SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Saraya Explains the Differences Between Herself and Paige

    Saraya says there is a clear distinction between the woman she is today and Paige, the persona she portrayed in WWE from 2011 until June 2022.

    The former WWE Divas and NXT Women\’s Champion shocked the wrestling world when she debut at AEW Grand Slam in September. She returned to in-ring action at AEW Full Gear last weekend, her first match since December 2017.

    She went through hell to get to where she is today. After battling being forced into an early retirement and battling addiction and other personal issues, Saraya is ready to write the next chapter of her career.

    Saraya recently spoke with Chris Van Vliet about a wide variety of topics, including The Rock making a movie about her life, dealing with negativity on social media, her relationship with Sasha Banks and so much more.

    Saraya vs. Paige

    As she embarks on a new journey in AEW, Saraya about leaving \’Paige\’ behind for good. She has matured in so many ways, she\’s simply not that person anymore.

    “Saraya is more mature, that’s definitely a big thing.. and sober,\” she said. \”The thing is, with Paige, she was.. she was this little emo girl teenager, kind of like the anti-teenager phase, and going into Saraya; I can’t imagine myself being that character anymore.\”

    \"Paige\"
    (WWE)

    Saraya is an industry veteran at only 30 years old. She was a teenager when she joined WWE, which is an important factor to consider when thinking about everything she\’s dealt with over the years.

    Looking back at how her current character compares to Paige, she considers Saraya to be \”elevated\” and \”more grown-up.\”

    \”Paige just didn’t give an F about anybody, not even herself,\” she said. \”She just cared about.. outside of wrestling, partying, and stuff like that. Where me, as Saraya, I focus on elevating myself, remaining healthy, mentally being happier.\”

    Saraya sounds like she\’s in a great place and ready to lead the AEW women\’s division into a new era.

  • Bryan Danielson Reveals What Scared Him About Joining AEW

    Bryan Danielson took a leap of faith when he left WWE and joined All Elite Wrestling. The American Dragon admits that it was a \”scary\” decision to step outside of his comfort zone and wrestle a more physical style in AEW.

    During a recent appearance on Ron Funches\’ One Fall podcast, Danielson spoke about WWE always wanting to portray him as an underdog and his drive to continue testing his body at this stage in his career.

    You can listen to the full episode here, with highlights below:

    Playing the Underdog

    Danielson was one of the top stars in WWE over the past decade. He did it all there, including five world title reigns and countless other accomplishments.

    He understands the company wanted to portray him as an underdog early in his run. It made sense for him to be the underdog against monsters like Brock Lesnar. But he eventually grew tired of that role and think fans did too.

    \”It was hard for the fans a little bit too, I think to connect with somebody who is an underdog, who, at this point, had won the title multiple times … Married also this beautiful woman who’s got a reality TV show. I’m really not an underdog in life anymore, right?\”

    Joining AEW

    He ultimately made the decision to leave WWE and join AEW. Danielson admits the change came with some fears and uncertainty.

    \”The scary part of it was stepping outside of this comfort zone that I had in WWE,\” he said. \”In AEW, you see them doing some pretty risky things. I was like, I don’t know if physically I can do that anymore. Over the last year-plus, I’ve proven to myself that I can.\”

    Danielson remains driven to continue testing himself physically. Some people, including his wife Brie, question why he feels the need to push himself to the limits at 41 years old.

    \”I don’t know why I have that desire, but I do.\”

    3 Ways Bryan Danielson Has Been Underutilized In AEW

  • Logan Paul Could Be Back in a WWE Ring by January

    Logan Paul has provided an update on his health and it\’s great news for fans hoping to see him back in a WWE ring.

    Paul injured his knee during his match against Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel earlier this month. He knew something was up mid-match, but decided to gut it out. He ended up turning in a performance that people are still talking about.

    Despite the setback, he was thrilled with the experience. He plans to wrestle for a very long time and is already plotting a blockbuster match at WrestleMania.

    Logan Paul\’s Injury

    Paul initially thought he tore his MCL, ACL and meniscus, which would have kept him out for a long time. Luckily, it was \”only\” a Grade-3 MCL tear.

    He posted a new vlog on Friday and shared the news of what his doctor told him:

    \”You have a significant tear of the MCL, you have what we call a Grade 3, which is almost a complete tear of the MCL. We\’re going to treat this with a brace and rehab, it\’s going to take a minimum of six weeks for this to heal fully.\”

    – Logan Paul relaying what his doctor told him

    Anybody who has been through physical therapy will tell you, it\’s not pleasant. Paul has spent November undergoing PT and sports rehabilitation sessions. He says \”it\’s been great thus far\” and teased that he knows when he\’ll be able to return to WWE.

    The vlog ended with Paul saying, \”As of now, it looks like I\’ll be back to the WWE, sometime in …\” and it cuts off.

