SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • WWE Breaks All-Time Gate Record with WrestleMania Hollywood

    WrestleMania is always a wildly lucrative event for WWE, but 2023\’s installment is taking things to a whole new level.

    Last week, we reported that WrestleMania 39 is on the verge of selling out with approximately 100,000 tickets sold for the 2-night event. On Monday, WWE sent in word that \”WrestleMania Goes Hollywood\” has now surpassed 2016\’s WrestleMania 32 as the highest-grossing WrestleMania in company history.

    WWE® BREAKS ALL-TIME WRESTLEMANIA® GATE RECORD

    WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium Surpasses WrestleMania 32 as
    Best-Seller in Company History, Nearly Three Months Prior to Event

    STAMFORD, Conn., January 9, 2023 – WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that WrestleMania Goes Hollywood (WrestleMania 39), which will originate from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles across two nights, broke the company’s all-time gate record for any WrestleMania, despite having yet to announce a single match. The previous record announced was $17.3 million in 2016 at WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The record gate comes on the heels of unprecedented ticket sales demand for WWE in 2022, in which it produced the highest-grossing gates of all-time for Royal Rumble, Survivor Series and Extreme Rules. Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales, which marked WWE’s first major stadium show in the U.K. in 30 years, was the highest-grossing U.K. event in company history.

    Additionally, WWE set in-market gate records for SmackDown and Raw events in more than 20 markets for the year, including the December 30 SmackDown, which took place in Tampa, Fla. and heralded the return of WWE Superstar John Cena.

    Limited single and two-day combo tickets for WrestleMania Goes Hollywood can still be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. The event streams live on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.

  • Jade Cargill Praised For Her Work at AEW Battle of the Belts

    Jade Cargill is getting rave reviews for her improved ring work.

    The reigning TBS Champion is coming up on the two year anniversary of her AEW debut (March 3, 2021). She\’s still early in wrestling career, which has led some critics to call her green. Fortunately, Cargill has star power to spare and had joked that she\’s \”green like money.\”

    On Friday\’s live edition of AEW Rampage, Cargill successfully defended her gold against Skye Blue. Cargill looked impressive – especially this finishing sequence:

    Will Ospreay Praises Jade Cargill

    The video clip embedded in our tweet above got the attention of New Japan Pro Wrestling star Will Opsreay, who called it \”Amazing.\”

    Ospreay is one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, so an endorsement from him carries a lot of weight. He just wrestled a Match-of-the-Year candidate against Kenny Omega at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. The match was so good that Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer rated it 6.25 stars (on a scale of 1-5).

    Ospreay is not the only main event star who has taken notice of Cargill\’s development. Last month, Cargill was asked about her dream opponent. She named WWE SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair, \”because she can go.\” Flair replied:

    Keep killing it queen. #undefeated

    – Charlotte Flair to Jade Cargill

    Ex-WWE Writer Freddie Prinze Jr. is also a big fan of Cargill, calling her an incredibly unique performer and likening her to a unicorn who deserves to be booked in a special way.

    “Lions and tigers and bears are cool, but a Unicorn, a Minotaur, a Cerberus,\” said Prinze. \”They’re magic, and they’re treated that way in the stories I read as a kid. And that’s what Jade is, she’s a Unicorn.”

    There\’s no doubt that Jade Cargill is one of the most promising home-grown stars on the AEW roster. The 48-0 champion has proven that she\’s willing to put the work in to improve her skills. If she continues at this pace, she really will be the \”total package\” in the near future.

  • Major Shakeup to WWE\’s Board of Directors: Removals & Resignations

    WWE has announced a significant shakeup to the company\’s Board of Directors. In total, five board members are out, with three being removed by Vince McMahon and two resigning.

    Vince McMahon, in his capacity as controlling shareholder of the Company, has removed JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R. Speed and Alan M. Wexler. Additionally, Ignace Lahoud and Man Jit Singh have resigned from the Board, effective immediately.

    SEScoops has learned WWE will be holding an \”all hands on deck\” Zoom call this afternoon at 3:30pm (Eastern).

    Trading of WWE stock has been temporarily halted amid this Board of Directors shakeup.

    WWE released the following press release Friday morning, including quotes from Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan and Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque:

    STAMFORD, Conn., January 6, 2023 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) is providing the following update regarding the composition of its Board of Directors and the exploration of strategic alternatives.

    “Today, we announce that the founder of WWE, Vince McMahon, will be returning to the Board,” said Chairwoman & Co-CEO Stephanie McMahon, Co-CEO Nick Khan and Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque. “We also welcome back Michelle Wilson and George Barrios to our Board of Directors. Together, we look forward to exploring all strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.”

    As Vince McMahon stated yesterday, “WWE has an exceptional management team in place, and I do not intend for my return to have any impact on their roles, duties, or responsibilities.\”

    In connection with the change in the composition of the Board of Directors and in cooperation with Vince McMahon as majority shareholder, the Company intends to undertake a review of its strategic alternatives with the goal being to maximize value for all WWE shareholders. There is no assurance that this process will result in a transaction.

    Vince McMahon, in his capacity as controlling shareholder of the Company, has removed JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R. Speed and Alan M. Wexler from the Board. Vince McMahon, George Barrios and Michelle Wilson have been added to the Board to fill the resulting vacancies.

    The Board currently consists of:

    • Vince McMahon
    • Stephanie McMahon
    • Nick Khan
    • Paul Levesque
    • Steve Koonin
    • Michelle McKenna
    • Steve Pamon
    • George Barrios
    • Michelle Wilson

    Ignace Lahoud and Man Jit Singh have resigned from the Board, effective today.

