Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Jerry Lawler Returning to Raw Commentary Booth For a Few Weeks

    WWE Hall of Famer Jerry \”The King\” Lawler is gearing up for a return to the Raw announcer\’s table.

    The usual Raw commentary team is comprised of Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. Lawler will be filling in for Graves, who is taking a few weeks to celebrate his upcoming wedding to Carmela.

    Lawler appeared on WWE\’s Raw Talk digital series last night and commented on his return. \”I am looking forward to it,\” said Lawler. \”I am gonna be back behind the announcer\’s table there on Monday Night Raw because that idiot Corey Graves is getting married!\”

    Of course, Jerry Lawler is no stranger to the Raw commentary booth. He served as the Raw color commentator for many years, alongside Jim Ross, during the Attitude Era. He hasn\’t done full-time commentary for WWE since 2020, but does appear on PPV kickoff shows and takes other assignments for the company.

    Lawler tweeted on Wednesday that he\’s looking forward to being back at the Raw commentary table this Monday night.

    WWE Raw rolls into Detroit, Michigan next Monday night. WWE has already announced several matches for the show, including:

    • Rey Mysterio vs. Veer Mahaan
    • AJ Styles vs. Damian Priest
    • Sasha Banks & Naomi defend the women\’s tag titles against Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan
  • Cody Rhodes Will Address the WWE Universe on Raw

    Cody Rhodes will address the WWE Universe at tonight\’s WWE Raw.

    Monday Night Raw the night after WrestleMania has become a destination for big happenings. This year\’s installment will be no exception.

    Rhodes made a shocking return at WrestleMania Saturday as Seth Rollins\’ mystery opponent. He picked up the victory in what was certainly one of the most significant nights in his storied career.

    The American Nightmare posted a series of photos on Instagram on Sunday.

    The caption reads, \”Thank you all – let’s live forever. Looking forward to having a live @wwe mic in my hand for the first time in over 6 years tomorrow. @usa_network\”

    After six years away from WWE, it will be very interesting to hear what Cody Rhodes has to say about his return and what his plans are now that he\’s back.

    In addition to a Cody Rhodes promo, Raw will feature the in-ring return of Veer and of course, plenty of WrestleMania 38 fallout.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb5mK5il2yO/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=5e02b5e8-072a-4da3-8030-341ec6658e99
  • Paul Heyman Wants To Bring The Best Out of Charlotte Flair & Ronda Rousey

    Paul Heyman only associates with top-level WWE talent. He\’s guided men such as Brock Lesnar, CM Punk and Roman Reigns to greatness during the peaks of their careers.

    Heyman signed a new multi-year contract with WWE last year. Since he\’s sticking around for the long term, it\’s interesting to learn that Heyman has his eye on two particular performers as potential future clients.

    During a recent interview with Richard Deitsch on the Sports Media podcast, Heyman spoke about the possibility of being paired with SmackDown Women\’s Champion, Charlotte Flair.

    As much as Charlotte Flair has achieved in WWE, Heyman sees her as a \”dramatically underutilized\” talent. Charlotte Flair is never short on confidence, but Heyman says she still doesn\’t realize her full potential.

    \”I don’t think she understands just how great she is,” Heyman said. \”I don’t think that’s a skill set that someone can be taught without hands-on experience. Together with synergy, professional intimacy, and trust, and again, it’s about the method.\”

    Heyman believes he could bring \”a level of greatness\” out of Charlotte that she simply cannot achieve by herself. Heyman cited Roman Reigns as an example to back up his lofty statements. Roman Reigns was a once in a generation talent before he came along, but even Reigns couldn’t achieve \”Tribal Chief\” status without him.

    Heyman also named Ronda Rousey as another talent he\’d love to work with. As he just did with Charlotte Flair, Heyman touted Rousey\’s untapped potential that he\’s dying to help her unleash.

    “Selfishly, I would love to see what [Rousey] could bring out of my performance. So, yes I would love to work with Ronda Rousey.”

    Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey will battle for the SmackDown Women\’s Championship tonight at WrestleMania 38.

  • WWE Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees, Time & How to Watch

    The 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is finally here.

    Each year during WrestleMania weekend, the wrestling world comes together to honor the deserving inductees as they take their rightful places among the immortals.

    WWE Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees

    Here are this year\’s WWE Hall of Fame inductees:

    • The Undertaker
    • Vader
    • Sharmell
    • The Steiner Brothers

    Plus, former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard will receive the coveted Warrior Award. Gaspard passed away in May 2020 after sacrificing his own life to save his son.

    Gaspard\’s courage and heroism exemplify everything the Warrior Award represents. However, we feel it\’s time to rename the Warrior Award.

