Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Ric Flair’s Last Match Moved to a Much Larger Venue

    Ric Flair is still a draw, brother.

    The Nature Boy is scheduled to wrestle his final match on Sunday July 31st during Starrcast weekend. After selling out the Nashville Fairgrounds in less than 24-hours, event organizers (Jim Crocket Promotions) made the call to move the spectacle to a significantly larger venue.

    “Ric Flair’s Last Match” will now take place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, which can accommodate over 7,000 fans.

    According to a press release sent in to SEScoops current ticket holder’s seats will be honored, and communication on the changes will be emailed to them this week.

    Additional tickets go on sale Friday, June 24 at RicFlairsLastMatch.com.

    Ric Flair and JCP Comment

    “On July 31, I’m still going to walk that aisle and style and profile as only I can,\” said Flair. \”But now, a bigger crowd, brighter lights! ‘The Nature Boy’ can’t wait to do what I do best. WOOOO!”

    “Like so many times before, having Ric Flair’s name on the marquee has the wrestling world buzzing,” said Jim Crockett Promotions President, David Crockett. “On Sunday, July 31, we look forward to bringing the fans at Nashville Municipal Auditorium, and our worldwide audience, a night of professional wrestling that they will never forget.”

    “When we announced that STARRCAST was coming back, with our partner Thuzio, we knew the last weekend in July was going to be a celebration for wrestling fans. The party’s main event has now moved to a bigger room,” said STARRCAST and AdFreeShows.com founder Conrad Thompson. “There will still be numerous events and experiences happening throughout the weekend at The Nashville Fairgrounds, who have been wonderful to work with. However, the demand for Ric’s last match to move to a bigger venue was one we couldn’t ignore.”

    “Due to the overwhelming demand by fans to be in the building for ‘Ric Flair’s Last Match,’ we have made the decision to move this once-in-a-lifetime show to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium,” said Jared Augustine, CEO of Thuzio. “Once the initial batch of tickets at the Nashville Fairgrounds went so quickly, our team immediately started to look for a larger venue, and the Nashville Municipal Auditorium is an ideal solution.”

    “Ric Flair’s Last Match” will stream live on FITE 6:05 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 31.

  • The Latest on Sasha Banks Getting Released From WWE

    We have an update on Sasha Banks\’ status as a WWE superstar.

    Earlier this week, WrestlingINC founder Raj Giri broke the news that Banks had been released. It was unclear at the time if she had requested to be let go, or if it was a WWE call, but it was a bombshell report that rocked the wrestling community.

    Since then, more details have emerged and several verified WWE insiders have confirmed the news is true.

    On Friday, Wrestlevotes tweeted that the word going around backstage at SmackDown is that Raj Giri\’s scoop is accurate.

    Reddit user /u/Kermit125, who has verified his/her backstage credentials with the mods at /r/SquaredCircle, has also confirmed the news.

    In recent days, it\’s been reported that Sasha Banks\’ lawyers have working on her release, we can independently confirm this is the case.

    Sasha Banks\’ Road to Free Agency

    Sasha had been in the midst of a suspension after she and Naomi walked out of the May 16 episode of Monday Night Raw. The two had been the reigning WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions.

    It was reported that the two had creative differences with the company over the direction of the women\’s tag team division. There was a six-pack challenge involving both Sasha and Naomi set for that edition of Raw.

    Naomi was reportedly going to win that match and move on to challenge Bianca Belair for the Raw Women\’s Championship at Hell in a Cell. Sasha would\’ve challenged Ronda Rousey for the SmackDown Women\’s Title.

    It was also reported that during their suspensions, Sasha and Naomi weren\’t being paid. They also had all of their merchandise online removed.

    The WWE Women\’s Tag Team Titles have been vacated and a tournament was announced. WWE still hasn\’t given any more info on the tourney and it is reportedly \”dead in the water.\”

    We\’ll keep you posted once more details surface.

  • Jeff Hardy Suspended from AEW Without Pay After Latest DUI Arrest

    Tony Khan has released a statement regarding Jeff Hardy\’s standing with the company.

    Hardy was arrested early Monday morning and charged with felony DUI and driving without a valid license. According to the arrest report, police witnessed Hardy\’s car swerving and running off the road. Cops pulled him over and drew their guns on the wrestling legend, as seen below.

    Hardy was reportedly \”in a stupor,\” unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol when he failed a breathalyzer test. His blood-alcohol levels were nearly 4-times the legal limit to drive.

    AEW\’s Statement

    Tony Khan issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon. Hardy is suspended without pay and cannot return to AEW until he completes a rehabilitation program and maintains his sobriety. According to Khan, Hardy was open to the idea of getting professional help.

    \”We were able to resume contact with Jeff Hardy this afternoon. AEW does not condone Jeff\’s alleged behavior. We\’ve made it clear to Jef that we\’ll assist him in getting treatment for substance abuse issues, which he has indicated that he\’s open to receiving. In the interim, he is suspended without pay, and he can only return to AEW upon successfully completing treatment and maintaining his sobriety.\”

    Khan also encouraged people to reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline if you or a loved one needs help with substance dependency.

  • Jeff Hardy Arrested For DUI: Full Details & Latest Mugshot


    Jeff Hardy was arrested once again early Monday morning in Volusia County, Florida.

    According to Volusia County jail records, Hardy has been charged with Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Drivers License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs Third Offense within 10 Years.

    The DUI is a third degree felony, while the canceled/suspended/revoked license charges are second degree misdemeanors.

    Additional details on Jeff Hardy\’s latest arrest can be find here at the \”Inmate Information\” section of the Volusia County corrections website.

    Hardy is scheduled to appear in front of a judge for his first hearing tomorrow, June 14 at 1:30pm.

    According to the arrest report (per Marc Raimondi of ESPN), Hardy\’s car was seen swerving and running off the road. Hardy was said to be confused and \”in a stupor.\” Once he got out of his car for the field sobriety test, the officer on the scene notes that Hardy unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol.

    Hardy admitted to drinking alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel and was unable to complete any of the field sobriety tests that were administered.

    Hardy took a breathalyzer test and blew a 0.294. A second reading showed 0.291. The legal limit to drive in Florida is .08.

    Ill-Fated Ladder Match

    \"\"/

    Jeff Hardy is schduled to compete on Wednesday\’s \”Road Rager\” edition of AEW Dynamite.. The Hardys will challenge The Young Bucks and Jurassic Express in a 3-team Ladder Match for the AEW World Tag Team titles.

    We\’ll post an update when the Hardys are inevitably pulled from the match.

  • Alexa Bliss Recently Had Surgery To Fix \”Collapsed\” Nose

    Alexa Bliss reveals she underwent plastic surgery during her time away from WWE. According to the new Mrs. Cabrera, her nose \”finally collapsed\” as a result of injuries she sustained during her wrestling career.

    Following February\’s Elimination Chamber event, Bliss took a 4-month hiatus from WWE programming. She returned to WWE Raw on May 9th.

