Just three and a half years after making his main-roster WWE television debut, Austin Theory has already worked with some of the biggest names in wrestling history.
The 27-year-old grappler from Atlanta, GA is the latest guest on Chris Van Vliet’s Insights podcast. Theory has been “obsessed” with WWE from a young age. He didn’t give himself a fallback plan, despite skepticism from his friends. His first break into the industry came when he met former WWE trainer Bill DeMott at an MMA gym.
Here are highlights of what he shared with CVV about working with legends including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, The Rock and John Cena.
His WrestleMania Feud with John Cena
Theory worked closely with Cena, who pushed him to be more authentic during their promo battles. He recalls it being a challenge to incorporate Cena’s feedback while staying true to his character and his instincts.
Taking a Stunner from Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania
He was honored to take a Stunner from Stone Cold at WrestleMania, and jokes that he envisioned sharing a beer with Austin backstage afterwards (didn’t happen).
Ring Moment with The Rock:
Theory says it was an unforgettable experience when he had a segment with The Rock on WWE SmackDown. He was notified about the segment at the last minute, but says he felt an almost ‘telepathic’ connection with the Final Boss, who “signaled” to him when to speak during their interaction.
Brock Lesnar F-5’ing him Off An Elimination Chamber Pod
Theory took an absolutely crazy bump at Elimination Chamber 2024, when Brock Lesnar hoisted him onto his shoulders and flung him off the top of one of the pods. He says Vince McMahon hand-picked him for the spot, and Lesnar was ‘intense and unpredictable.’
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.
During the interview, Theory was asked about the company trusting him with celebrity moments such as the segment with The Rock or his SummerSlam encounter with Jelly Roll. Talking about the latter, Austin Theory revealed that it was actually his idea for the rap star to give him a chokeslam during their interaction:
“Speaking of the Jelly Roll situation, it wasn’t going to be a choke slam. I heard little ideas of—maybe a choke slam or this—but I think a scoop slam was actually gonna be what it was. I remember being in the ring with everybody and going to Triple H, being like, ‘Hey, just trust me on this. Let him give me a choke slam; I’ll make it look amazing. All he has to do is put his arm up.’ Sure enough man, we went out there, and it looked amazing. It trended like crazy; it was all over the place.”
While some other people would take being booked in spots like these negatively, Austin Theory keeps a positive mindset. According to him, his focus is always on what the company needs from him because it’s the place he’s always wanted to be in:
“But it’s just understanding that job, of what you need to do that night. I think always understanding why I’m doing something—ok is this gonna help this. Is this what we’re trying to do for the company right now and the position they’re putting me in—And I’m just, I’m all in. I’m never like, ‘Ah,’ or disappointed in stuff like that.
I have a huge opportunity; I got a moment. It’s the WWE— it’s the place I’ve wanted to be my entire life. There’s not one other place I’d ever go. This is it. So, I’m locked in, man. So whatever the opportunity is at the moment, or whoever the guy is—it doesn’t matter if it’s The Rock or Jelly Roll—it doesn’t matter. I’m all in.”
Austin Theory and Greyson Waller are scheduled to compete at the upcoming October 8 episode of NXT. They will challenge Nathan Frazer & Axiom for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Austin Theory says the new WWE regime is allowing wrestlers to be truly creative with their characters.
A number of WWE stars have spoken positively about the creative changes from Vince McMahon to Triple H regime. Names such as Becky Lynch, Randy Orton and Sami Zayn have explained that the new regime is thinking months in advance and they have long-term plans for everything that you see on TV.
Another aspect of this conversation is allowing talent to have input in their own characters. Austin Theory spoke up about it during an interview with Battlegrounds podcast, saying that the creative process now is very hands-on:
“I would have to say, man, with the creative process now, it’s very hands-on. There’s a lot of opportunity for us superstars to make tweaks, make changes, have our own ideas and them not be shut down; them actually having the opportunity to be looking at and say, ‘Well, maybe we could go somewhere with this.’ Or, ‘Ah, that’s not really the plan, but that might have something to it.’
So, it’s very hands-on, but it’s also very, it being the creative – it’s very creative for all of us. Because we’re all being able to create. When it comes to what we do as sports entertainers, professional wrestlers, is showing our art. So, that creativity is so important for us to have in our own hands. And I feel that way now that we do have it.
Austin Theory is currently involved in a tag team with Greyson Waller. The duo known as A Town Down Under previously won the SmackDown tag team championship which was renamed to the WWE Tag Team Championship during their reign.
Waller and Theory are scheduled to compete at the upcoming October 8 episode of NXT. They will challenge Nathan Frazer & Axiom for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Austin Theory has quickly become one of WWE’s fastest-rising young stars since debuting on the main roster in 2020. As his profile continues to grow, many fans are curious about the details of Theory’s WWE contract, including its rumored expiration date and other key information.
Here, we examine what is currently known about Austin Theory’s WWE deal and contract status.