    About WWE
    WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TVPG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 30 languages through world class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network.

    Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

  • Charlotte Flair Eying Champ vs. Champ Match with Bianca Belair

    Charlotte Flair isn\’t resting on her laurels after reclaiming the SmackDown Women\’s Champion in dramatic fashion. She\’s looking to take on all challengers, including the reigning queenpin of Monday Night Raw, Bianca Belair.

    Flair made a triumphant return to WWE on the final SmackDown of 2022. She showed up with a purpose and made an immediate impact. When all was said and done, she stunned Ronda Rousey in an impromptu match to begin her 13th reign as a WWE Women\’s world champion.

    Rousey is probably still wondering how her role as SmackDown Women\’s champion could be snatched from her so abruptly, but Charlotte isn\’t worried about that. She\’s already looking ahead and focused on solidifying her legacy as the premiere Superstar of this generation.

    Bring It

    Charlotte Flair appeared on WWE\’s The Bump this week and had very positive things to say about Bianca Belair. She knows what it\’s like to be the top dog of a WWE brand and all the responsibilities that come with it.

    \”First, I want to give kudos to Bianca,\” said Charlotte. \”I know what it’s like to be in that role she’s in, from the matches to live events to being a spokesperson, the media, the obligations, the signings. I know that schedule and how grueling it is, and she’s doing it.\”

    Belair has been destined for greatness ever since her days in NXT. She\’s living up to the hype, an impressive feat to say the least. Flair says she\’s proud of Belair, and would have no problem getting in the ring with her to see which of them is the true Queen of WWE.

    \”She’s doing it well, and she’s striving, and she’s turning into what everyone said she was gonna be, the face of the women’s division, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.\”

    \”From a competitive side, the best for last, baby. Bring it.\”

    – Charlotte Flair on facing Bianca Belair

    Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair History

    Flair and Belair have wrestled each other several times over the past several years. Flair defeated Belair on the February 26, 2020 edition of NXT.

    On the main roster, they\’ve wrestled many times in multi-person matches, but have only wrestled twice in singles action. Belair won both of those matches by disqualification (WWE Raw, October 4, 2021 and WWE Raw, October 18, 2021).

    (Stats courtesy of Cagematch.net)

    Conclusion

    Will this match actually happen? WWE has unified the top championships in the men\’s singles division, as well as the tag team divisions. Roman Reigns is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, while The Usos hold the Raw and SmackDown tag belts. Based on what we\’ve heard about WWE wanting to split up Reigns\’ belts, it seems unlikely they\’d continue moving in the \’unification\’ direction with the women\’s titles.

    Watch Charlotte Flair\’s appearance on WWE\’s The Bump:

  • Read Vince McMahon’s Statement Addressing Dramatic WWE Return

    Vince McMahon released the following press release on Thursday addressing his plan to stage a WWE comeback and assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board.

    More: Vince McMahon Wants to Return to WWE In Order to Sell It (WSJ)

    Vince McMahon Takes Actions in Support of Plan for WWE to Undertake a Review of Strategic Alternatives and Capture Unique Opportunity to Maximize Long-term Value for All Shareholders

    Submits written consent to WWE Board electing himself and Company veterans George Barrios and Michelle Wilsonas Directors

    Actions are necessary to ensure McMahon\’s full participation in upcoming media rights negotiations and review of strategic alternatives

    GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Vince McMahon, the founder and controlling shareholder of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (\”WWE\” or the \”Company\”) (NYSE: WWE), announced today that he has taken necessary actions to position the Company to capitalize on a unique opportunity to maximize long-term value for all WWE shareholders. The actions, communicated to WWE\’s Board of Directors today via written consent, include the election to the Board of Mr. McMahon, as well as Michelle Wilson and George Barrios – former WWE Co-Presidents and Board members, and currently the Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Isos Capital Management – and the requisite removal from the Board of three directors. Mr. McMahon expects to assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board.

    Mr. McMahon\’s new role will enable unified decision making through the Company\’s upcoming media rights negotiations and a parallel full review of the Company\’s strategic alternatives, which Mr. McMahon believes is the right course of action and in the best interests of WWE and WWE shareholders amidst the current dynamics in the media and entertainment industry. As Mr. McMahon has communicated to the Board, he believes there is a narrow window of opportunity to create significant value for all shareholders and that to do so, the strategic alternatives review must occur in tandem with the media rights negotiations. He also expressed to the Board that he believes these two initiatives require Mr. McMahon\’s direct participation, leadership, and support as controlling shareholder.

    \”WWE is entering a critical juncture in its history with the upcoming media rights negotiations coinciding with increased industry-wide demand for quality content and live events and with more companies seeking to own the intellectual property on their platforms,\” said Mr. McMahon. \”The only way for WWE to fully capitalize on this opportunity is for me to return as Executive Chairman and support the management team in the negotiations for our media rights and to combine that with a review of strategic alternatives. My return will allow WWE, as well as any transaction counterparties, to engage in these processes knowing they will have the support of the controlling shareholder.\”

    Prior to delivering written consent, Mr. McMahon sent two separate letters to the Board in late December in which he expressed the urgency of his return to the Company as Executive Chairman and his desire to work collaboratively with the Board and management team. Following conversations with representatives of the Company both before and after Mr. McMahon\’s most recent letter on December 31, Mr. McMahon determined, consistent with his rights as controlling shareholder, that the steps announced today are necessary to maximize value for all WWE shareholders.