    During an appearance on Wichita\’s T95 The Rock Station earlier this week, Bliss spoke about her much-needed break from WWE\’s hectic road schedule.

    Aside from planning her wedding, which took place in Palm Desert, California back in April, she also got her nose \”handled.\”

    “I had surgery, I had to get my nose all handled because, after six broken noses, it finally collapsed.\”

    – Alexa Bliss

    Alexa Bliss\’ Time Away from WWE

    She continued, \”Then, I took that time, as well as that, to plan my wedding and get married and go on my honeymoon. So it was definitely much needed.\”

    Bliss said it was great to actually have time to focus on herself for a few months. She is one of WWE\’s most popular performers, but that life comes at a cost. She\’s been with WWE for nine years and is on the road nearly 200 days per year.

    \”So, we don’t get a lot of time to plan stuff. So, it was nice to have that time for once and kind of take advantage of that.”

    Elsewhere in the interview, Bliss spoke about her new WWE theme music. She\’s excited because this version of her theme song is the first time she got to have input on the music and the lyrics.

    Listen to Alexa Bliss\’ appearance on T95 The Rock:

  • Rush Isn\’t Signed With AEW Yet, But Wants to Work With the Best

    As it turns out, Rush is not All Elite, after all.

    The world-renowned luchador made a surprise appearance at last month\’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view. During a backstage segment, Andrade El Idolo announced he was dissolving the AFO faction. He then introduced Rush as his new business associate.

    The former Los Ingobernables partners could raise hell in AEW, but Rush reveals he\’s not under contract with the promotion.

    In a new interview with Lucha Libre Online, Rush says he\’s working limited dates for AEW and is negotiating with Tony Khan about signing a contract.

    Rush\’s Status with AEW

    “I am grateful to Tony Khan for giving me the opportunity,\” said Rush. We are still under talks and negotiations. For now, there are just dates.\”

    – Rush isn\’t signed with AEW just yet

    \”I already did the first jump, which is being in the PPV, and not just a segment, but they gave it the value that both Rush and Andrade have. They left that promo for the end. Nobody expected it, not even my own family.”

    \"\"
    RUSH debuts at AEW Double or Nothing 2022

    After holding the ROH World Championship twice, Rush now has his focus locked on All Elite Wrestling. He sees dream matches with AEW\’s top stars and isn\’t shy about name-dropping who he wants to work with.

    “For now, my objective is AEW, I am now in AEW and I want to face the biggest names. I want everything! I am not going for the minimum. You name it! CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Moxley, Samoa Joe, the best they have.\”

    He continued, \”Imagine Rush vs Samoa Joe. There’s a lot of material. Bryan Danielson vs Toro Blanco Rush, two ex ROH World Champions against each other. There’s Moxley, which they state is the most extreme one. They need to see a real Mexican badass. A lot of people have requested this match… Rush vs. Kenny Omega. We can finally have that match.”

    H/T to WrestlePurists for the quotes

  • Details on WWE\’s Involvement in Vice TV\’s New Wrestling Project

    We have some new information about Vice TV\’s new wrestling series.

    Dark Side of the Ring is on hold after three controversial seasons. Despite its popularity, the show was considered toxic due to the negative attention it generated, as well as questionable editing that had participants such as Jim Ross swearing off future involvement.

    During the planning stages of a fourth season of Dark Side, several legends who were contacted passed on doing on-camera work. Understandably, the explosive Plane Ride From Hell episode is seen as a turning point for the show.

    Vice understands the need to go in a different direction. Dark Side creators Evan Husney and Jason Eisener are involved with the new project, which will have a much softer, \”sanitized\” tone.

    According to a source involved with production, the format of the new show has been described as \”campfire talks\” about the old days of wrestling.

    We’ve heard the network is discussing a mid-September premiere.

    WWE Involvement

    Unlike Dark Side of the Ring, WWE will be heavily involved with the new series. Vice will have access to the company\’s vast archives, as well as WWE-contracted talent.

    \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin recently participated in filming that\’s underway in Los Angeles. Additional WWE legends are scheduled to film in the weeks ahead.

    WWE has a lucrative relationship with A&E, a company that has an ownership stake in Vice. Expect to see a show that resembles WWE\’s \”softball\” programming on A&E, instead of the exposé format of Dark Side that explored some of wrestling’s most disturbing urban legends.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGgYahBuZi4
  • Damien Priest Eyeing NXT Star to Join Judgment Day

    WWE\’s Judgment Day faction underwent a significant shakeup this week. At the conclusion of Monday\’s Raw, we saw Finn Balor align himself with Edge, Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley. Balor is a strong addition, but they would not remain a foursome for long.

    Within moments, Balor, Priest and Ripley turned on Edge and kicked him out of the group he founded. It was a swerve that fans, nor Edge, saw coming.

    Damien Priest spoke with TV Insider this week about the rise of Judgment Day, how he\’s changed since joining and an NXT star he could see joining their ranks.

    Coming into His Own

    Damien Priest has enjoyed success in WWE, including in NXT and on the main roster. However, he feels that he\’s now doing his best work and can truly realize his potential.

    “The best stories are when they come from reality,\” said Priest. \”I was frustrated. I was doing what I was asked to do. I was this overly babyface good guy coming out smiling, happy, saying all the right things. It just didn’t click. I was doing everything everyone wanted me to do.\”

    Fans would cheer him whenever he was helping out WWE\’s top babyface wrestlers, but that wasn\’t satisfying him. Judgment Day has given him the opportunity to embrace his darker side and express himself creatively.

    \”I’m more comfortable now than I’ve been since joining the Raw roster.”

    – Damien Priest on his role in Judgment Day

    Priest was the first Superstar to embrace Edge\’s dark vision. Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor would soon follow. Edge no longer fit the group\’s direction, but Priest sees one NXT star in particular who would.

    “If I had to pick anyone from NXT, the first person I would pick is Santos [Escobar]. I’ve always been a fan of his stuff. Just carries himself so well. Great in the ring, well-spoken. When you look at him, the guy doesn’t look like a random person. He looks like a star.”

    Santos Escobar is a second-generation luchador and a former NXT Cruiserweight champion. He currently leads the Legado Del Fantasma faction. Prior to joining WWE he competed as King Cuerno in Lucha Underground.

    Visit TV Insider to read their full interview with Damien Priest.

  • WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 Predictions

    It\’s time for our WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 predictions. WWE\’s latest premium live event takes place this Sunday, June 5th live from the Allstate Arena just outside Chicago, Illinois.

    Jaychele Nicole, Andrew Ravens and Tyriece Simon ran down the card and gave their picks for who they think will win each match on the card.

