SEScoops

Author: Anutosh Bajpai

  • Several Unannounced Legends In Town For Evolution 2 (Report)

    Several WWE legends are in town for Evolution 2.

    The All Women PPV is set to make its return after a long 7 years wait tonight on July 13. The event will be coming live from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. There has been some controversy attached to the PPV however, with fans complaining about the lacklustre build to the show.

    Some have also questioned the lack of legend involvement despite slow ticket sales. Kelly Kelly recently revealed that she turned down an invitation because she didn\’t want to just sit in the crowd in her return. As of this writing, Nikki Bella and Trish Stratus are the only two veterans who have been included in the card for the PLE.

    Now Fightful Select has revealed some more names that will atleast be making an appearance tonight. According to them, Jazz, Leilani Kai, Torrie Wilson and Madusa are all in Atlanta for tonight\’s show.

    Though one name who is not expect at Evolution 2 despite her recent involvement is Gail Kim. The TNA veteran has been at several NXT shows in recent times.

    Her relationship with the new WWE regime is said to be significantly better than the previous management. Despite being recognized as one of the trailblazers of women\’s revolution however, Kim is not planned for an appearance at the event.

    Trish Stratus also recently commented on the rushed build to the Evolution PPV. You can check out her comments on the matter here.

  • Injury That Led To Adam Cole Relinquishing TNT Title Confirmed

    Reason why Adam Cole is stepping away from AEW has been revealed.

    The wrestling veteran was scheduled to defend his TNT Championship against Kyle Fletcher at last night\’s All In Texas PPV. Hours before the show however, Tony Khan announced that Cole was unable to compete at the show.

    The wrestling star still made an appearance at the PPV. It was unfortunately, to relinquish the TNT title in person and address the crowd. Cole and his Paragon teammates were all very emotional during the whole segment and the now former Champion even hinted that this could be the end of his career.

    Fightful Select has now provided an update on the situation, confirming the fears that Adam Cole has suffered yet another concussion. According to them, the former WWE star is believed to have suffered the injury within the last week. The decision to pull him out of the show was made early morning on Saturday, because he wasn\’t feeling very well.

    The former NXT Champion previously spent almost 9 months on the shelf after suffering two back-to-back concussions in mid-2022. The road to recovery from those concussions was not an easy one for the 36-year-old.

    Cole previously revealed that for months, he couldn\’t even spend 15 minutes inside a car, and he was only cleared to take short walks by doctors. His body was not responding to his commands and at one point, Adam was worried about the quality of his life going forward.

    SEScoops wishes a speedy recovery to Adam Cole.

  • Kenny Omega Reveals His Fear About Young Talents

    Kenny Omega has expressed concern about young talents not taking care of their bodies.

    The former AEW Champion has faced a number of health problems in recent years that have kept him away from ring for an extended period. Combined with the wear and tear he has put on his body over the years, Omega now has to be very careful about the risks he takes in his matches while also trying to deliver the level of performance fans expect from him.

    During his recent appearance on Wrestling Observer Radio, Kenny Omega reflected on the problem of people taking too many risks in their early years only to end up suffering for it later in their lives:

    “It almost becomes like you’re chasing the dragon and you don’t want to get to a level where things become too physically demanding, too dangerous, too self-harm inflicting where now you have younger guys, and I’ve been there, ‘Hey, I can take the schedule and still ramp it up.’ You feel that way until you can’t.\”

    That\’s My Fear: Kenny Omega

    Kenny Omega mentioned how putting on good matches regularly is a double-edged sword for AEW. The company is known to give away dream matches on their weekly TV shows without a lot of build-up. However, this leads to the fans expecting talents to go above and beyond that when they\’re booked for a PPV.

    The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion discussed how this approach can lead to young guys with a bright future beating themselves up to a point where they cannot enjoy the fruits of their labor when the time comes:

    \”My worry is that we’re going to have these young guys with incredibly bright futures who are beating themselves up at an accelerated rate so that when it comes time to place faith in a particular athlete or performer, and by that, I mean put the belt on them, can they hold that belt in a healthy state for the long-term?

    That’s my fear. I see the writing on the wall for me. I already know where I’m headed and the pace I need to travel at and perform at. I know I’m not invincible. I’ve had the injury and health scares.

