SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Original Plans For AJ Styles\’ TNA Slammiversary Appearance Revealed

    Following AJ Styles\’ memorable appearance at last night\’s TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view, a new report has shed light on the creative process behind his return. The report reveals that the original plans for the segment were changed just hours before the show went on the air.

    According to a report from Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown, multiple TNA sources indicated that the former WWE Champion was originally expected to be part of a segment involving another TNA original, Frankie Kazarian. However, those plans \”shifted in the hours before the event.\” The report added that some sources in TNA believed WWE may have had input on the change, not wanting to promise a future TNA match for one of their main roster stars that they would not be able to deliver on.

    What ultimately transpired saw Styles come to the ring after Leon Slater won the TNA X-Division Championship from Moose. Styles endorsed the new champion and put over the history of the X-Division and TNA. In the same report, TNA President Carlos Silva stated that despite creative plans changing, the original plan was \”always to celebrate AJ’s X Division history.\”

    Styles\’ special one-night return to a TNA ring comes as he is in the middle of a storyline on WWE Raw. \”The Phenomenal One\” is currently waiting to find out if he will challenge Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam, pending Mysterio\’s medical clearance. The fact that WWE allowed one of its top stars to appear on another promotion\’s pay-per-view in the middle of a major program highlights the unique nature of the current wrestling landscape.

    What AJ Styles Did In TNA Return After 11 Years Away

  • Financial Details For WWE Survivor Series In San Diego Revealed

    A new report has revealed the significant site fee that WWE is potentially receiving for bringing this November\’s Survivor Series premium live event to San Diego, California. The total budget for the event could reach as high as $5 million.

    In a report from Wrestlenomics based on public records requests, it was revealed that the city\’s Tourism Marketing District (TMD) approved an initial payment of $650,000 to bring the event to the city. Additionally, the San Diego Padres baseball team, whose Petco Park will host the event, submitted a separate budget of $4.25 million for other expenses, bringing the total overall budget to $5 million. It is not yet known how much of that total figure WWE will receive directly.

    A site fee in the $5 million range would put Survivor Series on par with some of WWE\’s biggest events, including WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas and next month\’s SummerSlam in New Jersey. The report also notes the expected economic impact for the city, with the TMD estimating the event will generate 18,000 hotel room nights, accounting for $3.6 million in revenue on its own. It is also considered likely that the Friday Night SmackDown and/or Monday Night Raw broadcasts for that weekend will take place in San Diego.

    Survivor Series will take place at Petco Park in San Diego on Saturday, November 29th. In recent years, the event has been headlined by the popular WarGames match format.

  • Backstage News On Why Deonna Purrazzo Hasn\’t Been On AEW TV

    An update has been provided on the status of AEW and ROH star Deonna Purrazzo. A new report has clarified the length of her current contract with the company as well as the reason for her recent absence from television.

    According to a report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, Deonna Purrazzo’s current AEW contract runs through 2026. \”The Virtuosa\” reportedly signed a three-year deal with the company, which will be up at the start of 2027. This information came after fans asked about her status following her absence from the recent AEW All In weekend.

    The report also shed light on why Purrazzo has not been featured heavily on television of late. When asked, company sources indicated that injuries to other talent, which caused a delay in the ROH Pure TV Tournament, had a domino effect that ended up affecting her booking. Purrazzo\’s last on-screen appearance was on an episode of ROH TV that was filmed on June 21.

    While Purrazzo waits for a new storyline, the Ring of Honor women\’s division has seen significant developments. Former ROH Women\’s World Champion Athena recently won the Casino Gauntlet at AEW All In to earn a shot at the AEW Women\’s World Title. Meanwhile, the newly created Interim ROH Women\’s TV Championship was recently won by Mina Shirakawa, who then unfortunately suffered a broken hand, leaving that title\’s status in question.

  • CM Punk Reveals A \’Secret Rule\’ Of WWE

    As WWE prepares to pull back the curtain with its new \”WWE: Unreal\” docuseries, CM Punk has revealed one of the business\’s \”secret rules\” in a new interview. He explained the unwritten rule about going over an allotted segment time on live television.

    While WWE shows are strictly timed, Punk told Josh Lawless of SportBible that there\’s an unwritten rule that allows for flexibility, as long as the segment is delivering.