    Steve Fall and Stephanie Hypes also got together and shared their predictions in this video the SEScoops YouTube channel:

    Here are our WWE HIAC 2022 Predictions:

    Theory vs. Mustafa Ali

    \"Theory
    Theory vs. Mustafa Ali

    Tyriece Simon: This match has the potential to be a match of the night candidate. Both wrestlers are talented and, if given time, could have a great match. I don’t think Ali will get the win because Theory is still new as United States Champion. I predict Ali will come close to winning, but Theory cheats to retain the title. (Prediction: Theory)

    Jaychele Nicole: Right now, this looks like one of the best matches on the card. I\’m excited to see Ali on a pay-per-view, especially since he\’s competing in a title match. However, Theory is getting a really big and long push. I don\’t think that push stops here. As Ali\’s star power grows, I could see him eventually becoming the United States Champion, but not at this time. (Prediction: Theory)

    Andrew Ravens: This should be one of the best matches of the night as both stars can go in the ring. I know Theory has been pushed strongly over the last few months, but I’m not ruling out Ali walking out with the title as they’ve been behind him since returning. I have Theory going over and that’s the right call because he’s a bigger star than Ali at this time. (Prediction: Theory)

    Consensus: Theory retains the US Championship

    Judgement Day vs. Finn Bálor, A.J. Styles & Liv Morgan

    \"Judgement
    Judgement Day vs. Finn Bálor, A.J. Styles & Liv Morgan

    Tyriece Simon: This will be an interesting match to see how they will use Morgan and Ripley in the match. I believe they should have moments to shine because everyone else is established in WWE. I think we will get some excellent tag team moves involving both Morgan and Ripley. I have the team of The Judgement Day winning because I think we will get a new member of the faction to cost the group of Balor, Styles, and Morgan. (Prediction: Judgement Day)

    Jaychele Nicole: I\’m excited to see this match because I love mixed tag team matches. I\’m excited to see the use of Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley. The other talent in the match are much more established than the women. This could be a huge moment for Liv Morgan. For a while, she struggled to even get on pay-per-views. I believe that Finn, AJ, and Liv will get the win here, but will lose in their next bout. (Prediction: Finn Balor, AJ Styles & Liv Morgan)

    Andrew Ravens: A fun match on paper that should deliver. This is a placeholder type of match for the event that can be described just like it. WWE shouldn’t beat Judgment Day here or anytime soon. They’re the top fact on the show and should remain booked as strong as possible. (Prediction: Judgment Day)

    Consensus: Judgement Day

    Bobby Lashley vs. MVP and Omos

    \"Bobby
    Bobby Lashley vs. MVP and Omos

    Tyriece Simon: I think this may be the least exciting match on the card, but it still has the potential to be a solid match. I’m assuming this will end the feud between Lashley and Omos with MVP. I have Lashley defeating Omos and MVP due to miscommunication between the new team. MVP may hit Omos with an illegal object, and Lashley hits a spear on MVP to win. (Prediction: Lashley)

    Jaychele Nicole: Honestly, I\’m very tired of this feud. It\’s extremely boring and played out at this point. I wish it would\’ve ended after the Cage Match that they had. In order for the feud to end, I feel like the heels have to get a win. I\’m guessing that the goal of this feud was to elevate Omos and this would be the only way to do it since he\’s lost so much already. (Prediction: Omos & MVP)

    Andrew Ravens: I think this is a clear example of WWE liking to repeat matches so often. Omos and MVP should go over since they have the advantage in storyline, which will lead to another handicap match with some type of a stipulation to go along with it. (Prediction: Omos and MVP)

    Consensus: Omos & MVP

    Kevin Owens vs. Ezekiel

    \"Kevin
    Kevin Owens vs. Ezekiel

    Tyriece Simon: Does Ezekiel get the win over Owens? This match is hard to call. I can see Ezekiel defeating Owens to finish their program. The crowd is behind Ezekiel, and he is a new babyface that WWE should build up. Although, I can see Owens defeating Ezekiel to move on to another feud, maybe Rhodes, potentially.  I’ll go with Ezekiel because I think it won’t hurt Owens, and he could get a win back later. (Prediction: Ezekiel)

    Jaychele Nicole: The only way I can really see Ezekiel winning is if they decide to make a star out of him here. Kevin Owens doesn\’t have the best win record recently. Owens needs a pretty strong win, and this pay-per-view match would be a good spot for it. Owens is bigger than this feud which makes me think he\’ll get the win. (Prediction: Kevin Owens)

    Andrew Ravens: There\’s no reason why Owens shouldn’t win here. Ezekiel is a comedy character and the fact that Owens is in this feud is just not right as he should be used better even though he’s been great with what he’s had to do. (Prediction: Kevin Owens)

    Consensus: Kevin Owens

    Bianca Belair vs. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch

    \"Bianca
    Bianca Belair vs. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch

    Tyriece Simon:  The build to this match has been underwhelming to me. I think the match would be better if it were a singles match between Asuka and Lynch because that feud has been in primary focus. It’s understood that Belair should defend her title, but I’d like it if she had her rivalry. With that said, I think Belair retains her title. There isn’t a need to take the title off of her, and I believe this is to have her defend the title on the card. It should be an entertaining match. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

    Jaychele Nicole: I\’m really excited for this match and it is definitely my favorite on the card. All three women are extremely talented. I believe that Bianca is in for a lengthy reign and that this isn\’t the time for her to lose her championship. With this match, they can still continue the feud between Asuka and Becky Lynch. This would allow for one of them to take the pin while still remaining strong. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

    Andrew Ravens: An interesting match that is the second biggest on the card in terms of star power. I find it hard to believe that Belair would drop the title here, but unless they want her to chase it again, it would be the place to do that should they not want her to take the pinfall or submission loss. I don’t see that here and have Lynch eating the loss with the program with Asuka continuing. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

    Consensus: Bianca Belair

    Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell)

    \"Cody
    Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell)

    Andrew Ravens: Just like their previous two matches, Rhodes must win here. Especially at this point as he has already beaten Rollins twice. While Rollins did get some heat back, in my opinion, it’s never a great idea to beat someone three times in a row on PPV. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)

    Jaychele Nicole: I\’m really excited for their match. Every time that these two have faced each other, they have produced an amazing match. This will be the same. Cody cannot take a loss this early into his return. I don\’t know if it\’s the best that Seth is losing so much recently, but the matches are always stellar. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)

    Tyriece Simon: This is the match I am looking forward to the most on this card. I have enjoyed this feud between Rhodes and Rollins. It will be interesting to see how much WWE will allow them to do in the match. AEW fans know that Rhodes likes to take risks and be extreme in matches that will enable it. I expect both wrestlers to climb the top of the cell. This match will be the main event, and it’s well deserved. I have Rhodes getting the win and ending the rivalry with Rollins. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)

    Consensus: Cody Rhodes

    There you have it. Hit up the comments section to let us know what you think about our WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 predictions, and to share your own!

  • Melanie Pillman Has Passed Away

    Melanie Pillman, widow of Brian Pillman and mother to AEW star Brian Pillman Jr., passed away on Wednesday.

    Melanie Pillman appeared on WWE television a few times during the Attitude Era, including the infamous Steve Austin \”home invasion\” storyline that saw Brian Pillman pull a handgun on Austin (1996). She also appeared on Raw after Brian Pillman\’s untimely passing the following year.

    More recently, she appeared on the Dark Side of the Ring episode about her late husband.

