SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • \”Night Patrol\” Movie Featuring CM Punk Receives Release Date

    The theatrical release date has been officially announced for the new film \”Night Patrol,\” which features an appearance by CM Punk. Following the movie\’s premiere at the Fantastic Fest film festival, it was revealed that the Ryan Prows-directed picture will be released in theaters on Friday, January 16, 2026.

    The film adds another significant credit to Punk\’s growing acting resume, which includes roles in films such as \”Rabid,\” \”Girl on the Third Floor,\” and \”Jakob\’s Wife,\” as well as a recurring role in the wrestling-themed television series \”Heels.\” 

    \”Night Patrol\” is a crime thriller with the following synopsis: An LAPD officer must put aside his differences with the area’s street gangs when he discovers a local police task force is harboring a horrific secret that endangers the residents of the housing projects he grew up in.

    The film features a talented cast alongside Punk, including Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long, RJ Cyler, Freddie Gibbs, YG, Flying Lotus, Dermot Mulroney, Jon Oswald, and Nicki Micheaux. While his new movie now has a release date, Punk\’s immediate focus is on this Saturday\’s WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event. He will team with his wife, the returning AJ Lee, to take on World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and WWE Women\’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch in a mixed tag team match.

  • Scott D\’Amore Confirms Brock Lesnar Was Interested In Signing With TNA In 2007

    Former TNA Wrestling executive Scott D\’Amore has confirmed a long-rumored story, recently brought to light by Kurt Angle, that \”The Beast Incarnate\” Brock Lesnar was interested in signing with the promotion back in 2007.

    The story first emerged on Kurt Angle\’s podcast, where he revealed that Lesnar, then a free agent, had called him and offered to sign with TNA if they could match Angle\’s own lucrative contract. Angle said he pitched the idea to TNA management but was turned down, likely due to budget constraints at the time.

    In his weekly column for Uncrowned, Scott D\’Amore, who was a key figure backstage in TNA at the time, verified Angle\’s account of the events. “Kurt was very excited about this and, obviously, it would have been a huge, maybe trajectory-altering signing for TNA. I passed it on to Dixie Carter, who owned TNA at the time. But, as you already know, it didn’t happen.”

    D\’Amore also reflected on the massive historical implications of TNA\’s decision to pass on signing the future UFC Heavyweight Champion. “It’s a huge what-if, not just for TNA, but for Lesnar. If he came to TNA on a big contract in 2007, would he have still debuted in MMA that year? Would he have felt the need to go fight in the UFC in 2008 and help usher in a legion of new fans for the UFC? I suppose we’ll never know.”

    After leaving WWE in 2004, Lesnar had a run in NJPW before transitioning to MMA. He ultimately became one of the biggest box office draws in UFC history before making his return to WWE in 2012. He is scheduled to face John Cena this Saturday at the WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event.

  • Joe Hendry Being \”Phased Out\” Of TNA Ahead Of Full-Time WWE Move

    It appears that Joe Hendry\’s memorable run as a crossover star between TNA Wrestling and WWE is heading towards its next logical step. A new report from Jon Alba of The Takedown on SI indicates that Hendry, who is still under contract with TNA, is in the process of being \”largely phased out\” of their programming as he becomes more integrated into WWE television.

    The move has been expected for some time, as Hendry has made numerous high-profile appearances for WWE throughout 2025, all while being a top star for TNA. His viral \”I Believe in Joe Hendry\” theme song has made him one of the most popular acts in wrestling, and it seems WWE is ready to make him an exclusive part of their roster.

    According to the report, the internal expectation within both companies is that he will officially be with WWE on a full-time basis by the start of next year. “Multiple WWE and TNA sources tell The Takedown on SI that Hendry is in the process of being largely phased out of TNA programming and integrated more into WWE TV. The internal expectation across people in both companies is that he will be WWE-bound on a full-time basis by the beginning of 2026.”

    The report clarifies that this does not mean his time in TNA is completely over, but that the focus will be shifting to his NXT run.“This is not to say TNA will not use Hendry on TV in the future, but The Takedown was told fans should expect to see him more prominently on NXT.”

    Hendry\’s 2025 has been historic, featuring an entry in the Royal Rumble and a match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania, all while holding the TNA World Championship for four months. On this past Tuesday\’s episode of NXT Homecoming, WWE legend Bobby Roode appeared in a segment with Hendry, encouraging him to set his sights on the NXT Championship.

