SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • \”That’s Where She Wants To Go\” – Becky Lynch\’s Acting Career Heating Up

    Becky Lynch is one of the top Superstars in WWE, but she\’s already starting to feel the pull from Hollywood.

    Lynch is coming up on a decade with WWE. She joined NXT is 2013 and has been a member of the main roster since 2015. With six Women\’s Championship reigns, her WWE career really took off in 2018 when she evolved into The Man, a no-nonsense character that allowed her true personality to shine through.

    She became a mother in December 2020 and married fellow WWE star Seth Rollins the following summer. More recently, Lynch has been branching out into the world of acting.

    She got rave reviews for her role on NBC\’s Young Rock sitcom, where she portrayed inevitable WWE Hall of Famer, Cyndi Lauper. According to Rollins, Lynch\’s acting career may take them both in an entirely new direction.

    Becky Lynch\’s Acting Career

    During a recent interview with Iowa\’s WQAD News, Rollins discussed Lynch\’s burgeoning acting career and stated, \”that\’s where she wants to go.\”

    He added that their family may have to move \’out west\’ if she continues to land projects in the entertainment business, whether it\’s television or movies.

    “Her acting career is starting to perk up a little bit and that’s where she wants to go. So, if we end up in that direction and that takes us out west, so be it. If not, then here we are.”

    – Seth Rollins

    Young Rock was not Lynch\’s first taste of being on a set. According to IMDB, her acting credits include roles on the television show Billions (2020) and the movie Rumble (2021).

    Lynch one of several WWE performers who is looking ahead to life after pro wrestling, with a strong interest in acting. Earlier this week, Liv Morgan named acting as part of her future plans.

    Catch Seth Rollins\’ full interview with Iowa ABC affiliate WQAD:

  • \”Let Me Take My Time\” – Jade Cargill Not Ready for the AEW Women\’s World Title

    Jade Cargill is one of the most dominant competitors in All Elite Wrestling, but she\’s in no rush to go after the AEW Women\’s World Championship.

    Cargill has been impressing wrestling fans since her in-ring debut on the March 3, 2021 edition of AEW Dynamite. She and basketball legend Shaquille O\’Neal defeated Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet that night. She\’s left a trail of bodies in her wake ever since.

    As the reigning AEW TBS Champion, she\’s got the gold to back up her pride. She talks about running out of worthy competitors, but wants to continue on the same track she\’s on for now.

    On Friday, Cargill fielded questions from her fans on Twitter. When asked when we can expect to see her go after AEW\’s top prize for female wrestlers, Cargill showed a rare glimpse of humility.

    \”I have to get warm,\” she said. \”I think everyone should be HAPPY and GRATEFUL they seen me in MY FIRST match EVER!\”

    Some very talented women have held the AEW Women\’s World Championship, including Britt Baker, Thunder Rosa and reigning champion, Jamie Hayter. Cargill says, \”Most of the women who have carried the main title have hundreds of matches. I’ve literally had ONLY 45 and 1 off grid match.\”

    \”Let me take my time. U all KNOW I’m going to be great\”

    – Jade Cargill

    Jade Cargill has been AEW TBS Champion since January 5, 2022 (approximately 350 days). She defeated Ruby Soho in the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural champion. She maintains an undefeated record of 45-0, with an additional victory in an unsanctioned match.

    At only 30 years old, Cargill could have a long career still ahead of her. She\’s confident that she\’ll reach the top of the mountain in AEW, but is sticking with what\’s working by getting more experience.

    Learn more about Jade Cargill from her recent appearance on AEW\’s Hey! (EW) digital series:

  • First Look at New AEW Dynamite Opening Video Package

    Kevin Sullivan, All Elite Wrestling\’s Vice President, Post Production, has provided a sneak peek at the visual overhaul that\’s coming to AEW Dynamite.

    AEW President Tony Khan recently confirmed Dynamite will have an all-new look starting January 4, 2023. During a conversation with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TVInsider, Khan said, \”This will affect the way people view AEW on Wednesdays and Fridays in terms of presentation with the set and the show with the same great action.”

    On Saturday morning, Sullivan uploaded a video that gives us a first look of what to expect from the \’new look\’ of AEW\’s flagship show.

    In a message posted on Twitter, he says the AEW production team set out to create a new \’brand identity\’ for Dynamite. The new identity includes many elements, including a new stage (yet to be seen) and a new comprehensive set of \’package elements.\’

    Dynamite and Rampage have kept a similar look since the shows premiered. In addition to the first week of January marking the new year, it\’s also the one year anniversary of Dynamite\’s move from TNT to TBS.

    Sullivan says his team is thrilled to finally share their new, bold vision that he feels will help usher in a \”new spirit\” for the show.

    He also revealed this project has been nine months in the making. He thanked Tony Khan, the team at Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW\’s graphics team for making this vision a reality.

  • Santino Marella Trademark Obtained by Impact Wrestling\’s Parent Company

    Santino Marella was a lovable comedy wrestler (portrayed by Anthony Carelli) who competed for WWE from 2007-2020. A new trademark filing indicates he could be headed to Impact Wrestling in the coming new year.

    Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC, parent company of Impact, recently secured a trademark for the name Santino Marella. According to the USPTO database, the live trademark was filed on December 19, 2022.

    The \’Goods and Services\’ usage description includes:

    • Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests;
    • Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer;
    • Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a a professional wrestler and sports entertainer;
    • Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality;
    • Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality;

    WWE previously held the Santino Marella trademark, but let it expire in October 2021.

    Santino\’s daughter, Bianca Carelli, currently wrestles for WWE\’s NXT brand as Arianna Grace.

  • Drew McIntyre Pulled from WWE MSG Holiday Tour Event

    Drew McIntyre will be unable to compete at next week\’s WWE live event from Madison Square Garden.

    WWE\’s Live Holiday Tour continued this coming Monday, with eight shows scheduled between Christmas and New Year\’s:

    • New York, NY
    • Columbus, Ohio
    • Atlanta, GA
    • Cleveland, OH
    • Greensboro, NC
    • Miami, FL
    • Hershey, PA
    • Toronto, ON

    McIntyre is still advertised for MSG as of this writing, but a report at PWInsider states that he won\’t be medically cleared in time.

    WWE sources have confirmed that the reason a change was made to their MSG main event for the annual post-Christmas event is that Drew McIntyre will not be cleared to return to the ring by the time the show takes place. 

    – PWInsider

    McIntyre Dealing with an Injury

    Drew McIntyre has been pulled from several appearances this month, including a tag title match on the December 9 edition of SmackDown on Fox. WWE noted at the time that he was \’medically disqualified\’ from competing.

    It\’s believed he\’s dealing with an injury. McIntyre was optimistic he\’d be back in time for the Christmas-week tour, but he won\’t be there on Monday.

    McIntyre\’s most recent match took place nearly a month ago. He competed on November 27 at a non-televised SuperShow from Portland, Maine. He teamed with Kevin Owens & The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) to defeat The Usos, Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline.

    Visit WWE.com for ticket information if you\’re interested in attending any of the shows on the 2022 Live Holiday Tour.

  • Rich Swann Signs New Two-Year Contract With Impact

    Rich Swann will be wrestling under the Impact Wrestling banner for years to come.

    Swann has been wrestling for Impact since June 2018. He\’s held a lot of gold during this run, including the Impact World Championship, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, the X-Division title and the recently-introduced Digital Media championship.

    The 31-year-old star from Baltimore, MD will have many more opportunities to add further accolades to his resume. During a conversation with Chris Van Vliet, Swann announced that he\’s signed a new two-year contract with the organization. The deal will keep him part of the Impact family through the end of 2024.

    Swann Comments on His Future

    Swann tells CVV that his world has been \’lighting up\’ as of late. In addition to this new deal with Impact, he\’s got a one-year-old baby boy (\”Little Richard Jr.\”) with fellow Impact star Su Yung.

    He spoke very highly of Impact Wrestling, as well as the other stars on the roster.

    \”IMPACT Wrestling has done nothing but treat me with the utmost respect and it’s been a place where I’ve been able to grow. I’ve been able to watch other competitors grow and I’ve been able to watch the company grow into a spot to where it should be.”

    – Rich Swann

    Swann has dealt with a series of injuries, which have been difficult to work through. Thankfully, Impact was supportive through all of it.

    \”Unfortunately, I broke my back and my leg, my hip, my foot, everything on my right side was damn-near damaged,\” said Swann. \”I was told by doctors that I wouldn’t walk the same, let alone wrestle again.\”

    He\’d go on to become Impact World Champion, an accomplishment and opportunity he\’ll never forget. Swann feels that he\’s doing the best work of his career and now has two more years to show the fans what he\’s capable of.

    Swann is scheduled to compete against Steve Maclin on this week\’s edition of Impact TV.

  • Andre The Giant Was the First WWE Hall of Fame Inductee (1993)

    The 2023 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is right around the corner.

    Each year, WWE honors some of the greatest performers in wrestling history with this prestigious recognition. Since its inception nearly thirty years ago, the WWE Hall of Fame has seen 234 inductions, 124 individual inductees and 46 \’legacy\’ inductees. There are 12 people in the \’Celebrity Wing\’ of the WWE Hall of Fame, and 8 people have received the questionably-named Warrior Award.

    There is no physical Hall of Fame building as of this writing, but that does not diminish the magnitude of this honor. Countless inductees have spoken about how meaningful it was to join the ranks of Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, \”Rowdy\” Roddy Piper and more.

    1993 WWE Hall of Fame

    The WWE Hall of Fame was introduced in 1993. The first inductee intro the WWE Hall of Fame was Andre the Giant. He was inducted posthumously shortly after his passing on January 27, 1993.WWE did not hold a formal Hall of Fame induction ceremony until the following year.

