SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Goldberg Details Frustration Over WWE Final Match And Shortened Speech

    Days after his final match against GUNTHER at WWE Saturday Night\’s Main Event, Goldberg has spoken out about his retirement, expressing significant frustration with how his farewell was produced by WWE.

    Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Goldberg was candid about his feelings, stating, “Let’s just say I’m pissed off at the way that I went out. I put so much into it and I don’t feel the effort was reciprocated to put a stamp on what I accomplished.” He questioned why his retirement match was on a television special instead of a premium live event and noted that he was only given a three-week notice to prepare and build to the match.

    He contrasted his treatment with how WWE is handling John Cena\’s retirement tour, saying, \”They wouldn’t do that to Taker, right? They’re not going to do that for Cena.\”

    Goldberg\’s biggest frustration stemmed from the broadcast cutting away during his post-match speech. He claimed he was only given 28 seconds on live television before being cut off, something he believes was preventable. \”I think it doesn’t matter because it’s live television and you can plan for it,\” he said, calling the incident \”the ultimate rib.\” Despite his issues with the production, Goldberg had high praise for his opponent. \”Gunther was an unbelievable guy to work with. It was awesome. I had a good time,\” he said.

    Goldberg\’s comments provide his perspective on the controversial broadcast cut-off. As was previously reported, the reason for the abrupt ending on the NBC broadcast was due to WWE having a strict \”hard out\” time limit. It was also reported that at least one WWE executive apologized to Goldberg for the production issue immediately following the show.

  • AJ Styles Teased For TNA Slammiversary

    With TNA Wrestling\’s Slammiversary pay-per-view just days away, company president Carlos Silva has made a bold claim about the upcoming event. In a social media post, Silva stated that the show will be the company\’s \”greatest achievement.\”

    Taking to his social media on Monday evening, Silva announced that due to fan demand, the company is adjusting the setup for the event at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. He also promised a historic night for the promotion.

    “We’re moving the stage back to accommodate more fans,” Silva announced. “This event will be TNA’s greatest achievement and trust me it’s going to be PHENOMENAL.” With the mention of Phenomenal, many fans think that this could be a tease for a surprise return of AJ Styles, who goes by the nickname. 

    The hype for the show is backed by a major card, which features several high-stakes matches. The main event of TNA Slammiversary 2025 will be a three-way match for the TNA World Championship. The champion, Trick Williams, will defend his title against both Joe Hendry and Mike Santana. In a inter-promotional match, TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich will face NXT Women\’s Champion Jacy Jayne in a match where both titles are on the line.

    Silva\’s comments about accommodating more fans align with recent ticket sale reports. As of the latest update from WrestleTix on July 14th, over 4,500 tickets have been distributed for the event at the UBS Arena, with production being altered to open up new sections for sale due to the strong demand.

  • Reason Why Samoa Joe Was Stretchered Out At AEW All In

    Following the post-match angle at AEW All In: Texas that saw Samoa Joe stretchered out of the arena, a new report has revealed the reason for his upcoming absence from television. Joe is reportedly taking a brief hiatus from AEW to handle promotional work for his hit television series.

    At the All In pay-per-view this past Saturday, The Opps retained the AEW Trios Championships in a brutal match against The Death Riders and Gabe Kidd. Following the match, Joe was the subject of an attack that resulted in him being taken out on a stretcher. According to a report from Fightful Select, this segment was a planned angle designed to write Samoa Joe off of AEW programming temporarily.

    The report confirms that Joe is scheduled to take a brief hiatus from AEW to fulfill promotional responsibilities for the upcoming new season of his show, \”Twisted Metal,\” which premieres on Peacock on July 31. Sources indicated that Joe is expected to be off AEW programming for \”at least a couple of weeks\” while he handles his acting commitments.

    The \”Twisted Metal\” series, based on the classic video game franchise, was a hit for Peacock in its first season. In the show, Samoa Joe provides the physical performance for the menacing, ice cream truck-driving clown, Sweet Tooth, while actor Will Arnett provides the character\’s voice. The second season is one of the platform\’s most expected releases of the summer.

