SEScoops

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • CM Punk to Costar in Horror Thriller Movie “Night Patrol”

    CM Punk has lined up his next Hollywood project, starring in the upcoming horror film Night Patrol. Punk is set to play a key role in the movie, which is expected to be released in 2025.

    The indie horror feature will star Justin Long, Jermaine Fowler, and RJ Cyler. It is directed and co-written by Ryan Prows. David S. Goyer and Keith Levine will produce the film alongside Josh Goldbloom, who is known for his work on the recent V/H/S horror entries. James Harris and Mark Lane of Tea Shop Films also produce the project.

    The cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Freddie Gibbs, YG, Flying Lotus, Jon Oswald, and Nicki Micheaux. Prows co-wrote the script with Shaye Ogbonna, Tim Cairo, and Jake Gibson, who previously collaborated on Prows’ directorial debut, Lowlife, which was released by IFC Midnight in 2018.

    The Plot

    Night Patrol centers on an LAPD officer (played by Jermaine Fowler), who must put aside his differences with the area’s street gangs when he discovers a local police task force is hiding a horrific secret that threatens the residents of the housing projects where he grew up.

    In addition to Punk, the film features a strong supporting cast, including Fowler, known for his excellent performances. The executive producers of Night Patrol are Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, and Grady Craig.

    CM Punk’s previous acting credits include Rabid and Girl on the Third Floor in 2019 and Jakob’s Wife two years later. He has also appeared in the TV series Heels and Mayans M.C.

  • Tiffany Stratton Rejects Fan\’s Marriage Proposal At WWE Event

    Tiffany Stratton has had an impressive 2024 so far, continuing to make strides in her pro wrestling career. At a recent WWE house show in Cardiff, Wales, she had the opportunity to achieve a personal goal—though it came at the expense of a fan\’s hopes.

    During the show, Stratton participated in a match alongside Naomi. As she made her way to the ring, a fan in the audience held up a sign with a big question: a marriage proposal. As seen in the clip below, Stratton noticed the sign while walking down the entrance ramp.

    A Heel\’s Response

    In true heel fashion, Stratton tore the fan\’s sign apart and, without hesitation, informed him that she has a boyfriend. The WWE star is currently dating fellow wrestler Ludwig Kaiser, further driving home the point as she crushed the fan\’s dream.

    Stratton’s rise in WWE has been marked by major milestones, including her victory in the 2024 Money in the Bank ladder match. Since then, she has aligned herself with Women’s Champion Nia Jax. In recent months, Stratton has teased cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Jax, heightening tension within her ongoing feud with Bayley.

    At the Bad Blood Premium Live Event, Stratton had another chance to cash in when a referee bump occurred during Jax\’s match with Bayley. However, Jax quickly caught on to Stratton’s plan, causing Stratton to reconsider. In the end, Jax retained her title, defeating Bayley while Stratton bided her time for a future opportunity.

  • AEW Dynamite Preview: Jon Moxley, Shelton Benjamin Debuts

    Tonight\’s edition of AEW Dynamite broadcasts live on TBS at 8/7c from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. This episode will follow up on the explosive events of last Saturday\’s WrestleDream pay-per-view, featuring the crowning of a new AEW World Champion an the surprise returns of MJF and Adam Cole.

    Mercedes Moné defends the TBS Championship against Queen Aminata, AEW\’s newest signee makes his in-ring debut and The Elite will be in action.

    Matches and Segments

    • Mercedes Moné defends the TBS championship against Queen Aminata.
    • Shelton Benjamin makes his highly anticipated AEW in-ring debut, facing off against Lio Rush in a singles match. Benjamin recently joined the promotion and is aligned with MVP.
    • Jay White vs. Christian Cage
    • The Conglomeration (Kyle O\’Reilly, Orange Cassidy, & Rocky Romero) vs. The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson, & Nicholas Jackson)
    • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Bryan Keith & Big Bill

    Plus, we\’ll hear from new AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and Adam Cole.

    \"\"

  • Stephanie Vaquer Wins NXT Debut, Setting Up Halloween Havoc Match

    On a night that marked Stephanie Vaquer\’s WWE NXT in-ring debut, she also set the stage for a major tag team match later this month. During this week\’s episode of NXT, Vaquer scored a quick victory over Wren Sinclair, finishing the match with her signature move.