Austin Theory’s WWE Career So Far
NXT Beginnings
Austin Theory first signed with WWE in August 2019, joining the NXT brand. He made his NXT television debut in December 2019 and quickly became a featured performer on the then-black-and-gold brand.
Main Roster Call-Up
In April 2020, Theory was called up to the main roster as part of the RAW brand. He aligned himself with Seth Rollins and became involved in high-profile storylines right away.
Rise to Prominence
Over the past few years, Theory has steadily risen up the card in WWE. Some of his major accomplishments so far include:
Winning the United States Championship
Capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2022
Feuding with top stars like John Cena and Seth Rollins
Becoming one of the youngest WWE champions ever at age 25
Rumored Details of Austin Theory’s WWE Contract
While WWE does not publicly disclose the specifics of talent contracts, some details about Theory’s deal have been reported by other wrestling news outlets.
It’s important to note that this information is based on rumors and reports, not officially confirmed facts.
Rumored Contract Length
According to reports, Austin Theory likely signed a standard 3-5 year contract when he first joined WWE in 2019. This would put his original contract expiration sometime between 2022-2024.
However, given Theory’s rapid push and success on the main roster, it’s very possible WWE has already signed him to a contract extension or new long-term deal. The company typically tries to lock up rising stars to longer contracts.
Estimated Salary
While Theory’s exact salary is not public knowledge, estimates based on comparable WWE talent contracts suggest he is likely earning between $250,000 – $500,000 per year as base pay.
This does not include bonuses, merchandise royalties, and other potential income sources. As Theory continues to be featured more prominently, his salary will likely increase substantially with future contract negotiations.
Rumored Expiration Date
IF Theory did sign a standard 3-year deal in 2019, his original contract may have been set to expire in late 2022. However, there have been no credible reports of Theory’s contract actually expiring or him becoming a free agent anytime soon.
The most likely scenario is that WWE has already extended Theory’s contract or signed him to a new multi-year deal, potentially running through 2025 or beyond. The company clearly views him as a major star for the future. We will update this page as and when details of his contract status become more readily available.
Several WWE superstars (and one former talent) are the next contestants on Celebrity Family Feud. The latest WWE installment of the show airs this Tuesday, August 20, on ABC at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT and will also stream on Hulu. The episode features men vs. women, with Bobby Lashley, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford), Austin Theory, and LA Knight taking on Mia Yim, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, and Sonya Deville.
The episode was taped back on April 13. At the time, Lashley was in a faction with The Street Profits as The Pride and was coming off a win over The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam & Rezar) at WrestleMania 40 on April 7. His last televised match was a loss alongside Santos Escobar to LA Knight in a triple-threat match on the April 12 episode of Friday Night Smackdown.
Another notable example of the episode being taped is that Theory is pictured with the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship. He and his partner Grayson Waller would lose the titles to DIY(Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) during Friday Night Smackdown on July 12.
The upcoming Celebrity Family Feud will give fans a different look at the WWE superstars outside the ring as they compete to answer the right questions. However, Lashley’s appearance in the episode will remind wrestling viewers that he is no longer with the company and put a spotlight on him as he enters free agency.
Bobby Lashley’s Next Moves
Lashley’s contract with WWE expired on August 16. He and his former Hurt Business ally, MVP, were moved to the company’s alumni section. In an Instagram post on the day of his WWE departure, Lashley shared a video of him working out with the caption,
“Every day is a new opportunity to push the limits and show the world what you are made of. I’ve got so much fight left in me, and I’m just getting started.”
Both are currently available to sign with any promotion with the expectation by fans that they will work together. It was also revealed that a company linked to MVP named Totally Harmless Concept, LLC, recently registered the trademark The Hurt Syndicate. Lashley is dealing with an arm injury but has openly shared that he wants to continue his wrestling career.
Time will tell who Lashley will compete for next. However, his appearance on Celebrity Family Feud gives him more exposure as he navigates free agency.
The current era of WWE is proving to be better than the much-acclaimed Attitude Era, at least according to WWE Tag Team Champion Austin Theory.
WWE officially launched its ‘new era’ at WrestleMania 40, though this came months after Vince McMahon’s second resignation from the promotion in January 2024. With the 78-year-old billionaire no longer around, production changes have been well-received by fans as have the storylines we see on TV.
Speaking to the Battleground Podcast, Austin Theory had plenty of praise for the current era which he believes has surpassed the Attitude Era.
“We do all these things, and every show is packed. Even when I’m just doing meet-and-greets, like in Australia, I did one where 300 people came to see me in the middle of a mall. WWE is at an all-time high now, and you can’t deny it. I think we’ve surpassed the Attitude Era. This era has solidified a new world of professional wrestling.”
Theory went on to describe Triple H as “The Man” and appreciates the “innovative” ideas of WWE’s Chief Content Officer. The former U.S. Champion also praised the passion of everyone in WWE today and believes that with Triple H ‘”in the pilot seat” that there’s no stopping WWE.