    WWE has produced the following video highlighting The Undertaker\’s unparalleled career ahead of his Hall of Fame induction:

    Time & How to Watch

    The 2022 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place Friday, April 1st from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

    You can watch the event on Peacock at 10:00 PM ET on the Peacock streaming service.

  • WrestleMania 38 Stage: First Look Photos

    We have some first look photos at the WrestleMania 38 stage and production setup.

    WrestleMania 38 takes place this weekend from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    Twitter user @ImTheBossLegit has provided an exclusive look at how things are coming together.

    As you\’ll see below, WWE is once again utilizing huge stars as the focal point of the set design. This is a nod to the NFL\’s Dallas Cowboys, who play at the stadium.

    Join us here at SEScoops all weekend for our ongoing news coverage of WWE\’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania.

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  • WWE WrestleMania 38 Predictions

    We are just days out from WWE\’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania, and we\’ve got our WrestleMania 38 predictions right here.

    SEScoops staff members Jaychele Nicole, Andrew Ravens and I got together to discuss our picks for each match on the card.

    On the latest episode of our Women\’s Wrestling Focus YouTube series, SEScoops correspondents Ella Jay and Samira run down the women\’s matches at the event. They also look at potential NXT call-ups and surprises that may be in store.

    WrestleMania Saturday Predictions

    Here are our WrestleMania 38 predictions for Night 1:

    SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs

    Jaychele Nicole: The Usos have been on a hot streak since being paired with Roman Reigns. They are currently the longest reigning SmackDown Tag Team Champions. I don’t really think that Shinsuke Nakamura deserves to be in a better position than where he currently is, however there is no way that this match can be bad. (Prediction: The Usos)

    Michael Reichlin: Alexa, show me filler. Nakamura and Boogs get a spot on the big show, and The Usos get another win under their belts. (Prediction: The Usos)

    Andrew Ravens: The Usos should win here as it looks like just another match on the card to get these four wrestlers featured. If they wanted to do a title change just for the sake of it, I wouldn’t be shocked, but there’s no real reason to do it. (Prediction: The Usos)

    Consensus: The Usos

    Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair

    Andrew Ravens: This is all Belair here. A redemption story on the biggest stage of them all. She gets her revenge on Lynch for her SummerSlam loss and they work one more match next month. The story writes itself unless WWE just wants to do a swerve for the purpose of a swerve. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

    Jaychele Nicole: I have Bianca here, partially because of the immense amount of love I have for her. Seeing that Becky Lynch was laid out on the go-home show does make me a bit fearful that the WrestleMania match won’t end in Belair’s favor. However, I have to have some hope that WWE will be making it up to Bianca with this win after everything that happened at SummerSlam last year. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

    Michael Reichlin: WWE did Bianca Belair dirty last year at SummerSlam. She won last year\’s Rumble, had her crowning achievement at WrestleMania, then got brought down to size at SummerSlam when the \’real\’ star returned and squashed her. WWE is rehabbing Belair and a win over the woman who embarrassed her last summer is essential to that effort. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

    Consensus: Bianca Belair wins the Raw Women\’s Championship

    Logan Paul and The Miz vs. Rey and Dominik Mysterio

    Andrew Ravens: For whatever reason and perhaps I am just missing it, but two heels – Paul and Miz – are the favorites to win this match. I don’t understand why the babyfaces aren’t favored to win. Them going over is the right move and the history of wrestling backs that theory up. Paul will give them publicity and Miz can eat the pinfall. (Prediction: Rey and Dominik Mysterio)

    Jaychele Nicole: I am actually very excited to see what Logan Paul can do in the ring. His training video looked pretty good and he is a natural athlete. The development of the story hasn’t been super interesting to me, but I am excited to see what Rey pulls out of his hat. I think there has to be a heel victory every now and then and The Miz with Logan would make sense to me. (Prediction: Logan Paul and The Miz)

    Michael Reichlin: I\’ve got high expectations for this one. Miz and Mysterio are total pros, and they\’ll be able to carry Paul and Dominik to a good match. Say what you want about Logan Paul, but he\’s not in the business of embarrassing himself. He\’s said that diving off the top rope is a \”bucket list\” dream of his, and he\’s represented himself pretty well on WWE TV in recent months. However, I still think the Mysterios get the feel-good win (Prediction: Rey and Dominik Mysterio).

    Consensus: Rey ad Dominik Mysterio

    Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin

    Andrew Ravens: McIntyre is a massive favorite at -850 and just like the oddsmakers, there is no way that McIntyre loses here. McIntyre has been feuding with Corbin since January. It’s time to move on to something else. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)

    Michael Reichlin: Drew McIntyre has been cycled out of the main event picture, which is just how it goes sometimes. McIntyre has been dealing with a neck injury, and has acknowledged that the Corbin feud is a step down for him. I think McIntyre gets a decisive win and hopefully moves on to bigger and better things.