    However, following the bout, Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade launched a surprise attack on Vaquer, only for Giulia to rush out and make the save. The confrontation escalated when Giulia challenged Perez and Jade to a tag team match at Halloween Havoc, which will take place at the GIANT Center in Hershey, PA, on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

    The challenge followed Jade\’s recent interference in Giulia\’s attempt to win the NXT Women’s Championship from Perez.

    Vaquer’s NXT debut had been highly anticipated after she made waves earlier this year. She first garnered WWE\’s attention when she dropped the NJPW Strong Women’s Title to Mercedes Moné at Forbidden Door in June.

    Vaquer then participated in WWE house shows in Mexico this past July, solidifying her status as a top prospect in the company.

    Later in the show, the match was made official:

    \"\"

  • Thunder Rosa Returns To Action

    Less than a week after announcing she was medically cleared, AEW star Thunder Rosa has made her in-ring return. Rosa had been sidelined for over a month, with her last match taking place on the August 31st edition of AEW Collision.

    Rosa recently revealed that her absence was due to a concussion, addressing speculation that suggested other reasons. Now fully recovered, the former AEW Women’s Champion expressed her readiness to step back into the ring.

    Rosa confirmed her medical clearance during a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, where she also expressed her gratitude to the AEW medical team for their support throughout her recovery.

    Back in action

    Wasting no time, Rosa returned to the ring on October 15 at Riot Cabaret Thunder Road, where she faced Nina Samuels in the main event. Rosa emerged victorious, winning the Riot Cabaret Women’s Championship.

    Rosa should be back in the mix on Dynamite and Collision soon.

  • Special AEW Dynamite Theme Revealed By Trademark Filing

    All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has filed two new trademarks, hinting at an upcoming special edition of its Dynamite show. On October 15th, AEW submitted trademarks for “Fright Night Dynamite” and “AEW Fright Night Dynamite” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, indicating plans for a Halloween-themed broadcast.

    The trademarks are registered for entertainment purposes, with the description reading as follows:

    “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; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of professional wrestling.”

    AEW is known for producing special holiday-themed episodes of Dynamite, and with Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, it seems likely that this will be the focus of an upcoming show. As of this writing, AEW has not officially confirmed the Fright Night Dynamite special, but an announcement could be imminent.

    This week’s episode of Dynamite promises an action-packed card, following the recent WrestleDream event. Stay tuned for more updates, including the full match lineup.

  • The War Raiders Return On WWE Raw

    The Viking Raiders are back, but this time under a familiar name: The War Raiders. The duo, formerly known as War Machine during their time in NJPW and ROH, first debuted in WWE’s NXT under the War Raiders moniker before becoming The Viking Experience and later The Viking Raiders on the main roster.

    It has been several months since both stars were last in action due to injuries. Erik was sidelined following successful neck fusion surgery last November, while Ivar has been recovering from a spinal injury suffered earlier this year. Their return marks a significant moment for the team and their fans.

    WWE RAW Return

    On this week\’s episode of WWE RAW, the War Raiders made their highly anticipated return in a match against Alpha Academy as part of the #1 Contender’s Tournament for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The War Raiders wasted no time making an impact, decisively defeating Otis and Akira Tozawa to advance in the tournament.

    Fans are excited to see what\’s next for the rebranded War Raiders as they seek to reclaim dominance in the tag team division.

  • Thunder Rosa Announces She’s Medically Cleared For In-Ring Return

    Thunder Rosa will be returning to in-ring action soon following her announcement today that she has been medically cleared.

    Fans have eagerly awaited this news, as Rosa has been sidelined for over a month. Her last match took place on the August 31st edition of AEW Collision.

    Rosa later revealed that her absence was due to a concussion, contrary to earlier reports suggesting other reasons. Now that she has recovered, Rosa is ready to get back in the ring.

    Medical Clearance

    While speaking on Busted Open Radio, the former AEW Women’s Champion confirmed her medical clearance and expressed gratitude to the AEW medical team for their support.