It’s hard to ignore the success of the current era of WWE. In November 2023, it was reported that the average attendance of WWE events have now matched the Attitude Era attendance. WWE is certainly making far more money now than it did during the era of the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks in part to its lucrative TV deals and relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
WWE 2K24 is set to have the first batch of downloadable content on May 15. The popular video game series will have five DLC packs, which fans can purchase together in a season pass for $39.99. In preparation for next week’s release, WWE 2K24 has shared a first look at ECW legend The Sandman.
The upcoming DLC titled the ECW Punk Pack features The Sandman, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley), Terry Funk, and CM Punk as playable characters. It will mark the first time they will be playable in the last few years, including The Sandman, who hasn’t been in a WWE video game since Smackdown vs. Raw 2008.
WWE 2K24’s X/Twitter account previewed a first look and the entrance for The Sandman.
Although the hardcore icon character model looks good, his appearance resembles his time in WWE. Fans may be disappointed that his signature ECW theme, Enter Sandman by Metallica, isn’t featured in his entrance. It’s also noticeable that the ECW legend doesn’t come to the ring from the crowd in the game.
The Sandman is rated 86 in WWE 2K24
It’s unclear why WWE 2K developers didn’t include The Sandman’s signature entrance in their latest installment. Alongside the first look at the hardcore legend, WWE 2K24 revealed that he has an 86 overall. The Sandman’s stats come as a surprise, with the ECW icon having better numbers than current WWE superstars.
The Sandman’s Overall Compared To Current WWE Superstars In The Game
The Sandman’s high overall may surprise some fans compared to active WWE talent featured in the game. WWE 2K24 has the former ECW World Heavyweight Champion rated higher than the likes of AJ Styles (85), Chad Gable (80), and Austin Theory (72). He also has a better overall than other WWE Hall of Famers featured in the game, like Booker T (85) and Harley Race (84).
SEScoops’ Thomas Lowson transcribed the following quotes.
“For us on the design side, we’re really big on character differentiation and making sure that when you select a character that they are of their appropriate hierarchy on the card. Not everybody can be a Roman Reigns. You have people that are at the tippety top of the card and then you have people that are not, but there’s no slight on anybody,” said Williams.
Williams also noted how many championships a wrestler has held and their win/loss record were considered when making the decision.
It’s unclear why the WWE 2K developers felt The Sandman should have a better overall than several top current talent and legends. However, fans of the ECW legend will soon get a chance to put his overall to the test next week.
Austin Theory is already chalking out massive plans for WrestleMania 41. He has not only put The Rock on notice for ‘The Show of Shows’ but also wants to dethrone the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Theory told Lucas Charpiot of Ten Count Media that he believes The Rock interrupted him to be important and famous again. He said that he got better of The Rock but the wrestling legend attacked him as he felt “insecure.”
“Dwayne showed up, but not to save Pat McAfee. Dwayne showed up because he wanted to be famous again, he wanted to be important in WWE. So who did he interrupt? Austin Theory. Then what happened? I put him in his place. Then I did something that nobody has ever done. I stole his catchphrase, and I hit him with it, and I hit him with it before he could hit me with it. So then what? He got insecure, he started freaking out. He started doing the weird Rock stuff. Then he hit me with an elbow. That’s what happened.”
He eventually stated if ‘The Final Boss’ wants to fight him, he is all set to lock horns with him at WrestleMania 41. He said:
“So what now? ‘The Final Boss’ wants Austin Theory, and Austin Theory will fight ‘The Final Boss’ at WrestleMania 41. Is that what they want?”
Theory takes a jab at Cody Rhodes
He furthermore took a shot at Cody Rhodes and labeled him “goof.” One half of the WWE Tag Team Champions said that he wants to dethrone ‘The American Nightmare.’ He said:
“I just gotta take this title from this goof [points to picture of Cody Rhodes]? Is that it? I just gotta make a story up? That’s it? Alright, then that’s what I’ll do.”
On this week’s SmackDown, Austin Theory and Grayson Waller successfully defended their tag team titles against The Street Profits in their first televised title defense.
WWE is set to make a major announcement regarding next year’s WrestleMania and many believe the location of the event will be revealed.
Once SmackDown went off the air, there were not one, but two matches still on tap for the WWE fans in Pittsburgh, PA.
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory were presented with the new WWE Tag Team Championships on Friday night, which gave them the opportunity to not shake Triple H’s hand during the reveal. The champs did happen to stick around for the fatal four way tag match between New Catch Republic, The Street Profits, AOP, and Legado Del Fantasma to see Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins become the number one contenders.
Waller and Theory’s night was not done however as the new champs had to put their new hardware on the line against Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. Popular Pittsburgh Steeler, Cam Heyward happened to be sitting behind commentary and Waller was quick to talk smack on the mic to the big defensive lineman.
Mysterio then grabbed the stick and made it clear that he and Dragon Lee had a different agenda.
“Let me give you a little update, you don’t want to show [the titles to them] it’s all good. Once we take those titles, we’ll bring them over there to them.”