  • Big Women\’s World Title Match Announced For WWE SummerSlam

    The first major championship match for SummerSlam has been set. During the opening segment of tonight\’s WWE Monday Night Raw, it was announced that the new Women\’s World Champion, Naomi, will defend her title in a triple-threat match against both Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY.

    The show kicked off with the new champion, Naomi, addressing her shocking Money in the Bank cash-in at last night\’s Evolution event. Her celebration was cut short by the arrival of a furious Rhea Ripley, who was not pinned in the main event match. As Ripley made her case for a one-on-one rematch, they were interrupted by the former champion, IYO SKY, who also demanded her title rematch.

    With the three women arguing in the ring, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce came out to restore order. Pearce first announced that as the new Women\’s World Champion, Naomi has officially been moved from the SmackDown roster to Monday Night Raw. He then announced that at the two-night SummerSlam event on August 2nd and 3rd, Naomi will defend her championship against both Ripley and SKY.

    The announcement of the major women\’s title match kicks off the road to SummerSlam for the Raw brand. Also on tonight\’s show, the WWE fans awaits an update on the condition of Seth Rollins, who suffered a significant knee injury over the weekend. His status will have major implications for the men\’s main event scene at SummerSlam.

  • Becky Lynch Finishes Filming For New FX Comedy Pilot

    WWE Women\’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch continues to expand her acting portfolio, as she has reportedly finished filming for a new workplace comedy pilot for the FX network called \”Movers.\”

    The news came via an Instagram post from Chaisson, a set costumer on the pilot, who uploaded several photos from the set featuring himself with Lynch and other cast and crew members. In his post, Chaisson noted that this was a \”full circle moment\” as he had previously worked with Lynch on the set of Young Rock.

    \”Movers\” comes from the creators of Reno 911!, Robert Ben Garant and Cathy Shim, who will also star in the mockumentary-style show. The series follows the lives of a group of movers and will feature a significant amount of improvisation. Lynch joins a cast that includes Maz Jobrani, Darius Homayoun, and Manny Montana. This is another major project for Lynch, who is also set to appear in Happy Gilmore 2, premiering July 25 on Netflix.

    While her acting career continues to grow, Lynch remains at the top of her game in WWE. At last night\’s WWE Evolution premium live event, she successfully defended her Women\’s Intercontinental Championship in a triple-threat match against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. She is expected to appear on tonight\’s episode of Raw.

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  • Saraya Apologizes To Disappointed Fan

    Former WWE and AEW star Saraya (formerly Paige) has responded to fans on social media following her absence from last night\’s WWE Evolution premium live event. The free agent issued an apology to a fan who was disappointed she did not appear at the show.

    Saraya\’s own social media activity leading up to Evolution sparked speculation among fans that she might make a surprise return. This led to one fan claiming she was on a flight to Atlanta for the event. When she did not appear, the fan expressed their disappointment, prompting a direct and heartfelt reply from Saraya.

    “I’m sorryyyyy! Although seeing all the love made me very emotional,” she wrote in response.

    After the show concluded, Saraya took to Twitter/X again to share her appreciation for the event and the performers, tweeting, \”I love women’s wrestling ???#frenemies,”. Her post was met with many fans asking her to return to WWE. It also received a response from the new Women\’s World Champion, Naomi, who replied simply, \”I love you.\”

    Saraya has been a free agent since her contract with AEW expired in March 2025. As was reported prior to the event, Saraya was never scheduled to be at Evolution as she was in Hawaii. Despite her physical absence, the strong reaction from fans and current WWE stars shows she remains a popular figure in the wrestling world.

  • Internal Reaction To WWE Evolution 2 Revealed

    Following last night\’s all-women\’s WWE Evolution 2 Premium Live Event, the internal reaction to the show has been overwhelmingly positive. A new report has shed light on how the event was viewed backstage within the company.

    According to a report from Fightful Select, several people within WWE considered the second-ever Evolution event a \”big success.\” The report adds that many in the company believe it won’t be the last time the event happens, though there is currently no schedule for a potential third installment.

