Samantha Irvin shared this week that she has left WWE in a lengthy statement by the former Raw ring announcer posted on social media. Since then, a lot has been said about Irvin’s exit from WWE and the 35-year-old has clarified one false statement about her exit.
One report that has come out is that Irvin informed WWE mere hours before this week’s Monday Night Raw that she was leaving the promotion. On X, Irvin clarified that she informed WWE months ago, rather than hours before this week’s edition of the red brand.
Irvin joined WWE in 2021 on the recommendation of WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry and was praised for her passionate, enthusiastic calls on TV and at PLEs. Following this year’s WrestleMania, where she announced every match, Irvin was praised by Michael Buffer, arguably the most recognized ring announcer in the history of combat sports.
Before arriving in WWE, Irvin was an accomplished flutist and singer and made a name for herself with an appearance on America’s Got Talent. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Samantha Irvin both in the world of wrestling and beyond the squared circle.
In May, Drew Gulak parted ways with WWE, following claims by Ronda Rousey that he had acted inappropriately during her tenure with the company. Now, Gulak is re-establishing himself outside of the promotion, and a recent angle with Beyond Wrestling made reference to his controversial actions and WWE departure.
At the latest Beyond show, Gulak was in the ring with Masha Slamovich. In his promo, Gulak made references to the female star potentially being uncomfortable in the locker room with him, in a clear reference to the Rousey situation.
“Anytime we’ve been in Beyond Wrestling, did I ever make you feel uncomfortable? At any time, did you feel like I was a danger in the locker room? Well, you should have.”
Gulak then attacked Slamovich as part of the show. On social media, many criticized Gulak and Beyond Wrestling for making the controversy from earlier this year into an angle.
Drew Gulak doing the most annoying "I can't be a sex pest" indie work shoot storyline? Thank god he is gone from my Federation and my NQCC. https://t.co/7yTpvhpNHT
I don't know what's worse… Beyond Wrestling booking him in this angle or Drew Gulak having the nerve to do this. Safety in the locker rooms, at training and in the ring is no hook for an angle. Not all attention is good. This is awkward shit.@beyondwrestling@DrewGulakpic.twitter.com/41KIGipAil
— Honeycakeman (Insta: wrestling_focus) (@honeycakeman) October 22, 2024
Beyond Wrestling fucking sucks and Drew Gulak is a punk bitch Also that bum running it is a weirdo and I can't wait for his downfall https://t.co/bY4TcxkidT
— Ho. J. Simpson??#BlackLivesMatter (@AlecRPar) October 22, 2024
While Beyond Wrestling has the right to book its shows how they see fit, many fans feel that referencing Gulak’s situation with Rousey is a step too far, especially amid the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal and Janel Grant’s lawsuit. With the topic of female safety in wrestling being as relevant as ever, it remains to be seen if Beyond will continue to make reference to Gulak’s departure from the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
TNA Wrestling’s biggest event of the year, Bound For Glory 2024, is set to electrify fans around the world on Saturday, October 26. This highly anticipated pay-per-view will emanate from the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan, marking the city’s first time hosting the event since 2006.
As wrestling enthusiasts gear up for an action-packed night, it’s crucial to know when and how to catch all the excitement, no matter where you are.
Bound For Glory 2024 will take place on Saturday, October 26, at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan.
This venue choice brings the event back to the Motor City after nearly two decades, promising a nostalgic yet fresh experience for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
TNA Bound For Glory Start Times
The main card for Bound For Glory 2024 is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Here’s a breakdown of start times for various regions:
United States and Canada
Eastern Time (ET): 8:00 PM, Saturday, October 26
Pacific Time (PT): 5:00 PM, Saturday, October 26
Europe
United Kingdom (UK): 1:00 AM, Sunday, October 27
Central European Time (CET): 2:00 AM, Sunday, October 27
Australia
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): 10:00 AM, Sunday, October 27
Australian Central Standard Time (ACST): 9:30 AM, Sunday, October 27
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST): 8:00 AM, Sunday, October 27
TNA Wrestling’s biggest event of the year, Bound For Glory 2024, is set to take place on October 26, 2024, at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan. This highly anticipated pay-per-view (PPV) event promises to deliver thrilling matches and unforgettable moments for wrestling fans worldwide.
If you’re looking to catch all the action, here’s everything you need to know about watching the TNA Bound For Glory 2024 live stream.