    \”I want to thank the AEW medical team and everyone involved — I’m finally cleared,\” Rosa said. \”If you feel that you have a concussion, please go to your doctor. If you are an athlete, let your coaches know that this is important.\”

    As of now, there is no official date for her in-ring return.

  • AJ Styles\’ Injury Halts WWE Storyline Plans

    AJ Styles made his long-awaited return to WWE television on SmackDown last week, but things didn’t go as planned. During his match with Carmelo Hayes, where Hayes emerged victorious, Styles sustained an injury.

    WWE later confirmed that Styles suffered a mid-foot ligament sprain, and he was shown being evaluated by the medical team before leaving the arena on crutches. Although early reports suggested his absence might be part of a storyline, it was later confirmed that Styles had suffered an injury.

    The Phenomenal One had been absent from WWE since stepping in for Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at the Clash at the Castle event in June. It wasn\’t due to injury, but lack of creative. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Styles was frustrated with the situation, as it could impact future plans.

    WWE had intended to start a storyline involving Styles embarking on a farewell tour, teasing his eventual retirement. However, the direction of this storyline now hinges on the results of an MRI, which will determine the severity of his injury.

    Styles is 47 years old and began his pro wrestling career in 1998.

  • Ricky Starks Addresses AEW Absence, Flattered By WWE Speculation

    Ricky Starks hasn\’t been seen seen on AEW television since march, leaving fans to wonder about his future with the promotion. Last month, Starks clarified that he\’s healthy and hasn\’t turned down any creative pitches to get him back in the mix.

    Starks did a virtual signing with Highspots this week and responded to a question about the possibility of him jumping to WWE when his AEW contract expires. He laughed and said he takes the speculation as a compliment.

    \”Honestly, it’s so sweet that people would say that. I think it\’s a compliment. It’s great to know people care about me that much.\”

    – Ricky Starks on fans thinking he\’s going to WWE

    The former AEW FTW Champion has attended several WWE events over the past year, as the personal guest of Cody Rhodes. He was spotted backstage at the 2024 Royal Rumble, and was at WrestleMania 40 to see the American Nightmare \’Finish His Story\’ back in April.

    Why is Ricky Starks off AEW TV?

    Starks reiterated that he\’s perfectly healthy, ready to get back in the ring, but being sidelined is out of his control.

    \”No, I’m not out of action due to injury. I’m healthy. I’m of sound mind and body. I’m capable of wrestling, it\’s just not up to me.

    I wish I had an answer as to why I’m not on television. I’m healthy and ready to get back in the ring. I’m in shape, always have been. Sometimes, it just isn’t up to me, I guess.\”\”

    – Ricky Starks is ready to work

    He concluded by expressing his commitment to finding a way to get back to wrestling, feeling that he owed fans some explanation for his absence.

  • WWE SmackDown Preview: Roman Reigns, US Title Match

    Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is set to air live at 8/7c on the USA Network, broadcasting from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Expect plenty of drama as the fallout from last Saturday\’s Bad Blood event takes center stage on the blue brand.

    In the main event at Bad Blood, Roman Reigns and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes teamed up to defeat Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, with a major assist from the returning Jimmy Uso. To top it all off, The Rock made his surprise return, shaking things up even more.

    Here’s a preview of what’s lined up for tonight:

    • Roman Reigns addresses the WWE Universe.
    • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will defend their titles against Meta-Four’s Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson.
    • LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes for the WWE United States Championship

    Want to catch up on what happened last week? You can check out the top 10 moments from last week’s SmackDown here:

  • Mercedes Moné Shares Untold Story Behind NXT TakeOver Brooklyn Classic Against Bayley

    Mercedes Moné has created iconic moments in every promotion she\’s been part of, from her unforgettable NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn match with Bayley to making history in NJPW, and her notable arrival in AEW.

    Moné has competed against some of the biggest names in professional wrestling across these promotions, but one match stands out above the rest—not only for the fans but for Moné herself. This was the 2015 NXT Women’s Championship match, where Bayley defeated (then known as) Sasha Banks in under 20 minutes, marking a turning point in both of their careers.

