Rey Mysterio has not given up on a potential reconciliation with son Dominik Mysterio, but he knows that it’s going to be very hard to achieve.

The WWE Hall of Famer recently had an interview with Rosenberg Wrestling. He talked about things like what he thinks about potential retirement, playing golf and more.

On the topic of Dominik having mega heat with the audience, Rey was asked how much he thinks it’s because of his own status as a longtime beloved babyface. The Master of 619 explained that it was a trigging point for fan’s reaction at the start of Dom’s heel run but joked that now it’s all because of his Mustache:

“I think it was definitely a triggering point at a certain part of his career or his turn but then after that I think now it’s mainly based on the Mustache. I think the Mustache is what really is what the fans hate.

I mean I hate it. I don’t know about you. [It’s] gotta be the Mustache. Not so much the hatred that he has on his father, it’s the Mustache, yeah.”

• Rey Mysterio Wants Mask vs Mullet Match Against Dominik

That’s Going To Be Very Hard: Rey Mysterio

The former World Champion was also asked about the possibility of reconciling with his son sometime in the future and potentially teaming with him again. Rey Mysterio said that it’s something a father would always be open to. He hopes that one day Dirty Dom will be able to see the bright side of being on the same team:

“That’s something that as a father they always would love to have with their kids. To be able to reconnect. End off how you started, on the good side. So I don’t know if that’s going to happen over the years.

People change – sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. Hopefully one day Dom can see the bright side of being on the Mysterio side and just being family overall. But I think that’s going to be very hard.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Rey claimed that his story with Dom is not over and he would be open to facing his son in another match as well.

• Dominik Mysterio Doubts Rey Is His Father: I Question My Mom All The Time

Ricardo Rodriguez has opened up about his alcohol addiction and how Drew McIntyre helped him get into rehab through WWE.

The former WWE manager had an interview with Chris Van Vliet. He talked about things such as his run with Alberto Del Rio, his WWE release in 2014, and more.

During the session, Rodriguez went into length talking about his alcohol addiction. He mentioned that he got used to the grind during his time in WWE. After leaving the company, however, he had nothing to fill his time with and he turned to alcohol.

The 38-year-old revealed that he was chugging whole boxes of wine by himself at a time before he finally realized that he had a problem. He then put out a tweet asking for help and got a reply from a gentleman named Christopher Dreisbach. Rodriguez later contacted his friend Drew McIntyre to help him get in touch with WWE:

“WWE has this really cool wellness program part where if you’ve been with them and you encounter a similar situation, they can help you out, they’ll figure something out.

So I got in contact with WWE, and this is where a good friend of mine Drew McIntyre comes in. I sent Drew a message, and I was like, ‘Hey, can you find out the information of the wellness policy, who’s in charge or something.'”

• Ricardo Rodriguez Talks About What Led To His WWE Release & More

Drew Was A Big Part In Making That Connection: Ricardo Rodriguez

The Mexican-American pro wrestler recalled always being angry and bitter during his addiction. He admitted to pushing a lot of his close friends away when they tried to help him because he didn’t care about anyone. It was the conversation with McIntyre that finally led to him getting the help he needed:

“So then he dug around, and he got me the info. I contacted WWE because of that, and it just yeah, it became a thing and that’s how we got connected. I had talked to WWE, and I told who had contacted me up here in Lancaster.

And he’s like, oh, and we’ve done stuff with them before. Go ahead and set it up, and we can figure out the details later. So yeah, Drew was a big part of making that connection.”

Rodriguez mentioned that something like that never goes away but he has learned to manage his addiction better. It remains a daily battle for him but he has learned to be grateful about things in life. He now tries to take a pause when something upsets him instead of reacting instantly and spiraling back into his old habits.

You can check out our exclusive interview with Ricardo on the 10th anniversary of his WWE exit below:

Wrestling legend Rick Martel is eager to take a place in the WWE Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments in the squared circle. When the ’80’s Wrestling’ account on X asked its followers if Martel deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame, Rick himself made his views clear.

Martel also re-tweeted a post asking fans if he deserves a spot in WWE’s Hall of Fame. Many fans were all for the idea for both his work inside the promotion and in other territories.

Rick Martel: WWE Hall of Famer?

Martel certainly had a fulfilling career in the ring before he officially retired in March 1999. Martel is a former AWA World Champion, WCW TV Champion and three-time WWF Tag Team Champion. Martel also held gold in the NWA, Puerto Rico’s WWC, Georgia Championship Wrestling and Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling. In 2011, Martel’s accomplishments were recognized as he was inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame four years later.