    “It’s one of the secret rules. As long as it’s really, really good, you can get away with it. Going 20 minutes over and you suck, that’s no good,” Punk explained. “I know there is a lot of Bloodline segments or stuff with The Rock, when it’s really good and the crowd’s going absolutely banana for it – you can’t really rush through it.\”

    Punk also shared his personal philosophy on segment timing, noting that he prefers to give time to others rather than take it. He explained how talent often works together backstage to ensure the best overall show.

    “I don’t want to cut into anyone else’s segment and there’s a lot of times I have X amount of time for something and I don’t think I need all that time, I’ll just go out there and go short,\” he said. \”I would rather go short than long. If Rhea [Ripley] is in the next segment, I can nudge here and be like, ‘Hey, you guys need two minutes? I can give you two minutes’.\”

    CM Punk will have the opportunity to put this philosophy into practice tonight, as he is scheduled to kick off Monday Night Raw. He will be in the ring to address his upcoming World Heavyweight Championship match against GUNTHER at SummerSlam.

  • A Former WWE Star Is Headed To NXT This Week

    The crossover between TNA Wrestling and WWE is set to continue in a major way, as TNA\’s on-screen Director of Authority, Santino Marella, has announced he will appear on tomorrow night\’s episode of WWE NXT.

    In an announcement following the TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view, Santino Marella stated he is heading to the July 22nd episode of WWE NXT in Houston. His stated purpose is to address the fact that two NXT superstars, Trick Williams and Jacy Jayne, are currently in possession of TNA\’s top championships.

    The announcement comes after a historic night at TNA Slammiversary on Sunday. In the main event, NXT\’s Trick Williams successfully retained the TNA World Championship in a triple-threat match against Mike Santana and Joe Hendry. In an even more shocking development, NXT Women\’s Champion Jacy Jayne defeated Masha Slamovich in their \”Winner-Take-All\” match to also become the new TNA Knockouts World Champion, making her a dual-brand champion.

    Marella\’s appearance is just one part of the TNA fallout scheduled for tomorrow\’s NXT. The new dual-champion, Jacy Jayne, is also set to be confronted by Lash Legend and Jaida Parker. Furthermore, in another major crossover, WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker is scheduled to confront the TNA World Champion, Trick Williams.

  • Bully Ray Explains Why D-Von Dudley Missed TNA Slammiversary

    Following his surprise solo appearance at last night\’s TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view, Bully Ray has explained why his longtime tag team partner, D-Von Dudley, was not by his side. In a new interview, Bully confirmed D-Von\’s absence was due to a family matter and that he will be at Bound for Glory.

    Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray addressed the fan questions surrounding D-Von\’s absence. He made it clear that it was not due to any creative or backstage issues, but rather a personal commitment that D-Von could not miss.

    “I wish my brother was by my side last night, but he had a very important family matter that he just couldn’t get out of,” Bully said. “We talked, and we both felt that last night was just too important to miss—like catching lightning in a bottle. We wanted to make a big surprise happen, and D-Von will definitely be there at Bound for Glory in Boston.”

    During his appearance at Slammiversary, Bully Ray confronted The Hardy Boyz and issued a challenge for one final match between the two legendary tag teams. The match is now set to take place at TNA\’s biggest show of the year, Bound for Glory, on October 12. Bully Ray was adamant that his partner would be there, stating, \”D-Von will be at Bound for Glory, trust me.\”

    The challenge from Team 3D comes after a chaotic night for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. At Slammiversary, The Hardy Boyz competed in a four-way ladder match for the titles, which was ultimately won by the team of Fir$t Cla$$ (AJ Francis & KC Navarro). Team 3D will now be the first challengers for the new champions at Bound for Glory.

    Hardy Boyz Capture TNA Tag Titles, Team 3D Issues Challenge at Slammiversary 2025

  • St. Louis To Host AEW WrestleDream In October

    All Elite Wrestling has officially announced the date and location for its annual fall pay-per-view, WrestleDream. The company confirmed on Monday that the 2025 edition of the show will emanate from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday, October 18th.

    The news, first reported by the St. Louis Business Journal, was confirmed by AEW via a social media post on July 21. The announcement shared the event details and the ticket rollout plan for the big event. Premium seating early access for the show begins on July 22, with general tickets going on sale to the public on July 28 at 10 a.m. local time.