    In her latest fan newsletter, the \”CEO\” revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes detail about this all-time classic: the two had barely any time to prepare. At the time, Mone was working full-time on the main roster and traveling for a panel with Triple H, leaving them with just five minutes to discuss the match.

    Little Prep Before Their Classic

    “We only had maybe five minutes to talk about our match in the ring. I wanted to tell her about this crazy spot. In truth, I didn’t even want to practice it or show her because I was afraid they’d say no—or worse, the boys would see it and take it away. Yes, that happens.

    So, I just kind of told her what I wanted to do. We didn’t rehearse any of it. Yet, that match turned out to be the greatest women’s match ever.”

    – Mercedes Mone on her match with Bayley from NXT Takeover: Brooklyn (2015)

    Another \”Great Match, No Prep\”

    Another match that Moné holds close to her heart was her bout against Stephanie Vaquer at this year\’s AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door PPV. Moné recalls Vaquer flying in the day of the event and arriving at the venue just hours before showtime. With little time to prepare, the difficulties were compounded by their language barrier (Vaquer\’s first langue is Spanish).

    \”That was so hard. I\’m like, my God, we don\’t get time to walk over our moves, we speak two different languages, and we\’re both tired, jet lagged, and hungry, too. Yet, that also turned out to be such a great match. She was signed by the WWE days later. I\’d like to think our match had a say in that!\”

    – Mercedes Moné on her mach with Stephanie Vaquer at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door 2024

    Vaquer arrived in WWE NXT television this past week on The CW and aligned with Giulia. She\’ll make her NXT in-ring debut next week against Wren Sinclair.

  • Daniel Garcia Returns From Hiatus On AEW Dynamite

    Amid growing speculation about his future in pro wrestling, Daniel Garcia has made his return to AEW television.

    Garcia was first spotted in the parking lot during this week’s show, where Renee Paquette approached him and asked about his absence, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future. Garcia stated that he would rather explain in the ring in front of the fans.

    With his contract set to expire this month, Garcia has yet to re-sign with AEW. WWE has reportedly shown strong interest in bringing him on board. After being written off AEW television, Garcia made his unexpected return during the AEW All In London 2024 pay-per-view event, interfering in the match between MJF and Will Ospreay for the International Title.

    Contract Status

    During All In London, Garcia shocked the crowd by costing MJF the match. At All Out, he briefly aligned with MJF before turning on him and laying him out. Following this, Garcia was once again taken off television, sparking speculation that AEW might not feature him again until he commits to a new deal.

    As of now, neither AEW nor Garcia has publicly commented on his contract status.

  • Tony D’Angelo Ends Oba Femi’s Historic NXT North American Title Reign

    Tony D’Angelo shocked the WWE Universe on Tuesday\’s episode of WWE NXT by stepping up to challenge Oba Femi for the North American Title. This highly anticipated bout was part of an already stacked card.

    Just days after Femi celebrated becoming the longest-reigning North American Champion in WWE history, his reign suddenly ended. Heading into the match, D’Angelo acknowledged his fear of Femi, who had previously defeated him at No Mercy. However, in their rematch, D’Angelo trapped Femi in a pin, securing the victory and ending Femi’s dominant run.

    D’Angelo, already a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and Heritage Cup winner, now adds the prestigious North American Title to his accolades.

    Femi’s Title Reign

    Oba Femi made history by surpassing Wes Lee\’s 269-day record as North American Champion. He initially captured the title in January during an episode of NXT, cashing in his NXT Breakout Tournament contract to defeat Dragon Lee. Over the course of his reign, Femi successfully defended the title ten times, defeating notable competitors such as Lee, Ivar, Otis, Dijak, Josh Briggs, Lexis King, and Joe Coffey, among others.

  • Stephanie Vaquer Debuts In WWE NXT

    Stephanie Vaquer, real name Ana Stephanie Vaquer González, has officially made her arrival in WWE NXT. After leaving CMLL and NJPW, Vaquer chose WWE over interest from AEW. She made her NXT TV debut on Tuesday’s episode during a segment featuring NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. This came just a week after Jade returned from injury to help Perez retain her title against Giulia.

