SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • The Rock Took Significant Pay Cut For \”The Smashing Machine\”

    A new report from Deadline has revealed that Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson took a substantial pay cut for his new A24 drama, \”The Smashing Machine,\” a project he has been passionate about for years. The news comes as the film, a biopic about former UFC fighter Mark Kerr, experienced the lowest box office debut of Johnson\’s illustrious acting career.

    The film, which had a production budget of $50 million, grossed only $6 million in its opening weekend, falling well short of its projected range of $8 million to $15 million. According to the Deadline report, Johnson\’s compensation for the film was a fraction of his typical asking price, and he even shared a portion of his earnings with his co-star and the man he portrayed.

    “[Dwayne] Johnson took a $4M fee, significantly below his historical $20M+ paycheck plus points. Sources say he even gave a portion of his paycheck to Emily Blunt and [Mark] Kerr.”

    The film finished third at the weekend box office, behind a new Taylor Swift documentary and the war drama \”One Battle After Another.\” The $6 million opening was lower than the $8.5 million debut of his 2010 film, \”Faster,\” making it a new career low for the global superstar. Following the disappointing opening weekend, Johnson took to his Instagram account to post a message to his fans, acknowledging the box office results but remaining proud of the film and the story it told.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)

  • John Cena\’s Final Opponent Revealed

    The opponent for John Cena\’s final match has reportedly been chosen, and it will be one of the most dominant forces in WWE, \”The Ring General\” GUNTHER. According to a new report from Dave Meltzer, WWE has internally selected GUNTHER to face the 16-time world champion in his farewell match.

    The encounter is scheduled to take place at a special Saturday Night\’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C., an event that is being built entirely around the conclusion of Cena\’s legendary career. The potential matchup is a true clash of eras and styles, pitting the face of a generation against the standard-bearer of the new era\’s Ring General.

    In the report posted on F4Wonline.com, Meltzer detailed the company\’s plans, noting that while an on-screen tournament may be used to create a storyline path to the match, the final decision has already been made behind the scenes. For now, this is the direction.

    WWE has already confirmed that Cena will take on AJ Styles this Saturday at WWE Crow Jewel. After this bout, he will have three appearances left.

  • Santos Escobar\’s WWE Contract Is Up Soon

    A new report from Fightful Select has provided a major update on the future of WWE SmackDown superstar Santos Escobar, revealing that his contract with the company is set to expire \”very soon.\”

    According to WWE sources cited in the report, the current expectation is that Escobar will be leaving the company when his deal is up, a move that would make him one of the most sought-after free agents in the professional wrestling industry.

    The news comes after months of speculation about his status, as he has been used sparingly on television throughout 2025 and has been making a series of ominous posts on his social media accounts. The report states that while it was implied that WWE and Escobar had discussed a contract extension, it does not appear that the two sides will be coming to a new agreement. Escobar\’s last official match for the company was at a non-televised WWE SuperShow live event in Mexico, and he has effectively vanished from weekly WWE programming.

    Should he become a free agent, Escobar is expected to be in high demand. Before signing with WWE and becoming a staple of the NXT and SmackDown brands as the leader of Legado Del Fantasma, he had a long and highly successful career under the name El Hijo del Fantasma, where he was a top star in Mexico for both CMLL and AAA. He also had an run in the Lucha Underground promotion as the dark and menacing character, King Cuerno.

  • Brock Lesnar To Be Added To WWE 2K25

    Brock Lesnar is officially being added back into the WWE 2K25 video game. \”The Beast Incarnate\” will be a key part of the upcoming \”John Cena farewell pack,\” a new downloadable content pack scheduled for release on Thursday, October 16. The news comes after the release of the latest game update, Patch 1.26, which added the names of the new characters to the game\’s data, confirming their imminent arrival.

    The new patch has revealed that several new character models will be included in the pack. In addition to the modern-day Brock Lesnar, who is reportedly set to have a 94 overall rating, the DLC will also feature a 2003 version of John Cena, a model based on his appearance at WrestleMania 41, and a playable version of his father, John Cena Sr. A new \”John Cena farewell edition\” of the entire game is also scheduled to be released on the same day.