  • Dave Bautista On John Cena As Peacemaker: \”He\’s Just Perfect For It\”

    Actor and former WWE Champion Dave Bautista has responded to the recent revelation from director James Gunn that he was the original choice to play the character of Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad. The role, which ultimately went to John Cena, has become a cornerstone of the new DC Universe, spawning a hit television series and appearances in other DC films. While the part was written specifically for Bautista by Gunn, a scheduling conflict prevented it from happening.

    Speaking with ComicBook.com, Bautista confirmed the story and expressed his belief that Cena was the perfect person for the role, calling it a \”blessing in disguise.\”

    “I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part. [Gunn] wrote that part for me, and it was meant for me, and it just became a scheduling thing where I just couldn’t do it, because I was doing Army of the Dead. And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.”

    Despite wanting to play the character, Bautista was incredibly complimentary of John Cena\’s performance, stating that he believes Cena did a better job than he ever could have.

    “And I think it was great. It was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t do that, because I have to say, I have to be honest, there’s no way that I would have been able to do that role like John. He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful. So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it. I just wouldn’t have been able to do the same thing that John does to bring to that character. It wouldn’t have been the same. It wouldn’t have been as good. I can honestly say it wouldn’t have been as good.”

    James Gunn had previously explained the situation, noting, \”I wrote the character of Peacemaker for him, and we offered him the role, but he was offered two movies, and we weren\’t paying him a lot, and so he had to go where the money was.\”

  • AJ Lee Explains Why She Returned To WWE

    AJ Lee is set to make her return to a WWE ring for the first time in over a decade this Saturday at Wrestlepalooza, and she has now revealed the key factors that lured her out of retirement. In a recent appearance on ESPN, Lee discussed her decision-making process, citing the challenge of WWE\’s new chapter on the ESPN platform and the prospect of facing Becky Lynch as the primary motivators.

    Lee will team with her husband, CM Punk, to take on the married couple of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in a mixed tag team match. This will be her first official match since she retired from professional wrestling in April 2015. During the interview, Lee explained that while the idea of a return had been floated for a few years, it took a unique and compelling opportunity to convince her to step back into the squared circle.

    “It’s sort of been something that was in the air for the past couple of years as an option. However, when I retired, I was very comfortable staying retired, and I felt very complete in my career,\” Lee said. \”For me to embark on a new journey, it has to feel brand new and feel like I’m needed and exciting and kind of scary. Starting this new chapter on ESPN feels like a whole new mountain the company needs to climb, and I was flattered that they believed that I could help draw eyeballs in that way\”.

    Beyond the significance of the event, Lee pointed to one of her opponents as a major reason for her return. The opportunity to face Becky Lynch, one of the top stars of the current generation, was a challenge she found exciting. “Also, Becky is very interesting to me. I think she’s wonderful in the ring and we have a lot of similarities. She would not be an easy person to get back in the ring with. That was exciting,” she said.

    After retiring, Lee had largely remained out of the wrestling spotlight, aside from a brief period serving as an executive producer and color commentator for WOW Women of Wrestling. Prior to her retirement, AJ Lee was one of the most popular and influential female performers in WWE.

  • CM Punk On WWE Creative: \’I\’ve Taken A Page Out Of John Cena\’s Book\’

    Throughout his career, CM Punk has been known for being vocal about his creative direction, frequently clashing with management over ideas he disliked. However, since his return to WWE, Punk says he has adopted a much more relaxed and collaborative approach to the creative process, taking inspiration from a surprising source: his former rival, John Cena. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, Punk explained that he no longer feels the need to be rebellious and is more open to executing ideas from WWE\’s creative team.

    Punk detailed this shift in his mindset, noting that he now trusts the experienced minds he works with and finds enjoyment in bringing their ideas to life. “There are a lot of great minds that I work with and a lot of people who have more experience than me. Maybe, back in the day, I would say, ‘No, I know what to do.’ Now, I guess I’m just kind of chill. Before, it was more rebelious,\” Punk said. He continued, \”To me, there is a magic about taking something that you didn’t see or you didn’t think of, somebody else’s idea, and going, ‘Okay, I can do that with this. What if we did this?’ I don’t really pitch things. I’ve taken a page out of (John) Cena’s book. They deal them, I play them. I have ideas and suggestions, and more often now, it’s for other people and not for me. I just roll with it”.

    His initial exit from the company in 2014 was fueled by creative burnout and frustration over his booking, which he detailed in his infamous \”Pipebomb\” promo and in later interviews. In contrast, John Cena has long maintained a public philosophy of being a \”company man,\” taking whatever creative direction was given to him and committing to making it work to the best of his ability.