— Dominic DeAngelo | 1TS (@DominicDeAngelo) April 20, 2024
Waller and Theory continued the smack talk during their first title defense as both jaw-jacked with kids at ringside. Lee and Mysterio almost got the victory when Rey just about hit the 619 but the heel duo got the definitive three count on the WWE Hall of Famer to retain.
A “Steel City Street Fight” Also Takes Place
Even though Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee didn’t come out victorious, fans were still anticipating a “Steel City Street Fight” Between Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross. Kross and Lashley slugged it out but it was “The All Mighty” getting the W when he speared Kross through a table and got the 1-2-3.
The WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship belts have officially been retired, with the new WWE Tag Team Titles being introduced on the 4/19 WWE SmackDown.
The new championship designs are a throwback to the original WWE Tag Team Championship design that proved immensely popular with fans. No doubt this new championship design will only help solidify that this is a new era, one in which the fans feel they are being listened to.
While A-Town Down Under were pleased to receive the new gold, they pushed their luck with Triple H. The pair continued to taunt the Game which resulted in SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis stepping in and threatening to deal with the pair personally.
New Challengers
With new WWE Tag Team Championship titles, there was also a need for new challengers. Immediately after this presentation, a four-way tag-team match saw The Street Profits overcome New Catch Republic, Legado del Fantasma and The Authors of Pain to become the No. 1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Titles. The Profits are one of three teams to have held the Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Tag Team titles are are now eager to add another pair of belts to their collection.
The Superstars of WWE will be able to flex their game-show muscles as part of an upcoming episode of Celebrity Family Feud.
Taking to Twitter, Bianca Belair shared some photos from the taping and revealed that she is the captain of her team which consists of Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega.
The quintet of women will be up against Belair’s husband Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight.
In a tweet of his own, Austin Theory was his usual cocky self at the Celebrity Family Feud taping.
It’s also worth noticing that Sonya Deville was part of the taping and did not need any sort of leg brace. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion has been out of action since June 2023 with an ACL injury, and the fact that she was able to do this taping unimpeded suggests that a return to the ring may be in the near future.
WWE On Game Shows
WWE appearances on Family Feud date as far back as 1992. In 2022, Rey Mysterio led a team of his family against The Miz. Team Mysterio would feature Dominik mere months before he turned on his Hall of Fame father to join The Judgment Day.
WWE Superstars have also appeared on The Weakest Link, with Triple H, Kane, and Xavier Woods proving their mental superiority in separate episodes. Superstars have also appeared on Wheel of Fortune.
The fact that WWE Superstars are set to appear on the show is another sign of the promotion’s ongoing popularity in the mainstream. With WWE firing on all cylinders right now, expect more big moves by the Superstars both in and out of the ring.
AEW is set to air footage from CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl and WWE star Grayson Waller couldn’t resist a little trolling on social media. Waller referenced tonight’s highly-publicized release of AEW All In footage by teasing a scandalous video of his own.
Waller claims he and SmackDown tag team champion partner Austin Theory recently beat ip the entire WWE locker room backstage and the whole thing was captured on video.
Later today, I’m going to share exclusive security camera footage of myself and @_Theory1 beating up the entire WWE locker room backstage.
It’s time the world knows how tough the Smackdown Tag Champs really are!
There are several pro wrestlers from WWE, AEW and beyond who have proven to be experts and hurtling insults online. Waller recently took aim at NXT star Lexis King and compared the second generation star to the infamous Tiger King.
SEScoops published an in-depth article about the footage that AEW will air on the 4/10 episode of Dynamite, including all the supporting information for this controversial chain of events.
It seemed highly unlikely that the AEW All In footage would ever see the light of day, Tony Khan has doubled-down on his pledge to deliver what fans are expecting.
Naturally, the pro wrestling world is giving this situation a lot of attention, and that includes those in WWE.
The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships are no longer thanks to the six-pack tag-team ladder match at WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday.
The match was the second of the night at WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday and was presented by Wheatley American Vodka. The match began with both the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships being hoisted separately, leaving fans speculating that the titles would be split up.
This theory was all but confirmed when R-Truth suggested that he and The Miz go for the SmackDown Tag Titles and leave DIY to go for the Raw Tag Tea, Championships. Neither team would be able to grab the gold though. Instead, it was Grayson Waller who captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, and Samantha Irvin confirmed that A-Town Down Under officially were the champs of the blue brand.
This win marks the first Tag Title Championships for A-Town Down Under. It also marks Waller’s first championship victory in WWE and Theory’s first taste of gold since holding the WWE United States Championship in 2022.
New Raw Tag Team Champions
With the SmackDown Tag Team Titles captured, all attention turned towards the Raw Tag Team Championships. In the end, Awesome Truth captured the gold, ending the reign of the Judgment Day. This win marked the first tag title win for Awesome Truth as a team, though both men have held tag gold with other partners in the past. This was also Truth’s first win at a WrestleMania.