    The WrestleDream announcement helps solidify AEW\’s pay-per-view schedule for the remainder of the year. Before heading to St. Louis, the company has two other major international events planned. On Sunday, August 24, AEW will be at Wembley Stadium in London, UK, for the annual AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door crossover event. Following that, AEW All Out is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.

    The WrestleDream event was established by AEW in honor of the late wrestling icon and New Japan Pro-Wrestling founder, Antonio Inoki. The 2024 edition of the pay-per-view was headlined Jon Moxley beating Bryan Danielson for the World Heavyweight Title.

  • CM Punk Thinks WWE Star Is “The Future Of The Business”

    As he prepares for his World Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam, CM Punk has opened up about his current run in WWE. In a new interview, Punk said that at this stage of his career, every opportunity he gets is \”extra credit\” and a \”dream come true.\”

    Speaking with ComicBook Nation, Punk reflected on his veteran status and his appreciation for his current position in the company. He noted that working with the top talent in WWE has been a rejuvenating experience.

    “Listen, everything I’m doing on screen, on television, wrestling-wise now, it’s like extra credit. It’s a dream come true,” Punk said. “I feel like I don’t know when the roller coaster ride ends for me. I want to squeeze as much out of it as I can. Being able to work with the top talkers, wrestlers, and minds in the industry has just rejuvenated me as a whole.”

    Punk singled out his upcoming SummerSlam opponent, GUNTHER, as being at the top of the list of people he wants to work with. He also named Bron Breakker, Chad Gable, and Damian Priest as other talents he has his eye on.

    “Just getting able to lace up my boots and lock up with Gunther at this stage in my career is more important to me than anything,” he stated. “Gunther’s at the top of the list of people that I look at as not only the present, they’re definitely the future of the business.”

    Punk earned his championship opportunity by winning a number one contender\’s gauntlet match on the July 14th episode of Monday Night Raw. His match against GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship is one of the marquee bouts scheduled for the two-night SummerSlam premium live event, which takes place on August 2nd and 3rd at MetLife Stadium.

  • Bryan Danielson Reveals He\’s Training To Be A Volunteer Firefighter

    AEW star Bryan Danielson has not wrestled a match since October 2024, and he recently revealed what he has been focusing on during his time away from the ring. At a recent stage show, Danielson shared that he is currently in training to become a volunteer firefighter in his community.

    Speaking at a Starrcast stage show, Danielson explained his motivation for the new endeavor, stating that he wants to help combat forest fires in his area and find a new way to be of service.

    “So one of the things in our area that needs help is the forest fires, and so, one of my things to provide service to my community is training to be a volunteer firefighter,” Danielson said. “I’m looking at how I can be of service to my community and where I can feel like I’m really doing something with my life that’s productive and has meaning, you know?”

    \”The American Dragon\” has not competed in an official match since the WrestleDream pay-per-view last October. He has stated that he is currently focused on his family, though he has made some non-televised appearances for AEW and ROH during his time off.

    While Danielson\’s focus has been on his family and community, he made a surprise, non-wrestling appearance at the AEW All In: Texas pay-per-view on July 12. During the chaotic main event, a masked Danielson appeared, coming to the aid of \”Hangman\” Adam Page and attacking members of the Death Riders faction. The appearance has led to speculation among fans about whether he is planning a more permanent return to the ring.

  • Netflix Reveals WWE Viewership Numbers 

    Netflix has released its first biannual viewership report since its landmark partnership with WWE began on January 6, 2025. The data, which covers the period from January 1 through June 30, reveals impressive numbers for Monday Night Raw and some surprising results for the company\’s premium live events in international markets.

    In a surprising finding, the most-viewed single night of a WWE premium live event on Netflix internationally was not WrestleMania. The Royal Rumble in January topped all PLEs with three million international viewers. This viewership was higher than both nights of WrestleMania 41, which drew 2.4 million viewers for Saturday and 2.8 million for Sunday. In other international data, SmackDown\’s viewership peaked at 1.1 million viewers, while the highest-viewed NXT PLE was New Year\’s Evil with 500,000 viewers.