    I know I have to be careful and pick and choose my moments. You can’t tell a young person, ‘This is going to happen down the road. Trust me.’ Everyone knows it, because I was one of them too, ‘Speak for yourself. I’m fine.’ It’s just how it is.”

    This interview came only days before one of AEW\’s top stars in Adam Cole, had to vacate the TNT Championship due to an injury. The former NXT Champion was set to compete at All in Texas, and the news of him relinquishing the belt came only hours before the PPV.

    This is the third time since 2021 that the 36-year-old has been put on the shelf in the middle of a big program, forcing the company to make major changes to their plans. Cole cut an emotional promo at the PPV, indicating that this might be the end of his wrestling career.

  • Athena Asked About Goldberg\’s Retirement Match: I Don\’t Care About Anyone Else

    Athena says she is focused only on herself and her achievements.

    The ROH Women\’s Champion took part in the post-All In press conference. This came after she won the women\’s gauntlet match at the PPV event earlier in the day.

    During the media scrum she was asked if her win at the show was more impressive than the retirement match of Goldberg taking place on the same day. Replying to the question, Athena said that she is focused only on her own history making career and she doesn\’t really care about anyone else:

    \”I focus on me and my championship reign. I\’ve traveled all around the world. I am a history maker. Time and time again, I have made history. I was the first woman to main event a pay-per-view in Hammerstein Ballroom.

    A first woman to main event under the Tony Khan banner. I am here to stay. I am focused on me and my championship reign. I don\’t care about anyone else right now. Right now, this is my time.\”

    Goldberg\’s last match was held in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. The former WCW Champion challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship but lost the bout after the Ring General locked him into a sleeper hold.

    Tonight\’s win earns Athena a future shot at the AEW Women\’s Championship held by Toni Storm. There is no word on when or where this match will be taking place but Tony Khan has said that he\’ll be addressing the matter on TV soon.

  • Seth Rollins Injury Led To Major Change In SNME Plans (Report)

    Seth Rollins\’ injury led to some big changes to tonight\’s WWE show.

    The Architect went up against LA Knight at the July 2025 edition of Saturday Night\’s Main Event. The bout had to be cut short, however, when Rollins suffered a leg injury. Reports that have come out since then have confirmed that the injury is legit and not part of any angle.

    Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer provided some more updates on the situation later in the day. He revealed that WWE had to rework the ending of the event in light of Seth\’s injury:

    “The last 40 minutes of the show was changed on the fly, and there was something that was supposed to happen later that didn’t as a result of the injury,”

    The injury also puts the future of the Money In The Bank briefcase currently held by Seth Rollins in doubt. Though in kayfabe he has until next June to cash in, so it\’s possible that Rollins will hold onto the contract even as he recovers.

    WWE did not abandon the Saturday Night\’s Main Event match despite Seth\’s injury, and LA Knight ended up picking the victory with a BFT. Though reports suggest that it was Rollins who was originally expected to win the bout. You can check out more about it here.

  • Tony Khan Confirms Future Rules For Unified Title After All In Texas

    Tony Khan has confirmed the future of the Unified Title.

    Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada managed to beat International Champion Kenny Omega at All In Texas to become the Unified Champion. Don Callis and members of his faction were at the ringside for this bout and he helped Okada by pulling the referee out of the ring at one point during the match.

    The AEW President addressed the outcome of the bout during the post-All In press conference. He mentioned that the bout tonight was contested under standard AEW match rules instead of the rules that apply to the Continental title:

    “We did it under AEW rules. In this case, for AEW rules, the referee’s decision is final. We’ve gotten through this amazing run, Kazuchika Okada has been the Continental Champion, and there has never been any outsider interference.

    If anybody ever interfered in a Continental Title match, they would be fired. Tonight, we fought a match under the unified rules of AEW, where the referee’s decision is final.\”

    Tony Khan mentioned how Don Callis would have been fired from the company immediately had the bout been contested under Continental Rules. He also explained that since Okada won the bout, all future matches for the Unified title will be contested under Continental rules:

    “In this case, the referee had no way of knowing who pulled him out of the ring or who did anything after you [Callis] incapacitated them. If we had been under Continental rules, I would have fired you for that.

