SEScoops

Author: Bishal Roy

  • Drew McIntyre Trains With AEW Wrestler Ahead of WrestleMania

    Drew McIntyre is going the extra mile in preparation for his upcoming battle against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. \’The Scottish Warrior\’ was spotted doing a workout session in the gym with none other than AEW star Brian Cage.

    We are just a few days away from what is being billed as \’The Biggest WrestleMania Ever\’ and Drew McIntyre is pushing himself in the gym. The former WWE Champion took to his Twitter/X account and dropped a video clip of a bench press session with Brian Cage being the spotter. McIntyre said that it was his last chest workout session before \’The Show of Shows\’. His caption read: 

    “It’s #WrestleMania week and the beast has been let out the CAGE.”  

    Brian Cage took note of the post and replied to McIntyre:

    Drew McIntyre and Brian Cage in gym

    Drew McIntyre is set to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. \’The Scottish Warrior\’ has overcome a lot of hindrances on his way to this weekend\’s high-stakes match. He outlasted five other competitors to win the 2024 Elimination Chamber match and secured his title opportunity.

    He has been involved in a rivalry with CM Punk as well. From time to time, McIntyre has taken shots at \’The Second City Saviour.\’ Notably, CM Punk was the original challenger planned for \’The Visionary\’ at WrestleMania 40. But those plans were nixed when Punk suffered a torn tricep at the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match and it came upon as a blessing in disguise for McIntyre.

    Drew McIntyre\’s future 

    Fans are buzzing about his future. Though McIntyre is set for a huge match at WrestleMania 40, it\’s quite interesting that his contract with WWE is running out soon. A new deal hasn\’t been inked yet which means he could be a top free agent on the market shortly. 

    AEW has been the preferred destination for the free agents in recent memory. It will be no surprise if Tony Khan splurges a massive sum of money to rope in \’The Scottish Warrior\’ similar to how he has signed stars such as Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada. 

    Well, all that depends on what McIntyre wants in the future. Will it be WWE? or AEW? Only time will tell.

  • AJ Styles Would Love To Step In The Ring With CM Punk Despite Past Animosity

    AJ Styles has expressed his eagerness to battle CM Punk despite \’expecting a problem\’ after the latter\’s return to WWE.

    \’The Phenomenal One\’ was asked to share his thoughts on CM Punk\’s return to WWE during his interview on The Ringer Wrestling Show. Styles admitted that he predicted it would be a problem to have his former rival in WWE but all seems well. The former WWE Champion further said that he would want to share the ring with Punk. He said:

    \”I mean, if you know anything about AJ Styles and CM Punk, you would know that we really don’t care for each other. But if you want me to ruin everything that you think you know, I can. Past performance predicts future behavior, right? Some over at AEW are my best friends – love ‘em, trust ‘em, know ‘em. And I was expecting a problem when [Punk] came here – and I was wrong. The guy looks like he’s happy to be here. He looks like a guy that I’d want to step in the ring with and tear the house down with.\”

    It is no secret that AJ Styles and CM Punk have had a tumultuous relationship since the 2000s. They previously shared the ring when they were a part of the ROH roster but Styles parted ways with the promotion in 2004. That was the last time they battled each other and notably Styles has been vocal about not wanting to face Punk ever again. 

    AJ Styles and CM Punk\’s involvement in WrestleMania 40

    AJ Styles is set to face LA Knight at this weekend\’s WrestleMania 40. On the other hand, things haven\’t turned out too well for CM Punk lately. \’The Second City Saint\’ scripted one of the historic moments in WWE when he made his comeback at Survivor Series: WarGames PLE last month. Without question, the pro wrestling world was shocked by what transpired in Chicago. He soon gained momentum and seemed that a title shot would be on the cards for WrestleMania 40.

    However, he sustained a torn tricep during the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match which has kept him on the shelf. But he has made it clear he would be still involved in the \’Show of Shows\’ in some capacity.

    With Styles changing his stance and CM Punk returning to the squared circle in the next few months, we could certainly witness the two legends work with each other again.

  • Roman Reigns Vows To \’Close The Book\’ On Cody Rhodes

    WrestleMania 40 is right around the corner and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is brimming with confidence that he can finally put an end to Cody Rhodes\’ story for good. 

    Roman Reigns and The Rock made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote this weekend\’s event. \’The Tribal Chief\’ minced no words when asked about Cody Rhodes trying to \’finish the story.\’

    The reigning champion feels Cody is \’reading the wrong book.\’ In addition to this, he highlighted the cutthroat pro wrestling world where everyone thinks they\’re number one – taking a shot at his upcoming opponent in the process.

    “I think Cody’s reading the wrong book at this point, because we don’t care about his story,” Reigns quipped. “It’s a funny thing because [turns to The Rock] you told me this a long time ago. In the wrestling business, there’s no call sheet. There’s no, ‘He’s number one, he’s number two.’ So everybody in our roster believes they’re number one. So it’s just a shark tank.”

    This is Cody\’s second attempt to dethrone Roman Reigns but the latter is determined to \’close the book\’ on his arch-nemesis. 

    “Everybody’s trying to take each other out. This guy’s been chasing me for two years now. I’ve beaten him, we’ve crossed this bridge already. So this is where we close the book completely on this guy, Cody Rhodes, and we display what the most powerful family in pro wrestling is all about. That’s what this weekend is all about.”

    Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns saga

    \’The American Nightmare\’ has been relentless in pursuing Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Last year, Cody came close to beating \’The Tribal Chief\’ for the title at WrestleMania 39 but the champ had the last laugh.