    The debut of Monday Night Raw on the streaming platform was a huge success, achieving the highest viewership for any episode in the first half of 2025 with 6.9 million global viewers. That January 6th show featured a main event between CM Punk and Seth Rollins, as well as Roman Reigns facing Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat. The third highest-viewed episode of Raw during the reporting period was the April 21st show, which featured major storyline developments involving John Cena, Randy Orton, and Paul Heyman\’s new faction.

    The strong performance in the first half of 2025 sets a high bar for WWE and Netflix. The next major premium live event that will be included in the next report is the upcoming two-night SummerSlam on August 2nd and 3rd, which will be headlined by John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER defending the World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk.

  • CM Punk Reveals Creative Process Behind \’Doctor Of Punkanomics\’ Promo

    CM Punk has pulled back the curtain on the creative process behind his memorable \”Doctor of Punkanomics\” freestyle rap promo, which targeted John Cena on the June 27 episode of WWE SmackDown. In a new interview, Punk explained why he chose to \”zag\” instead of delivering another \”Pipe Bomb.\”

    Speaking with ComicBook.com, Punk revealed that the motivation behind the rap was to deliberately avoid recreating his legendary Pipe Bomb promo, as he felt it was what everyone was expecting.

    “The genesis of the idea was everybody’s expecting this Pipe Bomb 2 from me. And I’m not into delivering sequels to stuff that don’t need sequels,\” Punk said. \”For 14 years, people have been chasing this moment and trying to replicate it… I couldn’t even have followed myself… everyone’s expecting me to zig, so I zag. That was kind of the idea with it.”

    To ensure the freestyle rap landed perfectly, Punk enlisted the help of some friends who specialize in that area, including battle rap expert Jensen Karp.

    “I have a good friend of mine by the name of Jensen Karp who is to me like battle rap master—master’s kind of what he does. So it was his lane,\” Punk explained. \”So I definitely leaned on him… He helped me greatly, along with another friend of ours, Ron.”

    “People are going to remember that. Whether it’s because of the delivery, the content, the way I was dressed, the atmosphere… I think it was a hell of a moment.”

    The memorable promo on SmackDown served as a special confrontation between the two legendary rivals. Since then, both men have returned to their respective brand\’s main event scenes. CM Punk is now the number one contender for GUNTHER\’s World Heavyweight Championship on Raw. Meanwhile, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena is scheduled for a contract signing on tonight\’s episode of SmackDown with his SummerSlam challenger, Cody Rhodes.

  • Sting Reveals He Originally Wanted To Retire As \’Old Man Sting\’

    WWE Hall of Famer Sting retired from professional wrestling at AEW Revolution in 2024, but \”The Icon\” has revealed that his original plan for his farewell was slightly different. In a new interview, the legend stated he initially wanted to wrestle his final match as \”Old Man Sting.\”

    Speaking on the Major Figure podcast, Sting discussed his current look, which includes a natural grey beard and hair, and said that was the persona he wanted to have his last match as. He also addressed the fans who are still calling for him to have one more match.

    “I actually wanted to retire as Old Man Sting,” he said. “I’ve got enough fans going, ‘One more. Just one more.’ Right, one more match. I’m 66 now, enough is enough.”

    Sting\’s final run in AEW was a celebrated one, as he went undefeated with a 28-0 record, teaming with his protégé Darby Allin in every match. He retired as one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions after he and Allin defeated The Young Bucks at Revolution 2024. \”The Icon\” is now in his final year of doing convention appearances in his full face paint and gear, having filed a trademark for the \”Old Man Sting\” name in January.

    While Sting has remained retired, the other participants in his final match have been central to recent AEW storylines. His protégé, Darby Allin, made a spectacular return at last weekend\’s All In: Texas, rappelling from the stadium roof during the main event. Meanwhile, the men Sting and Allin defeated, The Young Bucks, also had a pivotal night at All In, losing a match that stripped them of their on-screen Executive Vice President roles.

  • AEW All In: Texas Reportedly Draws Huge PPV Buyrate And Record Merchandise Sales

    The business numbers are in for this past weekend\’s AEW All In: Texas pay-per-view, and the event was a major financial success for the company. A new report from the Wrestling Observer has revealed a strong pay-per-view buyrate and a record-breaking figure for merchandise sales.