    During the segment, Giulia introduced Vaquer as an \”old friend,\” marking the new recruit’s first official appearance. The scene quickly escalated into a brawl between the heels and the babyfaces, with Vaquer standing tall alongside Perez and Jade to close out the segment.

    Vaquer’s Path to WWE

    Stephanie Vaquer first caught WWE’s attention after she dropped the NJPW Strong Women’s Title to Mercedes Moné at Forbidden Door in June. She later participated in a WWE house show loop in Mexico in July, which further solidified her standing as a top prospect.

    Despite the hype surrounding her, Vaquer has not competed in a match since then.

  • Tuesday AEW Dynamite: Bryan Danielson, Mercedes Moné Headline Ahead of WrestleDream

    All Elite Wrestling presents a special Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS at from the Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA.

    This episode promises major action and will serve as the final build for the highly anticipated WrestleDream pay-per-view, coming up this Saturday.

    One of the biggest highlights of the night will be a blockbuster tag team match featuring Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta against PAC & Claudio Castagnoli. Additionally, fans can look forward to a Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match between Britt Baker and Willow Nightingale.

    Confirmed matches for 10/8 Dynamite

    Dynamite will overlap with the second hour of WWE NXT on The CW Network. This marks the first time in a year that AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT will go head-to-head.

    • Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta vs. PAC & Claudio Castagnoli
    • AEW TBS Champion & NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné vs. Emi Sakura
    • AEW Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match: Britt Baker vs. Willow Nightingale
    • HOOK demands answers regarding the attack on Taz
    • Brody King and Darby Allin to meet face-to-face

    Highlights from last week\’s AEW Dynamite:

  • Triple H Tells Goldberg: We’ll Talk Soon

    Triple H has fueled speculation that fans might witness Goldberg in one final match, which would mark his retirement from in-ring competition. At WWE Bad Blood this past Saturday, World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER cut a promo after Triple H introduced plans for the Crown Jewel Championship. During his speech, GUNTHER directed harsh words toward the WWE Hall of Famer, who was seated ringside with his family.

    GUNTHER revealed that he had lied when he claimed Goldberg was his favorite wrestler during a conversation with Bret Hart on Raw a few weeks prior. The statement was a jab, as Bret Hart has publicly expressed his disdain for Goldberg. GUNTHER then insulted Goldberg, questioning how a \”one-trick pony\” like him could fool a wrestler of GUNTHER’s caliber. He added a personal dig, saying he hoped Goldberg was a better father to his son, Gage than he was a professional wrestler.

    This provoked Goldberg, who jumped the barricade, leading to an intense staredown between the two. Security intervened before Goldberg could enter the ring. Sami Zayn also got involved, attacking GUNTHER as part of their ongoing rivalry leading up to their Raw match. Despite the chaos, Goldberg stood tall in the ring, his music playing as he told GUNTHER, \”You\’re next,\” promising he only needed three minutes.

    One More Match?

    Goldberg has been vocal about Vince McMahon\’s promise of a retirement match after he put over Roman Reigns in 2020, a promise that was never fulfilled as his contract expired. However, on Monday, Triple H fueled further speculation by tweeting that they would \”talk soon,\” hinting that a match between Goldberg and GUNTHER might be in the works, though nothing has been officially confirmed.

  • More Legends Confirmed For WWE Bad Blood

    Fans can expect to see some legendary faces at WWE Bad Blood, whether that be on camera or in attendance.

    Tonight’s Premium Live Event takes place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA, with a loaded card and the supposed return of ‘The Big Guy.’ Roman Reigns and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu are expected to headline the show. 

    PWInsider.com reports that Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, Diamond Dallas Page (DDP), Madusa, and Jacqueline Moore are slated to be at the show for fan interactions and/or potential on-air appearances. Arn Anderson shared on his Twitter that he and Tully Blanchard will be at the show via this statement: 

    “Heading to very familiar surroundings for WWE Bad Blood tomorrow in Atlanta. Having Tully there should provide some serious flashbacks, and it will be an honor to walk the halls of the fresh, new WWE. To all my friends who still work there see ya tomorrow!”

    https://twitter.com/thearnshow/status/184236062862492475

    Familiarity

    The names mentioned above had runs in WCW, some becoming household names in the promotion. With the event being held in Atlanta, a city deeply associated with WCW, WWE is bringing them in for the show. 