    The successful event featured several major matches and moments. Becky Lynch retained her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, and Women\’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defeated WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. The night was capped off by a shocking main event, which saw Naomi cash in her Money in the Bank contract during the match between IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley to become the new Women\’s World Champion. The show also saw Stephanie Vaquer win a battle royal to earn a future world title shot at Clash in Paris.

    The positive internal reaction aligns with comments made by WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H at the post-show press conference. While Triple H did not commit to Evolution being an annual event, he stated that if fan demand is there, WWE would \”definitely go down that road again.\” He described the show as an \”epic WWE production\” and praised the continued growth of the women\’s division.

    Triple H Says ‘We’ll See’ If Evolution Becomes An Annual PPV

  • WWE Star Announces Successful Surgery After Tearing ACL

    WWE NXT star Ariana Bennett has revealed that she recently suffered a major injury, announcing that she tore her ACL and has already undergone surgery. Bennett shared the news with her followers in a heartfelt social media post.

    Taking to her Twitter account, Bennett explained that the injury occurred a few weeks ago in a dancing video she had posted. She surprisingly did not feel any pain when it happened and continued to practice, only to discover later that she had suffered a full tear. Bennett noted she waited until after her surgery was complete to provide an update in order to protect her mental health.

    In her post, Bennett shared her mindset through the process and vowed to make a full recovery. Her last match was at an NXT live event on April 26.

    “Life threw a curveball a few weeks ago…I tore my ACL,” Bennett wrote. “To protect my mental, I wanted to wait until after surgery to update my followers. At first it was a lot to process, until I started praying and realized God is always working…even when I can’t see it. Keeping things fun and lighthearted has helped me get through the hard times. Laughter really is medicine. This is just one chapter in the story. Right now, it’s about healing, trusting the process, and coming back stronger—mind, body, and spirit.”

    We wish her a speedy recovery.

  • Internal Reaction To Goldberg\’s SNME Speech Being Cut Short On Broadcast

    Many fans watching Goldberg\’s final match at last night\’s WWE Saturday Night\’s Main Event were left frustrated when the broadcast cut away during his post-match retirement speech. A new Fightful Select report has shed light on the production issue, noting it was unintentional.

    The NBC network feed for Saturday Night\’s Main Event ended abruptly while Goldberg was addressing the fans in the ring. The issue was reportedly due to WWE having a \”hard out,\” or a strict time limit, for their broadcast window on the network. According to sources, this was not an intentional slight, and a number of people within WWE felt bad about how it transpired. It was also claimed that at least one company higher-up personally apologized to Goldberg for the error.

    Following the show, WWE sources indicated that the company quickly made plans to make the full speech available to the public. As promised, WWE posted Goldberg\’s complete and uncut retirement speech to its digital platforms on Sunday afternoon, allowing fans to see the moment in its entirety.

    The speech came after Goldberg\’s final match, where he unsuccessfully challenged GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite a valiant effort, the WWE Hall of Famer was defeated by the reigning champion, bringing his legendary career to a close.

  • Hangman Page Wins AEW World Title In Brutal Texas Death Match

    In an incredibly violent and chaotic Texas Death Match, \”Hangman\” Adam Page has defeated Jon Moxley in the main event of AEW All In: Texas to become the new AEW World Champion. The bout was filled with extreme weapons, brutal spots, and constant interference from numerous stars.

    The match descended into violence almost immediately, with both competitors using weapons ranging from forks and barbed wire to broken glass. In one of several horrifying moments, Moxley slammed Page with a piledriver onto a pile of broken glass. Later in the match, a bed of nails was introduced, with Moxley hitting his Paradigm Shift finisher on Page directly onto the nails. Despite the immense punishment, Page repeatedly managed to get to his feet just before the 10-count.