    Going forward, as the Unified Champion, the prevailing rules will be the Continental rules, so there will never be outside interference ever again in a Unified Championship match, now that the Continental rules apply, with the Continental Champion winning.”

  • Watch: What Happened With Goldberg After SNME Went Off Air

    A top WWE star made an appearance to hail Goldberg after his final match at tonight\’s Saturday Night\’s Main Event from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

    The former WCW Champion went up against Gunther at the show. The ending of this match saw the referee getting knocked out with a spear which robbed Goldberg of an opportunity to pin his opponent following a Jackhammer.

    In the end, the World Champion managed to retain his title after putting the wrestling legend in a sleeper hold. Gunther quickly left the arena after his win, but Goldberg remained in the ring for a while.

    What Happened After Saturday Night\’s Main Event

    The rest of the locker room came out to celebrate the 58-year-old. Goldberg\’s son Gage, also joined him in the ring alongside the legends that were in the arena for this bout, including DDP.

    The former world champion first cut a promo for his hometown crowd, talking about how he had never lost a match in Atlanta before. After his speech, former Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes came out and he cut a promo to end the night.

    Not everything went according to plan during the show however, as Seth Rollins seemingly suffered an injury during his match against LA Knight at the event. You can check out the latest update on his health here.

  • Inactive AEW Star Comments On Potential All In Texas Return

    An inactive AEW star has confirmed his status for All In Texas.

    The Elite promotion is set to present the 2025 edition of its flagship PPV from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, today, on July 12. The company is usually known to deliver big at their premium shows with 5-star matches as well as plenty of surprises and unexpected moments for the fans.

    One such moment many were hoping to see was the return of Keith Lee, after the heavyweight star confirmed last month that his health was not the reason for his continued absence from TV.

    A fan tweeted about the same to the former WWE star ahead of today\’s show. Lee however, confirmed that he\’ll be absent from the event:

    \”Please tell the youngling that I must request his forgiveness as I will be absent. However, I am hopeful you guys have an absolute blast. Enjoy yourselves! All my love and gratitude.\”

    Keith Lee is on the list of wrestling stars that have not been seen on AEW TV for a long time without any explanation behind his absence.

    His last televised match came during a December 2023 Collision episode. After being pulled from a scheduled Worlds End match that month, Lee announced that he\’ll be undergoing double surgery and he has been away ever since.

  • Trish Stratus Discusses Lacklustre Build For Evolution 2

    Trish Stratus has commented on the rushed build to Evolution 2.

    The return of the All Women PPV had been something both the fans and the female roster had been demanding for a long time. The promotion finally gave in when they announced Evolution 2, almost 7 years after the first show.

    The build for the PPV has been lacklustre, however. With the officials focusing on their return to Saudi Arabia, they hadn\’t announced any main roster matches for the show until only a couple of weeks ago. The rivalries have also not been given much time to develop before the PPV.

    The WWE Hall of Famer commented on this during a recent interview with NotSam Wrestling. Trish Stratus first noted how the whole match card for the PPV has been put together in a hurry:

    \”This entire card has seemed to be a quick turnaround as it is unfortunately, and I get it, there’s like 7,000 events a month, it seems like.\”

    Very Boring Segment: Trish Stratus

    Trish Stratus is scheduled to challenge Women\’s Champion Tiffany Stratton for her title at the PLE this Sunday. Fortunately for the two stars, WWE had teased this feud before, so their rivalry feels less rushed than some other matches on the card. The wrestling veteran noted how they\’ve had a built-in storyline for their match because their similar career paths and looks.

    When asked if her brain switches to wrestling mode whenever she is back in WWE, Stratus replied positively. She said both her and Tiffany are looking to deliver in their match at the PPV even if they have not been given the best conditions to develop their story:

    \”Yes, 1,000 percent and there’s a little bit of a saying, like, ‘You can only control what you can control.’ Do I wish there was a bigger build? Do I wish we had a longer segment? Do I wish we didn’t have a very boring segment last week on SmackDown? Sure (she laughed). But, it is what it is.

    You get your time, you do your thing and sometimes things get thrown together. It is what it is, right? To me, the thing I control is the match. I will control the match; we will control the match. We will tell the story; we’ll control the narrative and that’s where I know I can do the work.\”

    Evolution 2 will take place from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on this Sunday, July 13. You can check out which match will main event the show here.

