SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Karrion Kross Talks 2021 WWE Release, The Gladiator & His Motivation at the Time

    Karrion Kross spoke with WWE broadcaster Peter Rosenberg on the latest Cheap Heat podcast for the Ringer Wrestling Show. He spoke in-depth about his entire pro wrestling career, how he met his wife Scarlett and much more.

    Kross and Scarlett are re-establishing themselves on the SmackDown brand, but it hasn\’t been an easy road to get there. Following a dominant run together in NXT that included Kross holding the NXT Championship, things got ugly fast when he was called up to the main roster in July 2021.

    Everything that worked about their act was stripped away, including Scarlett. He was saddled with a comically-bad gladiator gimmick that was nothing like his NXT character that got over so well. His debut match on Monday Night Raw saw Kross get pinned in less than two minutes. He was the NXT Champion at the time and it was his first pinfall loss in WWE. They were both released in November, right before the holidays.

    Processing the Debut & the Releases

    \"Karrion
    Karrion Kross

    Rosenberg asked Kross about how he processed all that in real time. Kross said the number one thing on his mind was providing for his family. This was during the pandemic and a lot of his family members lost their jobs. Being a WWE Superstar gave him the chance to take care of his family and the people who helped raise him. Everybody wants to be on the main roster, but his focus was providing for his family.

    He said sometimes, you\’re given bad ideas and it\’s your job to make them work and carry out what\’s been written written for you, even if you don\’t agree with the direction. His NXT Character was a hit, but the lack of continuity with the gladiator character threw people off. The gimmick may have worked for other people, but was a huge departure from what fans knew from him. He was frustrated, but tried to be a professional and make it work.

    Their Act Getting Split Up

    When asked how Scarlett felt when she wasn\’t called up with him, Kross says she was incredibly upset. \”Multiple branches of management\” told them she\’d be with him on the main roster. They decided to accept the situation and get through it.

    Their situation got worse before it got better. Just before the holiday season, they were out of work. Rosenberg said he knows what this is like from personal experience. He\’s been released by WWE before and it made him sad and angry. People close to him convinced him to stay composed and realize it\’s best to play the long game with your career. You\’ll get back to WWE if it\’s meant to be.

    \"Scarlett\"
    Scarlett

    Kross said their phones blew up within 30 minutes after their releases were made public. By the end of the day, they were booked up for months and were fielding offers from outside of wrestling. They knew they\’d be fine financially, but they were devastated. They had more to offer the business and suddenly the door just got slammed in their face. On some level, he was relieved to be done with the gladiator gimmick. He got unanimous feedback that it wasn\’t working, from fans in the arenas to people coming up to him at airports and in coffee shops asking when he\’d be getting back with Scarlett and

    Kross was not tempted to trash WWE when he got released. He had close connections to people in the company and knew he\’d make it back.

    WWE Returns

    Karrion Kross and Scarlett returned to WWE on August 5, 2022. He immediately began feuding with former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. Their program came to ahead at November\’s Crown Jewel premium live event, which saw McIntyre prevail.

    On a recent episode of SmackDown, Kross identified Rey Mysterio as his next victim.

    Listen to the Cheap Heat Podcast on Apple Podcasts.

  • Johnny Fusion Returning to MLW at Blood & Thunder

    Former WWE Superstar John Morrison returns to Major League Wrestling at MLW Blood & Thunder. The event takes place Saturday, January 7 from Philadelphia\’s 2300 Arena.

    Keeping with his habit of altering his name based on the promotion he\’s working for, he\’ll be competing as Johnny Fusion.

    A press release sent in by MLW reads:

    \”No stranger to MLW, Johnny Fusion, tore it up against the likes of Shane Strickland, Darby Allin and others in MLW during his last stint. With a reloaded MLW roster featuring the likes of Davey Richards, Alex Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu and many others, expect some dream matches on the horizon.

    Perhaps a reunion could be in the mix for Johnny Fusion, who has history with the ruthless Cesar Duran.

    Plus, the reigning Women’s World Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie happens to be Johnny Fusion’s wife. Could a new power couple be in play in 2023 in MLW?\”

    Tickets for MLW Blood & Thunder are now available at MLW2300.com.

    MLW Blood & Thunder Matches

    • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone vs. YAMATO
    • Jacob Fatu vs. Ben-K

    Additional talent signed to appear includes Alex Kane, Real1, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & The Billington Bulldogs, Mance Warner, Women\’s World Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie and more.

  • Latest on WrestleMania 39 Plans, Talk of Splitting Up World Titles

    \’WrestleMania Goes Hollywood\’ Saturday and Sunday, April 1 & 2 from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. We\’re still aboutfour months out, but planning is already underway for WWE\’s biggest premium live event of 2023.

    Nothing is set in stone at this stage. Several factors will determine WrestleMania\’s top programs, most notably Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson\’s availability. WWE is not expected to finalize WrestleMania plans until mid-January, in the lead-up to the Royal Rumble.

    That said, it\’s still interesting to see what\’s being considered. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there are two main ideas in play for WrestleMania.

