The Judgment Day stands as one of WWE’s best factions, as they took over in 2023. Judgment Day also added JD McDonagh to their ranks in recent memory. However, a recent glitch occurred when a member of the faction faced a big logistical problem while trying to attend the December 29th WWE house show.
Judgment Day Member’s Issue in Canada
During the December 29th WWE house show at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Judgment Day’s dynamic was on display. Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest actively participated in the event, while Dominik Mysterio provided corner support for Ripley.
However, JD McDonagh was notably absent from the scene. Finn Balor took to Twitter, sharing an image of The Judgment Day backstage in Canada. In the accompanying caption, he revealed McDonagh’s absence, attributing it to paperwork troubles that prevented him from joining the Canadian event.
”The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto”
The incident shed light on the logistical challenges faced by WWE Superstars, showcasing the intricate details behind their appearances. We can only hope that they straighten this out, so JD McDonagh doesn’t have to miss any more events outside the United States.
Punk held nothing back during his match with the Judgment Day member, and even made reference to his AEW in-ring debut at All Out 2021. During one section of the match, Mysterio took to the turnbuckle and Punk sat up and laughed, replicating a spot from Punk’s match with Darby Allin three years ago. You can check out the spot in question below.
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) December 27, 2023
CM Punk’s Wardrobe Malfunction
While CM Punk made an impactful return to the ring at the WWE MSG event, his ring attire for the show was somewhat underwhelming. Rather than his typical Chicago-inspired trunks, Punk wore plain back trunks for the match. As Wrestle Purists noted before the show, the trunks Punk had planned to wear did not fit, meaning he had to don his back-up trunks which were the plain black ones fans saw at this show.
WWE has made history in Madison Square Garden many times in the past. They ran the famous venue on December 26th, and their trend of historic moments continued. The event was already set to be memorable for many reasons, but they also broke a financial record.
According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, the December 26th Madison Square Garden live event set a massive record. It was the highest-grossing non-televised domestic WWE event ever.
Internal WWE live events reports claim that WWE’s live event in Madison Square Garden was sold out. The event was said to be the highest grossing domestic non-televised event of all-time for WWE.
WWE MSG 12/26 Results:
The event included four championship matches, concluding with the main event between Drew McIntyre and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
In the opening match of the night, Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark. Then, Kofi Kingston beat Ludwig Kaiser, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships match saw Kayden Carter & Katana Chance successfully defend against Chelsea Green & Piper Niven.
Omos, accompanied by MVP, and he beat against R-Truth. In the WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Match, Rhea Ripley defended her title by defeating Ivy Nile & Shayna Baszler.
The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships remained with Judgment Day after they defeated Jey Uso & Sami Zayn. That match marked Sami’s return to in-ring action after a short hiatus.
CM Punk secured a win against Dominik Mysterio. Rhea Ripley was with Dirty Dominik during the match, and it also marked Punk’s first WWE match since 2014.
Ricochet beat Bronson Reed. Then, Cody Rhodes beat Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match. The final match of the night was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a No-DQ Match, where Seth Rollins successfully defended his title against Drew McIntyre.
Before CM Punk puts on the kickpads for his first match back with WWE, he’s appreciative of the journey he’s had so far.
Ahead of his match at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Punk took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the fans and his squared circle colleagues that came before him.
“Grateful for all the fans who have carried me to my greatest moments. Thankful for the legends that paved the roads I travel. I wouldn’t be who I am without all of you. Thank you. ‘So goes The Garden, so goes the business.'”
Punk indeed paid homage in that very story as he was wearing the hoodie of a legend he’s continuosly been a fan of: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
CM Punk Has A First-Ever Legacy Match Waiting For Him At MSG
CM Punk will pack a punch in The Big Apple this evening as he’ll be going up against a white-hot heel in Dominik Mysterio. Punk was quick to cultivate a feud with Dirty Dom on his social media when he shared a photo over ten years ago of him confronting a young Dom in the ring with the Mysterio family. Dom fired back with his own post before he crossed the competitve lines and shared a “botch” clip of Punk during his AEW run.
Mysterio sure seems like an appropriate starting point for CM Punk’s WWE return as not only does it tie back to his Straight Edge Society feud with Rey Mysterio, but Punk clearly likes working with younger talent.
WWE Superstars are known to rock tattoos, and Dominik Mysterio has quite a collection going. Now, he has added even more ink to his canvas.
Dominik Mysterio’s character evolution has been noteworthy, transitioning from being underestimated as a babyface to a top heel in WWE. Alongside Finn Balor, Damian Priest, JD McDonagh and Rhea Ripley, Dominik has a great family in The Judgment Day. That faction is known for causing chaos in WWE, and most of them are covered in tattoos.