  • Latest Clarification on Hulk Hogan Health Rumors

    Hulk Hogan\’s wife has confirmed his health status.

    Rumors about the WWE Hall of Famer\’s condition started spreading when radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge claimed that the wrestling veteran was in \’dire\’ condition in the hospital and battling for his life.

    Reports later confirmed that Hogan had indeed been admitted to the hospital, though it was for treatment related to his back issues.

    Now Hulk\’s wife Sky Hogan, has provided a further update on his condition. While responding to a fan on social media, she confirmed that the rumors of the 71-year-old being in coma and suffering brain damage are not true:

    “No, he’s definitely not in a coma! His heart is strong, and there was never any lack of oxygen or brain damage… none of those rumors are true.\”

    Sky noted that Hulk Hogan has been recovering from a major four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgery which has a long recovery process. She told the fans that there is no need to panic over his health as Hogan is healing and they\’re taking his recovery one day at a time.

    Hulk Hogan is set to team up with Eric Bischoff to launch a new wrestling promotion dubbed \’Real American Freestlye\’ wrestling soon. You can check out details about its first show set for August here.

  • Jelly Roll Involved With Top WWE Stars In SmackDown Return

    Jelly Roll has started the build for his SummerSlam match.

    The signing star returned to WWE on this week\’s episode of SmackDown for a performance. Before he could complete his show however, Logan Paul interrupted.

    Paul started berating Roll for being an outsider before claiming that WWE loves him. The YouTuber also announced that his Impaulsive podcast has signed a new long-term deal with the company.

    The Rapper finally had enough, and he cut the former US Champion off to tell him that no one cares. Randy Orton then showed up and exchanged words with Logan.

    Drew McIntyre, however, came out of nowhere and levelled the Viper with a Claymore kick. The security dragged McIntyre away but Logan Paul used the opportunity to start beating up Orton. It was Jelly Roll who made the save for Randy as he slammed the fellow celebrity into the mat before helping Randy up.

    The Legend Killer is set to square off against The Scottish Psychopath at Saturday Night\’s Main Event on July 12. So their interaction tonight is not out of place.

    Though with the report of Jelly Roll being eyed for a match at SummerSlam, it seems likely that this feud will continue beyond SNME and the two former world champions will be involved with the celebrity wrestlers at the PPV next month.

  • WWE Confirms Evolution 2 Main Event

    WWE has confirmed which match will main event Evolution 2.

    The All-Women PPV set is to take place from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on this Sunday, July 13. The show will feature names such as Trish Stratus, Nikki Bella and Jade Cargill in action.

    During the latest episode of SmackDown, commentator Wade Barrett provided an update on the show. He announced that the Women\’s World Title match between IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley will be closing out the PPV.

    The two female stars have had 5 singles televised matches against each other since their first encounter at the 2018 Mae Young Classic. Ripley has yet to defeat the Japanese star in singles competition since SKY has won three of their matches, while the other two bouts have ended without a result.

    WWE Evolution 2 Updated Match Card

    • NXT Women\’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) (with Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jordynne Grace
    • Women\’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
    • Fatal Four Way Tag Team Championship Match: The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez) (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane)
    • #1 Contender Battle Royal: Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile, Nia Jax, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Maxxine Dupri, Kelani Jordan, Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Tatum Paxley, Zelina Vega, Giulia, Candice LeRae, B-Fab, Michin, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Alba Fyre
    • WWE Women\’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus
    • No Holds Barred Match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
    • Women\’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

    Cody Rhodes Reveals Painful Lesson From His WrestleMania 38 Return

  • Watch: What Happened With Gunther & Cody Rhodes After SmackDown Went Off Air

    Gunther was in action after this week\’s episode of SmackDown.

    The SNME go-home episode of the Blue Branded show came live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The main event saw Jimmy Uso teaming up with LA Knight to take on Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo in a chaotic match.

    Talla Tonga was at the ringside for this fight, and Paul Heyman showed up towards the end as well. The ending of the bout saw Knight getting distracted by Heyman, which allowed Tonga to take him out. Jimmy Uso however, used the chaos to roll up Sikoa and steal the victory for his team.

    The other members of the Bloodline chased Jimmy after the bell. This left Solo alone in the ring, allowing Knight to hit him with a BFT. Heyman, however, distracted Knight again, leading to Bron Breakker hitting a massive spear outta nowhere. The broadcast ended after Bronson Reed delivered a Tsunami to LA Knight.

    What Happened After SmackDown

    https://youtu.be/YC6wzDQ50HQ

    There were two dark matches that took place after SmackDown went off air. The first match saw Sheamus taking on Ludwig Kaiser. The Celtic Warrior first joked about El Grande Americano during this bout and sang happy birthday to a fan after winning the match.

    The second dark match of the night saw the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther taking on Jey Uso. The Ring General picked up the victory in this extreme bout which featured weapons such as a table and kendo stick.

    Cody Rhodes came out to make the save for his friend when Gunther continued assaulting Jey. The duo then sent the World Champion through a table and Rhodes cut a promo to finally end the night.

  • Jelly Roll Set To Work With Unexpected Name Heading Into SummerSlam

    Jelly Roll is in for an interesting few weeks.

    The music star caught the wrestling bug after his SummerSlam 2024 appearance, and he has been training for an in-ring career ever since.

    PWinsider reported earlier this week that the 40-year-old was finally ready for his first wrestling match, and the company was planning for him to make his in-ring debut at this year\’s SummerSlam event.

    The site has now provided a further update on the plans for Jelly Roll, revealing a surprising name that is expected to have a program with the Grammy-nominated artist in the coming weeks.

    According to the site, fellow celebrity wrestler Logan Paul is planned to be involved in a program with the Rapper ahead of the WWE PPV next month.

    It\’s unknown if the program will lead to the two having a match at the biggest party of the summer. One would think that the officials will choose a more experienced wrestler to be the one working a debuting star in his first match.

    It seems likely that the company will take the Bad Bunny-route with this program, having two full-time roster members joining the celebrities for a tag team match at SummerSlam instead of a singles bout.

    The singing star is expected to make an appearance at SmackDown tonight to kick off his program and we should get a better idea about what the company is planning for him at the event.

  • Doesn\’t Get Enough Credit: The Young Bucks Praise Top AEW Star Ahead of All In

    The Young Bucks have given flowers to one of AEW\’s top stars ahead of All In Texas.

    The duo spoke to Uncrowned for an interview promoting the PPV event this weekend. They talked about things such as Hangman Page being the main character of AEW, how far the company has come since its inception and more.

    During the interview, the brothers also discussed the importance of Jon Moxley for the company. Matt Jackson noted how he was the first major star to jump ship from WWE to AEW and has been a cornerstone of the promotion ever since:

    “Jon was one of the first people who came over and it was truly shocking at the time. He’s been a locker room leader the entire time, and has worked so hard from the beginning,”

    All four members of the Elite have had to take time off from the company for different reasons in the past couple of years. Moxley has continued to be a leader on and off-screen for the promotion in this time.

    The duo noted how the current AEW Champion has always been around even when they have not been, saying that he deserves more credit than he\’s given:

    “You talk about consistency, and drive, you’re talking about Jon. Even times when we weren’t able to be around, Jon was always there to help guide the crew. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done to make AEW thrive.”

    The Young Bucks will be putting their Executive positions with AEW on line against Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay at the All In PPV this weekend. You can check out all the latest news about the show here.

  • Drew McIntyre Reveals What His Final Act In Wrestling Will Be

    Drew McIntyre has revealed what his final chapter in wrestling might look like.

    The former World Champion recently spoke to SI to promote his Saturday Night\’s Main Event match against Randy Orton. During the interview he was asked about the recent reunion of 3MB at Jinder Mahal\’s wedding and if we can see the group reuniting on TV.

    The Scottish Warrior said that he has actually talked about the same with both Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. Drew McIntyre previously mentioned that his current goal is getting the world title back but he can see the band getting back together eventually:

    \”Yeah, there\’s gonna be. I tell Heath and Jinder all the time. I was like I\’m gonna do what I gotta do. I\’m gonna, as I mentioned, get what is mine. But eventually when I feel like it\’s getting close to time, I\’m about to say goodbye.