    On behalf of everyone at SEScoops, we extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Melanie Pillman.

    https://twitter.com/FlyinBrianJr/status/1532428813312872452

    Brian Pillman Jr. on His Mother\’s Passing

    Brian Pillman Jr. posted the following statement on social media about his mother\’s passing:

    Yesterday at approximately 1:00pm my mother, Melanie Pillman, was pronounced dead.

    Those of you who know our family story understand that I didn’t have the best relationship with my mother, though my sister and I had recently been in touch with her, working to improve that relationship.

    While I didn’t spend too much time with her, she would ALWAYS tune into my twitch streams and interact with my fans, often times sharing with them old stories about my father and the wrestling business. She had been helping out my sister with her son Asher by purchasing him baby clothes, and was on relatively good terms with everyone as of late.

    Her death, while unexpected, was not surprising. Her lifestyle choices that dominated the better part of the last 25 years of her life had ultimately caught up with her.

    She was as intelligent as she was beautiful and her dark sense of humor could make even the biggest prude burst out in laughter.

    Although I had my built up resentment towards her, I was very proud of her for taking part in the DSOTR documentary and sharing the truth about our family story. That was the beginning of us mending our relationship.

    I do have regrets. I regret not giving her the time of day when she was trying so hard to be in our lives again. I regret not texting her back even though I had the time to. I regret not trying harder to break her of her bad habits and help her get the help she needed.

    A couple weeks ago she had been tuning into my twitch stream when she told me in chat that she was coming over to Linda’s house to drop off some trading cards. I didn’t see it in chat so I was annoyed at her for showing up un-announced. I met her outside and accepted the gift and gave her a hug and she went on her way. I truly regret not sitting down with her for a little bit or going to grab lunch with her. I regret being upset with her simply because she wanted to see her son. She actually looked really healthy and sober. That was the last time I saw her.

    Thank you mom for bringing me into this world and for trying your absolute best. You were my number 1 fan in wrestling and on Twitch.

    Rest In Peace. I love you.

  • WWE Hell in a Cell: Match Card, Date & Time, How to Watch

    WWE Hell in a Cell is the company\’s next premium live event.

    This year marks the 14th installment of Hell in a Cell as a standalone show. It was established in 2019.

    Hell in a Cell takes place after WrestleMania Backlash and before Money in the Bank.

    Hell in a Cell Match Card

    The following matches are confirmed for WWE Hell in a Cell 2022:

    • Hell in a Cell: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
    • Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch
    • Bobby Lashley vs. Omos and MVP
    • The Judgment Day vs. AJ Styles, Finn Balor & Liv Morgan
    • Ezekiel vs Kevin Owens
    • United States Champion Theory vs. Mustafa Ali

    Check out:

    When is Hell in a Cell?

    WWE Hell in a Cell takes place Sunday, June 5th from Rosemont, Illinois at the Allstate Arena. The main card of this premium live event starts at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.

    How to Watch

    WWE Hell in a Cell streams live on Peacock in the United States and on the WWE Network internationally.

  • Brett Lauderdale on The WRLD on GCW PPV Buys, Hammerstein Return

    Brett Lauderdale of Game Changer Wrestling was our guest on the latest episode of Business of the Business podcast, the official business podcast of SEScoops.

    During the hour-long conversation with hosts John Poz and Lavie Margolin, Lauderdale spoke about a wide range of topics including last year\’s The WRLD on GCW pay-per-view from the the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, as well as a possible return to thee venue.

    Here are some highlights of what Lauderdale said about:

    The WRLD on GCW PPV Buys

    \"The

    January\’s The WLRD on GCW event from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City was a special milestone for the company. Lauderdale has already said this was the biggest PPV in GCW history, but we now have a better idea of just how big it was.

    Lauderdale says The WRLD on GCW crushed the company\’s previous records.

    \”It was about, well, I don’t want to say average, but let me put to you like this.. it was about 5x higher than our previous high, we’ll put it like that.\”

    – Brett Lauderdale on The WRLD on GCW PPV Buys

    Lauderdale says the company\’s previous best-selling shows include Cardona-Gage, Moxley-Gage (\”both way up there\”) and Spring Break 3 (2019).

    Return to Hammerstein

    As for a return to the Hammerstein Ballroom, Lauderdale says there\’s a good chance it happens. When asked when we could see another GCW Hammerstein show, he replied, “January, maybe.”

    He says GCW wants it, Hammerstein wants them back and he\’d love for it to become an annual special event. He doesn\’t want to run the Hammerstein unless they can go \’all out\’ and do it big, but they’re hoping for a return.

    Listen to our full interview with Brett Lauderdale of GCW:

    Listen to \”Episode 79: Brett Lauderdale of Game Changer Wrestling\” on Spreaker.
  • Darby Allin on CM Punk: \”Lead by example, and he’s the best at it.”

    Darby Allin says CM Punk is a locker room leader who is still hungry to be the best and fights for the top spot.

    Allin recently spoke with ESPN to promote Sunday\’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view from Las Vegas.

    Allin battles Kyle O\’Reilly on the show, while Punk battles \”Hangman\” Adam Page for the AEW World title in the main event. It\’s Punk\’s first title shot since joining AEW in August 2021.

    Darby Allin Praises CM Punk

    \"CM
    CM Punk ahead of his dog collar match with MJF

    Darby Allin says Punk deserves to be headlining PPV\’s because he leads by example.

    “Everyone wants the top spot, but not everyone wants to work for it,” said Allin. “But he works for it. He’ll go out there randomly on a Wednesday with a match announced like an hour before the show and kill it. He’s not a prima donna. He’s ready to rock. He’s ready to be put to work.\”

    \”Lead by example, and he’s the best at it.”

    Darby Allin describing CM Punk (ESPN)

    \”That’s all I want everyone to do, is to be put to work. You’ve got guys saying, ‘I don’t feel like wrestling this week.’ Get the f— out of here. With him, it’s like, ‘Let’s go. I want to show people what I can do. I want to be put to work.’ Lead by example, and he’s the best at it.”

    CM Punk wrestled Darby Allin at AEW All Out 2021 in his first match in over seven years. Punk got the win, but the feud and match were career highlights for Allin. They\’d later team together along with Sting in a memorable match on AEW Dynamite.

    Visit ESPN to read the full interview with Darby Allin.

  • AEW Double or Nothing 2022 Predictions

    All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Double or Nothing live on pay-per-view this Sunday from Las Vegas, Nevada.

    SEScoops staff members Andrew Ravens, Tyriece Simon and I got together to discuss our predictions for the top matches of this weekend\’s big event.

