The next WWE vs. AEW head-to-head battle will take place later this month. On Saturday, November 30, AEW’s Collision and Rampage will air consecutively on TNT starting at 4pm EST and wrapping up at 7. Meanwhile, WWE Survivor Series is scheduled to begin at 6pm (with a kickoff show), creating an overlap with AEW’s programming

WWE legend The Undertaker seems to be everywhere these days. Over the past few weeks, the Dead Man interviewed US President-Elect Donald Trump on his podcast, and was spotted hanging out with actor Matthew McConaughey at a Texas Longhorns football game over the weekend. On Tuesday, ESPN released photos of The Undertaker modeling the a new ‘kit’ for Italian football club Genoa CFC.

The WWE Vault YouTube channel has shared a 35-minute video of classic Survivor Series team promos dating back to the 1980’s. There’s no doubt in-ring wrestling has evolved a great deal over the past 35 years, but they just don’t cut promos like they used to.

Triple H posted the official WWE Survivor Series 2024 poster on social media featuring the past and present members of The Bloodline. Interestingly, only four men are shown from each time, while their WarGames match will be 5-on-5.

Finally, ECW original Francine had a small role at last week’s NXT 2300 special, but says she turned down several offers to do more on the show. On her Eyes Up Here podcast, the “Queen of Extreme” reveals she was initially asked to be the special guest referee for the match between Jaida Parker and Lola Vice. After a talk with her husband, who reminded her she’s had five stomach surgeries, she decided against doing anything physical.

She suggested being a guest time keeper instead, but never got a response. The night before the show, she was offered a speaking role, but had to decline that because she’d lost her voice. In the end, she was shown in the crowd as a special guest.

She wishes she could have done more, but just being included was enough for her to celebrate the memory of ECW one more time.

There is always discussions about unionizing in professional wrestling, according to ECW alum Francine, who believes that for all this talk, talent may be scared to do so. On her Eyes Up Here podcast, Francine discussed the possibility of whether a union in wrestling will ever happen.

“There’s always been somebody saying, ‘you know we really should start a union.’ and it never ever happens. It never happens.”

Francine recalled being approached recently by “somebody who has a bit of clout” about possibly forming a union. The ECW alum was approached as this ‘somebody’ wanted names to support the idea. Since then, Francine hasn’t heard anything about this latest attempt to unionize and isn’t entirely surprised.

“I don’t know if the boys are scared to do it because they might not get work, but I don’t know it’s a touchy subject.” 

Wrestling & Unions

Jesse Ventura tried to forge a union in professional wrestling in an act that ultimately cost him his job in the WWF. For years, including on a recent media appearance, Ventura has claimed that Hulk Hogan ‘tattled’ on him to Vince McMahon and that the Hulkster was opposed to unionization benefitting others.

In 2020, talk of unionization sprang up again as WWE clamped down on talent engaging in third-party deals without their involvement. Mere minutes after Zelina Vega shared her support for unionization, she was released from WWE in a move that spawned backlash among fans. Vega was rehired by WWE the following year and remains employed to this day.

When Freddie Prinze Jr. shared intentions to launch his own wrestling promotion, he claimed that talent would be welcomed into the SAG-AFTRA union for actors. In the years since then though, Prinze’s promotion has yet to launch, though the former WWE writer continues to give updates on a planned broadcast deal.

WWE 2K24 is on the way, and we just got the full roster reveal today. That being said, not everyone is happy about the upcoming game. Now, ECW legend Francine is threatening to take things to court.

Francine is Not Happy

A recent tweet has garnered the interest of a former WWE/ECW star. This all started when 2K dropped a sneak peek of Liv Morgan’s entrance on Twitter/X.

On Wednesday, 2K Games shared a tweet featuring a clip of Liv Morgan’s entrance in the WWE 2K24 video game, accompanied by the caption: “Queen of Extreme @YaOnlyLivvOnce #FirstLook #WWE2K24.”

You Only Liv Once @YaOnlyLivvOnce #FirstLook #WWE2K24 pic.twitter.com/yfCk4ULNzG

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) February 21, 2024

This tweet caught the attention of Francine, renowned for her work as a valet, who holds the trademark rights to “Queen of Extreme.” Francine, who was associated with ECW from 1995 to 2001 and WWE from 2005 to 2006, issued a legal warning to 2K Games. She apparently didn’t appreciate the gimmick infringement on her intellectual property. 

“I have The Queen of Extreme trademarked. Do you need something sent to you guys again from my lawyer?”

Hey @WWEgames I have The Queen of Extreme trademarked. Do you need something sent to you guys again from my lawyer?

— Francine (@ECWDivaFrancine) February 21, 2024

As of this writing, 2K has taken down the tweet and replaced it. Liv Morgan has also refrained from speaking on the matter. Francine could be serious, but odds are she was just making it clear that there is only one true Queen of Extreme.

WWE 2K24 Release Date

The upcoming WWE 2K24 game is now available for pre-order on various platforms, including Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X on March 8th. It offers standard, deluxe, and cross-gen digital editions, along with a special WWE 2K24 Forty Years of WrestleMania edition.

Update: Liv Morgan Responds

Liv Morgan saw this situation, and how 2K had to delete that original tweet. Then she responded by mentioning her new self-appointed nickname that would not infringe on any trademark.

Queen of extremely absurd physical feats ?? https://t.co/d0gDM0okKr

— LIV Morgan (@YaOnlyLivvOnce) February 21, 2024

ECW alum Francine has reflected on a moment from the company in which she nearly lost her sight, stating nothing compares to the original promotion. 

Francine was a staple of the original ECW and was one of the most featured women in the promotion’s history. This week marked 25 years since one of ECW’s most dominant tag teams, the Impact Players was formed. The duo of Lance Storm and Justin Credible. 

During their formation, Credible and Storm brawled with Shane Douglas, who was being managed by Francine at the time. During a shocking moment (even by ECW standards!) Credible swung for Douglas with a cane but clocked Francine in the face. Taking to Twitter, Francine recalled nearly being blinded by the shot and named Paul Heyman as someone who told her not to block. 

This was BRUTAL @HeymanHustle told me not to block it, so I didn’t. The kendo stick hit me right in the face/cheekbone. An inch more and I could have went blind. Nothing compares to the original #ECW! https://t.co/nF3mTEDFlo

— Francine (@ECWDivaFrancine) February 20, 2024

What Came Next for Francine? 

By the time ECW closed its doors in 2001, Francine was managing Justin Credible, though was not signed to the WWF as part of the Invasion angle. Instead, Francine debuted for NWA: TNA in June 2002 and would feud with fellow ECW alum Elektra. 

In 2005, Francine appeared for WWE as part of the ECW One Night Stand event, where she was attacked by Beulah McGillicutty. The next year, she signed with WWE as part of the revamped ECW brand. After competing in house show bikini contests, Francine would face Ariel to a no-contest on the September 26, 2006, edition of ECW on Sci-Fi before being released the next month. 

In July 2021, Francine appeared in a backstage segment in Impact Wrestling via a video call with Brian Myers. 

Francine may have portrayed a sex-heavy character in ECW, but there was a line she wouldn’t cross when she arrived in ECW. 

The ECW original joined WWE in 2006 following the relaunch of the extreme promotion as a third brand. After appearing at that year’s One Night Stand event Francine made a handful of appearances, mostly in bikini contests or similar segments. Her in-ring debut would be in an ‘Extreme Catfight’ during the September 26, 2006, edition of ECW on Sci-Fi. She was released from WWE the following month. 

Absolutely Not!

Francine’s time with WWE was underwhelming, but the former ECW ‘vixen’ wasn’t going to degrade herself to get ahead in the company. During a recent edition of her Eyes Up Here podcast, Francine recalled a member of management encouraging her to use oil on her body to get the attention of Vince McMahon. 

“I mean when I worked there were stories floating around. And again, when I worked there I was told by somebody higher up that if you want to be seen, go get a bottle of oil… rubbing oil all over my b**** and knocking on Vince’s door and going in there and leaning on his desk and trying to get noticed. That’s what I was told to do. And, I said absolutely not. I’m not doing that.” 

There has been renewed interest in McMahon’s relationship with women in WWE due to the lawsuit filed against him by Janel Grant. McMahon resigned from TKO and WWE last month after it was alleged that he had been sexually abusive to Miss Grant and trafficked her to other men in WWE. 

McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.”