    That\’s when I throw my mates a bone. We reform 3MB. I don\’t take any bumps. Heath takes all the bumps. Jinder might take a few in there. I\’ll stand in the apron, air guitar like hell. Have a good old time.\”

    Never To Be Seen Again: Drew McIntyre

    Drew McIntyre discussed how people\’s memory of 3MB is different than how the group was perceived at the time of its original run. He then claimed that he might give fans the treat of the group\’s reunion before retiring and leaving the wrestling business for good:

    \”The fun thing about nostalgia is everyone believes we were like The Shield. The way I talk to people when I\’m out meeting all the fans. All the big events, they\’re like, \’God, I love 3MB. You guys were amazing,\’ whatever and they mean it.

    I can tell when somebody\’s lying or not. I\’m like a human lie detector. I learned it through, growing up in this industry. I\’m like, \’Wow, that\’s interesting.\’ Because I guess they would have been kids at the time. They looked at things differently.

    They weren\’t on the internet complaining about everything. They weren\’t so jaded. And they grew up with 3MB and see differently. So yeah, I\’ll give everybody a treat. I\’ll give my boys a payday and boom, I\’ll disappear into the night, never to be seen again.\”

  • Big Update On Dustin Rhodes AEW Future

    Dustin Rhodes will be breaking a career record with AEW.

    The new WWE management has been putting more efforts to celebrate the legends of the business. With his brother Cody Rhodes being treated as one of the company\’s top stars, many wondered if this would prompt Dustin to consider leaving AEW and returning to WWE.

    A new article from Dallas Morning News, however has confirmed that this won\’t be the case and the wrestling veteran will be staying with Tony Khan\’s promotion for a long time to come.

    The article looking at the rich history of the Rhodes family before the upcoming ROH Supercard of Honor event this Friday, reveals that the former Goldust has signed a new deal with AEW recently.

    The new contract signed over the winter will see the wrestling legend working as a consultant, coach, and ambassador for All Elite Wrestling, in addition to occasionally wrestling for the promotion.

    Since making his debut in 1988, Dustin Rhodes has had runs with all major promotions of his time. Though he\’s never stayed with a company for more than six years in a run.

    The report states that the latest contract is for 6 years, that will keep him employed at the promotion atleast until 2030. Not only will this be the longest single run of his career for the 56-year-old, but it\’ll also take him into his 5th decade as an active performer in the business.

  • Cody Rhodes Reveals Painful Lesson From His WrestleMania 38 Return

    Cody Rhodes has explained why he doesn\’t take people under his wing anymore.

    The American Nightmare invited his good friend Ricky Saints for a chat on his podcast recently. During the discussion, Saints, who left AEW for NXT earlier this year, mentioned that his career might have advanced more if someone had taken him under his wing like Cody did with MJF.

    Responding to it, the former Undisputed Champion claimed that his work with MJF was all a story. Rhodes then mentioned how there were people who took him under their wing when he first came up to the main roster:

    \”I had a really great mentor. In multiple, Randy Orton, shockingly, John Cena. All these guys, once I came up in 2007, 2008, took me under their wing in the way you\’re talking about. I am shy to do so.\”

    I Thought That\’s A Lesson: Cody Rhodes

    Cody Rhodes then went on to explain why he is not very enthusiastic about becoming mentor to people anymore, mentioning how very few of his former partners reached out to him upon his successful WWE return:

    \”And the reason is because and you already know this, when I was off in the wilderness and started my own deal with, the team that I had and they were wonderful teammates and helped me create it, I made everybody my BFF. I made everybody my number one.

    When I came up on the stage at WrestleMania 38, I was warmly received by, 80 something thousand people. That was a wonderful feeling, but I can tell you none of those people, I want to just flat out say none, but you could probably count on one hand, messaged me.

    And I thought that\’s a lesson. There\’s a lesson, and it\’s not that I wanted anything from it. But that\’s why I\’m trepidatious to jump in the water and say, \’Hey kid, you\’re with me.\’\”

  • NJPW Champion Expected To Compete At All In Texas

    A top NJPW star will be joining the Death Riders for a match at All In.

    This week\’s episode of Dynamite featured the surprise return of Gabe Kidd. The IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion attacked Samoa Joe during the show.