    Now, the stage is set at WrestleMania 40 for Cody to pen the final chapter of his story and put an end to this rivalry once and for all. 

    However, it\’s a daunting task at hand for the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble winner. On WrestleMania Saturday, he will join forces with Seth Rollins to face The Rock and Roman Reigns. The outcome of the match will determine whether it\’s \’Bloodline Rules\’ when he faces Roman Reigns for the Universal title the next night.

  • Roman Reigns Announced for NFL Madden 24 Ultimate Team Mode

    EA Sports NFL Madden 24 Ultimate Team mode has been bolstered by the addition of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

    After being a part of the WWE games for several years, now \’The Tribal Chief\’ will be featured in an NFL Madden 24. The official Twitter/X account has revealed that their Ultimate Team mode will include Roman Reigns as a right-end player and will make his debut on Thursday, April 4. 

    Reigns will be joining the legendary actor Burt Reynolds as part of the Reel Deals program. This news comes ahead of this weekend\’s WrestleMania 40 where Roman Reigns will headline both nights. 

    Before transitioning as a full-time pro wrestler as Roman Reigns, Leati Joe Anoa\’i had a successful football career. He initially played for Pensacola Catholic High School and then Escambia High School.

    Roman Reigns\’ football career

    He attained further success when he started playing for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. He eventually signed with the Minnesota Vikings but his run with the franchise soon ended when he was diagnosed with leukemia. 

    Later, Roman Reigns joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, he was let go in less than a week. Following his release from Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL, he decided to hang up his boots prematurely in November, 2009. He then transcended into the world of pro wrestling and the rest is history.

    Most recently, Roman Reigns stated that hadn\’t his football career ended prematurely, he wouldn\’t have stepped foot inside the squared circle. Luckily, he did and we are witnessing one of the greatest championship runs in WWE history.  

  • Mercedes Mone Reveals What Convinced Her To Join AEW

    Mercedes Mone has found her new home in AEW and she has disclosed the behind-the-scenes talks leading up to her debut for the promotion at Big Business. The ‘CEO’ tells James Stewart of Stick to Wrestling that Tony Khan initially reached out to her about becoming ‘All Elite.’

    Mone says they’ve been negotiating for a while, but she wasn’t ready to sign on just yet. She wanted to see what TK was cooking for the Women’s division before getting on board.

    “When he called me the first time, I’m like, ‘I’ll think about it TK. We gotta build this relationship. You know, let me keep on watching. Let me keep on seeing this women’s division.’”

    The former WWE and IWGP Women’s’ champion is excited to mix it up with AEW’s top stars and has “so many beautiful things in the works.”

    “I kept on watching the women’s division and my dreams just became so much bigger and brighter and I knew instantly I wanted AEW to be my home.”

    Mercedes Mone is one of the most prominent free agent signings in recent memory and AEW President Tony Khan even spoke highly of Mone and labeled her as a possible face of the company. 

    She made her long awaited debut on the 3/13 \’Big Business\’ edition of AEW Dynamite. She’s already put former opponent Willow Nightingale on notice ultimate goal and has stated her desire to go after ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm’s AEW Women\’s World Championship.

    Most fans are excited to see Mercedes Mone back on television, but her close friend Bayley says the move is ‘bitter sweet’:

  • Becky Lynch Happy For Mercedes Mone In AEW, Hopes They Work Together Again

    Becky Lynch is happy to see Mercedes Mone doing her thing and having a good time in All Elite Wrestling. There\’s no hard feelings over the former Sasha Banks jumping to AEW. In fact, Lynch says we could see them back in the ring together one day. She didn\’t specify if that would take place in WWE or elsewhere.

    Lynch is doing the media rounds this week to promote her championship match against Rhea Ripley this weekend at WrestleMania 40. During a chat with Shakiel Mahjouri for Shak Wrestling, she expressed excitement for her former rival.

    \”Good for her,\” Lynch said of Mone in AEW. \”Go on, do your thing and have a good time over there.\”

    She added, \”Maybe one day, we\’ll meet back in the ring.\”

    Lynch and Mone have a fair share of history as they led the famous Women\’s Revolution in WWE. They\’ve faced each other in handful of matches, most prominently a Hell in A Cell match for the Raw Women\’s title back in 2019. 

    Sasha Banks left WWE in 2022. She reinvented herself as Mercedes Mone, achieved success wrestling in Japan before her recent arrival in AEW.

    Lynch\’s Future

    Becky Lynch\’s star has steadily risen over the past several years. She\’s cemented herself as one of the top sports entertainers in the world, which puts her in a great position for when her WWE contract expires in the next few months. She could test the waters of free agency.

    WWE has been her home, but Tony Khan has shown he\’s more than willing to shell out huge money to lure stars like Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada to AEW. They\’re all making millions working a schedule that requires far less time on the road than WWE requires. 

    Becky Lynch has \”done it all\” in WWE, but she will soon have a chance to explore other options.

  • AEW Star Set For Surgery In 2 Weeks For Torn Pec Injury

    AEW star Ortiz recently shared an unfortunate update after suffering an injury. He has revealed that he is set to undergo surgery which will keep him on the shelf for several months.

    Ortiz has been away from the programming since last competing on January 20 edition of AEW Collision. On the show, he had joined forces with Eddie Kingston to face Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli in a losing effort. Now, it seems he will once again miss some action.

    Making an appearance on Isiah Kassidy’s vlog, Ortiz shared his current status with the promotion. He disclosed that he sustained a torn pec and the injury took place from a clothesline. The 32-year-old star then revealed that he will have his surgery in a couple of weeks and he will be out of action for at least four months. 

    “I’m injured. I’m about to get surgery in two weeks… It was just from a clothesline. I tore a pec. I tore my pec from a clothesline… Two weeks and four months recovery time, and then I’ll be back.”

    Later in the vlog, Ortiz and Kassidy were seen working on commentary for AEW star Ethan Page\’s Alpha-1 Wrestling promotion in Hamilton, ON, Canada. Ortiz also worked as a guest referee on that show. 

    Ortiz and Mike Santana split

    Ortiz had been in a tag-team with Mike Santana for more than a decade and they were part of several promotions including AEW where their most prominent run was during their association with Inner Circle. 

    However, over the years Santana and Ortiz grew apart and they recently decided to split up due to their personal differences. Following the break-up, Ortiz started competing as a singles wrestler. It was only last month that Santana was released by AEW and he went on to shed light on why the duo decided to part ways. 

    As Ortiz awaits his surgery, we at SEScoops wish him a swift recovery and hope he is back in the squared circle soon.

  • Kenny Omega Teases Boxing Match With WWE Star: Maybe On Triller PPV?

    AEW star Kenny Omega might be away from in-ring action but he has now teased a potential Boxing bout against WWE Superstar Xavier Woods.

    Omega and Woods have a fair share of history together and their friendship goes beyond the boundaries of pro wrestling companies. They have shared rivalry in video games and wrestling in general but they have remained good friends in real life. 

    On a Twitch livestream, Omega was questioned about the possibility of stepping into a boxing ring for a celebrity match. 

    “Who knows though? Maybe in a Triller card, somewhere in the future, I’ll be celebrity boxing someone. I don’t know. We’ll find out, who knows? So if I was to take a real boxing match, who would you like to see me fight? Any wrestlers you think I might be able to fight in a real boxing match?

    Kenny Omega vs Xavier Woods in a boxing match?

    Soon, the fans pointed to Xavier Woods, and \’The Cleaner\’ was in favor of the idea. He showed great interest for a potential match against Woods and reckoned that an actual shoot fight would be an entertaining affair. He said:

    \”Creed (Xavier Woods). Actually, you know what? Creed, I honestly — it would be a good match. I actually think that’d be a really good match… But in an actual shoot boxing match. I think it’d be a good fight. I think it really would be. That’d be actually really good.\”

    Despite their on-screen rivalry, Omega stressed that he wouldn’t want to physically hurt the New Day member. He said:

    “I wouldn’t wanna hit him though. I hate him, I don’t wanna hit him. I hate his guts but I don’t wanna hit the guy (Omega jokingly said). I don’t think he wants to hit me either. I don’t think it’s like that. I don’t think it’s like that.”

    Kenny Omega is currently sidelined

    Omega is recuperating from diverticulitis. As he has been absent from AEW programming, he was fired from The Elite, and his arch-nemesis Kazuchika Okada was revealed as his replacement. As of now, surgery is likely on the cards for Kenny Omega as uncertainty looms over his pro wrestling future.

    Meanwhile, Omega also fired back at his critics. Check out his comments below:

  • Finn Balor Shows Off Gruesome Forehead Injury Ahead of WrestleMania 40

    The Judgment Day member Finn Balor recently revealed that he suffered a forehead injury which looks pretty nasty. 

    As we get closer to WrestleMania 40 this weekend, fans and the WWE Superstars are preparing for an epic event. However, fans are worried after Balor posted an update on his recent injury.

    Taking to his Twitter/X, one-half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions posted a short video clip in which his forehead can be seen swollen due to an injury but he didn\’t look much concerned. 

    The caption read:

    \”Easter Egg\”

    It is currently not known when and how Finn Balor suffered the injury but that looks concerning, especially ahead of their tag-team title defense at WrestleMania 40.

    Finn Balor and Damian Priest to have a high-stakes match at WrestleMania 40

    The Judgment Day have a huge task at their hands to keep the gold around their waist at the \’Show of Shows\’. 

    Balor and Priest will put their Undisputed WWE Tag-Team Championships on the line in a Six-pack Tag-Team Ladder Match against some of the most popular teams: #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth), The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods),  New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) and A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller).

    Meanwhile, the other members are also gearing up for the event. Rhea Ripley will defend her WWE Women\’s World title against 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble winner Becky Lynch. 

    On the other hand, Dominik Mysterio will team up with Santos Escobar to take on LWO (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee).

    WrestleMania 40 takes place on April 6 & 7 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • Nic Nemeth Explains Why He Didn\’t Sign With AEW

    IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Nic Nemeth (formerly known as Dolph Ziggler in WWE) has made it clear that he is not looking for any long-term commitments. 

    Nemeth ended a 19-year run with WWE in September last year. Several promotions contacted him after his release and wanted to bring him on board. 

    Nemeth\’s first post WWE appearance was for NJPW where he debuted his \’Wanted Man gimmick.\’ He also started making appearances for TNA Wrestling shortly after. 

    In recent times AEW has been the preferred destination for the free agents. Former World Champions like Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone have decided to join AEW after departing WWE. Nic Nemeth however, chose a different path because he has other plans.

    Nic Nemeth doesn\’t want to be \’locked in\’

    Speaking on Keepin It 100, Nemeth revealed that he had some discussions with AEW but he had some other plans chalked out in mind for his career outside WWE. He claimed that Scott D\’Amore insisted him to sign with TNA Wrestling. 

    Moreover, one of the locker room members had also reached out to him and he eventually decided to sign a short-term deal with the promotion. However, he has the freedom to compete in other promotions as well. Nemeth said:

    “In the past, some [talks] but I had a plan that I’ve been working on for probably the last year and a half. I didn’t want to go anywhere. I appreciate that several companies reached out immediately.

    I [said] I have this one plan, I want to do this on my own and even so, Scott D’Amore was so insistent because the locker room was so strong and somebody in the locker room of TNA reached out and I go \’man you guys are really making this hard.\’\” 

    The former WWE star made it clear that he wouldn\’t sign a long-term deal because he didn\’t want to be held down by any promotion. He added:

    \”[I said] let’s do some dates. I’m not gonna sign for 3 years but I said I just wanna bounce around and be a hired gun. I’ll go with anybody and do anything. [I said] I just got out of a long-term relationship, 19 years. I don’t want to sign a paper that says you can’t do this.

    I can still represent companies, I am a great brand ambassador. I just don’t want to be locked in. I did it for too long. I stayed a couple extra years to get the good money.\”

    Nic Nemeth feels that he is in the best shape of his career and reiterated that he wants to \’bounce around\’ for some more time and eventually settle down at a promotion.

    In April, huge opportunities are lined up for Nemeth. He will challenge Moose for the TNA World Championship at TNA Rebellion on April 20. 

    A week later, on April 27,  Nemeth will battle Alberto El Patron for the AAA Mega Championship at AAA TripleMania XXXII. Nemeth has also issued a challenge to a veteran NJPW star. Find out more below:

  • Kenny Omega Responds to Criticism For His Promos & Storytelling

    AEW star Kenny Omega has responded to the critics who believe he\’s \’bad\’ at delivering promos and storytelling.  

    Without question, Kenny Omega is one of the most talented wrestlers. He has showcased impressive in-ring prowess and delivered many instant classics over the years. While the fans have commended his performances inside the squared circle, some critics believe he lacks storytelling abilities and doesn\’t have the \’promo game\’ 

    Kenny Omega responds

    During a recent Twitch Live Stream, Omega took a shot back at the naysayers, saying: 

    “Everyone’s wondering, Kenny, ‘Why is Kenny so bad at promos? He doesn’t have promo game. He needs to cut a promo. That’s all I care about.’ Shut the f**k up!… Jesus Christ.”

    In addition to this, \’The Cleaner\’ addressed the critics who compare him with The Rock. \’The Great One\’ has the ability to have arenas sold out but the former AEW World Champion believes he has his own way of storytelling and tries his best. He said:

    “You’re trying to talk about a guy who sold 45,000-seaters with my storytelling? You’re trying to tell me I don’t know how to tell stories? Because I don’t have a yelling promo voice? Yeah?

    You tell me and then you’re gonna say, oh well, The Rock sold more. Of course he f**king did. He’s The Goddamn Rock and you know what? I’m not f**king bad myself. I try my best.”

    Kenny Omega further stressed the fact that he has a particular way of narrating a story and if the critics don\’t approve of that, he doesn\’t care. He said:

    “Honestly though, guys, when I wanna tell a story and I have a way to tell it, I’ll tell it in my ways. That’s all there is to it and maybe if something that I’ve done isn’t exciting or my American-style promos just aren’t doing it for you, well, I got news for ya, because I don’t care.

    I don’t care. It sucks. Hey, I got out there feeling like, man, what am I even doing out here? Why am I even wasting my Goddamn time?”

    https://twitter.com/lifer_wwe/status/1774082271953162400

    Kenny Omega\’s health issues

    Omega is currently sidelined for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Amid his absence, he has been fired from The Elite and replaced by his arch-rival Kazuchika Okada. 

    AEW President Tony Khan has been optimistic about Omega\’s progress but the 40-year-old wrestler will likely have to undergo surgery before he can prepare for his comeback. 

    As his pro wrestling future remains up in the air, we at SEScoops wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he is back in action soon.

  • Mark Briscoe Discusses Legacy of FTR vs Briscoes: \”They\’ll always be special\”

    Mark Briscoe has reminisced about the iconic rivalry between FTR and The Briscoes which he has labeled \’special.\’

    The intense feud between The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) and FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) is one of the greatest chapters in pro wrestling history. The two critically acclaimed tag-team went on to collide in what is labeled as the best tag-team trilogy of recent memory and with the matches, the two highly regarded tag teams cemented their legacy in tag-team wrestling. 

    Speaking with PW Insider, Mark Briscoe recalled the matches against the Top Guys. One-half of the Dem Boyz also spoke about how Tony Khan buying ROH and booking the matches benefitted them. Reflecting on the unfortunate passing of his brother shortly after, Mark mentioned how those matches have become even more special: 

    \”Those matches, now especially in hindsight, not that they weren\’t amazing and special when they happened, but then a month after the dog collar match when the accident happened, it\’s like, it\’s almost like how, I don\’t know how appropriate that\’s how Jerry Briscoe went out.\”

    Mark mentioned that they were already feuding with FTR over twitter when Tony bought ROH and put them together. After the first two matches, things came full circle with the classic encounter at Final Battle 2022:

    \”We come full circle to Final Battle and they\’ve beaten us twice and now it comes down to this dog collar match and we get the final win and Jay Briscoe puts on a career…like one of the best performances in professional wrestling history and he\’s sitting there with the crimson mask, bloodied and just…what a fitting way for him to go out. 2022 as a whole was a really amazing year, but those FTR matches, and then that last, the dog collar match specifically, yeah, they\’re always, they\’ll always be special.\”

    The trilogy between The Briscoes and FTR

    The two teams competed in three matches in 2022. The first match which was a standard tag-team match saw FTR prevailing at ROH Supercard of Honor in April. Then they battled in a two-out-of-three-falls match at Death Before Dishonor in July which FTR again won. The trilogy culminated in December at Final Battle when the Briscoes finally emerged victorious in a Dog Collar match to capture the ROH Tag Team Championships.