TNA Wrestling has made it easy for fans to access the Bound For Glory 2024 live stream through various platforms. Here are the primary ways to watch the event:
TNA+ and TrillerTV
The most straightforward method to watch Bound For Glory 2024 is through TNA+ or TrillerTV. These platforms will be streaming the event live in both the United States and the United Kingdom. TrillerTV, powered by FITE, is the official streaming partner for TNA Wrestling events.
Pay-Per-View (PPV)
For those who prefer traditional PPV options, the event will be available as a pay-per-view purchase. Check with your local cable or satellite provider for availability and pricing details.
International Viewing Options
While specific international broadcasting details may vary, TNA+ and TrillerTV are likely to be the primary streaming options for viewers outside the US and UK.
Deonna Purrazzo’s efforts to make it in WWE saw the Virtuosa end up in debt, just to be informed that she didn’t stand out enough. Purrazzo first appeared for WWE in 2014 as one of Adam Rose’s ‘Rosebuds’ in 2014 before making her in-ring debut the following year. On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, Purrazzo spoke about trying to make it in WWE, which proved to be a costly endeavor at the time.
“Late 2015, early 2016, I was in NXT at the tapings every other week. I was there 24/7 flying myself, actively going into debt so I could be in Orlando, Florida, to wrestle for NXT.”
Despite Purrazzo’s best efforts, she wouldn’t be signed at the time and would have to wait until 2018 before finally securing a contract. When asked why WWE didn’t pick her up three years earlier, the Virtuosa was somewhat flummoxed.
“That’s a really great question. I don’t know. Kind of always the answer was that I was a five-foot-two brunette, and there was a ton of us on the Indies.
“February 2016 they were just like ‘we have too many of you right now and go out there and keep making a name for yourself, and maybe it’ll come full circle.'”
Purrazzo would sign with WWE in April 2018 while backstage at a Shimmer Women Athletes event. Her signing resulted in her pulling out of that year’s All In, a precursor to AEW. Unfortunately, Purrazzo’s time under contract would see her wrestle just 16 times on TV before her release in April 2020.
Undeterred, Purrazzo reinvented herself after her release and would become a premier star in Impact Wrestling before joining AEW earlier this year. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Purrazzo as she looks to capture the AEW Women’s World Championship.
On Instagram, Garcia shared her excitement to be back in WWE after years away and spoke of her nerves surrounding her first night back on the job.
”Well, now you know. Oh my gosh, guys did just happen? Did I just really go back to the WWE, after being gone for like 8 years? I mean, I’ve popped in every now and then but it’s been 8 years since I’ve been a full-time announcer there. My goodness, when my music hit and I got introduced, the cheers and applause that you gave me tonight, thank you for that.
“Because I was nervous, I could even tell I was nervous when I was announcing. But it is all worth, all worth taking a risk and a gamble and just coming back. Just seeing everyone, like the WWE Superstars, my friends, the crew and I’m excited and I’m strapping on my seatbelt for that.
Lilian also had a message for Samantha Irvin, and sees huge things in the future for the announcer she has replaced.
“Sam, I do wanna tell you, I think you’re an extraordinary talent and you’re unbelievable and I know it wasn’t easy to walk away from here and I wish you all the success in your music career, I know you’re gonna kill it. Okay WWE Universe I look forward to seeing you, signing your autographs, giving you high fives and all of that, I love you. I’m back home!”
Irvin and Garcia have often been compared, much to the delight of the former WWE Raw ring announcer who is now ready to spread her wings outside the company. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Lilian Garcia now that she’s home in WWE once more.
Irvin was not released from WWE but chose to resign, PW Insider reports. WWE was reportedly made aware of her decision earlier in the day before she shared her statement to social media.
Fightful Select reports that those in WWE had high praise for Irvin, both before and after her announcement. One source described the 35-year-old as a “presence that made the work day better.” Those in WWE shared their surprise at the news, adding that she couldn’t have possibly informed everyone before leaving.
An AEW Future?
With her fiancé Ricochet debuting for AEW at All In: London in August, fans have naturally speculated as to whether Irvin could make the jump to reunite with her One and Only. Those in WWE and AEW said that they would be shocked if an attempt wasn’t made by AEW to bring her on board, considering Ricochet’s arrival in recent months. Many people in WWE expected her to leave the company after Ricochet did, pointing out the easier schedule for their family. Responding to a fan on X, Ricochet said Irvin is not joining AEW, and Irvin herself rejected the idea days before sharing that she was leaving WWE.
WWE has announced that Seth Rollins will be going up against Bronson Reed in a singles match at the upcoming Crown Jewel special.