    Recovery

    If Logan Paul stays on course with his recovery, six weeks from today brings us to January 6. Hypothetically, he could appear in the 2023 men\’s Royal Rumble match on January 28.

    That would be an aggressive timeframe, perhaps too aggressive. Even if he plays it safe and returns at a more conservative pace, a match at WrestleMania 39 in April seems very realistic. If only there was somebody he wanted to work with…

    Logan Paul Texted Triple H About Wrestling John Cena at WWE WrestleMania 39

  • Dante Martin Injury Scare Update: \”Doing Fine\” After Close Call

    AEW star Dante Martin is said to be \”doing fine\” after an injury scare at Wednesday\’s AEW Rampage tapings. The 21-year-old high-flying phenom wrestles a high-risk style, but that comes at a steep price.

    During a backstage segment on Dynamite, Top Flight challenged Ring of Honor tag team champions FTR to a match on this week\’s Rampage, which was taped after Dynamite went off the air.

    As seen below, fans on social media became concerned when fans in attendance noted that Martin was hurt during the contest.

    https://twitter.com/TranquiloSZN/status/1595624999360004096

    High Risk, High Reward

    Top Flight has dealt with a slew of injuries since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. They\’re looking to re-establish themselves as contenders for the AEW World tag team championships, so another injury is the last thing they need.

    Speaking of the AEW tag titles, Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed has provided an update on Martin\’s status. On Thanksgiving, Bowens posted a photo of The Acclaimed and Top Flight with the caption, \”Happy Thanksgiving from the House of Half Black.\”

    Twitter user @FrozennAngell replied to the photo and asked Bowens about Martin\’s health. Thankfully, he had good news to share.

    Catch Top Flight vs. FTR on this week\’s AEW Rampage, which airs at a special start time of 4pm EST on Friday afternoon. \”Uncle\” Dax Harwood of FTR is excited for fans to see this first meeting of the two teams.

  • Bray Wyatt News Headed into Friday\’s WWE SmackDown

    Bray Wyatt\’s new feud with the recently-rebranded LA Knight is set to continue tonight on SmackDown.

    The primary focus of the show will be the final build to Survivor Series, including an \’Advantage Match\’ on the men\’s side, and Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Mia Yim revealing the final member of their team for the women\’s WarGames match. However, WWE has several other ongoing storylines that are worth tuning in for.

    LA Knight

    Wyatt has been trying to keep himself on an honest path since returning to the company, but he\’s had a difficult time keeping his violent tendencies at bay. He slipped up by recently attacking LA Knight, and attempted to apologize for his actions last week. Knight wasn\’t having it. After interrupting a Wyatt\’s in-ring promo, he slapped Wyatt in the face, twice.

    Later in the show, Knight was found badly beaten backstage. Maybe the attack was carried out by Waytt, maybe someone else was responsible.

    Headed into tonight\’s SmackDown, Fightful Select reports that plans call for Knight to sell his injuries \”pretty heavily\” on the show.

    It would be (very) short notice to add Wyatt vs. Knight to the Survivor Series card less than 24 hours before the event. One thing we o know: this storyline still has a ways to go as we head into the final weeks of 2022.

    Wyatt Masks

    Finally, Fightful also notes that several Bray Wyatt masks are being brought to SmackDown.

    Check back later tonight for our WWE SmackDown results and takeaways feature.

  • WWE SmackDown Preview (Nov. 25): WarGames is Coming

    We\’re just a day away from WWE Survivor Series, but there\’s still one more stop on the road to the final premium live event of 2022. WWE SmackDown takes place live from Providence, Rhode Island at the Amica Mutual Pavilion and it\’s sure to be an eventful show.

    There are several items advertised for SmackDown, but the most consequential match will determine which team gets the numbers advantage the men\’s WarGames match. This Saturday night, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens and the Brawling Brutes go to war with The Bloodline.

    Tonight on SmackDown, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre will face Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos in a non-title match to determine which team will gets the first entry into WarGames, which provides a 1-man advantage for a good portion of the match.

    RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will be on SmackDown, along with Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Mia Yim, to reveal the final member of their WarGames team. The SmackDown World Cup Tournament also continues with two semi-final matches.

    WWE has announced the following line-up for tonight’s SmackDown:

    • Sheamus and Drew McIntyre vs. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos for the Men’s War Games numbers advantage
    • RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will announce the final member of her team for Women’s War Games
    • World Cup Semi-finals: Butch vs. Santos Escobar
    • World Cup Semi-finals: Braun Strowman vs. Ricochet
    • SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler vs. Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez

    WWE and the arena website are also advertising the following Superstars for SmackDown: Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, Liv Morgan, The New Day, Ricochet, Hit Row, Shinsuke Nakamura and WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.

  • Upcoming WWE SmackDown to Air on FS1 Instead of FOX

    An upcoming episode of WWE SmackDown will air on the FS1 cable network instead of its usual home on Fox.

    The post-Survivor Series edition of SmackDown (December 2) will air on FS1 on Friday, December 2 due to a scheduling conflict.

    The move is due to Fox\’s commitment to broadcast the PAC-12 College Football Championship Game that night.

    To make up for the possible loss in viewership due to the change, FS1 will be airing SmackDown three times that night. SmackDown will air live at 8pm ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY that night. It will then replay at 10pm and midnight.

    WWE tends to go into a \’holding pattern\’ with programming during the holiday season, but this FS1 edition of SmackDown should be eventful. Aside from the fact that WWE typically stacks these pre-empted shows to make sure people tune in, we\’ll be coming off the final big premium live event of 2022.

    WWE Survivor Series takes place this Saturday night from Boston, MA. For the first time in history, Survivor Series will feature two WarGames matches.

  • New Trademark Filings Reveal Future Plans for Chris Jericho

    New trademark filings by Chris Jericho provide an inside look at what to expect from AEW\’s most reinventive performer.

    Last week (November 16), Chris Irvine, Inc filed three new trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. According to the USPTO database, Jericho and attorney Michael Dockins applied to trademark the names:

    • Christory
    • This Day in Christory
    • Seltzer Man

    Christory in the Making

    The \’Goods and Services\’ usage descriptions for these new trademarks include:

    • Entertainment services, namely, continuing video programs featuring professional wrestling, music, and popular culture accessible by means of computer networks, websites, video, web-based applications, and mobile phone applications
    • Entertainment services, namely, continuing video programs featuring professional wrestling, music, and popular culture distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media
    • Conducting of entertainment events in the nature of live stage shows discussing professional wrestling, music, and popular culture; 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

    Chris Irvine, Inc. holds trademarks to dozens of names and terms used by Jericho, including Chris Jericho, A Little Bit of the Bubbly, The Painmaker, The Ocho, The Wizard, Jericho Appreciation Society, Sports Entertainer, Million Viewer Man, Corazon De Leon and Mimosa Mayhem.

    Expect to see \”Seltzer Man\” and \”This Day in Christory\” on AEW programming some time in the near future.

  • Royal Rumble 2023 Sets Box Office Record for WWE

    WWE\’s Royal Rumble premium live event is over two months away, but the event is already a blockbuster success for the company.

    WWE has announced the 2023 Royal Rumble has garnered the largest box office gate in the event\’s 36-year history.

    The event takes place Saturday, January 28 from San Antonio, TX at the AlamoDome.

    $5 Million+ Gate

    Over the weekend, the Royal Rumble surpassed $5 million in ticket sales. The previous record for \’largest Royal Rumble gate\’ was set in 2017, the last time the Rumble was held at the AlamoDome.

    Wrestletix provided an update on Royal Rumble ticket sales on November 18. As of that date, 30,361 tickets had been distributed and the stadium was configured to accommodate 33,874 fans. If you\’re interested in attending the 2023 Royal Rumble, tickets are still on sale at SeatGeek.

    As we\’ve seen in recent years, WWE will hold two Royal Rumble matches on January 28th (one for men, one for women). The winners of the Rumble matches will earn the right to challenge the champion of their choice at WrestleMania 39.

    Record-Setting Business

    WWE has been on a roll this year, setting box office records left and right. 2022 saw new box office records set for WrestleMania, Extreme Rules and Crown Jewel.

    This latest milestone for the 2023 Royal Rumble puts WWE in a great position headed into the new year. WrestleMania 39 is scheduled for April 1 and April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Back in August, the company announced over 90,000 tickets were sold within the first 24 hours, more than any event in WWE history and a 42% increase over first-day sales for WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

  • Small, But Talented: Kevin Nash Reacts to Logan Paul in WWE

    Logan Paul turned in one hell of a performance against Roman Reigns earlier this month at WWE Crown Jewel. Paul left it on in the ring on November 5, proving that he\’s got what it takes to \’hang\’ with the industry\’s top star.

    The 27-year-old influencer tore cartilage and ligaments in his right knee during the match. The injuries will keep him out of the ring for several months, but Paul is already training for his WWE return. His brother Jake Paul says his recovery is going better than expected and The Maverick is already plotting his next big match for WWE:

    WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash commented on Paul\’s Crown Jewel performance on the latest episode of his Kliq This podcast. Nash, who was billed at 6\’10\” during his active career, says he was a bit surprised how small Paul looked compared to Reigns.

    I’m gonna say this… I’m gonna get browbeaten because God forbid if Kevin Nash was to let anybody that wasn’t nine feet tall wrestle… I didn’t realize he was that small. He was noticeably smaller than Roman Reigns.

    – Kevin Nash on Logan Paul

    Kid\’s Talented

    \"Logan

    Roman Reigns has a muscular body, while Paul has a more athletic stature, but it\’s not like Reigns (6\’3\”) towered over Paul (6\’2\”).

    Nash did say, \”the kid [Paul] is talented,\” and it helped that Shawn Michaels helped train him for the match. However, Nash was hung up on Paul\’s size.

    “Look at the size of Roman’s head next to his,\” Nash continued. \”That’s the size of a man. He can have an eleven inch penis but if it’s like a number two pencil, that’s one thing, but if it’s got a head like a softball, you’re still gonna be the man. That looks like Hunter working against me, size-wise.\”

    All that aside, Logan Paul is planning to continue his WWE career when his injuries heel. Shortly after his match at Crown Jewel, Paul said he plans to be a WWE Superstar for a long time.

    Logan Paul on His Match Against Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel: “I’ll be Doing This for a Long Time”

  • The Rock Pays Tribute to His Pro Wrestling Dream Opponent

    Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson had a legendary wrestling career, but he never got to step in the ring against his dream opponent.

    The 10-time world champion shared the ring with some of the industry\’s biggest stars, including Steve Austin, Bret Hart, John Cena, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle and countless others. For everything he accomplished in the ring, there\’s one Hall of Famer he wishes he could have wrestled.

    On Sunday, The Rock posted a photo on Instagram from his famed \’Iron Paradise\’ gym wearing a pair of flashy sunglasses. The shades may remind longtime fans of one Superstar in particular who was the \’cream of the crop\’ during his day.

    The Rock & Macho Man Randy Savage

    \"Randy

    The Rock says the late \”Macho Man\” Randy Savage was always his dream match. He would have been honored to share the squared circle with him, but it never came to be.

    Johnson was an full-time WWE Superstar from 1996-2004. Savage left WWE and was active in WCW through 2000, but their paths never crossed on television.

    Back around 2000-2001, Randy Savage did an interview where he praised The Rock as a \’general\’ of the WWE locker room. \”[He\’s] a cool dude because of the fact that when he comes into the dressing room, he shakes everybody\’s hand, he looks everybody in the eye, he doesn\’t stir it up in the dressing room.\”

    The Rock has paid tribute to Randy Savage before, featuring him on his hit series, Young Rock. As seen below, the Great One remains a big fan of the Macho Man, who is widely considered one of the greatest all-around pro wrestlers in history.

  • AEW Scores Another Million Dollar Gate With Full Gear 2022

    All Elite Wrestling has hit another big financial milestone. Ahead of Saturday night\’s AEW Full Gear pay-per-view, we can confirm the gross ticket sales for the show have exceeded $1 Million.

    Full Gear 2022 takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The venue is configured to accommodate 12,324 fans. According to Wrestletix, 11,499 tickets were distributed as of Friday morning.

    AEW President Tony Khan has announced Full Gear is the fourth consecutive PPV to achieve a million dollar live gate. This means AEW hit that figure for every PPV of 2022 (Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out and now Full Gear).

    To add icing on the cake, September\’s special Grand Slam edition of Dynamite from Queens, NY also surpassed a million dollars at the box office.

    All of these big houses have helped make this AEW\’s most lucrative year to date.

    Full Gear will feature 10 matches, plus another three on the Zero Hour kickoff show. The main event will see MJF challenging Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship.

    AEW looks to get back on track tonight after a rocky few months. The company was red hot earlier this year, but got knocked off track due to a slew of top stars going down with injuries, including Kenny Omega, CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole. That was before All Out and chaos that stemmed from the post-show media scrum.

  • MJF Reveals the Secret to his Popularity

    Maxwell Jacob Friedman is having the biggest year of his professional career. The 26-year-old wrestling prodigy looks to make history Saturday night and win the \’big one\’ just miles from his hometown of Plainview, NY.

    MJF will challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship in the main event of AEW Full Gear. Win, lose or draw, the match itself is a testament to everything he\’s achieved so far. He may not be the biggest or strongest man in AEW. He may not be a technical wizard like Bryan Danielson or Claudio Castagnoli. However, fans can\’t get enough of MJF.

    He\’s great one the mic, one of the best in the business today. However, MJF says it\’s his authenticity that resonates most with the audience.

    During an interview with Vulture, journalist Anne Victoria Clark asked MJF if he\’s ever considered portraying another \’character\’ in AEW. Friedman corrected her immediately and told her he\’s not playing a character. He said \’gimmicks\’ are not confined to pro wrestling. In every walk of life – politics, professional sports, Hollywood – people are \’turning their personalities up to 11\’ to get attention.

    Like I said, I think the reason that I have such an animalistic magnetism to wrestling fans is because it’s very obviously me.

    – MJF

    Fans Love MJF\’s Authenticity

    MJF says fans love him because he speaks his mind when others are scared to do so. He\’s not afraid to cross any lines or offend anybody. Society is more sensitive than ever, which allows him slice through the noise and stand out.

    Social media is a huge part of today\’s culture. Wrestlers face an onslaught of negativity from people they don\’t even know, but MJF doesn\’t let any of that get to him. If he doesn\’t know you or wouldn\’t come to you for advice in real life, he\’s not going to be offended if you don\’t like him.

    \”I think that’s a big issue with my generation,\” he said. \”If I read every single positive thing people had to say about me, I would be the most egotistical person in the world, because people are nonstop talking about how I’m the greatest professional wrestler of all time, so you just have to walk away from your phone every now and then.\”

    MJF is considered a heel for the most part, but there\’s no question that he\’s won people over and gets cheered a lot at AEW shows. He

    \”Again, I just think people love authenticity, and I think the name of the game is authenticity. In a fake world, people want to see real people, and there’s nobody realer than me.\”

    – MJF

  • Tony Khan Addresses AEW\’s Interim Women\’s World Title Situation

    AEW President Tony Khan is shedding light on the decision to crown an Interim Women\’s World Champion while Thunder Rosa is out of action.

    Rosa still the official AEW Women\’s World Champion, but she hasn\’t competed since late August when she announced on Dynamite that she\’d be taking time off due to injury.

    Since then, the company held a tournament to crown an interim champion. Toni Storm won that prize and has been a fighting champion ever since. Storm has questioned the validity of Rosa\’s situation, and the entire concept of an interim champion. She\’s said plainly, Rosa should be stripped of her title and thinks the whole situation is ridiculous.

    There\’s a strong argument that a champion should have to surrender their title if they are unable to defend it for several months – and they\’d be number one contender when they return.

    Truly a World Champion?

    \"Thunder

    Khan appeared on Barstool Sports\’ Rasslin\’ podcast this week to promote Saturdy\’s Full Gear pay-per-view. According to TK, it was a difficult choice to let Rosa keep her title while she\’s out injured. He wanted to give her every opportunity to come back and defend her championship, without knowing how long Rosa will be out.

    At the end of the day, he decided to go the interim champion route and thinks the eventual unification match will be a big deal.

    He touted Storm as a huge free agent signing who came in with a great reputation and television experience. She\’ll defend the Interim title against Jamie Hayter at Full Gear. Even with Thunder Rosa out of the picture for now, Storm and Hayter have become \”really key figures\” in AEW and whoever wins will \”truly be a world champion.\”

  • Linda McMahon Spotted at Mar a Lago with Former President Trump

    Former WWE President and CEO Linda McMahon was in Palm Beach, Florida this week alongside former US President Donald Trump.

    Trump, a WWE Hall of Famer is his own right, is gearing up for another run at the White House. Just days ago, he announced his candidacy for 2024.

    The Trumps and McMahons go way back, dating back to the 1980\’s. In addition to their collaborations in the world of professional wrestling, McMahon served in Trump\’s Presidential cabinet from 2016-2019 as the head of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

    Trump touted the \”incredible job\” McMahon did when she stepped down from her post at the SBA. He said she was a \”superstar\” in that role. He expected a lot from her, but was still surprised at how well she did and how many people she helped.

    On Thursday, the 45th President held another event was at Mar a Lago. As seen in the video and photo below, Trump and McMahon were seated next to each other in multiple settings.

    McMahon has kept a low profile since leaving public office, but could certainly mount a comeback now that Trump is running for President again. Trump almost certainly will not be selecting former Vice President Mike Pence as his running mate again. Pence remains loyal to Trump, but has publicly flirted with the idea of running against him in the primaries to determine the nominee for the Republican party in \’24.

    McMahon would make an interesting choice for a running mate, considering their longstanding history together. She could also serve as an advisor.

  • Captain Insano Appears in The Acclaimed\’s New Music Video

    Captain Insano has arrived in All Elite Wrestling.

    The alter ego of wrestling legend Paul White made a surprise appearance in a music video by AEW World Tag Team Champions, The Acclaimed.

    Captain Insano first appeared in the 1998 comedy The Waterboy starring Adam Sandler.

    AEW trademarked the name \”Captain Insano\” back in March 2021. Wight has been teasing his arrival ever since, as recently as this summer. Back in July, Wight told WrestlingInc:

    “He’ll be back. The guy who wrote The Waterboy has approved. Tony Khan and I have secured the rights to Captain Insano. There’s already an outfit made, the whole nine yards. We’re doing a lot of prep work, and this will be my last hoorah so to speak.”

    It remains to be seen if Captain Insano will ever wrestle a match for AEW. It\’s possible we will see him as a bonus character in the upcoming AEW: Fight Forever video game.

    You can watch the music video for \’A Hand for A Hand\’ by The Acclaimed below. The song is a diss track mocking Swerve In Our Glory, who challenge for The Acclaimed\’s tag titles this Saturday at AEW Full Gear.

  • Britt Baker Fired Up After Saraya \”Ripped Her To Shreds\” on Dynamite

    Britt Baker is fired up after Saraya \”ripped her to shreds\” during a promo last week on AEW Dynamite. Saraya held nothing back when she laid out her long, painful journey to getting \’medically cleared\’ after several years on the sidelines due to injuries.

    After having a few days to process everything, Baker admits Saraya is a real-life role model with an inspiring story. She aspires to achieve Saraya\’s level of worldwide stardom. For now, she wants to make one thing clear: AEW is still her house. The two will clash this weekend at Full Gear after months of build, which began long before Saraya arrived in All Elite Wrestling at Grand Slam.

    The former AEW Women\’s champion appeared on Busted Open Radio this week to discuss her mentality heading into the pay-per-view.

    \”It definitely motivated me, because she ripped me apart. She literally ripped me to shreds.\”

    – Britt Baker on Saraya\’s promo (AEW Dynamite, 11/9/22)

    \”So, I was kind of in shock for a second,\” said Baker. \”It was very surreal hearing everything she was saying to me. Even everything she went through, that was very real and raw. That\’s totally her. Her digs at me aside, this girl is a real life role model. Everything she went through, everything she\’s overcome. Now she\’s standing in a ring across the top girl in AEW. Hats off to her, but this is my house. And the fans know that. They told you that, this is my house.\”

    Saraya is a Star

    Toni Storm\’s Interim AEW Women\’s Championship defense against Jamie Hayter has the higher stakes, but Baker vs. Saraya is the most anticipated women\’s match at Full Gear.

    Baker says Saraya will bring new eyes to AEW, which will help the company\’s expansion. She also understands that Saraya may not be angry with her specifically, even though she felt the wrath last week.

    \”She has her hardcore group of fans,\” said Baker. \”This girl\’s a star. There\’s probably that don\’t even watch wrestling that watched her family\’s movie that want to watch this match because they\’re a fan of her and the story. She\’s a worldwide star and I can\’t take that away from her. Actually, I would like to be what she is one day. But when it comes to AEW, this is my house, you can\’t come in to my house and tell me that you laid the foundation. You didn\’t lay a single brick.\”

    \”I\’m happy that she said every single word she did in that promo, because this is the most fired up I\’ve ever been and it\’s not every day that I get to stand in the ring face to face and do a back and forth promo with someone. That was really exciting. Even though she was cutting me deep, and she certainly was cutting me deep, it was very motivating, because I did feel how raw she was.

    \”She was angry and i don\’t think she\’s angry at me. I think she\’s angry at the situation, but what she told me that I don\’t have what it takes to be a star, ok well if you meant to say it or not, you said it, because now, all bets are off. You\’re cleared, let\’s have a match, let\’s go this Saturday.\”

    AEW Full Gear takes place this Saturday, November 18th from 19th from Newark, NJ. The event airs live on pay-per-view.

  • Top Dolla Recalls \”Disappointment, Shame\” After WWE Release

    WWE Superstar Top Dolla (AJ Francis) is getting candid about the disappointment and shame he felt when he was released from the company in 2021.

    Hit Row is back doing their thing on the SmackDown brand, but it was not an easy road getting there. The group was swept up in WWE\’s \’cost cutting\’ wave of releases last year and Top Dolla was hit especially hard when he found himself out of work.

    During an appearance on the Fox Sports Out of Character podcast, Dolla told host Ryan Satin that he was caught completely off guard when he lost his dream job. When asked about his initial reaction, he recalled, \”Disappointment. Shame.\”

    \”I\’ve worked to get to that point,\” he said. \”We had the fastest call-up ever in NXT history. To then be released a month later it was like, I felt.. I didn\’t know that this would happen. I had no assurances that I\’d be back in WWE again. So I felt like maybe the two years that I had spent in NXT, getting to that point was just a waste of my time, because I was gonna have to go do something else now. What ended up happening, which was a blessing, was the fact that, I always stayed in contact with Hunter.\”

    He recalls being \”genuinely depressed\” when his career came to a screeching halt.

    \”When we first got released, it was tough. I was genuinely depressed. I had spent my entire life looking for a chance to get an opportunity to be on SmackDown, to be on Raw. Then I got there and then a month later it got taken out from underneath me. So it was one of the worst experiences [and] times of my life.\”

    Luckily, hard work pays off. He, Ashante \”Thee\” Adonis and B-Fab were brought back to WWE as part of Triple H\’s initiative to re-hire a slew of talented performers.

    Top Dolla has gotten himself in great physical shape over the past few months. He revealed on Twitter that he was 367 pounds when he re-signed with WWE less than three months ago. On November 9, he weighed in at 303 pounds – the lightest he\’s been since his junior year of college.

    You can check out Top Dolla\’s full interview below:

  • Bianca Belair Aims to be Successful Outside the \’Wrestling Bubble\’

    Bianca Belair has lofty dreams that extend far beyond the squared circle. The EST of WWE has been the Raw Women\’s Champion since defeating Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 back in April. 7 months later, her career is looking more promising than ever.

    Belair signed William Morris Endeavor (WME) in August. The powerhouse Hollywood agency will help build her brand across podcasting, acting, marketing and more.

    During a recent interview with Metro, she spoke about her desire to always branch out into new areas and challenge herself creatively.

    \”I\’m super excited for it,\” Belair said of the WME partnership. \”I don\’t like to sit still at all, I like to do everything. I like to utilize all of my talents. At one point in my life, I\’d have never thought of being a WWE superstar, and now I am!\”

    Belair and husband Montez Ford are working on a new show that will air on Hulu some time in 2023. If she has here way, that\’s just the beginning.

    Hollywood Dreams

    Belair wants to see herself on the big screen and would love star in a film opposite WWE legends such as The Rock or John Cena. She credits them both for creating the blueprint for WWE Superstars to transition and do multiple things.

    The Rock and John Cena have both moved on from being full-time Superstars, although there\’s hope each of them will get back in the ring one day.

    The allure of Hollywood can be very powerful, but Belair insists that she\’s not looking to leave WWE any time soon. She wants the best of both worlds, and thinks it\’s possible to become successful outside of WWE and then use her fame to draw new fans to pro wrestling.

    \”I can\’t think of myself as anything other than a WWE superstar,\” she continued. \”I\’m still in the business. I\’m just getting started. I\’m still honing my craft.\”

    \”I have so much more to do, but right now I\’m just multitasking and go outside the wrestling bubble and bring more eyes to the product. That\’s my goal.\”

    – Bianca Belair

    Belair is set compete in the Women\’s WarGames match at Survivor Series later this month. As team captain, she\’ll lead Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim and one more partner (TBD) into battle against Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky), Nikki Cross and Rhea Ripley.

  • Bobby Lashley Taking Career Advice from a Maniacal Bird

    Bobby Lashley is having one of the best years of his WWE career. He\’s fought Brock Lesnar twice, with each man claiming a victory over the other. He had an impressive run with the United States Championship and elevated that prize through a series of dominant title defenses.

    Unfortunately, Lashley\’s US title reign recently came to an end at the hands of Seth Rollins. Since then, Lashley has been hell-bent on reclaiming what he feels is rightfully his. The Almighty is usually known for his calm demeanor, but he wants WWE Superstars to know he won\’t hesitate to inflict pain on anybody who stands in his way.

    Lashley spoke with Cathy Kelley backstage after Monday\’s Raw and said you can\’t be \’Mr. Nice Guy\’ and expect to get ahead. If you do, people will take you for granted and walk all over you. Those days are over. He\’s got a new mindset – thanks to a \”little birdie\” that showed him the light.

    \”What I’ve come to understand here is that you have to take what you want around here because if not, you get walked over\” said Lashley. \”I played ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ for way too long. I started to get to this point a little birdie came and told me in my ear, ‘If you just are hurting people and taking people out, who’s gonna stop you?’ I kind of thought about and it’s true.\”

    \”The biggest, baddest person around, Brock Lesnar, I threw him around like a little kid. So now after that, I come in with a little different change of heart and a different mind-frame with everything else. [I\’m] still a nice guy, but I’ll hurt anybody that steps in the ring with me from now on.”

    Lashley vows to get the United States Championship back from Rollins, one way or another. Ever since Roman Reigns unified the WWE Championship and the Undisputed Championship earlier this year, the US title is the top prize on the Raw Brand. Lashey knows the prestige that comes with holding the gold and is putting Rollins on notice once again.

  • Details on WWE\’s New \”Iron Survivor Challenge\” Trademark

    WWE recently filed a trademark application that sheds light on a new show in the works.

    On Thursday, November 10, 2022, World Wrestling Entertainment applied to trademark the name Iron Survivor Challenge. According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office database, the \’Goods and Services\’ usage description 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

    The \’Goods and Services\’ description implies this will be a new show, either on television, the Peacock streaming service (\’WWE Network\’) or the company\’s online platforms such as YouTube.

    We\’ll keep you posted when we\’ve got more info on WWE\’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

  • WarGames Rules Explained for WWE Survivor Series

    WarGames returns at WWE\’s upcoming Survivor Series premium live event. It will be the first time the infamous double steel cage match takes place at WWE\’s fall classic.

    There have been over a dozen WarGames matches since the match was first introduced back in 1987. The number of participants on each team, the intervals that wrestlers enter the match and other rules have varied. Below, we\’ll lay out exactly what to expect from WarGames later this month.

    There will be two WarGames matches at Survivor Series (Men\’s and Women\’s) on Saturday, November 26th. WWE has yet to announce the participants for the men\’s match, although you can be sure The Bloodline will be involved.

    The women\’s WarGames match is nearly set. It will be Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim and one more TBD partner facing Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky), Nikki Cross and Rhea Ripley.

    \"Women\'s

    WarGames Rules Explained

    Here are the official rules for the WarGames matches that will be taking place at WWE Survivor Series 2022:

    • Two teams will be contained in separate cages with one member of each team starting the match.
    • After five minutes, a member from the advantaged team will be released to enter the match.
    • After a three-minute period, alternating members from each team will enter the match until all competitors are inside the cage.
    • Once all the competitors have entered, WarGames officially begins.
    • The only way to win the match is by pinfall or submission.

    The Creation of WarGames

    WarGames was created by the late \”American Dream\” Dusty Rhodes.

    Here\’s a video of Rhodes talking about the creation of The Match Beyond:

  • WWE Has Offered Steve Austin Another Match

    WWE Hall of Famer \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin continues to fuel speculation about his in-ring future with some butt-kicking workout videos.

    Austin made his return to active competition earlier this year at WrestleMania 38. In a bouht that nobody thought would happen, Austin defeated Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match. It was his first time in the ring since WrestleMania 19, almost 20 years earlier.

    With WrestleMania season right around the corner, the Texas Rattlesnake has posted a new video of himself opening up a can of \’whoop ass\’ in the gym. More specifically, in his RV.

    On Monday, Austin showed off what it takes to look like Stone Cold at 57 years of age. This workout includes air squats, dumbbell curls, push-ups and kettlebell swings.

    Steve Austin Wrestling Again?

    WWE insider Wrestlevotes stated in an interview that Austin was so pleased with his performance at WrestleMania earlier this year, he wouldn\’t rule out the possibility of another special attraction match. On Monday, Fightful reported that WWE has reached out to Steve Austin about wrestling again since Triple H took over for Vince McMahon over the summer.

    WWE always goes all-out for WrestleMania, but the company is looking to pull out all the stops when the biggest wrestling show of the year heads to Los Angeles, California. There have been reports that WWE is looking for extra celebrity involvement at the event, which makes sense considering the link to Hollywood. We\’ve also heard The Rock and John Cena discussed for high-profile appearances.

    Wrestling fans have been conditioned to believe, \’never say never.\’ Austin wrestling again is still a long shot. Then again, nobody (including Kevin Owens) thought he\’d get back in the ring after nearly 20 years away. Stranger things have happened, so we\’re staying cautiously optimistic.

  • Anthony Ogogo Is.. Really Excited About AEW Coming to the UK

    Anthony Ogogo sounds pretty excited about the news that All Elite Wrestling is headed to the United Kingdom in 2023.

    AEW holding a show in the UK has been years in the making. In fact, Ogogo\’s former rival Cody Rhodes was talking about bringing \’elite\’ wrestling to the country since 2019.

    The former Olympic boxer recently spoke with Desert Island Graps and used a hockey analogy to explain how hard he\’s working to get back in an AEW ring.

    \”When I do get the chance, I will score a hat trick and I won’t give up,” he said.

    When asked if AEW\’s UK debut was the place for him to score this hat trick, Ogogo couldn\’t contain his excitement.

    “Mate, I’ve got a f**king stiffy.”

    The Guv\’nor\’s AEW career has been hampered with injuries. Last summer, he revealed his in-ring career was on hold due to him undergoing his 10th eye surgery since suffering a broken eye socket during a 2016 boxing fight.

    His biggest AEW feud as was against Cody Rhodes, a feud both men reget. He hasn\’t wrestled in 2022.

    Listen to Anthony Ogogo\’s appearance on Desert Island Graps:

  • Ronda Rousey Enjoying \”Easier\” Time in WWE After Paying Her Dues

    Ronda Rousey is really enjoying herself in WWE, but it wasn\’t always this way.

    The reigning SmackDown Women\’s Champion has had some ups and downs since joining the company on a full-time basis in January 2018. She\’s had a contentious relationship with fans and even got some heat from her co-workers by calling pro wrestling \”fake fighting.\”

    During the latest episode of her “Ronda on the Road\” YouTube series, Rousey explained that she\’s finally feeling more comfortable in WWE. It took some time to get there, but she believes she\’s paid her dues and has earned the right to speak up for herself behind the scenes.

    “I think this run is easier because I kind of know how things work around here and I’ve kind of paid up more of my dues.” 

    – Ronda Rousey

    Paying Her Dues

    Rousey was a global sports icon when she made the leap into pro wrestling. She was a natural from the moment she first step foot in the ring, but being a high-paid rookie can come with some drawbacks. At times, she\’s felt like she couldn\’t fully speak up for herself.

    Several years into her WWE career, she feels confident enough to speak up for herself and is humble enough to accept pushback as well.

    “I have put enough time here that they’ll at least hear me out and explain to me why I’m wrong (if I am), you know, and that way I learned something. I think I feel like I have more of a voice this time and confidence to use it.”

    The Baddest Woman on the Planet has been feuding with Shotzi in recent weeks. They\’ll battle for Rousey\’s SmackDown Women\’s Championship at WWE Survivor Series later this month.