    According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the July 12th event is estimated to have done 175,000 buys on pay-per-view. This number would make it the fourth-highest buyrate in AEW history, behind only All Out 2021, All In 2023, and Revolution 2024. The report also notes that the event generated $725,000 in merchandise revenue, the largest amount for any non-WWE wrestling show in the history of the U.S. or Canada.

    These numbers align with comments made by AEW President Tony Khan at the post-show press conference. Khan stated that the attendance at Globe Life Field was close to 30,000 fans, which produced the biggest gate for an AEW event ever held in the United States. The company\’s overall attendance and gate records remain with the 2023 edition of All In from Wembley Stadium in London, England.

    Following the success of All In, AEW will look to continue its momentum as it heads towards its next major pay-per-view, Forbidden Door, on August 24th. The annual crossover event with New Japan Pro-Wrestling will feature dream matches between stars from both promotions, though the card has been impacted by recent injuries to top AEW stars like Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay.

  • Backstage News On Why AEW Ended The Young Bucks\’ EVP Storyline

    A new report has revealed the backstage reasoning behind the decision to end The Young Bucks\’ long-running storyline as on-screen Executive Vice Presidents at this past weekend\’s AEW All In: Texas pay-per-view.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the high-stakes tag team match against Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay was specifically designed to conclude the authority figure angle for Matt and Nick Jackson. The report states the feeling was it had run its course so it was time to get them back to being a great wrestling tag team.

    While the outcome saw the Bucks lose their EVP status, the report notes that another finish was \”absolutely discussed and considered.\” An alternate plan would have seen Strickland and Ospreay lose, banning them from challenging for the AEW World Championship for an entire year. However, the report adds that The Young Bucks themselves insisted on taking the loss. On the following episode of AEW Dynamite, the brothers were shown struggling to adapt to life without their executive powers.

    The victory has major implications for the winning team. Swerve Strickland is now free to challenge for the AEW World Championship at any time. However, his partner Will Ospreay will be unable to capitalize on the momentum, as it was also reported this week that Ospreay is taking an extended hiatus to recover from injuries that are believed to be worse than first anticipated.

    Young Bucks Struggle On Dynamite After Losing AEW EVP Status

  • Kenny Omega Reportedly Taking Time Off From AEW

    Following his grueling championship match at this past weekend\’s AEW All In: Texas pay-per-view, Kenny Omega is reportedly expected to take some time off from the company. The former world champion was absent from this week\’s television tapings.

    According to a report from Fightful Select, AEW sources have confirmed that Omega is expected to be off television for at least a stretch. It is currently unclear whether his time off will be a complete break from programming or if he will make sporadic appearances. On this week\’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Omega\’s former manager, Don Callis, repeatedly referred to him as \”dead\” after his loss at the pay-per-view.

    Omega\’s expected absence comes just a few months after his return from a career-threatening battle with diverticulitis that sidelined him for most of early 2025. Since his return, he has competed in ten matches, culminating in a 30-minute war with Kazuchika Okada at All In, where the AEW International and Continental Championships were unified.

    Omega joins a growing list of top AEW stars who are currently on hiatus. As has been previously reported, Adam Cole is out indefinitely with concussion issues, Will Ospreay is taking time off to heal from injuries, and Samoa Joe has begun a brief absence to handle promotional work for his television series.

  • CM Punk On Triple H: \”I Love Working With The Guy\”

    CM Punk has opened up about his current working relationship with WWE\’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, calling it a \”treat\” and explaining how their dynamic has evolved from adversarial to collaborative.

    In a new interview with TV Insider, Punk praised his current collaboration with Levesque. He explained that both men have gained new life experiences and perspectives since his first run with the company, which has changed their professional relationship from competitive to one focused on the same goals.

    “Between me and Triple H, there is so much more of an understanding,” Punk said. “It was more adversarial because we were competition. Now we’re not and are on the same page and want to help the next generation… Look, I love working with the guy. It’s amazing. It’s really a treat. I think we’ve only scratched the tip of the iceberg.”

    Punk also discussed the biggest difference between his two runs in WWE, stating that he now feels much more secure in his position and no longer feels the need to constantly fight to prove himself.