    Mr. McMahon said, \”Ms. Wilson and Mr. Barrios are highly qualified directors whose professional experience positions them well to help the Company achieve the best possible outcomes in both initiatives. As former WWE Co-Presidents and Board members, they are intimately familiar with industry dynamics and the organization\’s operations and have helped guide the Company through past successful media rights negotiations. I look forward to working closely again with Michelle and George – as well as the Company\’s remaining directors and management team, who have my full support and confidence. WWE has an exceptional management team in place, and I do not intend for my return to have any impact on their roles, duties, or responsibilities.\”

    In conjunction with the changes to WWE\’s Board, Mr. McMahon\’s written consent also includes certain amendments to the Company\’s bylaws to ensure that WWE\’s corporate governance continues to properly enable and support shareholder rights. These changes will be detailed in a Schedule 13D amendment to be filed by Mr. McMahon and a Form 8-K to be filed by the Company in the coming days.

    No assurances can be given regarding the outcome or timing of the review process. Mr. McMahon does not intend to comment further until the process has concluded or Mr. McMahon has otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate or required.

    Michelle Wilson Biography

    Ms. Wilson is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Isos Capital Management. She is a leading sports and entertainment c-suite executive and, prior to founding Isos with Mr. Barrios, most recently served as Co-President and Board Member of WWE until January 2020. In 2018, Forbes named Ms. Wilson one of the 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports. She also was featured on the Adweek 50 list, which highlights the leading executives in Media, Marketing and Technology, and named one of Sports Illustrated\’s 10 Most Influential Women in Sports. She joined WWE in 2009 and prior to her appointment as Co-President, served as Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer.

    Previously, Michelle served as the Chief Marketing Officer of the United States Tennis Association, oversaw all marketing efforts for the launch of the XFL, a partnership between WWE and NBC, and held consumer products and brand management positions at the NBA and Nabisco, respectively. She received her MBA from Harvard Business School and currently serves on the Boards of Bowlero Corporation and Turtle Beach Corporation.

    George Barrios Biography

    Mr. Barrios serves as Isos Capital Management\’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO. He is an award-winning c-suite executive and most recently served as Co-President and Board Member of WWE until January 2020. In 2017, Institutional Investor ranked George among the Top 3 CFOs in the Media Industry as part of its All-America Executive team rankings. He joined WWE in 2008 as its Chief Strategy and Financial Officer.

    Previously, he held leadership roles in finance, strategy and operations at the New York Times, Praxair, Time Warner and HBO. He received his MBA from the University of Connecticut School of Business and currently serves as the National Board Chair of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

    Kirkland & Ellis is serving as legal counsel to Mr. McMahon.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements include statements regarding Mr. McMahon\’s return to the Board as Executive Chairman, the impact of Mr. McMahon, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Barrios as members of the Board, the timing and success of the Company\’s media rights negotiations and the Company\’s review of strategic alternatives. In addition, the words \”may,\” \”will,\” \”could,\” \”anticipate,\” \”plan,\” \”continue,\” \”project,\” \”intend,\” \”estimate,\” \”believe,\” \”expect,\” \”outlook,\” \”target,\” \”goal,\” \”guidance\” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These statements relate to future possible events, as well as plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and are not historical facts and accordingly involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties relating to, without limitation, the matters referred to in this release, the complexity of the Company\’s rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas and the Company\’s review of strategic alternatives. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are subject to change without any obligation to update or revise them. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements.

    Contact
    Steven Goldberg / Beau Falgout
    August
    (323) 892-5562
    [email protected]

    SOURCE Vince McMahon

  • WWE Money in the Bank Headed to London\’s O2 Arena July 1

    WWE has announced a big premium live event is headed to the UK later this year. Money in the Bank 2023 will be held Saturday, July 1 from London\’s famous O2 arena. This will be WWE\’s first \’premium live event\’ to be held from the city in over two decades.

    Here\’s the official press release sent in by WWE:

    MONEY IN THE BANK® HEADED TO THE O2 IN LONDON  ON SATURDAY JULY 1

    FIRST WWE PREMIUM LIVE EVENT TO BE HELD IN LONDON IN OVER TWO DECADES

    STAMFORD, Conn., January 5, 2023 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced that The O2 in London will host Money In The Bank on Saturday, July 1, 2023. Money In The Bank marks the first WWE Premium Live Event to be held in London in over two decades.

    Money In The Bank will feature WWE’s biggest Superstars and will also bring the Money In The Bank ladder matches to the UK for the first time in history, with each winner receiving a briefcase containing a contract for a championship match at a time and place of their choosing anytime within the next year.

    “The O2 is one of the world’s premier venues and the perfect home for Money In The Bank. We are excited to bring one of our ‘Big 5’ events to the UK and look forward to welcoming the WWE Universe to London on July 1,” said Dan Ventrelle, EVP, Talent at WWE.

    “We are honoured to be hosting the first ever Money In The Bank event taking place in the UK here at The O2,” said Christian D\’Acuña, Senior Programming Director at The O2. “We’re looking forward to welcoming back WWE fans to The O2 this summer for an unforgettable night with some of WWE’s biggest Superstars.”

    The announcement follows the huge success of Cardiff’s Clash At The Castle® in September 2022, the first major WWE stadium show to be held in the UK since 1992. Clash At The Castle broke numerous records at the time including becoming the most-watched international premium live event in WWE history, with the largest European gate ever and the best-selling merchandise for a non-WrestleMania event. 

    In addition, Official WWE Money In The Bank Priority Passes are available now through exclusive partner On Location at this link or by calling 855-346-7388 giving fans the opportunity to purchase ticket packages before they go on sale to the general public. The Money In The Bank Priority Pass offers fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment, including premium seating, all-inclusive pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, an autographed poster, merchandise fastlane, exclusive merchandise, two nights of deluxe accommodations, and much more.