    Lesnar was previously removed from promotional material and a planned DLC release earlier this year after his name was mentioned in the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon. His return to the video game now follows his shocking return to WWE programming at SummerSlam in August, where he attacked John Cena and later beat Cena at Wrestlepalooza. The official notes for Patch 1.26 are below:

    • Stability and Performance improvements
    • Added support for upcoming John Cena-related content

  • Mickie James Reveals Who Will Induct Her Into TNA Hall Of Fame

    It has been announced that former WWE and TNA Women\’s Champion Lisa Marie Varon, known to fans as Victoria and Tara, will be the one to induct her long-time friend and rival, Mickie James, into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view this Sunday, October 12, in Lowell, Massachusetts. The choice is a fitting one, as the careers of the two women have been intertwined for decades, featuring memorable matches and feuds in both WWE and TNA.

    The news was revealed by Mickie James herself during a recent interview with WrestlingNews.co\’s SoCal Val. She explained why she chose Varon for the prestigious honor.

    “Someone who was pretty synonymous with the whole introduction of Hardcore Country. And I think that we made some incredible, historic moments together — and that would be our dear friend, Lisa Marie.”

    James also noted that she personally requested Varon for the induction speech. She was initially unsure if Varon\’s WWE legends contract would create an issue, but the request was quickly approved by TNA, which has a close working relationship with WWE. This year\’s TNA Hall of Fame class is a celebration of the Knockouts division, as The Beautiful People (Angelina Love & Velvet Sky) will also be inducted alongside Mickie James.

  • Betting Odds Released For WWE Crown Jewel

    The betting odds have been released via MyBookie for this Saturday\’s major international Premium Live Event, WWE Crown Jewel. The event, which will take place in Perth, Australia, on October 11, is set to feature two \”Champion vs. Champion\” bouts, a historic final encounter on John Cena\’s retirement tour, and a heated women\’s tag team match.

    In the men\’s Champion vs. Champion match, the current World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, is a significant favorite to defeat the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. In the women\’s Champion vs. Champion encounter, the new Women\’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer, is favored to win against the reigning WWE Women\’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton. For his final match ever in Australia, John Cena is a massive favorite to defeat his long-time rival, AJ Styles.

    A minus sign (-) indicates the favorite, while a plus sign (+) indicates the underdog. The current betting odds for the event are below:

    Men’s Champion vs. Champion Match: Cody Rhodes (+200) vs. Seth Rollins (-300)

    Women’s Champion vs. Champion Match: Tiffany Stratton (+160) vs. Stephanie Vaquer (-225)

    John Cena (-1000) vs. AJ Styles (+500)

    Big Match Expected To Be Added To WWE Crown Jewel

  • AEW Star Teases Champion vs. Champion Bout

    A potential \”Champion vs. Champion\” dream match is being teased following the recent Ring of Honor debut of the reigning IWGP Women\’s Champion, Sareee. The Japanese star, formerly known as Sarray in WWE, made her first appearance for the promotion in a tag team match, and it immediately caught the attention of the dominant and long-reigning ROH Women\’s World Champion, Athena.

    An exchange on social media between the two champions has sparked excitement among fans for a potential first-time-ever encounter between two of the most acclaimed women\’s wrestlers in the world. Following Sareee\’s debut, in which she teamed with Alex Windsor against Billie Starkz and Diamante, Athena posted a cryptic, emoji-filled message on X (formerly Twitter).

    The post was noticed by Sareee, who responded with a direct and intriguing challenge.“I wanted a match since the first time I met you…”

    While the two have never faced each other in the ring, they were both on the WWE roster between 2020 and 2021, when Sareee was known as Sarray and Athena was Ember Moon. Athena has been the ROH Women\’s World Champion since defeating Mercedes Martinez at Final Battle in December 2022, a historic reign that has now surpassed 1,000 days. Sareee\’s immediate focus in ROH is a scheduled defense of her IWGP Women\’s Championship against Alex Windsor, but this social media exchange has firmly planted the seeds for a major future showdown with Athena.

  • Carlos Silva: TNA Wrestling \”Has No Plans To Slow Down\”

    TNA Wrestling President Carlos Silva recently sat down for an interview to discuss the company\’s recent momentum and his vision for the future as they head towards their biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound For Glory. Since taking the helm last December, Silva has overseen a period of significant growth and buzz for the promotion, highlighted by a partnership with WWE\’s NXT brand.

    Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated\’s \”Undisputed,\” Silva talked about TNA\’s place in the wrestling industry and its commitment to the fan experience.

    “It’s very important that we do everything we can for our fans. WWE is at the top of the space and sport, but we have our own place in wrestling. We have a lot of goals to accomplish, especially with the best fan experience.”

    He also gave credit to the team he has assembled behind the scenes, a mix of wrestling veterans and experienced sports executives, for the company\’s recent success.

    “We have some great minds in the company, like Eric Tompkins, Tommy Dreamer, and Ross Forman. We brought in sports executives for production and marketing, too. We’re bringing best practices from sports and applying them to our live events. It’s a team that is pulling all together, and that makes a big difference. It’s been a great nine months, but we’re not going to slow down.”

    Finally, he detailed his philosophy for the TNA roster, which aims to be a platform for both the next generation of stars and established legends.

    “We have a lot of goals. We can develop young stars. Joe Hendry is a great example. I know he wrestled elsewhere, but TNA provided a platform for him to reach new levels–then you saw him at WrestleMania. TNA is a place for young stars like Leon Slater. It’s a place for legends like The Hardys and stars like Eric Young, Nic Nemeth, Matt Cardona, and Frankie Kazarian–and I could go on and on.”

  • Big Match Expected To Be Added To WWE Crown Jewel

    A new report from Dave Meltzer has provided a potential spoiler regarding a new match for this Saturday\’s WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia. According to an internal lineup sheet for the show, the match between Roman Reigns and \”Big\” Bronson Reed is currently listed as the final match to be added to the card.

    The report also noted that as of last week, the match was listed internally as having a \”stipulation to be determined,\” suggesting that a final angle to add a stipulation could take place on tonight\’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Tonight\’s show, which will emanate from Dallas, Texas, is the final episode of Raw before the international PLE, and it has a strong advance of over 10,719 tickets sold. The final build for the entire Super Show-Down card is expected to happen on tonight\’s broadcast.

    The match between Reigns and Reed stems from Reed\’s attacks on Reigns and his family, which led to Reigns returning to WWE programming to seek revenge. The current card for the Perth event features five matches, including two major non-title \”Champion vs. Champion\” bouts and a match on John Cena\’s farewell tour. Here is the current Crown Jewel card:

    * Men’s Crown Jewel Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins

    * Women’s Crown Jewel Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton

    * John Cena vs. AJ Styles

    * Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. The Kabuki Warriors

  • Bronson Reed Signs New Multi-Year WWE Deal

    A new report from Fightful Select has revealed that WWE powerhouse Bronson Reed quietly signed a new multi-year contract with the company several months ago. The news, which had not been previously reported, confirms that the Raw superstar will be a fixture on WWE programming for the foreseeable future. Reed has been a consistent and reliable performer for the company since his return in 2022, and this long-term deal is a clear sign of the faith that WWE management has in him as a key part of their roster.

    According to the report, sources indicated that Reed re-signed with WWE \”quite a long time ago.\” It was also noted that his performance since re-signing has been so impressive that he is reportedly already in a strong position to secure another new and improved deal within the next year.

    Reed\’s journey in WWE has been a unique one. He first signed with the company in 2019 and became a top star in the \”black-and-gold\” era of NXT, where he captured the NXT North American Championship. He was surprisingly released from the company in August 2021 but went on to have an impressive run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, which ultimately led to WWE bringing him back in December 2022. Since his return to the main roster, he has been a dominant force on Monday Night Raw and is currently a key member of the \”Vision\” faction alongside World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker.

  • Damian Priest Says He Would \”Absolutely\” Be Willing To Appear At The Super Bowl With Bad Bunny

    Following the major announcement that global music superstar Bad Bunny will be the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, his former WWE rival and tag team partner, Damian Priest, has weighed in on the news. In a recent interview, the former World Heavyweight Champion stated that he would be more than willing to join Bad Bunny on the world\’s biggest stage if the opportunity came about.

    Speaking with TMZ Sports, the Judgment Day member was asked if he would consider joining the Grammy-winning artist for the halftime show, which is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi\’s Stadium.