WWE Superstars have a lot of power to influence others, and Joey Swoll wants them to do better, especially Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. The popular social media influencer, who boasts 7.5 million followers on TikTok, wants to teach them a lesson.
Austin Theory and Grayson Waller found themselves as the target for some very passionate fans. Joey Swoll unleashed his viral army on them, and things took a very drastic turn in a hurry.
How It Started
Joey Swoll has a strong online presence, and he does great work with his influencer status. He is known for showing off videos of people making a fool of themselves in public, most notably at the gym, and he then tells them off after the clip before saying they should “do better” and “mind your business.” He really is worth a follow, because he’s always trying to spread a positive message.
When Swoll saw a video of Grayson Waller and Austin Theory being real punks at the gym, he had to say something. In the video, the WWE duo berate someone for walking into their shot during a workout.
Swoll launched into one of his trademark videos, where he said that even WWE Superstars can get a piece of his stern teachings. It seems that Joey already tried to address this with Theory, and that led to Austin saying he wants to smack the sh*t out of the influencer. Swoll then said that Theory “doesn’t want this smoke.”
In the end, Swoll said that he would be happy to end Theory’s career. He told WWE to make it happen, and we’re really hoping something gets booked.
Grayson Waller’s notifications were apparently bombarded by replies from Joey Swoll’s fan base, even though Swoll’s beef was mostly with Austin Theory. The Swoll Army is passionate about wanting people to do better and mind their business, so they flooded Waller’s DMs with angry messages.
The Grayson Waller Effect host then proceeded to read a ton of those DMs before making a video, where he tore into Joey Swoll’s fans and the buff influencer.
The truth is that Waller and Theory are very good at internetting and using social media to drive home their obnoxious characters. So, there’s a very good chance that the video was staged. Either way, this resulted in an online feud that we didn’t know we needed until it happened.
Stay tuned to see if Joey Swoll has any comment. As of this writing, he has not responded to Grayson Waller burying his Swoll Army. SEScoops will have more updates on this story, and many more, so keep checking back.
WrestleMania 40 will be here before we know it, but the card is always subject to change. It appears that the tag team match for the Undisputed Titles may see an alteration in the next week.
The grandest stage of them all is set to take over Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7, 2024. Some tickets still remain for the show.
Although Grayson Waller and Austin Theory won their match to secure the final two spots in the multi-team ladder match for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 40, they might get pulled from the match. WWE is reportedly having a meeting about that this week.
WrestleMania 40 Possible Change
The WWE WrestleMania 40 card is being finalized just a week ahead of the event. The six-pack ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, is set to feature Finn Balor & Damian Priest, Team #DIY, Awesome Truth, The New Day, Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, and Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
During Friday’s SmackDown, the final two spots in the ladder match were secured. Waller and Theory emerged victorious against The Street Profits, earning their place in the match. Similarly, Dunne & Bate defeated Angel & Humberto in a qualifying tournament to secure their spot in the bout.
During his discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned an upcoming meeting to determine if Waller and Theory will stay in the match at WrestleMania 40. The reasons for their potential removal and the possible replacements remain unclear, but this is apparently something they are discussing.
“By the way, even though Theory and Waller won. It is not necessarily that they’re going to be in that match. They might be. There is a meeting upcoming where they will make a decision on that.”
Additional WrestleMania Festivities
WWE is planning a packed WrestleMania kick off event at the Wells Fargo Center on April 5th. There are also plenty of activities to keep fans engaged throughout the whole weekend.
On April 5, both SmackDown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will also be hosted at the Wells Fargo Center. WrestleMania 40 itself will unfold at the Lincoln Financial Field on April 6 and April 7.
Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson are among the inductees in this year’s Hall of Fame class.
Additionally, it was announced during SmackDown that Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, CM Punk, Big E, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett will be leading WWE’s Countdown to WrestleMania pre-shows ahead of both nights of WrestleMania 40. These pre-shows will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 and April 7, with the main events kicking off at 7 p.m. Eastern on each night.
WWE WrestleMania 40 Card (So Far):
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Tag team match – Night 1
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship – Night 2
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: TBD match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – Night 2
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn: Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory: Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens: Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
SEScoops will have more on WrestleMania 40, and everything surrounding the big event. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
WWE Superstars are able to perform incredible feats in the ring, but you only get one take for live television. This week’s SmackDown saw Austin Theory’s timing off a bit, and fans let him have it.
The March 15th episode of SmackDown got fans talking for many reasons. During WWE Smackdown on March 15th, 2024, Kevin Owens delivered a stunner to Austin Theory, who then received an RKO in mid-air. The spot received criticism online for its timing issues, and Austin Theory had to chime in.
Austin Theory understands the business, and he also knows how to use social media. He explained this botch after his appearance on SmackDown this week, as he said he was dizzy.
It seems that Austin Theory thought he could jump over Owens and Orton to avoid any further damage, but he was wrong. An RKO came outta nowhere for Theory, and he took both finishers. So, he wasn’t late on selling the stunner at all, apparently.