    It goes without saying that WrestleMania will be built around the promotion\’s marquee attraction, Roman Reigns. WWE is so high on the Tribal Chief\’s drawing power that he could be called upon to pull \’double duty\’ and headline both nights.

    There\’s no guarantee that things will play out this way, however:

    “One of the things talked about internally in WWE is for Reigns to wrestle both nights at Mania, with the working ideas being Cody Rhodes and Dwayne Johnson.

    – Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    Two World Titles

    In addition to those matches, WWE has renewed discussions about splitting up Reigns\’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The main benefit of a singular champion is that fans have no question about the best wrestler in WWE. When you have multiple world champions, that distinction becomes diluted.

    The drawback is that it\’s difficult for one man to appear on both Raw and SmackDown. The world championship is a draw, and you can be sure WWE\’s television partners (Fox and USA Network) both want a world champion on their shows.

    WWE will pull out all the stops to ensure WrestleMania 39 is a commercial success. Here are some of our recent articles about

  • William Regal Bids Farewell to the Blackpool Combat Club

    William Regal is bidding farewell to the Blackpool Combat Club once and for all. Regal appeared on this week\’s AEW Dynamite in a backstage segment that will serve as his final appearance for All Elite Wrestling.

    With BCC members Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta standing in the ring, Regal said it\’s time for him to move on. He gave the group one final \’lesson\’ on his way out.

    He urged Moxley, Castagnoli, Yuta and Bryan Danielson to \”always stay one step ahead and make sure you have eyes in the back of your head.\”

    Regal\’s Farewell to the Blackpool Combat Club

    William Regal posted an official farewell to the BCC on Thursday morning.

    He wrote on Twitter:

    To the members of the BCC. My favourite song by my favourite band who somehow knew when I was a child to write the story that is my life. It’s been a pleasure fellas. We’ll meet again…..

    – William Regal

    He included a link to the song \”Far Far Away\” by the band Slade:

  • \”I Feel Like I Failed Shotzi\” – Ronda Rousey Addresses Ridiculed Survivor Series Match

    Ronda Rousey says she put a lot of effort into her Survivor Series match against Shotzi and feels terrible about the way things played out.

    Rousey put her SmackDown Women\’s Championship on the line against the #1 contender back on November 26. The match was widely criticized for looking sloppy and unprofessional, but it was an awkward DDT on the ring apron that got the most attention. Wrestling pundits and fans roasted Rousey on social media, with some of them calling for her to be fired.

    The Baddest Woman on the Planet addressed the match during her latest YouTube stream. She explains there were some difficulties preparing for the bout, the match itself was abruptly cut short and doesn\’t understand why she\’s getting more flack than certain male performers who have injured their opponents.

    Ronda Rousey & Shotzi

    Rousey said she\’s the one who pitched the infamous apron DDT spot, because she knows it\’s something Shotzi does in a lot of her matches. She has her own wrestling ring for training, but was unable to rehearse the DDT because the ropes on her ring are too lose.

    \”I fucked it up because I was so concerned with keeping somebody safe. A lot of time, when you see me do something for the first time, it\’s the first time I ever did it. I was really concerned with keeping Shotzi safe and I made it look bad. You know what, sorry. Apparently, I deserve to be fired or burned. It reminds me of Monty Python, \’BURN HER!\’\”

    – Ronda Rousey

    According to Rousey, there\’s a double standard when it comes to critiquing female pro wrestlers. Nobody called for Ridge Holland to be fired when he accidentally broke Big E\’s neck, but people are calling for her to be released after a match she admits didn\’t live up to expextations.

    \”There weren\’t calls to fire anybody when Madcap Moss and Big E were spiked on their heads,\” said Rousey. \”\’BURN HER ANYWAY!\’ I\’m so sorry that I was so concerned with keeping someone safe that I made the bump look bad.\”

    Rousey was especially bummed because the crowd in Boston was hostile towards her and she loves winning over a hostile crowd. Unfortunately, time constraints and the pacing of the show led WWE officials to call an audible and cut their match short before they could continue winning the crowd back.

    \”I was bummed though because we worked on that match for two weeks and we were really excited about it,\” she said. \”I felt like I really failed Shotzi. I really wanted to showcase her shit and make all of her shit look great and show everyone how great she is. That\’s one of the main reasons I wanted to comeback for this run, to showcase the new talent.\”

    Rousey says the match fans saw is not the match they had planned out. A few spots went wrong and fans are judging them on an incomplete product.

    \”We literally only had eight minutes to do everything. When we hit eight minutes, \’alright, you gotta go,\’ I\’m not gonna argue. They pay me to show up and do what they say to do. I\’m bummed though. I feel like I failed Shotzi. Sorry. I\’ll do better. I\’ll make it up to her. I\’ll let her beat my ass.\”

    – Ronda Rousey

  • Umaga\’s Son Zilla Fatu Begins Pro Wrestling Training

    Zilla Fatu, son of Umaga, is beginning his pro wrestling training at Booker T\’s Reality of Wrestling school in Houston, TX.

    Fatu is the latest in a long line of warriors from pro wrestling\’s wrestling\’s legendary Anoa\’i family. Elders such as The Wild Samoans, Yokozuna, Rikishi, Umaga and The Rock paved the way for today\’s generation, which includes Roman Reigns, the Usos and Solo Sikoa.