This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw featured another chaotic confrontation between the two stars. It started with Rollins calling out Reed during the opening segment of the show.
The security tried to stop the two WWE stars from getting physical but failed. Reed tried a couple of times to deliver a Tsunami on Rollins but the Architect moved out of the way. The segment ended with Bronson going through the announce desk at the ringside.
Bronson Reed’s reign of terror started with an attack on Seth Rollins back on the August 5 Raw. The former Shield member then returned to cost Reed his Last Monster Standing Match against Braun Strowman on the September 30 episode of the show. The two stars have been feuding since then.
This is the third match that has been announced for Crown Jewel apart from the two champion vs champion bouts made official by Triple H previously. Here is the updated card for the show:
WWE Crown Jewel Championship Match: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Gunther
WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship Match: Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan vs. Women’s Champion Nia Jax
Singles Match: Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed
WWE Crown Jewel will be taking place on Saturday, November 2 from the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cody Rhodes wrestled in a first-time-ever match after this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania went off air.
The Bloodline made their presence felt in the main event of the Red Branded Show this week. The match featured Jey Uso defending the Intercontinental Championship against Bron Breakker.
Solo Sikoa and his disciples first showed up claiming that they wanted to help their cousin. Things went sour quickly however and Fatu in the end took out Jey. This allowed Breakker to pin the former Bloodline member and win the title back.
While the rest of the Bloodline seemingly retreated after this match, Jacob Fatu stayed around. He competed in a Philadelphia Street Fight against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes after the show went off air.
The Samoan Warewolf took the loss in what was his singles debut for the company. He had previously wrestled only tag team matches since his debut back in June.
The American Nightmare did not appear on the broadcast of the show this week. Though he has invited the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther for a face-to-face confrontation on Friday’s SmackDown.
The Friday Night show may also feature Jey Uso again. The now former champion will be looking for an explanation from his family members about the events of Raw.
I will miss seeing your smiling face at work! I am so lucky to have shared the ring with you & even more lucky to have been a part of your iconic ring announcements ?? https://t.co/cCOxw2va0q
We all know Sam is a STAR, But she is also a wonderful person. One of the first to welcome me backstage and was always checking in to make sure the shy new girl was good.
It isn’t just those from the world of wrestling who are sad to see the back of Samantha Irvin as Michael Buffer also shared his reaction. The legendary boxing announcer praised Irvin after her work at this year’s WrestleMania 40 PLE.
NO!? My wife and I are so sorry to hear this as I’m sure millions of other @WWE fans are. Samantha is brilliant & super professional as announcer+her musical talent as a singer & flautist are amazing! All the best to her moving forward w/her career & perhaps we’ll see her in… https://t.co/ZzUD9XfjIj
Irvin joined WWE in 2021, at the recommendation of WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Initially part of WWE 205 Live, Irvin rose quickly to the main roster and has announced on both Raw and SmackDown. Her enthusiastic calls for the likes of GUNTHER, Chelsea Green, and others quickly endeared her with fans who will miss her work each week.
We at SEScoops would like to wish Samantha the very best in whatever comes next for her in her career.
Before the October 21, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw went on the air, commentator Joe Tessitore shared that Lilian Garica is back in WWE and will be announcing for the red brand moving forward.
Unfortunately, Garcia showed a bit of rust on the show, as her first announcement of the evening saw an error. Ahead of a tag-team match, Garcia said the match was part of a tournament to determine the “Number one containers” for the World Tag Team Championships.
Garcia had been seen in Philadelphia before this week’s Raw, which led many to speculate that she would be replacing Samantha Irvin as the show’s ring announcer. Garcia was a part of WWE from 1999 to 2009 and had a second run from 2011 to 2019. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Lillian Garcia now that she has once again returned to WWE.
Bron Breakker is IC Champion again thanks to some help from The Bloodline.
The main event of this week’s Raw from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania featured Jey Uso defending the IC title against Breakker. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu showed up in the arena halfway through the bout to ‘help’ Jey retain the title.
The duo of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa were also not far behind. Tonga showed up to encourage the defending champion but things turned into chaos when Jey superkicked his cousin. Tama Tonga then tried to level him but ate a superkick too.
Solo Sikoa still looked to help his cousin and he took a spear from Bron Breakker after pushing Uso out of the harm’s way. Jacob Fatu then came up face-to-face with Breakker to distract him. Jey was not convinced however and he leveled both Fatu and Breakker with a tope suicida.