    Jaychele Nicole: This story has dragged on WAY TOO LONG. This is the match I am least excited for out of the whole two-night show. This match will be decent. This needs to be a win for Drew after the booking decline he has seemingly been on. I hope that this match will lead to a break up of Baron Corbin or Madcap Moss. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)

    Consensus: Drew McIntyre

    Edge vs. AJ Styles

    Michael Reichlin: This is the match I\’m most looking forward to on the first night of WrestleMania. Two seasoned pros putting it all on the line. You know they both want to steal the show. Expectations will be high, but nobody is more qualified than Styles and Edge. I don\’t think there\’s an obvious pick, but with Edge in this later stage of his career, I think WWE gives him the W. (Prediction: Edge)

    Andrew Ravens: History would say AJ should go over in the match, but it’s a real coin flip. While AJ as the babyface going over would make sense as he would get his revenge, Edge has undergone a complete character makeover so it’s not a shocker if he does win. I’ll side with AJ getting his revenge. (Prediction: AJ Styles)

    Jaychele Nicole: This has the extreme possibility to steal the whole weekend. While Edge’s blue heel turn hasn’t been for me, at the end of the day, he is still one of the best of all time. I can’t wait to see the arrangement of spots and match psychology. Both of these guys could use a win, but due to Edge’s recent heel turn, he is my predicted winner. (Prediction: Edge)

    Consensus: Edge

    SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs Ronda Rousey

    Jaychele Nicole: I think this match is Rousey’s because of her comeback story. Although the crowd may not fully view her as a face like WWE may, she is still a star in the division. The build has of this match has not been what I like in my wrestling, I am still interested in the outcome. In all honesty, I wouldn’t be mad if Charlotte won either because I am a bigger fan of hers than most. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey)

    Michael Reichlin: Make no mistake about it, WWE sees Ronda Rousey as a bigger star than Charlotte Flair. Charlotte may be the greatest female talent on the WWE roster, but Rousey is the special attraction who will get the company mainstream attention. Plus, I don\’t see WWE bringing Rousey back to win the Royal Rumble and fall flat at Mania. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey)

    Andrew Ravens: Ronda Rousey should win the match and become the next champion although when it comes to the booking of Flair, anything is on the table especially if they want a shocking finish. I don’t see it happening. Honestly, a long-term storyline could work with them meeting again at SummerSlam. (Prediction: Ronda Rousey)

    Consensus: Ronda Rousey wins the SmackDown Women\’s Title

    WrestleMania Sunday Predictions

    Here are our WrestleMania 38 predictions for Night 2:

    Bobby Lashley vs. Omos

    Jaychele Nicole: Honestly, I’m tired of the Omos reign of terror. I think that coming off of a botched title run, which was not his fault, Lashley could use a win. However, if Omos goes over, I hope they use him to make a big star out of someone like a Bron Breakker for example. (Prediction: Bobby Lashley)

    Michael Reichlin: I have a feeling that Bobby Lashley is not entirely healthy yet, and WWE is going to keep this match quick by feeding Lashley to Omos. It would be a questionable booking decision, but there\’s no chance they\’re having Omos take his first loss in a match with less than one week\’s build.

    Consensus: Split

    Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville
    (Anything Goes Match)

    Andrew Ravens: Expect a lot of smoke and mirrors in this one as that is the only reason why the match was given a gimmick. Knoxville should go over as he is a babyface celebrity and let this feud be gone after this show. (Prediction: Johnny Knoxville)

    Jaychele Nicole: This match is literally just going to pop me. The spots will hopefully be unpredictable and fresh. The ‘Anything Goes’ stipulation got me even more interested. I love when storylines and matches are built using social media and this feud/match has captivated that. Sami taking a loss to Knoxville won’t hurt him too much, and I bet the crowd would be cheer for a Knoxville win. (Prediction: Johnny Knoxville)

    Michael Reichlin: This will be the most \”entertaining\” match of WrestleMania Sunday. I give Knoxville a lot of credit for going \”all in\” on this WWE run. He\’s taken it seriously and has been actively building this match against Zayn with shenanigans that have gotten WWE mainstream attention from outlets like TMZ. Zayn, a classic heel, is at his best when he\’s being outsmarted and complaining. Expect some involvement with the Jackass crew. (Prediction: Johnny Knoxville)

    Consensus: Johnny Knoxville

    Women’s Tag Team Champions Zelina Vega & Carmella vs. Sasha Banks & Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs. Natalya & Shayna Baszler

    Andrew Ravens: Banks and Naomi should go over here as they’re the only team that can make these titles mean anything again. Once Banks and Bayley lost the titles as the inaugural champions, the titles went downhill. That could change briefly if Banks and Naomi become the champions. (Prediction: Sasha Banks and Naomi)