    “I mean, that’s not up to me but would I be willing? Absolutely. If you need me to learn some dance moves and break it down, I can figure it out.”

    Damian Priest and Bad Bunny have a storied history together in WWE. They first teamed up at WrestleMania 37 in 2021 for Bad Bunny\’s in-ring debut, where they defeated the team of The Miz and John Morrison in a match that was widely praised. Two years later, the two found themselves on opposite sides of the ring, in a San Juan Street Fight at the Backlash premium live event in Puerto Rico in May 2023.

  • Backstage News On Tony D\’Angelo\’s WWE NXT Absence

    A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided an update on the status of WWE superstar Tony D\’Angelo, revealing the reason for his ongoing absence from television. \”The Don of NXT\” has not been seen on programming since mid-July, leading to widespread speculation among fans that he was either injured or being prepared for an imminent call-up to the main roster. However, the new report indicates that his absence is for a much simpler, personal reason.

    According to Dave Meltzer\’s report, D\’Angelo\’s absence is not related to any injury. Instead, he is off television because he had \”asked for time off.\” There was no further indication as to when or on which brand the former NXT North American Champion is expected to make his return to the ring.

    D\’Angelo\’s last televised appearance was on the July 15 episode of WWE NXT. On that night, he was victorious in a triple threat match against his own Family stablemates, Channing \”Stacks\” Lorenzo and Luca Crusifino. He later appeared in a pre-taped vignette where he seemed to be retiring his \”Don\” character before being confronted by a mysterious figure shrouded in shadows, leaving his storyline on a major cliffhanger.

    His disappearance from television is what fueled the main roster call-up rumors. During his time in NXT, D\’Angelo has held the North American Championship, the Heritage Cup, and was a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion. It\’s unclear when he will be back.

  • Bully Ray Believes Seth Rollins Is Missing An \”Emotional Connection\” With Fans

    WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has offered a critical assessment of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins\’s connection with the WWE Universe, stating that he believes Rollins is currently lacking the emotional bond with fans that is necessary to reach the absolute highest levels of superstardom.

    Bully compared Rollins to top stars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk, arguing that while Rollins is undoubtedly talented, he struggles to draw the same genuine, passionate reactions from the audience. Speaking on a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray broke down what he feels Rollins is missing from his character.

    “I always go back to what it truly has to do with, and this is old school 101, emotional connection to an audience. People genuinely love Cody. Children love Cody, thus, the parents love Cody. Roman has a god-like aura to him. You feel like you are amongst royalty when Roman comes out. Plus, he has that Samoan heritage and bloodline, which we respect so much in wrestling, but respect even more in the WWE. Punk, the consummate rebel, the guy who has always been the voice of the voiceless and the people’s guy. All three of those guys have a unique emotional connection. Emotion, that’s all this f—ing business is about. The emotional manipulation of the fan base and how you can get them to love you or hate you anymore. That’s it. Seth doesn’t have that level of emotion yet, and he’s been around for a long time.”

    He then critiqued Rollins\’s elaborate attire and presentation, suggesting it makes him appear as if he is trying too hard to connect with the audience.

    “You’re not as quick to say ‘is pro wrestler’ as you were the other three. That is the microscopic nuance of the emotional connection to Seth, where when you see the get-ups every week, it’s almost like he’s trying so hard. Forget about how I feel about the suit, Cody wears a suit on the beach. Roman looks like he could be walking into a gym or the grocery store, and Punk looks like your regular everyday guy. They could be wearing those clothes anywhere. Seth is putting on this garb to go stand in the middle of the ring. He’s putting Seth Rollins on on Monday night and taking it off on Tuesday morning.”

  • NJPW Reportedly Scaling Back US Shows

    A new report has shed light on the reasons behind New Japan Pro-Wrestling\’s significant reduction in live events held in the United States in 2025. After a period of aggressive expansion into the American market, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the legendary Japanese promotion has notably scaled back its stateside presence this year.

    This shift in strategy has been a topic of discussion among fans, and a new report from Fightful Select has provided insight into the factors that led to the decision. According to the report, the decision to run fewer shows in the United States stems from two key issues: declining ticket sales and a reluctance from some of the Japan-based roster members to make the long trip for the events.

    “We’re told that declining attendance, and some NJPW roster members not wanting to make the trip for the shows is what led to their sudden decline.”

    The data supports this report, as NJPW has only held three standalone events in the US so far in 2025, with their most recent being the Resurgence show in May. This is a significant drop from the six US shows they had run by this point in 2024 and the eight they presented in 2023. The company\’s US expansion was largely built around the NJPW STRONG brand, which was created during the pandemic to feature its US-based talent. While the weekly STRONG television show was discontinued in early 2023, its championships have remained active on the US shows.

  • Cody Rhodes On John Cena Matches: \”The Long Game Is The Game\”

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shared his perspective on his two-match series with John Cena in 2025, explaining that he views the widely criticized WrestleMania 41 main event and the highly praised SummerSlam rematch as two parts of the same story. Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes acknowledged the fan disappointment surrounding their first encounter but explained that the \”lack of a match\” at WrestleMania was essential to the beauty and success of what they were able to create at SummerSlam.

    The two matches had drastically different reactions from fans. Their first encounter at WrestleMania 41 saw John Cena defeat Rhodes to capture his historic 17th world championship, a result that was met with widespread criticism from fans who felt it was a bad match. Their rematch at SummerSlam, however, was a completely different story. In a match that is considered a contender for Match of the Year, Rhodes defeated Cena to win back the Undisputed WWE Championship.

    “I hate saying this, but part of the beauty of how great that match is, was the lack of a match that really took place at WrestleMania in a sense,\” Rhodes said. “Sometimes the long game is the game. I treat them as they were the same match, and then we just got to use all the bells and whistles”.

    When host Pat McAfee asked if he was saying the two matches were like the \”first half and second half\” of a game, Rhodes confirmed that was his perspective. “Yeah, exactly. I don’t wanna quote Mr Heyman here, but the chapters, the innings, all those things. It’s a long game,” he replied.

    Rhodes is set to take on the reigning World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins to determine the 2025 Men\’s Crown Jewel Champion at Crown Jewel.

  • Backstage News On Andrade\’s AEW Return

    A new report has shed light on how Andrade El Idolo was able to make his shocking return to All Elite Wrestling on last night\’s Dynamite, less than three weeks after his release from WWE. According to a report from PWInsider.com, Andrade did not have the standard 90-day non-compete clause that is typical for main roster talent departing WWE.

    This allowed him to become an immediate free agent and sign with another promotion. The absence of this clause is what enabled his surprising comeback to happen so quickly. The report, citing multiple WWE sources, states that Andrade was \”cut outright\” from the company due to what was described as \”numerous WWE Wellness violations over the last year.\”

    Because of the nature of the release, WWE reportedly chose not to pay him for the 90-day non-compete period, thus making him free and clear to perform elsewhere immediately. The report also suggests that this situation confirms what many have suspected for some time: that WWE is no longer publicly announcing Wellness Policy suspensions for its main roster talent.

    Andrade made his return on the sixth anniversary episode of AEW Dynamite, appearing after the opening six-man tag team match. Following a victory by the team of Kenny Omega and the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Brodido, the lights in the arena went out. When they came back on, Andrade was in the ring. He attacked Kenny Omega and then shook hands with Don Callis, officially aligning himself with the Don Callis Family faction.

    Andrade El Idolo Returns To AEW

  • Linda McMahon Recalls Going Bankrupt: \”We Lost Everything\”

    Linda McMahon, a co-founder of Titan Sports, Inc. and a key architect in the global expansion of WWE, recently opened up about one of the most difficult periods in her and her husband Vince McMahon\’s life: the time they went into bankruptcy.

    While many might assume their financial struggles were related to the inherent risks of the wrestling business, Linda clarified that the bankruptcy was the result of a failed outside investment. Her story provides a candid look at the challenges they faced in the early 1980s, just as they were beginning to transform WWE from a regional territory into a national powerhouse.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Sage Steele, Linda McMahon was asked if she ever worried that their ambitious plans for WWE wouldn\’t work out. She explained that the company\’s financial ruin came from a different venture entirely.