    Additional information on Money In The Bank will be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about registering for general ticket presale opportunities please visit: https://www.wwe.com/mitb2023-presale-registration.

  • NJPW Heading to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia in April

    New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced two more upcoming shows in the United States. Two \’Collisions\’ will rock the US this coming April.

    • Saturday, April 15: NJPW Capital Collision
      Washington, D.C. (Sports and Entertainment Arena)
    • Sunday, April 16: NJPW Collision in Philadelphia
      Philadelphia, PA (2300 arena)

    Tickets for both events go on sale next Friday, January 13.

    In addition to these shows, fans on the West coast can see NJPW live at Battle in the Valley on Saturday, February 18, San Jose, CA.

    Visit NJPW1972.com for a complete listing of New Japan\’s upcoming tour dates.

  • NWA Powerrr Returns to YouTube, Episodes Premiere Tuesdays

    The National Wrestling Alliance sent out the following press release on Tuesday morning:

    First run National Wrestling Alliance programming returns to YouTube with NWA Powerrr airing Tuesdays at 6:05 p.m. EST 

    CHICAGO — The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is making bold changes this year to allow our television programming to be available to the largest international audience possible. We are proud to announce that starting immediately, NWA Powerrr will return as first run programming on the NWA YouTube Channel on Tuesdays at 6:05 p.m. EST and NWA USA will remain airing at 12:00 p.m. EST on Saturdays on the channel as well. NWA pay-per-view programming will still be available through FITE TV. 

    First run programming will begin Tuesday January 3, 2023 and includes matches which will determine the teams that will head to the finals of the Champions Series Tournament. 

    “I want to thank our viewers who used FITE’s Monthly or Annual subscription service to enjoy our product,” said William Patrick Corgan, president of the NWA. “Making the switch to having the world be able to watch NWA Powerrr at the same time is essential to our growth strategy going forward. FITE has been an important partner and we are happy to continue our relationship with FITE as our pay-per-view provider,” Cogan said. 

    The NWA Annual Subscription on FITE began to be phased out on August 26, 2022. Viewers who have active subscriptions can still use them to watch pay-per-view programming until their subscription expires. The NWA Monthly Subscription is canceled effective immediately. 

    NWA pay-per-views, such as Nuff Said, the Crockett Cup and NWA 75, will be available for individual purchase on FITE. 

    Additionally, the NWA is having its first ever LIVE NWA Powerrr on Tuesday January 31, 2023 from the Knoxville Convention Center which is scheduled to go on air for free on the NWA YouTube Channel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST. The show is being delayed about an hour from our normal time slot to give our fans in attendance more time to make it into the venue. This event will feature Ultimate Team War, the finals of the Champions Series Tournament which began with 32 incredible wrestlers. The winners of Ultimate Team War will receive future title shots at a time of their choosing. NWA Championships will be defended at this event as well. 

    NWA Nuff Said will be our next pay-per-view wrestling event scheduled for February 11, 2023 from the Egypt Shrine Center in Tampa, FL. The main event is scheduled to be NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Tyrus vs Matt Cardona for the 10 Pounds of Gold. The pay-per-view will be followed by two days of NWA Powerrr and NWA USA television tapings at the WEDU Television studio on February 12 and 13, 2023. The Sunday taping is currently scheduled to be a matinee before the ‘Big Game’ the same day. 

    For the first time of the modern era, the NWA is headed to Mexico as part of the “World is a Vampire Festival” on March 4, 2023 in Mexico City. Wrestlers from the NWA will take on luchadors from Lucha Libre AAA with several NWA titles scheduled to be defended. 

    Details and ticket information for all events are available at NationalWrestlingAlliance.com. 

  • WrestleMania Nearly Sold Out With Almost 100,000 Tickets Sold

    WWE is on the verge of hitting a huge milestone for WrestleMania 39 ticket sales. Without a single match announced, WWE has sold nearly 100,000 tickets for the two-night event.

    Pro wrestling\’s biggest show of the year is still three months away, but it will be here before we know it. WWE holds multiple stadium shows throughout the year, but WrestleMania taking place over two nights insures this will be the company\’s grossing event of the year.

    \’WrestleMania Goes Hollywood\’ on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Our friends at Wrestletix have been tracking the WrestleMania ticket sales and according to their data, first batch of tickets are nearly sold out.

    WrestleMania 39 Tickets

    \"\"/

    If you are interested in attending WrestleMania 39, you should act fast. A limited number of WrestleMania tickets are still available. You can purchase tickets for Saturday night, Sunday night or a combo pack for both nights.

    SoFi Stadium has a maximum capacity of over 100,000 people, but the venue is currently configured for 51,146 fans. We\’re fast approaching a sellout for both nights.

    Here\’s an updated look at where things stand as of Monday, January 2:

    • WrestleMania Saturday: 49,584 tickets distributed (97%) with 1,562 still available and 3,164 for sale on the secondary market (StubHub, etc.).
    • WrestleMania Sunday: 50,114 tickets distributed (98%) with 1,032 still available and 3,246 for resale.

    WWE does not want to leave money on the table, in the event that WrestleMania 39 sells out several months before bell-time. In cases like this, we\’ve seen WWE open up more sections to meet the demand.

    Support Wrestletix on Patreon for more pro wrestling ticket sales metrics.

  • Saraya Proud of Sasha Banks for Knowing Her Worth & Betting on Herself

    AEW star Saraya is proud of Sasha Banks for having the guts to walk out of WWE when she felt undervalued and mistreated.