    For all of your Bad Blood coverage, make sure to stick with SEScoops for the latest news throughout the day.

  • Found Footage From WWE Bad Blood \’97 and the First \’Hell In a Cell\’

    WWE is bringing back the Bad Blood event for an upcoming PLE this Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA, and has now released lost footage of the inaugural event. 

    WWE is reintroducing this theme to celebrate the anniversary of the very first Hell in a Cell match, which took place on October 5, 1997. The match featured The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, marking Kane\’s debut.

    Kane made his way down to the ring after multiple week teases of his impending arrival on television by Paul Bauer. Kane laid out his brother after a long staredown with a tombstone, allowing Michaels to go over. 

    WWE Vault released footage of welders putting together the structure, an infamous promo by The Undertaker, and clips of Kane’s arrival. This match changed the course of history and served as the launching pad for the Kane character, who went on to have a 20+ year career. 

    There is also footage of when WWE revived Bad Blood in 2003 for a Hell in a Cell match between Triple H and Kevin Nash, with Mick Foley as the special guest referee for the World Heavyweight Championship main event. The event also saw Goldberg take on Chris Jericho. 

    The previous time it was used was the following year when Triple H faced Shawn Michaels in another Hell in a Cell match as the main event. You can check it out below: 

  • Mercedes Moné Praises “Crazy Genius” Vince McMahon

    Mercedes Mone was just one of many who watched the Vince McMahon docuseries on Netflix. The top AEW star did so through with a blunt and wine. 

    A week after the docuseries\’s release, Mone has seen all six episodes of the widely discussed series and gave her thoughts about them in the latest edition of the Mone Mag. While excited to watch it, she felt a little disappointed and didn\’t feel like there was too much new for her to learn about McMahon. She then proceeded to look back on her time working for McMahon. 

    “I\’ll say this, as I watched, I couldn\’t believe that I got to work for Vince, what a crazy genius he is, and how he really elevated wrestling to a whole stratosphere. He created a universe fans have enjoyed for decades and still do. He made wrestling larger than life. He did it all, and he tried it all. And he failed so many times, too. Where the business is at today is all because of him and his ideas. And that\’s what I really liked it.”

    Mone proceeded to tell a behind-the-scenes story about her former boss and noted that he admitted he was wrong in one instance. 

    \”This should probably be a Moné Memory, but while we\’re on the subject of TV tapings, behind the scenes, and Vince McMahon, I remember one time I had a storyline and match with Nia Jax. During the match, Vince accidentally called over the headset for the referee to ring the bell. And it was way too early. We were confused, but we played along.”

    She continued, “When I got backstage, I remember going to Triple H and being like, what the hell just happened? Triple H explained it was an accident and, playfully, told me to go and confront Vince. So I did. Vince admitted he was wrong and then shared a laugh about it.\”

    Due to a creative disagreement with McMahon, Mercedes left WWE in May 2022 and later got her release before going to NJPW. She signed with AEW this past March. 

  • CM Punk Dropped $40k on Ice Cream Bars for AEW Debut

    CM Punk wanted to do something special for his longtime fans in Chicago due to the support they gave him over the years while he was away from wrestling. 

    When he returned to the business in August 2021 at AEW Rampage: The First Dance, Punk went all out while in the spot after seven long years of fans chanting his name. Now, he has given insight into how much money he had to shell out to give all the fans who attended that episode ice cream. 

    During a sit-down interview on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and T.J. Jefferson, Punk revealed that he spent $40,000 of his own money on ice cream bars for every fan in attendance that night. 

    The gesture was made out of sympathy and empathy for people. He also understands why wrestlers may have been upset with him while the fans chanted for Punk while working in the ring.

    “Anytime they were in Chicago, there was anticipation or hope that I’d show up,” Punk explained. “That’s why I spent $40,000 on ice cream bars when I came back in 2021—because that was legit a thank you.”

    Punk added, “I wouldn’t be anywhere, and I wouldn’t be back here if it wasn’t for a great many circumstances, but one of them is the fans—especially in Chicago.”