    “I don’t think I’m fighting for real estate anymore whereas early in my career I was always fighting for what I thought was the way to do things. I feel like my role is 100 percent more solidified now,” he explained. “It feels weird saying that I’m a living legend, but I’m not sure how else to say it… I’m pretty f*ckin’ good at it. I know that now.”

    Punk\’s new perspective and solidified role have quickly propelled him back into the main event scene. On this past Monday\’s episode of Raw, he won a grueling gauntlet match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. He is now scheduled to challenge the champion, GUNTHER, at the SummerSlam premium live event.

  • Scott D\’Amore Thinks The Young Bucks Could End Up In WWE

    After The Young Bucks were stripped of their Executive Vice President titles at AEW All In: Texas, former TNA President Scott D\’Amore has weighed in on their future. He suggested that Matt and Nick Jackson could one day make the jump to WWE.

    Speaking on the most recent edition of his podcast, The D\’Amore Drop, Scott D\’Amore discussed the current storyline for the Young Bucks. He noted that with all they have accomplished in AEW, a move to WWE for a \”WrestleMania moment\” could be in their future.

    “It’s no secret WWE wanted the Bucks badly before they helped form AEW — and I can see Matt and Nick, not tomorrow, but at some point — maybe deciding it is time to go have a WrestleMania moment like fellow AEW founder Cody Rhodes did,” D’Amore stated.

    D\’Amore\’s comments come after a major shift in the Young Bucks\’ on-screen status. At All In, they lost a tag team match to Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay, with the stipulation being that they would lose their EVP titles. On the following episode of AEW Dynamite, the brothers were portrayed as being lost without the perks of their executive roles. Despite this storyline, Matt and Nick Jackson signed long-term contract extensions with AEW in August 2023.

    D\’Amore\’s comparison to Cody Rhodes is a timely one. Since leaving AEW and returning to WWE in 2022, Rhodes has become one of the company\’s top babyfaces. After winning this year\’s King of the Ring tournament, he is now scheduled to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the upcoming SummerSlam premium live event.

  • Montez Ford Calls Post-WrestleMania Match The \’Greatest TLC Match Of All Time\’

    Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, The Street Profits, recently looked back on what they consider to be a signature moment in their careers: the chaotic TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Championships on the Friday Night SmackDown after WrestleMania 41.

    Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, the duo explained that being left off the WrestleMania 41 card gave them extra motivation heading into that title defense. Montez Ford stated that regardless of the event, The Street Profits are always the main attraction.

    “You’re not on WrestleMania but, you also look at it a positive way where now they have other WWE superstars who’ve never been a part of WrestleMania to showcase their talents,\” Ford said. \”But, the thing about it is once that gets finished with… we step up to the plate and show ‘em how it’s really done… We had a lot of chips on our shoulder.”

    That \”chip on their shoulder\” resulted in a match that Ford boldly calls \”the greatest TLC match of all time.\” In the bout, The Street Profits successfully defended their titles against #DIY and the Motor City Machine Guns. Angelo Dawkins agreed with the sentiment, saying they took the match personally.

    “That was one of the funnest nights ever right there. Magic was made that night,\” Dawkins said. \”I feel like we all left with our heads held high and we put on a clinic, we put on a show. We had a crazy chip on our shoulder that day.”

    While The Street Profits look back fondly on that successful title defense, their reign as WWE Tag Team Champions recently came to an end. On the July 11 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Ford and Dawkins were defeated by Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy of The Wyatt Sicks, who captured the titles for the sinister faction.

  • New Trailer For \’WWE: Unreal\’ Released

    With the premiere date fast approaching, Netflix has released a new trailer for its upcoming docuseries, \”WWE: Unreal.\” The exclusive look from Entertainment Weekly reveals more details about the show, including that WWE\’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, will serve as the series narrator.

    The new trailer features behind-the-scenes footage of top stars such as John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and CM Punk. The five-episode first season, which premieres on July 29, promises an unprecedented look into the WWE creative process and the lives of its superstars.

    The series is produced by WWE in partnership with Skydance Sports, NFL Films, and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. In the interview with Entertainment Weekly, Triple H explained the motivation behind the project.

    “Our business evolves and so do the expectations of our audience,” Triple H said. “When you look at the track records of Omaha Productions and NFL Films, it felt like we had the right partners in place to pull back the curtain and showcase WWE in a brand-new way.”