Much like his Judgment Day family, and his actual father, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio is known for expressing himself through tattoos. Dirty Dominik was recently seen getting a new lip tattoo on his hand at Chrome Lady Tattoos.
”The hometown favorite @wwe , @dominik_35 had sit down with me here @thechromeladytattoo #pureclass #dirtydom #sandiego #sd #ink #tattoo !!! : @wolfeden.media … I do not own the rights to this music”
Dominik Mysterio has been a part of WWE’s stories since he was a child, far before he got his first tattoo. Now, at 26-years-old, Dominik Mysterio is a full-fledged WWE Superstar, covered in tattoos, and enjoying a brand-new WWE contract.
2023 was a good year for Dominik Mysterio, with 66 days as NXT North American Champion. Odds are, he will keep up that workhorse mentality to make 2024 even better. He will also do so with a bit more body art.
WWE Superstar Tattoos
WWE Superstars used to have to ask the office for permission before they got new tattoos, or changed up their look in any way.
Permission was needed because WWE wanted to keep consistent marketing with renders, toys, video games, and everything else you can imagine in the WWE machine. With the number of current WWE Superstars who get new ink on a regular basis, we have to wonder if WWE has relaxed on that tattoo policy.
Judgment Day is known for their family vibe, and this new video drop from WWE shows that in full HD. The WWE stable recently had a Secret Santa gift exchange between each other, and it created a great Christmastime video.
During the festive season of gift-giving, the Judgment Day crew decided to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange, and WWE’s cameras captured the heartwarming moments. Each of them actually put thought into their gifts, so this wasn’t a kayfabe segment meant for an angle.
Judgment Day’s Secret Santa Gifts Revealed
Finn Balor drew Rhea Ripley’s name, and he got her a Stranger Things bag, a book about women with tattoos and a beanie with “Mami” on it. Rhea Ripley got Damian Priest as her Secret Santa and gave him some Australian candy and a boomerang that she must have brought back from her recent trip Down Under.
Dominik Mysterio shared the holiday spirit by giving Finn Balor a Louis Vuitton hat. The moment that Louis Vuitton logo was seen, it captured attention, making all of us think about Dirty Dominik’s new WWE contract.
JD McDonagh drew Dominik Mysterio’s name, and he gave him some custom gold pens, with his name inscribed on them. He received some heckling over the gift, after trying to blame Finn Balor for the gift idea. Balor then revealed that he told JD to get Dominik a Rolex watch, but he’s too cheap.
To complete the gift exchange, Damian Priest gave JD McDonagh a very thoughtful present. He explained that every member of the Judgment Day was given a steel bracelet, a symbolic gesture meaning that they are officially in the stable. Now, JD has one, too.
Some fans may forget that Judgment Day was originally just Edge and Damian Priest, meaning Priest is the only OG member of the stable. That gift of a steel bracelet obviously meant a lot to JD McDonagh.
What’s Next For Judgment Day In WWE
Judgment Day is getting a little break from the road, along with the rest of the WWE roster. There is little rest for them, though, because Dominik Mysterio is booked to wrestle CM Punk in Madison Square Garden on December 26th. Odds are, he will have his Judgment Day family with him at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Dominik Mysterio has been an absolute workhorse for WWE in 2023. As we enjoy Dominik Mysterio’s rise in WWE, it’s always important to remember when he came from.
Dominik Mysterio’s Arrest Situation
Many fans consider Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley invading Rey Mysterio’s home on Christmas as one of the benchmarks for his rise as a heel in WWE.
That was quite a fiasco, resulting in a viral video, and the “My mom hit Mami” meme. The Judgment Day members were just getting started, and that viral video created quite a storm. It also caused the catalyst for the Prison Dominik character.
That all went down one year ago today, and WWE wanted to make sure that fans remember that monumental event in Dominik Mysterio’s WWE career. The company’s social media account posted the video, along with a caption, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of that memorable moment.
Dominik Mysterio recently inked a new WWE contract. He will be with the company for years to come. Although it wasn’t 100% confirmed, the belief is that Dirty Dominik’s new WWE deal is a five-year contract.
So far in 2023, Dominik Mysterio has wrestled 102 matches, doubling his number from 2022. He’s not finished yet, because Dominik still has two matches against CM Punk coming up at WWE live events.
Chavo Guerrero Jr. knows all about having family in the pro wrestling business along with the generational pressure that comes with it, but he believes Dom Mysterio is bucking the convention.
Throughout his wrestling career, Chavo had carved out his own unique path, so much that it led to him working in Hollywood and becoming an intrical part of A24’s “The Iron Claw” set to release this Friday.