Theory explained this in a video on social media, one that he shared on social media along with #SmackDown. Obviously, he realized that fans were dunking on his timing a bit, so he had to explain himself.
Austin Theory doesn’t have a match at WrestleMania 40 just yet, but only time will tell where he ends up on the card. He’s stepping up in a big way, proving himself to be a real asset to Triple H, and that’s exactly why he has the spot he does in WWE.
Theory was also groomed for greatness as one of EVOLVE’s biggest talents years ago. He ended up in NXT, where he had a couple stints, but now he is one of the most hated heels on the WWE main roster, exactly where he should be. Hopefully, fans will let that hesitation on selling the stunner pass, because Austin Theory has plenty of memories to make in the future.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, just in case there are any updates on this story. Keep checking back for more of the headlines that you need.
Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes endured a scary sequence of events on the January 12 episode of WWE SmackDown.
The moment in question occurred when Theory looked to hit Hayes with an Avalanche Spanish Fly from the top rope. Unfortunately, both competitors seemed to awkwardly land on their heads, which prompted the referee to signal for an immediate match stop.
While there was initial concern about possible concussions, both Hayes and Theory turned out to be okay, later facing off in a rematch two weeks later.
Injury Scare
In a recent interview with The West Australian, Theory provided more details on his injury scare, revealing that it was Hayes’ foot accidentally hitting the top rope that caused their awkward descent. Luckily, both men were ultimately able to walk away with minimal damage.
“In this scenario with Carmelo Hayes, [I was] going for a move I’ve done plenty of times. Just so happens as we’re going through the rotation, if you go back and look, the back of his foot as he’s rotating off, hits the top rope. So all the momentum of us rotating, when his foot hits, it takes us straight down,” Theory said.
“Just based off of the video, it looks insane. And to be honest, after that, I seriously could have been paralyzed or my career could have been done. I could have been seriously hurt, broke my neck. There’s so many factors, but luckily as we came down, for some reason, I let go to catch myself and I turned my head all the way to the left.”
“When we landed, the back of his head hit my face pretty hard, but when we were laying there, I was fine. I didn’t feel like rocked or lost or that feeling of ‘Oh, what’s going on you?’ I felt fine, but at the same time, that’s such a a scary moment, especially when you’re out there and something goes wrong and doesn’t feel right. Then seeing the video footage back of myself upside down literally on the top of my head — Wow. Very grateful for that.”
Coming off of this close call, Theory added that the Avalanche Spanish Fly is now officially retired from his moveset. While Theory was fortunate to avoid a concussion, he did note that his face was “pretty sore” from the impact of Hayes’ head colliding with his face.
WWE is concentrated on the Australian market right now, as Elimination Chamber is going down in Perth on February 24th. That comes with a fair amount of media for those Superstars, and it seems that one interview did not go well at all.
Austin Theory Puts His Foot Down
During an interview with The West Australian in anticipation of the upcoming premium live event in Australia, Austin Theory found himself in a heated exchange. The conversation was initially casual, but things took a serious turn when the editor-in-chief of The West Australian, Anthony De Ceglie, made some disrespectful remarks about wrestling.
De Ceglie went as far as to assert that wrestling lacked the toughness found in Australian Rules football or Rugby League. This remark deeply offended Theory, prompting him to abandon his on-screen persona and react angrily to defend the pro wrestling business.
“You brought me here and you’re going to talk to me like this? Just cause you’re in charge of some sh*t doesn’t mean you can talk to me like this. You’re saying what I do is easy and you’re in front of all of your people talking about my job is easy … you couldn’t walk a damn day in my shoes. Are you kidding me man? I will smack the sh*t outta you right now. I’m not playing around. Y’all bring me all the way out here for some media and this guy is talking his f*cking head off. What’s his problem?”
Security intervened to defuse the escalating tension between Theory and the journalist, ensuring the situation did not get out of hand. Things certainly escalated quickly.
Repeated History
This is interesting, because just a month ago, Theory’s partner, Grayson Waller, had a confrontation with a production assistant on an Australian morning talk show for disrespecting him.
The hosts of the show requested that Waller, who was with LA Knight for the interview, perform his finishing move on someone. He didn’t appreciate the sentiment. Now, a similar incident has surfaced just before Elimination Chamber 2024.
During the January 12th episode of WWE SmackDown, the bout between Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes was interrupted by the referee. This interruption occurred following an incident during an Avalanche Spanish Fly from the top turnbuckle, causing both wrestlers to land awkwardly. There was some worry about Carmelo Hayes and Austin Theory, but now we have it all sorted out.
In an announcement, Theory shared that this upcoming Friday, despite being a busy individual, he took the time to discuss his schedule with Grayson Waller, who expressed sympathy, recognizing the challenges Theory faces and the extensive commitments he manages.
Theory pointed out the lack of understanding from internet “keyboard warriors” criticizing his work ethic. Despite Grayson suggesting pulling him out of the match, Theory declined, asserting his identity as Mr. All Day. He then confirmed that he will be in Miami for SmackDown this Friday.