    Andre\’s induction was announced on the March 22, 1993 edition of Monday Night Raw. Here is rare footage of the Andre the Giant Hall of Fame video package:

    WWE has provided this playlist of Andre the Giant\’s greatest moments:

    Top Names not in the WWE Hall of Fame

    The WWE Hall of Fame includes some of the greatest performers in pro wrestling history. However, there are some glaring omissions to the list of legends have received this honor.

    We recently wrote about 5 big names who are surprisingly not members of the WWE Hall of Fame. You can check out that feature here:

    5 Huge Wrestling Stars Still Not in the WWE Hall of Fame

    (Stats via Wikipedia)

  • Jake Roberts Grateful For Fans Supporting Him at His Lowest

    Wrestling legend Jake \”The Snake\” Roberts has experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout his decades-long career.

    It\’s been a long and winding road, but he\’s healthy and optimistic about the future. Roberts works for All Elite Wrestling and is getting ready to embark on a new role with the company: serving as an ambassador visiting hospitals and doing other community outreach initiatives.

    Roberts was at rock bottom when Diamond Dallas Page took him in to his \’Accountability Crib\’ a decade ago. DDP helped Roberts get his life together in many ways.

    On a special \”Ask Jake Anything\” edition of his Snake Pit podcast, Roberts looked back at a difficult period in his life and the importance of knowing fans appreciate him and his legacy.

    Blown Away by Fan Support

    A listener asked Roberts how it feels to receive so much love from his fans. He admits he didn\’t feel very loved for a long time, but it was his work with DDP that opened his eyes to how much support he really had.

    \”Well, here\’s the thing, I didn\’t know it for so many years,\” said Roberts. \”I didn\’t have a clue, didn\’t know that the fans felt the way they do about me. Not until I was in the Accountability Crib and all the people raised money for me to have a surgery. I couldn\’t believe it. It blew me away. I cried and cried over that, because I didn\’t think anybody gave a shit about me.

    Then, to hear all this love that was pouring out, man, it just it really freaked me out and that was probably part of my recovery, man. That was a big thing to happen in my life and my daughter was there when [it was] happening and she was blown away too.\”

    Smell The Roses

    Roberts says it\’s easy to lose touch with reality when you\’re living a hard life of drugs and alcohol. You don\’t realize there are people that love you and want you to do well. He cites his traumatic childhood as the source of this unhealthy outlook.

    \”Sometimes you just you\’re running so hard through life,\” Roberts continued. \”You don\’t take time to smell the roses or anything else. You\’re just fighting till the next day, fighting till the next day, fighting till the next day and you don\’t pay attention to what\’s going on around you.\”

    \”You don\’t realize that people care and the people support you. People love you. That\’s on me, because I was just, you know, I was a kid that was battered and bruised and abused and I couldn\’t see how anybody would care about me. It was an enlightenment for sure. \”

    Thankfully, he now has a better perspective and is continuing to write the later chapters of his story on his own terms. Jake Roberts is a success story. The drive and determination that took him to the top of the wrestling world has brought him to where he is today. He\’s a living testament that it\’s never too late to turn yourself around.

  • NXT Preview & Spoiler Results for December 20, 2022

    NXT returns to the USA Network tonight for an all-new episode from the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida. This show was taped last week (December 14) due to the ongoing holiday season.

    Here\’s a preview for what to expect on NXT, followed by spoiler results:

    • NXT Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Briggs and Jensen
    • NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Kayden Carter & Katana Chance vs. Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne vs. Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley
    • Zoey Stark vs. Nikkita Lyons
    • Elektra Lopez vs. Indi Hartwell
    • Apollo Crews returns

    Ahead of tonight\’s NXT broadcast, this video will catch you up on the big happenings from last week:

    NXT Results (December 20, 2022)

    • Carmelo Hayes defeated Axiom. The finish came when Trick Williams interfered. After the match, Axiom hit an Asai moonsault on Williams.
    • Zoey Stark defeated Nikkita Lyons after Stark held on to the ropes for leverage.
    • Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley and Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolin to retain the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles.
    • Apollo Crews called out Carmelo Hayes and the two exchanged words.
    • Elektra Lopez defeated Indi Hartwell
    • The New Day defeated Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen to retain the NXT tag titles titles.
    • The show closes with an angle involving Grayson Waller calling out Bron Breakker. Breakker made his way to the ring and delivered a spear on Waller, but got knocked out. Waller lifted up his jacket to reveal a metal plate on his chest, a throwback to the infamous WCW Nitro storyline involving Bret Hart and his least favorite wrestler, Goldberg.

  • Damian Priest Discusses a Judgment Day vs. Bloodline Showdown

    The Bloodline and Judgment Day are two of the strongest forces in WWE. What would happen if those forces collided?

    The Bloodline is comprised of Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman (plus Sami Zayn, the honorary Uce). Reigns and The Usos hold the top singles and tag team championships in WWE. Meanwhile, Judgement Day includes Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest and Dominick Mysterio.

    It\’s inevitable that these two groups will cross paths. If you ask Priest about who would win, he feels pretty good about his group\’s chances. The Archer of Infamy discussed this topic and more on The Five Count, a podcast hosted by Dustin Wilmes & Juston “Ton” Cline.