    Michael Reichlin: One thing is for sure, in my eyes: we\’re getting a title change. So, who wins? Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan have spoken about wanting to elevate the women\’s tag titles. However, Sasha Bans and Naomi have the star power to truly elevate the underutilized championships. (Prediction: Sasha Banks and Naomi)

    Jaychele Nicole: I can’t wait to see Sasha Banks & Naomi’s crowning moment in this match. I would’ve preferred to see Sasha in a singles match, but I am excited to see her partner back up with Naomi again. I am excited to see that a lot of my favorite women make it to the card, but I do have complaints about stuffing them all into one match. (Prediction: Sasha Banks & Naomi)

    Consensus: Sasha Banks and Naomi win the Women\’s Tag Titles

    Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro vs. Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy

    Michael Reichlin: Orton and Riddle are really good together. They\’ve developed a fun dynamic. I think the Street Profits are more \’due\’ for the titles, which would bring them up to that next level in the eyes of fans. (Predictions: Street Profits)

    Jaychele Nicole: In my opinion, this is the perfect opportunity to turn RK-Bro. I am really hopeful that they have big plans for the Street Profits. I have always been a fan of them, and their last title run proved they are more than capable of leading the division. This is another match that I feel like could end up being a banger. (Prediction: Street Profits)

    Andrew Ravens: WWE recently put the titles on RK-Bro and while I can see how The Street Profits would be good champions if WWE wanted to split Orton and Riddle up, it’s not likely as they could’ve worked together at this show in a singles match if that was the case. The champions should retain. (Prediction: RK-Bro)

    Consensus: Street Profits win the Raw Tag Titles

    Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory

    Andrew Ravens: Even with the help or no help from Vince McMahon, it doesn’t make sense for McAfee to drop a loss here unless WWE has more plans for him to wrestle. Let the babyface go over and get his win. Plus, this was a big spotlight for Theory, a heel, so he doesn’t lose any momentum. (Prediction: Pat McAfee)

    Michael Reichlin: I\’m really looking forward to this one, almost entirely because of Pat McAfee. Theory is a fun proxy for Vince McMahon and he\’s a very skilled wrestler. He\’ll be able to bump around and make Pat McAfee\’s offense look like a million bucks. Let\’s not forget the classic match McAfee had with Adam Cole in NXT. He\’s no slouch himself. There are possible downsides to having an announcer defeat a member of the main roster, but McAfee is a big star and will get his WrestleMania moment to shine. (Prediction: Pat McAfee)

    Jaychele Nicole: I am a bigger fan than most of Pat’s in-ring work. I am super excited to see what he pulls out for WrestleMania. Theory is definitely capable of giving Pat a good match like he deserves. As much as I love McAfee, this seems like an opportunity for Austin Theory to get a big win on a big stage. (Prediction: Austin Theory)

    Consensus: Pat McAfee

    Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. WWE Champion Brock Lesnar
    (Winner Takes All Championship Unification Match)

    Jaychele Nicole: My prediction is not who I want to win. I’m actually rooting for Brock here since I feel like Reigns’ “Tribal Chief” character has gotten stale quickly due to the lack of character progression. Since I believe this will be Roman’s match, I hope that they are saving his eventual defeat for a young star who could be sent to the moon by their victory. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)

    Michael Reichlin: This one is for all the marbles. It\’s the biggest match that WWE can present, so I\’m glad to see the company went with Lesnar vs. Reigns as the WrestleMania main event. Brock Lesnar is the most dominant athlete in WWE history. He\’s doing some of the best work of his career, with this latest incarnation of his evolving character. All that said, Lesnar is here to \’do business\’ and give the rub to guys like Roman Reigns. Reigns is \”the guy\” and the company will never stop hammering that home. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)

    Andrew Ravens: Roman Reigns wins here. I know Lesnar lost their previous encounter and while he is the babyface, Reigns is the guy in the company. Just because Lesnar is the babyface here doesn’t mean that he needs to win. Reigns can hold onto the title a bit longer and WWE will need to build up someone else to finally beat him. Reigns goes over clear to further signify him as the top guy. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)

    Consensus: Roman Reigns is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion

    There you have it, our WrestleMania 38 predictions. Hit up the comments section and let us know what you think!

  • The Hardys Are Headed to AAA Triplemania Tijuana

    The Hardys are headed south of the border.

    Back in January, Mexico\’s AAA promotion announced the company would be holding three TripleMania events this year to commemorate its 30-year anniversary:

    • April 30th (Monterrey)
    • June 18th (Tijuana)
    • October 15th (Mexico City)

    A press conference on Tuesday where it was revealed that Matt and Jeff Hardy will face Dragon Lee & Dralistico at Triplemania Tijuana.

    This will be the Hardys\’ first match under the AAA banner. The decorated tag team has only worked in Mexico during their time with WWE.