The ending of the bout saw Adam Pearce running down to escort Tonga and Loa out of the arena. Jey looked to land a spear on his opponent in the meantime but Fatu attacked him.
The Samoan Wearwolf dropped his cousin on top of the announce desk. Bron Breakker then took advantage as he dumped Jey back into the ring for a super spear and the pin.
Jey Uso’s Intercontinental Championship reign ends at only 27 days with his loss while Breakker starts his second run with the title.
These events are likely to motivate Jey to finally join forces with Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso against Solo Sikoa’s disciples. The group would still be one member short and Sami Zayn may be next on the list of potential allies for the original Tribal Chief.
WWE Hall of Famer Lilian Garcia is currently backstage at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, site of tonight’s WWE Raw. Her presence is especially interesting in the wake of Samantha Irvine’s bombshell announcement that she’s leaving WWE. We’ll find out in a matter of hours if Garcia’s visit is just a social visit, or if she’ll be filling in for Irvine.
Irvine’s exit is understandably the hot topic of conversation this afternoon. Sources at Raw indicate that virtually everyone was caught off-guard by the news, and emphasized how universally well-liked she is.
In addition to Lilian Garcia, there are several wrestlers from the SmackDown brand at the arena. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is on hand, as areBloodline leader Solo Sikoa, Women’s World Champion Nia Jax and Bayley.
Tonight’s WWE Raw will feature Bron Breakker challenging Jey Uso for the Intercontinental Championship, WWE Tag Title #1 Contender tournament matches and more.
Samantha Irvin has announced she’s no longer the ring announcer for WWE Raw, but teases that people should “stay tuned” for the next chapter of her professional career.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, she thanked WWE’s fans, Superstars, crew and the mentors who guided her on her journey. The word going around backstage at the Wells Fargo Center, site of tonight’s WWE Raw, is genuine shock over this high-profile departure.
Irvin was with WWE for four years before announcing her departure on October 21, 2024. After initially pursuing a career as a pro wrestler and participating in tryouts at the Performance Center, she was signed in April 2021 as a ring announcer for WWE 205 Live. She quickly climbed the ranks, first to NXT and then to WWE SmackDown in January 2022. The following year, she was moved to the Raw brand, where she’s worked ever since.
Her impassioned delivery on the microphone, her engaging personality and musical talents made her a fan favorite over the past several years.
“WWE Universe, my time has come to an end as your Monday Night Raw Ring Announcer. I love you all tremendously, and this does not mark the end of my art; I have a lifetime more to share. Thank you to every WWE fan who accepted me.
To the Women’s Locker Room: you are the most incredible group of people on the face of this Earth. I am beyond proud to be your colleague and friend.
To the Crew & Cameramen: I can’t thank you enough for the encouragement, the laughs. You created such a wonderful, positive atmosphere for me. Love you all.
To the WWE Superstars, past and present: I have thanked you since 1989 and will continue to thank you for the rest of my days for entertaining us. For raising the bar over and over again. For risking your bodies and finding new ways to keep us shocked and wanting more.
There is no form of entertainment like this, and not just any entertainer can be a WWE Superstar. The respect I have for you is more than I can express. Thank you for making it so easy to pour emotion and excitement into your introductions.
You are the stars that the stars idolize. It doesn’t get any bigger, and I’m proud to have used my voice to let the world know it.
Thank you Paul Heyman, Michael PS Hayes, and Michael Cole. I will continue to apply what I learned from you to every aspect of my career. Thank you for invigorating my creativity.
Thank you Brian “Road Dogg” James, Scott Armstrong, Gabe Sapolsky, and George Carroll Jr. for giving me my first opportunities to rise to the occasion. Thank you to HHH for trusting me and showcasing me on this platform. Thank you Mark Henry for giving me my big break. I hope I made you proud.
Thank you to all the Coaches, Producers, Medical, Writers, Talent Relations, Makeup, Photography, Social Media, Digital, Travel Department, Catering, Merch, 2K Team, Referees, Security, and Announce Team for everything you did to help me along the way.
To my fans: My entire career I’ve been waiting for you! We are meant to be, and I can prove it. Stay tuned.
All my love! And still…
Samantha”
Samantha Irvin moving on to the next chapter of her career
The first part of US Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s appearance on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under with Mark Calloway podcast is now online.