    The rivalry that ended in 2022 has raised the bar for tag team wrestling and the fans continue to cherish the hard-hitting battles that they have put on in the past.

    Now, Mark Briscoe has a huge task at hand as he challenges for the top prize in ROH. Read more in detail below:

  • Jade Cargill on Parting Ways With AEW: \”I did what I had to do\”

    WWE Superstar Jade Cargill has proclaimed that she departed AEW on a positive note without any ill feelings.

    Cargill became one of the hottest free agents in the industry when she left AEW in September last year. It soon came to light that her contract had expired and she decided to venture out onto a different path. 

    The former AEW TBS Champion later penned a multi-year deal with WWE, becoming the first signing of the new regime of TKO Group Holdings and the second high-profile former AEW star to join WWE after Cody Rhodes, who signed in 2022. 

    Jade Cargill has revealed that jumping ship to WWE was \”all business\”. Speaking with Fightful, the former AEW star made it clear that everybody was elated for her future and she left in a professional manner. Cargill said: 

    \”It’s all business, it’s all business. I left in a very loving, professional manner. I did what I had to do. Everybody was very elated for me, whether they figured something out or not. They were elated for me, they were happy for me. No ill feelings towards in any manner.\”

    Later in the interview, it was noted to her that many people in AEW will be ready to welcome her if she ever decides to go back to the promotion. The 31-year-old superstar replied that she has friends in both the promotions and she wants them to succeed. She said:

    \”Yes, it did. At the end of the day, these are my friends. Like, I have friends here, I have friends over there. I just want to see everybody excel and make money. Like, we all want to make money and create a name for ourselves and help out the next generation of wrestlers that want to adopt this sport.\”

    Jade Cargill\’s WrestleMania 40 match 

    Though Cargill has been with WWE for several months she has only competed once when she made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble match. However, her next match is set. Last night, the SmackDown superstar made an appearance on the blue brand and said that she is bringing the storm at WrestleMania 40.

    In the main event on SmackDown, Jade Cargill came to the aid of Bianca Belair and Naomi when Damage CTRL assaulted them. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis later made it official that Cargill will team up with Belair and Naomi to take on Damage CTRL (Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) at the \’Show of Shows\’.

  • Jon Moxley Debuts New Look Ahead of CMLL Match

    The Blackpool Combat Club member Jon Moxley has completely shaved his head and decided to sport a new look before his match in CMLL.

    Mox is set for his highly-anticipated return to the ring. \’The Death Rider\’ has been away from in-ring action for the past few weeks. It was at AEW Revolution pay-per-view earlier this month that Mox competed before taking some time away from the squared circle. At the show, he had competed in a tag team match when he teamed up with Claudio Castagnoli against FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood).

    Jon Moxley shows off new look 

    Ahead of the match in CMLL, Jon Moxley delivered a promo which was posted on the official Twitter/X account of CMLL. In the video clip, the former AEW World Champion can be seen with a bald look. The post was captioned with:

    \”Jon Moxley has arrived in Mexico City, and I\’m in a hell of a mood. I will be in Arena Mexico tomorrow night, and the BCC will bring sweet, sweet violencia!\”

    You check out the video clip below:

    Jon Moxley\’s match in CMLL 

    Jon Moxley will make his return when he teams up with his Blackpool Combat Club members Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli in Mexico. As Wheeler Yuta is injured, he has been replaced by Matt Sydal on their team. They are scheduled to lock horns with the team comprising lucha stars Mistico, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero at tonight\’s CMLL show in Arena Mexico.

    Jon Moxley has a hectic schedule ahead of him. Following this match, he will be headed to Japan where he will join forces with Shota Umino to take on the team of Ren Narita and Jack Perry at NJPW Sakura Genesis pay-per-view on Saturday, April 6.

  • Watch Becky Lynch Joke About Her WWE Contract Expiring Soon

    Becky Lynch is letting it be known (again) that she could be a free agent within a matter of weeks.

    WWE signed several top stars to new contracts back in 2021, in response to competitor All Elite Wrestling demonstrating a willingness to shell out big money to land top talent. Many of those contracts were 3-year deals and are set to expire this year. 

    Lynch\’s ongoing book tour stopped in Washington D.C. on Thursday night and SEScoops correspondent Muscle Man Malcolm was on hand to capture this video:

    Former World Champions such as Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone have decided leave WWE for AEW and others could follow suit.

    Becky Lynch appeared on The MMA Hour podcast on Monday and told Ariel Helwani that she\’s in the final two months of her WWE contract. Additionally, Lynch divulged that she and WWE have yet to begin discussions regarding a new agreement.

    Lynch, who won the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble match, will challenge Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women\’s World Championship next weekend at WrestleMania 40.

    More WWE Contracts Expiring Soon

    In addition to Becky Lych, several other top-tier wrestlers could also be free agents in the months ahead, including Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Drew McIntyre. 

    You can read more about each of those situations here:

  • Roman Reigns Reflects On Infamous Moment with The Rock Ahead of WrestleMania 40

    Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has become one of the greatest superstars of all time. Since joining the main roster, his character has evolved multiple times. With his latest evolution, The Head of The Table has now matured into the widely accepted megastar the company always expected him to become.