    The match was defined by a revolving door of interferences. Members of Moxley\’s Death Riders faction—Marina Shafir, Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, and Gabe Kidd—repeatedly got involved, at one point taking out Will Ospreay who had to be stretchered away. This led to the surprise returns of Bryan Danielson and Darby Allin, who rappelled from the stadium roof, to even the odds. The Young Bucks also appeared, attacking Page with an EVP Trigger. The finish came after Swerve Strickland appeared, tossing a steel chain to Page. \”Hangman\” used the chain to hit a Buckshot Lariat that sent Moxley onto the bed of nails, then used the chain to hang Moxley until he submitted to win the title.

    Page\’s championship victory capped off a newsworthy night in Arlington. Earlier in the evening, Kazuchika Okada became the inaugural AEW Unified Champion, Daniel Garcia captured the vacant TNT Championship after Adam Cole was forced to relinquish it due to injury, and Athena won the Women\’s Casino Gauntlet to earn a future world title shot.

  • Kazuchika Okada Becomes Inaugural AEW Unified Champion At All In

    In a dramatic, hard-hitting contest at AEW All In: Texas, Kazuchika Okada defeated Kenny Omega to become the first-ever AEW Unified Champion. The match was a back-and-forth classic marred by constant interference from the Don Callis Family.

    Throughout the match, Okada targeted the abdomen of Kenny Omega, the site of his previous surgery for diverticulitis. While Omega mounted several comebacks, including a series of V-Triggers and a twisting full-nelson slam from the top rope, Okada continually went back to attacking the midsection to regain control.

    The final minutes of the match were defined by chaos at ringside. After Don Callis, who was on commentary, attacked Omega on the outside, his family member Rocky Romero also attempted to interfere but was neutralized by the timely arrival of Kota Ibushi. The most pivotal moment came when Omega successfully hit the One Winged Angel on Okada, but Callis pulled referee Bryce Remsburg from the ring before the three-count. After a new official, Aubrey Edwards, entered the ring, Okada capitalized on the chaos and hit a decisive Rainmaker to secure the victory.

    Okada\’s historic victory was a key highlight of a newsworthy night at All In.

  • Adam Copeland Returns At AEW All In After Shocking Betrayal

    The AEW World Tag Team Championship match at All In: Texas ended with retained champions, but the aftermath saw a stunning betrayal and the shocking return of Adam Copeland.

    In a chaotic three-way match, The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) successfully defended their AEW World Tag Team Championships against JetSpeed and The Patriarchy. The end came after FTR appeared, distracting Christian Cage and allowing Lashley to hit a spear for the pinfall victory. Following the match, Cage was brutally attacked by his own protégé, Nick Wayne, with Kip Sabian joining in on the assault. Nick Wayne\’s mother, who was at ringside, slapped Cage repeatedly before they set him up for a con-chair-to.

    Just as Wayne was about to strike, the music of Adam Copeland hit, and the WWE Hall of Famer sprinted to the ring to make the save. Copeland cleared the ring, delivering spears to Nick Wayne, Kip Sabian, and both members of FTR. In a tense and emotional moment, Copeland then helped his former friend and rival, Christian Cage, to his feet. Instead of offering a hug, Copeland looked him in the eyes and said, “Go find yourself,” before leaving a stunned Cage alone in the ring.

    This marks Copeland\’s first appearance in AEW since he was taken out of action by Malakai Black in a brutal assault on an episode of Dynamite this past April. His return adds another volatile element to the landscape of AEW and the future of Christian Cage.

  • Athena Wins Women\’s Casino Gauntlet Match At AEW All In

    A new number one contender for the AEW Women\’s World Championship has been determined at AEW All In: Texas. After a chaotic Casino Gauntlet match, the former ROH Women\’s World Champion, Athena, stood tall to earn a future title opportunity.

    Entering the match as a late entrant, Athena made her presence felt immediately by targeting multiple competitors. Her path of destruction included delivering several powerbombs to Mina Shirakawa and taking out Thekla, Tay Melo, Kris Statlander, and Megan Bayne. The match also featured the surprise AEW debut of Syuri, who had a brief confrontation with the dominant Athena.