    To promote the series, stars like Rhea Ripley and CM Punk have been making media appearances this week. As previously reported, Punk shared his mixed feelings about the project, stating that due to his \”old school\” mentality of protecting the business, he finds the concept of letting cameras so far behind the scenes \”really strange,\” even while understanding its appeal to the fans.

  • R-Truth Says Fan Backlash To His Release Showed \’Good In Humanity\’

    WWE superstar R-Truth has opened up about his brief departure from the company last month, reflecting on the massive outpouring of support from fans and peers that led to WWE reversing its decision and re-signing him.

    In early June, it was announced that WWE had chosen not to renew R-Truth\’s contract, which sparked a significant backlash on social media. Speaking on the Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred podcast, Truth said the experience of seeing everyone come together was what he would remember most.

    “The outreach,” Truth responded. “The love. I think it was meant for me and it was meant for everybody, man. Through all social media, [there were] over 100 million reactions of emotions and of unifying on one thing. So if anything, it showed that we all can come together on something… So that was showing the good in humanity, man. That was great.”

    Less than a week after the initial news, WWE reached a new deal with the 53-year-old veteran. Since his return to television, R-Truth has been presented with a repackaged persona that shows more of his real self. He is currently in a feud with Aleister Black, whom he defeated on last week\’s episode of SmackDown.

    R-Truth\’s victory over Aleister Black on last week\’s SmackDown was a notable one, though not for its length. As was previously reported, the match was significantly shortened due to a preceding segment running long, a decision one WWE source called a \”necessary evil.\” Despite the time constraints, the win keeps the momentum with the veteran as his popular resurgence continues on the blue brand.

  • Cody Rhodes On Randy Orton: “We Could Do a Six-month Program That Leads to WrestleMania”

    Cody Rhodes recently defeated Randy Orton in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament, but \”The American Nightmare\” believes their story is far from over. In a new interview, Rhodes stated that he sees the potential for a much longer program with his former Legacy stablemate.

    Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Undisputed, Rhodes discussed his history with Orton and stated that there is plenty of material for a more in-depth rivalry down the line.

    “Randy and I have a lot of history. We could do a six-month program that leads to WrestleMania. There is a lot of meat on the bone,\” Rhodes said. \”It was a different type of build here with the tournament, with a whole different set of stakes… I think we’ll get into our history down the road, too.”

    Rhodes\’ victory over Orton at Night of Champions earned him an Undisputed WWE Championship match against John Cena at SummerSlam. He reflected on his current run in the company, calling it a special time in his career.

    “This is uncharted and undiscovered in terms of what I envisioned for myself and WWE,” said Rhodes. “For my time here, this is the cherry on top. It’s a really special time.”

    While a future program with Orton may be down the road, Rhodes\’ immediate focus is on his championship match against John Cena at SummerSlam on August 2nd and 3rd. As for Randy Orton, he has entered a new rivalry of his own and is scheduled to team with musical artist Jelly Roll to take on the new alliance of Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul at the same event.

  • Roman Reigns Advertised For WWE Events

    After his shocking return on this past week\’s episode of Monday Night Raw, Roman Reigns is now being advertised for the final two episodes of the show leading up to WWE SummerSlam.

    According to local advertisements, Reigns is scheduled to appear on the July 21st episode of Raw from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. He is also being advertised for the go-home episode of Raw on July 28th from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. These appearances will build anticipation for the two-day SummerSlam event in early August.

    Reigns made his first appearance since Raw after WrestleMania 41 this past Monday night. He returned at the conclusion of the show to attack Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, members of the faction led by Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman. Reigns has made it clear he is seeking revenge for Heyman\’s betrayal and the subsequent attack that wrote him off of television months ago.

    While Reigns is set to appear on the final two Raw\’s before SummerSlam, it remains to be seen who his target will be. His intended rival, Seth Rollins, is currently sidelined with a significant knee injury, and there is no official timeline for his return. WWE fans will be watching closely to see how Reigns and Paul Heyman address the situation and what it means for a potential Roman Reigns match at SummerSlam.