    Banks now a free agent for the first time in many years. WWE attempted to re-sign her to a new deal, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement. The Legit Boss will now embark on a new chapter in her storied career. Later this week, she\’s expected to attend NJPW\’s Wrestle Kingdom pay-per-view from the Tokyo Dome and explore other opportunities in wrestling, the entertainment industry and beyond.

    Saraya tells Alistair McGeorge of Metro.co.uk that she\’s proud of her former colleague for taking her career into her own hands.

    \”… She knows her worth and she knows she wants to be treated a certain way, and she deserves to be treated that way because she’s done a lot for the wrestling business.\”

    – Saraya proud of Sasha Banks

    Sasha Banks is one of the rare attractions in pro wrestling who moves the needle, in terms of \’butts in seats\’ and merchandise sales. Her army of fans tune in and pay up to see her in action. We haven\’t seen Banks on television since May 2022, so there is pent-up demand to see what she\’ll will do next.

    Banks is now in control of her own destiny. She\’ll soon be wrestling in Japan, but maintains the flexibility to work wherever her schedule allows.

    Saraya says whoever gets to work with Sasha Banks will be very lucky.\” She \”selfishly\” admits that she hopes they cross paths again.

    ‘Wherever she ends up, I’m gonna be happy for her, and anyone that gets her is gonna be very, very lucky,\” she said. \”I just selfishly hope that I get to wrestle her one day,’ she admitted.

  • Austin Theory Says He\’ll Be at Raw After Missing Friday Event

    Austin Theory did not appear at Friday\’s Raw-brand live event from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but wrestling fans can rest assured he\’s not been bit by the injury bug.

    Theory was set to defend the Unites States Championship against Seth Rollins in the Steel Cage main event. Finn Balor filled in for Theory, but Rollins got the victory. Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch both got involved in the match, which made for an interesting dynamic.

    Shortly before the show, the building announced he would not be present. This is somewhat unusual, since typically it\’s WWE that lets fans know about late changes like this (card subject to change).

    A winter storm led to travel issues for a lot of WWE (and AEW) performers last week. Multiple stars were unable to make their scheduled dates, which led to rewrites and last-minute substations at TV and live events. It\’s still unclear why Theory missed the Toronto Holiday Tour event, but we can thankfully rule out an injury.

    Theory Says He\’ll Be at Raw

    \"\"

    Theory\’s situation was addressed on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. According to Dave Meltzer, there\’s no injury and there are no disciplinary \’problems\’ that would have prevented him from being there.

    Ruling out those possibilities, Meltzer speculated there may have been a problem with Theory crossing the Canadian border, but that\’s just a .. theory.

    The good news is that Theory is healthy and says he\’ll be at tonight\’s WWE Raw from Nashville. He\’s scheduled to defend the US title against Rollins and has a warning for The Architect. In a tweet sent out on Sunday, Theory says Rollins will truly know his place in the WWE when he puts him in the past.

  • WWE Raw Preview (1/2/23): Title Matches, Road to the Rumble

    WWE is in Nashville, Tennessee tonight for a live edition of Monday Night Raw from the Bridgestone Arena.

    With the new year in full swing, our focus shifts to January 28 and the 2023 Royal Rumble premium live event.

    Last week’s Raw was a “year in review” highlights episode, but the big news was a surprise appearance by Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare stated that he came back for “one thing” and one thing only, the WWE Championship. He did not explicitly state when fans can expect him back in action, but Rhodes’ return is imminent.

    As of this writing, we know Raw will feature two championship matches. WWE is advertising the following matches for tonight:

    • Seth Rollins challenges Austin Theory for the United States Championship
    • Alexa Bliss challenges Bianca Belair for the Raw Women\’s Championship

    Here’s what else we can expect:

    Bobby Lashley returned to action last week during the live events Holiday Tour. The Almighty had been serving a suspension handed down by Adam Pearce. The WWE website is listing Lashley as one of the Superstars who will be in Nashville, so there’s a strong chance he’ll be back on television this week.

    We know the Royal Rumble will feature Men’s and Women’s Rumble matches. WWE is advertising a Rumble qualifier for Friday’s SmackDown, so we can expect to see qualifying matches on Raw as early as tonight as well.

    The only other match set for the Rumble is the Pitch Black match between Bray Wyatt and LA Knight. Four weeks out, WWE will soon begin building a program for Roman Reigns and the Undisputed Universal Champion.

  • Ricky Steamboat: \”Thanks, But No Thanks\” to a Royal Rumble Cameo

    Wrestling legend Ricky \”The Dragon\” Steamboat isn\’t interested in making a cameo appearance at WWE\’s upcoming Royal Rumble premium live event.

    Steamboat is retired from active competition, but did lace up the boots in November for the first time in 12 years. At a special event for Big Time Wrestling, Steamboat teamed with FTR to defeat Nick Aldis, Jay Lethal and Brock Anderson in a 6-man tag match. The finish came when the three babyfaces simultaneously applied figure-four-leglocks to the heels.

    Thanks, But No Thanks

    During a recent conversation with Bill Apter for Wrestlebinge, Steamboat was asked about the possibility of entering the 2023 Men\’s WWE Royal Rumble match.

    He was flattered by the suggestion that he could be part of the Rumble, but doesn\’t feel that he can perform at that level anymore. The multiple-time World champion told Apter, \”Thanks, but no thanks!\”

    Steamboat knows the fans would probably go nuts for what would undoubtedly be a memorable Royal Rumble moment. The Rumble is one of the biggest wrestling events of the year and Steamboat admitted, \”I think it’s too big of a stage for me.\”

    Steamboat vs. Jericho

    Ricky Steamboat came out of retirement at WWE Backlash 2009 when he faced Chris Jericho. It was his first singles match since 1994. He tells Bill Apter that he is proud of that match and believes he had a \’really good showing.\’

    The match against Jericho was the last time the fans got to see the real Ricky Steamboat. He felt around 70% of his former self that night, which was enough for him to carry his weight and leave people with a lasting memory of how great he once was.