  • Details on WWE Requiring Exclusivity from Venues

    WWE attempts to cover all of its bases when it secures bigger venues for its premium live events. 

    The company had filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney General to prevent the release of a bidding contract for the Royal Rumble in 2023. In the suit, the company claimed that the deal was a trade secret and contained proprietary information that fit an exemption in Texas’s public information law.

    WWE opted last month to withdraw it. Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics shared a copy of the full contract he obtained between WWE and the state of San Antonio. 

    The initial release of the agreement had three pages noticeably missing, as WWE didn’t want it public. This is because it includes the wording of their exclusivity period.

    In the contract, it was stated that the Alamodome could not run any other wrestling event from 90 days before the event and 60 days after it takes place. You can check out the wording of the exclusivity period part in the agreement below: 

    This shows the type of arrangement problems that other promotions, such as AEW, can deal with when booking venues for events and how much planning goes into it.

  • AEW Dynamite Preview: Danielson vs. Okada, Baker’s Return

    AEW Dynamite airs tonight at 8/7c on TBS, live from Pittsburgh, PA, at the Petersen Events Center. This episode will feature some big matches and the return of Britt Baker. 

    The biggest thing to be confirmed for the show is AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada, which has a twist attached to it. Okada’s Continental Championship is on the line for the first 20 minutes of the bout. 

    This only adds to the drama that every Danielson match carries these days, with the stipulation that the next match Danielson loses will be his last as a full-time wrestler. 

    AEW Dynamite Preview

    (airs live Wednesday, October 2 at 8/7c on TBS)

    • AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada – Okada’s Continental Championship is on the line for the first 20 minutes
    • AEW International Champion Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet
    • Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs. Serena Deeb
    • Hangman Page vs. Juice Robinson

    Dynamite launched in October 2019 that helped launch the company as the second biggest promotion in the world. Although not confirmed, there has been speculation that AEW’s new television deal with Warner Bros. Discovery could be announced on this show. Former AEW World Heavyweight Champion Swerve Strickland also seemingly confirmed the rumored AEW-FOX deal for a new one-hour program. 

  • WWE NXT Preview: CW Network Debut, Two Title Matches

    WWE NXT airs tonight at 8/7c on the CW Network, live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL. This episode will feature two title bouts, an appearance from WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair, and a Miz TV segment. 

    WWE has loaded up the card to set the tone for what fans can expect on the CW Network compared to what they\’ve been used to seeing on the USA Network. 

    WWE NXT Preview

    • NXT Women\’s Champion Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia will open the show
    • NXT Champion Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams – CM Punk to be Special Guest Referee
    • Street Fight: Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz
    • Miz TV segment with Oba Femi and Tony D\’Angelo
    • Fatal Attraction (TBD) vs. Jaida Parker and Lola Vice
    • WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair to appear

    Expectations are high for the gold brand in its new journey. Fans look forward to seeing the program be rated TV-14, according to The CW’s official listings. 

    Shawn Michaels has confirmed that big aesthetic changes are coming to the show. We\’re expecting a renovated \’NXT Arena\’ at the WWE Performance Center, refreshed on-screen graphics and more.

  • Jey Uso Shows Off New WWE Intercontinental Title Belt

    Jey Uso has been the WWE Intercontinental Champion for exactly one week and has already changed the belt. As seen below, Uso has made a noticeable change to the belt with new blue side plates: 

    In an emotional scene on Monday’s episode of Raw, Uso kicked off the show where he celebrated winning the title belt from Bron Breakker a week ago in the main event. This is where Uso cut a promo about how he was afforded the opportunity to open the show. 

    He was welcomed by a lively crowd chanting YEET as he made his way to the ring alongside his son, Jace. This is when he got emotional as he talked to a standing crowd and thanked his mother, who is his biggest supporter.

    This led to the former champion coming out to interrupt, but he did so in a respectful way, congratulating him. They shook hands with a big smile on the face of Breakker. Uso praised the young star and it appeared that Bron has turned babyface for now. 

    Uso said that he would be a fighting champion every week if that’s what it meant. As of this writing, it’s unclear when his next title defense will come against.