    On Tuesday evening, ROW welcomed Zilla Fatu as he embarks on a journey to follow in his father\’s footsteps.

    Zilla Fatu received congratulatory messages from several family members.

    MLW star Jacob Fatu wrote on Twitter, “!! BLOODLINE JUST KEEPS GETTING STRONGER WELCOME MY UNCLE RIP #UMAGA YOUNGEST SON #ZILLAFATU”

    Rikishi responded to the announcement on Instagram and thanked Booker T, writing in the comments section, “Thank you @BookerTfivex @realityofwrestling\”

    Zilla Fatu, 22, was recently released from prison. He spent six years behind bars after being convicted of aggravated robbery at the age of 15. He documented his experience on his YouTube channel.

    Umaga has been in the news this week because December 4 was the 13-year anniversary of his untimely passing. Bloodline members Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa paid tribute to Umaga are among the wrestlers who paid tribute to their uncle.

  • \”Oh What a Night!\” WWE\’s Naomi & AEW champ Jade Cargill sit courtside for Atlanta Hawks game

    There was a \’Baddies Section\’ at Monday night\’s Atlanta Hawks NBA game from the State Farm Arena.

    WWE Superstar Naomi was spotted at the game sitting courtside next to none other than Jade Cargill, All Elite Wrestling\’s reigning TBS Champion.

    Naomi posted a video of them together:

    Cargill replied to the post and wrote, \”We killed the scene. We MUST do this again sis\”

    Local radio personality John Michaels posted this photo with the ladies:

    Naomi has been off WWE television since \’walking out\’ of a Raw taping back on May 16 due to creative differences with company company.

    Cargill is scheduled to compete on Wednesday\’s edition of AEW Dynamite. She\’ll team up Baddies Red Velvet and Leila Grey against Madison Rayne, Skye Blue and former Baddie Kiera Hogan.

  • MJF Has Given Himself a Humble New Nickname

    Maxwell Jacob Friedman is a humble young man, perhaps best known for his selflessness, kindness and compassion. Who are we kidding? He is a raging, egomaniacal narcissist who would probably marry himself if he could.

    MJF now has the hardware to back up his grandiose feelings of self-satisfaction. As the reigning AEW World Heavyweight Champion, he\’s more emboldened than ever. We\’re just weeks into his MJF\’s Reign of Terror and he\’s already getting started reshaping the role of world champion in his own image.

    Last week on Dynamite, we got a first glimpse at MJF\’s custom AEW World championship belt. He also announced that he does not plan on defending the title as frequently as past champions, a stance some would call wise and others would call cowardly.

    The Nickname

    MJF appears will bre running with a new moniker, Mystic Max. On Tuesday, he posted a thread on Twitter showing off some of his biggest moments during his time in AEW. He included a caption containing a recent quote by who else but himself.

    “Just call me Mystic Max because I have a feeling your happiness will soon turn into resentment, because you people are Fickle\”

    Mystic is defined as, \’inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination.\’

    Sounds just like our pal Max.

    MJF\’s next World title challenger is Ricky Starks, who won an eliminator tournament to earn a championship opportunity at Winter is Coming. MJF name dropped Eddie Kingston during his first promo since winning the world title, so a match between these two is likely in the works for early 2023.

  • Watch: Becky Lynch Addresses Fans After Monday\’s WWE Raw

    Becky Lynch delivered an emotional address to the live crowd after Monday\’s edition of WWE Raw went off the air.

    Lynch is one of the most popular pro wrestlers in the world. She\’s risen to the top of WWE and that doesn\’t happen without the fans. Throughout her journey, including some disappointing setbacks and injuries, the WWE Universe has kept her motivated and hopeful.

    \’The Man\’ competed on Raw against Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross in a triple threat match. Just as she was about to score the win, Damage CTRL interfered and cost her the win.

    After USA Network\’s broadcast of Raw concluded, Lynch took a moment to speak from the heart and tell the people how much they mean to her.

    “I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you for supporting me on my journey,\” said Lynch. \”I missed you guys so much, and there is no limit to what I would do to prove my love for you, for everything that you’ve shown me.\”

    Based on the events that transpired on the show, it appears Lynch will continue feuding with Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky as the year closes out and we head into the Royal Rumble.

    Here\’s video of Becky Lynch speaking to fans after the December 5 edition of Monday Night Raw, courtesy of Twitter user @Beckyonly:

  • Thunder Rosa Still Has a Long Road Ahead Before AEW Return

    Thunder Rosa says her injury rehabilitation is going \”really well,\” but don\’t expect her back in All Elite Wrestling any time soon. She\’s jogging, is finally able to lift weights again, but still has done any in-ring training.

    Rosa has been on the sidelines since August 2022 when an undisclosed injury put her on the shelf. A lot has transpired since then, when she was the reigning AEW Women\’s World Champion.

    A tournament was held to crown an interim champion during her absence. Toni Storm won the tournament at All Out, but lost the interim title to Jamie Hayter at Full Gear. AEW has since stripped Rosa of her championship, retired the interim title and declared Hayter the official Women\’s World Champion.

    Several AEW stars have been critical of Rosa during her hiatus, including former champions Storm and Dr. Britt Baker.

    Lifting Weights, 5K

    Rosa has provided an update on her recovery. She\’s back in the gym doing squats with 2-pound dumbbells, which she considers a huge win after so many months without lifting.

    \”The recovery is going really well,\” Rosa said. \”This week I was just able to do squats with a two-pound dumbbell. I haven’t done any lifting for the last four or five months so this is huge.\”

    She also participated in a 5k race two weeks ago. Doctors are not allowing her to do any running, but she jogged half of it and walked the rest. Despite these recovery milestones, she still has a ways to go.

    I have not been able to be in the ring yet so we’re working on that.

    – Thunder Rosa Injury Update

    Rosa is as tough as they come. Her injury and long road back to AEW are further reminders that pro wrestlers put their bodies and health on the line every time they step through the ropes.

    SEScoops wishes Thunder Rosa a speedy recovery.

  • Details on Sasha Banks\’ First Movie Project, Footage from the Set

    Sasha Banks (Mercedes Varnado) has landed her first movie role. Details have been scarce, but we\’ve been able to piece together some details based on clues we\’ve tracked down on social media.

    On Sunday, December 4, Banks tweeted that she just wrapped her first movie in her hometown of #Bosston.

    Actor Mike Messier noted on Twitter that Banks was filming a movie in the city for actor/director Tom DeNucci.

    DeNucci\’s latest project in development is, The Collective. IMDB lists Yale Productions as the production company, First Row Filmed Entertainment as the distributor and 2024 as a tentative release date. The synopsis reads:

    \”A young recruit to a mysterious agency of assassins finds himself going rouge on his first assignment, tracking down a dangerous group of human traffickers.\”

    The Collective (IMDb)

    We also have this (brief) behind-the-scenes clip of Sasha Banks on set:

    Sasha Banks in Hollywood

    \"Sasha

    While this is Banks\’ first film role, she isn\’t new to Hollywood. In 2020, she set the internet ablaze when she appeared in two episodes of Disney\’s The Mandolorian. She played Koska Reeves.

    Banks left WWE this past May, but is still training. Last month, it was revealed that she had been training with Juventud Guerrera in Mexico. While in Mexico, she was spotted backstage at a non-televised WWE show.

    In her time away from wrestling, she has walked in New York Fashion Week for the first time alongside Naomi. Her CBD company with former WWE Superstar, Kalisto, won an award.

    This is a developing story. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest.

  • The Bloodline Honors Umaga on the Anniversary of his Passing

    Sunday, December 4 marked the 13 years since the passing of former WWE Superstar Umaga (Edward Smith Fatu). He was a member of legendary Anoa?i family.

    Bloodline member Jey Uso honored The Samoan Bulldozer on social media on the anniversary of his untimely death.

    As seen below, he posted photos on Instagram remembering his late uncle. The caption reads, \”Dec 4th be a sad day. Then, ALL the great memories brightens it up.??? Love u mane.\”

    Several wrestling personalities liked and commented on the post, including Chris Jeriocho, Chavo Guerrero, Bayley and Renee Paquette.

    Jey Uso is very proud of his uncle and his family heritage. In a 2021 interview with Yahoo! Sports, he credted the Samoan people for \’making\’ wrestling.

    \”I think the Samoan people have made wrestling,\” he said. “Pro wrestling is right down our alley, we’re just physical people, strong, quick. I feel like we were just made to do this. Being a part of it now and seeing all of the blood that has been laid before me, the whole family tree, it’s very humbling and I’m so proud I am part of this.”

    Both Uso brothers have spoken candidly about the way Umaga changed their lives:

    Umaga Lives on

    The Bloodline faction is comprised of Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, The Usos, Solo Sikoa (plus honorary Uce, Sami Zayn). WWE broadcaster Corey Graves recently compared Sikoa to Umaga on the After the Bell podcast.

    \”His reactions reminded me very much of Umaga,\” said Graves. \”I said it on the air with all due respect, because I know in what regard the family looks at Umaga and with what reference he is viewed within the family. So I would never say that as a flippant comment. A smaller, more compact version, but the same hard-hitting impact. The same savagery once he gets going.\”

    Remembering Umaga

    WWE has created this playlist recapping some of Umaga\’s greatest in-ring moments. He was an active Superstar from 2001-2003 (as Jamal of the \’Three Minute Warning\’ tag team) and later 2005-2009 (as Umaga).

  • AEW Files to Trademark the Phrase \”Hat Trick\”

    AEW filed a new trademark application last week. On Wednesday, November 30, filed an application on the phrase, \”Hat Trick.\” These trademark applications often provide a glimpse what wrestling companies and wrestlers have planned in the coming months.

    According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) database, the Attorney of Record for the live trademark is Bradley M. Stohry.

    The Goods and Services usage description for the Hat Trick trademarks includes:

    • Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of television shows and multimedia entertainment content featuring wrestling programs and events;
    • Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual wrestlers;

    Hat Trick is a phrase that means, \”three similar successes\” and is often used in sports when three goals are scored in a game/match.

    AEW has utilized sports-related phrases for its special events, including Grand Slam and The First Dance, so it could be an event name. There\’s also Jake Hager of the Jericho Appreciation Society, who really likes his purple hat.

    \"Jake

    Wrestling Trademarks

    Here\’s some more recent news about pro wrestling trademarks:

  • MLW War Chamber Headed to NYC April 6

    Major League Wrestling has sent in word that the infamous War Chamber match is headed to New York City for the first time ever.

    What is the War Chamber? According to MLW, \”Locked in a carbon steel chamber with the perimeter of the top fortified with barbed wire, two teams of four will clash in combat that only the War Chamber can contain.\”

    MLW brings WarChamber to NYC on Thursday, April 6 at the Melrose Ballroom. The event will be a Fusion TV taping (airing on beIN Sports and streaming at Pro Wrestling TV).

    War Chamber Rules

    • A coin toss determines which team enters first
    • 1-on-1 for 5:00 in stage 1 of the War Chamber
    • The winner of coin toss comes out for 2-on-1
    • Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every 2 minutes
    • Once all combatants are in the War Chamber, victory is won by submission, surrender or pinfall

    Tickets for MLW War Chamber 2022 go on sale Thursday, December 8 at MLWNYC.com. If you\’re in the NYC area, this is definitely an event to check out.

  • \”The IRONY\” – Saraya Undergoing Oral Surgery After Wrestling a Dentist

    Saraya is headed to the dentist\’s chair just weeks after her first match in over five years (against a dentist) and yes, she sees the irony there.

    On Thursday evening, Saraya noted on Twitter that she just landed home and was going\”straight off the plane to the dentist.\”

    She\’ll be undergoing oral surgery, but it\’s unrelated to anything that happened in the ring. She\’s having her wisdom teeth removed, a procedure that most people recover from within two weeks.

    What\’s Next for Saraya?

    Saraya has been feuding with Dr. Britt Baker since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. After their match at Full Gear last month, she had positive things to say about her rival. During the post-PPV media scrum, she stated bluntly, \”Britt carried me through the whole thing.\”

    It will be interesting to see if Saraya continues her feud with Baker, or if she moves on to a program with someone else. It\’s likely too soon into her run to jump into the title picture. Other heels in the AEW women\’s division include Anna Jay, Nyla Rose, Red Velvet, Serena Deeb and Tay Melo.

    In an unrelated note, Saraya has been outspoken about wanting to work with Sasha Banks again in the future, which is interesting on several levels. She recently revealed that she spoke with Banks after announcing she was medically cleared to wrestle again.

    Just days after Full Gear, Saraya name-dropped Banks again:

  • Cody Rhodes \’Back to Normal\’ and Bulking Up for WWE Return

    Cody Rhodes is gearing up for (another) triumphant return to WWE. Nearly six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, the American Nightmare is healthy, back in the gym and patiently waiting for the right moment to strike.

    As the year comes to a close and the focus shifts to the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania, we have an encouraging update regarding the man who may be destined for a career-defining moment in just a few months time.

    According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rhodes is \”back to normal when it comes to his ability to train.\”

    Rhodes\’ WWE return is a huge deal and it\’s likely they\’ll incorporate the element of surprise to maximize the impact of the moment.

    Cody Rhodes Bulking Up

    \"Cody

    Now that his injury is healed, Rhodes has been lifting heavy weights and bulking up. The Observer notes that he\’s been working with top level trainers to put on size and strength.

    His goal is to be 240 pounds when he returns, \”which may be the thickest he’s been in his life.\” Based on this report, we won\’t have to wait long to meet the new and improved Cody Rhodes.

    WrestleMania Plans

    Rhodes is expected to be a featured in a top program headed into WrestleMania 39. Prior to his injury, WWE was planning for an eventual showdown between Rhodes and Roman Reigns, the company\’s Undisputed Universal Champion.

    There\’s still hope within WWE that The Rock will work WrestleMania. Plans for the WrestleMania main event are typically locked in by mid-January, ahead of the Rumble.

  • MJF Antagonizes Conor McGregor With \”Better Than You\” Suit

    They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but that\’s probably not what MJF was going for with his latest bombastic suit.

    Wednesday\’s AEW Dynamite saw Maxwell Jacob Friedman\’s first appearance as AEW World Champion. It was an eventful segment that saw the 26-year-old send William Regal to the hospital and the introduction of his custom \”BBB\” AEW World title belt.

    Friedman marked the big occasion by donning a custom suit that features the text, \”Better Than You\” all over it. As seen below, MJF will stop at nothing to express his feelings of superiority.

    MJF vs. Conor McGregor

    MJF has been throwing shade at Conor McGregor for years now and his \”Better Than You\” suit may be his latest attempt to goad The Notorious into an in-person confrontation.

    The UFC megastar made headlines in 2017 when he wore the infamous \”F-U\” suit during his press tour for his fight against boxing champion Floyd Mayweather. The custom three-piece \”F-U\” suit was designed by David August and cost around $6,500.

    There are similarities between MJF and Conor McGregor, but don\’t tell that to MJF. Back in December 2020, he called comparisons to McGregor \”cute\” and \”laughable.\”

    MJF said he appreciates what McGregor did in the UFC, but McGregor couldn\’t spar with him and would get \”absolutely bent over, if you know what I mean\” on the microphone.

    More recently, they\’ve been exchanging trash talk on social media. It started when MJF called UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett a \”Dollar Store Conor McGregor.\” McGregor responded by saying he doesn\’t know who MJF is, which really got him going. MJF called McGregor a \”roided-up leprechaun\” and challenged him to show up to an AEW event.

    Tony Khan and Triple H have both commented on the possibility of working with Conor McGregor, who has also teased interest in pro wrestling:

  • William Regal Expected Back in WWE Soon

    All Elite Wrestling star William Regal is expected back in WWE very soon. Over the past several weeks, there\’s been conflicting reports over Regal\’s contractual status with AEW.

    Regal was released by WWE back in January. The decision caught a lot of people off guard and was attributed to the company\’s decision to go in a new direction with NXT 2.0. His Lordship made a surprise debut at AEW Revolution in March and quickly aligned with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley. They later formed the Blackpool Combat Club, one of this year\’s most dominant factions in pro wrestling.

    Wednesday\’s AEW Dynamite saw Regal\’s first public appearance with the man he helped win the AEW World Championship, Maxwell Jacob Friedman. The alliance was short-lived, as MJF ended the segment by blindsiding Regal with an attack that sent him to the hospital.

    Regal Likely Returning Home to WWE

    A lot has changed since Regal joined AEW, most notably Vince McMahon\’s retirement. Regal\’s longtime friend Triple H is now running the show, a situation that paved the way for his inevitable return.

    On Thursday, a pair of reports strongly indicate Regal will be back at Triple H\’s side in the very near future. According PWInsider, \”there have been rumblings\” within WWE that Regal will be returning soon in a backstage role. Regal was a driving force behind the success of NXT and served as the brand\’s on-screen authority figure for several years.

    In addition to this report, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful tweeted that he\’s heard Regal\’s AEW contract expires this month (December).

    Regal is considered one of the brightest minds in the business and is an invaluable asset to whichever company he decides to work.

  • Ronda Rousey Joins \’Raid: Shadow Legends\’ RPG Game

    Ronda Rousey Enters the Arena as a Playable Legendary Champion in the Acclaimed ‘RAID: Shadow Legends’ Collection RPG

    TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – November 30, 2022 – Plarium, a global leader in developing F2P mobile and PC games with more than 435 million users worldwide, announced today that Ronda Rousey, WWE SmackDown Women\’s Champion and former UFC Bantamweight World Champion, is now her own Legendary Champion in Plarium\’s acclaimed collection fantasy RPG, RAID: Shadow Legends. Beginning today through February 28th, the Ronda Legendary Champion will be available for free to all RAID players after 7 days of logging in to the game.

    \”We are thrilled to have one of the world’s most renowned athletes join the ranks of RAID’s Banner Lord Champions, a title she is already quite familiar with in her career,\” said Ronen Gross, VP of business development at Plarium. \”Her love of gaming and natural gifts in mixed martial arts, judo, and wrestling made this partnership a perfect fit. As expected, her Ronda Champion will mete out punishment with fiery gauntlet fists, similar to her real-life counterpart, and will be a valuable addition to any team.”

    Ronda will unveil her Champion during a Facebook Gaming channel stream in the coming weeks where she will share her design influences, as well as special skills and move sets that players can use in-game. The Ronda Legendary Champion joins RAID\’s 700+ unique champions and will be usable in all game modes including the single-player campaign (PVE), Dungeons, the Arena, Faction Wars, Doom Tower and Clan vs. Clan Tournaments.

    “As someone who loves games with strong female leads, it’s exciting to actually become one,” said Rousey. “I look forward to sharing my champion with the RAID fans on my channel and helping them level up their game using her unique skill sets.”

    After February 28th, Ronda will no longer be available through the 7-day loyalty program but can then be secured by only new players during a special in-game event up until May 15. Players can also opt-in to receive in-game promo codes through February 28th that unlock Ronda-related rewards.

    RAID: Shadow Legends is available to download on iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as PC through the Microsoft Store or the Plarium Play platform.

  • Impact Partners with DAZN to Bring Content to 170+ Countries

    Impact Wrestling has announced a new multi-year partnership with the DAZN streaming service that will bring the company\’s weekly TV show, PPV events and other programming to more than 170 countries.

    Anthem Sports & Entertainment and DAZN Announce International Multi-Year Distribution Partnership for Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling

    IMPACT’S Signature Series, PPV Events & Other Programming To Be Televised By DAZN To More Than 170 Countries Beginning November 29

    TORONTO, ON and LONDON, UK, November 29, 2022 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., a global multi-platform media company, and DAZN — a leading global sports entertainment platform — announced today an international partnership that will deliver Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling to more than 170 countries worldwide beginning on November 29.

    The multi-year agreement will give DAZN viewers in 170+ countries — including the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Brazil — the best seat in the house to IMPACT Wrestling’s weekly IMPACT! flagship series, home to larger-than-life characters, high-stakes matchups and blockbuster drama.

    Additionally, DAZN viewers will have access to IMPACT’s high-octane PPV events and premium IMPACT Plus live specials, as well as select titles from IMPACT Wrestling’s archives, directly through the DAZN platform.

    DAZN can be accessed on Smart TVs, games consoles, Amazon Fire TV/Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV, as well via the DAZN app on iPhone, iPad, android and other tablet and mobile devices. For all the ways to watch, please visit www.dazn.com.

    “DAZN is a global leader in premier sports programming, and we are proud to partner with them as we expand IMPACT Wrestling’s international reach even further,” said Scott D’Amore, Executive Vice President, Anthem Sports Media Group. “From the beginning, IMPACT Wrestling has enjoyed a worldwide audience of passionate and knowledgeable fans who crave high-quality professional wrestling content. With this announcement, we hope to make it even more convenient for them to enjoy our flagship series, premium specials and pay-per-view events, while also introducing the IMPACT Wrestling brand to even more sports enthusiasts across the globe.”

    Said Veronica Diquattro, CEO of DAZN Global Markets: “We are incredibly excited to sign this multi-year partnership with Impact. This deal will see the promotion’s world-class professional wrestling content arrive on the DAZN platform in more than 170 countries worldwide, reinforcing our growing position as the global home of combat sports.”

    For more on this big partnership, visit ImpactWrestling.com.

  • Bianca Belair Gets NXT Vibes from the WWE Women\’s Roster

    Bianca Belair says the women\’s division on WWE\’s main roster reminds her a lot of her days in NXT. The self-proclaimed \’EST\’ spent years honing her craft in WWE\’s developmental brand. From 2016-2020, she established herself as one of the most promising acts of her genration.

    Her success has continued since arriving on Monday Night Raw in 2020. She\’s the reigning Raw Women\’s Champion. She\’s also a former SmackDown Women\’s champion and won the 2021 Women\’s Royal Rumble. WWE\’s Four Horsewomen (Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Bayley) helped usher in the Women\’s Revolution, but Belair may surpass them all when all is said and done.

    NXT As a Pipeline to WWE

    Belair recently spoke with Bleacher Report\’s Graham Matthews and said she gets strong \’NXT vibes\’ from the women on Raw and SmackDown.

    \”It kind of feels like NXT all over again,\” she said. \”I think when we were in NXT, it was special. It was a time where the women\’s locker room was full of women empowerment. We were competitors but we wanted the best for each other.\”

    NXT is a training ground for Raw and SmackDown, and virtually all of the top women in WWE wore \’black and gold\’ before they wore red or blue. Belair gets a great deal of satisfaction seeing the people she came up with thrive on the big stage.

    Belair added, \”What\’s amazing is that it\’s 3, 4, 5 years later., it\’s those same women but we\’ve all gotten even better. We\’ve evolved.\”

    Almost all of the top young female stars on Raw and SmackDown started in NXT. Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez, Damage CTRL, Shotzi, the list goes on and on. If you want a glimpse at who will be carrying the women\’s division in 3-5 years, you know where to look.

  • Big E Helping WWE Scout Talent at IMG Academy Tryouts

    Recruiting talent is a crucial component of ensuring WWE has a bright future.

    WWE will hold its next tryout camp later this week, according to Sports Illustrated. The two-day event will take place from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The prep school touts itself as, \”the world’s foremost authority in athletic, academic and personal development.\”

    Approximately 30 to 35 athletes are expected to participate. WWE\’s recruiting philosophy has evolved over the past few years. After a period of time focusing on wrestlers from the independent scene, the strategy has shifted to signing elite collegiate athletes.

    The WWE NIL (Next in Line) program has been at the forefront of the new initiative.

    \"WWE

    Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque has high hopes for this week. He wrote on Twitter, \”As WWE continues to invest in recruiting college athletes, IMG Academy is an ideal venue for this week’s tryout. The next great Superstar just may be in attendance…\”

    Big E Scouting Talent for WWE

    The IMG tryouts will mark WWE\’s third big tryout camp of the year. 18 developmental contracts were awarded during WrestleMania weekend tryouts. Another 15 athletes were signed during SummerSlam weekend.

    Big E will be in attendance for this week\’s tryouts. James Kimball, WWE’s Head of Talent Operations and Strategy, says the former WWE Champion will have a big role in the process.

    “E is such a critical part of what we’re doing,” says Kimball. “This recruitment strategy is really hitting home for him, and it’s something we should have had when he was a collegiate student-athlete at Iowa. He’s such a great ambassador, and he can relate to these athletes. He’s presenting with shared experience—that goes a long way.”

    Big E has been out of action since fracturing his neck earlier this year. He is incredibly thankful to be living life pain-free and will have a better idea about his in-ring future when he gets checked out again by doctors in early 2023.

  • William Regal Has Years Left on His AEW Contract

    William Regal\’s future with All Elite Wrestling has been speculated about over the past several weeks. Recent actions from AEW and WWE led to fans wondering if he\’d be working for Triple H again in the near future, but that won\’t be the case.

    WWE released Regal in January 2022 as part of \”the continued evolution of NXT 2.0.\” Regal served as WWE\’s Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting. A talent of his caliber does not stay on the sidelines for long.

    Just two months later, Regal shocked the wrestling world when with a surprise debut at AEW\’s Revolution pay-per-view. The longtime figurehead of WWE\’s NXT brand stormed the ring after Jon Moxley\’s match against Bryan Danielson.

    Within a matter of weeks, they\’d all be on the same page as part of the Blackpool Combat Club faction. The group later added Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta.

    Regal\’s AEW Contract

    Regal turned on Jon Moxley earlier this month at AEW Full Gear and allowed MJF to capture the AEW World Championship. This past week on Dynamite, Moxley told Regal to run far away from him or else he will deliver on his violent intentions for revenge. It seemed like Regal was being written off television.

    Triple H later invoked Regal ahead of Saturday\’s WWE Survivor Series premium live event with a video of Regal shouting WarGames. He noted the show wouldn’t be the same without him.

    Dave Meltzer stated on Wrestling Observer Radio that Regal still has \”several months left\” on his AEW deal. Early Monday morning, Meltzer clarified that his initial report about Regal signing a 1-year deal was incorrect. Regal actually signed a 3-year deal with AEW in early 2022, based on comments he made shortly after his debut.

    Regal\’s Role in AEW

    William Regal is one of the brightest minds in pro wrestling and offers decades of experience that he\’ll use to train the next generation of AEW talent.

    AEW President Tony Khan spoke about Regal\’s role with the company at the media scrum that took place after Revolution, the night of Regal\’s AEW debut. Khan said he couldn\’t believe that Regal became a free agent and has the utmost respect for his contributions to the business.

    \”Behind the scenes, I’m really excited to have him here,\” said Khan. \”I think Lord Regal can teach all of us here a lot. It’s gonna be great having him here and I’m very excited like I said, onscreen and offscreen. It came together very recently and I think it fits very well with what we’re doing here in AEW all around.\”

  • Sasha Banks Chants Censored at WWE Survivor Series

    Wrestling fans called for Sasha Banks at WWE Survivor Series, but the chants weren\’t audible on television for long.

    Saturday\’s big event took place her hometown of Boston, MA. Banks remains one of the industries biggest names despite being out of the spotlight since May 2022.

    According to a correspondent who was in attendance for Survivor Series, the \”Sasha Banks\” and \”We Want Sasha\” chants were pretty loud during Ronda Rousey\’s match against Shotzi.

    We want Sasha ??? pic.twitter.com/v9fKEbr6eo

    — J A L E E L (@Jaleelllll) November 27, 2022

    Sasha Banks Chants Muted

    WWE\’s production team lowered the crowd audio to censor the Sasha Banks chants at Survivor Series, according to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    The decision to censor Sasha Banks chants can be looked at from several perspectives. WWE knew she was not going to appear at Survivor Series. The company also does not want Sasha Banks chants become a form of rebellion, much like CM Punk\’s name was chanted for years when the audience wasn\’t satisfied with whatever WWE was presenting.

    The two sides are currently in talks to get her back in the fold, but nothing has been signed as of this writing. During her time away from WWE, Banks has branched out with several non-wrestling projects.

    We\’ve also seen All Elite Wrestling sign names like Renee Paquette and Saraya. Earlier this month, Saraya said she\’s confident she\’ll get a chance to wrestle Banks again. You can be sure WWE hears about quotes like this and will do whatever it takes to prevent her from going to the competition.

    Banks has a ton of leverage in her negotiations and will likely be offered the biggest contract of her wrestling career. At the end of the day, she\’s in the drivers seat and will have to decide what\’s best for herself and her career.

    Stars like Sasha Banks don\’t come around very often. Hopefully it\’s only a matter of time before we see her grace the squared circle once again.

  • WWE Draft: Update on the Timeline for Next Roster Shakeup

    WWE officials are discussing when to hold the next WWE Draft, an event that sees the re-shuffling of the Raw and SmackDown rosters.

    The most recent WWE Draft took place in October 2021. It was the 16th Draft since the concept was introduced in 2002.

    The most significant roster moves from the 2021 WWE Draft saw Charlotte Flair move from Raw to SmackDown and Bianca Belair move from SmackDown to Raw.

    Earlier this year, it was reported that the 2022 WWE Draft would take place in September, after WWE Clash at the Castle. We\’re now at the end of the November and it\’s clear we won\’t be getting a draft this year.

    2023 WWE Draft

    The latest update is that WWE is considering holding a draft after WrestleMania 39, which takes place during the first weekend in April. The news comes courtesy of Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    WWE underwent a significant shakeup during the summer of 2022, with longtime leader Vince McMahon stepping away from WWE for the first time since he took over from his father in 1982. Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque soon took over the company\’s top post and has gotten rave reviews for the changes he\’s made to the WWE product since then.

    WWE plans out storylines months in advance, so it\’s understandable that Triple H wanted to \’stabilize the ship\’ when he took over and hold off on making immediate changes to the rosters. WrestleMania serves as the culmination of the storylines, making mid-to-late April a great time to \’reshuffle the deck.\’

    Hit up the comments section below and let us know what you want to see out of the 2023 WWE Draft. Are there any big trades that you think would make Raw or SmackDown stronger shows?