    The Dragon will turn 70 years old on February 28. After a successful outing during the tag match with FTR in November, it\’s probably a good thing that he\’s got the self-awareness to quit while he\’s ahead.

  • King Tez/Montez Ford\’s New Album \’SYAD\’ Coming in March

    WWE Superstar Montez Ford is getting ready to release a new album of hip hop music.

    Ford (Kenneth Crawford) is one half of the popular Street Profits tag team, along with Angelo Dawkins. He\’s also married to Raw Women\’s champion Bianca Belair.

    In the music world, he goes by King Tez. Earlier this week, he announced his first album ‘SYAD’ is coming in March 2023:

    King Tez LMTYO Mixtape

    Last Valentine\’s Day (February 14, 2022), King Tez released a mixtape titled LMTYO. You can listen to LMTYO by King Tez on Spotify.

    The first single from that mixtape, Jingle It Babe, can be heard below.

    https://twitter.com/MontezFordWWE/status/1490714292076761090

    SYAD is not the only project Montez Ford is working on for 2023. He and Bianca Belair will soon star in their own reality series on Hulu.

  • WWE Announces Title Matches for Upcoming SmackDown Shows

    The final WWE SmackDown of 2022 is in the books and it was an eventful show to say the least. John Cena wrestled his first and only match of the year. He and Kevin Owens picked up a win over The Bloodline\’s Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn. We also saw two surprise returns, including Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair, who stunned Ronda Rousey in an impromptu match to capture the SmackDown Women\’s championship.

    WWE looks to keep the momentum going with the first two shows of 2023. Several matches have been announced for these upcoming broadcasts, including two titles matches and a Royal Rumble qualifying match.

    Starting next week, WWE\’s focus shifts to the Royal Rumble and the road to WrestleMania 93.

    SmackDown Preview: January 6, 2023

    Two matches are set for next week\’s SmackDown from Memphis, TN at the FedEx Forum:

    • Drew McIntyre and Sheamus challenge The Usos for the undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
    • Plus, Ricochet battles Top Dolla in a Royal Rumble qualifying match.

    Ronda Rousey, Liv Morgan and Karrion Kross are also advertised to appear. (Tickets)

    SmackDown Preview: January 13, 2023

    In two weeks, SmackDown heads to Green Bay, WI at the Resch Center.

    • GUNTHER defends the Intercontinental championship against Braun Strowman

    Ronda Rousey, The Usos, Liv Morgan and Sami Zayn are advertised to appear. (Tickets)

    SEScoops will keep you updated as additional matches and segments are announced for these shows.

  • William Regal Sets the Record Straight on His AEW Departure

    William Regal is officially no longer under contract with All Elite Wrestling. The former leader of the Blackpool Combat Club wants people to know he truly enjoyed his time there and any reports to the contrary are incorrect.

    Regal announced on Twitter that his contract officially expired on Thursday, December 29, 2022.

    “Yesterday was my last official day with AEW. I’d like to thank Tony Khan, Megha and all the hard working crew.

    Contrary to people who’ve never spoken to me or have their information from people who don’t know me or are trying to make themselves noticed, I had a lovely time working there and had a great time. Lots of talented Wrestlers, and lovely people to work for.

    To my fellow BCC members, it was a special, albeit brief few months but it cemented our already strong friendship. To everyone there, thank you for welcoming me. Best wishes.”

    Regal will be returning to work for WWE in early 2023. He’s expected to resume working at the Performance Center and the company’s developmental brand, NXT.

    Regal previously served as the General Manager authority figure in NXT, but he’ll remain behind the scenes for the foreseeable future. The terms of his AEW release require this to be a non-televised role.

  • Bray Wyatt Says He Broke His Finger Thursday Night

    Bray Wyatt says he broke his finger at Thursday\’s WWE live event from Miami, Florida, but he doesn\’t seem to concerned about it.

    WWE\’s holiday tour wraps up tonight with a Raw-brand house show from Toronto. It was a successful week, in terms of ticket sales. Unfortunately, a couple stars suffered injuries.

    We reported that AJ Styles suffered an ankle injury and now word has come out that Wyatt is dealing with his own health situation.

    The former WWE Champion defeated Jinder Mahal Thursday night from Miami\’s FTX Arena. After the match, Wyatt spent some time at ringside taking photos with fans and signing autographs. As seen below, Wyatt told Justin from Vlog Warriors that he broke a finger on his right hand during the match with Mahal.

    Finger fractures take approximately three to four weeks recovery time. It sounds painful, but there\’s a strong chance Wyatt will be able to avoid time away from the ring.

    Bray Wyatt wrestled Jinder Mahal four times this week on WWE\’s holiday tour. The result was the same each time, with Mahal getting in some early offense but Wyatt making a comeback and finishing him off with Sister Abigail.

    Prior to this week, Wyatt had not competed since April 2021. After four consecutive wins over Mahal in NYC, Atlanta, Greensboro and Miami, Wyatt sets his sights back on LA Knight. The two have been feuding over the past several months since Wyatt\’s return to WWE television.

  • AEW Stars Had A Good Reason for Missing Dynamite

    Several people were not present for Wednesday\’s AEW television tapings from Denver, Colorado.

    A deadly winter storm resulted in widespread travel issues across the United States this past week. WWE\’s ongoing Holiday Tour has been described as a logistical mess, with the company hoping to prevent more problems at tonight\’s SmackDown.