    This approach appears to be working well for Punk in his current run. His ongoing program with Seth Rollins has been a marquee feud for WWE, blurring the lines between their real-life history and storyline. The feud has been a central focus of WWE programming since late 2023 and has now expanded to include his wife, AJ Lee, setting the stage for a mixed tag team match at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza premium live event.

  • Mercedes Mone Calls For One Last Match With Bayley

    AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone has revealed that it is her \”dream\” to have one final match against Bayley before she retires from professional wrestling. During a recent Q&A session on social media, Mone was asked about the possibility of a \”last dance\” with the WWE star, and she confirmed she wanted to share the ring with her one more time, though she acknowledged the current promotional barriers may prevent it from happening. The two women are currently signed to competing companies, with Mone in AEW and Bayley in WWE, making any potential matchup a logistical challenge.

    When asked about the potential match, Mone stated, “It’s my dream to have one more with her before I retire but if it doesn’t happen I’m so happy with the matches we did have,” she replied. The matches she referred to are some of the most influential women\’s bouts in modern American wrestling history. Their encounter at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015 is widely regarded as a breakthrough moment for women\’s wrestling in WWE, earning Match of the Year honors and inspiring a generation of female performers.

    The rivalry between Mone and Bayley was the centerpiece of the NXT women\’s division during a transformative period. After their match in Brooklyn, they continued their feud on WWE\’s main roster, while also teaming up to become the inaugural WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions as \”The Boss \’n\’ Hug Connection.\” Their story, which often shifted between best friends and enemies. Their last one-on-one encounter took place on the November 6, 2020, episode of WWE SmackDown, where Moné defeated Bayley to retain the SmackDown Women\’s Championship.

    While Moné hopes for a future encounter, her immediate focus is on her upcoming title defense at AEW All Out on September 20, where she is set to defend the AEW TBS Championship against Riho.

  • Some Cable Subscribers Won\’t Get WWE Wrestlepalooza Without Additional Payment

    The launch of WWE Premium Live Events on ESPN\’s new streaming platform is set to begin with significant confusion and frustration for many fans this Saturday. The first exclusive event, WWE Wrestlepalooza, will be unavailable to subscribers of several major television distributors, including Comcast and YouTube TV, which represent a combined total of over 20 million subscribers. This access issue will force many WWE fans to, in essence, pay twice for ESPN if they wish to watch the show, creating a rocky start for the new partnership.

    The problem stems from the new app\’s premium tier, \”ESPN Unlimited,\” which will house the exclusive WWE content. During a press availability on Wednesday, September 17, JT Lasker, SVP of direct-to-consumer at ESPN, confirmed that no form of limited accessibility would be offered this weekend to pay TV subscribers whose providers have not yet reached a deal for the new tier. This means customers of Comcast, YouTube TV, Cox, Sling TV, and other providers will be blocked from viewing Wrestlepalooza through their existing cable or streaming subscriptions and would need to purchase a separate subscription directly from ESPN to gain access.

    According to Lasker, this issue is expected to be short-term. The ESPN executive stated that the \”vast majority\” of distributors would have access for their subscribers by the end of the year, a timeline he described as a \”worst case scenario\”. The resolution may come much sooner, as ESPN and parent company Disney have distribution deals with Google (YouTube TV) and Comcast that are set to expire as early as next month, which will likely accelerate negotiations to avoid potential blackouts. ESPN\’s communication strategy for the launch has been to focus on informing customers who do have access—such as those with Charter, Verizon, and DirecTV—while planning no specific outreach to the customers who will be blocked from viewing the event.

    The launch is reportedly the result of two converging factors: a hasty rollout of the new ESPN app to coincide with the start of the football season, and the WWE PLE deal beginning much sooner than its original April 2026 start date. This accelerated timeline did not leave enough time for ESPN to finalize distribution deals with all of its key partners before the first app-exclusive live event, leading to the current situation where a large group of wrestling fans is expected to be angry and confused this Saturday evening.

    The fans who are unable to watch this weekend will miss a stacked card for the inaugural Wrestlepalooza. The event is scheduled to feature Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre, a battle of married couples as CM Punk and AJ Lee take on Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, John Cena facing Brock Lesnar, and the crowning of a new Women\’s World Champion in a match between Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer.

  • Drake\’s \”Nokia\” Named Official Theme Song For WWE Wrestlepalooza

    WWE has announced a major music partnership for its inaugural Wrestlepalooza Premium Live Event this Saturday, September 20. In a post on his social media accounts, WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque revealed that the song \”Nokia\” by superstar recording artist Drake will serve as an official theme song for the show.

    The move continues WWE\’s strategy of integrating high-profile music artists into its programming, following appearances and involvement from stars like Travis Scott, Jelly Roll, and Cardi B earlier this year. In his announcement, Triple H highlighted the significance of the partnership for the big event.

    “An event as big as #Wrestlepalooza needs an artist as big as @Drake and the song to match. “NOKIA” is an Official Theme Song of @WWE’s Wrestlepalooza.”

    The event, which takes place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, is set to be one of the biggest of the year. The card features the in-ring return of AJ Lee after more than a decade, as she teams with her husband CM Punk to face Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. It will also feature anencounter between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. The previously unconfirmed WWE Championship match has also been added to the official lineup. The full card for WWE Wrestlepalooza is below:

    • WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (champion) vs. Drew McIntyre
    • John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
    • Women’s World Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
    • Mixed Tag Team Match: AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch
    • The Usos (Jey and Jimmy) vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed)

  • Dana White On WWE: \”I\’m Not A Fan. I Don\’t Watch\”

    UFC President Dana White, a key figure in the TKO Group Holdings company that also owns WWE, has made it clear that despite the corporate connection, he is not a fan of professional wrestling. White, whose career has been dedicated to the world of combat sports, recently attended WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas and was admittedly blown away by the spectacle of WWE selling out Allegiant Stadium. However, the experience did not convert him into a fan of the product.

    During a recent appearance on Logan Paul’s \”IMPAULSIVE\” podcast, White was asked if he watches WWE as a fan or from a business perspective.

    “I’m not a fan. I don’t watch WWE. I’m into fighting, man. That’s what I do. You know how when you go on Instagram and then you go on your search page? My whole search is like, street fights and [stuff like that], that’s what I’m into.”

    While he doesn\’t enjoy the product itself, White was quick to state that he has a great deal of respect for the athleticism required to be a professional wrestler. He specifically praised Logan Paul for his successful transition into the industry.

    “I am definitely — I respect the athleticism [of pro wrestling]. I told you when you first started doing it, ‘Man, you’re a hell of an athlete. You’re good.’ Yeah, it’s impressive to see what these guys do. It’s just not my thing.”

    White noted that he enjoyed wrestling when he was a child but has since grown out of it. The attendance record set by WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium, which impressed White, was recently surpassed by the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing match that took place in the same venue on September 13.

  • ESPN Open To Adding More WWE PLEs To Schedule

    Executives from ESPN have stated that the network is open to the possibility of adding more WWE Premium Live Events to its broadcast calendar in the future. The comments were made during a media call on September 17, held to promote the upcoming WWE Wrestlepalooza event, which marks the beginning of a major five-year deal between the two companies. The new partnership will see all of WWE\’s PLEs move to ESPN\’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service, marking a significant shift in how fans will access WWE\’s biggest shows.

    During the call, ESPN executives Matt Kenny and J.T. Lasker were asked by WrestleZone’s Bill Pritchard about the potential for expanding the current PLE schedule. Pritchard noted that WWE has a Saturday Night’s Main Event special scheduled for Peacock in December, which is not a full-fledged PLE, and asked if ESPN would be interested in placing a premium event in a similar open slot. Matt Kenny, ESPN\’s Programming and Acquisitions Lead, responded by confirming that while they are happy with the current schedule, the door is open for future discussions with WWE about evolving their event calendar.

    “Yeah, I think anything along those lines will bear itself out in just more forward-looking scheduling conversations that we’ll get into with the WWE over time,\” Kenny said. \”But I think just to put a fine point on that answer, we knew what we were signing up for when we acquired the PLEs. The PLEs are incredibly invaluable and we understand the importance of those shows to help fuel our direct-to-consumer business so, we’re excited about the schedule of events that WWE puts forth for the PLEs, and if there’s conversations to be had about evolving that, then we’re certainly game to doing that”.

    The current WWE premium live event schedule has largely settled into a rhythm of one major event per month, with occasional international shows added throughout the year. The structure was established during the company\’s time with Peacock and Netflix, which allowed for an increase in the number of events compared to the traditional pay-per-view model.

    As of the media call, the remainder of WWE\’s 2025 premium live event schedule is set. Following Wrestlepalooza on September 20, the company will head to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for WWE Crown Jewel on Saturday, October 25. The final PLE event of the year will be WWE Survivor Series, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 29 in Chicago, Illinois before WWE wraps things up with Saturday Night\’s Main Event in December.

  • New \”Attitude Era Superstars\” DLC Released For WWE 2K25

    A new downloadable content pack has been released for the WWE 2K25 video game, bringing a host of legendary superstars from the Attitude Era to the current generation of gaming. The \”Attitude Era Superstars\” DLC pack was officially made available for download today, September 17, adding five iconic wrestlers to the game\’s already extensive roster. The new additions include former World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry, the New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn & Road Dogg), former Women\’s Champion Victoria, and former European Champion D\’Lo Brown.

    To celebrate the release, WWE 2K also dropped a new trailer showcasing the new superstars in action. The trailer confirmed that in addition to the five new roster members, the DLC pack also includes over 50 new moves and taunts that can be used in the game\’s creation suite. The video also revealed several new additions to \”The Island\” mode, including new playable characters and arenas for players to explore.

    In other news for WWE 2K25 players, it was recently announced that the full game has been added to the PlayStation Plus game catalogue. This means that any fans who subscribe to the PlayStation Plus service will now be able to download and play the game at no additional cost. This follows a recent update to the game\’s MyFaction mode, which added several new persona cards, including a popular retro version of AJ Styles that features his iconic TNA theme music, \”Get Ready To Fly.\”

  • AJ Lee Shares \”Day In The Life\” On Her Road To In-Ring Return

    AJ Lee is back on the road with WWE, and she has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at her preparation for her first match in over a decade.

    In a series of posts to her Instagram stories on Monday, September 15, Lee documented a whirlwind day that included travel, training, a photoshoot, and her dramatic appearance on Monday Night Raw. Lee is set to have a comeback match this Saturday at the WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event, where she will team with her husband, CM Punk, to face Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.

    Her day began with a 5:00 AM trip to the airport for a 6:30 AM flight. By 10:00 AM, she was in a ring in Connecticut, \”attempting to train the ring rust away.\” She then shared a photo of herself reuniting with an \”old friend\” – the WWE Divas Championship, a championship she held three times during her career. After a photoshoot, her day ended with her appearance on RAW.

    She posted a photo of her giving a \”stank eye\” to the camera, followed by a picture of her slapping Seth Rollins with the caption \”Tried to wreck,\” and a final image of Becky Lynch hitting her with the Manhandle Slam, captioned \”Got wrecked.\” Her documented day ended at midnight with a photo of her dog, Larry. The posts paint a picture of a grueling return to the life of a WWE superstar.

  • Released WWE Star Makes Surprise Return On NXT Homecoming

    Shayna Baszler made a surprise appearance on tonight\’s WWE NXT Homecoming special, confronting the tag team of Zaria and Sol Ruca in a backstage segment. Baszler was released from her WWE contract in May of this year and is currently a free agent. While it has been reported that she has been assisting with training at the WWE Performance Center, this marks her first on-screen appearance for the company since her departure, sparking immediate speculation about her future.

    The segment took place as Zaria and Sol Ruca were arguing about a loss in a tag team match from last week\’s episode. Baszler interrupted them and, in her signature intimidating style, told them to get their act together. She reminded them of her own history in NXT and on the main roster. Candice LeRae also appeared briefly during the segment.

    Baszler\’s return, even in a non-wrestling capacity, could signal a new role for the former champion as a mentor for the next generation of NXT talent, or it could be the first step towards an official in-ring comeback.

  • Ricochet On WWE Counter-Programming AEW: \”Let\’s Get A Little Crazy\”

    AEW star Ricochet has weighed in on the ongoing \”wrestling war\” and WWE\’s recent strategy of scheduling its premium live events on the same day as major AEW pay-per-views. Ricochet, who is known for being outspoken on social media, has not been shy about sharing his own opinions on the matter. The most significant scheduling conflict to date is set for this Saturday, September 20, when AEW\’s All Out pay-per-view will take place on the same day as WWE\’s new WrestlePalooza event.

    During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday, Ricochet was asked if his critical social media comments about the competition are part of his on-screen heel persona.

    “To be honest with you, that’s a little of both. That is a little where is the line drawn? Where is it real, where is it, you know? Every company’s goal is to make the most money possible, that’s the goal of every company, that’s why you make a company. So, you can’t argue against that. But when we feel things are being done in bad faith, that’s when I feel, like, okay then let’s get a little crazy.”

    He also shared his confidence in AEW\’s current direction and its focus on being a true alternative for wrestling fans.

    “But at the end of the day, I think AEW is in a great spot. I think AEW is focused on us. Now more than ever, I think they’re trying to figure out ways to create new stories and drama and suspense and while keeping it still sports-based, still creating an alternative to what people have known for years.”

  • Mercedes Mone On Her NXT Takeover Match With Bayley: \”We Changed The Game\”

    AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone has reflected on the 10-year anniversary of her historic match against Bayley at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, a bout that is widely considered one of the most important moments in modern women\’s wrestling history.

    In the latest edition of her online \”Mone Mag,\” the multi-time champion looked back on the match, calling it a \”pivotal moment\” that changed the landscape of the entire industry. The match, which took place on August 22, 2015, not only stole the show but also demonstrated that women\’s wrestling could be a main event attraction. In her heartfelt post, Mone credited Bayley for their shared journey and the history they made together.

    “This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of a match; it’s a celebration of a pivotal moment that forever changed the landscape of women’s wrestling. Happy 10th anniversary to the match that altered the course of my life and the trajectory of women’s wrestling! I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to my wrestling soulmate, Bayley. Thank you for being my partner in this journey—both in and out of the ring. The bond we share is unlike any other, and I can’t imagine navigating this incredible business without you. You have challenged me, inspired me, and, most importantly, stood by me. Together, we changed the game.”

    She also revealed that they took major risks in the match, even keeping some of their planned spots a secret from their trainers.

    “Bayley and I took risks that night—pushing boundaries that had never been crossed by women in North America before. We didn’t even share half of our ideas with our trainers because we were too scared that they’d tell us no. But we believed in what we were doing and knew that we had a chance to make history.“

  • Seth Rollins On Working With Becky Lynch: \”Iron Sharpens Iron\”

    WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins recently opened up about his experience working alongside his wife, WWE Women\’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, in their current top storyline. The real-life couple has been reunited on-screen for the first time since 2019 to build towards a mixed tag team match at the upcoming WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event. Their on-screen chemistry has been a focal point of Monday Night Raw as they prepare to face another married couple, the returning AJ Lee and her husband, CM Punk.

    During an appearance on ESPN on Tuesday, Rollins was asked what it\’s like to work so closely with Lynch in a wrestling capacity, given their personal relationship. He explained how their shared history and mutual respect for their craft make them better performers.

    “I think what it boils down to for me is iron sharpens iron. We met through this industry, we met in 2015 or something like that, 2014, became friends, both started to kind of rise up at the same time, found each other romantically. And then we’ve been able to really use each other as a resource, and to get out there and perform with her, the way she preps is different than how I prep, and the way she performs and interacts is different – so we get to learn from each other, we get to bounce stuff off of each other.\”

    He also noted that their shared understanding of the unique demands of the wrestling business makes their partnership, both on and off screen, a seamless one. “And another thing is we understand the grind. We understand what it takes on the other side of it. So there’s no pressure. The ease with which we’re able to communicate, I think makes the partnership on-screen fantastic, obviously off-screen makes life super easy and fun.”

    Rollins and Lynch are scheduled to face CM Punk and AJ Lee this Saturday, September 20, at WWE WrestlePalooza in Indianapolis.

  • Eric Young Accuses WWE Of Stealing His Idea For Another Wrestler

    TNA star and former World Champion Eric Young recently reflected on his time on the WWE main roster, revealing the specific reason he stopped pitching creative ideas for his character. Young, who had a successful run in NXT as the leader of the popular SAnitY faction, found his momentum stalled after the group was called up to the main roster and later disbanded.

    During an appearance on the \”Developmentally Speaking\” podcast, the veteran performer explained the incident that led him to stop contributing his own creative concepts.

    “I had pitched some really cool ideas, they ended up stealing one of them and using them for other people. I’m not going to get into that, that made me stop pitching ideas because if they’re just going to take them and give them to other people, there’s no sense of me wasting my breath.”

    Young\’s time in WWE began in 2016. In NXT, he formed SAnitY and, alongside Alexander Wolfe, captured the NXT Tag Team Championships at TakeOver: Brooklyn III in 2017. The group was called up to SmackDown in April 2018 but was disbanded a year later. Young was then drafted to RAW as a singles competitor, where he was primarily featured in the 24/7 Championship picture before being released from the company in April 2020. He made his return to TNA Wrestling at the Slammiversary pay-per-view later that same year and has been a cornerstone of the promotion ever since.

  • Bryan Danielson On Violence In Swerve vs. Hangman Feud: \”I Never Want To See Again\”

    AEW star and commentator Bryan Danielson recently shared his thoughts on the brutally violent feud between Swerve Strickland and \”Hangman\” Adam Page, offering a perspective that praised the performers while also critiquing the extreme nature of their matches. The rivalry between Page and Strickland, which dominated AEW programming in late 2023 and early 2024, is remembered for its intense and levels of violence in their encounters, most notably their Texas Death Match at the Full Gear pay-per-view.

    The feud elevated both men to the main event scene, but for a technical purist like Danielson, it was at times difficult to watch.Speaking in a new interview with Wrestle Radio Australia, \”The American Dragon\” discussed how AEW presents a \”variety show\” of wrestling styles, and used the Page vs. Strickland feud as a prime example of a style that, while effective, is not one he personally enjoys.

    “Tony Khan really believes in having great in-ring pro wrestling, but there are different great styles of pro wrestling. You get that in AEW. You get the variety show, it’s just a different form of a variety show. You get the in-ring performance that can be more comedic, now you’re getting Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bryan Danielson. Now you’re getting a Jon Moxley match or a Darby (Allin) match. Now you’re getting Hangman Page and Swerve, which I never want to see again.

    Not that it wasn’t good, but I don’t want…those guys are incredible, two of the best guys I’ve ever been in the ring with, but please, I don’t want to see you staple somebody’s tongue, but some people do. Those matches, for our audience, have been incredible. You see Swerve and Hangman getting to the next level because they are willing to do these things that I never would have been willing to do. There is something to wrestling being a variety show, but you also have to know what your variety is and not stray from your identity. It’s a hard balance to find.”

  • Tiffany Stratton Not Medically Cleared For NXT Homecoming, Pulled From Match

    A change has been made to the card for tomorrow night\’s WWE NXT Homecoming special on Tuesday, September 16. In a social media post released shortly before Monday Night Raw, NXT General Manager Ava announced that the reigning WWE Women\’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton, is not medically cleared to compete and has been removed from her scheduled six-woman tag team match.

    The injury is a result of the aftermath of her championship match on last Friday\’s episode of SmackDown.In her announcement, Ava confirmed Stratton\’s status and named her replacement for the bout. “After her WWE Women’s Championship Match on SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton is not medically cleared to compete at Homecoming. As a result, former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria will be taking her place in the six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence.”

    The storyline injury occurred on the September 12 episode of SmackDown, where Stratton defended her WWE Women\’s Championship against Jade Cargill. That match ended in a double countout after both competitors crashed through a ringside barricade. Following the match, Nia Jax launched an assault on the champion, leaving her lying with an Annihilator.

    The six-woman tag team match was originally set up on last week\’s episode of NXT, which ended with Stratton, Rhea Ripley, and Stephanie Vaquer making a surprise appearance to confront Jacy Jayne and the Fatal Influence faction.

    The updated card for tomorrow\’s WWE NXT Homecoming is below:

    • Rhea Ripley, Lyra Valkyria, & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx
    • NXT North American Championship Match: Ethan Page (champion) vs. Tyler Breeze
    • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships Match: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (champions) vs. The Culling (Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley)
    • Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes vs. Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
    • The Grayson Waller Effect with NXT Champion Oba Femi & number one contender Ricky Saints

  • Becky Lynch Lays Out AJ Lee On WWE Raw

    The road to WWE WrestlePalooza took a heated turn on the September 15 episode of Monday Night Raw, as the four participants in the mixed tag team match had an in-ring confrontation. The segment saw World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and WWE Women\’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch come face-to-face with CM Punk and the returning AJ Lee, with the war of words ultimately turning physical just five days before their match this Saturday.

    The segment kicked off the second hour of Raw, with Rollins and Lynch in the ring. They were quickly interrupted by CM Punk and AJ Lee, who received a massive ovation from the Massachusetts crowd, marking Lee\’s first appearance in the state since 2014. The verbal battle was intense, with Lynch targeting Lee\’s history of neck injuries, and Lee responding with candor about her uncertainty but vowing that Rollins couldn\’t predict what she was capable of. Rollins then took a personal shot, reminding Lee of Punk\’s history of \”leaving with things let him down.\”

    This prompted Lee to slap Rollins across the face. Rollins then motioned for his wife, Becky Lynch, to attack Lee, but Lynch appeared to abandon her husband, leaving the ring by herself. However, this was revealed to be an elaborate ruse. As Punk was distracted, chasing Rollins out of the ring, Lynch slid back in and blindsided AJ Lee from behind, planting her with a Manhandle Slam. The show\’s segment ended with Rollins and Lynch standing tall on the entrance ramp.

  • Bayley Returns To WWE Raw, Appears To Revert To \”Hugger\” Persona

    Bayley made her return to WWE programming on the September 15 episode of Monday Night Raw, and it appears she has made a decision about her character\’s future by embracing her past. The former multi-time champion returned to make a save for Lyra Valkyria and then seemed to revert to her fan-favorite \”Hugger\” persona that made her a star in NXT. The character shift comes after a series of vignettes that have aired in recent weeks, which have depicted Bayley struggling with an internal dilemma over which of her past personas to use as she moves forward in her career.

    The moment occurred following a singles match between Lyra Valkyria and The Judgment Day\’s Roxanne Perez. After Valkyria secured the victory, she was subjected to a two-on-one post-match assault by Perez and her partner, Raquel Rodriguez. This led to Bayley\’s music to hit, and she ran to the ring to even the odds, fighting off both members of The Judgment Day and clearing them from the ring.

    After the save, Bayley had a stare-down with Valkyria, appearing to still be in conflict with herself. However, she then suddenly broke character, exited the ring, and began enthusiastically hugging everyone at ringside. Her targets included commentators Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves, ring announcer Alicia Taylor, referee Jessicka Carr, members of the security team, and several fans in the front row.

  • Charlotte Flair: \”I Do Know I Want To Step Away To Have Children\”

    WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair recently opened up about her future in professional wrestling and her desire to one day start a family. \”The Queen,\” who has been a dominant force in the WWE women\’s division for the past decade, was a guest on the \”Nightcap\” podcast where she was asked how much longer she plans to compete in the ring.

    Speaking on the podcast, Flair explained her thought process on the matter. “I don’t know. I want kids one day. That’s the thing. I can do both, but it just depends on the time. I think wrestling’s in my blood. I don’t know any different. Like, I love it, but I do want to be a mom.\”

    She then pointed to fellow WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus as a source of inspiration, seeing her as a trailblazer who has proven that a successful wrestling career can still be possible after motherhood.

    \”But I think Trish Stratus coming back and having all these one-offs and she’s 50, look better than half the roster. She’s killing it. So I don’t think that door will ever close, it’s just, I do know I want to step away to have children, when that time is.\”

    Despite her thoughts on the future, Flair\’s present is very much focused on her current championship reign. She is scheduled to make her in-ring return from a recent storyline injury tomorrow night, September 16, at the NXT Homecoming special, where she and her partner, Alexa Bliss, will defend their WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships.

  • Toni Storm On WWE Counter-Programming AEW: \”Come On, Fight Me!\”

    AEW Women\’s World Champion \”Timeless\” Toni Storm recently shared her thoughts on WWE\’s recent strategy of scheduling its events on the same day as major All Elite Wrestling pay-per-views. Throughout 2025, WWE has positioned its NXT Premium Live Events directly against AEW\’s major shows, and the upcoming WWE WrestlePalooza on September 20 will take place on the same day as AEW\’s All Out.

    During a recent appearance on The Sandman\’s podcast, Storm was asked about the counter-programming efforts from the rival promotion. She responded with a challenge.

    “I think it’s great. Come on, fight me! Be a bit weird of them as a large corporation to just do nothing. Of course they are. Of course they will. It’s their job. We’re the old hot ticket, we’re the talk of the town.”

    In the same interview, Storm also declared that she plans to be an \”AEW lifer,\” further cementing her loyalty to the company in the face of the ongoing \”wrestling war.\” In response to the scheduling conflict, AEW has moved the start time of its All Out pay-per-view on September 20 to 3:00 PM Eastern, avoiding a direct head-to-head clash with WWE\’s evening event.

  • Kevin Owens Opens Independent Event

    WWE superstar Kevin Owens made a surprise appearance via video message at the inaugural event for the Vermont-based independent promotion, Green Mountain Wrestling, on Sunday, September 14. The company held its \”Green Mountain Classic\” tournament to crown its first-ever champion, and the show opened with the video from the former WWE Universal Champion. In the message, Owens introduced himself by his former independent wrestling name, \”Kevin Steen,\” a nod to his long and storied career before joining WWE.

    Owens stated in the video that he wished he could have been at the event in person to present the new championship belt to the tournament winner. He also alluded to a move he performs being featured on one of the side plates of the new Green Mountain Wrestling Championship.

    “He stated that he wishes he could have been at the show to present the tournament winner with the belt.”

    The appearance is particularly notable given Owens\’s current injury status. He has been out of action since April after being sidelined with a serious neck injury that required surgery. In a media appearance over the summer, Owens was open about his uncertain future, stating that it would be \”untruthful\” to say that he is absolutely returning to the ring. His last match was an Unsanctioned Match against his long-time rival and friend, Sami Zayn, at the Elimination Chamber event.