“I was like, ‘Hey man, you know all these keyboard warriors on the internet, in their mom’s basement, eating cheese sticks all day, they don’t know a day of hard work. They just go ‘you don’t have potential, you don’t have what it takes’, but you know what, they have the ability to know how it looks to be a damn bean bag chair, so congrats to them.”
“But Grayson was like ‘you know what, let’s get you out of this match’, and I said no, because I’m Mr. All Day. So, I’m going to be there on Friday in Miami, and Carmelo (Hayes), you keep saying you’re him, you’re him, well, guess what? When all the greats come back they want to be in the ring with me, they want their 15 seconds of fame, and I give it to them, and that’s a fact because I’m Austin Theory.”
Hayes returned to WWE NXT television without missing a beat. He teamed with Trick Williams as scheduled, as the two carry on in the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
After asking around, I was told that the referee expressed concern for both Theory and Hayes after the spot went wrong. It wasn’t a matter of one being more affected than the other.
Additionally, it was said that the “referee believed both were hurt and followed the correct protocol by ringing the bell and requesting medical assistance.”
The WWE commentary team also commended the referee for swift decision-making, highlighting the priority placed on Superstar safety in this situation. Thankfully, both Theory and Hayes are okay now.
WWE Superstars are professionals, but they aren’t perfect. Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes’ match on SmackDown last week ended suddenly, but thankfully, they are both okay now.
Carmelo Hayes & Austin Theory’s Scary Botched Spot
On the January 12th episode of WWE SmackDown, the match featuring Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes was halted by the referee due to an incident during an Avalanche Spanish Fly from the top turnbuckle that resulted in both wrestlers landing awkwardly.
The referee, signaling the “X” position to indicate a potential injury, decided to wave off the match. Reports indicated that facial contusions were sustained by both wrestlers as a consequence of the spot.
Bryan Alvarez shared an update on Wrestling Observer Radio, suggesting that Austin Theory entered medical protocol, hinting at a potentially more significant impact from the incident.
Carmelo Hayes previously made his SmackDown debut towards the end of the preceding year, participating in the WWE United States Championship No.1 Contenders Tournament.
His return to the blue brand occurred in a backstage segment, discussing Royal Rumble chances with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, leading to a confrontation with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller and ultimately setting up the match between Hayes and Theory later in the show.
Hayes is currently booked with Trick Williams in a team as they take on the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. That storyline is getting a big spotlight in NXT, as it should.
Exclusive Insight On Austin Theory & Carmelo Hayes’ Botched Spot
I was told by a tenured member of the WWE team that the referee was actually concerned about both Theory and Hayes after that botches spot. It was not one more than the other.
I was further told that the “referee thought they were both hurt and did the proper protocol by calling for the bell and calling for the doctor.”
WWE’s commentary team also praised the referee in this instance for his quick decision-making, as they put an emphasis on keeping Superstar safety at the forefront.
WWE takes their talent’s safety very seriously, especially in today’s climate where there is such a microscope on them. During the January 12th episode of SmackDown, one match needed to be called off abruptly after a botched spot.
During the recent episode of SmackDown, a match involving Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes encountered a mishap, prompting the officials to halt the proceedings. Things were going well at first, but the referee wasted no time calling for the bell after they both went crashing awkwardly to the mat.
During the match, Theory and Hayes pulled off a maneuver from the top rope, but the execution didn’t unfold as intended. Both wrestlers landed unsafely, and the referee ended the match. It looked like they were trying for a Spanish fly-type move, but it did not end well.
Post-landing, Hayes remained motionless, while Theory did stir a bit more than the former NXT Champion. They were concerned on commentary, but commended the official for calling off the contest in rapid fashion.
Grayson Waller swiftly entered the ring, accompanied by WWE medical personnel, to attend to the situation. They did not provide any updates, but did say that they would be posted when made available.
This is a very new situation, so we have no prognosis at this time. We will update this article accordingly whenever we hear any updates.
Hayes has a match booked for NXT next week. Set for the upcoming NXT episode are two more matchups in the 2024 NXT Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic Tournament. The scheduled matches feature Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams facing off against Malik Blade & Edris Enofe, along with a clash between Chase U and LWO.
WWE Update on Austin Theory & Carmelo Hayes
WWE has issued a statement to update fans about the situation following the sudden match conclusion on SmackDown.
both wrestlers sustained face contusions. It seems that is the only damage they sustained, so both Melo and Theory will be okay.
UPDATE: Following their match tonight on #SmackDown, @_Theory1 and @Carmelo_WWE were evaluated for injuries. They both suffered face contusions, and will both be okay.
Carmelo Hayes also updated fans after that scary spot. He didn’t use any words, but the animated gif of The Undertaker springing out of his casket gave us all the info we needed. Melo doesn’t miss, and he’s very much okay after that spot.