    “No, because we were building as we went. However, during that time, we did have an accountant who suggested that we were putting all of our eggs in one basket, and we should diversify a little bit. He made some suggestions that we should invest in a construction company. We knew absolutely nothing about it. We put money into some construction accounts, co-signed on some loans. That went belly up, which eventually put us into bankruptcy. It wasn’t the wrestling side of what we were doing, but it was the other side that we invested in, outside of what we were doing with wrestling. We lost everything. My house was auctioned off. My car was repossessed in the driveway. I was pregnant with Stephanie. I know what it’s like to lose everything.”

    Linda McMahon later went on to have a successful career in public service, most notably serving as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.

  • Andrade El Idolo Returns To AEW

    Less than three weeks after his release from WWE, Andrade El Idolo has made his shocking return to All Elite Wrestling. \”El Idolo\” appeared on the sixth anniversary episode of AEW Dynamite, laying out a returning Kenny Omega and aligning himself with the Don Callis Family. The surprise return is adevelopment for AEW, as Andrade was one of the most talked-about free agents in the industry following his abrupt departure from WWE on September 13 for what was reported as a disciplinary issue.

    The stunning moment occurred after the show\’s opening six-man tag team match, which saw the in-ring return of Kenny Omega. Omega teamed with the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Brodido (Brody King & Bandido), to defeat The Young Bucks and Don Callis Family member Josh Alexander.

    After the match, as Omega was addressing the fans and celebrating the company\’s anniversary, the arena lights went out. When they came back on, Andrade El Idolo was in the ring. He attacked Omega, laying him out before shaking hands with Don Callis at ringside, signaling his new allegiance.

    Andrade\’s previous AEW contract expired in December 2023. He made his return to WWE just a month later as a surprise entrant in the 2024 Royal Rumble. Now, after just over eight months back with WWE, he has once again jumped back to All Elite Wrestling, a move that is sure to have major repercussions for the entire roster.

  • Backstage Update On Jade Cargill\’s Injury Status

    A new report is out regarding the status of WWE superstar Jade Cargill following the gruesome injury she sustained during the main event of last week\’s Friday Night SmackDown. PWInsider Elite reports that the injury was not as severe as it appeared, and Cargill is expected to make a relatively quick return to the ring. The news is a welcome relief for fans who were concerned after seeing the former champion bleeding profusely from a deep cut above her right eye during the broadcast.

    Sources within WWE indicated that Cargill only required stitches to close the gash and that the \”hope internally\” is that she will be medically cleared to return to action in just a few weeks. It was also noted that she has not been pulled from any of WWE\’s future schedules.

    The injury occurred during a chaotic triple threat match against WWE Women\’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax on the September 26 episode of SmackDown. Near the end of the bout, Jax threw Cargill into the steel ring steps, which caused the severe laceration.

    Following the match, Cargill took to her Instagram account to post a photo of the cut, showing her toughness and dedication to the business.

    “Don’t question the love I have for this game.”

    We wish Cargill a speedy recovery.

  • AEW Star Sidelined With Injury

    A new report from PWInsider.com has indicated that the current ROH World Television Champion, Nick Wayne, is reportedly dealing with a foot injury. The report did not specify the severity of the injury or how much, if any, in-ring time the young star might miss as a result.

    The timing of the potential injury is particularly noteworthy, as Wayne recently started on big storyline at the All In: Texas pay-per-view on July 12. On that night, he shockingly turned on his long-time mentor, Christian Cage, and has since aligned himself with a new faction.

    The turn was a major step in his character development and positioned him for a main event run. Wayne has already had a decorated career in his short time with the company, having previously held the AEW World Trios Championship, which made him the youngest champion in AEW history.

    He is also the current and youngest-ever ROH World Television Champion, a championship he won on an episode of AEW Collision in April by defeating Komander. A third-generation wrestler, Wayne was famously offered an AEW contract by Darby Allin while he was still a teenager and has been a featured performer since his official debut in July 2023.

  • The Rock Details \”Smashing Machine\” Transformation

    Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson has revealed the intense physical transformation he underwent to portray MMA legend Mark Kerr in the new film, \”The Smashing Machine.\” During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the global superstar detailed the process of gaining over 30 pounds of muscle for the role, a directive that came straight from the film\’s director, Benny Safdie. The movie is already generating significant Oscar buzz, is set to be released in theaters this Friday, October 3.

    \”We had a physical transformation, and certainly an emotional transformation, and a vocal transformation too as well,” Johnson told Fallon. In addition to the vocal and emotional work, the physical aspect involved both adding muscle and enduring a lengthy prosthetic process. “It was about 22 prosthetics,” Johnson said. “I had to put on just over 30 pounds of muscle. Which, by the way, what you realize is — you know how you have some actors who say, ‘Hey, I had to put on weight. I went to McDonald’s every day.’ Mark Kerr had just this quality of muscle, like fast-twitch quality of muscle — because he was a [freestyle] wrestler. And I had to still put on this weight, still be able to move like an MMA fighter.”

    The Rock also shared the story of when the director first approached him about the need to bulk up for the role. “He said to me, ‘Hey DJ, I don’t know how to tell you this and I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this.’ He goes, ‘You’re going to have to get bigger.’ And I go, ‘Okay, here we go,\’” Johnson said. Having successfully achieved the physique required for \”The Smashing Machine,\” Johnson has since gone in the opposite direction for his next project with Safdie. For the upcoming film \”Lizard Music,\” Johnson will be playing a man in his 70s whose best friend is a chicken, a role that will require him to shed a significant amount of weight.

    \”The Smashing Machine\” has received overwhelmingly positive reviews since its debut on the film festival circuit. Critics have praised Dwayne Johnson\’s transformative and vulnerable performance, with many calling it the best work of his career and a legitimate Oscar contender. The film currently holds a \”Certified Fresh\” rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Director Benny Safdie recently won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for his work on the film.

  • Orange Cassidy Credits Fans For His Success In AEW

    On the day of AEW Dynamite\’s sixth anniversary, one of the company\’s original stars, \”Freshly Squeezed\” Orange Cassidy, has reflected on his unique journey and the reasons for his incredible popularity. In a new interview, Cassidy humbly credited the fans for getting his character over, even before AEW President Tony Khan fully understood his vision. Since debuting with the company in 2019, Cassidy has evolved from a cult favorite comedy act into one of the most reliable and beloved workhorses on the roster, including a record-setting reign as the AEW International Champion.

    Speaking with The Sportster ahead of his championship match on tonight\’s anniversary show, Cassidy explained how the fans\’ early support was crucial to his success.

    “I think it’s really the fans’ fault because they were very open and receptive before AEW, before Tony Khan really knew who I was, and they were reacting. I think it allowed them to be like, ‘All right, well, if they’re reacting, he must know something that we don’t.’ I was very lucky that the fans were reacting to what I was doing.”

    He also praised his close working relationship with Tony Khan. “He still works very close to me about what I’m doing. It’s nice to have your boss understand what you’re doing and facilitate it. I could have got pigeonholed somewhere else. It could have been the same thing we see all the other times, but I think he allowed me to do this stuff because he also knew that I wanted to wrestle, too. That was nice.”

    Finally, he spoke about his pride in being a foundational part of the company\’s history.

    “I’m just very grateful to be a part of AEW and to be a part of the history. I do like that when you think of AEW, you have to at least think of me, and that feels very special.”

    Tonight on the sixth anniversary episode of AEW Dynamite, Orange Cassidy will challenge Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Championship.

  • Mark Henry Calls For Randy Orton To Turn Heel

    WWE Hall of Famer \”The World\’s Strongest Man\” Mark Henry believes that if Randy Orton is to have another run as WWE Champion, it must be as a heel. In a recent interview, Henry made a passionate case for Orton to return to his heel roots, arguing that \”The Viper\” is one of the few superstars in history who is definitively better as a heel than a babyface.

    Orton has been a beloved fan favorite since his return from a career-threatening back injury, but Henry feels that a return to the heel persona that defined much of his career is the \”tailor-made\” story for his next main event run. Speaking with TMZ, the former World Heavyweight Champion explained exactly what he wants to see from a future Randy Orton championship reign.

    “I wouldn\’t want Randy to be champion as good guy Randy. I want Randy… the story is tailor made. Have Randy come in now and start punting people again, RKO\’ing people\’s grandmothers and children. Have him stomping people. Let Randy be Randy.”

    He emphasized that Orton\’s greatest strength has always been his ability to be a compelling and hated villain.