    Check out our AEW Double or Nothing 2022 predictions:

    Buy In: Hook & Danhausen vs. Tony Nese & Mark Sterling

    \"\"

    Andrew Ravens: This has been a fun build, but I would be shocked to see Hook lose a pre-show match just for Tony Nese. Yes, they have the out with Danhausen taking the pinfall loss, but what’s the point of giving Hook a loss? He can’t turn on a fellow babyface as the fans are too invested in him and everyone loves Danhausen. (Prediction: Hookhausen)

    Tyriece Simon: The match should be a fun pre-show match. I expect Hookhausen to get the win. I think Sterling takes the pinfall, which helps protect Tony Nese. It\’ll be interesting if Hook and Danhausen will remain a tag team and have more matches against other established AEW tag teams. (Prediction: Hookhousen)

    Michael Reichlin: This is the most predictable match on the card. AEW wants to start the show off on a good note, and will do so with the lovable pairing of Danhausen and Hook. I\’ve heard people talk about Hook being \’wasted\’ in this position, but he\’s a rookie and benefits from the association with AEW\’s most evil competitor. Hookhausen gets the win in a fun match. (Prediction: Hookhausen)

    Consensus: Hookhausen

    House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) vs. Death Triangle (Pac, Penta, and Rey Fenix)

    \"\"

    Andrew Ravens: Although these two teams have received plenty of TV time to build to the match, I haven’t been intrigued enough to care. That’s not to say they won’t work hard and have a good match, but let’s move on to something else. House of Black goes over as they have more upside with Black leading the charge. (Prediction: House of Black)

    Michael Reichlin: I\’m just happy to see Death Triangle back together, and two legit trios teams squaring off. Everybody in this match is talented, despite both factions seemingly being stuck in first gear. This one has sleeper \’match of the night\’ potential. (Prediction: House of Black)

    Tyriece Simon: Death Triangle is long overdue getting a win over House of Black. Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Mathews have looked dominant in AEW. They can afford to lose a match. The Death Triangle needs to win. It will be interesting to see if the feud ends at Double or Nothing. The two factions could benefit from working with other people.

    House of Black has other potential rivalries they could have, like the Blackpool Combat Club. Lucha Bros. could get back into the AEW tag team title picture, and Pac could have a singles feud. (Prediction: Death Triangle)

    Consensus: House of Black

    AEW Women\’s World Championship: Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Serena Deeb

    \"Thunder

    Michael Reichlin: Thunder Rosa needs a big win here. For whatever reason, it seems that her title reign has gotten off to a slow start. Britt Baker was the face of the Women\’s division, while Rosa just seems to be there. That\’s not a knock on her, but more because of the way she\’s been presented. Pairing her against the veteran Deeb is a smart move, because they\’re almost guaranteed to have a competitive match. I see Rosa getting the win, as AEW looks to build her some momentum and establish her as a fighting champion (Prediction: Thunder Rosa)

    Tyriece Simon: Rosa should get the win, and this should be a good match. The fans are behind the Champion, so it doesn\’t seem AEW will take the title off of her. It\’s also Rosa\’s second title defense. Deeb will have good moments in the match, but it should be about Rosa looking strong and overcoming the challenger. It\’s also possible that the match ends so that it could lead to a rematch between the two. (Prediction: Thunder Rosa)

    Andrew Ravens: Deeb is a really good wrestler, but no one expects her to dethrone Rosa for the title. Rosa hasn’t had that long as champion and AEW wouldn’t build up her title win for a short reign. (Prediction: Thunder Rosa)

    Consensus: Thunder Rosa

    AEW World Tag Team Championship: Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus (c) vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs

    \"Tag

    Michael Reichlin: Like Thunder Rosa, Jurassic Express have also had a \”sleepy\” title reign. It doesnt help that FTR, who were left off the PPV, are arguably the best tag team in the world, at least over the past few months. I smell a title change here and I think Lee and Swerve have the right combination of size and agility to take the titles of Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus. (Prediction: Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland)

    Andrew Ravens: I can see Lee and Strickland picking up the win here, but if Tony Khan wants heels as his Tag Team Champions then Starks and Hobbs could go over. I think it’s time for new champions and it really comes down to a pick \’em in this bout. (Prediction: Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland)

    Tyriece Simon: I think this match has the chance to steal the show. It had an interesting dynamic with every team balancing strength and speed. I expect every team in the match to have a great showing, but I think the Champions retain the titles. It didn\’t seem like the time to have the Jurassic Express lose. They are still hitting their stride, and it doesn\’t seem likely that AEW will make a change. (Prediction: Jurassic Express)

    Consensus: Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland win the AEW tag titles

    Anarchy in the Arena: Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Moxley & Bryan Danielson, Santana & Ortiz and Eddie Kingston

    \"\"

    Andrew Ravens: This is a coin flip kind of match as it makes sense for the babyfaces to go over, but I think the Jericho Appreciation Society wins here in order to set up a Blood & Guts match on an upcoming episode of Dynamite. (Prediction: Jericho Appreciation Society)

    Tyriece Simon: This should be a victory for Kingston, Santana, Ortiz, and the Blackpool Combat Club. The Jericho Appreciation Society has gotten the advantage over Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz several times. The Blackpool Combat Club helps even the odds to go against the heels.

    I think the feud could end here, unless AEW has more plans for Jericho Appreciation Society and Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz. It feels like Double or Nothing is the final culmination of the rivalry. (Prediction: Blackpool Combat Club, Santana & Ortiz, Eddie Kingston)

    Michael Reichlin: (Prediction: Jericho Appreciation Society)

    Consensus: Jericho Appreciation Society

    AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill vs Anna Jay

    \"\"

    Andrew Ravens: There’s no doubt who will win this match and that’s Jade. She will be pushed strongly until she meets a top star that will defeat her. It’s that simple. This should be kept short and to the point. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

    Tyriece Simon: This title match seems like it\’s just to have the TBS Championship match on the card. That\’s fine, but I wish Cargill and Jay had more time to make the feud personal.
    Cargill should get the win and could continue her dominant reign as TBS Champion. I wonder what long-term plan the company has for Cargill. She\’s almost beaten most of the faces in the AEW women\’s division. Jay will have some moments to shine in the match, but Cargill will overcome and defeat her. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

    Michael Reichlin: Jade Cargill has gotten over working short, dominant matches. I don\’t expect AEW to mess with this formula just yet. This is probably the most predictable match on the main card. Cargill gets another decisive win. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

    Consensus: Jade Cargill

    The Young Bucks vs. The Hardys

    \"\"

    Michael Reichlin: Yes, this match is happening on the big stage about 5 years too late. Sure, the Hardys are past their prime – they\’re even acknowledging this on television. But it\’s still the Young Bucks and the Hardys. Both teams will bring their A-Game, because this is a match that you know means a lot to both teams. It\’s going to be a trip seeing them in the ring together and I expect this to be the best match of the Hardys\’ AEW run. (Prediction: Young Bucks)

    Andrew Ravens: This should be one of the better matches on the card. It’s a coinflip in my eyes as to who goes over. I think we get at least one more match between these two tag teams. I think The Young Bucks go over here to lead to another match and it will likely be done in cheap fashion. (Prediction: Young Bucks)

    Tyriece Simon: It\’s almost unbelievable that this match is happening in 2022. This is a dream match for fans who haven\’t seen them compete in Ring of Honor. However, it is unfortunate that the build to the match has been lackluster. This match is a toss-up because both teams could use the win.

    The Hardys are still a new team in AEW and could use a win over an established team. The Young Bucks feel like they took a backseat to other teams and could benefit from a win over the Hardys. I think the Hardys defeat The Young Bucks, but it won\’t be the end of their feud. The Hardys winning could also lead to a future AEW tag-team Championship match. (Prediction: The Hardys)

    Consensus: Young Bucks

    Owen Hart Men\’s Tournament Finals: Samoa Joe vs. Adam Cole

    Tyriece Simon: Adam Cole needs a big win at Double or Nothing. He\’s lost two AEW World Championship matches against Hangman Adam Page previously. A win over Samoa Joe helps establish him as a credible threat and someone that can challenge for the World Championship again. Joe is already the Ring of Honor Television Champion, so he doesn\’t need to win the Owen Hart Cup. It\’s also possible that Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh could interfere in the match to help Cole. (Prediction: Adam Cole)

    Michael Reichlin: Adam Cole has more to gain from a win here, and has the brighter future in AEW. These two have history in NXT and traveled similar paths to AEW. It\’s a match worthy of the finals, but I\’d be really surprised if Cole doesn\’t get the win. (Prediction: Adam Cole)

    Andrew Ravens: This could be one of the best matches of the night. I’m siding with Adam Cole here as he needs a big win after dropping back-to-back losses to Adam Page for the World Title. Joe has booked strong as the ROH Champion so he doesn’t need the win as much as Cole. (Prediction: Adam Cole)

    Consensus: Adam Cole

    Owen Hart Women\’s Tournament Finals: Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho

    Tyriece Simon: Dr. Baker doesn\’t need to win the Owen Hart Cup. She is a former dominant AEW women\’s Champion and has defeated many challengers, including her opponent at Double or Nothing. However, it\’s unclear if AEW believes she doesn\’t need to win. She is still one of the most popular stars in AEW, and the company could still want to protect her from taking losses. Soho needs a win and could benefit tremendously from defeating Dr. Baker.
    I am picking Soho, but it wouldn\’t surprise me if the former AEW champion wins. (Prediction: Ruby Soho)

    Andrew Ravens: Ruby Soho should win here as Baker is still the biggest women’s star that AEW has despite not holding the title anymore. Soho needs something to get her over a little bit more and a win here over Baker would do just that. We could also get a double turn with Soho going heel and Baker being a babyface based on the way Soho got here. (Prediction: Ruby Soho)

    Michael Reichlin: Ruby Soho\’s AEW run has been disappointing so far, and this will be a token achievement she can hang her hat on. Baker will almost certainly hold the AEW Women\’s world championship again, while I\’m not sure Ruby Soho will ever reach that level. (Prediction: Britt Baker)

    Consensus: Ruby Soho

    \"\"

    MJF vs. Wardlow

    Tyriece Simon: Wardlow should win his long-awaited match with MJF. His former employer has put him through so much trouble that the logical conclusion is for Wardlow to win. The feud has also been brewing for over a year, and it is time to end. Interestingly, MJF will possibly lose his second Pay Per View match. It\’s unclear what AEW\’s long-term plans are for him. (Prediction: Wardlow)

    Andrew Ravens: Wardlow should over here based on everything that is on the line. He’s a future main eventer and MJF is already there despite not challenging for the World Title yet. That will come. This has been a really good feud and now it’s just time to top it off with Wardlow winning. (Prediction: Wardlow)

    Michael Reichlin: This has been one of the best feuds in AEW history, bar none. The slow burn has been tremendous. It\’s AEW\’s longest running storyline and it\’s finally coming to fruition. MJF is the best heel in all of pro wrestling, which means he doesn\’t need to win to stay popular. Wardlow is a rising babyface star that will gain a lot by finally pinning the man he was hired to protect. Wardlow gets the win here, is relieved of his contract to MJF. It\’s only a matter of time before Wardlow is All Elite. (Prediction: Wardlow)

    Consensus: Wardlow

    AEW World Championship: Hangman Page (c) vs. CM Punk

    \"\"
    \”Hangman\” Adam Page vs. CM Punk

    Andrew Ravens: I think a title change happens here. Page has had a notable run as champion, maybe not the best in the history of the title, but it was fun and now it’s time to move on. Fans have been waiting to see Punk as a main event player again. Punk could only put over the young guys in his promos for so long and now in the last few months, it’s been building to this point. Give Punk the title and turn Page heel since they’ve already hinted at it. (Prediction: CM Punk)

    Tyriece Simon: Double or Nothing could be the end of Hangman Adam Page\’s title reign. We are getting close to the anniversary of CM Punk AEW debut, and he has slowly been built up to have his first AEW World Championship match. Page has had a remarkable title reign, but it feels like this is the time to take the championship off him. It should be a good physical match, but I expect CM Punk to get the better of Page. The question is will Page shake CM Punk\’s hand after the match? (Prediction: CM Punk)

    Michael Reichlin: I love Hangman Page and he\’s had some banger matches during since winning the AEW World title from Kenny Omega. However, he\’s not exactly setting the world on fire as champion. I think CM Punk turns heel and gets the win to jumpstart the next Summer of Punk. There are so many high-profile matches waiting for a heel CM Punk. And just wait until MJF gets to gloat, \”I told you so\” about Punk being a bad guy all along. Hangman can be proud of this title reign, but I it\’s time to turn the page and start a new chapter for AEW. (Prediction: CM Punk)

    Consensus: CM Punk

    There you have it, our AEW Double or Nothing 2022 predictions. Comment and let us know who you think will have their had raised this Sunday night in Las Vegas!

  • Update on Stephanie McMahon\’s Hiatus From WWE

    Stephanie McMahon is not expected back with WWE after announcing an indefinite leave of absence earlier this month.

    Last week, McMahon tweeted that she is stepping away from the majority of her duties with the company. She cited the need to spend more time with her family as the reason for her hiatus.

    The news was kept secret from other high-ranking WWE executives who did not know anything until her tweet was sent out. PWInsider reported:

    \”There were lots of high-up executives who had no inkling this was coming until it very quickly spread across the company after she tweeted.” 

    – Mike Johnson, PWInsider

    Despite the secrecy surrounding Stephanie McMahon stepping away, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that she had been planning the move for several months.

    She is not expected back any time soon as evidenced by the company\’s decision to swiftly seek a replacement.

    Triple H recently returned to work at the WWE office, but industry observers are in disbelief how much the expected \”line of succession\” for WWE\’s future has changed. At point, it was considered a foregone conclusion that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon would be running WWE for decades to come once Vince McMahon steps down.

    We\’ve seen WWE President Nick Khan\’s power grow year after year and the chances of an eventual sale are more likely than ever.

    Stephanie McMahon\’s Replacement

    It\’s been speculated that Nick Khan will take on a lot of Stephanie McMahon\’s duties. WWE posted a job listing for one of McMahon\’s roles, \’Director of Brand and Marketing.\’

    The ideal candidate will be \”an important contributor to the growth and success of the WWE Premium Live Events\” according to their listing.

    Stephanie McMahon has worked for decades in multiple roles for WWE, starting off as a model in WWF Merchandise catalogs.