    According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Britt Baker, Saraya and Eddie Kingston were among a group of performers who were unable to attend the latest Holiday Bash edition of AEW Dynamite.

    After Dynamite went off the air, AEW taped matches for Friday\’s Rampage. The show will feature Orange Cassidy defending the All Atlantic Championship against Trent Baretta, Swerve Strickland vs. Wheeler Yuta and Jade Cargill vs. Kiera Hogan. We\’ll also hear from Jon Mocxley, AEW Women\’s World Champion Jamie Hayter, Darby Allin and Sting.

    Hall of Famer announcer Jim Ross will not be part of the broadcast, but it\’s not due to any problems with his flights. AEW President Tony Khan gave JR the night off on Wednesday so he could attend the big Cheez-It Bowl game in Orlando, FL featuring Florida State vs. JR\’s beloved Oklahoma Sooners.

    The commentary team for Rampage will instead see Excalibur calling the action alongside Tony Schiavone and Paul Wight. JR will be back at the announcer\’s desk next week for the first Rampage of 2023.

  • WWE SmackDown Preview (12/30): John Cena Returns

    Bust out your trumpet and cleanest pair of \’jorts\’ because John Cena is back in action tonight on SmackDown.

    Wrestling fans around the world haven\’t seen Cena compete since SummerSlam 2021, when he unsuccessfully challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship.

    His most recent match took place on September 10, 2021, after that night\’s SmackDown went off the air. The 16-time world champion teamed up with The Mysterios to defeat The Bloodline (Roman Reigns and The Usos) from Madison Square Garden in NYC.

    A new chapter will soon be written in Cena\’s longstanding beef with Roman Reigns and the Bloodline. It\’s the final SmackDown of the year and WWE is saying goodbye to 2022 in a big way.

    Matches Confirmed for SmackDown

    WWE has announced the following lineup for tonight\’s SmackDown from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL:

    • John Cena and Kevin Owens face The Bloodline\’s Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.
    • SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defends against Raquel Rodriguez.
    • Solo Sikoa vs. Sheamus. These two heavyweights fought on the October 21, with Sikoa picking up the win.
    • Lacey Evans returns to action. She last competed on November 11. WWE has been airing a series of military-themed vignettes building to her comeback.

    Here\’s a look back at the revelation that Cena is lacing up the boots to battle Roman Reigns once again:

  • Darby Allin vs. Samoa Joe Signed for January 4 AEW Dynamite

    All Elite Wrestling is kicking off the new era of AEW Dynamite in a big way. On Thursday, Tony Khan announced a championship main event for next week\’s broadcast: Darby Allin will challenge Samoa Joe for the AEW TNT Championship.

    Allin is the longest-reigning TNT Champion in history. He defeated Cody Rhodes to win the title (AEW Dynamite, 7/11/20). He was champion for 186 days and had eight successful defenses before dropping the title to Miro (AEW Dynamite, 12/5/21).

    Joe has been TNT Champion since Full Gear, when he won a 3-way match that involved Powerhouse Hobbs and former champion, Wardlow.

    Allin and Joe wrestled earlier this month on Dynamite (December 7), with Joe putting Allin\’s championship dreams to sleep via submission.

    Wardlow got his rematch against Joe this past week on Dynamite, but came up short. After the match, Joe was confronted by Allin, setting up next week\’ clash.

    Allin and Sting will address the upcoming match against Joe on Friday\’s edition of Rampage.

    \"\"/

    AEW Dynamite Preview (January 4, 2023)

    Here\’s the updated card for next week\’s AEW Dynamite from Seattle, WA:

    • Darby Allin challenges Samoa Joe for the TNT Championship
    • Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Starks
    • Bryan Danielson vs. Tony Nese

    In addition to these matches, Dynamite will feature an all-new look, including a new set, graphics, music and lighting.

  • Former WWE Champion Returns at Holiday Tour Live Event

    Bobby Lashley returned to action at Tuesday night\’s WWE holiday tour live event from Atlanta, GA at the State Farm Arena.

    The Almighty has been off television for the past few weeks. WWE is running a storyline that saw Adam Pearce \’fire\’ Lashley. WWE moved Lashley\’s Superstar profile page to the Alumni section of the company website an in effort to convince fans this was a serious situation.

    Pierce later released a video message, apologized to Lashley and stated that he will instead serve a suspension instead of outright losing his job.

    Bobby Lashley Returns

    At Tuesday\’s WWE event from Atlanta, Omos came down to the ring for the second match on the card. As seen below, fans in attendance were surprised to see Lashley announced as his opponent.

    The former WWE Champion got a huge pop from the Atlanta crowd and picked up a win over the Nigerian Giant. The company has yet to formally announce the end of his suspension, but expect to see him back on Raw as early as next week.

    WWE Atlanta Results (12/27/22)

    \"Bobby

    Here\’s a quick rundown of the results from Tuesday night\’s show:

    • Becky Lynch vs. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair ended in a No Contest when Bayley attacked them both. Lynch and Belair then joined forces to attack Bayley run her off.
    • Bobby Lashley defeated Omos
    • The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods) and Madcap Moss defeated Imperium (GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)
    • Karrion Kross defeated Drew Gulak
    • Ricochet and Braun Strowman defeated The Usos via DQ after Sami Zayn interfered. Kevin Owens came out to confront Zayn, which led ot the match turning into a 6-man tag.
    • Owens, Ricochet and Strowman defeated The Usos and Zayn after Owens hit a stunner on Zayn.
    • Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro) defeated The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland)
    • Bray Wyatt defeated Jinder Mahal
    • Austin Theory retained the United States Championship against Seth Rollins in a Steel Cage match. Theory hit Rollins with a low blow to get the win.