    \’The Tribal Chief\’ has been a part of several Premium Live Events over the years. However, there is one event which he tries to forget – Royal Rumble 2015. But why?

    Back in 2015, Roman Reigns was on the rise and entered the big leagues. \’The Big Dog\’ eliminated Rusev to win the Royal Rumble 2015 to secure WrestleMania headlining opportunity. It marked one of the biggest milestones in his career but it was totally ruined.

    The Philadelphia fans were not impressed with what they witnessed and booed Reigns, who was a babyface back then. The Rock even joined in for the celebrations but that didn\’t change anything.

    Roman Reigns recalls the moment

    In his upcoming A&E Biography, Reigns shares his thoughts on the night. Though it was supposed to be a memorable moment for him, he says that he tries to forget that year\’s Royal Rumble. Here is what he said:

    “I was booed, historically. You think about these moments. You dream about them, and the moment that it actually happens, it’s like they’re playing the worst soundtrack of all time over your moment, ruining your party. That’s how the Rumble in Philly felt.

    “I try to forget Philly. I try to forget the Royal Rumble. There’s only one positive, and that’s the fact that it’s going to be able to tie all the way back around at WrestleMania 40.”

    Roman Reigns will once again be faced with the tough Philadelphia crowd at WrestleMania 40. The Tribal Chief is expected to make a new record by headlining both nights of the Show of Shows. 

    On WrestleMania Saturday, he will join forces with The Rock to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The outcome of this match will determine the stipulation when Reigns faces 2024 Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes with the Universal title on the line the next night.

  • Riddick Moss To Compete For The First Time Since WWE Release

    Former WWE Superstar Madcap Moss/Riddick Moss (real name Mike Rallis) has announced that he is making his comeback to the squared circle next month.

    After being let go by WWE last year, Moss is going by his real name Mike Rallis. He is set to make his return to in-ring competition at Bret Hart Presents Australian Stampede. The event which will take place on Saturday, April 13 in Victoria, Australia is a part of Starrcast Down Under. 

    Riddick Moss set for his return

    It has been announced that at the show, he will challenge Chris Masters for the Stu Hart Heritage Championship, which is the main title for Dungeon Wrestling. Taking to his Twitter/X account, Mike Rallis posted a graphic of the match and wrote:

    \”As another Mike once said… IM BACK\”

    On the other hand, his wife Tenille Dashwood will make her return as well. On April 12, she is set to lock horns with Jessica Troy.

    Starrcast Down Under is in association with Oceania Pro Wrestling and will take place starting April 11 to April 14. It will feature meet-and-greets and stage shows while a couple of live wrestling events are also scheduled for the weekend – Mickie James Presents HER and Bret Hart Presents Australian Stampede. 

    Mickie James Presents HER lineup for April 12

    • TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace defends against Delta
    • Mickie James vs. Vix Crow (FKA Alicia Fox)
    • AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Lady Flammer defends against Steph De Lander and Jody Threat in a triple threat
    • Tenille Dashwood vs. Jessica Troy
    • OPW Women\’s Champion Erika Reid defends against Lizzy Evo
    • OPW Women\’s Tag Team Championships: PPK vs. Backslide Girls (Bull Nakano will present the titles to the winners)
    • Lisa Marie Varon\’s Six-Pack Challenge: Lena Kross vs. Tarlee vs. Aysha vs. Charli Evans vs. TBA vs. TBA (Winner earns an OPW Women\’s title shot)

    Bret Hart Presents Australian Stampede lineup for April 13 

    • TNA World Champion Moose defends against Josh Alexander
    • Stu Hart Heritage Champion Chris Masters defends against Mike Rallis
    • Shelton Benjamin vs. Slex
    • OPW Men\’s Champion Adam Brooks defends against Mance Warner
    • Kushida vs. Robbie Eagles
    • OPW Tag Team Champions The Parea defend against Gangrel and Edward Dusk
    • The Natural Classics & Emman Azman vs. Shanky Singh, JT Baba and Toofan Singh

    Madcap Moss and his wife Tenille Dashwood, who were released from WWE in September last year have started a new life, They got married earlier this month. The couple tied the knot in a picturesque mountainside ceremony at Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii.  

  • Skateboarding Legend Tony Hawk Makes Special Appearance On AEW Dynamite

    Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk surprised the fans when he made a special appearance alongside Darby Allin on last night\’s edition of AEW Dynamite. \’Birdman\’ used the opportunity to promote his foundation on AEW television.

    Darby Allin has managed to effectively combine his love for skateboarding and pro wrestling. His skating background helps him embrace the fast-paced action inside the squared circle. It is no secret that skateboarding has a major influence on Allin and now he has joined forces with Tony Hawk for a noble cause.

    Tony Hawk promotes his foundation

    In a video clip, Darby Allin revealed that originally, he decided to embark on a climb to Mt.Everest to support Hawk\’s foundation, The Skatepark Project. Unfortunately, that plan has to be put on hold due to Allin\’s broken foot. Tony Hawk then explained the cause behind the foundation. 

    It was formerly known as The Tony Hawk Foundation and helps underserved communities by creating safe and inclusive public skateparks for youngsters. As per Hawk, they have been operating for 20 years and helped to fund almost 900 skateparks.

    The Legend Of Tony Hawk

    Tony Hawk has been an iconic figure in the skateboarding world. He has made immense contributions to the sport and has remarkable achievements. Notably, he became the official National Skateboard Association World Champion for 12 consecutive years. Nicknamed \’Birdman\’, he went on to establish his skateboard company, Birdhouse. 