The two WWE Hall of Famers discuss a wide range of topics here, including pro wrestling, politics and everything in between. They delved into Trump’s early fascination with wrestling and how he became involved with the sport over time. Trump, an avid wrestling fan for decades, was curious about what’s “real” and what’s not inside the squared circle, asking if wrestlers ever genuinely get angry during matches and what it feels like to take bumps and perform in the ring.
Donald Trump says The Rock reached out to UFC Dana White to get his phone number after his the assassination attempt at the rally in Butler, PA.
The Rock thought it was "sort of incredible" that he survived and "considered it bravery" that he handled it so well. pic.twitter.com/U92ubuZcLs
The discussion then shifted towards wrestling legends, with both sharing thoughts on the greatest wrestlers of all time and the current generation of stars shaping the industry today.
Trump pulled back the curtain on his own world, sharing some of his personal motivations, and what keeps him going at such a hectic pace at 78 years old.
Finally, Trump reflects on showing more of his personal side to the public, and of course, the upcoming election and what’s at stake for the future of the country.
WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam recently shared details on his Legends Deal with WWE. RVD has competed in AEW a handful of times recently. However, he has made appearances for WWE as well. His last appearance for AEW took place in April while he made an appearance in WWE on the September 13th on WWE SmackDown premiere show on USA Network.
Recently, Rob Van Dam had revealed that he was on a WWE Legends Deal during his appearances in AEW. Soon, speculation sparked if he had inked a new contract. However, the WWE Hall of Famer cleared the air. While speaking with SEScoops correspondent Dominic DeAngelo on his 1 of a Kind Podcast, Van DAm was asked to reflect on his comments regarding his Legends Deal. Here is what he said:
“Yeah, I saw today that it’s news, people are congratulating me and stuff. Okay, I just liked a comment anyway. It’s what I do. They think I’m confirming something whenever I like it, but I try to like all the comments. But yeah, a lot of congratulations, and then I did mention on that one, yeah, it is true, in 2021 I did a legends deal.”
Flexibility in the deal
DeAngelo said that it seemed that some talents have restrictions on what they can do while being under contract. However, others could “go do stuff” while being on a Legends Deal. Rob Van Dam replied that he feels it was a “flexible template” that varied, depending on the individual circumstances. He explained:
“I think it’s a flexible template that they have, and depending on everybody’s individual circumstances, you might say, ‘Hey, I already signed with these two video games already,’ so I think they have them excluded from it or something like that. Or if you say, ‘I want to do it, but I don’t want to give you guys exclusivity to action figures because I got five other companies that are doing it,’ then they might say, ‘Well, then we don’t want to sign you up.’ But also, they gotta pay you, even if you’re not under the contract. If they’re selling your likeness, they owe it to you anyway, but they’re not obligated tomorrow make anything new with you if you don’t have a Legends Deal.”
Rob Van Dam is among the list of WWE legends, including DDP, Victoria, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura, and Armando Estrada, who have penned WWE Legends contracts.
This past February, WWE held its Elimination Chamber PLE in Perth, Australia; the company’s first Premium Live Event in the country in over five years. The show ended with Rhea Ripley standing tall in her home country, and fans may not have to wait another five years to see a major WWE event down under.
WWE and the Cook Government are in negotiations for a potential return to Perth in 2025, according to the West Australian. While not confirmed, the expectation would be that the show would take place in the second half of next year, if these talks prove successful.
Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti added that the local government is consistently seeking unique and exclusive attractions to bring visitors to the state.
“We’re constantly pursuing these types of unique and exclusive events that attract visitors to our beautiful State, particularly ones that we know are incredibly popular like UFC and WWE.”
WWE’s reported openness to hosting another event in Australia underlines the promotion’s approach to hosting major events outside of the United States. 2024 has seen events hosted in Australia, Canada, Scotland, France, and Germany, while WWE has also hosted events in England and Wales in recent years. With continued efforts to bring WrestleMania to the UK and events being teased in countries yet to host a PLE, it’s clear that WWE’s appeal and the appeal of major events could continue to extend past North America in the years to come. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE’s Premium Live Events, both those in the United States and beyond.
Rey Mysterio and Braun Strowman are two of WWE’s top Superstars competing today and have amassed legions of fans over their respective careers. This week, the two former WWE World Champions took their star power to the world of Nascar for the South Point 400.
The two were at the event to waive the green flag and kick off the race. On Instagram, Mysterio shared his excitement to be involved alongside the Monster Among Men.
The official Nascar TikTok account also showed the excitement of the two Superstars, with Mysterio excitedly yelling “Let’s Go Racing!”
Mysterio and Strowman’s involvement at the South Point 400 only goes to show the star power of the two men outside of the ring. Both men are currently working on Monday Night Raw, though Strowman has been out of action since suffering a torn groin injury during his Last Monster Standing match with Bronson Reed in September of this year.
Mysterio recently found himself in the mix of the New Day’s teased split and was even unmasked by Xavier Woods during a match that the former King of the Ring would win. Woods later claimed that this was an accident, and has taken issue with WWE putting him alongside other unmaskers of the WWE Hall of Famer in a recent video.
Whatever the future holds for Braun and Rey in the ring, the two clearly had a blast at the Nascar South Point 400. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on both men, both in and out of the squared circle.
Country star Jelly Roll was heavily involved at this year’s WWE SummerSlam PLE and got into the ring for some action. He has thanked WWE star Austin Theory for their viral spot at the Cleveland event.
During the show, Jelly Roll performed “America The Beautiful” and his hit song “Liar.” Later in the night, he got himself inside the squared circle for some action. He not only hit chair shots but also hit the five-knuckle shuffle and a flawless chokeslam on Austin Theory.
Jelly Roll opens up on the conversation with Austin Theory
Roll recently made an appearance on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast and gave a shout-out to Austin Theory for making him look great in the viral spot at WWE SummerSlam. He even labeled Theory a “superhero” for handling the moment. He said:
“To shoot on it for a second, ’cause I haven’t gotten to do this yet, and this is where I’ve been hoping I’d get to do it. Let’s go. Austin Theory is a superhero. Yeah, he is a hero, is what he is. And I’m not in the business, so I don’t gotta carry kayfabe. Dude made me look like a rock star. I love that dude and will forever, ’cause he told me that whole night, he was like, ‘I got you, dog, trust me.’
Ahead of the event, Jelly Roll caught up with R-Truth and The Miz. They predicted which could be the top three viral moments of the night. They included their spot alongside Roman Reigns’ return and Logan Paul’s flip. He added:
“And ’cause I sat down with R-Truth and The Miz earlier in the night, and I said, ‘Look, y’all, if we do this right, we should have a top three viral moment.’ I was like, ‘Roman’s return, Logan’s flip, our Five Knuckle Shuffle and choke slam—that should be the three moments.’ Yep, it was the three moments, by the way. Dead on. And I was like, ‘If we pull this…’ and you know something you’ll appreciate about this…”
Austin Theory had previously revealed that the initial plans were different. The chokeslam was not in the plans but he convinced WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H to allow Jelly Roll to hit the chokeslam on him.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T reckoned that Zilla Fatu, who is the son of late WWE star Umaga, has a future in WWE.
During his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T advocated for Zilla Fatu, who is learning the ropes in the legend’s Reality of Wrestling. The legendary wrestler highlighted the youngster’s potential in the business and noted the challenges in his career. Booker T also talked about Fatu parting ways with GCW.
Booker T is committed to guiding Zilla Fatu for his eventual move to WWE, where a handful of his family members have thrived. He said:
“My thing is this, we concentrate on Reality of Wrestling and our thing is I can’t think about anything other than trying to get that young man, Zilla, because he’s talent, get him to the next level, and the next level for me for Zilla, is the WWE. That’s his landing zone. That’s his safe zone, the WWE and his family. I really believe that. One thing about this business is you’re going to need people that are going to watch your back because you are going to make mistakes when you’re young, and if everybody just turns their back on you, I don’t know. That’s on them, but for me, this young man has nothing but talent.”
Booker T further spoke about Fatu’s progress and made it clear that he will try his best to get him to WWE. He said:
“Has he made some mistakes? Of course. We all make mistakes, but I’m definitely going to try to get him all the way to the WWE and beyond just because he’s family. His old man is looking down on him. When he won the Reality of Wrestling Championship, his dad was looking down on him. Reality of Wrestling is Zilla Fatu’s safe zone because one thing about this business, you’re going to deal with a lot of different people, and you have to know who to trust. At Reality of Wrestling, he’s at home.”
Zilla Fatu has trained at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school and made his pro-wrestling debut at ROW Summer Of Champions IX in July last year. He is the reigning ROW Champion. He has also competed for GCW and HOG. Fatu had previously won the HOG Crown Jewel Title during the promotion’s event on July 26.
Cody Rhodes has opened up about maintaining work-life balance and what his daughter thinks he does for a living.
The Undisputed WWE Champion has taken over the role of the face of WWE since returning to the company in 2022. With Roman Reigns being on a part-time schedule, the American Nightmare is the one who fulfils all the responsibilities falling onto the shoulders of the ‘quarterback’ of the promotion.