    Judgement Day vs. The Bloodline

    Priest was asked about a Judgement Day vs. Bloodline feud, he took a moment to appreciate the vast amount of talent on WWE\’s roster. That depth ebbs and flows over the years, but Priest thinks it\’s a golden era for wrestling fans.

    “There are a crazy amount of names when you think about the WWE,\” he began. \”It’s the best of the best, you have the best talent in the world and all these larger than life names and characters. It’s hard to pick one over the other, but it’d be a lie if I didn’t say at some point, we need the Judgment Day and the Bloodline to get in there and mix it up.\”

    Priest wants his name to live forever. He wants the fame, fortune and stardom that come with being a main event player. If you want to be the top dog, you need to test yourself against the best. Right now, that\’s Roman Reigns.

    \”I have to do that, I have to run through Roman Reigns,\” Priest continued. \”That has to happen. At some point, I’m sure it will, we’ll cross paths down the line.\”

    Priest says working with Reigns is \”always a thought in my head\” and the two of them need to handle some business together.

    When will these showdowns happen? When will Priest feel ready to challenge Reigns, and for Judgement Day to challenge the Bloodline? Surprisingly, he doesn\’t think Judgement Day is ready just yet. \”I know that’ll be great when it does happen.. We need to get the Judgment Day up to that level first.”

  • Roman Reigns Addresses John Cena\’s Upcoming WWE Return

    Roman Reigns has addressed John Cena\’s upcoming return. The Tribal Chief says Cena\’s support will do nothing for Kevin Owens, who will pay dearly for being a thorn in The Bloodline\’s side.

    Cena is lacing up his boots again next Friday, December 30 for a special edition of WWE Smackdown on Fox. Cena and Owens will team up against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.

    Reigns and Cena have clashed before, with Reigns grabbing the proverbial torch right on both occasions. In their two high-profile matches, Reigns was victorious both times (SummerSlam 2021 and No Mercy 2017).

    These two generational \’Faces of WWE\’ will collide one more time in just a matter of days. Reigns is dismissive of Cena and says he won\’t help Owens overcome The Bloodline.

    Not Worried About Cena

    Roman Reigns served up some trash talk for Cena and Owens on the December 19 edition of WWE Raw.

    In a backstage segment that opened the show, Reigns told Owens he\’s going to need a lot more than John Cena to stand a chance against him. He\’s going to need the entire Raw locker room to have his back. Otherwise, the Bloodline will \”torture\” him and make his life a living hell – and there\’s nothing Cena can do about it.

    The final SmackDown of 2022 will mark Cena\’s first match of the year. As he mentioned last week during his surprise appearance on SmackDown, this will keep his 20-year strike alive of not missing a year without wrestling.

    This may be the final time Reign sand Cena trade blows inside a WWE ring, making this a can\’t miss event. Cena is no longer an active member of the WWE roster, but Reigns may be underestimating the legend from West Newbury, MA.

  • Liv Morgan Already Planning Ahead for Life After WWE

    Liv Morgan is having the most successful year of her WWE career, but she\’s already planning ahead for life after pro wrestling.

    At 28 years old, she could be an active competitor for many years to come. Advancements in nutrition and training allow for wrestlers to compete well into their late 30\’s, even early-to-mid 40\’s. That said, it\’s never too early to start planning ahead.

    Not everybody wants to wrestle until they are physically unable to. Many people view WWE as a chance to gain financial security, become famous and branch out into other fields. Back in October, Morgan fulfilled a lifelong dream by getting killed on screen by Chucky of the popular Child\’s Play horror series.

    Liv Morgan\’s Future After Wrestling

    Morgan recently appeared on the Twin Talk with Haley & Hanna Cavinder podcast. The Cavinder Twins signed with WWE last year as part of the company\’s NIL (Next In Line) project to recruit collegeate athletes.

    During their discussion, Morgan revealed that she\’s already studying to become a real estate broker. She still has a long road ahead, but she hopes to one day open her own brokerage.

    She revealed that she recently had \”kind of a quarter-life crisis.\” Despite her accomplishments, she felt that she was not doing enough with her life. She\’s a successful public figure, but highly-motivated people are rarely satisfied with their accomplishments.

    Morgan says a real estate brokerage license is just one of the new interests she\’s decided to pursue. She also opened up a soap business and began taking acting classes.

    Between real estate, her soap business and acting, she\’s most looking forward to getting into movies when her days in the ring are over. She reiterated that getting killed by Chucky was a dream. She was starstruck by the killer doll and \”melted\” when she saw him in person for the first time.

    Morgan also has a movie in the works titled, \”The Kill Room\” with Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson. She acknowledged that movie roles like this are available to her due to the popularity of WWE\’s platform.

    She has a lot going on outside of WWE, but has no plans to retire any time soon. While discussing real estate, her soap business and acting, Morgan said, \”One day, if I ever part ways, I mean I will wrestle forever…\”

  • Big Changes to AEW\’s TV Presentation Coming in January

    Wrestling fans can expect All Elite Wrestling\’s flagship shows to have a new look and feel in the very near future.

    In recent months, Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW President Tony Khan decided it\’s time to change the overall look and presentation of Dynamite and Rampage. Those changes will be rolled out at some point in January, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    AEW\’s recent hiring of Michael Mansury is a big part of this initiative. Mansury previously worked as WWE\’s VP of Global Television Production and will serve as Tony Khan\’s new Senior Vice President and Co-Executive Producer.

    Mansury is considered a \”tremendous asset\” who is universally well-liked. He worked for WWE from 2009 through 2020. At one time, he was being groomed to be Kevin Dunn\’s successor. Many felt he\’d replace Dunn whenever Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE, but Mansury didn\’t wait that long.

    One WWE source told the Observer, Mansury rose \’too quickly\’ through the ranks, which led Dunn to feel threatened and \’covertly\’ make his life very difficult.

    AEW\’s New Look and Feel

    What will this \”new look and feel\” entail? AEW\’s television productions involve many elements, including the the set and staging, lighting, graphics and video packages, music, camera angles, audio, and more.

    Dynamite has undergone subtle changes since premiering in October 2019, but it sounds like we\’ll be seeing the most significant shakeup to date in just a matter of weeks.

    AEW recently brought in Renee Paquette, who has enhanced the broadcast team and by extension, the presentation of the shows.

    With AEW\’s next round of TV deals approaching, it makes sense for the company to freshen things up now in hopes of being in a better position during negotiations.

  • \”My Masterpiece\” – Dax Harwood on Final Battle, FTR\’s Future

    Dax Harwood says 2022 was the greatest year of his life and it was capped off by a match he calls his masterpiece.

    FTR is widely regarded as one of the greatest tag teams in the world and they\’ve held the gold to prove it. Some would argue that All Elite Wrestling could have featured them more prominently this year, but Harwood and Wheeler\’s excellence is undeniable. Their tag team record currently stands at 7-3-1 for the year and they\’re 6-0 in trios matches.

    As the year winds down, Harwood took a chance to look back at the highs and lows of the past twelve months and ponder what the future holds for pro wrestling\’s Top Guys. It wasn\’t an easy year, but that\’s part of what made it so rewarding for him.

    2022 and Looking Ahead to 2023

    \"\"

    On Friday, December 16, Dax Harwood posted a touching message on social media reflecting on how proud he is of FTR\’s work this year and their latest classic against the Briscoe Brothers last weekend at ROH Final Battle.

    \”Artists have the one piece they’re the most proud of, and that’s their Masterpiece,\” said Harwood. \”This was my Masterpiece. Watching it, honest to God, I’ve laughed, I’ve cringed, and I’ve cried. Over every other match I’ve had, this is the one I’m the most proud of.\”

    – Dax Harwood

    2022 brought a wide range of emotions, including anger, frustration, joy and pain. He doesn\’t know what next year will bring, but he\’s grateful for the fans who have supported FTR through it all. He gives his word that he\’ll do everything in his power to make sure fans are as entertained as ever.

  • \”Completely Wrong\” – Chris Jericho Touts How Much He Earned in NJPW

    Chris Jericho is setting the record straight on how much money he made during his high-profile run with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

    When Jericho left WWE in 2017, wrestling fans didn\’t think much of it at the time. He came and went from WWE several times over the years, a practice that helped keep him fresh and always left fans wanting more. Nobody expected what would happen later that year, when Jericho popped up in NJPW for a feud with Kenny Omega. They did huge business together and NJPW is still profiting off that run to this day from subscribers to their NJPW World streaming service. Jericho was paid handsomely and rightfully so.

    NJPW\’s gamble to bring in an expensive star from WWE paid off. The promotion will soon attempt to catch lightning in a bottle once again. Sasha Banks is expected to attend Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4 and work a series of dates for NJPW.

    How Much Did Chris Jericho Make in Japan?

    Earlier this week, Dave Meltzer reported that Sasha Banks will be the highest-paid performer in the history of NJPW. She\’ll be earning more than she did in WWE (on a per-show basis) – allegedly more than Chris Jericho was paid. Meltzer pegged this figure at $100,000 per match. Jericho caught wind of this claim and says it\’s not true.

    The inaugural AEW World Champion says this notion is \”completely wrong\” and he didn\’t make a flat rate per appearance. Instead, his pay was determined based on the success of the shows he wrestled on.

    \”I never had a flat per appearance deal, I was paid according to the event.\”

    – Chris Jericho

    He added that he made more per NJPW event than he did for most of his WrestleMania matches, which is quite a statement.

    Jericho is known to be a savvy businessman and proved this once again by negotiating a great deal for himself in Japan. Certain Hollywood stars negotiate a percentage of box office receipts as part of their compensation for appearing in movies. Jericho took the same route, knowing his popularity would drive fans to spend money on his NJPW matches.

  • Main Event Announced For Jericho Cruise \”Four Leaf Clover\”

    Chris Jericho\’s Rock \’N\’ Wrestling Rager cruise is gearing up to set sail once again. The fourth Jericho cruise, dubbed Four Leaf Clover, will take over the Norwegian Perl once again.

    It all goes down February 2-6, 2023 when the Jericho Cruise sails from Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. You can visit the cruise website for booking information and more details of what to expect on board.

    Four Leaf Clover will feature 4 days of wrestling matches presented by AEW and the main event has now been signed.

    Chris Jericho and Danhausen, collectively known as Jericho Hausen, will face The Gunns (Austin and Colton Gunn). More matches will be announced in the weeks ahead.

    More Details on the next Jericho Cruise

    • Master of Ceremonies Chris Jericho
    • Guest Of Honor Mark Henry
    • Guest Cruise Director Mickie James
    • Guest Hosts Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson
    • Goodwill Ambassador Ted Irvine

    There will also be live music, comedy shows, podcasts and more.

    Wrestlers on board include:

    • Matt Cardona
    • Nick Aldis
    • Moose
    • \”Hacksaw\” Jim Duggan
    • Brutus \”The Barber\” Beefcake
    • Mike Rotunda
    • Dan Lambert
    • Jonathan Gresham
    • Jordynne Grace
    • Swoggle
    • Brian Myers
    • Rocky Romero
    • The Boogeyman

    Live music from acts including:

    • Fozzy
    • Quiet Riot
    • Royal Bliss
    • Raven
    • Priss
    • Kuarantine
    • Guardians of the Jukebox

    Live Podcasts from:

    • Talk is Jericho
    • The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast
    • Dan Lambert\’s World Title Time Machine
    • Talk \’n Shop

  • Mandy Rose Addresses Her Fans Following WWE Release

    Mandy Rose is grateful for all the love and support she\’s received following her unexpected release from WWE on December 14, 2022.

    WWE has yet to publicly address the situation, but Fightful was first to report that she was let go after the company determined \’adult content\’ posted on her FanTime page violated the terms of her independent contractor agreement.

    There\’s been speculation that Rose may be welcomed back at some point in the future, but for now, she\’s gone. Wrestling fans rallied behind Rose on social media. #JuticeForMandy and #ThankYouMandy were both trending on Twitter in the hours following the news.

    Mandy Rose\’s Statement

    On Thursday, December 15, Rose broke her silence and addressed her followers on FanTime.

    Rose thanked everybody for being in her corner during this difficult time and made sure to let them know the FanTime page isn\’t going anywhere.

    “Hey guys, thank you for all the messages. I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from you guys. And don’t worry the page is still up! ;)”

    – Mandy Rose

    Rose wrestled with WWE from 2015-2022. She was (ironically) portrayed as a sex symbol for the majority of her run there, but became a more well-rounded performer in recent years. Services that allow celebrities to keep in touch with their fans on a subscription basis can be incredibly lucrative, but you can be sure we haven\’t seen the last of her in the ring.

    Former WWE Superstar Tino Sabbatelli, Rose\’s fiancé, showed his support with this post on his Instagram story:

    \"\"

    More on Mandy Rose\’s Release

    Here are some videos breaking down Mandy Rose\’s WWE release from our friends at F4WOnline and POST Wrestling:

  • Backstory Behind Action Andretti\’s Shocking Upset Over Chris Jericho

    Wednesday\’s Winter is Coming edition of AEW Dynamite featured a surprise upset that many fans are comparing to the 1-2-3 Kid\’s memorable win over Razor Ramon from May 1993.

    After losing the ROH World title to Claudio Castagnoli this past weekend at Final Battle, Chris Jericho said he wanted a tune-up match against a \’jobber\’ – insider wrestling lingo for a competitor who rarely wins their matches.

    Jericho got his wish in the form of Action Andretti, a competitor we\’ve seen on AEW Dark, but was largely unknown to the AEW audience. It was an exciting match with several close calls, but in the end, Andretti stunned Jericho (and everyone else) by scoring a surprise victory via roll-up.

    Jericho was in utter disbelief over the loss. Later in the show, he was shown backstage throwing a tantrum. No matter how he refuses to accept the outcome, a win is a win.

    Update on Action Andretti\’s Win

    How did Action Andretti go from a relatively unknown to pinning Chris Jericho live on national television?

    As it turns out, this match and the shock outcome have been planned for months – and it was all set up by Chris Jericho. On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained how it all went down.

    Back in October, Andretti wrestled QT Marshall on a match that aired on AEW Dark. Jericho was watching the match backstage and was blown away by the young high-flyer. Jericho saw the potential for Andretti to be a star, but he just needed a break. Jericho had a few ongoing storylines in the works, but he decided then that he wanted to wrestle Andretti on the big stage when his schedule cleared up.

    Shortly after the match concluded, AEW President Tony Khan announced on social media that Action Andretti is All Elite and earned himself a contract with the promotion.

    H/T F4WOnline

  • Wrestle Kingdom 17: Full Card, How to Watch

    New Japan Pro Wrestling\’s biggest show of the year is fast approaching.

    The event will be dedicated to Japanese wrestling legend and NJPW founder Antonio Inoki, who passed away on October 1, 2022 at 79.

    The star-studded lineup features IWGP World Heavyweight and Women\’s Championship matches, the long-awaited showdown between Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, AEW stars FTR defending the IWGP world tag team championships, the Great Muta\’s final NJPW match and much more.

    There\’s also a lot of buzz that WWE Superstar Sasha Banks will be attending Wrestle Kingdom to call out the winner of the IWGP Women\’s Championship match.

    When is Wrestle Kingdom?

    New Japan Pro Wrestling presents Wrestle Kingdom 17 live from Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 from the Tokyo Dome.

    A second show branded as Wrestle Kingdom is scheduled Saturday, January 21, 2023 from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

    How to Watch Wrestle Kingdom 17

    Wrestle Kingdom 17 will stream live on NJPW World (subscription is ¥999/$7.33 per month).

    WK17 airs at 3 am (EST) / 12 am (PST) / 8 am (GMT).

    Wrestle Kingdom 17 Card

    Here are the 12 matches signed for January 4. You can visit the NJPW website for a more in-depth preview for each match.

    IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White (c)

    IWGP Women’s Title Match
    Tam Nakano vs. Kairi (c)

    IWGP United States Heavyweight Title Match
    Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay (c)

    IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Fatal 4 Way
    El Desperado vs. Master Wato vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori (c)

    Tournament Finals for the Inaugural NJPW World Television Title
    Ren Narita vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

    NEVER Openweight Title Match
    Tama Tonga vs. Karl Anderson (c)

    IWGP Tag Team Titles Match
    Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. AAA Tag Team Champions FTR (c)

    IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles Match
    Lio Rush and YOH vs. TJP and Francesco Akira (c)

    Antonio Inoki Memorial Six-Man Tag Team Match
    Minoru Suzuki, Tiger Mask, and Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata, and Satoshi Kojima

    Keiji Mutoh, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Shota Umino vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, and BUSHI

    Opening Match: NJPW Young Lions Exhibition
    Ryohei Oiwa vs. Boltin Oleg

    Opening Match: New Japan Ranbo
    Participants TBA
    Final four will challenge for the Provisional KOPW 2023 Trophy at New Year Dash on January 5.

  • Toxic Attraction Reacts to Mandy Rose\’s Release from WWE

    The wrestling world is still processing the news that Mandy Rose is no longer with WWE.

    The release comes less than 24 hours after Rose dropped the NXT Women\’s Championship to Roxanne Perez. The title change was a last-minute booking decision and not part of WWE\’s original plans for this week\’s NXT broadcast.

    According to the initial report by Fightful, WWE made the call to fire Rose due to \’adult\’ content on her FanTime account that they felt violated the terms of her independent contractor agreement.

    Rose was said to be blindsided by the release and did not expect WWE to take such drastic action in response to content that began circulating online over the past several days.

    Wrestling fans have rallied behind Rose during this difficult time. Many have accused WWE of hypocrisy. She was fired for producing \’adult content\’ for her followers, but she\’s been portrayed as a sex symbol throughout the entirety of her run.

    Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jane React to Mandy Rose\’s Release

    Mandy Rose has yet to publicly address this situation, but some of her closest friends have.

    Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne, Rose\’s partners in the Toxic Attraction faction, expressed their heartache regarding the situation on social media. They each tweeted \’broken heart\’ emojis.

    AEW star Saraya also provided some support to Rose:

  • WWE UK Tour Announced for Summer 2023

    WWE has announced a tour of the United Kingdom to be held next summer, with five shows that include stops in Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Dublin and Cardiff.

    The Raw and SmackDown brands will entertain fans across the UK from June 28 through July 2. Superstars from Raw include Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, Matt Riddle, Damage CTRL and The Street Profits.

    SmackDown will feature Sami Zayn, The Usos, Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, The Brawling Brutes, Imperium, and The New Day.

    Here are the dates and locations for WWE\’s Summer 2023 UK Tour:

    • Wednesday, June 28th in Liverpool, UK (Raw)
    • Thursday, June 29th in Sheffield, UK (Raw)
    • Thursday, June 29th in Dublin, Ireland (SmackDown)
    • Friday, June 30th in Newcastle, UK (Raw)
    • Sunday, July 2nd in Cardiff, Wales (SmackDown)

    Top stars not currently advertised to appear include WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey and Cody Rhodes. Of course, we are still more than six months out from these events and the omitted names could very well be there.

    Tickets for WWE\’s Summer 2023 UK tour go on sale this Friday, December 16.

  • Real1 vs. Microman Signed for MLW Blood & Thunder (1/7)

    Former WWE Superstar Real1 (Enzo Amore) is facing down the smallest challenge of his career.

    Major League Wrestling has announced Real1 will battle Microman the upcoming MLW Blood & Thunder event, scheduled for January 7 from Philadelphia\’s 2300 arena.

    The match is being billed as, the \”Certified G\” vs. “The World’s Greatest Wonder.”

    According to MLW, Microman lobbied league officials to book the match after Real1 literally punted him out of the ring at Battle RIOT IV. 

    Real1 has reportedly has taken exception to Microman being heralded as \”pound-for-pound the world’s greatest fighter.\”

    MLW Boss Court Bauer has been quoted saying, “MLW’s new season promised new matches and new rules and it doesn’t get any weirder than this one.”

    For more information, visit MLW.com. If you\’re in the Philadelphia area and are interested in attending MLW Blood & Thunder on 1/7, visit MLW2300.com.

  • WWE Secures \”King and Queen of the Ring\” Trademark

    WWE has filed another trademark that all-but-guarantees we\’ll be seeing King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournaments in 2023.

    WWE has owned the \”King of the Ring\” trademark for several years. In October, the company secured the rights to \”Queen of the Ring\” as well.

    On December 8, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. applied to trademark, \”WWE King and Queen of the Ring.\”

    \"\"
    (USPTO database)

    According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database, the Goods and Services usage description for the \”LIVE\” trademark includes:

    • Entertainment services, namely, a show about professional wrestling;
    • Entertainment services, namely, the production and exhibition of professional wrestling events rendered through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media;
    • Providing wrestling news and information through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media;
    • Providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media;
    • Providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information;

    It\’s been rumored that WWE would be bringing back the King of the Ring tournament and holding the first-ever Queen of the Ring tournament since last year.

    Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque, WWE\’s Chief Content Officer, has spoken about his intention to reimagine the WWE\’s approach to themed premium live events. While shows like Hell in a Cell are expected to be retired, it seems increasingly likely that King and Queen of the Ring will be added to the calendar next year.

  • Ricky Starks Still Optimistic He\’ll Get to Work With CM Punk


    Ricky Starks faces the biggest challenge of his career later this week. The former FTW Champion looks to etch his name in the history books when he challenges MJF for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship at Winter is Coming.

    Sparks spoke with DAZN about a number of topics, including the opportunity to work closely with CM Punk and William Regal in AEW over the past year.

    Punk name-dropped Starks during one of his first promos after returning to pro wrestling. He thinks the \’Punk thing\’ really helped the way fans perceive him, but he\’s a bit annoyed they never got to work together in the ring.

    \”It’s not to stroke my own ego, but it’s about iron sharpening iron,\” he said. \”I’m definitely a type of person that would be able to benefit from that in terms of just excelling in my talent.\”

    Starks says he learned a lot from working with Punk and Regal behind the scenes. Punk\’s AEW status remains questionable at best, but Starks is still hopeful they\’ll get to wrestle at some point down the line.

    \”I am hopeful that down the line I do get that matchup. If not, then I get it. That’s how the business is. But it would be nice (smiles). It would be nice to be able to work with somebody of that caliber because besides Sting, I’ve yet to work with someone of such a high caliber.\”  

    Catch Ricky Starks vs. MJF this Wednesday on TBS when AEW presents the special \’Winter is Coming\’ edition of Dynamite.

  • Cathy Kelley Reveals What Brought Her Back to WWE

    Cathy Kelley is excited to be back in WWE and sounds like she is very happy working under WWE\’s new leadership team.

    Kelley first joined WWE in 2016 and worked for the company a backstage correspondent and host. After her release in 2020, she appeared on Confidence in Life Changes and spoke to Maria Menounous about what led to her to leave her dream job.

    She cited exhaustion from the hectic travel schedule and \”restrictions\” placed on her as the two primary reasons. She also left the door open for an eventual return.

    A lot has changed since then, most notably Vince McMahon retiring from WWE in July 2022. McMahon spent 40 years running the organization he purchased from his father in 1982.

    WWE\’s new executive team includes Stephanie McMahon serving as Chairwoman and co-CEO with Nick Khan, Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque as Chief Content Officer, Frank Riddick as President & Chief Financial Officer and Kevin Dunn as Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution.

    What Brought Cathy Kelley Back to WWE?

    \"Cathy
    (Photo: WWE)

    Cathy Kelley recently appeared on The Big Thing and revealed a \’happy birthday\’ text to Triple H got the ball rolling on her return.

    She kept in touch with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon during her time away from WWE. They knew about all the projects she was working on and made it clear that the door was always open for her to return. She sent Hunter a birthday text earlier this year, which led to her having a Zoom call with Stephanie and the rest is history.

    Kelley says she always enjoyed working closely with Triple H & Stephanie. In light WWE\’s management shakeup, the \’restrictions\’ that hindered her first run were no longer an issue.

    “Working for them was very appealing. They’re both the epitome of what great leadership looks like. To get to work for them is great. 

    She was offered the chance to come back as a writer, a commentator or as a brand ambassador for WWE\’s community events. She jumped at the chance to be a backstage interviewing on Raw when that idea was presented.

    Kelley is a talented performer and a valuable asset to WWE\’s broadcast team. Her sentiments about Triple H and Stephanie McMahon\’s leadership qualities have been echoed by countless others who have worked under them.

    Follow Cathy Kelly on Twitter (@Catherinekelley) and Instagram (@CathyKelley).