As strong argument can be made that Drew McIntyre is the top heel in WWE heading into WrestleMania 40, but is the Scotsman finally signed to a deal?
According to Alex McCarthy of the Daily Mail, McIntyre has yet to put his name down on the dotted line for WWE despite being in the World Title match against champion Seth Rollins. And although McIntyre is by all accounts having the characer run of his career, it’s being reported that the two parties are still far away from an agreement.
McIntyre shined in Australia as he along with LA Knight were the first two to start the men’s Elimination Chamber match, with the story being that Drew capitalized on every opportunity to get a pinfall in the match. This all culminated in a clash with Randy Orton as the final two men as Drew got added assistance thanks to Logan Paul who slugged Orton with a pair of brass knuckles, soldifying Drew’s path to WrestleMania in Philadelphia.
Despite a busted ear drum, Drew continued to carpe diem his star power as he along with Seth Rollins had a compelling confrontation in the middle of the show (with McIntyre continuing to take digs at CM Punk). Later on, a match was set up next week between McIntyre and Jey Uso.
Considering the massive push he is getting, it’s hard to fathom that there may not be at least a verbal handshake agreement between McIntyre and Triple H as they head towards WrestleMania, but whether signed or not, McIntyre is proving his worth as a top star in wrestling.
Drew McIntyre gave his all in the 2024 Elimination Chamber match. In the end, he also suffered a bit of an injury. The current #1 contender for Seth Rollins’ title is now dealing with an eardrum injury.
McIntyre already mentioned an eardrum injury, but it wasn’t known if this was legit. Now, a new report has been able to confirm that he did suffer this injury in the chamber.
Drew McIntyre’s Injury Status
PW Insider has reported to confirm that Drew McIntyre’s eardrum injury is 100% legit. He really did suffer that injury during the Elimination Chamber.
The flight back from Australia was a very long one for WWE Superstars. We can only imagine how a busted eardrum made things worse for the Scottish Warrior.
It was all worth it, because McIntyre will battle Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40.
McIntyre Spoke About His Injury Already
We previously reported that Drew McIntyre talked about his possible eardrum injury during an interview after Elimination Chamber. While speaking to The Bump, McIntyre said:
“I can barely hear the words after getting hit in the ear so hard. It’s fine. I said I would do whatever it takes, not just for me but for everybody else. And every superplex, every dive off the cage, every power bomb in the back of my neck was worth it. I said I’d go through any obstacle. Push Cody to finish his story, that’s what the fans wanted. Push Seth to stop being selfish. Some people are like, it’s just so you can get Seth at WrestleMania.”
“Yeah, I just had to beat AJ Styles and I just had to put myself through hell while jet lagged, while this eardrum appears to be burst. Worth it. I did it for each and every one of you. We’re so close, so close. WrestleMania, we finish our own story and I finally get my moment.”
Drew McIntyre has not signed a new contract as of this writing. With his current booking trajectory, it stands to reason that he wouldn’t want to go anywhere, but only time will tell what he decides to do.
We’re hoping that Drew McIntyre will be 100% by WrestleMania. If anything, bot champion and challenger will be going into that match a bit banged, up, as Seth Rollins is overcoming an MCL injury as well.
SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for more updates.
WWE superstar Becky Lynch is ready to settle her feud with Nia Jax once and for all. On the February 26 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Jax attacked Lynch from behind early in the show. Later that night, Lynch got revenge by attacking Jax during her match against Liv Morgan. The company has decided to solve their issues in a singles match next week.
The announcement was made during the show to excite fans for the March 4 WWE Monday Night Raw episode. Jax hopes to rebound from her loss against WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24. Jax’s defeat also has seemingly put her involvement at WWE WrestleMania 40 in doubt, which fueled her attack on Lynch. However, ‘The Man’ looks ready for her big win over Jax next week.
WWE has booked Lynch as an underdog heading into her title match against Ripley at WWE WrestleMania 40. ‘The Man’ had taken some losses, including a match against Jax on the January 1 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. Next week’s episode presents an opportunity for Lynch to avenge her loss and continue her momentum heading into the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All.’