    The final moments of the gauntlet saw Athena outlast a field that included Thunder Rosa, Willow Nightingale, and Queen Aminata. She secured the victory by pinning Mina Shirakawa after hitting her signature finisher, \”The O-Face.\” The win guarantees Athena a future match for the AEW Women\’s World Championship.

    Athena will now await the outcome of the AEW Women\’s World Championship match scheduled for later tonight. The reigning champion, Toni Storm, is set to defend her title against \”The CEO\” Mercedes Moné. Athena will challenge the winner of that high-stakes encounter at a future date.

  • WWE SmackDown Segment Caused A Match To Be Shortened

    Many WWE fans were left surprised after the match between R-Truth and Aleister Black on last night\’s Friday Night SmackDown lasted only 90 seconds. A new report has shed light on the situation, revealing that the bout was drastically shortened due to a previous segment running long.

    According to a report from PWInsiderElite.com, the match between Truth and Black had to be cut for time on the fly. The preceding segment, which involved musical guest Jelly Roll and United States Champion Logan Paul, went much longer than was initially planned in the show\’s format. As a result, the following match lost the majority of its allotted time. A WWE source reportedly described the decision as a \”necessary evil\” to keep the live broadcast on schedule.

    The report also noted that while the outcome of the match—R-Truth getting the victory—went as planned, the bout was originally scheduled to be a much longer and more competitive contest. The one-sided nature of the match was not the initial intention. The surprisingly short match caught many backstage off guard, given the strong push R-Truth has received since his return and the plans for Aleister Black\’s ascension on the SmackDown roster. It was clarified that the time cut is not seen as a negative reflection on either superstar and their pushes will continue.

    While neither R-Truth nor Aleister Black are scheduled for a match at tonight\’s Saturday Night\’s Main Event, it has been announced that Logan Paul will appear on next week\’s episode of SmackDown to address his plans for the upcoming SummerSlam premium live event.

  • Adam Cole Gives Emotional Address, Unsure Of Future

    Just hours after it was announced that he was not medically cleared to compete, Adam Cole appeared at AEW All In: Texas to address the fans. In an emotional in-ring promo, Cole discussed his health and his uncertain future in professional wrestling.

    Before the newly-announced four-way match for the TNT Championship he vacated, Adam Cole came to the ring and spoke directly to the fans in attendance. He confirmed that he has been dealing with health issues and is facing a lengthy absence from the ring, admitting that he is not sure if he will be able to return.

    “It’s really hard to put it into words and I’m sorry I can’t wrestle,” Cole said. “I have health issues that have been going on for a while and that I’ll be gone for a while. I don’t even wanna talk about retiring since I’m not in the headspace, but I wanted to address the fans if this is goodbye for me.”

    Cole was then joined in the ring by the other members of his faction, Paragon, as they shared a moment in the ring. The segment added an emotional and somber note to the event, with Cole\’s future in AEW now in serious doubt. Cole had been scheduled to defend the TNT Championship against Kyle Fletcher before the injury forced him to relinquish the title earlier today.

    Immediately following Cole\’s address to the live crowd, the four-way match for the vacant TNT Championship was held. After a chaotic encounter, Daniel Garcia was able to pin Sammy Guevara to win the match and become the new TNT Champion.

  • Josh Mathews Appears On AEW All In Zero Hour Pre-Show

    Former WWE and TNA Wrestling personality Josh Mathews has officially made his on-screen debut for AEW. Mathews appeared as part of the panel on the All In: Texas Zero Hour pre-show.

    During the live pre-show, host Renee Paquette welcomed Mathews to the panel, which also included Paul Wight, Jeff Jarrett, and RJ City. After giving some thoughts on the card for today\’s event, Mathews introduced a pre-recorded interview segment that he conducted with the team of Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland.

    It was first reported by PWInsider in May that Mathews had been working backstage for both AEW and Ring of Honor. Mathews later confirmed his role, stating he was shadowing AEW\’s Vice President of Post-Production, Mike Mansury, and assisting with ROH tapings. Prior to joining AEW, Mathews had a long career as an announcer and interviewer in WWE and later worked in both on-screen and backstage roles for TNA Wrestling, departing that company in February 2025.