    Now, with his philanthropic efforts, Tony Hawk is helping to build a safe environment for the skateboarding community and continues to inspire skateboarding aspirants around the globe.   

    Fans can donate to the noble cause at Skatepark.org

  • Mark Henry\’s Son Jacob Admits Being \’Fooled\’ By Father\’s Fake Retirement Segment

    WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry had pulled off one of the biggest swerves in the company\’s history with his fake retirement speech back in 2013. It seems that not only the fans but his son Jacob as well, was \’fooled\’ by the stunning segment. 

    Jacob Henry admitted that his father\’s fake retirement segment was as shocking for him as the fans. In a recent Tweet, Jacob Henry agreed to a user on Twitter/X joking that Mark Henry had done irreversible damage to retirement speeches. He replied:

    “I 100% agree. As his son I can say that I was just as much fooled as anyone else.”

    Mark Henry\’s retirement segment

    The June 17, 2013 edition of Monday Night Raw featured Henry\’s retirement segment. While the fans believed that Henry was legitimately putting an end to his illustrious career, \’The World Strongest Man\’ scripted one of the most shocking moments in the history of wrestling.

    Henry, who was dressed in a salmon suit gave an emotional address to the fans. The then-WWE Champion John Cena also got involved to assist the fans in giving Henry a fitting farewell. However, Henry deceived everybody and assaulted Cena, indicating that he had a lot left in the tank.

    Mark Henry has had a storied career and has been a former World Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. Following his run with WWE, the 52-year-old went on to sign with AEW and has been a part of the promotion since then. 

    Earlier this year, Henry announced that the A&E Network would air a brand new documentary on his life.

    It was also recently revealed that Mark Henry will be in attendance at the inaugural Shad Gaspard Memorial Cup to honor the late WWE star. 

    The tournament is set to take place on April 20 in Jacksonville, FL. Eight participants who will compete in the tournament have been revealed, including Gaspard\’s Cryme Tyme tag partner JTG. 

  • Ridge Holland Is Not Actually Retired From WWE

    Ridge Holland announced that he’s stepping away from in-ring competition on Tuesday’s NXT television, but this is only a storyline and there are no plans for the 35-year-old grappler to legitimately retire from active competition.

    Holland has faced a great deal of online backlash from fans due to his habit of inadvertently injuring his opponents. Most notably, it was Holland who dropped Big E on his head, putting him out of action for several years with a less than likely chance he’ll ever return. The former Brawling Brute was also involved when Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly sustained an injury. 

    This is yet another instance of WWE turning a ‘real life’ situation and blurring the line between fact and fiction to fuel on-air angles. Fightful notes that Holland has been receptive to the angle, which is an encouraging sign, considering that Holland has let it be known that the public backlash he’s received has affected his mental health.

    Ridge Holland Steps Aside

    Holland delivered an emotional promo on Tuesday’s NXT and stunned the fans with his announcement. He said he’s been going through a lot lately and is concerned for the safety of not only his opponents, but himself. 

    The segment ended with Holland leaving the ring and NXT Universe chanting \”Thank you, Ridge.\” 

    In an effort to convince fans that Holland’s situation is legitimate, WWE swiftly moved his ‘Superstar Bio’ to the ‘Alumni’ section of the company website. Fans on social media noticed the change immediately. From WWE’s viewpoint, they took the bait.

    WWE is currently gearing up for NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, which takes place Saturday, April 6, just hours before WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA. 

  • NXT Stand & Deliver Hosts Are Set

    Meta-Four will host NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, the next premium live event scheduled for WWE’s developmental brand.

    This week’s NXT TV saw various talents participating in an ‘Open Call’ to earn this honor, which was held by Pretty Deadly last year. 

    By the end of the broadcast, the hosting duties were awarded to Meta-Four’s Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakarta Jackson.

    Jackson took to her Twitter/X and shared her thoughts on the news. 

    Meta-Four are also set to host Supernova Sessions with NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez on the go-home edition on April 2. 

    During the March 26 episode of WWE NXT, Oba Femi also announced that he will be putting up his North American Title on the line against Dijak and Josh Briggs in a triple threat match. 

    Stand & Deliver Matches

    • Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D\’Angelo for the NXT Championship
    • Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Tournament Winners: Tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
    • Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
    • Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women\’s Championship
    • Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple Threat for the NXT North American Championship

  • Batista Reveals His Pet Dog Has Completed Chemotherapy

    Pro wrestler-turned-actor Batista (real name Dave Bautista) recently indicated on social media that his beloved pet dog is having a serious health issue. 

    It is no secret that Batista is a passionate animal lover. From time to time, his love for dogs has been on display and he has extended his support for several animal welfare causes. In addition to this, the proud dog dad has also helped to raise awareness to rescue animals.

    Last year he came forward in helping YouTube star MrBeast to find homes for 100 abandoned dogs. His efforts to rescue animals and provide shelter for them have been widely praised. Unfortunately, Batista with his pet dog is going through trying times.

    Batista\’s pet dog undergoes chemotherapy session

    Taking to his Instagram stories section, the former WWE star announced that his dog was undergoing chemotherapy sessions. He also dropped a photo of his pet and wrote the following in the caption:  

    “My baby boy all done with chemo.”

    Batista is thriving in Hollywood

    After having a successful pro wrestling career, Batista made a breakthrough in Hollywood and has tasted immense success. He is also a part of Dune: Part Two, which was released earlier this month and in the movie, he plays the character of Beast Rabban.