    In 1999, Stephanie became an on-screen character and joined forces with Triple H that December.

    The McMahon-Hemsley regime dominated the WWE for much of 2003 and the couple married for real in late 2003.

  • Videos of What Happened After AEW Dynamite Ended (5/25)

    All Elite Wrestling presented AEW Dynamite last night from the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV.

    It was the \”go-home\” show before Sunday\’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

    SEScoops correspondent Mike Chin was on hand for Dynamite and sent in these videos of what happened after the show went off the air.

    First, Samoa Joe continued celebrating after defeating Kyle O\’Reilly to advance to the Owen Hart Men\’s Tournament finals. He\’ll battle Adam Cole for the Owen Hart Cup this weekend at Double or Nothing.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBQxJCD_rX/

    AEW President Tony Khan then came out to address the live crowd.

    Khan spoke about this being the anniversary of the first AEW event, as well as the huge show they have planned for the fans on Sunday.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBRJK9jzPT/
  • AEW Double or Nothing Match Card, Date & Time, How to Watch

    All Elite Wrestling presents Double or Nothing this weekend live from Las Vegas, Nevada.

    It\’s the 4th installment of Double or Nothing and the third anniversary of AEW\’s first pay-per-view event.

    The card features four title matches, the finals of the Owen Hart Cup men\’s and women\’s tournaments, Wardlow finally getting his hands on MJF and more.

    The lineup will be finalized after Wednesday\’s AEW Dynamite, which will feature the remaining Owen Hart tournament semi-final matches.

    Stay tuned for our AEW Double or Nothing Predictions coming later this week.

    AEW Double or Nothing 2022 Matches

    \"Double
    Double or Nothing Main Event

    Here’s the current card for AEW Double or Nothing:

    • CM Punk vs. AEW World Heavyweight Champion \”Hangman\” Adam Page
    • Serena Deeb vs. AEW Women\’s World Champion Thunder Rosa
    • Team Taz (Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs) vs. Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland vs. AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurassic Express
    • Owen Hart Cup Men\’s Tournament Final: Adam Cole vs. TBD
    • Owen Hart Cup Men\’s Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
    • MJF vs. Wardlow (if Wardlow defeats Shawn Spears on Dynamite)
    • The Hardys vs. vs. The Young Bucks
    • Anarchy in the Arena: The Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Eddie Kingston, Santana, Ortiz, and Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley)
    • Anna Jay vs. AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill
    • House of Black vs. Death Triangle

    Plus, the Buy-In will see Hookhausen vs. Tony Nese and \”Smart\” Mark Sterling.

    This article will be updated as new matches are announced and finalized.

    When is AEW Double or Nothing

    Double or Nothing takes place this Sunday, May 29th from Las Vegas, Nevada at the T-Mobile Arena

    The event starts at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. There is a one-hour Buy-In pre-show that begins one hour before the main card.

    How to Watch

    AEW Double or Nothing 2022 streams live on Bleacher Report in the United States and on FITE.tv internationally.

  • Young Bucks Feel Superior to the Attitude Era\’s Best Teams

    The Young Bucks are gearing up for action against The Hardys this Sunday at AEW Double or Nothing.

    The match is a clash between two teams of brothers known for their high-flying and high-risk arsenal of moves.

    Ahead of the match this Sunday, the Young Bucks are using their social media bio to sling mud at the Hardys, as well as the Hardys\’ contemporaries from the WWE Attitude Era

    Early Tuesday morning, the Bucks let people know to check out their \”New bio!\” for their latest provocative \”hot take.\”

    All Super Talented Tho!

    The Young Bucks are very confident in their abilities. How confident are they?

    They\’re so confident that they believe the Attitude Era\’s best tag teams would have been \”fodder\” for them, had they been active back in the day.

    “If we were around during Attitude Era, The Hardyz, Edge/Christian & Dudleyz would’ve been tag team fodder for us,\” they wrote on Twitter.

    They concluded this bold claim with a disingenuous compliment about those teams. They added,\” All super talented tho!,” they wrote.

    \"\"/

    Talking trash is a big part of pro wrestling, so you can\’t fault the Young Bucks for believing they\’re better than the Attitude Era\’s best team.

    Bully Ray, a target of the Young Buck\’s latest Twitter bio, didn\’t take offense. He replied to the Bucks\’s claim by writing, \”Huge pop!!\”

  • Roman Reigns Says He May Be Done Working WWE Live Events (Video)

    Roman Reigns says he does not expect to be working many more live events moving forward.

    As we\’ve been covering, Reigns will be working a lighter schedule for WWE in the months ahead. He\’s also been talking about a future when he\’s not a full-time WWE Superstar.

    At Sunday\’s live event from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Reigns defended the Undisputed Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre in the main event. Reigns was victorious.

    After the match, he broke character and showed appreciation to the fans for supporting him.

    Roman Reigns\’ WWE Future

    Once again, Reigns let people know he does not plan on being a full-time WWE Superstar for much longer.

    \”I honestly don\’t know if I’m going to be doing too many more live events like this, on a Sunday, going forward.\”

    – Roman Reigns

    The fans began jeering when Reigns spoke about his career wining down. He continued, but Reigns added, \”So, this could be my last one and I want y\’all to know that it was very special for me and I had an incredible time.”

    You can see footage of Reigns\’ comments below:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd5rN4Vj7P1/

    Reigns is expected to wrestle far fewer dates in the months ahead. He\’s not retiring, but he will be cutting back on live events and even premium live events.

    The Tribal Chief is not scheduled to compete at the upcoming WWE Hell in a Cell show. He is, however, scheduled to work Money in the Bank, SummerSlam and Clash at the Castle.

    For details on who Reigns will be working with in the months ahead, check out our report below:

  • Sasha Banks Attends Steve Aoki Concert Friday Night (Video)

    Sasha Banks is currently suspended from WWE indefinitely due to her decision to walk out of Monday\’s Raw in protest of her character\’s creative direction.

    However, that didn\’t stop her from having a fun Friday night out. The Boss was not in attendance for this week\’s SmackDown.

    WWE broadcaster Michael Cole addressed her absence on camera. In addition to being suspended indefinitely, Banks and Naomi have been stripped of the WWE Women\’s tag team championships.

    WWE also pulled all of their merchandise from WWE Shop, as well as their official Facebook pages. This should tell you where things stand between the two sides.

    While all this was going down, Banks was in Minneapolis, Minnesota attending a concert by DJ Steve Aoki at The Armory.

    Sasha Banks\’ WWE contract is set to expire soon, which raises the stakes of her fallout with WWE even higher.

    Check out this footage of Sasha Banks at the Steve Aoki concert and make sure to follow us on Instagram.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0lK97DsAC/
  • AEW Trademarks \’Blood Moon Rising\’ For New Show

    All Elite Wrestling has filed a trademark application for a new \”continuing program about wrestling.\”

    The United States Patent & Trademark Office database has been a great source of information about wrestler and event names.

    Earlier this week, AEW filed a trademark for a new show called, Blood Moon Rising.

    According to the USPTO database, All Elite Wrestling, LLC applied to trademark the name on May 17th. The Goods and Services usage description for Blood Moon Rising reads:

    “G & S: Educational and entertainment services, namely, a continuing program about wrestling accessible by radio, television, satellite, audio, video and computer networks; Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing multimedia program featuring wrestling distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing series featuring wrestling provided through a global computer network; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling; Entertainment services, namely, providing ongoing webisodes featuring wrestling via a global computer network; Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network.”

    What is Blood Moon Rising?

    Interestingly, the day before the Blood Moon Rising trademark application filing, Tony Khan tweeted the following photo of a blood moon on Instagram.

    He included the caption, \”@AllEliteWrestling presents Blood Moon Monday, live on pay-per-view. (No, not a real pay-per-view show, just a caption.)\”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CdmvmC1tKzE/

    AEW also recently sent out a survey to fans discussing a new reality show coming soon to TBS.

    A description for the new show reads, “AEW’s top performers are ushering in a new behind-the-scenes wrestling series like no other… Every episode will track our core cast on the road at AEW events as they try to hold onto the titles they have or win back the ones they’ve lost, with everything culminating at the biggest Pay-Per-View event of the year.\”

    More on the new AEW reality show is available right here:

  • Sasha Banks Contract News & More On Her Status With WWE

    Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out of Monday\’s Raw taping remains the hottest story in wrestling.

    Some people, including CM Punk and Bayely, have shown support for Banks and Naomi. Others, such as Road Dogg, have called the situation a publicity stunt.

    No matter how you feel about the situation, this is not a work and there are major issues between the involved parties.

    We\’ve got an update on Sasha Banks and Naomi\’s WWE contracts, as well as their status for tonight\’s SmackDown broadcast.

    Contracts Expiring

    \"Sasha

    Sasha Banks and Naomi\’s fallout with WWE comes at a time when both women\’s contracts are expiring soon.

    It\’s believed that Sasha Banks signed a 3-year contract extension with WWE in August 2019.

    According to former WWE writer Kazeem Famuyide, the reigning WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions have been in contract negotiations with the company.

    On the latest episode of The Masked Man podcast, Famuyide stated that both contracts are set to expire within the next two months.

    Based on conversations we\’ve had with people in the industry, we believe WWE will make a great effort to keep Sasha Banks under contract.

    Status for SmackDown

    Tonight\’s WWE SmackDown takes place from Grand Rapids, Michigan. It\’s the first main-roster broadcast since Sasha Banks and Naomi\’s walkout at Raw.

    It does not appear either woman will be on hand for SmackDown. According to PWInsider, WWE sources have confirmed that Noami did not travel with husband Jimmy Uso for the show. The Usos will battle RK-Bro in a tag team championship unification match.

    As for Sasha Banks, she was spotted on a Thursday night flight from Orlando to Minneapolis. While it\’s entirely possible to make it from Minneapolis to Grand Rapids in 24 hours, she\’s not expected at SmackDown.

    SEScoops will keep you posted as more details become available.

    Earlier this week, SEScoops spoke with Ariane Andrew, Naomi\’s former tag team partner in WWE. During her discussion with Steve Fall, Andrew revealed she believes Naomi is being \”manipulated\” and would not have walked out of WWE on her own.

  • Triple H Back Working Full-Time at WWE

    Paul Levesque (Triple H) has returned to working at the WWE office on a full-time basis according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    \”Triple H is back in the WWE office full-time now. There is no time frame for Stephanie McMahon to return but she is returning.\”

    – Wrestling Observer Newsletter (5/23/22)

    Triple H is WWE\’s Executive Vice President for Global Talent Strategy & Development. He also serves as an Executive Producer of the NXT brand.

    This development sheds new light on Stephanie McMahon\’s decision to take a leave of absence from WWE to focus on her family.

    WWE President Nick Khan will be taking over most of Stephanie’s duties.

    Triple H Update

    Triple H has been on his own leave since September 2021, when he suffered a \’cardiac vent\’ that almost took his life.

    Back in March, Triple H announced his retirement from active competition. During an interview with Stephen A. Smith for ESPN, he revealed he\’s had a defibrillator pacemaker installed in his chest.

    Subscribe to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter at f4wonline.com.

  • Conrad Thompson Addresses Ricky Steamboat Declining Ric Flair Match

    Ricky \”The Dragon\” Steamboat will not be returning to the ring to wrestle Ric Flair this summer.

    Ric Flair’s last match is set for July 31st. The spectacle will take place during Starrcast V from Nashville, TN during WWE SummerSlam weekend.

    It was rumored that Steamboat, 69, would be Flair\’s opponent in some sort of tag match possibly involving FTR. However, Steamboat set the record straight and explained that he turned down the offer to wrestle Flair after giving it serious consideration.

    Starrcast organizer Conrad Thompson spoke to Wrestling Inc about the Steamboat situation and expressed frustration that Steamboat publicly addressed the offer he received.

    “There’s no way for me to have that conversation with you and not be negative, or hurtful or rude and I am not going to comment on it, because I think a lot of Mr. Steamboat and hold him in high regard,\” said Thompson.

    \”I know what really happened and he knows what really happened and I am disappointed that he put a statement out before we had an opportunity to put a bow on things. But, that’s not the whole story and what the whole story is, is nobody’s business I suppose.”

    Thompson added that he\’s not upset with Steamboat and he never advertised \’Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat.\’

    “So, we have had conversations, but ultimately that’s not the match you’re going to see, but I have never said what the match was going to be. So, when people are saying, ‘what’s the match now?’ Well, what was it ever?\”

    He continue, \”There’s a lot of hypotheticals, we could say hypothetically right now next year’s WrestleMania is The Rock vs. Roman, everyone has said that hypothetically, but when has WWE announced that? When has Rock said that? It’s all just conjecture at this point.”

    Visit Starrcast.com for full details on how you can attend and watch the upcoming fan fest.

  • Kevin Nash Podcast \”Kliq This\” Launching in July

    WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash is joining the podcast world.

    The 6-time World Champion and nWo original is teaming up with Sean Oliver (Kayfabe Commentaries) and Podcast Heat to bring you “Kliq This: The Kevin Nash Podcast.”

    The show, which will featured uncensored and unfiltered conversations, premieres July 11th. Kliq This will be available on major audio and video platforms.

    Kevin Nas had this to say in a press release sent in to SEScoops:

    “Kliq This listeners will get a magical mystery tour into all aspect of life,” said Nash. “No topic is off limits or out of bounds. We will be pop culture driven, but not too timid to attack today’s current cancel culture.”

    “Kliq This will be the best of what fans loved about our shoot interviews together, just on a much broader scale,” added Oliver. “Fans will slide up to the bar next to Kevin and me for banter and guests ranging from the stars of wrestling, to entertainment, to music and Lord knows what else.”

    Nash and Oliver have worked together extensively for a series of shoot interviews.

    Follow @KliqThisPodcast on Twitter for more information on this upcoming show.