    The Hardys are not the only AEW tag team working for AAA this year. Former AEW tag champions The Young Bucks will face Rey Fenix and AAA Mega Champion Hijo del Vikingo at Triplemania Monterrey next month.

    Watch Tuesday\’s Triplemania Tijuana press conference:

  • WWE Made Paul Heyman a Contract Offer He Couldn\’t Refuse

    Paul Heyman will be with WWE for many more years to come.

    The WWE public relations machine is overdrive this week to promote this weekend\’s WrestleMania 38 pay-per-view from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    Heyman is the best mouthpiece WWE has on its payroll, so it\’s no wonder that Roman Reigns\’ right-hand man is part of this effort.

    During an appearance on the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch, Heyman revealed that he signed a new multi-year contract with WWE last year. According to Heyman, WWE made him an offer he couldn\’t refuse.

    \”I re-signed with WWE last year,\” said Heyman. \”It was a long-term agreement and they created a situation where I would have been a fool not to take them up on their offer. So, I\’m locked in for a while.\”

    As we know, Paul Heyman is no fool. The mastermind behind the rise of ECW has been a prominent player on WWE television for the past decade. He\’s spent virtually all of that time aligned with the sport\’s top box office attractions, including Brock Lesnar, CM Punk and Roman Reigns.

    With everything Paul Heyman does for his clients on and off camera, he also stays busy with projects outside the auspices of WWE.

    When Heyman put pen to paper on his latest WWE contract, it was important that he could continue working on side projects.

    \”I do have outside projects, just because I like to multi-task and I\’m very ADD and I just can\’t concentrate on one thing at a time ever in my life,\” said Heyman.

    Heyman has had ups and downs with WWE in the past, but that\’s ancient history. The two sides have settled into a mutually beneficial, and highly-lucrative relationship.

    Listen to Paul Heyman\’s appearance on the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch:

  • WrestleMania Music Acts Announced, Watch at Dave & Busters

    WWE has announced the music acts who will perform America The Beautiful this weekend at WrestleMania. Brantley Gilbert will do the honors on WrestleMania Saturday, while Jessie James Decker will kick off the action for WrestleMania Sunday.

    \”Brantley and Jessie are the latest in a long line of renowned artists who have opened WWE’s biggest event of the year and we look forward to them continuing this great tradition across consecutive nights at WrestleMania 38,” said Neil Lawi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, WWE Music Group.

    “It\’s such a pleasure to be invited to perform at WrestleMania 38,\” said Gilbert. \”I can\’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night, and I\’m looking forward to being a part of it. See you there!\”

    “It is always an honor to sing America the Beautiful,” said Decker. “It is a song that means so much to me, celebrating the country I love. Thank you WWE for having me. I can’t wait to be a part of WrestleMania 38.”

    WWE has already announced DJ Valentino Khan will perform at the event.

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    WWE Partners with Dave & Busters

    WWE is bringing its monthly premium live events to Dave & Busters locations across the United States, starting with WrestleMania 38.

    \”Dave & Buster’s is a staple of fun and entertainment in the United States and that matches the energy of WWE Premium Live Events such as WrestleMania,” said Emilio Revelo, WWE Vice President. “We are excited about this year-round partnership and meeting new and existing fans at a place they truly enjoy.”

    Dave & Buster’s has over 140 locations nationwide. To locate a Dave & Buster’s showing WrestleMania, JoeHandPromotions.com.

    WrestleMania 38 is also being shown in select movie theaters across the United States, presented by Fathom Events.

  • Steiner Brothers Announced for WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022

    The Steiner Brothers, Rick and Scott, have been named for the WWE Hall of Fame\’s Class of 2022.

    The brothers began teaming together in 1989 and quickly became on of the sports\’ most dangerous combinations. Known for their hard-hitting in-ring style, They held tag team gold across the world, with memorable runs in WCW and WWE.

    Rick Steiner\’s son, Bronson Rechsteiner, wrestles as Bron Breakker on WWE\’s developmental brand, NXT 2.0.

    The 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction ceremony takes place Friday, April 1st. It will stream live on Peacock and the WWE Network immediately following SmackDown.

    WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022

    The following legends are now confirmed for this year\’s Hall of Fame class:

    • The Undertaker, to be inducted by Vince McMahon
    • Vader
    • Queen Sharmell, to be inducted by Boker T
    • The Steiner Brothers, Rick & Scott
    • Shad Gaspard to receive the Warrior Award

    Congratulations to all of these deserving honorees.

  • Ronda Rousey Says She Won\’t Be at Tonight\’s WWE Raw

    Ronda Rousey will not be at tonight\’s WWE Raw from Pittsburgh, PA, despite WWE advertising her for the event.