    Recently, Batista revealed that he is hopeful of making directorial debut next year. On the other hand, his WWE Hall of Fame induction is also due which was pushed back due to the pandemic. On a related note, the former World Champion had stated that he would pick his WWE Hall of Fame induction over a place in James Gunn\’s DC Universe. Check out his comments below:

  • Wheeler Yuta Pulled From CMLL Event Amid Lengthy Absence

    AEW star Wheeler Yuta has been forced to withdraw from a CMLL event as he is currently sidelined.

    Yuta was slated to team with his Blackpool Combat Club teammates,  Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, & Claudio Castagnoli to face the team of Mistico, Volador Jr, Blue Panther, & Ultimo Guerrero for the March 29 CMLL show. 

    However, the promotion announced that Wheeler Yuta is not medically cleared to compete. Meanwhile, Matt Sydal has been announced as his replacement. 

    Official statement on Wheeler Yuta\’s withdrawal

    CMLL posted the following letter from AEW on Twitter/X:

    Dear CMLL;

    This letter is to inform you that WHEELER YUTA is not medically cleared for travel or any in ring activities at this time and will not be able to participate in your upcoming event. I have obtained authorization from Wheeler Yuta to share this information to CMLL and all involved. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. If you have any questions that I may be able to answer, please do not hesitate to contact me.

    Wheeler Yuta is part of the Blackpool Combat Club

    Yuta was roped in by BCC back in 2022 when he impressed not only the members of the faction, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and Claudio Castagnoli but also then-manager, William Regal.

    Being mentored by the seasoned superstars, he has managed to hone his craft. His learnings from his teammates have been on display and it is needless to mention that Wheeler Yuta is thriving.

    A few months back, while speaking with the Northeast Times, Yuta revealed what each member of The Blackpool Combat Club has taught him: 

    “Claudio, he’s taught me about European uppercuts. He’s also showed me how to take care of my body, my condition, and how to work out in the ring through tag team matches. Moxley, he taught me how to unlock aggression, to turn it up a notch and to win any means necessary.

    And Bryan is such an amazing technician. Little techniques you might not pick up on, but in the ring, they really matter. Bryan has showed me technique. And of course his Lordship, (William) Regal, has been immense in wrestling and in life.”

    Yuta had last competed on the January 12 (taped on January 10) episode of AEW Rampage when he faced Eddie Kingston for the Continental Crown. It\’s curious that an injury has not been disclosed by either AEW or Yuta himself, despite his lengthy absence from action.

    We will now have to wait and see when Yuta manages to make his return to the squared circle. 

  • Killer Kelly With TNA Despite Reports to the Contrary

    2-time TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion Killer Kelly is not yet \’finished up\’ with the promotion. 

    Last week, reports suggested that Killer Kelly was done and would be parting ways with TNA Wrestling. She teamed up with Masha Slamovich and dropped the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships to Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat) at the Sacrifice pay-per-view on March 8. 

    Kelly\’s absence from TNA\’s television tapings in Philadelphia, which took place on March 22 and 23 led to speculation that she might be leaving. Further reports floated stating that, as Kelly would be leaving TNA, plans were in the pipeline to have a potential new tag team partner for Slamovich. 

    Killer Kelly’s contract with TNA runs through 2025, according to Fightful, and was at this past weekend’s tapings last weekend. She could be taking some time off, but she has not officially departed the company as is this writing. 

    Killer Kelly\’s recent TNA run

    In the summer of 2022, Killer Kelly made her return when she assaulted a couple of local wrestlers. She eventually went to form a team with Slamovich which is known as MK Ultra. They soon tasted success when they captured TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions twice.  

    We will now have to wait and see what Killer Kelly\’s future holds.

  • Rhea Ripley Steals Nia Jax\’s Move For Rikishi Tribute At WWE House Show

    WWE Women\’s World Champion Rhea Ripley decided to take a page out of Nia Jax\’s book and hit the popular \’Stinkface\’ move during a recent WWE Live Event.

    \’The Eradicator\’ has managed to garner a massive fan following with her in-ring prowess and gimmick. She is quite active on social media and her posts are always appreciated by fans. 

    Sometimes the admiration could go to an extreme extent. One example is a recent incident where a fan made efforts to aquire Rhea Ripley\’s chewing gum. Now, a new viral video has got the fans appreciating The Mami all over again.

    Rhea Ripley Leads Rikishi Tribute

    WWE Road To WrestleMania Live Event took place in Springfield, IL on Saturday, March 23 and a video clip from the event has emerged. Rhea Ripley can be seen applying the \’Stinkface\’ on Nia Jax, who was down in the corner and hyped up the crowd after hitting the move. Check out the video clip below:

    \’The Stinkface\’

    The comedic move was part of WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi\’s arsenal during the late 90s and early 2000s. The move humiliated his opponents and became quite popular. Hitting the maneuver, he displayed his humorous side.

    The move often labeled gross, requires the opponent to be in a seated position in the corner, and the person hitting the move would turn their back and rub their backside on the opponent\’s face, humiliating them in the process. Over the years several stars have adopted the moves and it continues to remain an entertaining spot for the fans. 

    Most recently, on last week\’s Raw, Nia Jax hit the move on Becky Lynch during their Last Woman Standing match. The match was ultimately won by \’The Man.\’ 

    We are officially on the Road to WrestleMania 40 and at \’The Show of Shows,\’ Rhea Ripley will defend her title against the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble match winner Becky Lynch.