    This came after the Samoan Submission Machine defeated Wheeler Yuta in a singles match with Coquina Clutch. Joe\’s partners, Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata, then came out, leading to Kidd retreating to the back.

    Now Fightful Select is reporting that this angle was done to set up a match for the next AEW PPV taking place this Saturday. They had previously reported that The Opps vs. Death Riders was one of the planned matches for the show.

    With Jon Moxley set to defend his world title at the event and Pac being out injured, the company needed a replacement. So they\’ve brought in Kidd, who is now expected to be teaming with the other Death Rider members this weekend.

    Pac has not wrestled since the April 9 episode of Dynamite this year. He went up against Swerve Strickland in a singles match and seemingly suffered a leg injury while taking a buckle bomb from the former AEW champion.

    This isn\’t the only All In match that has been affected by injury. A new report recently revealed a planned match that had to be cancelled. You can check out more about it here.

  • All In: Texas Match Reportedly Cancelled Due To Injury

    An originally planned AEW All In: Texas match was seemingly cancelled due to the injury of a top star.

    With the TBS Champion Mercedes Mone challenging Toni Storm for the Women\’s World title, the PPV card currently only features two women\’s matches.

    Now, a new report from Fightful Select has revealed another women\’s bout that was being planned for the show this weekend, but had to be postponed.

    According to them, Jamie Hayter had been factored into the build for All In Texas originally, and her injury caused a domino effect on the original plans for the show.

    The former Women\’s Champion has not been seen on TV after being attacked by a debuting Thekla during the May 28 episode of Dynamite earlier this year.

    This was done to write Hayter off TV after she suffered an injury in her Double or Nothing match against Mercedes Mone only days prior.

    The officials originally hoped for the British star to be back on TV soon. Thekla\’s debut was put together in a way that Jamie Hayter would have a storyline leading to the Texas PPV when she returned.

    The plans had to be adjusted when Hayter ended up missing more time than expected. Though the company is still hopeful about picking this rivalry back up when she does return to TV.

  • Stipulation Title Match And More Confirmed For WWE Great American Bash

    WWE has announced 2 new matches for NXT Great American Bash.

    This week\’s episode of the development show featured a #1 contender Gauntlet match to determine the challenger for Ethan Page\’s North American Championship.

    Ricky Saints won the bout defeating names such as Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes and Jackson Drake. The win also earned the former AEW star the right to choose the stipulation for the match. The former champion decided that the championship bout will be false count anywhere.

    Apart from this, the company also announced a singles match between Je’Von Evans and Jasper Troy for the event following multiple encounters between the two.

    WWE Great American Bash Updated Match Card

    NXT Great American Bash will take place from Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia on July 12. The show will have a special start time of 3:00 p.m. ET. Here is the updated card for the event:

    • NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Yoshiki Inamura (with Josh Briggs)
    • Tag Team Match: Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe vs. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley) (with Jazmyn Nyx)
    • NXT Women\’s North American Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) (with Zaria) vs. Izzi Dame (with Tatum Paxley)
    • Falls Count Anywhere North American Championship Match: Ethan Page (c) vs. Ricky Saints
    • Singles Match: Je\’Von Evans vs. Jasper Troy

    The company also announced several new names for Evolution 2 during the episode. You can check out more about it here.

  • Popular Name And More Confirmed For Evolution 2 After Poster Snub

    WWE has added several big names to Evolution 2.

    The glaring omission of some big names, including that of Stephanie Vaquer and Asuka, from the official poster of the show made many wonder if the PPV will have enough star power.

    The company confirmed that Asuka will be teaming with Kairi Sane to compete in the tag team title fatal four way at the show earlier this week, and now they\’ve confirmed the match for Vaquer as well.

    Tonight\’s episode of NXT featured General Manager Ava revealing names that will represent NXT in the announced battle royal at the show. During the segment, Stephanie Vaquer, Natalya, and Maxxine Dupri all came out to confirm that they\’ll be a part of the battle royal as well.

    WWE Evolution II Updated Card

    The Women-only WWE event will take place from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, July 13. Here is the updated card for the show:

    • NXT Women\’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) (with Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jordynne Grace
    • Women\’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
    • Fatal Four Way Tag Team Championship Match: The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez) (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane)
    • #1 Contender Battle Royal: Ivy Nile, Stephanie Vaquer, Nia Jax, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Maxxine Dupri, Kelani Jordan, Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Tatum Paxley, Zelina Vega, Giulia, Candice LeRae
    • WWE Women\’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus
    • No Holds Barred Match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
    • Women\’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

  • Christopher Daniels Reacts To Top WWE Star Copying His Move

    Many wrestling veterans do not appreciate when younger generations take inspiration from their moves but Christopher Daniels is not one of them.

    The AEW Executive spoke to Chris Van Vliet for a new interview recently. He talked about things such as the decision to retire from in-ring action, rumors about him being considered for the higher power storyline in WWE and more.

    During the interview, Daniels went into details on how he came up with his finisher dubbed the Best Moonsault Ever. When asked about current WWE star Tiffany Stratton calling her own finisher the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, the wrestling legend said that he appreciates the fact that the current Women\’s Champion adjusted things to match her own style instead of copying it blindly:

    “Which was very, very cool of her. I don’t know Tiffany at all. I’ve never met her. But the fact that she didn’t just copy it, she sort of adjusted it, which is what the greats do.

    I feel like they don’t just steal. If we are inspired by something, we try to put our own little spin on it. And so the fact that she goes from the bottom all the way up and then to sort of like, pay homage, call it in that same vein, PME, I was like, that’s pretty cool. I can’t be mad at that.”

    When asked if there is a secret behind the move, Christopher Daniels explained that the idea for him was to use the top rope to balance himself until he bounced. After bouncing, you push from the top and the second rope at the same time to go straight.

    The former ROH Champion later mentioned how he very rarely flubbed the move. Daniels noted that his execution wasn\’t perfect at all times but he was lucky to be able to continue doing it as long as he did.

  • Top AEW Star Expected To Return \’Imminently\’

    A top AEW star could be returning to the company soon, making his first appearance in 2025.

    Former TNT Champion Darby Allin has not wrestled since last December. He was written off TV with an attack from Death Riders at the end of last year, in order to resume his training for the Mt. Everest climb.

    Having completed the challenge successfully in May, the former TNT Champion is expected back in the promotion \’imminently\’ according to Fightful Select.

    The officials had originally hoped that Darby could be back on TV in time to participate in the Owen Hart Tournament that concluded at Double or Nothing in May, but it obviously did not happen.

    Though now the belief is that the Daredevil star will be back on TV soon. Sources said that he came out of the Everest climb \’relatively unscathed\’ and is in shape to compete if needed. So they would be shocked if Allin is not involved in the upcoming All In PPV in some capacity.

    The high-flying star was originally believed to be the one poised to defeat Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title. It\’s unknown if the plans have changed due to the delay in Allin\’s Everest climb after getting hit by a bus.

    AEW has announced a gauntlet match with the winner receiving a World title shot for All In. It would be the perfect place for Darby\’s return if the company has plans for him to challenge for the world title.

  • \’They Waited Way Too Long\’: Mercedes Mone Reacts To Evolution PPV Returning After 7 Years

    Mercedes Mone has commented on an upcoming WWE event.

    7 years after the inaugural Evolution PPV, the Endeavor-owned promotion has finally announced the return of the All Women show set for the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, July 13.

    The TBS Champion, who was part of the show back in 2018, reacted to the return of the PLE on a recent Instagram live. Mercedes Mone said that she will always support women\’s wrestling but noted that the officials waited too long to bring the PPV back:

    \”I think it\’s about time. They waited way too long to have an all-women\’s pay-per-view. But I love and I will always support and be a huge advocate for women\’s wrestling, so I am excited for that and for the women that get to perform on that.\”

    .@MercedesVarnado talks about Evolution 2! ?? pic.twitter.com/RjkQpsCRm3

    — Foxxy (@karmensgrace) July 3, 2025

    Mone, then known as Sasha Banks competed in a six women tag team match at the Inaugural Evolution PPV. She teamed with Bayley, and Natalya to defeat the trio of Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan, together known as the Riott Squad.

    WWE has started filling up the card for the upcoming show with less than two weeks remaining for the PPV. Multiple new matches were announced for the event on Raw this week and a Hall of Famer confirmed that she\’ll be challenging for the women\’s title during the SmackDown taping on the same night. You can check out the spoiler for the show here.