The WWE Hall of Fame selection often comes under scrutiny by fans, with many names inducted seen as ‘undeserving’ of the accolade. Similarly, many names fans hoped to see inducted have yet to be given the nod, including the likes of William Regal and the late Owen Hart. As for whether ‘The Model’ gets a nod, time will tell, but Martel is ready to make an acceptance speech if WWE gives him a phone call.

A controversial comment by Carlito made during the October 21, 2024, edition of WWE Raw has been removed from Peacock’s upload of the show. The comment, made during a segment with Adam Pearce saw Carlito say “I gotta learn Chinese” after IYO SKY and Kairi Sane left the room.

Many took issue with the line, believing it played on harmful stereotypes about Asian people, as SKY and Sane are both Japanese, not Chinese. On Peacock, the segment has been edited and now Pearce simply asks Carlito what he wants, without the comment from the Judgment Day member.

The line was not scripted, with those who heard it within WWE’s production said to have been in disbelief over what was said. This line and backlash came about during a time when Triple H’s creative direction had come under great scrutiny by fans. The WWE CCO was criticized for his  his answer on the lack of representation of black talent on WWE Premium Live Events.

Peacock Removing Content

This isn’t the first time Peacock has edited WWE content that it feels may not reflect its values. Other examples of WWE content you won’t find on Peacock include:

• DX’s parody of the Nation of Domination, which included the use of blackface.
• Vince McMahon’s use of the N-word in a segment with John Cena and Booker T.
• Roddy Piper painting half his body black for his feud with African-American wrestler Bad News Brown.
• Mickie James licking her hand after grabbing Trish Stratus’ crotch at WrestleMania 22.

Now, Carlito’s controversial line has been cut from Peacock, years after a ‘fan’ told SKY during a WWE NXT match to ‘Go Back to China.’ Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE.

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev have resolved their divorce through mediation, avoiding a trial that was set to begin in two weeks. According to TMZ, the former couple reached an agreement earlier this month, though the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.

Previously, Chigvintsev, a former Dancing with the Stars performer, sought spousal support, while Garcia, a former WWE star, moved to block the court’s ability to award it. Whether this issue was resolved in the mediation remains unclear.

Earlier this year, the pair also dropped mutual restraining orders and agreed to shared custody of their four-year-old son. The divorce filing followed a series of turbulent events, including Chigvintsev’s late-August arrest on domestic violence charges at their Napa County home. However, the charges were dropped in September after the district attorney cited insufficient evidence to proceed.

Chigvintsev’s legal troubles also affected his professional life. Following his arrest, he was not invited back to compete on Dancing with the Stars. However, his attorney expressed optimism that he might rejoin the show in the future. Last week, Chigvintsev made an appearance as a guest in the studio audience for the show’s 500th episode, at the invitation of an executive producer.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill is the latest Superstar to join Paradigm Talent as part of the agency’s new ‘Sports Group’ division. Paradigm will search out major roles for Cargill outside of the ring, and she follows in the footsteps of past signings including Drew McIntyre, Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest, and CM Punk.

Cargill is already familiar with blending the worlds of pro wrestling and non-wrestling entertainment as she often donned cosplay in AEW. From She-Hulk to Storm to Cheetara, Cargill was able to demonstrate her creative side by embodying other characters but is waiting for the right moment to do the same in WWE.

Jade Cargill: The Storm

Signing with Paradigm is the latest major move for Cargill, who has risen through wrestling’s ranks since her debut in 2020. In 2022, Cargill became the first TBS Champion and would boast a 60-match undefeated streak in AEW which was ultimately shattered by Kris Statlander.

2023 saw Cargill continue to grow as she joined WWE but waited until the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble to make her in-ring debut. Cargill would quickly fall into an alliance with Bianca Belair, and the pair are two-time (and current) WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Cargill is also a force to be reckoned with outside of the ring, with nearly two million social media followers and a master’s degree in child psychology to her name. Cargill is part of a real-life power couple as she and her husband former MLB star Brandon Phillips, co-own the Women’s Professional Fastpitch team, the Texas Smoke.

Now, Cargill is poised to take another step in her rapidly expanding career, this time outside of the squared circle. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Jade Cargill and her future, both in and out of the ring.

Movie fans have caught their first glimpse at Dwayne Johnson as Maui in the live-action adaptation of Disney blockbuster success Moana. Johnson will portray Maui in the film, the same character he voiced in the 2016 Moana animated film.