    “I don\’t know if you can say more definitively that a guy\’s a better heel than he was a babyface.”

    Henry also compared Orton\’s current situation to that of John Cena, who is in the midst of his farewell tour.

    “I think Randy wants to be in the same regard as Cena. He deserves it too. But while Cena is doing that, you can\’t actively have two people doing the same story.”

  • Jack Perry Calls \”Four Pillars\” Storyline The \”Most Miserable I Had Ever Been\”

    AEW star Jack Perry has opened up about his experience during the \”Four Pillars\” storyline in 2023, revealing that the period was the most miserable of his professional wrestling career. The high-profile angle brought together four of AEW\’s top \”homegrown\” talents—Perry, MJF, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara—and culminated in a four-way match for the AEW World Championship at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

    While it was a main event program, Perry felt the timing was wrong and that the storyline ultimately benefited only one person. In a recent interview with Haley Miller of VICE, Perry was candid about his feelings on the storyline and revealed that he had pleaded with management to postpone it.

    “The pillars thing up to that point was the most miserable I had ever been, I didn’t wanna do that at that time. I literally said, I begged, I was like, ‘Can we do this later? I feel like this is only really benefiting one person. And we all could grow so much more.’ I had just beaten Christian when that happened and then Christian got injured and that whole thing took way longer than it was supposed to. I was kinda floating around killing time until he got back so I could beat him. After I beat him, the next thing I got put in was that. I was like, ‘Could you guys let me get going a little bit? Sammy could be built up even more, Darby, and this could be a huge thing where any one of us could win the world title at the end of this.”

    Perry also believes that the storyline led to fans beginning to turn on his \”Jungle Boy\” babyface character, and he wanted to embrace that with a heel turn, a move that was initially rejected.

    “I felt so not good about what I was doing at the point I was at. I really felt people were starting to turn on me a little there. And I thought, ‘I think I should lean into that and like make this story here. Am I gonna turn to win the world title?’ That was met with people being like, ‘No, you gotta stay [face]! You’re Jungle Boy,’ yeah, but Jungle Boy has nothing to say and people are starting to not like me. As soon as I started to tease that I was gonna go the other way, people were interested again because I was interested again. The heel turn was like a whole new world for me. My main thing there was people told me, ‘you’re never gonna be able to be a heel.’ I knew I could. Obviously, I wasn’t the greatest in the world. There were parts of it that were rocky and I had to figure it out ’cause I’d been Jungle Boy my whole life. To me, it was just to prove that I could do it.”

    At AEW All Out, Perry reunited with Killswitch to reform Jurassic Express. They will break their silence on the reunion this Wednesday on Dynamite.

  • Trailer Released For Dave Bautista\’s New Film \”Trap House\”

    The official trailer has been released for the upcoming action-comedy \”Trap House,\” starring former WWE Champion Dave Bautista. The film is set to hit theaters on November 14, 2025. The release of the first official trailer gives fans their first look at it.

    \”Trap House\” centers on a team of elite DEA agents who are shocked to discover that their own rebellious teenage children have been using their parents\’ covert tactics and skills—such as surveillance, infiltration, and non-lethal weapons—to pull off a daring heist against a ruthless drug cartel. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast alongside Bautista, including Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water, Scream VI), Sophia Lillis (It, Dungeons & Dragons), Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl), Kate Del Castillo (Cleaning Lady), Zaire Adams (FreeRidge), and Bobby Cannavale (The Irish Man, Ant-Man). The combination of a veteran action star in Bautista and a talented group of up-and-coming young actors is a perfect fit for the film\’s premise.

    Before becoming a legitimate Hollywood leading man, Dave Bautista established a successful career in WWE as \”The Animal\” Batista. He was one of the biggest stars of the \”Ruthless Aggression\” era, a multi-time world champion, and a key member of thr Evolution faction alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton. After leaving WWE to pursue acting, he had his breakout role as the hilariously literal Drax the Destroyer in Marvel\’s blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

    Since his success as Drax, Bautista has built an impressive and diverse acting resume, earning critical acclaim for his roles in major films such as Denis Villeneuve\’s sci-fi epics Blade Runner 2049 and Dune, as well as playing a formidable Bond villain in Spectre. Check it out below: