SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • AEW Reportedly Preparing For Top Star To Miss Several Months

    Just hours before his AEW Unified Championship defense at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view, a previouslyreport indicates that Swerve Strickland may require surgery on his knee following the event. A procedure would sideline the top star for several months.

    AEW recently worked Strickland\’s legitimate knee injury into a storyline on the August 13 episode of Dynamite. Behind the scenes, the situation is a real one, as a report from Fightful Select has provided more details on the matter.

    Strickland has reportedly been working with a torn meniscus, an injury he has been dealing with since his time at the WWE Performance Center in 2019. While he rested the injury at the time, it never fully healed.

    AEW has been utilizing the medical team of the NFL\’s Jacksonville Jaguars to help Strickland recover and avoid surgery. However, with the injury not improving, a new Fightful Select reports that the internal conversations within AEW have now shifted to planning to be without him for months following the pay-per-view should he get the surgery.

    If surgery is required, it could force Strickland to vacate the AEW Unified Championship and would cause a reshuffling of the company\’s main event plans for the remainder of the year.

  • Former WWE Star Brian Jossie (Abraham Washington) Recovering After Being On Life Support

    Former WWE star Brian Jossie, known to fans as Abraham Washington, is back home and recovering after a life-threatening medical emergency last month that saw him placed on life support. His significant other, Marnae June Barnum, provided a detailed update on his condition.

    The situation began last month when Jossie, who has been competing in bodybuilding since his wrestling career, was taken to an emergency room with severe stomach pain. Tests revealed a tear in his intestines, which required immediate surgery.

    While the initial surgery was a success, he experienced serious complications in the aftermath. He aspirated, causing fluid to enter his lungs. This led to him being placed on a ventilator, put into an induced coma, and being on life support for a period of time.

    After nearly a month in the hospital, Jossie has now recovered enough to continue his journey at home. In her update, Barnum shared how much progress he has made. \”After almost a month in the hospital, Brian is finally home! What a crazy, unexpected month August has been,” she wrote. “Just last week, he could barely sit on the edge of his bed without help. Today, when we were leaving they went to get a wheel chair, he refused, and he insisted on walking out on his own with me.”

    Brian Jossie is best known for his time in WWE from 2009 to 2012. He first appeared on the ECW brand as the host of his talk show, “The Abraham Washington Show,” before later re-emerging on the main roster as the manager A.W., leading The Prime Time Players.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Marnae June Barnum (@marnaejune)

  • Hangman Page Explains Why He Calls His Title The \’Men\’s World Championship\’

    AEW World Champion \”Hangman\” Adam Page has opened up in a new interview about his career focus. He explained why he has never seriously considered a move to Hollywood like some of his peers and detailed his personal reasoning for referring to his title as the \”Men\’s World Championship.\”

    Speaking with Bleacher Report ahead of his title defense at Forbidden Door, Page was asked if he had any interest in crossing over into acting. He stated that his focus has always been on professional wrestling.

    “It’s not really something I’ve seriously entertained,” Page responded. “Like with any opportunity, I’m not just going to shut the idea of it down, but it’s just not something I’ve seriously entertained or where my focus is.\”

    \”My focus really always has been and still is on being a professional wrestler. That is my career. That is my one and only real ambition in terms of work,\” he continued. His comments stand in contrast to his Forbidden Door opponent, MJF, who recently starred in \”Happy Gilmore 2\” and has stated his goal is to be a full-time actor and wrestler.

    Page also explained his personal choice to refer to his championship as the \”Men\’s World Championship,\” a move designed to show respect and equality for the women\’s division.

    “Our women’s roster in AEW is incredible… To have two divisions, a men’s and a women’s division, but to have to call one by the Women’s World Championship and the other as if it’s the more important one, you don’t make the distinction,\” he said. \”I feel like that’s not how we present our rosters on television, so why should we refer to the championships in that way either?… It’s just a personal choice that I hope other people take up.\”

  • Logan Paul Says He Intends To Take John Cena\’s Spot As The \’Greatest Of All Time\’

    Logan Paul has his sights set on more than just a victory over John Cena at the upcoming WWE Clash in Paris premium live event. In a new episode of his podcast, \”The Maverick\” stated that he intends to take Cena\’s spot as the \”greatest of all time\” in WWE.

    Speaking on his Impaulsive podcast, Paul discussed his upcoming dream match with the 17-time World Champion. He made it clear that he views the match as an opportunity to prove he belongs at the very top of the industry.

    “John Cena is the greatest of all time. For now. I intend to be the greatest of all time, if not one of the greatest of all time,\” Paul said. \”I want my name thrown in the hat. A way to do that is to go toe-to-toe with John Cena in every faucet of wrestling. That’s on the mic, that’s in the ring, that’s even backstage.\”

    Paul stated he believes he has what it takes to be a locker room leader and the face of the company, a role Cena held for nearly two decades. \”John Cena has been that guy for 20-25 years and I fully believe I have the capacity to do all of that,\” he stated.

    \”I’ve taken my notes, I’ve learned from him. He’s the master. I got to tag team with him and learn from him, but now I’m going to use the things he taught me to beat his f*cking ass in front of everyone in Paris,\” he declared. \”I’m not an outsider, I belong here and I intend to show everyone that in Paris.”

    Logan Paul On Seth Rollins’ WWE World Title Win: “That Was Dirty”

  • Daniel Cormier On Brock Lesnar: \”It Was One Of The Safest Fights I Could Have Had\”

    Former two-division UFC Champion Daniel Cormier has revealed the reason his fight with Brock Lesnar never materialized, stating that a lucrative offer from WWE ultimately kept \”The Beast Incarnate\” out of the octagon.

    Speaking with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Cormier discussed the infamous confrontation he had with Lesnar inside the octagon at UFC 226 after he had won the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He explained that WWE\’s financial offer was too good for Lesnar to pass up.

    “The WWE got him. The WWE took him back. That was my golden goose,\” Cormier said. \”We had that moment in the ring. I pushed him, he pushed me. WWE paid him back. They were paying Brock like $6-7 million a year. Maybe $10 (million). You’re telling me, ‘Brock, you can go fight DC and lose.’”

    Cormier was strong in his belief that he would have defeated Lesnar, citing Lesnar\’s previous loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 as a blueprint for his own success.

    “I’m beating Brock Lesnar. I was beating Brock. It was one of the safest fights I could have had. It’s just the truth,\” Cormier stated. \”I like Brock. He’s a great guy, but I watched what Cain did to him. I watched how he would react to getting punched. I was going to punch him. He would have to take me down to win the fight. I can wrestle… That’s what happened with Cain. He took Cain down. Cain got up and started kneeing him in his face. I saw Brock recently. He still has that scar under his eye from when Cain kneed him in the face. Still has that big scar.”

    Make sure to check out MMANews.com for all the latest UFC-related news.

  • Tony Khan Gives Update On The Future Of AEW Video Games

    AEW President Tony Khan has addressed the future of the company\’s video game division. During his pre-Forbidden Door media call, Khan admitted that while he doesn\’t know what the definitive future holds, he expects more games will be produced and that the company has \”learned a lot\” from its first console release, \”AEW: Fight Forever.\”

    When asked about the potential for a sequel to \”Fight Forever,\” Khan was candid about his own experience in the gaming world but expressed his commitment to learning from the first experience.

    “I love pro wrestling, and I’ll be the first to say that I’m not the biggest expert in the world on video gaming. I like to play games, but I’m not the expert,” Khan said. “There are great, great experts in the world about it and I tried to take insight and advice from people in AEW and people around the developers. And absolutely, we learned a lot in the making of the game and could take that in the future, I really believe to make the next game much, much better and learn from the experiences of doing that.\”

    \”AEW: Fight Forever,\” which was developed by Yuke\’s, was released in 2023 to mixed reviews from fans and critics. Khan stated that he is trying to \”learn from that feedback.\”

    He explained that while his primary focus is on the core wrestling product, he understands how important gaming is to the fanbase. \”I’m not sure what the future would hold. I do think eventually there will be further AEW forays into gaming, different kinds of games, mobile games, different concepts, different platforms,\” Khan said.

    In the past, there have been reports that AEW is considering working with a different developer for its next console game. The company has also released a few mobile games, including \”Rise to the Top\” and \”Elite GM.\”

    While the future of AEW\’s gaming division is uncertain, Khan\’s immediate focus is on this weekend\’s pay-per-view event. The AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door show takes place this Sunday, August 24, from Wembley Stadium in London.

  • Will Ospreay Reveals He Has Herniated Discs Pushing Against His Spinal Cord

    Just days before his main event match at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view, Will Ospreay has provided a candid and concerning update on his neck injury. \”The Aerial Assassin\” confirmed that he is \”compromised\” but will still be competing in the Lights Out Steel Cage match this Sunday.

    Speaking with Jon Alba on Sports Illustrated\’s The Takedown, Ospreay detailed the specifics of the injury he sustained at the All In: Texas pay-per-view last month.

    “I am compromised, I\’ve got a few herniated discs pushing against my spinal cord, which is affecting a couple of my nerves,\” Ospreay revealed.

    Despite the serious nature of the injury, Ospreay stated that he is determined to compete in front of his home country crowd in London this weekend. He explained that this will be his final match before he takes time off to get the injury corrected.

    \”But, I can do stuff and I can perform one last time before I need to go get it all corrected,\” he said.

    He also assured fans that he has a \”huge medical team\” around him and that he is not being put in unnecessary danger. \”Guys that work with AEW, they would not allow me to go into the ring if it was a huge percentage of a risk of me getting hurt,\” he stated.

    This Sunday, August 24, at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view from Wembley Stadium in London, Ospreay will team with The Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, and Hiroshi Tanahashi to take on the team of the Death Riders, The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd in a Lights Out Steel Cage match.

  • Tony Khan Addresses WWE\’s Counter-Programming Strategy Against AEW

    AEW President Tony Khan has responded to WWE\’s recent strategy of running its premium live events on the same day as AEW pay-per-views. During a media call ahead of this Sunday\’s Forbidden Door, Khan stated that his focus remains on his own company and making it the best promotion it can be.

    When asked about being counter-programmed, Khan emphasized AEW\’s successful year and the importance of focusing on their own product.

    “We’ve had a great 2025 in AEW and I believe that, in large part, that’s because everyone in AEW is really focused on making AEW a tremendous promotion and continuing this excellent year we’re having,” he said (H/T to Fightful). \”The most important thing for us is to talk about AEW and work really hard on AEW every week. It means not necessarily focusing on what every wrestling promotion is doing, but I do like watching wrestling and keeping up with what other wrestling promotions are doing.\”

    Throughout 2025, WWE has scheduled its NXT premium live events on the same day as AEW\’s pay-per-views. This Sunday\’s NXT Heatwave will run after Forbidden Door, and NXT\’s Great American Bash went up against AEW\’s All In weekend. In September, WWE will escalate the strategy by running a main roster PLE, Wrestlepalooza, on the same night as AEW All Out.

    Despite the increased competition, Khan believes that by focusing on their own product, AEW will continue to thrive. \”At the very best of AEW, we’ve been super focused on what we’re doing. Not being the only wrestling company in the world, but trying our best to be the best,\” he stated. \”I know we have the best wrestlers, and this year I think we’re doing the best TV shows and pay-per-views. I know we have the best fans.”

  • Pat McAfee Is Returning To WWE Commentary

    WWE Chief Content Officer Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque has announced that Pat McAfee will be a part of the upcoming Wrestlepalooza premium live event on September 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The appearance will mark McAfee\’s first time on a WWE broadcast since his recent hiatus.

    Triple H made the announcement during an appearance on ESPN\’s SportsCenter, where he was promoting the new partnership between WWE and the sports media company. The inaugural Wrestlepalooza event is taking place in McAfee\’s home base of Indianapolis.

    The popular podcaster and ESPN analyst stepped away from his role as the color commentator for Monday Night Raw in June of this year. At the time, McAfee stated that he was taking a break due to burnout from his demanding schedule, which includes his daily \”Pat McAfee Show\” and his upcoming role on the \”College GameDay\” panel for the new college football season.

    Since his departure, his spot on the Raw commentary team alongside Michael Cole has been filled by Corey Graves. It is not yet known what McAfee\’s specific role at Wrestlepalooza will be.

    The September 20th show from Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be the first-ever WWE premium live event to air on ESPN\’s new streaming service.

  • Triple H Addresses The Possibility Of More Two-Night WWE PLEs

    Following the successful debut of the two-night SummerSlam format earlier this month, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque has addressed the possibility of expanding other premium live events into two-night events in the future.

    Speaking during an appearance on ESPN\’s SportsCenter, Levesque was asked about the potential for more two-night events. While he did not confirm any specific plans, he made it clear that the company is open to the idea if it serves the fans.

    “I think time will tell. It’s really, for us, about super-serving our fans,\” Levesque said. \”Just like for ESPN, you guys thrive on super-serving your fan base and the people that watch. So do we. It’s what we want to do.\”

    He elaborated on the philosophy behind the two-night model, explaining that the goal is to create larger-than-life \”destination weekends\” for the WWE fans.

    “So when we can turn these into bigger events, make them destination weekends for fans, that’s what we will do,\” he stated. \”It’s all about our fans—our WWE Universe—and making them happy.”

     The success of both the two-night WrestleMania and now SummerSlam has led to widespread speculation that other events, like the Royal Rumble, could also be expanded in the future. While Levesque remains open to the idea, a recent report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter on WWE\’s new deal with ESPN indicated that the current plan for 2026 and beyond is for 12 premium live events per year, with only WrestleMania and SummerSlam being scheduled as two-night events. 

  • CM Punk On Seth Rollins\’ Injury Ruse: \”He Even Lied To His Daughter\”

    CM Punk has reflected on the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced in the main event of WWE SummerSlam Night One, where he won the World Heavyweight Championship from GUNTHER, only to lose it moments later to a cashing-in Seth Rollins.

    Appearing on the latest episode of ESPN\’s First Take, Punk was asked about the memorable moment. He described the grueling nature of his match with GUNTHER and the subsequent shock of Rollins\’s appearance.

    “I got the absolute dog c*ap beat out of me by Gunther. Not an enjoyable experience,\” Punk said. \”You wind up not beating him, but surviving Gunther and now I’m the champion for the first time in 12 years and I think I’ve made it back to the top of the mountain and here comes old tiny tim limping out on his crutches. Turns out, it was all phony, he even lied to his daughter. That’s the kind of man I’m dealing with it.”

    Punk also addressed the fan question of why he didn\’t simply leave the ring to avoid Rollins\’s cash-in attempt. He gave a two-part answer.

    “Why didn’t I just run away is the question a lot of people are asking me and the simple answer is, I don’t run away,\” he stated. \”I also don’t think I could at that point, I was too exhausted.”

  • Seth Rollins Says WWE Partnership With ESPN Helps \’Legitimatize\’ The Industry

    The new World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, has commented on the new partnership between WWE and ESPN. Speaking on ESPN\’s \”Get Up,\” Rollins called the deal \”huge for us as an industry\” and a step in \”legitimatizing\” what WWE superstars do as both artists and athletes.

    Rollins appeared on the Thursday morning sports talk show to discuss the news that WWE\’s premium live events will begin airing on ESPN platforms in September, much earlier than the originally announced 2026 start date.

    “The fact that we’re here teaming up with ESPN, it’s like my two favorite things in the world — sports and WWE — coming together. It’s huge for us as an industry,\” Rollins said.

    He went on to explain why he believes the partnership is so important for the perception of professional wrestling as a whole. \”Professional wrestling has been a part of Americana for many, many, many years… and as we start to dip our toe further into the mainstream and really integrate ourselves into the mainstream, this is a huge step for us legitimatizing what we do as artists, as athletes,\” he stated.

    \”For me personally, to be a part of the ESPN family is huge. I’m looking forward to this partnership and everything that is brings,” Rollins added.

    The new partnership will officially kick off with the first-ever WrestlePalooza premium live event on Saturday, September 20, from Indianapolis, Indiana. The show will be the first WWE PLE to air on ESPN\’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

  • Montez Ford Thinks The Fans Will Support Bianca Belair Heel Turn

    Montez Ford has weighed in on the possibility of his wife, Bianca Belair, ever turning to the \”dark side\” in WWE. The Street Profits member stated that the fans would likely continue to cheer for \”The EST\” regardless of her character alignment.

    Speaking with O’Shea Jackson Jr and TJ Jefferson of the No Contest Wrestling Podcast, Ford was asked about the potential for Belair to one day become a heel on the main roster. He shared his belief that she is too popular with the fans to ever be truly booed.

    “I told her that. She can try to go heel, she can try to go bad, they just gonna rock with her man,” Ford said.

    During her time in NXT, Bianca Belair showcased her versatility as both a babyface and a heel. However, since her main roster debut in 2020, she has been presented exclusively as one of the company\’s top babyfaces, winning multiple world championships in that role.

    Belair has been out of in-ring action since suffering a finger injury at WrestleMania 41 in April. In a recent interview, she stated that she is \”closing in\” on a return to the ring and could be medically cleared as early as this month.

  • WWE NXT No Mercy Date And Location Revealed

    The next premium live event for the WWE NXT brand has reportedly been set. According to a new report from POST Wrestling, NXT will present \”No Mercy\” on Saturday, September 27, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

    Citing multiple sources with knowledge of the schedule, the report confirms that the \”No Mercy\” event will take place in late September. An official announcement from WWE has not yet been made. The event will continue the tradition of NXT reviving classic main roster pay-per-view names for its premium live events.

    No Mercy will be the first NXT premium live event since April that is not scheduled to air on the same day as an AEW pay-per-view. The show is expected to air live on Peacock in the U.S. and on Netflix in most international markets. As was recently reported, NXT\’s premium live events were not included in the new rights agreement between WWE and ESPN for main roster shows.

    \”No Mercy\” began as a UK-only event in 1999 before becoming a staple of WWE\’s annual pay-per-view calendar from 1999 to 2008. It was revived for two years in 2016 and 2017 before being moved as an NXT event in 2023.

    Before the brand gets to Fort Lauderdale for No Mercy, the stars of NXT are preparing for this Sunday\’s Heatwave premium live event in Toronto, Canada. The show will be headlined by Oba Femi defending the NXT Championship against Je’Von Evans.

    WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Moving To Peacock Exclusively

  • Official Date For John Cena\’s WWE Retirement Match Announced

    The date for John Cena\’s final match has officially been set. In a joint announcement on Wednesday, WWE and Peacock have confirmed that the 17-time World Champion will have his last match on a special edition of Saturday Night\’s Main Event on Saturday, December 13.

    While a location for the event has not yet been officially announced, the long-standing expectation is that the show will take place at the TD Garden in Cena\’s home state of Massachusetts.

    The confirmation of the December 13 date also puts an end to recent rumors that WWE was considering moving the special to December 27 to compete with AEW\’s Worlds End pay-per-view. The announcement was made in conjunction with the news of a new multi-year deal between WWE and NBCUniversal.

    As part of the new arrangement, Saturday Night\’s Main Event will now stream exclusively on Peacock four times per year. The next two specials are scheduled for November 1 and the December 13 show featuring Cena\’s finale. The WWE Network library will also remain on Peacock through the end of 2025.

    With his final match now officially on the calendar, Cena has just a few dates left on his farewell tour. His next premium live event match is scheduled for August 31 at Clash in Paris, where he will face Logan Paul. Following that, he is expected to headline the inaugural WrestlePalooza event on September 20 against the returning Brock Lesnar.

    WWE Premium Live Events To Debut On ESPN In September With WrestlePalooza

  • WWE Saturday Night\’s Main Event Moving To Peacock Exclusively

    WWE has reached a new arrangement with NBCUniversal that will see its quarterly Saturday Night\’s Main Event specials air exclusively on the Peacock streaming service. The specials were previously simulcast on the NBC broadcast network.

    The news was reported on Wednesday by Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated. The revived specials, which began in December 2024, will no longer air on NBC as part of the new arrangement. This change comes as part of a larger shuffle of WWE\’s media rights.

    It was recently announced that WWE\’s main roster premium live events will be leaving Peacock and moving to ESPN\’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service beginning with the WrestlePalooza event on September 20.

    Traina\’s report also provided an update on the future of WWE\’s vast historical content library. The archives will reportedly remain on Peacock through the end of 2025. After that, Traina speculated on its next potential home.

    WWE Premium Live Events To Debut On ESPN In September With WrestlePalooza

  • WWE Premium Live Events To Debut On ESPN In September With WrestlePalooza

    WWE and ESPN have announced that their landmark rights agreement for premium live events will begin much earlier than previously expected. The partnership will officially launch with the first-ever \”WrestlePalooza\” premium live event on Saturday, September 20.

    The joint press release issued on Wednesday confirmed the new event, which will take place live from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. \”WrestlePalooza\” will stream live on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. This makes the September 20 show the official start of the new five-year, $1.6 billion partnership.

    The move confirms recent reports that WWE had fulfilled its contractual quota of events for its current U.S. streaming partner, Peacock, paving the way for an early start to the ESPN deal. The original start date was slated for 2026.

    The press release also confirmed a lineup of top stars for the inaugural \”WrestlePalooza.\” The show will feature John Cena in action, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre.

    Tickets for the event go on sale to the general public this Friday, August 22, with a presale beginning tomorrow, August 21.

  • Official Attendance For WWE WrestleMania 41 Disclosed

    The official attendance numbers for this past April\’s two-night WrestleMania 41 premium live event have been disclosed. A new report from the Las Vegas Stadium Authority (LVSA) reveals that a combined total of 118,641 fans were in attendance at Allegiant Stadium for the event.

    The report, analyzed by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, breaks down the attendance for each night. Saturday\’s Night One had 58,538 fans in attendance, while Sunday\’s Night Two had 60,103. These numbers are slightly different from the figures announced by WWE during the broadcast, which were 61,467 for Saturday and 63,226 for Sunday.

    Thurston notes that it is \”unclear if these figures reflect tickets distributed or ticket sales,\” and that it is \”possible those numbers include suite attendees\” to account for the discrepancy between the two sets of figures.

    The LVSA\’s \”Stadium Activity\” report also highlights the economic impact the event had on the city of Las Vegas. The report indicates that 81% of the attendees on Saturday and 84% on Sunday were from out of town. Furthermore, 98% of those out-of-town fans on Saturday and 97% on Sunday traveled to Las Vegas specifically for WrestleMania.

    The two nights of WrestleMania were the most highly attended events at Allegiant Stadium during the April to June quarter, drawing more fans than concerts by major artists such as Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay, and AC/DC. Las Vegas is also set to host WrestleMania 42 in 2026.

  • Cody Rhodes On Turning Heel: \”I Just Don\’t Have Any Interest\”

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is one of the top babyfaces in the industry, and despite calls from some fans for a heel turn, \”The American Nightmare\” has made it clear that he has \”no interest\” in making that change.

    Speaking on his “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast with fellow superstar Becky Lynch, Rhodes was asked about the possibility of turning to the dark side. He stated that it\’s simply not something he feels he could put his full effort into.

    “I have the complete opposite outlook. On all these metrics, on all of these measurables, I just don’t have any interest in being a bad guy,\” Rhodes said. \”I just don’t know if I could do it. I don’t know if my heart would be in it.”

    The conversation came up while Rhodes and Lynch were discussing her own successful run as a heel. This is not the first time Rhodes has addressed the topic, as fans have consistently fantasy-booked a heel turn for him since his return to WWE.

    He has previously stated that if he were to ever turn heel, it would be so extreme that it would \”get him canceled.\” Reports have also indicated that WWE currently has no internal plans to change his character\’s alignment.

    After defeating John Cena at SummerSlam, he was attacked by Drew McIntyre on the following SmackDown, officially kicking off his next feud. The rivalry between the two top stars is expected to lead to a championship match at the upcoming premium live event in Indianapolis on September 20.

  • New Match Set For WWE Clash In Paris

    The grudge match between Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed is now official for the WWE Clash in Paris premium live event. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed the bout in a video posted to social media on Wednesday. In his announcement, Pearce explained his reasoning for making the singles match between the two stars.

    “Look, if you have paid attention at all, you’ve seen how things have gone down between Roman Reigns and ‘Big’ Bronson Reed,” Pearce said. “Bronson said it himself: Every time he’s in the same place at the same time as the OTC, he leaves the man laying and takes his shoes. Where I’m from, that’s disrespect. And we’re going to find out if that disrespect continues at Clash in Paris because it will be ‘Big’ Bronson Reed one-on-one with Roman Reigns. After all, it’s like the old saying goes, if the shoe fits…”

    The rivalry between Reigns and Reed, who is a member of Seth Rollins\’s faction The Vision, has become personal in recent weeks. The feud has revolved around Reed repeatedly stealing Reigns\’s unique Jordan sneakers during backstage attacks. Reed has taken to wearing the stolen shoes around his neck as a trophy, calling them his \”shoe-la-fala,\” while Paul Heyman has dubbed him \”The Tribal Thief.\” 

    The updated lineup for Clash in Paris is below.

    • World Championship: Seth Rollins defends against Jey Uso, LA Knight, CM Punk
    • John Cena vs. Logan Paul
    • Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed
    • Good ‘Ol Fashioned Donnybrook match: Sheamus vs. Rusev

  • Tony Khan: The Young Bucks Are On \’One Of The Greatest Runs Of Their Entire Careers\’

    AEW President Tony Khan has offered high praise for Matt and Nick Jackson, The Young Bucks. Speaking on a new podcast, Khan stated that he believes the duo is currently on \”one of the greatest runs of their entire careers.\”

    Appearing on a new episode of the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Khan was previewing the upcoming Forbidden Door pay-per-view when he began to speak about the current run of The Young Bucks.

    “Certainly The Young Bucks, people who have a lot to prove and also, to be honest, I think are on one of the greatest runs of their entire careers,\” Khan said. \”Whether you call ‘em Slick Nick and Mr. Instant Replay, or Matthew and Nicholas… They’re just absolutely having a fantastic year and you gotta give the devils their due in this case.”

    Khan\’s praise comes after a significant character shift for the brothers. At the All In: Texas pay-per-view in July, The Young Bucks lost a match that stripped them of their on-screen Executive Vice President roles. 

    The Young Bucks\’ current run will lead them to the main event of this Sunday\’s AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view from Wembley Stadium in London. They will team with the Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) and Gabe Kidd to take on the team of The Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi), Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, and Hiroshi Tanahashi in a Lights Out Steel Cage match. 

  • Karrion Kross Announced For First Post-WWE Match

    The first official in-ring booking for Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux since their departure from WWE has been announced. The duo, now using their pre-WWE names, will be appearing for the independent promotion WrestlePro on Sunday, September 21st.

    In an announcement on their social media, WrestlePro confirmed that Kross will compete at their \”Killer Smokeshow\” event in Rahway, New Jersey. This will be his first wrestling match since his WWE contract expired on August 10.

    “WRESTLEPRO PRESENTS “KILLER SMOKESHOW” ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21st,\” the promotion announced. \”Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux are BACK! Kross & Scarlett will return to WrestlePro on Sunday September 21st! Killer Kross is scheduled to compete in action with an opponent TBD.”

    This in-ring booking is the latest date to be added to Kross and Scarlett\’s \”Killer Smokeshow: Carnage Tour.\” While the WrestlePro show is their first announced wrestling match, they have a full schedule of non-wrestling convention appearances and meet-and-greets lined up for the fall.

    Their current tour dates include stops at Mad Monster Expo, Creep I.E. Aftermath, Silver Scream Con, Scaradise, New York Comic Con, and The Big Event EXS.

  • Talk Of A Chris Jericho WWE Return Reportedly Heats Up

    With Chris Jericho\’s AEW contract set to expire later this year, there is a growing belief backstage in both WWE that the legendary performer could be heading back to WWE for a final run.

    On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the situation, stating that the talk surrounding a potential Jericho reunion with WWE has begun to heat up in recent days. 

    \”Jericho is actually a really big story. His contract is up at the end of the year, or late in the year, and there’s certainly been lots and lots of talk about WWE,\” Meltzer said (H/T to SI.com). \”I know from a WWE standpoint that there is lots of talk there about Jericho. People speculating Royal Rumble. Nobody has officially said anything, nor will anyone officially say anything.\”

    The latest chatter comes just a few months after Jericho himself publicly stated he would be willing to consider a move back to WWE. During a fan event, he made it clear he was keeping his options open. \”Of course I would consider going back there. I would consider not going back there too. It just depends on what the situation is and what\’s going on with me,” Jericho said.

    \”The Ocho\” has not been seen on AEW programming for several months. His last appearance was in April, when he was written off television after a storyline where he walked out on his Learning Tree stablemates, Big Bill and Bryan Keith. His extended absence has left many wondering about his future with the promotion he helped launch.

  • New AEW Trademark Filing Hints at Potential Special

    AEW has filed a new trademark that pays homage to the legendary Extreme Championship Wrestling. The filing for “September to Remember” comes just before the company is set to begin a multi-week residency at the historic 2300 Arena, formerly known as the ECW Arena, in Philadelphia.

    The trademark was filed on August 18 for goods and services related to producing a professional wrestling event. The filing is for: \”Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live professional wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of professional wrestling programs and events.\”

    The name is inspired by “November to Remember,” which was one of ECW’s signature pay-per-view events throughout the 1990s. The choice of name is particularly fitting given AEW\’s upcoming schedule.

    On August 27, AEW will begin a seven-show residency at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The run will last through September 11 and will include three episodes of Dynamite, three episodes of Collision, and the Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view.

    It is widely speculated that the \”September to Remember\” trademark will be used as the theme for one of these special episodes of Dynamite or Collision emanating from the iconic home of hardcore wrestling.

  • Roman Reigns Reaches WWE Milestone

    Former Undisputed WWE Champion Roman Reigns has reached a significant milestone in his career. Today, August 19, 2025, marks the 15-year anniversary of his first-ever televised in-ring appearance.

    Long before he was \”The Tribal Chief,\” Reigns signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2010 and began his career in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). On August 19, 2010, he made his television debut under the name \”Roman Leakee,\” competing in a 15-man battle royal.

    He would continue to use the \”Leakee\” name throughout his time in FCW and in his early NXT run. In September 2012, he officially adopted the \”Roman Reigns\” name before making his NXT television debut that October, just one month before he would debut on the main roster as part of The Shield at Survivor Series.

    Since those early days in FCW, Reigns has gone on to have one of the most decorated careers in WWE history. He is a six-time world champion, holding the WWE Championship four times and the Universal Championship twice. His last reign as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion was a record-breaking one, lasting 1,316 days. He is also a former Intercontinental, United States, and Tag Team Champion, making him a Grand Slam Champion.

    The 15-year anniversary of his debut comes as Reigns is in the middle of a new rivalry on Raw. He is currently feuding with Seth Rollins and his faction. Bronson Reed, who has been taunting \”The Tribal Chief\” by stealing his shoes. The two are now set to collide at the Clash in Paris premium live event on August 31.