Matt Riddle was released from WWE in September, and he is now navigating the pro wrestling scene, doing his own thing along the way. He saw a lot in WWE, and it seems that he was also denied some major opportunities.
Matt Riddle’s Big Money in the Bank Claim
During a virtual signing hosted by Signed By Superstars, Riddle candidly discussed various aspects of his career during the two-hour session. He said that the Royal Rumble match win in 2022 was his, until Brock Lensar refused to put him over. He also claimed the Money in the Briefcase was also his for a time, but Vince McMahon picked his new favorite at the time to win instead.
The Original Bro revealed that he was originally scheduled to win the 2022 men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. However, plans took a turn, with Vince McMahon favoring Austin Theory.
“Wanna hear something else cool? I was supposed to win Money in the Bank but Vince (McMahon) really likes Austin Theory and literally hours before, they changed it and Austin was added in and threw me off the ladder. After I took two huge ladder bumps off the RKO and everything else and it’s like… But, I love Austin Theory and I’m happy for him. Keep killing it bro.”‘
Theory was Vince McMahon protégée during that angle that didn’t really get to finalize before Vince McMahon’s retirement. Austin Theory was then stuck with the Money in the Bank briefcase after that, something that hindered him more than anything. Then WWE got the briefcase off him, and he’s been much better off since then.
Riddle may get another chance to compete in a Royal Rumble or Money in the Bank match. No WWE return is off the table at this point, and that’s one thing we all learned after watching CM Punk return at Survivor Series last year. We do know that Riddle claimed that he is not bitter about his WWE release, but that doesn’t give him any shortage of things to say.
Matt Riddle After WWE
The Original Bro is going to be busy, even if he’s not making dates for WWE anymore. At MLW Kings of Colosseum, Matt Riddle made his return to in-ring action for the first time since being released by WWE. This comeback also extends to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he openly challenged World TV Champion and company President Hiroshi Tanahashi.
So what’s next? Well here are some of the New Year’s Resolutions from the Superstars of WWE.
Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair lost the WWE Women’s Championship to IYOY SKY at SummerSlam, mere moments after capturing the gold at the same event. On last week’s SmackDown, Belair admitted she doesn’t usually make resolutions, but vowed to recapture the title and remain undefeated at WrestleMania.
On the show, Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits resolved that they will have “more” in 2024. Lashley added that the new year will not just be good for his faction, but it’ll be “All Mighty.”
Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
Grayson Waller & Austin Theory have impressed those backstage as a tag-team. On SmackDown, the pair said that winning singles and tag titles are their goals for 2024. Theory added that he wants to win the Royal Rumble while Waller plans on headlining WrestleMania.
Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio has a simple resolution for 2024: to get Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar.
WWE paired up Grayson Waller and Austin Theory to form A-Town Down Under, and that heel team is making a lot of noise. They are also responsible for Kevin Owens’ recent injury, and they are not afraid to rub salt in the wound.
Kevin Owens will take on Austin Theory on the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown in the current United States Title #1 contender tournament. That match could be a rough one for Theory, but he’s not making it any better for himself.
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory appeared in a backstage promo that was released online after the December 9th episode of SmackDown.
During the video, Austin Theory broke out his uncanny “Stone Cold” Steve Austin impression, as he cut a promo on Kevin Owens while showing off a t-shirt that said “Grayson 3:16” on the front and “I Just Broke Your Hand” on the back.
“Grayson 3:16 son, why don’t you turn around and show ’em! Look at that, ‘I just broke your hand,’ son! Kevin Owens, we broke ya hand, ya ain’t got one no more! WHAT?! Grayson Waller’s gonna beat ya? WHAT?! Austin Theory’s gonna beat ya? WHAT?! We broke ya hand! WHAT?!”
Austin Theory walked off as he busted out in a Steve Austin laugh, which caused Grayson Waller to shout, “What?!” as his partner exited the frame. The two are certainly taking digs at Kevin Owens, but they might need to be careful about invoking Steve Austin’s name like that.
What’s next for Steve Austin in WWE
WWE is not currently talking about bringing Steve Austin in for a CM Punk dream match at this time. Although that rumor hit the Internet Wrestling Community in a big way, it’s not being discussed. Although fans may not see Steve Austin actually return at this time, it’s still good to hear his voice via Austin Theory’s spot-on impression.
You can watch Austin Theory and Grayson Waller’s little backstage promo in the video below.
Kevin Owens might not be able to utilize his KO punch right now due to his affliction, but there are still other ways that he is a very dangerous opponent. It will be interesting to see how Owens does in the United States Title tournament, as he has already teased having beef with Logan Paul.
You may check out the card for the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown below. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more!
December 15th, 2023 WWE SmackDown Card
Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown
Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory – 1st Round United States Title #1 Contender Tournament Match
Grayson Waller vs NXT Superstar – 1st Round United States Title #1 Contender Tournament Match
Will Kevin Owens beat Logan Paul for the United States Title after winning this tournament? Are you impressed by Austin Theory’s Steve Austin impression? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!