Much like he did with the critically-acclaimed GLOW on Netflix, Guerrero trained all the actors in the ring for the wrestling scenes in Iron Claw, as they tell the emotionally heavy story of The Von Erich family. It’s evident his teachings left an impression on the cast as in promotion for the film, particularly Jeremy Allen White, who plays the legendary Kerry Von Erich.
“You know, I was very proud when I heard him say that and then the rest of the wrestlig community was as well. They’re like, ‘Wow, this guy gets it.’
“He really he understood that because that’s storytelling. That’s what he does in movies. It’s not the car crash. The car crash helps tell the story, but the car crash itself is not the story. The moves help tell the story, but the moves themselves are not story. And that’s I think it’s lost in today’s wrestling little bit because these guys are incredible athletes, and they’re doing great moves. But I just think sometimes the storytelling needs to be worked on a little bit as well. They could probably do less moves and tell a better story.”
Chavo adds that he has learned just as much from White and the rest of the cast as they learned from him, noting that he would have been a better wrestler if he somehow got involved in Hollywood first.
Dom Mysterio Is Ahead Of The Generational Game
During his analysis of the “little details” with Jeremy Allen White, Guerrero uses both Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio as examples to how they make the moves mean something in their storytelling. That prompted a discussion on Dom Mysterio who Chavo is extremely impressed with.
“He’s doing so great. He’s far above where he should be. You know, I said, he’s not supposed to be this good, but, you know, he had some trials growing up.
“If you remember, when he first started, fans were didn’t really like them that much. They were kind of like, ‘Hey, this kid is not ready, I don’t know if he’s gonna live up to the Mysterio name.’ Well, we all felt that. Every second/third generation [wrestler] felt the same thing because you sometimes get the door open, but every second or third generation actor has felt the same way or any performer.”
Iron Claw releases everywhere in theaters on Friday, December 22 and you can catch Chavo playing The Original Sheik in the film.
WWE has been securing its talent with new contracts as existing deals come to an end. They really don’t want to lose a lot of top Superstars in 2024, and they’re prepared to offer big money to secure them.
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio’s New WWE Contracts
The latest developments in contract news revolve around the Mysterio Family, with both Rey and Dominik Mysterio recently signing new deals. While there is more information on Dominik’s reported five-year deal with WWE, Rey Mysterio’s contract duration was initially undisclosed.
Haus of Wrestling has now reported that Dominik Mysterio’s new WWE contract is a bit longer than his father’s. While Dirty Dominik is believed to be locked into a five-year deal, Rey Mysterio is actually only with WWE on a three-year commitment.
Haus of Wrestling has confirmed that Rey has signed a new three-year deal with WWE.
Haus of Wrestling has not been able to confirm the length of Dominik’s deal. However, Dominik’s is believed to be a little longer, five years. Haus of Wrestling has also confirmed that, despite the injuries he has accrued, Rey plans to continue wrestling throughout his new contract.
What’s Next For Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is currently recovering from a knee injury, one that was created in-storyline by Santos Escobar when he turned on the LWO leader. Now, it appears we will have a group vs group dynamic whenever Rey Mysterio is able to make his return to the ring.
This dual contract renewal for Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysrterio solidifies the company’s commitment and happiness with what they are doing on television. Dominik Mysterio became one of the hottest heels in the company, working all three brands as NXT North American Champion for 66 days.
Rey Mysterio’s three-year commitment represents a significant investment by both the wrestler and the company. As a Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio’s continued presence contributes depth to the roster, and it’s his upcoming return will hopefully put him in line for a featured match on the WrestleMania 40 card.
WWE is closing out 2023 with some big headlines, and a ton of momentum as they race toward the Royal Rumble on January 27th. This next calendar year will also include some notable moments with WWE’s business, and they want to make sure a big roster shake-up isn’t a part of that.
2024 Will Be A Big Year For WWE
WWE faces significant changes as they navigate new television deals in 2024. There are indications that WWE RAW might depart from the USA Network, and it’s confirmed that NXT will transition from the USA to the CW Network, while SmackDown is set to leave FOX for a return to the USA. Superstar contracts are also a big matter of concern for the company in 2024.
Expiring WWE Talent Contracts in 2024
The upcoming year brings the expiration of contracts for notable stars like Becky Lynch, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Sheamus, and Drew McIntyre.
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio have secured new deals with WWE, with Dominik’s contract reportedly spanning five years. While the length of Rey’s deal remains unconfirmed, there’s a belief that it’s a substantial, long-term commitment.
While going over all of these subjects during Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer highlighted WWE’s strategy to prevent talent from entering the free-agent market by securing them with substantial, extended contracts, a practice they’ve adhered to for decades.