  • Tony Khan Calls AEW All In: Texas The \’Best Show We\’ve Ever Done\’

    In the wake of this past weekend\’s All In: Texas pay-per-view, AEW President Tony Khan has called the event the best show the company has ever produced. In a new interview, Khan reflected on the success of the show and singled out the AEW Women\’s World Championship match for high praise.

    While speaking to 103.5 KISS FM, Tony Khan lauded the success of the event held at Globe Life Field in Arlington. He pointed to record-breaking numbers for the company as a key measure of its success.

    “It was the best show we’ve ever done. AEW All In Texas,\” Khan said. \”It’s the biggest pay-per-view we’ve ever had on Amazon Prime and one of our biggest pay-per-view shows ever, one of our biggest crowds ever. The biggest crowd AEW’s ever had on this continent, in North America, ever, and it was just a great experience.”

    Khan also specifically praised the AEW Women\’s World Championship match between \”Timeless\” Toni Storm and Mercedes Moné, calling it one of his favorite matches ever and expressing a desire to see a rematch.

    “We have a great Women’s World Champion, ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm… She defeated another one of the best wrestlers, Mercedes Mone,\” Khan stated. \”They are the top two women in the world of wrestling in my opinion. They still are and I would love to see a rematch at some point because that was an absolute, in my opinion, five-star classic.”

    Khan\’s praise comes after a newsworthy night in Arlington, Texas. In addition to Toni Storm\’s successful title defense, the All In event saw \”Hangman\” Adam Page defeat Jon Moxley to become the new AEW World Champion in a brutal Texas Death Match, Kazuchika Okada become the first-ever AEW Unified Champion, and the shocking return of Adam Copeland.

  • Drew McIntyre Taunts CM Punk And GUNTHER With Toilet Crash Video

    Drew McIntyre is not impressed with the newly announced World Heavyweight Championship match for SummerSlam. The \”Scottish Warrior\” took to social media to share his disdain for the upcoming bout between the champion, GUNTHER, and the new number-one contender, CM Punk.

    Less than a day after the match was made official, McIntyre posted a video to his Twitter account showing two porcelain toilets swinging on ropes before smashing into each other. The video was accompanied by a simple, direct caption: “GUNTHER vs Punk”. The message was clear, as McIntyre suggested the championship match would not be a high-quality encounter.

    CM Punk earned his championship opportunity on this past Monday\’s episode of Raw, where he won a star-studded gauntlet match. The match saw Punk last defeat Bron Breakker to secure his spot at SummerSlam. The gauntlet also included top stars such as Jey Uso, LA Knight, and Penta. The title match is now set for the two-day SummerSlam event on August 2nd and 3rd at MetLife Stadium.

    McIntyre\’s bitterness likely stems from his own recent misfortunes. At this past weekend\’s Saturday Night\’s Main Event, McIntyre was defeated by Randy Orton. While he now has a tag team match scheduled for SummerSlam alongside Logan Paul against Orton and Jelly Roll, his sights were clearly set on the World Heavyweight Championship that Punk will now be challenging for.

  • Report: Travis Scott Was \’Not A Quick Learner For The Business\’

    After helping John Cena win the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41, rapper Travis Scott has been conspicuously absent from WWE programming. A new report has now provided a potential reason for his disappearance, suggesting his wrestling training did not go as planned.

    In a response to a fan on Twitter, the account TC WrestleVotes addressed the rumors about what happened to Travis Scott\’s planned WWE storyline. The report claims that Scott\’s progress in learning the in-ring aspect of the business was not going smoothly. “I heard he was ‘not a quick learner for the business,’” WrestleVotes wrote. The report added that Scott also skipped wrestling training sessions, which is why he was absent from last month\’s Money in the Bank event where he was rumored to appear.

    Travis Scott made a major splash at WrestleMania 41 when he interfered in the main event to help John Cena defeat Cody Rhodes. The moment went viral and was expected to lead to further appearances and a potential match for the rap icon as part of Cena\’s farewell tour. However, Scott has not been seen or mentioned on WWE television since that night, leading to speculation that the company has quietly shelved its plans for him.

    While Travis Scott\’s future with the company remains uncertain, John Cena\’s farewell tour as Undisputed WWE Champion continues. Cena is currently scheduled to defend his championship in a highly-anticipated rematch against Cody Rhodes at the SummerSlam premium live event on August 2nd and 3rd.