    The interview segment Mathews hosted was with two men in one of the biggest matches at All In. Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland are set to face The Young Bucks in a match with major implications. According to the official stipulations, if Ospreay and Strickland lose, they cannot challenge for the AEW World Championship for one year. However, if they win the match, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson will be stripped of their titles as Executive Vice Presidents of AEW.

  • Backstage Update On Britt Baker\’s AEW Future

    Despite recent online speculation that she was looking to leave the company, new reports and comments from AEW President Tony Khan suggest that Dr. Britt Baker isn\’t going anywhere. The former AEW Women\’s World Champion is expected to return to the company when the time is right.

    According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, not only is Baker not attempting to get out of her contract, but \”the belief internally is that she will be back in the mix eventually.\” This sentiment was echoed by Tony Khan during the AEW All In media call. When asked about Baker\’s future, Khan was direct.

    “She’s never talked to me about leaving,” Khan stated, explaining that like a sports team, AEW has a limited number of television spots and sometimes has to rotate talent. He added that Baker will be used “when the time is right.”

    The speculation about Baker\’s future has been fueled by her long absence from AEW television. Her last match was in September 2024, where she defeated Penelope Ford on an episode of AEW Collision. However, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter also noted that due to time missed from various injuries, Baker\’s AEW contract could potentially extend into 2027.

    While Baker will not be a part of today\’s All In: Texas event, the AEW women\’s division will be prominently featured. The show includes two major women\’s matches: Toni Storm will defend the AEW Women\’s World Championship against Mercedes Moné, and a Casino Gauntlet match will be held to determine a future title contender.

  • Vince McMahon Files New Trademark For Post-WWE Investment Firm

    Vince McMahon is moving forward with his new private investment firm, 14TH & I, having recently filed a new trademark for a company logo. This move further solidifies McMahon\’s business plans following his resignation from WWE and TKO Group Holdings earlier this year.

    The new trademark is for a logo image associated with the firm. It is registered under two distinct categories, signaling the company\’s dual focus. The first is for \”Private equity fund investment services; financial services, namely, management of private equity funds, private equity fund investment services, and financial portfolio management.” The second category covers “Entertainment services, namely, production and development of scripted television and digital programming.” This filing follows previous trademarks for the company names “14TH&I” and “14TH & I” in August 2024.

    According to its official description, 14TH & I is \”a private investment firm focused on the sports, media, & entertainment sectors.\” It aims to be a \”disciplined, flexible, long-term capital and strategic partner\” for companies, primarily targeting buyouts and majority deals. The name itself is a historical reference to the headquarters of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the promotion run by McMahon’s father, Vincent J. McMahon, which was located at the corner of 14th and I Streets in Washington D.C.

    Vince McMahon resigned from his positions at WWE and TKO in January 2024 following a lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant, which accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. The lawsuit is currently paused as the Department of Justice continues a non-public investigation into the matter. Lawyers for Ms. Grant have stated they are cooperating fully with federal investigators.

  • Goldberg Addresses GUNTHER Serving As His Final Opponent

    This Saturday, Goldberg is set to wrestle his final match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he will challenge GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship. In a new interview, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed that his opponent could have been anyone who disrespected him.

    While speaking with 11Alive to promote the event in Atlanta, Georgia, Goldberg explained that GUNTHER simply put himself in the line of fire. He stated that the match is about teaching the younger generation to respect the legends who paved the way.

    “Well, as I said the other night on the show, I was vying for my retirement match and he just so happened to put himself in that spot,” Goldberg said. “It could have happened to anybody that opened their mouth negatively about me and my family when we were there, back for the pay-per-view (Bad Blood). So I don’t know whether it was planned by him. I don’t know. All I can say is he willingly stepped right into that spot, and I willingly accepted him as my final opponent. Younger generation, man, look up to your elders, respect them because you never know what can happen.”

    The feud between the two began at the recent Bad Blood premium live event, where GUNTHER made disparaging remarks about Goldberg. The rivalry escalated on this past Monday\’s episode of WWE Raw, when Goldberg interrupted the champion and knocked him to the mat with a single punch, building significant momentum just days before their title match.

    Goldberg’s final match is part of a stacked card for the Saturday Night\’s Main Event special, which airs live on NBC. The event will also feature a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women\’s Championship, as Bayley defends her title against both Naomi and Tiffany Stratton. Also scheduled, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena will team up with LA Knight to take on Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga of The Bloodline.

  • John Cena And Eric Andre Film \’Little Brother\’ In New Jersey

    Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena is managing a packed schedule, simultaneously filming a new movie in New Jersey while preparing for a major title defense in the same state. Production is currently underway for his new Netflix comedy, \”Little Brother.\”

    According to a report first published by NJ.com, scenes for the movie were being filmed in Montclair, New Jersey on Tuesday. The film features Cena as a real estate agent who has made a name for himself, whose life changes when his younger brother, played by comedian Eric André, arrives. The Netflix film is being directed by Matt Spicer from a script by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel. Casting calls for extras and background actors have been posted in both New Jersey and New York.

    While filming, Cena is also in the middle of a world championship feud. He is set to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam, which takes place on August 2nd and 3rd in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With a retirement match reportedly scheduled for December, Cena has a busy schedule of WWE appearances planned for the summer, including:

    • July 18: WWE SmackDown (San Antonio, TX)
    • August 1: WWE SmackDown (Newark, NJ)
    • August 2/3: WWE SummerSlam (Newark, NJ)
    • August 8: WWE SmackDown (Montreal, QC, Canada)
    • August 22: WWE SmackDown (Dublin, Ireland)
    • August 29: WWE SmackDown (Lyon, France)
    • August 31: WWE Clash in Paris (Paris, France)
    • October 11: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Perth, Australia)

    On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes delivered a promo about his respect for John Cena and his desire to win the championship at SummerSlam. Due to his filming schedule, Cena was not there in person but responded later in the show with a pre-taped message, warning Rhodes that he is more focused than ever as his career winds down.

  • Released WWE Star Listed As NXT Producer

    A recently released WWE star may have already returned to the company in a backstage role. Shayna Baszler, who was let go in May, was reportedly working as a producer for a match during this week\’s episode of WWE NXT.

    According to a report from Cory Hays of BodySlam, the former NXT Women\’s Champion was listed as a producer for the match between Kelani Jordan and Lainey Reid on the July 8 edition of NXT. It was noted that Chris Girard (formerly Oney Lorcan) was also listed as a producer for the match. This is often a tryout process for former wrestlers looking to transition into a full-time backstage role with the company.

    Baszler’s WWE release in May reportedly caught many in the company off-guard, as she had re-signed with the promotion in 2024. Before her release, she last competed on the April 11 episode of SmackDown as a member of the Pure Fusion Collective faction alongside Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville. Her potential return in a new capacity while still under a 90-day non-compete clause is a noteworthy situation.

    Baszler was part of a larger group of talent cuts in May that included Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, and Cora Jade. Kai has been teasing a return to the independent circuit under her former ring name while Jade has hit the ground running with several bookings. 

  • Two WWE Prospects Make Their Relationship Official

    A new power couple has come out of the ongoing second season of the WWE reality series, WWE LFG. Contestants Zena Sterling and Elijah Holyfield have officially confirmed that they are in a relationship, delighting fans of the show.

    The two prospects, who have gained significant fan support for their chemistry and work ethic on the show, are now a public couple. Sterling confirmed the news on her Instagram account, posting a collection of photos with Holyfield along with the simple caption, “my ?.” The post was met with a wave of supportive comments from fellow WWE LFG contestants and WWE fans.

    Sterling has been featured as a redemption story on this season of the show after not earning a contract during Season 1. Holyfield has also impressed coaches and the audience with his athletic ability and charisma. Their on-screen chemistry has been a talking point all season, and the confirmation of their real-life romance has fans hoping they both win developmental contracts at the season’s conclusion.

    The second season of WWE LFG is nearing its end, with the finale scheduled to air in three weeks. Sterling and Holyfield are considered two of the front-runners to win the competition, which would award them both with official WWE NXT contracts. The final episodes will see the remaining contestants produce their own vignettes and compete in one last showcase match.

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  • AEW Reportedly Shortening Runtime For All In: Texas

    AEW is making changes to the format of its biggest show, All In. A new report indicates that this Saturday\’s event from Arlington, Texas will feature a shorter runtime and a more condensed match card than in previous years.

    According to Fightful Select, AEW All In Texas is scheduled to finish well before WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event airs at 8 p.m. ET. With the main card for All In set to start at 3 p.m. ET, the report suggests a total show length of under five hours. This marks a notable shift from other recent AEW pay-per-views, such as Dynasty, which ran for 4 hours and 23 minutes, and Double or Nothing, which lasted 4 hours and 30 minutes.

    The report also states that the 2025 edition of All In will feature fewer matches than the 2023 and 2024 events. The updated lineup for this Saturday is as follows:

    • AEW World Championship Texas Death Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
    • AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mercedes Moné
    • Winner Takes All Match: Kazuchika Okada (AEW Unified Champion) vs. Kenny Omega (IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
    • Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay vs. The Young Bucks
    • TNT Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs. Kyle Fletcher
    • AEW World Tag Team Championships: Hurt Syndicate (c) vs. The Patriarchy vs. JetSpeed
    • Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match
    • Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match

  • Tony Khan Addresses Britt Baker\’s Absence From AEW TV

    AEW President Tony Khan commented on the status of Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., during the AEW All In: Texas media call, addressing her long absence from company programming. Khan shut down any rumors that she was looking to leave the promotion.

    “I’ve never had a conversation about Britt departing AEW. I like Britt a lot,\” Khan said.

    He then used a sports team analogy to explain why certain talented wrestlers, like Baker, may not be featured on television at all times.

    \”On a baseball team, you use nine players at a time. In the NFL, you can put 11 in at a time… Pro wrestling is unique because you can use a different number of people, but there is still only so many slots to fit into a show,\” he explained. \”We haven’t used everybody, and there are some really talented people on our bench that we can call in that would be a great part of the show. I absolutely think that applies to a number of women and men that are not necessarily being featured right now.\”

    Khan stated that his focus in 2025 has been on a \”tight focused show\” and not trying to force everyone on every week. He left the door open for Baker\’s return when the time is right.

    \”Britt is a great example of somebody that is very talented and we could utilize in AEW with the right situation and at the time. Just like in pro sports, when you have some really talented people that aren’t necessarily starting every game at that point doesn’t mean they won’t be starting in the future. It makes sense for me to look at the AEW roster like a sports team and trying to manage the minutes and rotation.\”

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  • Tony Khan Shuts Down Rumors Of Mercedes Mone Having Creative Control In AEW

    During the AEW All In: Texas media call on July 8, AEW President Tony Khan directly addressed recent speculation about whether Mercedes Moné has creative control over her direction in the company.

    “That’s definitely not true at all,\” Khan stated. \”I have wanted Mercedes Moné in AEW and she is a big star on the show. I really enjoy working with her backstage… I also think it’s ridiculous, the idea that people would think because she’s a strong wrestler on the show that she must be the one dictating that. That is the complete opposite of what happens here.\”

    Khan reiterated that he has the final say on all creative matters in AEW, a philosophy he has held since the company\’s inception. He explained his approach to working with top talent like Moné.

    \”I have such a high opinion of Mercedes in particular,\” he said. \”They are two of the best wrestlers on the planet. They are two people I meet with every single week. At least once a week, but usually multiple times a week and hear out ideas they might have and they hear out ideas I have. For both of them, I’m very involved in the direction of their character personally… In the case of this match, it’s something I really wanted to have in AEW for a very long time.\”

    He concluded by reinforcing his position on creative control within the company. \”The idea that anybody in AEW has a creative control card and that’s why anybody would get a push here because they dictate it: that’s not how it works… When you have somebody of that stature, you would want to feature them and push them strongly.\”

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