Moana’s live-action adaptation is scheduled to land in cinemas in July 2026 and will see Catherine Laga?aia in the titular role. The film is expected to follow the plot of Moana (2016,) which sees a Polynesian chief’s daughter search for a mystical relic to save the island she calls home.

Fans won’t have to wait until 2026 to see Johnson as Maui, as the actor will voice the character once more for Moana 2, a sequel to the initial animated film. Moana 2 will release on November 27, 2024, and sees Auli?i Cravalho and Johnson return to voice Moana and Maui.

The Rock And WWE

While Maui is a fun-loving, easy-going character, Johnson has been anything but since his transformation into the heel ‘Final Boss’ earlier this year. The Rock returned to WWE TV at Bad Blood in a tense staredown with Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Talk continues to grow about The Rock being at WrestleMania 41, with the Brahma Bull decrying “bull****” reports that he has told WWE he won’t make the show.

Whether he’s handling business in the ring, providing his voice for major animated projects, or electrifying in person on the big screen, Dwayne Johnson remains a leading man in entertainment. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Johnson, both in the ring and on the silver screen.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon as the next Secretary of Education. McMahon, co-founder and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), previously served as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.

McMahon’s appointment aligns with Trump’s vision to reduce federal oversight in education, as he has expressed intentions to eliminate the Department of Education. Her extensive experience in business and her previous cabinet role highlight her as a significant figure in the WWE community, now poised to influence national education policy.

Linda McMahon’s ties to Donald Trump span both wrestling and politics. Their partnership began in the 1980s when WWE ran events at Trump’s Atlantic City properties, culminating in Trump’s memorable appearance at WrestleMania 23 in 2007.

McMahon later transitioned to politics, serving as Trump’s Small Business Administration chief from 2017 to 2019. She continued supporting his initiatives as America First Policy Institute’s leader and co-chair of his transition team.

Now, with her expected return to the cabinet as Secretary of Education, McMahon would oversee one of the smallest federal agencies – one that manages federal student aid, educational research, and anti-discrimination efforts while accounting for less than 10% of public school funding nationwide.

CM Punk has a long list of talents he would love to face in WWE.

The Straight Edge star was recently interviewed by Peter Rosenberg of Rosenberg Wrestling. He talked about things such as the potential of his wife AJ Lee returning to wrestling, his regrets about his AEW career and more.

When asked which are some superstars he would love to get in the ring with, Punk mentioned talents who have shown a great understanding of in-ring psychology in recent times. The list included names such as Chad Gable and Ludwig Kaiser:

“When you ask me ‘Who do you want to get in the ring with’ I go ‘Oh the list is…it’s pretty lengthy’ I think Chad Gable’s on the top of the list. I think Bronson Reed’s on the top of the list.

[Ludwig] Kaiser is somebody I see a lot in. I think could be fun. Gunther…I’m selfishly talking about guys that I would love to wrestle on House shows.”

• CM Punk’s Next WWE Feud Teased On Raw

The Money Stuff

CM Punk then mentioned how there is a whole other list of names that he could main event PPVs with, such as Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns:

“But then you talk about the money stuff. You talk about the marquee stuff. You talk about what is a match that you could see Main Eventing a pay-per-view. That’s what get my juices flowing.

I think whenever myself and Roman Reigns are face to face on television, I think that’s going to be a moment. I think there’s the table set for myself and Cody. You never know when The Rock’s gonna come back.”

When the name of John Cena was brought up, Punk admitted that he would love to get in the ring with his old rival. Although he explained that Cena has earned the right to call his own shots in his final year:

“There’s Big Match John coming right around the corner. Another guy that I don’t want to talk about because he’s gonna do his own thing. If I’m a part of that…what a fortunate career I’ve had but John deserves everything that he wants. He calls his own shot is basically what I’m saying. But yeah, I’d love to get hands on him too.”

Starting from Raw’s Netflix premiere on January 6, John Cena will be going on a retirement tour. He’ll be active throughout the year competing at events such as Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. The Cenation Leader will bid goodbye to his in-ring career at the end of the year.

• Emotional CM Punk Leaves WWE NXT “Humbled” By Roster He’s Inspired

In WWE’s Pandemic Era, the Hurt Business was a highlight of programming, but MVP had to fight to stop it from turning into a revamped Nation of Domination. On X, MVP said that WWE not only intended to turn the group into ‘NOD 2.0’ but planned to bring in Nation alum Mark Henry and Ron ‘Farooq’ Simmons.

MVP’s post spawned several responses. When one fan asked why Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was reportedly against bringing the group back, MVP admitted he hadn’t spoken with WWE’s CCO.

Another commenter suggested that the Hurt Business’ inspiration did not come from race, but seemed to be akin to Def Jam: Fight for New York.

Though the Hurt Business only featured African-American talent, the topic of race never played a factor in their role on-screen. The Nation of Domination often made reference to race, including in 1997 when Farooq claimed Vince McMahon did not want a black man to be a World Champion.

The next year, D-Generation X would parody the Nation in a segment that saw several members of DX use blackface to mock the Nation. While the segment has often been presented by WWE as a highlight of Raw’s Attitude Era, the segment has stopped being shared in recent years as tastes have changed. In 2021, WWE scrubbed the segment from its media library as part of its move to Peacock.

Now, MVP has revitalized the Hurt Business as the Hurt Syndicate alongside Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. Once again, the topic of race has not come up in AEW and fans are eagerly awaiting Lashley’s in-ring debut with Swerve Strickland at Full Gear this weekend. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on MVP and his efforts to define the Hurt Syndicate in All Elite Wrestling.

Former WWE heads Vince and Linda McMahon are separated, according to an attorney for the latter who spoke this week. In a statement to the Washington Post, Linda’s attorney, Laura Brevetti stated that the 76-year-old and Vince are separated.

This news comes amid reports that President-Elect Trump will nominate McMahon as Education Secretary in his next administration. Linda served as Trump’s Small Business Administration chief from 2017 to 2019 and has remained supportive of his initiatives, including his attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election. McMahon served on Connecticut’s Board of Education from 2009-2010 but has no history in teaching.

Much was made of the relationship of Vince and Linda following the 2022 ‘hush money’ scandal that saw Vince step away from WWE in June of that year. While McMahon was able to force his way back into WWE in January 2023, he stepped down in January 2024 due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon was tight-lipped during the recent Mr. McMahon docuseries by Netflix which explored some of Vince and WWE’s past controversies.

The Ring Boy Lawsuit

The McMahons, alongside WWE and TKO, are facing another lawsuit regarding the ‘Ring Boy’ scandal, which alleges that underage boys were groomed, exploited, and abused by Mel Phillips at wrestling events and other locations. In a statement, Brevetti said the following about her client’s ties to the suit.

“This lawsuit based upon thirty-plus-year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.”

Linda and Vince married in 1966 when she was 17 and he was 21. The pair have two children, both of whom are married, and six grandchildren. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Linda McMahon.

John Cena stunned wrestling and baseball fans alike last season with an unexpected at-bat appearance for the Savannah Bananas, a ‘baseball entertainment’ team known for their unconventional, circus-like approach to the sport. Bananas games feature choreographed dances, creative rule modifications, and theatrical performances.

Despite not swinging the bat—and striking out looking—Cena’s outta-nowhere appearance made a lasting impression on the team and their official mascot, Split.

Split, the self-proclaimed “King of Potassium,” recently took to social media platform X to express his wish for a Cena encore. Posting a picture of the 16-time WWE World Champion in a yellow jersey, Split added the caption: “Name a celebrity you want to see in a yellow jersey in 2025.”

John Cena and the Savannah Bananas

2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for Cena, who recently announced a full retirement tour as he prepares to step away from professional wrestling. Returning to WWE for over 30 dates, Cena’s farewell tour will mark the end of his iconic in-ring career. While his schedule will be packed, the possibility of squeezing in another Savannah Bananas cameo remains a hopeful prospect for fans.

Meanwhile, the Savannah Bananas are preparing for a blockbuster 2025 themselves. Their epic nationwide tour will take them to several MLB stadiums. This expansive schedule might align with Cena’s travel plans, increasing the chances of another crossover between the wrestling legend and the Bananas.

We are just weeks away from WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix. As WWE embarks on its multi-billion-dollar deal with the streaming juggernaut, all eyes will be on the promotion to get things right and kick off this new era with a strong start.

Star Power

For such a historic episode of Raw, WWE is certainly not shying away from bringing in the stars, with John Cena, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns all confirmed. One name fans will also see is rap artist Travis Scott, whose role was confirmed this week alongside WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

New Theme by Travis Scott

Not only will Scott be live at the show, but he will also provide the new theme song for the brand, so it was only fitting that ‘Cactus Jack’ was recently gifted a custom Hardcore title.

Scott’s involvement is the latest example of WWE’s ongoing momentum in appealing to the mainstream. Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS have provided the theme to WWE SmackDown, while Cardi B has been promoting SummerSlam 2025 with Bianca Belair.

The Netflix Effect

With over 60 million households tuning in to the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, Netflix certainly has the edge when it comes to attracting a global audience compared to Raw’s current broadcast partner, USA Network.

Though Tyson vs. Paul had streaming issues, WWE has reportedly been informed this won’t be the case for Raw. One WWE source is reported to have said that WWE would hardly be against tens of millions of fans tuning in each week, even if it leads to technical issues.

TV-14

This week, Raw was listed as TV-14 on Netflix, which allows for cruder dialogue, greater violence, and more suggestive themes compared to what fans receive today. WWE changed to TV-PG in 2008 in a move that, while financially sound, led to criticism from many fans who took issue with the ‘toning down’ of the product. AEW Dynamite has been TV-14 since the show’s inception in late 2019.

Stay tuned for more news on WWE Raw as the wrestling world prepares for the red brand’s premiere on Netflix on January 6.

For nearly a decade, The New Day has been one of the most beloved and enduring teams in all of professional wrestling. From hosting WrestleMania 33 (2017) to their very own Booty O’s cereal brand, the group has done it all. What is the secret to their longevity?

Speaking to the New York Post, Kofi Kingston said that the group has stayed strong since 2014 because their friendship is real.

“a lot of tag teams get thrown together… All of us, we really strive to push our brothers, to lift our brothers up. That’s what The New Day is all about. It’s all about brotherhood. And we really believe that to our core.”

In addition to their accolades as a trio and in tag team combinations, each New Day member has achieved success independently. Kofi and Big E each won the WWE Championship (in 2019 and 2021, respectively). While Xavier Woods has yet to hold singles gold, he won King of the Ring in 2021, a concept Woods himself advocated to return.

Kingston acknowledged that he and Woods haven’t exactly been seeing eye-to-eye as of late, but said such issues are ‘typical’ with sibling relationships, as he considers the New Day to be a brotherhood.

Latest On Big E

Since March 2022, the New Day has been down a member, as Big E has been out of action with a broken neck. Kingston explained that Big E literally came within an inch of his life, as even the slightest of changes could’ve made his situation so much worse.

“If his neck had broken one way, a degree, he would have had a stroke. If he would have broken it a degree, the other way, he would have been paralyzed a degree.”

It has been “motivating and inspiring” to see Big E get to where he is mentally, as the powerhouse has routinely displayed the New Day’s signature optimism since the unfortunate accident. Kingston even said that its easy to forget Big E was ever injured in the first place, such is the positivity of his fellow ex-WWE Champion.

The Odyssey Jones Exit

Earlier this year, WWE attempted to bring Odyssey Jones into the fold, seemingly as a Big E replacement, though that didn’t work out. Jones was removed over domestic violence allegations, an act that left Kingston and Xavier Woods having to adapt.

“Once Odyssey was out of the mix, we just had to figure out a way to pivot and keep the story going and keep on moving forward, because, as they say, the show must go on.”

WWE has a special New Day episode of Raw planned to celebrate the group’s 10 years, in spite of the issues between Kingston and Woods on TV.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The New Day as they prepare to mark a decade of dominance in WWE’s tag team division.

Nick Aldis has praised Chelsea Green for her recent performances in WWE.

Green who made her wrestling debut in 2014 had runs with companies such as Impact and Lucha Underground before signing with WWE in August 2018. She failed to make a positive impression on WWE top brass, however, and got released from the company during the 2021 budget cuts.

Despite the setback, Green took things positively and went right back to work on the indie circuit. Her hard work paid off and the Endeavour-owned promotion brought her back on board in January last year. Green has become one of the most entertaining stars on WWE TV since then, and her work is said to be one of the catalysts for WWE introducing a Women’s US title.

Aldis talked about working with Chelsea during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. He explained that the female star has a great creative mind and she always has many ideas on how to make their segments better:

“I mean, it’s a night off. It’s great. You don’t have to think very hard because she’s just going to give you endless material. What a great example of maximizing your minutes.”

• Nick Aldis Admits Feeling ‘A Little Bit Betrayed’ After All In 2018

She Has Taken This And Ran With It: Nick Aldis

Nick Aldis mentioned how he and Chelsea have had somewhat of a similar path. They’ve worked for the same promotions and the opportunity they finally got is not necessarily what they may have envisioned.

Despite the challenges, however, Green has done her best. Aldis pointed out how she has made the most of any opportunity given to her:

“I think for her, there was this thing of will I ever get the shot on the main show? Then it comes. And I’m sure that this probably isn’t what she first had in mind. I don’t want to speak for her, but I would venture to say that what she’s doing, it probably isn’t like what she envisioned a long time ago. But man, Has she taken this and run with it.”

Apart from this, Aldis also talked about his role as the SmackDown General Manager and reflected on his WWE TV debut. You can check out what he revealed about his debut segment with Dominik Mysterio here.

• Time Will Tell – Adam Pearce & Nick Aldis Weigh In On WWE Showdown

WWE fans have been wondering which storyline will bring CM Punk back to TV after he took time off following his Hell In A Cell match. The latest episode of Raw suggests Punk might be getting involved in a completely unexpected feud upon his comeback.

This week’s episode of the Red Branded Show included a backstage segment featuring the world heavyweight champion Gunther. Speaking to his lieutenant Ludwig Kaiser, the Ring General asked Kaiser to ‘look into his eyes’ and tell him what he saw:

CM Punk vs Gunther? Count me In!pic.twitter.com/z3gMAQ041F

— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) November 19, 2024

The line comes straight from the former AEW star’s beloved Cult of Personality theme song. Punk has used different versions of the Living Colour song as his entrance music since 2011.

• CM Punk to Costar in Horror Thriller Movie “Night Patrol”

CM Punk vs Gunther?

The Straight Edge Star has taken time off from TV after defeating Drew McIntyre in a Hell In A Cell match at Bad Blood. It’s believed that the former World Champion would return to the company before or at the upcoming Survivor Series PPV on November 30.

Many have theorized that CM Punk could be revealed as the final member of Roman Reigns’ WarGames team. After Reigns tried calling Paul Heyman on Friday’s SmackDown, people pointed out that Punk has close ties with Heyman and the two have a lot of history together.

The Triple H regime, however, is known for its long-term planning and using MCU-esque easter eggs to give smart fans a preview of what’s to come.

Gunther’s latest promo is unmistakably a nod to the former WWE Champion and it definitely suggests that Punk will be going after the World Heavyweight Championship whenever he reappears on TV.

• CM Punk Reflects on Losing Bray Wyatt & Brodie Lee: It’s Truly Unfair

Cathy Kelley, a familiar face on WWE’s Monday Night Raw broadcast team, has shared her ambition to expand her role within the company. Known for her backstage interviews and on-air presence, Kelley recently revealed her interest in transitioning to a managerial role in the future.

Speaking with B4theBell, Kelley explained her commitment to professional wrestling, noting that the idea of managing is something she has given serious thought.

I would definitely be open to managing if it is the right pairing,” she said. “That is something that I would love to grow into, whether that’s, you know, tomorrow, whether that’s a decade down the line.

I do really see myself involved in WWE, in wrestling, in some way throughout my entire career.”

– Cathy Kelley

These remarks align with a growing trend in WWE, where talents like former ring announcer Samantha Irvin have expressed interest in stepping into managerial roles.

Currently, Kelley serves as a pivotal member of the Raw broadcast team, working alongside Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett, Jackie Redmond, and Lilian Garcia. Her steady rise on WWE programming has made her a vital figure on screen, and her aspiration to manage talent could add another dimension to her already impressive résumé.

As Kelley continues to thrive on Raw, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching to see if—and when—she takes this next step in her WWE journey.

Watch Cathy Kelley’s appearance on B4theBell:

Gable Steveson, Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA wrestling champion, has decided to return to the University of Minnesota wrestling team for a fifth season. This follows brief stints with WWE and the NFL, both of which ended earlier than expected. During a recent press conference, Steveson shared insights into his decision and reflected on why his WWE journey didn’t pan out as planned.

Steveson acknowledged that his time with WWE wasn’t the right fit at the time. Despite being seen as a promising prospect, he admitted the competition in WWE was intense, and the timing simply wasn’t ideal. However, he harbors no resentment and remains open to a potential return down the line.

“I think WWE just wasn’t the right time,” Steveson said. “I had a lot of competitive edge to me, and they knew that. It was just not the time for it, and so maybe one day if the stars align, it’ll be a great opportunity to do it again. I have no bad feelings with it, I have no bad blood with it, and I would like to keep moving forward with everything.”

Steveson’s foray into the NFL was also a learning experience. Signed briefly by the Buffalo Bills, he acknowledged that his lack of prior football experience posed significant challenges.

“I got a few tackles and a couple of games and a few QB hits,” Steveson explained. “I had a few other teams reach out to me previously before coming back here, so maybe after the season, it’s another opportunity.”

Though his NFL stint ended before the regular season, Steveson remains optimistic about future opportunities in both sports entertainment and football.

Now back at the University of Minnesota, Steveson’s return has been warmly embraced by the wrestling program. As he prepares for his fifth season, he remains focused on his immediate goals while leaving the door open for new opportunities in the future. Despite the setbacks, Steveson’s confidence and drive to succeed remain unshaken.

Nick Aldis has changed what it means to be a wrestling authority figure in many ways since his WWE debut in October last year. It all started with his very first segment with Dominik Mysterio, where Aldis mocked the young star with a simple line and established himself as a General Manager who will not be pushed around.

The former NWA champion reflected on the segment during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. He noted that he had already been working as a producer for the company for a couple of months at the time, so he had a bit more leeway to make improvements.

When his debut segment was presented to him, Aldis knew that the majority of the WWE audience would not be aware of his previous work. He had only one chance to make a strong impression. When he looked at the line with Dirty Dom, he knew that it was the one thing he needed to establish himself:

“I was like what if I put a pause in there, in my mind I was like that’s kind of my sense of humor. That’s my sort of sh*t-talker type of style. ‘I’m a big fan of your dad.’ I said it, and Hunter and whoever was around at the time, all sort of laughs.

Okay, so I went, ‘Okay, that might work.’ I knew that this segment isn’t necessarily about me. It’s I’m here to facilitate and that’s sort of what that character is a lot of the time. But at the same time, I’ve got 10 seconds here to f*cking smash something. I was like that’s it, that’s my bit.”

• Time Will Tell – Adam Pearce & Nick Aldis Weigh In On WWE Showdown

Nick Aldis also talked about Dominik Mysterio’s popularity and said that he is at the sweet spot for a heel character in the modern era. He explained that the young star is someone who you love to hate, and he has real heat which is very hard to get.

The SmackDown GM took the time to praise Dom’s partner in crime Liv Morgan as well. He mentioned how Morgan has been part of WWE for a long time so you can’t call her a break out star but for Aldis, she is definitely the MVP of 2024.

• Nick Aldis Admits Feeling ‘A Little Bit Betrayed’ After All In 2018

The Street Profits are not expected to follow the footsteps of Bobby Lashley and exit WWE, at least in the immediate future.

The former tag team champions have made headlines recently after referencing the WWE exit of Lashley and highlighting their struggles in the tag division in a passionate promo earlier this month. The promo was in preparation for their tag team title match against Motor City Machine Guns on the November 15 SmackDown.

The bout ended in disqualification after Tomasso Ciampa interfered and attacked members of both the teams. After the duo failed to capture the tag titles yet again, a lot of people wondered if this was a sign of them being on their way out of the company.

Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins are locked into WWE deals, and their recent grumbling in the media about their lack of success is merely part of a storyline to generate interest. (h/t PWInsider)

• Montez Ford: WWE Is My Dream Job, But It’s Frustrating

Ford is one of the WWE talents who has signed with Paradigm Talent Agency as part of their new Sports Division and he has been working on some outside projects. So it’s possible that he might be taking some time off from WWE programming for that. Beyond that, however, there is no internal chatter about the two potentially leaving the company.

The SmackDown match saw some interesting storyline development with the disqualification finish. When Johnny Gargano came out to confront his DIY partner, Ciampa shoved him aside, further teasing tensions between the two.

The Street Profits were also frustrated with their opportunity going to waste. When The Machine Guns offered to shake their hand, the duo of Ford and Dawkins ended up attacking the current champions. The post-match action makes it very clear that the Street Profits are not done with the legendary tag team.

• Angelo Dawkins: The Street Profits Will Never Betray Each Other

Mickie James is an undisputed legend of the ring, and the former Women’s Champion is ready for one more match in either WWE or TNA Wrestling. When a fan on X shared their hope to see James back in either promotion, the 45-year-old wrestler teased that this could happen down the line.

James has a successful history in both promotions with several championship reigns to her name. James’ most recent match for WWE was as part of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match, though she entered as a representative for TNA (then Impact Wrestling.) James’ most recent match for TNA came at October 2023’s Bound for Glory event, where she challenged Knockouts Champion Trinity (now Naomi.)

As a legend of women’s wrestling, a return to either company would be huge for James and allow her to work with familiar opponents as well as talent she’s never stepped in the ring with. A return to WWE could also see James reunite with real-life husband Nick Aldis who joined WWE this year as SmackDown’s General Manager.

With WWE and TNA partnering in 2024, fans can’t count out James appearing in both promotions as part of this teased return to the ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Mickie James and the next steps in her pro-wrestling journey.

WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio has announced the passing of his father Roberto Gutierrez at the age of 76 earlier this week.

The wrestling veteran shared some photos of his father alongside a tribute on Instagram. He thanked his dad for setting up a great example for him in every walk of life.

He mentioned that there are a lot of traits he picked up from his father and assured him that he will always take care of his mother and look out for her:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rey Mysterio (@619iamlucha)

• Rey Mysterio Reveals The One Dream Match He Wants To Have Before Retirement

A three-decade veteran of the business, Rey Mysterio was contemplating retirement from active competition before his son Dominik Mysterio entered the business in 2019. Teaming with his son rejuvenated Mysterio’s passion for the business.

They even made history by becoming the first-ever father-son tag team champions in WWE history back in 2021. Dominik has since broken up the partnership to join Judgment Day instead, while his father has taken up a mentor role for Mexican talents as the leader of the revived Latino World Order.

In recent interviews, the 49-year-old has said that he doesn’t plan on wrestling beyond the age of 50. Though unlike John Cena, the master of 619 has not revealed a timetable for his retirement yet.

The Women’s WarGames match for WWE Survivor Series 2024 was officially announced Monday night on Raw, featuring the surprise return of Rhea Ripley. The highly anticipated bout will showcase two teams of WWE’s top stars battling inside the iconic steel cage structure.

Official Teams Announced for Women’s WarGames Match

The confirmed participants for the Women’s WarGames match are:

Team Rhea Ripley: Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and IYO SKY.

Team Liv Morgan: Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae.

Updated Survivor Series 2024 Card

Additional matches announced for Survivor Series 2024 include:

• Men’s WarGames Match: The OG Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, Sami Zayn) vs. The New Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and two unannounced partners).

• Women’s WarGames Match: Team Rhea Ripley vs. Team Liv Morgan.

• World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Damian Priest.

• Intercontinental Championship: Sheamus vs. Bron Breakker (pending confirmation).

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
• Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

How to Watch:

• United States: Available on Peacock.
• International: Streamable on WWE Network in participating regions, with Netflix taking over WWE streaming internationally starting in January 2025.

Rhea Ripley made her highly anticipated return on this week’s episode of Raw, which was taped last week at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI.

Ripley had been sidelined due to a fractured right orbital socket, an injury that forced her off television. The storyline injury was depicted earlier this month on NXT when Women’s World Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez attacked Ripley with baseball bats.

The segment showed Ripley lying next to her car, with a cut on her head and fake blood pouring out. Reports suggest the injury stemmed from a headbutt spot during the October 21st episode of Raw.

As a result of Ripley’s absence, WWE had to make adjustments to the Crown Jewel premium live event, where she was originally scheduled to face Rodriguez in a singles match.

Ripley made a dramatic comeback at the start of Raw, targeting Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan. The confrontation escalated into a chaotic brawl involving Ripley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and IYO SKY, who stood tall over Morgan, Rodriguez, Tiffany Stratton, and Nia Jax.

While not yet confirmed, the events appear to be setting up a women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series next Saturday, adding to the excitement for the highly anticipated event.

Cathy Kelley and Kevin Owens experienced a dune buggy accident ahead of WWE’s Crown Jewel event from Saudi Arabia. As part of the pre-show festivities, WWE talent and staff participated in various activities, including dune buggy rides. During the Crown Jewel pre-show broadcast, it was revealed that Kelley and Owens had been involved in the accident.

Owens was originally scheduled to compete in a match against Randy Orton. However, the match took a dramatic turn as the two brawled outside the ring, leading to Orton being stretchered out of the venue. Speaking on B4TheBell, Cathy Kelley provided more details about the incident and reflected on her long-standing friendship with Owens. She shared:

“He’s been one of my friends for years. I’ve had many conversations with him off camera. We just got into a kind of traumatizing accident when we were in Saudi Arabia in a dune buggy. I kind of credit him for saving my life in that moment.

We rolled three and a half times in a dune buggy. He said his initial instinct was to protect me. I was holding onto a safety rail, he was right behind me. We could have gotten much more banged up than we did. We were really lucky that we walked out of it relatively unscathed.”

– Cathy Kelley on B4theBell

Kelley added that she came away with just a minor scratch on her hand, while Owens’ quick instincts potentially prevented more serious injuries.

Despite the harrowing experience, Owens is set to appear in a face-to-face segment with the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.