  • Shawn Spears Says He Won\’t Be Back in AEW Any Time Soon

    Don\’t expect to see Shawn Spears back in All Elite Wrestling any time soon.

    The former Pinnacle member has only competed for AEW eight times this year. His record stands at 5-3. Spears made a surprise return back in October, when Dynamite and Rampage took place from his hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He and FTR picked up a victory in a six-man tag match against The Embassy\’s Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona.

    A fan on Twitter asked Spears when he\’ll be returning to AEW television. He replied:

    \”Don’t hold your breath… Not going there anytime soon.\”

    – Shawn Spears


    Spears is married to former WWE Superstar Cassie Lee (Peyton Royce). The couple are expecting their first child together.

  • Xavier Woods Won Christmas This Year

    Christmas is a time to gather with family and spread holiday cheer, but let\’s be honest: presents are a big part of it.

    WWE Superstar Xavier Woods showed off his Christmas 2022 gift on social media and you\’d be hard pressed to find a better gift than what he received.

    Woods is one half of the reigning NXT tag team champions, along with Kofi Kingston, as part of the New Day. He\’s also a huge gamer. His wildly popular UpUpDownDown digital series boasts over 2.3 million subscribers on YouTube.

    Woods Scores the Motherload

    On Sunday afternoon, Woods revealed that he scored a monster haul of vintage video games.

    More specifically, he was gifted the full North American N64 collection – containing every single game that was released (in North America) for the classic Nintendo 64 console. We\’re talking Super Mario 64, WWF No Mercy, Golden Eye 007, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Star Fox 64 and a couple hundred others.

    This collection is currently available for purchase on eBay, with the bundle of 296 (previously-played) games selling for a cool $29,999.99.

    Woods promises to show off his new collection on an upcoming episode of UpUpDownDown. Whatever you got for the holidays this year, we can all agree that Woods made out like a champ.

  • Kurt Angle Names the Person with the Highest Wrestling IQ

    Kurt Angle has worked with some of the most influential people in wrestling history. However, there\’s one person who stands out to him as having the highest wrestling IQ.

    Angle spoke about this topic and much more on the latest \’Ask Kurt Anything\’ edition of his Kurt Angle Show podcast.

    Throughout his runs in WWE and TNA, the Olympic gold medalist collaborated with the likes of Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, Stephanie McMahon, Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bruce Pritchard, Pat Patterson, Dixie Carter, Vince Russo and countless others.

    They\’ve all made immeasurable contributions to the industry, Angle is convinced one name surpasses them all.

    Triple H\’s Wrestling IQ

    \"\"

    Kurt Angle says Triple H has a grasp on the wrestling business better than anybody he\’s ever worked with. The Game is an all-time-great in-ring performer, but also understands the psychology, creative and business aspects of wrestling as well.

    “For me, personally, Triple H. He’s always had it. He’s not just from a wrestling standpoint, but from a creative standpoint, from a psychology standpoint, from a promo standpoint. Triple H is one guy that is so well educated. He loves pro wrestling like it’s his wife, okay? He cherishes it. He’s really good at it. He has a great mind for it.”

    – Kurt Angle

    Angle says he previously may have named someone like Hulk Hogan, who was a master at drawing business and holding crowds in the palm of his hand.

    He went out of his way to praise Hogan, who helped blast wrestling\’s popularity into the stratosphere during the 1980\’s expansion period. Nobody would argue against the fact that Hogan was a bigger star than Triple H as an active competitor and pop culture phenomenon.

    However, the topic at hand is \’highest wrestling IQ\’ and best mind for the business, and Angle says Triple h is number one.

  • Ricky Starks\’ 2023 Goals: Championships & TV/Movie Stardom

    Ricky Starks finished 2022 strong and looks forward to keeping the momentum going in the new year. The 32-year-old from New Orleans has been feuding with Maxwell Jacob Friedman, AEW\’s reigning world champion. Starks won a tournament to earn a shot at MJF at Winter is Coming. Friedman retained the title, but Starks has more than held is own on the mic and in the ring during this program.

    \’Absolute\’ recently spoke to Casual Conversations and discussed his goals for 2023. The main thing he\’s looking for is overall satisfaction and fulfillment.

    “My main goal for this year is to really carve out my own type of… I want to be so fulfilled in myself,\” he said. \”What I mean is, I want to be fulfilled creatively, I want to be fulfilled in the ring, on the mic.\”

    Starks continued by saying he wants to be spoken about in the same way as AEW\’s main event players.

    \”I want to be fulfilled as a person, on this television show, that has stepped up and is now on another level and he should be talked with those other people on that level.”

    Championship Dreams

    \"Ricky
    (AEW)

    As a former member of Team Taz, Starks previously held the FTW Championship. He just challenged for the AEW World Championship, but he\’s yet to hold a sanctioned championship in the promotion. He wants to get back in the hunt for the TNT Championship currently held by Samoa Joe. “I would love to win the TNT Championship, if I don’t get to the AEW Championship first. Those are things I want to do.\”

    He also expressed an interest in an acting career, a path taken by many other pro wrestlers. Starks wants to be star in the entertainment world and won\’t let anything get in his way.

    \”Stepping out of the wrestling stuff, I want to star in a TV show, I want to star in a movie,\” he said. \”These are things that I want, that I’m going to get, because I deserve it. I’m going to make sure that I get it. Regardless, nothing is going to stop me.” 

    Wrestlers Pursuing Hollywood Careers

    Catch Ricky Starks\’ appearance on Casual Conversations with The Wrestling Classic: