Bianca Belair wants to know why most of the celebrities who crossover to WWE are men, and knows a few famous females she\’d like to see inside the squared circle.
WWE\’s reigning Raw Women\’s Champion appeared on New York\’s Z100 radio station earlier this week to promote Monday\’s Raw from Madison Square Garden.
While speaking about WWWE utilizing celebrities like Bad Bunny, Johnny Knoxville and Logan Paul, The EST said it\’s time for a female superstar to follow suit.
\”We were just talking about how there’s been a lot of male crossover into WWE on the male side, and when are we going to have a female? Who’s going to be that female that’s going to crossover into WWE and really show up and show out?”
Let’s collab. Let’s make something happen!
When asked which female celebrities she\’d like to see cross over to the WWE Universe, Belair has a few people in mind. In particular, she named hip hop megastars Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion.
“Cardi B, Nicki, Meg, whoever wants to come out, I am a huge fan of them. They can come and get in the ring; we can tag team. They can come and perform, bring me out, let me come out to their music, my entrance music. Let’s collab. Let’s make something happen!
Cardi B & Nicki Minaj
WWE has been outspoken about wanting to work with Cardi B again. Her song \”Up\” served as the official theme song for SummerSlam 2021.
“Being around Snoop Dogg, everyone always called him The Boss,” Banks said.
“At the time, Floyd Mayweather was out there, Nicki Minaj, just all these larger than life characters that were flashy, cocky and flamboyant. That’s who I wanted to be.\”
The new WWE headquarters that\’s currently under renovation just took a big step forward.
After decades at the current company headquarters (1241 E. Main Street in Stamford, CT), WWE will relocate to 677 Washington Blvd in downtown Stamford soon. (As of late 2021, the plan was to move in late 2022.)
The new facility is just two miles away.
Reddit user u/BugOperator was in Stamford this week and photographed the WWE logo now appears atop the building at 677 Washington Blvd.
WWE is leasing several floors in the 13-story tower, and will also have a production center in the adjacent seven-story pavilion (per Stamford Advocate).
New WWE HQ
In WWE\’s 2020 annual report, the company had this to say about the move:
“Upon completion of our move to the new global headquarters, we expect to sell our owned and operated corporate facility, exit our leased spaces and will evaluate options for our television production studio facilities based on strategic, operating and financial considerations.\”
Initial plans for an early-2021 move were delayed in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(677 Washington Blvd in Stamford, CT. Photo: Stamford Advocate)
Seth Rollins is currently without a match for Saturday\’s SummerSlam premium live event from Nashville, TN.
Rollins was scheduled to face Riddle on the show, but the match has been postponed after Rollins attacked Riddle on Raw. According to WWE\’s storyline, Riddle sustained a \’brachial plexus\’ injury (a stinger) and is not cleared to compete this weekend.
Following the announcement that his SummerSlam match is off, Rollins took to social media to apologize to fans.
\”For anyone who purchased a ticket to SummerSlam hoping to see me in action, I apologize,\” he wrote. \”I did everything I could over the last 6 months to earn my spot on this show, but some things are out of my control. Thank you for always singing my song. They’ll hear ya someday.\”
Triple H is Listening
The tweet caught the attention of Triple H, WWE\’s new Head of Talent Relations and creative. Triple H informed Rollins, \”I hear you!\”
WWE has yet to announce a new match for Rollins, but speculation is rampant that Triple H will make a call to an old friend to fill in for Riddle.
This is purely speculation at this point, but the prevailing theory is that we\’ll see free agent (and former NXT Champion) Johnny Gargano return to WWE to battle Rollins.
Gargano was believed to be \”too small\” to succeed on the main roster when he made the difficult decision to leave WWE late last year. Of course, there\’s now a new regime in place. Gargano thrived under Triple H in NXT, so he\’d have a much better shot on Raw or SmackDown with Triple H in charge of creative. Stay tuned!
The Roast of Ric Flair takes place this Friday night in Nashville, TN. The event kicks off Starrcast V weekend, which culminates Friday night with Ric Flair\’s Last Match.
The Roast of Ric Flair streams live on FITE Friday night at 8pm (Eastern).
Order Starrcast V, including The Roast of Ric Flair, Ric Flair\’s Last Match and much more ($99.99)
SEScoops correspondents Webmaster Mike and Ella Jay will be in Nashville this weekend covering Starrcast and SummerSlam weekend. Follow SEScoops on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to see all of our on-site coverage.
Flair Wants Vince to Roast Him
In the lead-up to The Roast of Ric Flair, the Nature Boy asks, who better to roast him than longtime friend and former WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon?
In the fallout of McMahon\’s retirement from WWE, Flair joked, \”I\’m trying to get him to come to Nashville now!\”
Starrcast organizer Conrad Thompson quickly added, \”He\’s welcome, we\’d love to have him as the special guest enforcer for the main event.\”
Flair and Vince\’s relationship goes back several decades. They\’ve had their ups and downs, but McMahon has been there for Flair through some tough times he\’s experienced.
Ric Flair added, \”I want him to roast me, he certainly has in real life enough!\”
He then impersonated McMahon and joked, \”80\’s heels don\’t draw you stupid SOB Don\’t ever bring a lawyer to see me. I don\’t like lawyers, who are these two jack-offs?\”
Flair added, \”I started crying and so did the lawyers!\”
Watch Ric Flair joking about Vince McMahon roasting him here:
Roast of Ric Flair Special Guests
Announced guests for The Roast of Ric Flair:
Torrie Wilson – WWE Hall Of Famer
DDP – WWE Hall Of Famer
Eddie George – NFL Hall Of Famer
Vickie Guerrero – AEW Superstar
Tie Domi – NHL Legend
Brian Knobbs – Multi-Time Tag Team Champion
Eric Bischoff – WWE Hall Of Famer
Earl Skakel – Comedian and Host of The Inappropriate Earl Podcast
Tyler Morrison – Comedian and Host of Fight Stories
Dan St. Germain – Comedian and Host of Wrestle Roast
Shuli Egar – Comedian and Host of The Shuli Show
Corey Ryan Forrester – Comedian and Host of Puttin On Airs
Casio Kid – Comedian, Morning DJ Rocket 95.1 and Host of Casio\’s Cut
Once again, you can order The Roast of Ric Flairnow at FITE for just $19.99. The event streams this Friday, July 29th at 8pm (Eastern).
AEW President Tony Khan has provided additional commentary on the fallout from WWE\’s big management shakeup.
By now, you\’ve probably heard that Vince McMahon is out and Triple H has taken over as the head of Creative and Talent Relations.
The shakeup will bring a revitalized approach to who is hired and how they are booked. We saw an entire generation of NXT stars fail to translate on the main roster, many of whom have left the company and joined All Elite Wrestling. In fact, Fightfulreports that one top free agent is now much more likely to sign with WWE, in light of Vince\’s departure.
Tony Khan appeared on Busted Open Radio on Wednesday to promote tonight\’s Fight for the Fallen edition of AEW Dynamite.
During his weekly \”Tony Time\” segment, TK addressed the buzz that certain AEW performers might be interested in returning to WWE now that Triple H is steering the ship.
Khan said, \”I am a little amused that, changes in the competition.. people think that it\’s just going to magically change the landscape,\” and mocked some of the \’hot takes\’ he\’s seen on Twitter this week.
\”You know, I\’ve got people signed for 5 years and people think just because the CEO, the Chairman, the head of creative, those positions change in the competition, people I have 5-year contracts with are just going to magically switch teams? Like, Good luck with that.\”
Khan mentioned Adam Cole and Malakai Black in particular, as two stars who fit the \”NXT mold\” under Triple H who fans think might be wandering back to WWE.
“Adam Cole is signed until 2027 now,\” said Khan. \”I wouldn\’t expect to see him going anywhere anytime soon. Malakai Black has almost five years left on his deal. I wouldn\’t expect him going anywhere anytime soon.”
Adam Cole and Malakai Black won\’t be going anywhere any time soon, but there\’s no question that Triple H taking over creative will have an impact on the free agent market. Instantly, stars such as Johnny Gargano, Bray Wyatt and even Sasha Banks have a lot to think about regarding their next career moves.
Listen to Tony Khan\’s comments about the big shakeup in WWE:
ICYMI ?
"People think just because…positions change in the competition, that people I have 5-year contracts with are just magically gonna switch teams? Good luck with that."
If you\’re in Nashville, TN this weekend for WWE SummerSlam, here\’s your chance to meet Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair, SmackDown Women\’s Champion Liv Morgan and the Street Profits.
These Superstars are teaming up with C4 Energy for three special meet and greets taking place Friday and Saturday.
C4 Energy Drinks
Here\’s all the info, sent in by C4:
Following their success at WrestleMania in Dallas earlier this year, C4 Energy is igniting Nashville’s fire, fueling the city before the biggest WWE event of the season – SummerSlam.
C4 Energy is bringing the SummerSlam experience to the fans with a weekend of energized meet and greet events with WWE Raw Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair, and SmackDown Women’s Champion, Liv Morgan. Consumers will have the chance to ignite the fire inside with the energy and performance fuel that both Superstars swear by.
Fans can join C4 Energy for in-person meet and greets with the superstars on:
Friday, 7/29 – Fuel Up with Bianca Belair
6:30-8:30PM at Kroger (5544 Old Hickory Blvd Hermitage)
Saturday, 7/30 – Feel the Energy with The Street Prophets
9:00 – 11:00AM at Twice Daily / White Bison (2112 Charlotte Rd.)
Saturday, 7/30 – Feel the Energy with Liv Morgan
10:30 – 11:30AM at Twice Daily / White Bison (2112 Charlotte Rd.)
It’s essential for WWE Superstars to be in peak condition, mentally and physically, as they head into SummerSlam, and many of the greats including Roman Reigns, Montez Ford, Bianca Belair and more, swear by C4 Energy to give them the mental focus and extra fuel they need to take care of business, in and out of the ring.
Morgan is riding high after capturing her first SmackDown women\’s championship earlier this month at Money in the Bank. This Saturday, she defends the gold at SummerSlam against former champion Ronda Rousey. The match is seen as a chance for Morgan to solidify herself as a worthy champion.
Ahead of SummerSlam, the 28-year-old grappler spoke with The Mirror about what it was like to capture the gold, WWE\’s upcoming Clash at the Castle premium live event and more.
She also discussed the bombshell news of Vince McMahon leaving WWE and Stephanie McMahon becoming the company\’s new co-CEO, along with Nick Khan.
WWE SummerSlam 2022 Preview
How did WWE Superstars react to Vince McMahon\’s retirement?
Morgan says the WWE locker room had no idea Vince McMahon was on the verge of leaving the company he had ran for nearly 40 years.
\”We were all shocked,\” said Morgan. And it felt sudden. But we all owe so much to Vince. So if he felt like it was time, then it was time.\”
– Liv Morgan on Vince McMahon retiring
Now that Vince McMahon is no longer with WWE, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan have taken over as co-CEO\’s, while Triple H is the new head of Creative and Talent Relations.
Morgan says WWE Superstars are ready to for the new regime and are excited for what\’s to come.
\”We\’re also excited to be working with Stephanie and Nick,\” she said. \”Stephanie was born into this business, so there\’s literally no one better for the job than her. We\’re all so excited and we\’re just ready to go to work. We\’re all just ready to take it to the next level.\”
Head over to Mirror.co.uk to read their full interview with SmackDown Women\’s champion Liv Morgan.
Monday\’s edition of WWE Raw saw a tense backstage confrontation between Rhea Ripley and Rey Mysterio\’s daughter, Aalyah.
Wrestling fans who are \”in the know\” recognized a unique connection between these two women. Aalyah formerly portrayed the on-screen love interest of Buddy Matthews (Buddy Murphy), Ripley\’s current real-life boyfriend.
Buddy Matthews Reacts
The House of Black member became aware of this on-screen interaction and addressed it on social media.
Matthews joked that Aalyah and Rhea can \”fight for his custody\” in a ladder match, a nod to the infamous Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero match from SummerSlam 2005.
Based on the reaction .GIF posted by Rhea Ripley, she seems ready to fight for her man.
WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has assumed \”all responsibilities related to WWE\’s creative,\” the company announced Monday morning.
Vince McMahon\’s retirement on Friday has sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world. It\’s led to a significant shakeup to WWE\’s management structure, with Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan serving as co-CEO\’s.
Prior to the Vince retirement announcement, WWE announced Levesque was appointed as the new head of Talent Relations. In a press release about his new role, Levesque stated,
“I look forward to returning to my prior position as head of Talent Relations. I’m healthy, fired up, and ready to take charge.\”
Triple H Assumes Control of WWE Creative
In a press release sent out Monday morning, WWE and its Board of Directors addressed the updated management structure:
WWE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCE NEW CO-CEOS STEPHANIE MCMAHON AND NICK KHAN
WWE (NYSE: WWE) and its Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as co-Chief Executive Officers. Ms. McMahon has also been appointed Chairwoman of the Board, and Mr. Khan will continue to serve as a member of the Board. These appointments follow Vince McMahon’s retirement announcement on Friday, July 22.
We are grateful for the opportunity to lead WWE together with our unmatched management team,” said Ms. McMahon and Mr. Khan. “We recognize this is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility, and we look forward to serving the WWE Universe.”
Additionally, WWE executive Paul Levesque will assume all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative, in addition to his regular duties.\"
Monday’sRaw will be the first broadcast under the new creative regime headed by Paul Levesque.
Triple H has taken over “all responsibilities related to #WWE's creative.” How are you feeling?
Tonight\’s edition of WWE Monday Night Raw takes place from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In addition to being the \”go home\” broadcast before Saturday\’s SummerSlam event, it will be a historic night for other reasons. This marks the first episode of Monday Night Raw since Vince McMahon retired on Friday.
Raw from MSG sold out several days ago, so a packed house will be on hand for what\’s sure to be an eventful evening.
Raw Preview (7/25/22)
WWE is advertising the following items for tonight\’s Raw:
Roman Reigns and The Bloodline will be on hand.
Rey Mysterio celebrates the 20-year anniversary of his WWE debut. His first WWE match took place at SummerSlam 2002.
Rey and Dominik Mysterio team up against The Judgement Day\’s Finn Balor and Damien Priest
Logan Paul will appear to hype his match against The Miz at SummerSlam.
Join us here tonight for our WWE Raw Results and Live Discussion.
After the show, stay tuned for Steve Fall\’s weekly Going Red video series powered by the SEScoops YouTube Channel.
WWE Superstar Commander Azeez has a new look and a new role with the company.
At Saturday\’s NXT live event from Cocoa, Florida, Azeez appeared alongside Cora Jade. The duo wrestled a mixed tag match in a losing effort against Ivy Nyle and Sanga.
Azeez previously portrayed Apollo Crews\’ Imperial Guardsman on the main roster. That act has disbanded, with both men now wrestling for NXT 2.0.
This latest change is the fourth incarnation of Babatunde Aiyegbusi’s character in WWE. He signed with the company in 2016 after playing football in the Polish American Football League and German Football League. He had a brief stint NFL\’s Minnesota Vikings, but only played in the 2015 pre-season.
After debuting as Dabba Kato during the short-lived Raw Underground concept, he was later dubbed Babatunde before transforming into Commander Azeez on the main roster.
It will be interesting to see if WWE sticks with the Azeez & Jade pairing, or if this was a one-off situation while the company decides how to position the 6-foot-9 giant.
Commander Azeez in NXT 2.0
As seen in the photos below, Azeez is sporting a new look in NXT:
Sami Zayn discussed the prospect of retiring from active competition on the latest episode of Steve Austin\’s Broken Skull Sessions.
Earlier this year, Zayn celebrated the 20th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut. Prior to joining WWE in 2013, Zayn had a lengthy run on the independent scene. Before the WWE Universe met Sami Zayn, he portrayed the masked character El Generico in companies such as PWG, Chikara, ROH and Dragon Gate USA.
At 38 years old, Zayn knows he can\’t wrestle forever. He isn\’t planning to hang up the boots any time soon, but he has thought about the next phase of his career.
When father time knocks on his door and he\’s wrestled his last match, Sami Zan hopes to put his communication skills to good use.
\”I don\’t know, because it could be taken away when you\’re not ready for it. \’Till the wheels fall off, I suppose, and then when they do, I\’d love to run my mouth and be Bobby Heenan, be Paul Heyman, or be whoever, you know.\”
– Sami Zayn on retirement
Heenan and Heyman are undeniably two of the greatest talkers in wrestling history, so Zayn clearly has high aspirations for himself. Whether he works as a broadcaster or manager, there\’s no doubt that Zayn has a lot to offer the business even outside the ropes.
Zayn has been out of action for several weeks due to an injury. He last competed at WWE\’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Since then, he\’s been seen wearing a sling. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Zayn\’s injury is “legit, but it’s not major, and they are hopeful of him being able to wrestle in a few weeks.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Zayn played the \’word association game\’ and named the first thing that came to mind about topics such as Seth Rollins, John Cena and Triple H.
You can stream Sami Zayn\’s appearance Broken Skull Sessions right now on Peacock.
If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
AEW presents Fight for the Fallen 2022 this coming week. The themed editions of Dynamite and Rampage will help raise awareness for Oceana, a Washington D.C.-based charity that aims to protect the world\’s oceans.
AEW has announced several matches for each show, which you can see below. The most significant news is that Bryan Danielson has been medically cleared to return and will be in action Wednesday night.
Fight for the Fallen Matches
AEW Dynamite: Wednesday, July 27th
Bryan Danielson returns to action against Daniel Garcia
AEW Interim World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Rush
AEW Women\’s World Champion Thunder Rosa vs. Miyu Yamashita
Danhausen challenges FTW Champion Ricky Starks
Tony Nese & \”Smart\” Mark Sterling vs. Swerve Strickland in a 2-on-1 match. Keith Lee will be banned from ringside.
Major League Wrestling is headed to the greater Atlanta area for the first time later this summer.
MLW: SUPER SERIES is presented by MLA and is scheduled for Sunday, September 18th at the Space Event Center in Norcross, Georgia.
Super Series will be co-presented by MLW and several international promotions. Matches from this FUSION TV taping will air on beIN SPORTS nationwide on cable and dish and in over 20 countries around the world.
MLW Super Series Matches
Here\’s what we know about the MLW Super Series \’22 card:
The main event will see Bandido (presenting AAA) challenging Alex Hammerstone for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship.
Shun Skywalker will be in action (representing DRAGONGATE).
MLW talent also signed to appear includes:
World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone
World Women’s Champion Taya Valkyrie
Jacob Fatu and the Samoan SWAT Team
Mads Krugger
Mance Warner
Alex Kane and the BOMAYE Fight Club
Additional matches will be announced in the weeks ahead.
If you\’re in the Atlanta area, tickets for MLW Super Series are now on sale at LuchaTickets.com.
Ring of Honor has sent in a press release containing new information about the future of the HonorClub streaming service.
According to ROH, the company is currently revamping the service to include \’enhanced elements and functionality.\’
During the time that HonorClub is \’under construction,\’ ROH will not be taking any new memberships. Existing memberships will be extended at no additional cost until the relaunch.
The new and improved HonorClub will launch this fall and will be available for a monthly fee of $9.99. New content will be added to HonorClub 60 days after the events happen live.
If you\’re interested in receiving email updates about HonorClub announcements, you can sign up here.
You can reach out to [email protected] with any additional questions or comments.
Ava Raine appeared at Saturday night\’s NXT 2.0 live event from Orlando, Florida and cut her first promo in front of a live crowd.
Raine, the daughter of Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson, impressed fans who were in attendance for this historic moment in her young career.
Raine came to the ring exuding confidence and immediately put the NXT women’s roster on notice. She dubbed herself \”The Final Girl\” and ran down Cora Jade and the other female competitors in WWE’s developmental program.
Here are some photos from Ava Raine\’s first live promo in NXT 2.0:
The Rock is considered one of the best trash talkers in wrestling history, so it should come as no surprise that Raine can hold her own on the mic.
We will update this article if video from Ava Raine\’s first promo gets posted online.
In addition to cutting her first live promo on Saturday night, Raine also appeared at Friday\’s NXT show from Citrus Springs, FL. She came down to ringside during one of the women\’s matches, apparently scouting her competition.
Raine is a 4th generation Superstar and has big shoes to fill. It will be interesting to track her progress in the months ahead.
Big E is checking in with an encouraging update about his health.
Former WWE Champion suffered a broken neck on the March 11th edition of WWE SmackDown. He later provided an update on his condition, revealing that his C1 and C6 vertebrae were fractured. Thankfully, his spinal cord and ligaments were not damaged.
Just days after the incident, Big E stated that doctors informed him he narrowly escaped a stroke, paralysis or death, due to the C1 fracture.
Last month, he posted a video on Instagram of himself throwing his neck brace in the trash, a sign that his recovery is moving in the right direction.
Big E Feels \”Tremendous\”
On Monday, July 4th, Big E let fans know that he is feeling \”tremendous\” less than four months after the career-threatening injury.
According to Big E, he still has a long road ahead of him. His C1 is not ossifying just yet, a crucial development that will determine whether or not he\’ll be able to wrestle again.
\”The current plan is to get more scans at the one year mark & see how it\’s progressing.\”
– Big E
Big E feels \”tremendous\” and neck surgery is still \”off the table.\”
Update! My C1 isn’t ossifying (forming bone) quite yet. The current plan is to get more scans at the one year mark & see how it’s progressing. The great news is I feel tremendous & surgery is off the table.
WWE presents Money in the Bank this Saturday live on pay-per-view from Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
SEScoops correspondents Andrew Ravens, Jaycele Nicole and Tyriece Simon have gotten together to provide our official WWE Money in the Bank predictions.
Check back Saturday for our live coverage and post-PPV reaction video.
Jaychele Nicole: Like I predicted at Hell In A Cell, I’m going with Theory again. The people in WWE really seem to get behind Theory and really see something in him. Bobby Lashley seems to be a pretty good matchup for him. However, as we move toward SummerSlam, it’s more and more obvious that Theory will likely be facing John Cena at the ‘Biggest Party Of The Summer.’ I can’t see a scenario where Theory loses to Lashley leading up to this huge, career-making matchup with one of WWE’s biggest stars of all time. (Prediction: Theory)
Andrew Ravens: I still think Theory will wrestle Cena at SummerSlam and although the story could be Cena going after the title, the feud doesn’t need it. In fact, if the title is on the line then it makes it even more clear that Cena won’t be beating Theory. Lashley has been pushed strong once again and a run as the US Champion will keep him away from Roman Reigns. If WWE does do the Theory vs. Cena match then they got to keep Theory somewhat strong enough to face Cena so Lashley can\’t destroy him. (Prediction: Bobby Lashley)
Tyriece Simon: This match is difficult to call because I can see how either Theory or Bobby Lashley can win. The champion has been teasing a match with John Cena, and I can see WWE adding Theory vs. Cena at Summerslam. However, Lashley has received good reactions and could be a strong babyface to hold the United States Championship. WWE doesn’t have a male mid-card babyface champion right now, so Lashley could fill that void. I also don’t think you need Theory to be champion to face Cena at Summerslam if that is what WWE wants to happen. Theory will likely retain, but I’ll say Lashley becomes your new champion. (Prediction: Bobby Lashley
Consensus: Bobby Lashley
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Carmella
Andrew Ravens: I understand why WWE put Carmella in this spot as they need someone for Belair to beat and Carmella had been out of the mix for a little while. It should be a fine match with Belair going over. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Jaychele Nicole: Without a doubt, I think this is Bianca Belair’s match. 100%. It’s ironic how around this time last year Bianca was in a championship match with Carmella as well, except it was for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. As this is a last minute replacement since Rhea Ripley was supposed to face Bianca for the Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam, I can’t see Carmella winning the belt. Carmella was also the most unlikely winner in the Raw contender’s five-way, so I can’t see her dethroning Bianca. This is mostly because of Bianca’s momentum and her current star power. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Tyriece Simon: I think Belair gets the clean win against Carmella. The champion was supposed to face Rhea Ripley, so I don\’t see her losing the title at Money in the Bank. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Consensus: Bianca Belair
Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The Street Profits
Tyriece Simon: I have the Usos retaining the titles at Money in the Bank, but I can see the feud extending to Summerslam. The Champions still have momentum, and I don’t see the Bloodline faction losing their titles anytime soon. It should be a great match, and I’m looking carefully at how Montez Ford performs in the match. I can also see WWE possibly breaking up the Street Profits and making Ford a singles star soon. (Prediction: The Usos)
Andrew Ravens: And we’re back to this feud once again. It will be a really good match and while I can understand the argument as to why there should be a title change, I don’t think it will happen. The Usos will lose the titles shortly before Roman Reigns does and that’s not happening anytime soon. (Prediction: The Usos)
Jaychele Nicole: As much as I wish that The Street Profits were winning, this is The Usos match. I don’t see anything changing with the structure of The Bloodline. I would be interested to see the spiral of Roman and The Bloodline if The Usos were to lose the titles here. I think that the match will be good, and I believe that The Street Profits, specifically Montez Ford, are overdue for some gold. I’m hopeful that their time is coming soon, but I don\’t think it’s happening at Money In The Bank, at least this year’s show anyway that is. (Prediction: The Usos)
Consensus: The Usos
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Andrew Ravens: I’m taking Seth Rollins here. Drew McIntyre previously called out Roman Reigns for Clash at the Castle and I don’t see them making the match official in advance with McIntyre being the MITB holder. Also, WWE likes surprise cash-ins so that eliminates McIntyre in my mind. Rollins should go over. He lost three straight times to Cody Rhodes and really needs to be built up again. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
Jaychele Nicole: I am pretty torn on this match. Right now, my top two predictions would be Seth Rollins or Drew McIntyre. I’m truly hoping for another Seth run with the briefcase because of how much I enjoyed his last reign with the belt. I think that Seth’s recent character would be able to turn his run with the briefcase into something super entertaining. At the same time, I don\’t think you can ever count out Drew and his unpredictability in these big matches. I am also possibly very fearful that the WWE might just pull a fast one on all fans and give the contract to Omos. I really hope this isn’t the case, but I wouldn’t put it past the company. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
Tyriece Simon: Seth Rollins is the best option to win this match. He\’s possibly having the best run of his WWE career, and giving him the Money in the Bank briefcase would only improve his character. I also think that Rollins holding the briefcase and winning a WWE Championship could set up a perfect story for Cody Rhodes\’s return feud. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
Consensus: Seth \”Freakin\” Rollins
SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Natalya
Jaychele Nicole: Like Bianca, I think this is Ronda’s match as well. Natalya has been incredibly entertaining in this feud, especially knowing how close the two are behind the scenes. I’m not sure if this match will be good, but I’m sure that Nattie will do or say a few things that will get a pop out of me. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey)
Andrew Ravens: Although no one sees Natalya as a real threat to Rousey, credit to WWE for at least making this feud interesting. Rousey should go over and will do so, but it will be interesting to see who they can build up next for Rousey at SummerSlam. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey)
Tyriece Simon: I have Rousey retaining the Smackdown Women’s Championship. This seems like a short feud to have Rousey on the card and defend her title. It should be an interesting technical match. Natalya is a great opponent for Rousey to work with, and I think she’ll have a good showing. I think ultimately, Rousey gets Natalya in the armbar and moves on from this rivalry. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey)
Consensus: Ronda Rousey
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Andrew Ravens: I would like to see Raquel win here, but I don’t think it will happen. Two names make the most sense to me and that’s Asuka and Alexa Bliss. I’ll slightly side with Bliss here as she’s been strongly pushed since coming back and a few more months of build will help cap off her surprise cash-in. (Prediction: Alexa Bliss)
Tyriece Simon: This match is interesting to predict because I can see two viable winners. Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans have the best chances of winning the briefcase. Lynch’s character has been on a downward spiral since losing to Bianca Belair, and it would make sense to give her the briefcase to get her swagger back. However, I can see a scenario where she gets close but loses. WWE is trying to build up Lacey Evans, and It’s an excellent opportunity to make a new contender for the Women’s championship for either Smackdown or Raw. I can see Lynch winning the match, but I lean more toward WWE giving Evans the win. (Prediction: Lacey Evans)
Jaychele Nicole: I also have two favorites to win this match. I’ve heard a few people predict that Raquel Rodriguez will be winning, but I really hope that doesn’t happen. I’m hoping that either Liv Morgan or Alexa Bliss win this year’s Women’s Money In The Bank. I’m very hopeful that this year’s Women’s Money In The Bank winner will hold the briefcase for longer than a few hours or one day like may have previously. I’m hoping that this year is Liv Morgan’s year. She’s gaining so much momentum that I really believe it’s her time, but at the same time, I said the same thing last year. (Prediction: Liv Morgan)
Wardlow says he\’s \”very, very happy\” with AEW, but he hasn\’t closed the door on working for WWE one day.
The 34-year-old fighter from Middlefield, Ohio has made quite a name for himself in AEW. After a years-long storyline as MJF\’s hired gun, Wardlow is finally doing things on his own terms.
Wardlow been racking up win and after win. With a record of 14-2 this year, Wardlow now has his sights on Scorpio Sky\’s TNT Championship.
Wardlow Addresses WWE
Wardlow took part in a virtual autograph signing for K&S WrestleFest and addressed the possibility of jumping to WWE one day:
“I’m very very happy where I am. I never say never about anything in life, but as of right now, I’m very happy where I am.”
– Wardlow
It would be foolish for Wardlow to say he\’d never join WWE, because you never know what the future holds. However, he really does seem happy working for Tony Khan.
Last month, Wardlow appeared on the Superstar Crossover podcast and said even he can\’t believe how well his AEW run is going.
“I think even this is exceeding my expectations,\” he said. \”I couldn’t have wrote myself a better future than what I’m currently living. Or I guess I should say I couldn’t have wrote a better reality for what I’m currently living. I wouldn’t change a single thing that has happened or a single thing that is happening right now.”
Wardlow a success story for AEW, in terms of homegrown talent. His slow-burn storyline with MJF paid off and fans have gotten behind him in a big way.
Light beers will be consumed and lariats will be thrown when Mance Warner returns to MLW this summer.
Warner made a surprise appearance at the recent MLW Battle Riot event from Queens NY. He entered the 40-man anything-goes battle royal an will be appearing for MLW \”on a regular basis moving forward,\” according to MLW boss Court Bauer.
Warner made his MLW debut back in 2019 and quickly became one of the company\’s most popular performers. The tough-as-nails brawler from Bucksnort, TN is ready to begin a new chapter with MLW.
Warner will be in action this weekend at GCW \”Rock N Roll Forever\” from Evansville, Indiana.
Stay tuned for more updates as MLW announces additional appearances for its next show, MLW Fury Road.
Major League Wrestling is headed back to Texas this summer.
MLW: Fury Road is headed to El Paso, Texas on Saturday, August 27th.
The live event will feature matches taped for MLW Fusion, which is available across the United States on beIN SPORTS.
MLW boss Court Bauer had this to say about MLW\’s El Paso debut in a press release sent in to SEScoops:
“Texas has been a hotbed for MLW, and we’re delighted to expand into new markets in the Lonestar State with El Paso, a market rich in wrestling history dating back to the days of Gory Guerrero,” said Bauer. “Expect some of MLW and lucha’s best on August 27th when MLW TV trucks roll up.”
MLW has been teasing a \”summer of surprises\” ahead, so it will be interesting to see what\’s in store for Fury Road on 8/27.
MLW Fury road will take place from Austin High School, a noted destination for lucha libre action in the El Paso area.
Austin High School, a noted destination for El Paso lucha for years, will host the event. If you\’re in the El Paso area, tickets can be purchased locally at the following locations:
Blue Star Customs and Uniforms 840 Hawkins Blvd B7, El Paso, TX 79915
Viva Street Auto Sales 647 Horizon Blvd suite a, Socorro, TX 79927
Austin High School 3500 Memphis Ave, El Paso, TX 79930
John Cena made a triumphant return to WWE television on Monday\’s edition of Raw. Cena was on hand to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his debut. As he put it on Raw, his 20th \”Birthday\” with WWE.
Cena has been a divisive figure throughout the majority of his WWE run. Cena has been polarizing, with some fans loving him and some fans rejecting him as the squeaky-clean, almost corny, hand-picked corporate champion.
On Raw, it was nothing but love. Cena gave an impassioned speech about how much the support from fans as meant to him. The main theme of his address is that we\’re all in this together. Everything he\’s accomplished has been with the support of the WWE Universe. His accomplishments are OUR accomplishments.
Cena said he haven\’t seen the last of him, but he\’s not sure when he\’ll be back in a WWE ring. It\’s been rumored that Cena will return at SummerSlam to battle Theory. The two had a brief interaction backstage:
On Tuesday, Cena posted a message on social media expressing his gratitude. Cena says he\’s \”overwhelmed\” by all the outreach he\’s received from people recognizing his milestone.
Overwhelmed with ALL the messages thru this month. Being at #WWERaw last night gave me an opportunity to show you how much YOU mean to me. Thank you @WWE for every chance you’ve taken on me, so I will continue to always give my best for my home, for my family, for US.
WWE\’s Cena tribute edition of Raw featured video clips of Cena\’s greatest rivals touting as a leader not only in the professional sense, but also as a man and role model. We even saw cameos from AEW talent, including Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson and Paul Wight.
Click here for details on how the \”AEW stars appear on Raw\” situation came about.
Watch John Cena\’s address to the WWE Universe on Monday\’s Raw right here:
\”He’s gonna be okay long term, but probably if he couldn’t continue wrestling it made sense [to end the match]. I think if you can’t keep fighting there’s discretion is a better part of valor. I think long term he’ll be okay.”
Okada\’s Future in AEW
Kazuchika Okada at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door
On Monday, Kazuchika Okada addressed his future with All Elite Wrestling.
The Rainmaker thanked AEW, as well as the city of Chicago. The rowdy crowd nearly lost it at the sight of Okada in an AEW ring and showered him with praise and appreciation.
Okada wrote, \”The door is closed. But I\’ll open the door again. See you next time.\”
Thank you Chicago. Thank you AEW. The door is closed. But I’ll open the door again. See you next time.
It remains to be seen when we\’ll see the likes of Okada, Tanahashi and White back in AEW. However, all indications are that Forbidden Door was a huge success We already know the event grossed over $1 million in ticket sales and sold over 100,000 PPV buys.
With so many of AEW\’s top stars unable to compete at Forbidden Door, it\’s just a matter of time before we Okada and more cross paths with the likes of Kenny Omega, CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.
Major League Wrestling action figures are in the works, thanks to a new partnership between MLW and Boss Fight Studio.
Here\’s the press release sent in to SEScoops, with additional details on the upcoming line of MLW action figures:
Boss Fight Studio announces MLW action figure line
Licensing deal to bring the world of MLW to action figures, accessories and more
June 24, 2022 – Norwood, MA – Boss Fight Studio, creator of fan favorite action figures, announced today they have acquired the license to make Major League Wrestling action figures. For the first time ever, MLW action figures and collectibles will be available featuring some of the league’s most iconic and popular fighters.
“As a huge wrestling fan myself, I can’t wait to bring the MLW talent to market in action figure form” says Erik Arana, Partner and Creative Art Director at Boss Fight Studio. “I’m extremely excited as a collector and fan at the lineup we’ve put together, including figures, accessories, and entertainment sets – while we’ll reveal more in the coming weeks, I can promise tons of excitement!” says Arana.
“Teaming up with Boss Fight to bring the world of MLW to fans as action figures and collectibles is something the fans have been demanding and we’re delighted to make it happen,” says Court Bauer, CEO and Founder of MLW. “We have a stacked lineup we’ve been working on. Boss Fight’s attention to detail and ability to bring figures to market that are not only incredibly fun to play with but are representative of the talent is key.”
The opening of the MLW catalog of talent is huge with 1:12 scale figures, accessories and entertainment sets all planned. “We have deluxe figures planned alongside some amazing playable sets,” says Arana. Boss Fight Studio is known for their highly articulated figures which translates into wrestling figures that can reach extreme poses for maximum play.
More announcements for specific characters and figure release timing will be shared over the coming months through the Boss Fight Studio social accounts.
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