While Lynch and Jax will be in a featured match on the March 4 episode, WWE has announced another big match.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso Rematch Set For March 4 Episode
Drew McIntyre will also look to build momentum heading into WWE WrestleMania 40. WWE announced that ‘The Scottish Warrior’ will take on Jey Uso in a rematch in next week’s episode.
WWE Monday Night Raw: Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre won the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match on February 24 to earn an opportunity to face WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All.’ He hopes to keep the momentum going with an impressive win over Uso. However, WWE may also have another surprise heading into next week.
One of the interesting storylines for McIntyre over the last few months was his disdain for the Bloodline(Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa & The Rock). However, he accepted their help in a win over Cody Rhodes on the February 19 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. The company is also seemingly building towards a WWE WrestleMania 40 match between Jey and Jimmy. Jimmy may be involved in next week’s matchup to further the storyline with McIntyre and build toward a match with his brother.
Next week’s episode looks to be an exciting show as the WWE continues the ‘Road To WrestleMania.’
Drew McIntyre held nothing back on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw when it came to mocking CM Punk in the latest escalation of the feud between the two.
Punk is currently out injured after suffering a torn triceps in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, an injury that McIntyre has been more than happy to take credit for. The Best in the World was originally planned to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins at WrestleMania 40 but those plans have since been scrapped. In his place, McIntyre will challenge Rollins in April after winning last weekend’s Men’s Elimination Chamber Match.
Drew McIntyre on CM Punk
Appearing on this week’s Raw, McIntyre was in an unsurprisingly jovial mood in San Jose, CA. McIntyre’s latest barrage against Punk began before a word was said, with Drew sitting down in mimicry of the former WWE and AEW World Champion.
From there, McIntyre would mock Punk’s injury which has cost the latter his dream of headlining WrestleMania. McIntyre recalled a backstage conversation after being banged up in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match.
“The doctor looked at me and said ‘Drew, you’re hurt, there’s a chance you don’t make WrestleMania.’ I said ‘Who do you think I am, CM Punk? Nothing’s going to stop me from making WrestleMania!'”
With another dig at the Best in the World, McIntyre said he knows Punk is straight edge, so he decided to drink enough for the both of them to celebrate his win at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024.
Seth Rollins would then confront McIntyre and the pair would share words about their upcoming World Heavyweight Championship match. McIntyre seemed open to the concept of The Bloodline interfering in the match to help him in a shocking move considering that Bloodline interference cost him the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle.
Drew McIntyre appears to have regained the momentum he lost during his WWE championship reign. After winning the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match, the Scottish Warrior has a World Heavyweight Championship match waiting for him at the showcase of the immortals. He was also banged up a bit in the process, but it was all worth it.
Drew McIntyre’s Big Win
Drew McIntyre has been through a lot on the road to WrestleMania. It appears that he may have also ruptured his eardrum in the process.
This win has secured him a World Heavyweight title shot against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. Speaking with Byron Saxton on WWE’s The Bump after the match, Drew McIntyre expressed that every hardship endured in the chamber was worthwhile. He is now focused on concluding his journey for all those who believed in him at The Show of Shows.
“I can barely hear the words after getting hit in the ear so hard. It’s fine. I said I would do whatever it takes, not just for me but for everybody else. And every superplex, every dive off the cage, every power bomb in the back of my neck was worth it. I said I’d go through any obstacle. Push Cody to finish his story, that’s what the fans wanted. Push Seth to stop being selfish. Some people are like, it’s just so you can get Seth at WrestleMania.”
“Yeah, I just had to beat AJ Styles and I just had to put myself through hell while jet lagged, while this eardrum appears to be burst. Worth it. I did it for each and every one of you. We’re so close, so close. WrestleMania, we finish our own story and I finally get my moment.”
Drew McIntyre’s WWE Journey
The Scottish Warrior ascended to the main event scene in 2020, capturing the World title from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36. Unfortunately, the global pandemic prevented an audience from witnessing McIntyre’s triumph.
However, since the start of 2024, McIntyre’s popularity has surged once again, with fans firmly supporting his dominant performances. The Elimination Chamber match at WWE’s PLE in Perth, Australia was just what he wanted to maintain that momentum.
What’s Next for Drew McIntyre
The Scottish Warrior will take on Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. That match may be a massive notch in his belt, but it could also be a huge highlight near the end of his road with WWE.
Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract is up soon, and while he has not re-signed yet, the thought is that he has far too much momentum at this point to leave. SEScoops will have more on this story as more information is available.
Drew McIntyre is officially on the Road to WrestleMania after winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024.
At the Premium Live Event from Perth, Australia, McIntyre outlasted Randy Orton, Logan Paul, Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley, and LA Knight to win the Men’s Chamber match. McIntyre entered the match from the #2 position and eliminated Randy Orton last to win the contest. You can check out some of the highlights from the Men’s Elimination Chamber match down below.
With this win McIntyre has earned himself a World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins at WrestleMania 40. Rollins is currently out with an injury but has vowed he will defend his title at the two-night show this April. This match will mark McIntyre’s third time competing in a World Championship match at WrestleMania.
The match will mark the first time that this iteration of the World Heavyweight Championship has been defended at a WrestleMania. This version of the title was introduced in 2023 with Seth Rollins winning the gold in the finals of a 12-man tournament at WWE Night of Champions last May.
WWE WrestleMania 40
Here is the card for WWE WrestleMania 40 as it currently stands:
IYO (c) Vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
WWE’s roster has some notable contracts that are set to expire this year, and one of them has not inked a new deal. Drew McIntyre’s contract situation is a very interesting one, especially considering everything they’re booking for the Scottish Warrior.
Drew McIntyre’s Contract Situation
Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract has a big question mark over it right now. At this point, he has not inked a new deal, but all signs point to the idea that he will be sticking around.
Not only is McIntyre throwing jabs at CM Punk with his latest merchandise, but he is also booked for shows past his contract expiration date. Although it appears that WWE has plans for him, Drew has not agreed to terms on a new deal.
McIntyre’s current contract is supposedly up after WrestleMania. WWE was able to extend it a bit due to time he missed.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, although Drew McIntyre has not signed on the dotted line just yet, all signs point to him agreeing to another contract with WWE.
While one would think McIntyre has signed his new deal, and I’d at this point be shocked if he goes anywhere given they’ve set up a major Rhodes vs. McIntyre program, seemingly for after Mania, and he’s got an already-written program with Punk that he’s been pushing hard for around November. But there is no new deal signed yet but clearly the expectation is that he’s staying and he’s in the best position he’s ever been given between his work and how hot the company is.
Drew McIntyre’s Future in WWE
Drew McIntyre and CM Punk seem destined for battle, but the Second City Savior will be out of action for a while with his triceps injury. Only time will tell if McIntyre is able to stay around WWE long enough to see Punk return to action.
In the meantime, McIntyre is in the 2024 Elimination Chamber match, where he is battling for a chance to take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40.
SEScoops will have more updates on this story as additional information is available.
‘The Scottish Warrior’ faces backlash ahead of his important match at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24. For months, Drew McIntyre has taken the standpoint that he hates the Bloodline(Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa) in his storyline.
He has spoken openly about how they have cost him opportunities and will never forgive them. However, on the February 19 episode of Monday Night Raw, fans pointed out that McIntyre seemed fine when Uso and Sikoa helped him defeat Cody Rhodes. ‘The American Nightmare’ was on the verge of landing the Cross Rhodes on McIntyre until Sikoa hit Rhodes with the Samoan Spike. Uso also made sure to distract the referee so that the official wouldn’t notice
The illegal assault allowed ‘The Scottish Warrior’ to get the win over Rhodes and build momentum towards the WWE Elimination Chamber this weekend. McIntyre will enter the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, with a win earning him a title match against Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April.
WWE Commentator Michael Cole and fans have called out McIntyre for taking the Bloodline’s help and called him a hypocrite. Ahead of the upcoming premium live event, the former WWE Champion has decided on TikTok to give his response to the criticism.
WWE shared McIntyre’s response on Twitter. In the video, the WWE superstar shared that he arrived in Perth, Australia, for WWE Elimination Chamber quickly after the February 19 episode. He also called out Cole and Pat McAfee in character for their comments on the show.
“…I’m not a hypocrite. Don’t be pushing a false narrative to the masses when you have such power to influence. Come to the source and understand the big picture,” said McIntyre.
Drew McIntyre Explains His Thoughts On Bloodline Helping Him
Although it seems clear that McIntyre was fine accepting Uso and Sikoa’s interference in his match, he decided to give his perspective. The former WWE Champion also sent a warning to Sikoa that he would attack him when the time was right.
“…Watch Monday back. Look in my eyes. What do you see? You clearly see I wanted to attack Solo, and when the time is right, I will, but I’ve grown as a person, a competitor, a leader. I can’t be selfish. I have to do what is right for the fans and the future of the world title,” said McIntyre.
He explained that defeating Rhodes on the February 19 episode was important and a confidence boost heading into WWE Elimination Chamber. It was ‘The American Nightmares’ second loss since his return to WWE in 2022.
The February 19 episode of Monday Night Raw gave McIntyre a small character change, showing that he will do what is necessary to become a champion, including working with the Bloodline.
WWE has treated Cody Rhodes like a bona fide Superstar since he made his return to the company. As Cody continues the mission to finish his story, that doesn’t give a lot of time to lose matches.
Cody Rhodes’ Big Loss
Monday’s WWE Raw kicked off with Cody Rhodes against Drew McIntyre. The match took a dramatic turn when The Bloodline intervened to assist McIntyre.
Jimmy Uso’s interference led to his ejection from ringside, while Solo Sikoa made his presence felt by attacking Rhodes with a Samoan spike. As he seized the opportunity, McIntyre delivered a devastating Claymore Kick to secure the victory via pinfall, which marked a very rare loss for The American Nightmare.
According to CageMatch.net, this loss represents Rhodes’ first television singles match defeat since May 2016, when he was known as Stardust and lost to Zack Ryder on an episode of Superstars. Since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Rhodes has only suffered singles match losses to Reigns and Brock Lesnar on television or premium live events.
Rhodes’ most recent loss took place last November on WWE RAW, when he and Jey Uso dropped the Undisputed Tag Team Titles to The Judgment Day. Since then, WWE has protected him in a big way, but they also gave a huge win to Drew McIntyre this week in the process.
What’s Next For Cody Rhodes in WWE
This defeat comes as Rhodes prepares to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40. Additionally, Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins are scheduled to appear on the Grayson Waller Effect at Elimination Chamber this Saturday, where WWE is anticipated to finalize a match between Rhodes & Rollins and The Rock & Reigns for the first night of WrestleMania.
That Solo Sikoa interference was the same spot that saw Cody lose to Roman at WrestleMania 39. Odds are, WWE is setting fans up for the same spot at Mania 40, but Cody will kick out next time.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and many more, on the road to WrestleMania 40.
Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.
Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.
WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 50 days away
Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 16, 2024:
WWE News and Notes
– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT is officially SOLD OUT with over 11,000 tickets distributed, per Wrestletix.
SmackDown will feature appearances from The Rock and Roman Reigns, as well as Elimination Chamber qualifying matches with:
– WWE saw a notable behind-the-scenes departure on February 15th. Jennifer Pepperman has left WWE. She a senior writer and producer who was heavily involved with the Women’s division on SmackDown.
We’ve updated our WWE Releases tracker to reflect Pepperman’s departure.
– Speaking of WWE releases, former voice of Monday Night RawKevin Patrick has already landed his next gig. He’ll be part of the panel for the second season of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of these stories, and everything else that breaks in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates!
WWE has several interesting contract situations going on right now. Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins and others have to deal with signing a new contract or seeking other opportunities. Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract is approaching its end as well, and we have more information.
Leading up to last year’s WWE WrestleMania, it was indicated that Drew McIntyre’s contract would expire before WrestleMania 40. McIntyre himself was considering the possibility that 2023 might mark his final WrestleMania appearance. However, recent developments suggest otherwise. Sources within WWE have confirmed that McIntyre is indeed slated to participate in WrestleMania.
A brand-new report from Sean Ross Sapp at Fightful Select said that McIntyre’s contract has been extended beyond WrestleMania. It appears that additional time was negotiated due to injury and periods of inactivity.
Fightful Select has confirmed that McIntyre’s deal now extends past WrestleMania, and that some injury and inactivity time was added to the deal in order to get it there.
What’s Next For Drew McIntyre in WWE
Sources close to Drew McIntyre have reportedly said that discussions between him and WWE management regarding a new contract are ongoing. While there is a mutual interest in reaching an agreement, it’s important to note that a deal has not been finalized.
It was also emphasized that McIntyre is highly regarded within the company, both among fellow talent and staff. His dedication to his craft, as well as his involvement in media and community events, has earned him widespread respect.
Drew McIntyre’s future with WWE remains uncertain despite being advertised for an event past his current contract’s expiration date.
The Scottish Warrior’s future with WWE has been under speculation for some time. Last year, it was reported that his contract was going to expire in early 2024. In September, McIntyre said that has no intentions to work elsewhere. It was also reported that time has been added to Drew’s WWE contract due to his post-WrestleMania 39 hiatus.
Drew McIntyre Has Yet to Re-Sign
Earlier this week, WWE announced an event on May 1 in Bologna, Italy that McIntyre is being advertised for. This led to speculation that Drew had signed a new contract given that his current deal expires in April. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer made clear this is not the case.
“The answer to that is no he has not signed a new deal, but he seems very happy so far with his new character and he’s really excited about it, and they’re working with the idea that he’s not going anywhere.”
Addressing reports that McIntyre could let his WWE deal expire so he can have time to go back to Scotland, Meltzer said it was unlikely.
“I think the talk of him taking a lot of time off and everything like that – probably not. He’ll probably sign a new deal. But it’s still just a ‘probable’ until it happens.”
Ticket and VIP packages are already being advertised for the event. As always, the talent is subject to change. At this time, no matches have been confirmed.
Fans of The Walking Dead may be thrilled to see the show return with ‘The Ones Who Live‘ but Drew McIntyre isn’t pleased.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will see series regulars Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) return to the post-apocalyptic United States that has been ravaged by a zombie apocalypse. The show will serve as a direct sequel to the original The Walking Dead series.
The Ones Who Live will be the sixth spin-off and overall seventh television series in The Walking Dead franchise. The show will premiere with its first episode ‘Years’ on AMC and AMC+ on February 25.
Drew McIntyre Takes On The Walking Dead
This week, the Walking Dead Twitter account shared a promo video featuring Rick Grimes in combat gear. Borrowing a line from the first Scottish-born WWE Champion, those behind the Walking Dead’s Twitter account prayed for the return of Rick and it happened.
Unimpressed, McIntyre shared a prayer of his own, saying he wanted the show to end after its third season in 2013.
Drew McIntyre could be sticking with WWE for the foreseeable future if the line-up for an upcoming European event is anything to go by.
McIntyre’s future with WWE has been under speculation for some time. Last year, it was reported that his contract was going to expire in early 2024. In September, McIntyre said that has no intentions to work elsewhere. It was also reported that time has been added to Drew’s WWE contract due to his post-WrestleMania 39 hiatus.
McIntyre is reportedly open to letting his current deal lapse if he feels it is right. The first Scottish-born WWE Champion has long stated that he would like to spend some extended time back in Scotland. It has been years since he’s had the chance to have more than a quick visit with his family as these days he lives full-time in the United States.
Drew McIntyre Being Advertised
Drew McIntyre is being advertised for the upcoming WWE live event in Bologna, Italy. That event will take place in May, despite McIntyre’s current deal with WWE being set to expire shortly after WrestleMania 40 in April. Neither McIntyre nor WWE have publicly confirmed whether a new deal has been reached.
WWE in Bologna, Italy
WWE will host its Italy live event on May 1, mere days before WWE Backlash: France on May 4. Other names being advertised include Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso.
Ticket and VIP packages are already being advertised for the event. As always, the talent is subject to change. At this time, no matches have been confirmed.
Triple H was present for Cody’s decision at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Taking to Twitter, the WWE’s Chief Content Officer made it clear that the decision has been made.
WWE U.S Champion Logan Paul had backed Cody Rhodes in the run-up to the press conference. On social media, Paul shared a video of his reaction to Cody’s decision and The Rock slapping him.
Cody’s fellow AEW alum Amanda Huber spoke highly of Rhodes and is excited to see him finish the story in April.
If you want to know the type of man @CodyRhodes (and @WWEBigE )is, he drove 5+ hours the day after Christmas to be in the room with me to tell Brodie Jon was going to pass.
He held him as he cried. Then he took him to the beach and filed kites.
TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth used some political satire to explain what’s going on with the Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns/The Rock dynamic.
What an insane press conference! Biden appears to be in trouble, not just polling-wise. And quickly forcing an outsider to take his place for 2024, would appear to jump Kamala, (who’s polling even lower than biden)
With Cody Rhodes not challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship, Drew McIntyre is pleased that his quest to win the gold became all that much clearer.
Seth Rollins opened up WWE RAW this week, and he commented on how big his pop was. Then he mentioned SmackDown and said that he smells what’s cooking. This received a lot of boos from the crowd, and then Rollins said, “I think it sounds like you guys want Cody.”
Rollins said that he wants Cody too, and then fans booed the idea of that WrestleMania match instead of Rhodes vs Reigns. When Cody asked, “what do we wanna talk about?” The St. Louis crowd chanted, “Rocky sucks” and “We Want Cody.” This was followed by even more “Rocky sucks” chants.
Rollins admitted he didn’t expect to hear that chant. Michael Cole asked if it’s 1996 on commentary.’ There were also tons of “We Want Cody” signs in the crowd, which were handed out.
Then, Rollins pressed Cody once again to accept the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania. He wanted to know he’s better than he was when they faced off before.
Seth Rollins asked Cody if he’s going to fight him at WrestleMania, and the fans booed. Suddenly, Drew McIntyre came out to insert himself into the situation. He begged Cody to finish his story, and the fans agreed.
Rollins told McIntyre that he wouldn’t get a match against him for the title, because he’s beat him twice. Then Drew reminded Seth that Cody already beat him three times.
The segment ended with McIntyre nailing a headbutt on Rollins, and then Cody knocked Drew out of the ring. The WrestleMania match with Cody vs Seth was not officially booked, but fans certainly let WWE know how they felt about The Rock.
What Would It Take To Change Roman Reigns vs The Rock at WrestleMania
As previously reported, the match between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is confirmed. Despite any fan opinions, The Rock insisted on this contest, and it’s set to proceed as planned.
Due to CM Punk’s injury, WWE adjusted the lineup, resulting in Seth Rollins facing Cody Rhodes instead. The possibility of a triple threat match involving Cody, Rock, and Roman was never considered.
Additional information confirms that the current arrangement is unlikely to change unless The Rock withdraws. This decision has been under The Rock’s control since January 1st, when he first asserted his authority on the Day 1 episode of RAW.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but that doesn’t seem to sway WWE fans who were set on seeing Cody Rhodes finish his story.
Cody and The Rock shared an embrace during SmackDown, in what many have seen as confirmation that Rock will face Reigns at WrestleMania instead of Rhodes. Many online have disagreed with the idea, given Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to Reigns last year and how his story has always been about winning the WWE Championship (now part of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship) that his father never captured.
On Twitter, Brandi Rhodes referred to her husband as a quarterback, indicating that he is a reliable hand that WWE can count on.
Danielle Moinet, better known to WWE fans as Summer Rae, was far from pleased, stating that after two years of build, this twist doesn’t make sense.
Imagine handing over your Wrestlemania match that you beat 29 other ppl for…AFTER a two year build
I’m all for twists & turns but make it make sense! Gosh I hope we are ALL wrong. I hope it all makes sense next Fri in a Rock Roman promo, that is if either of them show up to tv
Echoing Cody’s comment about taking everything from Reigns, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful said that this storyline is doing much more harm to the American Nightmare.
This week on Raw, Punk addressed the fans and said he will miss this year’s WrestleMania. Eventually, Drew McIntyre interrupted him and said that “I’m not a spiritual person, but I prayed for this to happen.” Then Punk said that he would be coming back for McIntyre when he returns.
It’s worth noting that McIntyre’s future in WWE is uncertain. His contract is not confirmed beyond April. Meanwhile, Punk’s return from injury is likely to be around in September. Now, the question stands what will be the future of the feud.
Uncertainty looms over CM Punk-Drew McIntyre feud
Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that a reasonable timeline for CM to return is in September. Given Drew McIntyre’s contract status, doubt remains what the future holds for the storyline.
I’d say September is a reasonable return (for CM Punk). Which is interesting, really interesting, because they set up the big angle with Drew McIntyre tonight to be his opponent when he returns, and Drew McIntyre’s not under contract past April. And that has not changed. Which really surprised me when I watched it.”
This is not the first time Punk has suffered this injury. He has sustained a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. After immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months and made his return for the debut of AEW Collision show. We will have to wait and see when he is able to return this time around.
The ‘Road To WrestleMania’ may look bleak for WWE superstar CM Punk. He competed at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 for the first time in over a decade and looked in good shape. However, fans noticed he favored his arm in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
According to PWInsider, Punk suffered a torn triceps during Saturday’s Royal Rumble match. Sources indicate that he will need surgery, which would keep him out for 4-6 months.
‘The belief among sources we have spoken with is that post-surgery, CM Punk would likely need in the area of 4-6 months of recovery and physical therapy.’
Punk is expected to address the WWE Universe on the January 29 episode of Monday Night Raw from Tampa, FL.
How did CM Punk’s Injury Occur?
Fans have pointed out that Punk looked hurt after he took a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The report noted that Punk allegedly told a referee during the match that it was his tricep.
CM Punk might've injured his arm last night #RoyalRumble
he was clutching his right arm after the DDT and spent several minutes in the corner having a lengthy chat with the referee. hopefully it's nothing serious. pic.twitter.com/yPf7ZS3hqz
PWInsider has confirmed CM Punk did suffer a torn triceps during the Royal Rumble, likely on a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre, and will need surgery. His Wrestlemania hopes have been dashed. Thankfully for WWE, they have a deep bench, but that’s a huge blow to that card.
While it seemed WWE was leaning towards a Punk and Rollins showdown at WWE WrestleMania 40, they have also teased WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther as the title challenger. On the January 22 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, ‘The Ringe General’ had an in-ring segment with Rollins and showed interest in becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Although Punk vs. Rollins may have been in the works, a potential title vs. title match between Gunther and Rollins could make for a big program for WWE WrestleMania 40. If Punk is injured, hopefully, he can fully recover and reignite his feud with Rollins later this year.
WWE presented the Royal Rumble go-home edition of SmackDown from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida tonight with the final build for the PLE tomorrow.
The show opened with a confrontation between Randy Orton, AJ Styles and LA Knight before they all challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed title in a Fatal Four-way match on Saturday. This segment ended with Knight retreating while AJ caught Orton with a Pele Kick.
The show also included a face-off between The Pride and The Final Testament and a Women’s Tag Team Championship match where The Kabuki Warriors defeated Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to capture the gold.
What Happened After SmackDown
The main event of SmackDown saw LA Knight taking on Solo Sikoa in a singles match. Though the bout ended in a double disqualification after AJ Styles came out of nowhere and delivered a Phenomenal Forearm to Knight.
The whole thing quickly turned into a brawl with Jimmy Uso and Randy Orton also joining in on the fight. Randy Orton hit an RKO to Styles after taking out both Bloodline members. LA Knight then delivered a BFT to The Viper and the Megastar stood tall in the ring to end the broadcast.
Though Orton remained in the arena for quite a while after the show went off air and greeted the fans for as long as he could.
That wasn’t all as fans also got to see Drew McIntyre in action after SmackDown. McIntyre faced The Miz in a singles match. The stars delivered an entertaining match for the crowd before the Scottish Warrior picked up the victory with the Claymore Kick.
WWE Raw star Drew McIntyre made a surprise appearance on this week’s episode of SmackDown and picked up an impressive victory after the show went off the air.
The first SmackDown of 2024 was an eventful show with a number of big developments. This included Kevin Owens defeating Santos Escobar to become the #1 contender for Logan Paul’s US title.
The main event of the show was a triple threat match among AJ Styles, Randy Orton and LA Knight to determine the #1 contender for Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble.
All three of these men were committed to earning a shot at the glory of defeating The Tribal Chief. The very physical match between them even led to Knight getting busted open the hard way during a spot.
What Happened After SmackDown
The match however ended without a winner when The Bloodline attacked all three participants. Nick Aldis then revealed that Reigns will now have to face all three of these competitors in a fatal four way at the upcoming PLE.
The broadcast ended with The Bloodline standing tall in the ring but the night was far from over. Fans got to see not one but three dark matches after this bout.
The first two dark matches after the show ended saw Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley picking respective victories over Chelsea Green and Ivy Nile.
The third and final dark match was between Drew McIntyre and Ricochet. The One and Only showed some impressive moves but McIntyre ended up picking the victory after delivering Claymore.
This week’s WWE NXT saw the gold brand continue to build towards the upcoming New Year’s Evil show. The show pulled in an impressive 670,000 viewers, which is respectable considering it happened on Boxing Day when viewerships across TV take a dive. On Twitter, Dijak, who competed in the main event against Eddy Thorpe, was pleased to take credit for the impressive number.
DIJAK once again huge unbelievable breathtakingly massive draw CONFIRMED.
Next year, WWE NXT will begin airing on the CW Network and leave its current home on the USA Network. This week, it was announced that the gold brand has been axed from TNT Sports, which is how it is broadcasted in the UK. The show began airing on Sky Sports and later BT Sports (now TNT Sports) in January 2020.
The Undertaker’s Mount Rushmore
The Undertaker is on many people’s Mt. Rushmore of wrestlers, but who is on the Phenom’s rankings of the greatest stars of all time? On his Six Feet Under podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer named Arn Anderson, The Rock, Ric Flair, and Dusty Rhodes as his Mt. Rushmore.
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.
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.
Drew McIntyre hasn’t competed for ICW in years but recently gave a message to the promotion. In a video to the Scottish-based promotion, McIntyre reflected on his favorite ICW moments, as the company will no longer be hosting its Fight Club events.
On last week’s SmackDown, Randy Orton made it clear he’s coming for the Bloodline but was in no hurry to get in the ring. During his entrance, WWE cut to a commercial and in off-air footage, fans can see Orton taking his time at ringside while Roman Reigns stands in the ring.
That ad break was so awkwardly placed on Smackdown.
WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle may be a huge name in wrestling, but the Olympian recently went viral as part of a meme. The meme itself shows a frazzled-looking Kurt, which Angle reacted to on his podcast.
“I know that that video you know, it’s kind of a weird-looking face, but for some strange reason everybody caught on and wanted to throw out some memes and I was the butt of the joke, I guess.”
Kurt later joked that he could just get paid to make that facial expression all day. Merchandise of the meme is already available.
The Undertaker Adds Shows
As reported earlier this month, The Undertaker will be heading to Australia next February to host his 1deadMan show. WWE has now confirmed that the Deadman will be hitting three more towns. The Phenom will be appearing in Peth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. WWE will be in Australia in February for the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event.