th WWE house show at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
Punk remains a major draw in the Chicago market, owing to his deep connection with the city. Notably, he captured the WWE Championship at the Allstate Arena during the iconic Money in the Bank pay-per-view in 2011.
In 2024, Punk’s return to prominence has been marked by memorable feuds with Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. Meanwhile, GUNTHER has established himself as a dominant force in WWE this year as World Heavyweight Champion, with high-profile victories over stars like Damian Priest and Randy Orton, since winning the title at SummerSlam.
Initially, the December 29th main event was set to feature GUNTHER vs. Damian Priest. However, the lineup has since shifted to include Punk in what promises to be a marquee matchup.
Other highlights of the event include Sami Zayn challenging Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Title. Seth Rollins, who has been facing Dominik Mysterio at recent house shows, is also expected to appear. Additionally, Rey Mysterio, Wyatt Sicks, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and more are advertised for the show.
Matt Hardy has picked Drew McIntyre as his heel of the year.
The wrestling veteran reflected on 2024 on the latest episode of his podcast and gave out awards in various categories. He picked Cody Rhodes as his babyface of the year.
When it came to picking heel of the year, Hardy gave mentions to people like Hangman Page and Gunther but said that The Scottish Warrior was head and shoulder above everyone else:
“Drew McIntyre is head and shoulders above the rest I almost feel like. Everybody was great but just Drew McIntyre had an extremely amazing year. 2024 was a year of Drew McIntyre no doubt.”
Matt Hardy picked the former World Champion as his talker of the year as well, explaining how McIntyre has completely committed to his character. The Attitude Era star recalled the viral moment of McIntyre walking out of his Busted Open interview and revealed that it was all the WWE star’s idea:
“My favorite this year, especially because he really embraced his heel role and he went so through with the shtick is Drew McIntyre. One thing that I wanted to say about Drew McIntyre, about committing to the schtick.
So I had just learned from talking to Tommy Dreamer and Dave LaGreca. Whenever he did that bit with Busted Open, he was out there and he gave that heart….It was really a from-the-heart type spill as he was saying, which he kind of sounded like a dickhead for saying, but obviously, some of it rang true.
He dropped the mic and he left, and none of those guys were in the know. I mean, that was all done on his own. Nobody had any idea that was coming. That was all him working his character.”
Posted December 28th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: Matt Hardy.
Chelsea Green was oozing Americana during this week’s SmackDown, where she relished in becoming the first-ever Women’s U.S. Champion.
On the December 27 show, Green made her entrance dressed as the Statue of Liberty to commemorate her historic achievement while Piper Niven also dressed to impress for the occasion. In her speech, Green vowed to bring pride and sexiness to her championship reign. The champ playfully paraphrased John F. Kennedy by urging fans to think about what they could do for her. She also declared her intentions to transform the blue brand into a “Green House.”
The festivities didn’t last long, as Michin, the woman Green defeated at Saturday Night’s Main Event to capture the championship, interrupted the celebration. Armed with a kendo stick, Michin attacked Niven and chased Green out of the ring.
Zelina Vega is out of action for the time being, halting the LWO star’s quest for the WWE Speed Women’s Championship. During the latest episode of WWE’s X-exclusive program, Vega was scheduled to face Natalya. However, B-Fab stepped in as a replacement, taking on the Canadian veteran instead.
Corey Graves explained on commentary that B-Fab replaced Vega due to an injury. The match ended with Natalya defeating B-Fab with just 22 seconds remaining, advancing her to the next round of the tournament to determine Candice LeRae’s next challenger.
This marks a significant setback for the 34-year-old Vega, who celebrated her birthday earlier this week. She last competed for a championship on July 1, when she challenged Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship on WWE Raw. While Vega has yet to claim singles championship gold in WWE, she held the Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Carmella from November 2021 to April 2022.
WWE has not yet provided details on Vega’s injury or a timeline for her return, leaving fans eager for updates on the popular Superstar. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest news on Zelina Vega and her status in the WWE Speed Women’s Title Tournament.
Cody Rhodes promised to kick Kevin Owens’ ass after tonight’s SmackDown from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida went off air.
The American Nightmare confronted his former friend in the main event of tonight’s show. After an exchange of words, Nick Aldis confirmed that the two will face each other in a ladder match at Royal Rumble.
The segment ended with Owens shoving Aldis into Cody and beating up the WWE Champion until the officials made the save. Kevin then left with the Winged Eagle title still in his possession.
Rhodes on the other hand, stayed in the ring after the show went off air. He cut a short promo mentioning how his mother is from Tampa as well and promised to make KO pay for his actions before finally leaving.
The night continued with dark matches after the WWE Champion’s promo. The first dark match of the night saw Bianca Belair teaming up with Dakota Kai to defeat Pure Fusion Collective. This was Bianca’s second match of the night as she also competed in a six-women tag on SmackDown.
Jey Uso came out for the second dark match of the night. He faced Chad Gable in the bout and the OG Bloodline member picked up the victory. The New Bloodline attacked the Yeet man after the bell, however, prompting Braun Strowman and Sami Zayn to make the save.
WWE has officially confirmed that SmackDown will be expanding from its current two-hour format to a three-hour broadcast starting in 2025. This significant change is set to take effect on January 3, 2025, with the first extended episode airing live from Phoenix, Arizona.
Starting next week, WWE SmackDown airs Friday nights on the USA Network from 8-11pm ET. Two championship matches are set for the broadcast:
Andrade vs Shinsuke Nakamura (c) for the United States Championship
Naomi challenges Naomi for the WWE Women’s Championship
SmackDown made its return to the USA Network on Friday, September 13, 2024, after a five-year stint on Fox. The return to USA Network was part of a new multi-year partnership between WWE and NBCUniversal, reportedly valued at $1.4 billion over five years. This deal not only brought SmackDown back to cable television but also included plans for WWE to produce four annual Saturday Night’s Main Event primetime specials for NBC.
WWE SmackDown results for December 27, 2024:
Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Bayley defeated Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae. Naomi pinned LeRae after a roll-up.
Singles Match: Braun Strowman defeated Austin Theory with Grayson Waller. Strowman won with a running powerslam.
Women’s United States Championship Celebration: Chelsea Green celebrated her title win, but was interrupted by Michin, who attacked Piper Niven with a kendo stick.
Tag Team Match: The Street Profits defeated Los Garza (Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo) with Elektra Lopez. The Street Profits won with the Doomsday Blockbuster.
Singles Match: Sami Zayn vs. Carmelo Hayes ended in a no contest. The match was disrupted by Braun Strowman chasing Hayes away, and then The New Bloodline attacked Zayn.
Jade Cargill Saga: Nia Jax denied involvement in Jade Cargill’s injury and accused Bianca Belair of being the top suspect
Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Championship and the Winged Eagle Championship has been officially set for the 2025 Royal Rumble. The high-stakes encounter will be contested in a ladder match, with both titles suspended above the ring. The winner will be the first to climb the ladder and retrieve both championships.
This blockbuster match was confirmed on the final SmackDown episode of 2024, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
This is the third match confirmed for the upcoming premium live event. In addition to this ladder match, we’ll see the annual Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches.
The 2025 WWE Royal Rumble is scheduled to take place on February 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Karl Anderson revealed in November that he underwent surgery, sidelining him for the foreseeable future. Speaking on Talk N Shop, Anderson confirmed the procedure was necessary to repair a torn rotator cuff tendon and a partially torn labrum.
The injury initially occurred during a match, but Anderson didn’t think much of it until it worsened during another match the following week. After competing in three or four more matches, the pain became unbearable, causing sleepless nights due to constant aching and throbbing. At the time, Anderson estimated his recovery would take six to nine months.
Providing a recent update on Talk N Shop, Anderson shared, “I’m at home now, obviously with my injured shoulder. I am out indefinitely for at least six or seven more months with a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. The labrum…I think before you wondered if that was an old injury, and I have to say, it was not. It’s coming back. I’m able to [move] a little,” he explained.
Anderson, one half of the tag team The OC alongside Luke Gallows, has been absent from television since the September 24 episode of NXT, where they lost to Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. The duo later appeared in a dark match at an NXT event in Chicago the following week.
WWE continues to build anticipation for the historic Raw premiere on Netflix, revealing exciting updates to the card following the recent kickoff event at WWE headquarters. The January 6, 2025, event, set to take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, promises a PPV-caliber lineup, marking a new era for WWE’s flagship show.
Debuting in January 1993 on cable television, WWE Raw has been a cornerstone of sports entertainment for over three decades. Now, in January 2025, it transitions to Netflix, becoming a key part of the platform’s global over-the-top streaming library.
WWE Raw Netflix Debut: Updated Match Card
Main Event: CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
Tribal Combat: Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa
Last Woman Standing for the Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Main Event: CM Punk vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins
In his first WWE television singles match since 2014, CM Punk squares off against Seth Rollins in what is shaping up to be an electrifying confrontation.
Tribal Combat Match: Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa
Roman Reigns returns to weekly television singles action for the first time since June 2022 to face Solo Sikoa. The match will see the two compete for the coveted Ula Fala, representing their Samoan lineage and supremacy.
Last Woman Standing for the Women’s World Championship
The updated card features Liv Morgan, accompanied by Dominik Mysterio and Raquel Rodriguez, defending her Women’s World Championship against former champion Rhea Ripley. WWE has announced this will be a Last Woman Standing match.
Special Features and Appearances
The night will also feature a live performance of the new Raw theme song by Travis Scott, while WWE legend John Cena is slated to make a special appearance. Commentary will be handled by the dynamic duo of Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, ensuring the night is filled with insight and energy.
WWE’s move to Netflix represents a transformative moment in its history, enabling fans worldwide to access flagship shows and premium live events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble, on a leading streaming platform. With a PLE-worthy card and historic significance, the premiere of WWE Raw on Netflix is shaping up to be an unforgettable event for fans around the globe.
Nikki Cross pulled off quite the unique counter when she battled Scarlett during a recent eight-person tag-team match. At WWE’s Boxing Day live event in Madison Square Garden, Cross and the Wyatt Sicks answered the open challenge made by the Final Testament. When Scarlett sought to add insult to injury by delivering a stinkface, Cross bit back, literally, by sinking her teeth on the buttocks of the ‘Smokeshow.’
This match was certainly one to remember for Scarlett, who currently boasts a 5-7 record in WWE matches. Despite her team’s loss, the event held personal significance for her, as it coincided with the 15th anniversary of her debut in pro wrestling.
As we close out the day after wrestling a WWE Event at MSG, I wanted to share a story. Dec 26th is a very special day for me because 15 years ago at the Berwyn Eagles Club in Chicago, IL I made my wrestling debut at AAW. I wasn’t allowed to watch wrestling my entire life and went… pic.twitter.com/GVUhvW7bQT
Scarlett and her allies are deep into their feud with the Wyatt Sicks, and it was the Final Testament who handed Uncle Howdy’s group their first loss ever on the December 9 Raw. While Scarlett has yet to go one-on-one with Nikki Cross on TV, fans won’t be surprised if Scarlett wears some extra padding going forward, lest Cross decides to take another bite out of her posterior.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Scarlett and the ongoing battle for supremacy between the Wyatt Sicks and the Final Testament.
With John Cena’s impending retirement looming in 2025, speculation about his final WrestleMania match has dominated discussions among fans and insiders alike. Cena’s farewell tour, which officially kicks off on January 6th with the WWE Raw Netflix premiere, has fueled rumors about who will share the ring with the WWE legend in Las Vegas for WrestleMania 41.
Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena: WWE’s Current Plan
According to a new report from PWInsider, the most likely scenario for Cena’s last WrestleMania involves him facing Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. This aligns with earlier speculation by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, where he noted that WWE had discussed Cena competing for a world title as part of his farewell storyline. Rhodes vs. Cena has reportedly been a hot topic backstage, with multiple sources confirming that the matchup is being heavily considered.
Cody Rhodes and John Cena would be a huge match for WrestleMania 41
However, as is often the case in WWE, plans are far from finalized. One insider joked about the possibility of The Rock entering the picture, playfully referring to him “descending from Mountain Rock” to challenge either Cena or Rhodes. If The Rock were to express interest, it’s expected that creative plans would be reworked to accommodate the Hollywood megastar.
Logan Paul and Other Contenders
While Logan Paul had been rumored as a potential WrestleMania opponent for Cena, recent updates suggest that WWE officials were not fully behind the idea of Paul being Cena’s final WrestleMania rival. Instead, WWE seems intent on positioning Cena’s last Mania match as a monumental showdown, fitting for a star of his stature. Paul, along with names like Grayson Waller, Carmelo Hayes, and CM Punk, has publicly expressed interest in wrestling Cena, but the likelihood of these matchups occurring at WrestleMania 41 now appears slim.
The final John Cena vs. Randy Orton match is WrestleMania-worthy
Another intriguing possibility comes from Randy Orton, who has also voiced his desire to share the ring with Cena one final time. Given their storied history as rivals and their status as two of WWE’s most iconic figures, an Orton vs. Cena match at WrestleMania would carry significant emotional weight. While Orton’s name has not been heavily linked to Cena’s farewell plans thus far, the prospect remains a compelling option if WWE decides to lean into their shared legacy.
One intriguing aspect of Cena’s retirement tour is the potential for him to chase a 17th world title, breaking Ric Flair’s longstanding record of 16 reigns. While nothing has been confirmed, Meltzer’s report indicates that this scenario is still on the table, adding an extra layer of significance to Cena’s final months as an active competitor.
As of now, all signs point to Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena as WWE’s tentative plan for WrestleMania 41, though the landscape could shift dramatically if The Rock decides to get involved. With the Royal Rumble and Cena’s farewell tour on the horizon, the coming weeks promise to provide more clarity on WWE’s creative direction for Cena’s swan song.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest updates on John Cena’s 2025 retirement tour, including his WWE Raw Netflix premiere on January 6, and all the breaking news on the road to WrestleMania 41.
John Cena’s Record at WrestleMania
John Cena has an impressive record at WrestleMania, with 10 wins and 6 losses across 16 appearances. Here’s a breakdown of his WrestleMania performance:
WrestleMania Record
Total matches: 16
Wins: 10
Losses: 6
Win percentage: 62.5%
Notable WrestleMania Achievements
Championship matches: Cena has competed in 11 title matches at WrestleMania, including 3 for the US Championship, 1 for the World Heavyweight Championship, and 7 for the WWE Championship.
Main events: He has headlined WrestleMania five times (WrestleMania 22, 23, 27, 28, and 29).
Championship wins: Cena has won 6 titles at WrestleMania and successfully defended his title twice.
Significant WrestleMania Moments
First WrestleMania appearance: WrestleMania XX (2004), where he defeated The Big Show for the United States Championship.
First WWE Championship win: WrestleMania 21 (2005), defeating JBL.
Last WrestleMania match to date: WrestleMania 39 (2023), where he lost to Austin Theory in a United States Championship match.
As the world’s largest wrestling promotion, WWE has been home to countless legends, many of whom still make sporadic appearances. Mark Henry posted a video on X to share a thoughtful gesture from WWE. He revealed receiving a New Year’s card addressed to the “legends that paved the way.”
Moved by the sentiment, Henry remarked, “Sometimes, a pat on the back is all you need.”
This gesture signals progress in WWE’s relationship with its legendary talents, which drummed up controversy not too long ago. In 2021, Mickie James received her personal belongings in a trash bag following her release, a move that drew widespread outrage. The incident prompted an apology from WWE and the dismissal of Mark Carrano, the former Senior Director of Talent Relations.
Upon learning of the disrespectful treatment some of our recently released talent received on behalf of the company, we took immediate action. The person responsible for this inconsiderate action has been fired and is no longer with @WWE.
WWE currently has several names from wrestling’s past on ‘Legends Contracts,’ demonstrating the company’s respect for those who have paved the way. In 2024 alone, several major names, including Ken Shamrock, Mick Foley, Rob Van Dam, and ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page all confirmed that they are under Legends Contracts.
As for Henry, he exited AEW in May of this year and has since found himself back on WWE TV, appearing on Raw in August alongside his son Jacob. It’s unclear when Henry will next appear for WWE, but the gesture shared with him this week demonstrates that WWE is always ready to recognize the work of its legends.
Posted December 27th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: Mark Henry.
WWE RAW has been the flagship program of the company for many years, with the weekly USA Network show heading to a different arena every week for the last few decades. If you’re able to make it to a live RAW event, then it is absolutely worth doing, as nothing compares to being at a pro wrestling show live.
The final WWE Smackdown of 2024 takes place tonight from Tampa, Florida at the Amalie Arena. The December 27, 2024 edition of WWE SmackDown broadcasts live on the USA Network at 8/7c. This will also be the last 2-hour episode before SmackDown expands to 3 hours on a weekly basis starting next week.
The hype for this show focuses around the return of Cody Rhodes, who has been sidelined since Kevin Owens took him out with a package piledriver following their match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The American Nightmare actually returned to action last night at WWE’s holiday tour live event from Jacksonville, Florida. You can see footage here:
Other superstars advertised for SmackDown include LA Knight, Bianca Belair, Bayley, Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton. We’ll update this article if WWE announces any matches in the lead-up to the show.
Last week’s 12/20 edition of SmackDown saw The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga) defeat LA Knight, Apollo Crews, and Andrade in a six-man tag team main event. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura interfered, attacking LA Knight and helping The Bloodline secure the victory.
Drew McIntyre confronted Solo Sikoa, warning him that he’s next on McIntyre’s revenge tour against The Bloodline.
Bianca Belair and Naomi (filling in for Jade Cargill) successfully defended their WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles against WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax and Candice LeRae.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Braun Strowman via count-out in a rematch. The match was set up after Hayes interrupted Strowman’s appearance on the Grayson Waller Effect.
Johnny Gargano defeated Alex Shelley in a singles match, with interference from Tommaso Ciampa and Chris Sabin.
Gage Goldberg believes Bret Hart needs to let things go.
We recently passed the 25th anniversary of Hart’s infamous Starrcade 1999 match with Bill Goldberg on December 19. Even after all these years, The Hitman continues to resent the heavyweight star for the ‘career-ending’ kick he received in the bout.
The son of the former Universal Champion was asked about Bret’s continued animosity towards his dad in a new interview with Wrestle Binge. Gage said that things happen in life but you have to learn to let them go:
“I mean, we don’t really like to talk about that a lot. You gotta let things go, 100%. You can’t just keep harping on this one thing when someone is successful. Stuff happens,”
Gage Goldberg was also asked about his favorite match of his father. The 18-year-old picked his Survivor Series 2016 encounter with Brock Lesnar where the WCW veteran defeated the Beast Incarnate in 1 minute 25 seconds:
“I’d say in person, his best match was against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. That one was the most exhilarating. It was the best one I’ve seen. It was just [amazing].
He was killing him with that spear. Just to see him kill Brock Lesnar in that soon of a time. Cause Brock Lesnar is a badass. He’s [one] of the coolest guys in WWE of all time for sure.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the college Football star also discussed the possibility of entering the wrestling business himself. He noted how wrestling would be a cool career but he’s currently focused on Football.
WWE Monday Night Raw will return to Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2025, as part of the Road to WrestleMania 41. This event marks the first Raw taping from the iconic “World’s Most Famous Arena” in three years with tickets for the highly anticipated show will go on sale next month.
JUST ANNOUNCED: For the first time in three years, WWE returns to The Garden with Monday Night RAW on Mar 10! Access venue presale tickets starting Wed, Jan 8 at 10am with code SOCIAL.
The return to Madison Square Garden is just one stop on WWE’s massive Road to WrestleMania 41. Following the Raw taping, WWE will embark on an international tour, bringing televised events to Spain, Belgium, Italy, Scotland, and England throughout March 2025. Additionally, live events are scheduled in Germany, Northern Ireland, Austria, and The Netherlands.
This international tour wraps up just weeks before WrestleMania 41, set to take place on April 19 and 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. WrestleMania season remains the most exciting time of the year for the WWE Universe, with plenty of surprises expected along the way. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on WWE’s plans leading up to their biggest event of the year.
The Usos returned to tag-team action this week, marking their first traditional tag-team match in over 17 months. At a WWE live event in Jacksonville on December 26, the brothers reunited but fell short against The Bloodline‘s Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.
This long-awaited reunion was a treat for fans of the longest-reigning WWE Tag Team Champions. Their last traditional tag-team match took place at WWE Money in the Bank in July 2023, where they secured a victory over Sikoa and Roman Reigns. That match also marked Reigns’ first time being pinned in WWE in close to four years.
Although this marks the duo’s first traditional tag match in over a year, Jimmy and Jey have been working together recently. At WWE Crown Jewel, the brothers joined forces with Reigns to face Sikoa, Fatu, and Tama Tonga. Additionally, they were part of the victorious team at Survivor Series: WarGames, where they triumphed inside the titular structure.
With the brothers seemingly back on the same page—capped off by a post-match “Yeet”—fans are speculating about the possibility of a full-fledged reunion on television. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates as Jimmy and Jey Uso continue to make waves in WWE.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his highly anticipated return to the ring during a WWE live event in Jacksonville, Florida, this week. In the main event, Rhodes triumphed over Kevin Owens in a steel cage match, exacting revenge on the self-proclaimed “Real” WWE Champion who had sidelined him for weeks.
Rhodes had been absent from in-ring action since WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, where he controversially retained his title against Owens. Following the show, Owens attacked Rhodes, delivering a package piledriver that left The American Nightmare injured and written off TV. At the Jacksonville event, Rhodes made a dramatic entrance wearing a neck brace, which he removed before stepping inside the cage.
Owens has continued to assert himself as the “Real” WWE Champion, even carrying the classic Winged Eagle title as evidence of his claim. This has left fans speculating about a potential title-for-title clash, possibly at an upcoming Premium Live Event or WWE Raw’s impending debut on Netflix. While a rematch between Rhodes and Owens has yet to be officially announced on television, it seems like a natural progression for WWE’s action-packed start to the new year.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Cody Rhodes as the Undisputed WWE Champion is set on recreating his massive success in 2024 in the new year.