    The Baddest Woman on the Planet is gearing up for a showdown with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 38 this Saturday night. You can check out the latest WrestleMania 38 Betting Odds to see who is favored to walk out as champion.

    On Sunday, WWE posted a graphic on social media teasing a blockbuster women\’s tag match featuring Rousey and Bianca Belair teaming up against Raw Women\’s Champion Becky Lynch and SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair.

    Unfortunately, that match has been scrapped, since Rousey has no plans on being in Pittsburgh, PA. During a live Facebook chat on Sunday night, Rousey stated:

    \”I\’m not going to be at Raw tomorrow.\”

    – Ronda Rousey

    Rousey speculated that the match announcement was \”a mistake or something.\” She will, however, be in attendance at Friday\’s SmackDown from Dallas, TX.

    Tonight\’s WWE Raw is the \”go home\” show ahead of this weekend\’s WrestleMania 38 premium live event. There are several matches announced for the show, including:

    • Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz
    • Raw Tag Team Champions Rated RK-Bro vs. The Usos (Non-Title Match)
    • Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy
    • Sasha Banks, Naomi, Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs. Natalya Shayna Baszler, Carmella & Zelina Vega

    Plus, Seth Rollins will meet with Mr. McMahon, who is expected to finally give Rollins something to do at WrestleMania.

  • Gangrel Was Worried to Train Paige VanZant, But \”She\’s Tremendous\”

    Wrestling legend Gangrel spoke with SEScoops Ella Jay this week to promote his return to Major League Wrestling (MLW). The Attitude Era star competed on this week\’s episode of MLW Fusion, which you can catch on YouTube.

    We discussed a wide variety of topics, including why we never got a Brood reunion in WWE, what he thinks is missing from today\’s pro wrestling and much more. In this installment, we\’re looking at Gangrel\’s comments about training MMA fighter and AEW star, Paige VanZant.

    Here\’s our half-hour interview with Gangrel, with some highlights below:

    Training Paige VanZant

    Gangrel is currently training AEW star Paige VanZant at Coastal Championship Wrestling in Pompano Beach, Florida.

    Gangrel reveals he was actually \”super worried\” to train VanZant, but now believes she has a bright future in pro wrestling.

    \”I was super worried about it. I know that Dan Lambert and them were very particular about where she trained. She could have went anywhere but because she\’s local, it made a lot of sense for her to come down here in South Florida.

    \”I was trained by Boris Malenko and he\’s a fan of the old school of training and the foundations of it. With training Rusev or Miro, Jacob and some of the other people, I felt comfortable coming there. I was a little worried, but she\’s tremendous.

    \”I think AEW is probably on to something there and they\’re gonna have a really good star on their future because like, I\’ve trained a lot of people and she\’s so coachable. I don\’t know if it\’s from Dancing with the Stars, that can\’t be possible easy. There\’s a lot of discipline. She was a gymnast, ballerina and plus she\’s a fighter. She\’s a bare-knuckle fighter, boxer and a mixed martial artist.

    \”So she\’s got all this background and coming over to pro wrestling that could be very hard transition because it is smoke and mirrors. It\’s pro wrestling entertainment or however you want to look at it. It\’s not like we\’re gonna go out and just kill somebody.

    \”Anyway, you gotta work together. I was am little worried but what she\’s learned in like, three hours has taken me 3-6 months to teach other people. That\’s how quick she\’s learning. That\’s how amazing she is. And her attitude is really, really good about it. I get a little worried when outsiders come in and they kind of take a crap on our business. You know what I mean? She\’s got not a bad attitude at all. Just a golden attitude and I think she\’s gonna be a something in the future. I think she\’s got a future in pro wrestling.\”

    PVZ\’s Transition from MMA to Wrestling

    Paige VanZant is a great athlete and is charismatic, which is a winning formula in pro wrestling. Gangrel says PVZ is in this for the long haul and he hasn\’t had to change much about the skills she brings to the squared circle.

    \”I don\’t know where AEW is going with her. I think she\’ll be hotshotted into some kind of match but but she wants to be actually trained properly on the backside for a future in wrestling. So I think they\’re gonna hotshot an angle, but I think she wants to be long term and wrestle so she\’s learning the proper way.\”

    He added, \”I\’ve haven\’t had to change anything yet. She tends to have a fighter stance but it works for her. What I\’ve learned about training somebody is that you don\’t try to change who they are or what they\’ve done. You just try to adapt them to to what suits them best for everybody involved.\”

    \"PVZ

    Gangrel was asked if he has a certain teaching style that he\’s found to be more effective. The former Brood member said that it varies on the requirement of the student, but he works on the foundation and the basics the most. According to him, if the foundation is strong then one can learn anything whether it\’s becoming a luchador, brawler or a high-flying wrestler.

    He compared it to a cement slab that could support any type of roof as long as the foundation is strong. With Paige VanZant, Gangrel spends an hour just on the basics. While on the topic, he gave a shoutout to his student Jacob Fatu for being well rounded with everything including his footwork, strikes and highflying ability.

  • WWE WrestleMania 38 Betting Odds Predict Multiple Title Changes

    We\’ve got updated WrestleMania 38 betting odds courtesy of Bet Online.

    Sports betting odds have a strong track record predicting the winners of WWE pay-per-view events. They are usually not 100% accurate, but consider these to be \”spoilers\” if you want to enjoy the show without anything revealed.

    These odds will shift throughout the week, based on continued betting. We will update this article on Saturday to reflect any late changes in the betting activity.

    WrestleMania Saturday Betting Odds

    On the first night of WrestleMania 38, betters predict we will see both Women\’s Championships change hands, along with the women\’s tag titles.

    • Drew McIntyre is favored (-1,000) to defeat Happy Corbin (+500).
    • Rey and Dominik Mysterio are slight favorites (-140) to defeat The Miz and Logan Paul.
    • RKBro are favored (-200) to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits (+250) and Alpha Academy (+350).
    • Bianca Belair is the favorite (-550) to capture the Raw Women\’s Championship from Becky Lynch (+325).
    • SmackDown tag team champions The Usos are favored (-200) to retain against Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs (+150).
    • Ronda Rousey is favored (-600) to win the SmackDown Women\’s Championship from Charlotte Flair (+350).
    • Sasha Banks and Naomi are slight favorites (-200) to win the Women\’s Tag Team championships from Carmela and Zelina Vega (+500). Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley (+185) and Shayna Baszler and Natalya (+750).

    WrestleMania Sunday Betting Odds

    • Universal Champion Roman Reigns is the favorite (-350) to defeat WWE Champion Brock Lesnar (+225) in the Winner Takes All Unification match.
    • Sami Zayn is an underdog (+200) against Jackass star Johnny Knoxville (-300).
    • AJ Styles is the favorite (-160) against the Rated R Superstar, Edge (+120).
    • Austin Theory is a slight favorite (-150) against SmackDown commentator Pat McAfee (+110).
  • Ric Flair\’s Wooooo! Nation Podcast Goes Out With a Bang

    Ric Flair and Mark Madden are going their separate ways after 19 episodes of the Wooooo! Uncensored podcast.

    On Sunday night, Madden announced he was moving on from the project. He said the show was not a \”good fit\” for him, and cited his busy schedule and the extensive preparation required for each episode. He thanked Flair for the opportunity.

    Things got ugly very quickly when Flair clarified that he, in fact, relieved Madden of his duties.

    Madden responded by saying Flair \”didn\’t have the balls\” to fire him personally, and instead told him that the show was being cancelled. Madden said Flair had Conrad Thompson do his dirty work for him, and questioned why things had to transpire as they did, in light of their 35-year friendship.

    Flair replied, “Mark, it\’s so sad. You\’ve been telling everyone for 30 years that I\’m the greatest wrestler ever. Quit trying to get the rub that made you who you are! Look forward to hearing you on The Pat McAfee Show. Oh wait, sorry, he cancelled you too! Just be happy and enjoy life!\”

    Madden told Flair to \”have another drink\” and said it\’s said what Ric Flair has become.

    Madden told Flair again, \”Have another drink.\”

    Madden added that Flair was slated to appear for AEW, before the \”Plane Ride From Hell\” episode of Dark Side of the Ring aired. Since then, Khan cut all ties with the \”toxic\” Nature Boy, including disinviting him from his birthday party.

  • WWE Programming Schedule for WrestleMania Week

    WrestleMania week is upon us. WWE\’s biggest event of the year takes place this weekend, but there\’s plenty of action in store before WrestleMania 38 kicks off Saturday night.

    The following is a list of WWE programming scheduled for the coming week:

    Monday:

    • WWE Raw, USA Network (8pm ET, 5pm PT)

    Tuesday:

    • NXT 2.0, USA Network (8pm ET, 5pm PT)

    Friday:

    • WWE SmackDown, FOX (8pm ET, 5pm PT)
    • WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Peacock (10pm ET, 7pm PT)

    Saturday:

    • NXT Stand & Deliver, Peacock (1pm ET, 10am PT)
    • WrestleMania Kickoff Show, USA Network, Peacock (6pm ET, 3pm PT)
    • WrestleMania Saturday, Peacock (8pm ET, 5pm PT)

    Sunday:

    • WrestleMania Kickoff Show, Peacock (6pm ET, 3pm PT)
    • WrestleMania Sunday (8pm ET, 5pm PT)
  • Lana\’s Movie With Bruce Willis Won a Razzie Award

    Former WWE Superstar Lana\’s movie Cosmic Sin won a Razzie Award. That\’s not a good thing.