The added pressure, however, also means that it’s much harder for him to maintain a balance between his work and personal life. Rhodes opened up about it during an appearance on Watch Fox 57 News, and revealed advice he got from Triple H:
“I think it’s a matter of….I’ve heard my boss and head of creative Triple H say ‘There is no such thing as a work life balance. You’re either working or you’re having the life moment. You’ve got to be committed to whatever it may be.’
With us, my wife having been in the industry herself. She’s really understanding of particularly the champion schedule, all the things that come with it and the fact that we have that.”
Cody Rhodes also revealed that his 3-year-old daughter Liberty doesn’t understand the full scope of his work. According to him, she only knows the business as ‘going to WrestleMania’:
“My three-year-old, she only knows what I do as WrestleMania cause that was the first show she went to. So she’s [like] ‘Going to WrestleMania?’ [I’m like] ‘Yep’ ‘Going to WrestleMania?’ Every week.
For [me] to slowly start to see her uncover the business is going to be unique. Because I don’t know if I know how to explain it to her yet. I don’t know. Right now it’s just colorful lights and entrances. She hasn’t seen a full match yet.”
The WWE Champion is scheduled to compete at the upcoming Crown Jewel PPV from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 2. He will be taking on fellow World Champion Gunther in a rare champion vs champion match.
WWE has had its share of questionable angles and segments, from Katie Vick to Kurt Angle & Sharmell. In 2016, one segment left a current AEW star feeling very uncomfortable but was thankfully changed before it made it to TV.
In the Rolling Stone article ‘Inside the WWE Writers Room, ‘A Kingdom Ruled by Fear’, the publication delves deep into the environment within WWE’s creative team. One example given comes from a segment planned for the January, 18, 2016, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw that aired on Martin Luther King Day.
Former creative team member Michael Leonardi recalled working on a segment that would have featured Mark Henry, Titus O’Neill, R-Truth, and Neville (now AEW’s Pac.) Leonardi described how the original script had Neville, a white wrestler, say, “I’ve got a dream too, and that dream is to win the Royal Rumble,” a direct reference to Dr. King’s iconic speech.
Neville felt incredibly uncomfortable about delivering the line. Due to time constraints and the fact that they were in the middle of taping, Leonardi made a quick adjustment to the script. Instead of Neville, the line was reassigned to R-Truth. This change happened on the fly, and the segment aired as planned.
This is just one of many examples of how WWE under Vince McMahon sparked controversies, often with the writing team being forced to work with ideas they did not personally agree with. Last year, a former writer alleged that several racist and offensive storylines were pitched, including Mansoor being responsible for 9/11. Now, McMahon’s is gone from WWE, and for those on the creative team, they’re likely breathing a heavy sign of relief that the 79-year-old’s era is a thing of the past.
Posted October 19th, 2024 in WWE, AEW. Tagged: PAC.
The work culture of World Wrestling Entertainment has been under scrutiny since Janel Grant filed her lawsuit against former Chairman Vince McMahon. Now more former employees have spoken up about unfair treatment during their time in the company.
Rolling Stone recently published a piece giving insight into the chaotic writer’s room under Vince’s leadership. Several former writers described the day-to-day hardships of working in the challenging environment in detail, including one saying that WWE is a ‘kingdom ruled by fear.’
The women who ended up a part of the mostly male-dominated space say that they became hyper-aware of their gender because of how they were treated. On the condition of anonymity, one former female writer claimed that she was touched inappropriately by her colleagues:
“They would touch me where they would have me come closer [to them], they would pull me by my waist to come somewhere or move closer to them. I’m just super aware that it’s kind of close to my butt and most people don’t touch me by the waist ever. I thought, ‘This is strange.’”
While this behavior was not explicitly sexual, the female employee says that it felt like a means of controlling her in a way that didn’t happen to male writers.
Another former writer revealed that she was fired from her position when she complained to HR. When enough female writers complained about the treatment, a Zoom call was held by the leadership in 2020. While the writers were encouraged to speak on their issues, the leadership was ultimately dismissive of their problems.
The Zoom call was followed by an in-person meeting with the entire writer’s room. The leadership there allegedly told everyone not to go HR if they had any problems in the future and that they were acting like ‘middle schoolers.’
When asked about the allegations made into the Janel Grant lawsuit back in January, WWE’s current head of creative Triple H had told reporters that he didn’t want to get ‘bogged down’ by the negative and focus on the positives instead.