“They’re [WWE] obviously very happy because they signed both of them. Both of them could have waited until free agency, and at that point, they could have gotten probably a giant offer from AEW and a giant offer from WWE. But obviously, WWE really made it worth their while, which was what I was told is that they are going to they were looking at longtime deals with, greatly increased compensation for the guys because they don’t want free agents right now,”
It was also noted that WWE is planning to pick up those contract talks once again in 2024. They may wait until the Holidays are behind them, but there is no doubt that they don’t want to lose those top Superstars.
AEW could be in the market to offer big money to any of those top Superstar with expiring deals. WWE realizes that, and they also do not want to lose people who they used to promote those new blockbuster television deals before they start in October, either.
The upcoming clash between CM Punk and Mysterio is slated to unfold at WWE’s Holiday Tour house show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday, December 26th, followed by a live event at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA on Saturday, December 30th. Those two matches will give Punk and Dirty Dominik a real familiarity with each other.
How CM Punk & Dominik Mysterio’s Match Was Booked
Dominik Mysterio is known for drawing insane amounts of heat from WWE fans. Naturally, he is going to lay it on thick for CM Punk, even if the two aren’t slated to wrestle on television yet.
CM Punk’s return to WWE marks his first match since the 2014 Royal Rumble, with his latest taking place at AEW All In, where he beat Samoa Joe following a backstage altercation with Jack Perry in Wembley Stadium. Now, Punk is set to dust off his long bois with Dominik Mysterio.
During CM Punk’s recent commentary for the CFFC, he revealed a longstanding desire to punch Mysterio, tracing back to their past feud that involved a young Dominik and culminated in Punk getting his head shaved. In response, Dominik Mysterio took to Twitter, playfully mocking Punk by sharing a clip from an AEW match where Punk experienced a misstep in the ring.
Dominik Mysterio captioned the post with a little request for CM Punk to replicate the punch, adding a playful nod to Punk’s self-proclaimed title of Best in the World.
“Punch me like this please…@CMPunk #bestintheworld.”
CM Punk just got off of a stint with AEW, so it’s not like he would have a tremendous amount of ring rust on him. Still, it appears that he will knock off what WWE ring rust he may have with Dominik Mysterio at Madison Square Garden on December 26th.
CM Punk has his eyes set on Seth Rollins in the television storyline, which is why he entered the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. We will keep our eye on CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio’s set of matches here at SE Scoops, just in case anything eventful happens.
PW Insider reports that Dominik Mysterio has signed a new WWE contract. The signing actually took place about a month ago, marking a significant development in Mysterio’s career within the wrestling powerhouse.
While it hasn’t been confirmed, the general reported belief is that Dominik Mysterio inked a five-year deal with WWE. That will keep Dominik Mysterio with WWE until 2028 when he is 31-years-old.
Dominik Mysterio’s History In WWE
Although Dominik Mysterio really established himself as a WWE Superstar over the past few years, He was a part of Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero’s classic “I’m Your Papi” storyline.
During that time, Dominik Mysterio played integral roles alongside his father, Rey Mysterio, in compelling storylines involving wrestling luminaries such as Eddie Guerrero and CM Punk.
Dominik Mysterio officially entered the WWE scene in 2020, making a noteworthy debut that set the stage for his ongoing journey in the world of professional wrestling.
This new contract signifies not only a continued commitment between Dominik Mysterio and WWE, but also a testament to the company’s recognition of his contributions and potential within the industry. As the wrestling landscape evolves, Dominik’s presence will continue, meaning that Triple H sees Dominik Myserio as a part of WWE’s future for years to come.
CM Punk did a lot in AEW during his short time with the company. While many fans remember his backstage fights, others point toward the introduction of the “long bois” wrestling gear as one of the most notable moments of his AEW tenure. That look just might follow Punk to WWE.
CM Punk’s WWE Return
The Second City Saint has made appearances on Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, and NXT Deadline since his recent return to the company last month. It’s evident that Punk is a significant draw for the company, and fans consistently express their joy at seeing him. His merchandise is selling fast, and fans can’t wait to see him mix it up in the ring again.
CM Punk also is scheduled to compete at Los Angeles’ KIA Forum against Dominik Mysterio on December 30th. Punk wanted that match with Dirty Dom, as he teased having a desire to punch Dominik in the face since he was 8-years-old.
CM Punk Reveals WWE Return Ring Gear
In a now-deleted Instagram story post, The Second City Saint hinted at wearing his long pants for his WWE in-ring return. He captioned that post with “LFG.” He also tagged MSG in the process. Then, he deleted the post. Obviously, Punk knew that some fans would see this, and the screenshot got out in a big way.
CM Punk is apparently looking forward to facing Dominik Mysterio in their upcoming matches. He also has the Royal Rumble coming up on January 27th, and it’s anyone’s guess what gear he will rock for that match.
You can check out CM Punk’s deleted Instagram story. For more of the top headlines in the pro wrestling world, keep checking back with SE Scoops.
Dominik Mysterio is ready to do anything it takes to earn the respect he deserves.
The 26-year-old has completely turned his image around in one year. After betraying his father at Clash At The Castle last year, he has become one of the hottest stars in all of pro wrestling. Though despite being one of the hardest-working talents of WWE, Mysterio does not get the respect he deserves from fans.
Dirty Dom recently had an interview with The Amin Show to promote the upcoming Elimination Chamber PPV in Perth. Dominik Mysterio was asked if he thinks people don’t respect him because they still see him as the kid from the storyline with Eddie Guerrero in 2005.
The WWE star mentioned how he has wrestled the second most matches for WWE this year. He proclaimed that he will do whatever it takes to get the respect of people:
“No I don’t really know if it like…because when you put it that way, I’ve never really even thought about it that way. I think it’s more of like, they see me as a kid. So it’s kinda like they know me already. They expect a certain thing out of me. It’s like they only see me as this blond-haired, horribly dressed Dominik. Young Dominik that was always so sad.
But no at the end of the day, one way or another, I’m going to make them respect me. Whether it’s in the ring, or what I have to do. Whether it’s getting more titles or more matches. Hell, I’m the second most person that has had matches in WWE this year, with 102 matches. So like I said, if I don’t get my respect, I’ll go out there and get it.”
Dominik Mysterio Is already prepared
Dominik Mysterio was also asked how he can prepare for the Elimination Chamber match which is going to be even more brutal than WarGames. The Judgement Day member mentioned that he’s already been behind bars once, so he is already prepared:
“Yeah, most definitely. I remember growing up watching the Elimination Chamber matches and just thinking just how brutal they were and how, intense. The first thing that comes to mind is Shawn Michaels just bleeding coming down his face just insane, but I don’t know if you can prepare for something like that.
I think the best way I can prepare is I’ve already done it, and I escaped and [I] was bailed out of prison. So the last thing I want to do is go back behind cages. So we’ll see what I can do, man, but I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully I can make my way and sneak into that Chamber match.””
You can check out Dominik Mysterio’s full interview below:
R-Truth recently decided to have some fun with The Judgment Day members, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. But, Truth has his own way of spending time with the ‘family.’
As the Holidays have come around, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio decided to make a trip to Perth, Australia, the host of next year’s Elimination Chamber. ‘Dirty Dom’ and ‘Mami’ are having quite a vacation in the latter’s homeland. But as it seems, R Truth wanted to be a part of the trip.
WWE recently released a video clip of Ripley and Dominik enjoying their time in Perth. R Truth noted the video clip and took to his TikTok channel. He dropped a hilariously edited video clip in which he added himself to the video to indicate that he was hanging out with the couple.
The Judgment Day is currently one of the most dominant factions in WWE. It includes Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Several superstars have fallen prey to the ruthless attack of the group. The sinister group had been trying to recruit a member over the last few months. In the past, they went after Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre to be a part of the faction. Though ‘The Scottish Warrior’ joined forces, he never became an official member of the group.
JD McDonagh ended up becoming the newest member and ever since, the faction has become formidable. However, it seems R-Truth want to be a part of the group as well.
Over the last few weeks, R-Truth has been invading their clubhouse and claimed to be a member of the faction. Though he received warnings, Truth is having none of it.
On the latest edition of Monday Night Raw, R-Truth interrupted The Judgment Day and suggested JD McDonagh to be kicked out. He further opined that Damian Priest shouldn’t try to be the boss around as Rhea Ripley would be angry. This led to R-Truth getting attacked but The Creed Brothers saved him.
Dominik Mysterio is currently considered one of the top heels in WWE, and some may view him as a potential threat to society. However, he recently encountered an incident at an Australian airport, but Rhea Ripley was able to help out with her mere presence.
Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio’s dynamic remains a notable point of interest for fans. Some even find themselves speculating about a real-life romantic connection between the two, but no amount of shipping them will change the fact that Rhea Ripley is in a relationship with Buddy Matthews, and Dominik Mysterio is happily engaged to his high school sweetheart.
Dirty Dom and Rhea Ripley went to Australia to promote the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event scheduled for Perth next year. They have been engaging in media activities since yesterday, but Mysterio faced a minor incident.
Dominik Mysterio Dodges Travel Nightmare
During a recent appearance on Australia’s Hit WA’s Allan & Carly radio show, host Allan Aldworth asked Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley if they had any trouble flying into the country. This is when Rhea Ripley admitted that, “We got singled out, well Dom did.”
Dominik Mysteriothen admitted that,“The mullet and the tattoos, they looked at me like ‘uhh we’re gonna search your bags.’”
Allan Aldworth, the host of the show, then asked, “And then they ask you what you do for a living, and you tell them, and they don’t believe you I assume?”
“100%,” Dominik Mysterio responded.Then the host asked,”Until you slam a chair on their head?” That is when Dirty Dom had to let everyone know that Rhea Ripley actually saved him from having a bad time in the airport.
“No, until they see her (Rhea Ripley).”
What’s next for Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley
WWE Superstars are used to traveling all over the world, so getting through customs is no new thing for them. That being said, every time you travel, it can present certain obstacles. Obviously, Dominik Mysterio is ready for anything as long as he has Mami with him.
We will have to see how long WWE keeps Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley together. Obviously, they are a great team, in and out of the ring. It certainly helped Dominik Mysterio out in a big way during that recent trip to Australia.
Cody Rhodes believes Seth Rollins is the MVP of wrestling in 2023.
2023 has been a strong year for WWE. The momentum gained after the COVID era has helped the company record some of its best financial numbers since the Attitude Era. A number of breakout performances from rookies and veterans alike have been one of the biggest catalysts of this unprecedented growth.
With names such as Gunther, LA Knight, Rhea Ripley and more contributing to this success, it’s hard to pick one name as the MVP performer of the year. One guy that seems to be on everyone’s radar more than others however, is Dominik Mysterio.
The son of wrestling legend Rey Mysterio has been able to carve a unique path for himself and he has received praise from many industry veterans for his growth this year. One such legend that has been impressed by Dirty Dom is Shawn Michaels, who picked the young star as his performer of the year during a recent interview.
The American Nightmare was questioned about this pick while appearing on The Michael Kay Show and asked to name his own choice for the honor. Cody Rhodes said that for him, Seth Rollins is the real MVP of WWE in 2023:
“That’s a loaded [question] because Dom is a prickly individual. If I was looking at it from tickets sold, merch sold, excitement over matches, genuine body of work, I’d say your MVP is…I’m not gonna say myself, somebody else hopefully will say me, but I’d say Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion is probably somebody who’s more of the MVP.”
‘There Is Something Incredibly Special About The Young Man’: Cody Rhodes
The WWE star didn’t take Michaels’ words lightly despite having a different opinion. He explained that there is something special about Dominik and proclaimed that his future is brighter than anybody else in the business:
Who am I to go against what Shawn Michaels said though. If Shawn Michaels sees something in Dominik Mysterio. That’s huge, because he’s not one that often will make that claim. Dom is…as difficult as he is to get along with, he is incredibly linked to the audience.
I have a feeling that if, Dom Mysterio walks out now, for those of you don’t watch WWE. He walks out and you can’t hear a word he’s saying because they boo him out of the building. I have a sense that Dom will be getting that same reaction two or three years from now but they won’t be boos, they’ll be cheers.
There is something incredibly special about the young man and I’m sorry that I’ve had to beat him so many times. But I look forward to what he does. He comes from good stock, obviously. His future is perhaps brighter than anybody’s.”
You can check out Cody Rhodes’ full interview below:
Dave Batista may have yet to become a WWE Hall of Famer, but the Animal continues to make an impact in Hollywood. In the latest trailer for Dune: Part Two, Batista can be seen reprising his role as Glossu Rabban. Dune: Part Two, the sequel to the 2021 sci-fi epic, will be released in cinemas on March 1.
John Cena Proud of Zac Efron
This week saw the premiere of The Iron Claw, the new biopic about the lives, careers, and tragedies of the Von Erich family. John Cena was at the premiere and was spotted with AEW World Champion MJF. Taking to Twitter, Cena said he was proud of film lead Zac Efron for his role as Kevin Von Erich. The Iron Claw will be released on December 22.
Incredibly proud of @ZacEfron for an outstanding performance in @A24’s #TheIronClaw. Thank you for doing the work to help introduce a new audience to one of our industry’s most important families.
In the main event of this week’s Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura faced Cody Rhodes. Rhodes won by DQ after Nakamura sprayed the American Nightmare with the Asian Mist. Nakamura would also attack Rhodes after the match. On Twitter, Brandi Rhodes had some choice words for the King of Strong Style.
‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio has impressed plenty of people since joining The Judgment Day at Clash at the Castle last year. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Chavo Guerrero shared his take on the self-professed ex-con.
“Dominik Mysterio is killing it. He’s doing so good. He’s far beyond where he should be. As far as being good as well. It’s pretty cool to see them doing all this stuff.”
Dominik Mysterio is a heat magnet in WWE and one current AEW star thinks he knows exactly why.
On Monday’s episode of “Busted Open Radio,” Mark Henry gave his veteran insight as to what makes Dirty Dom so darn good at getting a reaction from fans.
“I put him in the same category as The Rock and the Harts and people that come from pro wrestling,” Henry said. “They have [a] legacy — Randy Orton. There are things that Dominik does that are just intuitive. You can tell he just picked it up. It’s not trained.”
Henry makes note that it’s just like Dom is playing with his wrestling toys as a kid and learning what makes a great heel due to his dad being such a great babyface.
“He knows what he’s doing. And all those years of watching his dad,” he continued, “and all those years of knowing what the bad guy did, knowing all of those things of what his dad had to fight through to get to be who he was. I think it’s paying dividends for him.”
Rey certainly had his share of heelish adversaries, perhaps most notably, Eddie Guerrero, who Dominik was the primary aspect of a storyline between his dad and his late Uncle Eddie.
Fans will see CM Punk compete in the ring later this month, in the Best in the World’s first match in WWE since his return at Survivor Series.
The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE in the closing moments of WWE’s most recent main roster PLE. The event marked Punk’s first WWE appearance since the 2014 Royal Rumble and his first appearance in wrestling since his AEW release in September of this year.
CM Punk Back in Action
On this week’s Raw, CM Punk declared himself for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he’ll be back in the ring far sooner than that.
Punk has been announced for matches on two upcoming shows – CM Punk will face ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the December 26 event from Madison Square Garden and the December 30 event in Inglewood, California.
JUST ANNOUNCED: CM Punk will be live at The Garden on Dec 26 for his first match in WWE in over 9 years as he goes one on one with ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the @WWE LIVE Holiday Tour.
These won’t just be Punk’s first WWE matches in close to a decade, but will also be Punk’s first matches in months. The Best in the World’s most recent match saw him retain the ‘Real’ World Championship against Samoa Joe at AEW All In.
WWE Live – December 30
Punk’s first WWE match in close to a decade will be just one part of a stacked show. Other matches confirmed for the night include:
Seth Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
IYO SKY (c) Bianca Belair Vs. Charlotte Flair (WWE Women’s Championship.
Cody Rhodes was set to face ‘Dirty Dom’ in a Last Man Standing match at the event. It remains to be seen who Rhodes will face at the show with Dominik now facing CM Punk.
More information about the show can be found here.
‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio was far from pleased with the lack of The Judgment Day’s help at last night’s NXT Deadline event.
At last night’s event, Mysterio lost the NXT North American Championship to Dragon Lee while Dominik’s father Rey was on commentary. This match gives Lee his first taste of WWE championship gold, and he and Rey celebrated after the match.
Dominik Reacts to His Title Loss
In a rarity, Dominik was by his lonesome at last night’s Deadline show and had none of his Judgment Day allies. Speaking in an NXT Digital Exclusive after the match, Mysterio questioned why he had no help at ringside.
“You all saw what happened to me out there. I am the greatest NXT North American Champion that’s ever been. Dragon Lee. My deadbeat dad. Where’s Judgment Day? Where’s Finn? Where’s Damian? JD? Mami? You know what? I’m going to go home to Mami because Judgment Day runs all and this shouldn’t be happening!”
This loss presumably marks the end of Dominik Mysterio’s time as part of WWE NXT. Mysterio leaves the gold brand a two-time North American Champion with a combined 141 days with the title. Lee is one of three men to have held the title more than once, the others being two-time Champion Carmelo Hayes and three-time Champion Johnny Gargano. During his run in NXT, Mysterio made history by headlining Raw, SmackDown, and NXT in the same week.
Wes Lee was supposed to challenge Dominik Mysterio at NXT Deadline, but that didn’t happen. Click here to find out why.
Dominik Mysterio has held the NXT North American Title since October 3rd, when he beat Trick Williams. He carried the North American Title proudly, as a member of Judgment Day, on every WWE brand. That reign came to an end at NXT Deadline.
With Rey Mysterio at ringside on commentary, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Dragon Lee gave it their all. In the end, Dragon Lee picked up the big win over Dirty Dom.
It should be noted that Judgment Day members were not around ringside for this match. They called attention to that on commentary as well. Odds are, Dominik Mysterio will figure out some way to excuse this loss.
This win is interesting, because Dragon Lee was called up to the SmackDown brand already. The NXT North American Champion is still a main roster Superstar, but it is no longer Dirty Dom.
After Dragon Lee won the NXT North American Title, he celebrated with Rey Mysterio at ringside. Mr. 6-1-9 was very happy by the result of this match, even if it meant his son had to lose.
Mick Foley may be something of a cuddly teddy bear these days, but the three-time former WWE Champion is ready to raise some hell as part of The Judgment Day.
This April will mark one year since the group debuted, and initially consisted of Edge and Damian Priest.
At WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022, Rhea Ripley was added to the group, and Finn Balor’s entry not long after would see Edge be ousted as leader.
It was at September’s Clash at the Castle Premium Live Event that Dominik Mysterio joined the group, after betraying Edge and his father Rey Mysterio.
Foley’s Judgment
Mick Foley’s days in the ring are long behind him, but the WWE Hall of Famer has expressed a (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) interest in joining the faction.
On YouTube, Foley donned a distinct purple and black flannel to seek “gainful employment” as a member and referenced his decades of experience in the industry.
Foley also acknowledged his moniker as ‘King of the Death Match’ and mentioned reaching the New York Times bestseller list twice.
While praising the group’s various skills (including the abs of Finn Balor,) Foley requested his son Dewey to draw more tear ‘tattoos’ on his face.
Dewey instead wrote the word ‘Help Me’ on his father’s forehead (a not to Al Snow) and a more ‘phallic’ piece of ink on his other cheek.
Judgment Day at WrestleMania
The Judgment Day is yet to publicly respond to Foley’s resume, but with or without the Hardcore legend, they’ll be kept pretty busy at WrestleMania.
After becoming the first woman to win a Royal Rumble match from #1, Rhea Ripley will challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair this April.
On next week’s Raw, Edge and Finn Balor will have a confrontation, and it has been rumored that a Hell in a Cell match between the two will take place at WrestleMania.
There have been rumors that Dominik Mysterio will face his father Rey next month in the father and son’s home state of California.
WWE superstar Finn Balor shared some encouraging words for Dominik Mysterio’s development in the company.
Mysterio has risen as one of the biggest heels in the WWE. He made the change at Clash at the Castle on Sep. 3, 2022, when he betrayed his father, Rey, and Edge. Two days later, he would align himself with The Judgement Day(Balor, Rhea Ripley, and Damien Priest) to become a faction member. After several months of working with The Judgement Day, Dominik has started to get out of the shadow of his father.
In an interview with The Bump’s Kayla Braxton and Matt Camp, Balor spoke highly about Dominik’s transformation as a heel talent. While expressing his thoughts, Balor stayed in character during the interview.
“You know, it kind of makes me sad a little bit that Dominik hasn’t received the support from his family. The fact that he’s growing and achieving so much in a short time, but without that backbone or family support, it’s quite incredible, said Balor.
He continued, “…At the same time, you know my family has always supported me, so I take that kind of for granted that people should be supported by their family and the fact that Rey has continuously not shown support, not shown interest in his sons development and career, it’s quite saddening. So myself, Damian(Priest) and Rhea(Ripley) all been a shoulder for Dom to lean on and I think he’s stepped out of his father shadow in such a short time and I think he’s going to make his father pay.”
Will Dominik Challenge His Father At WrestleMania 39?
Photo Credit: WWE
It seems the WWE is looking to have Dominik face his father at WrestleMania 39, but it’s unclear in what way. Dominik and The Judgement Day have antagonized his father since he joined them. On the Feb. 24 episode of Friday Night Smackdown, Rey came close to attacking his son but chose to walk away. It’s possible WWE could be setting up a father vs. son match at WrestleMania 39. However, the company has also teased that Santos Escobar may assist Rey in dealing with his son.
During a backstage segment on the Feb. 24 episode, Escobar and Dominik had a brief confrontation about respecting Rey. Before Escobar could do anything to Dominik, Rhea stepped in the way, and the “couple” walked away. It’s possible the WWE can have a tag team match with Escobar and Rey against Dominik and Priest, as Priest is not involved in a match for WrestleMania 39.
Wrestling fans will have to wait and see how the ongoing story of Rey and Dominik will develop on the road to WrestleMania.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley have proven to be quite the duo on WWE programming, and have caught the attention of those outside of the promotion.
In the run-up to WWE Clash at the Castle, Ripley repeatedly targeted Dominik, who at the time was aligned with his father Rey Mysterio and Edge.
After turning on his father and the Hall of Famer, Dominik and Ripley have been inseparable and have appeared together both at WWE events and away from the ring.
Reactions
During this week’s SmackDown, Dominik made a rare appearance on the blue brand to confront Charlotte Flair, who’ll defend the Women’s Title against Ripley at WrestleMania 39.
Mysterio went on about how he and Flair were both generational superstars, that they often get compared to their fathers but surpass them anyway
When Dominik tried to smooth talk the record-breaking champion, Flair was quick to shut him down, saying that she “has a real Latino man at home that calls me mami.”