One former writer told Rolling Stone that they don’t believe there will be any major changes in the overall work culture of the company despite the leadership change. They said that there are ‘a lot of people complicit’ in continuing this culture and they don’t have faith that it can be undone overnight.
The October 18, edition of WWE SmackDown featured some huge names appear including Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Nia Jax, and the debuting Motor City Machine Guns. Michael Cole was not part of the broadcast in a rare absence for the voice of WWE and now more has come to light about his hiatus.
Without Cole around, Monday Night Raw’s Wade Barrett filled in behind the announce desk alongside Corey Graves. While speaking to Sal Licata of WFAN recently, Cole shared that he was taking a 10-day vacation in Cozumel, Mexico with his family.
“I’m actually leaving tomorrow for Cozumel, Mexico, for a 10-day family vacation with the entire family and grandkids.“
On SmackDown, Graves explained Cole’s absence by saying he was away on a ‘special assignment.’ After filling in for Cole, Barrett shared that he’s curious as to what this assignment was for the veteran broadcaster.
Despite my male-resting-bitch-face, I had a lot of fun being back on #SmackDown last night.
This week marks the third time Michael Cole has missed an episode of WWE programming throughout his 27-year career with the company. Cole missed Monday Night Raw’s season premiere in October 2023 due to a personal commitment. Before that, he missed a show back in September 2017 to attend his son’s wedding.
Michael Cole’s WWE Future
With Cole signing a new contract with WWE earlier this year, fans can expect much more of him in the future, despite his absence this week. Cole is set to reunite with Pat McAfee in January 2025 once the popular sports broadcaster returns to WWE after hosting College GameDay. That same month, WWE Raw will move to Netflix, marking a new era in broadcasting for the red brand, one that Michael Cole will be a part of.
Samantha Irvin’s time as a WWE Raw ring announcer has come to end, via a lengthy statement shared on social media. On Instagram, Irvin shared her news and had plenty of thanks to those who have helped her along the way.
WWE Universe, my time has come to an end as your Monday Night Raw Ring Announcer. I love you all tremendously and this does not mark the end of my art, I have a lifetime more to share. Thank you to every WWE fan who accepted me.
To the Women’s Locker Room: you are the most incredible group of people on the face of this Earth. I am beyond proud to be your colleague and friend.
To the Crew & Cameramen: I can’t thank you enough for the encouragement, the laughs. You created such a wonderful positive atmosphere for me. Love you all.
To the WWE Superstars, past and present: I have thank you since 1989 and will continue to thank you for the rest of my days for entertaining us. For raising the bar over and over again. For risking your bodies and finding new ways to keep us shocked and wanting more. There is no form of entertainment like this and not just any entertainer can be a wwe Superstar. The respect I have for you is more than I can express. Thank you for making it so easy to pour emotion and excitement into your introductions. You are the stars that the stars idolize. It doesn’t get any bigger and I’m proud to have used my voice to let the world know it.
Thank you Paul Heyman, Michael PS Hayes & Michael Cole. I will continue to apply what I learned from you to every aspect of my career. Thank you for invigorating my creativity.
Thank you Brian ‘Road Dogg’ James, Scott Armstrong, Gabe Sapolsky, and George Carroll Jr. for giving me my first opportunities to rise to the occasion.
Thank you to HHH for trusting me and showcasing me on this platform.
Thank you Mark Henry for giving me my big break. I hope I made you proud.
Thank you to all the Coaches, Producers, Medical, Writers, Talent Relations, Makeup, Photography, Social Media, Digital, Travel, Department, Catering, Merch, 2K Team, Referees, Security and Announce Team for everything you did to help me along the way.
To my fans, my entire career I’ve been waiting for you! We are meant to be and I can prove it. Stay tuned.
All my love! And still…
Samantha.
Many of those in the comments took Irvin’s statement as a sign of her exit, not just from the role of Raw’s announcer, but from the entire WWE. At this time, Irvin has not confirmed that she is leaving WWE, nor did she specify any role in the company outside of her recent announcing duties. Irvin has removed all references to WWE in the bio of her Instagram and X accounts.
Irvin joined WWE in 2021, initially as the ring announcer of 205 Live, but her skills behind the mic would see her moved to the main roster the following year. At this year’s WrestleMania, Irvin announced 14 matches and was praised by announcing icon Michael Buffer after the Showcase of the Immortals. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Samantha Irvin and the next chapter of her career.