    Lana (C.J. Perry) appeared in the film alongside Hollywood legend Bruce Willis. The Die Hard and Sixth Sense star has become somewhat of a meme for churning out a staggering number of \”B-movies\” each year.

    Willis makes so many movies that the latest Razzie Awards has an entire category dedicated to, \”Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie.\”

    That category had eight nominees, including:

    • American Seige
    • Apex
    • Cosmic Sin (Winner)
    • Deadlock
    • Fortress
    • Midnight in the Switchgrass
    • Out of Death
    • Survive the Game

    How bad was Cosmic Sin? It currently has a 3% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which puts it into \”so bad, it\’s good\” territory.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTVU58oPd9J/

    At the end of the day, Bruce Willis is cashing huge paychecks for these films. Lana is building her acting portfolio, which will help her land future roles. Her next project, a sci-fi movie WolfLike, is currently in production.

    Lana was released from WWE in June 2021 after eight years with the company. Her husband, Miro, is signed with All Elite Wrestling.

  • Gangrel On Why We Never Got a Brood Reunion in WWE

    Wrestling legend Gangrel spoke with SEScoops Ella Jay this week to promote his return to Major League Wrestling (MLW). The Attitude Era star competed on this week\’s episode of MLW Fusion, which you can catch on YouTube.

    During the half-hour conversation, Gangrel spoke about a wide variety of topics. In this installment of our write-up, we\’re focusing on The Brood.

    The Brood was a faction in WWE during the beloved Attitude Era. Led by Gangrel, the Brood helped introduce Edge and Christian to the WWE Universe. A later incarnation, The New Brood, saw Gangrel paired with Matt and Jeff Hardy.

    The Brood remains popular to this day, as evidenced by Edge busting out the Brood entrance and \”Brood Baths\” in some of his recent feuds. Gangrel would have been down for a surprise Rumble appearance and a Brood reunion in WWE, but gave a surprising (and disappointing) reason why it never happened.

    Here\’s our half-hour interview with Gangrel, with some highlights below:

    \”People Won\’t Remember The Brood\”

    Last year, Christian reunited with Edge at the Royal Rumble. This year, fans were hoping that Gangrel would make an appearance at the Rumble to continue the Brood nostalgia tour.

    Gangrel says he\’d speak to Edge about reuniting the Brood in WWE, but Edge didn\’t think Vince McMahon would be on board.

    \”No, I would talk to Edge, he would tell me that he didn\’t believe Vince McMahon believed people will remember The Brood, let alone myself.\”

    – Gangrel on a Brood reunion in WWE

    Over the past year, Edge has paid homage the Brood several times, including for special entrances and for unleashing \”Brood Baths\” on his enemies.

    Edge\’s Brood entrances were always a hit with WWE fans, but he really had to work hard in order to convince Vince McMahon that it was worth doing.

    \”[Vince is] very set on certain things, so [Edge] told me he had to work like two and a half months to get the music to be able to do a \’Broodbath,\’ not a bloodbath because the networks wouldn\’t have blood,\” Gangrel continued.

    \”He did that for two and a half months and and he said he was trying to work it all out. He said he did it pay homage to The Brood and myself and all that he was super happy about it.\”

    Gangrel said he actually had an AEW appearance lined up at one point that would have included an elaborate entrance, but that got derailed.

    \”And then when I told [Edge] \’Yeah well…\’ He was like, so excited to tell me on that Monday, and I go \’Well… I was supposed to do AEW that Wednesday, they were gonna do the whole entrance and everything.\’ But it just trended so much that it was just like forget it. So that was a bummer one way, but in another way it was just great to see Adam, Edge come out to that and then it cut and go to his music. It was just really, really cool and I was super happy for him and honored and flattered.\”

    Watch Edge\’s Brood entrance from WWE Day 1 (1.1.22)

    Memories of Working with the Hardys, The New Brood

    Gangrel spoke fondly about working with Matt and Jeff Hardy in the early years of their careers.

    \”Yeah, well, a lot of people ask me what was my favorite Brood, The New Brood or the old Brood. I always say older with Christian and Edge because for one, we\’re the original. We were working the Hardys and we had a program with them. I always love wrestling the Hardys. I personally love wrestling Matt Hardy because he\’s a thumper. He\’ll get in there and he\’ll mix it up. Matt Hardy is a bit harder and tougher than people think.

    I remember Michael Hayes would drive those poor guys crazy. I hope that I didn\’t drive Christian and Edge as crazy as Michael Hayes did with his old school banter like \’It\’s my dime and it\’s my time\’ and stuff like that.

    They\’re just great guys. I\’ve known them since, I don\’t know, like since they were 16-17? I think we were all floating around doing extra work and different stuff for WWF whenever they came to the South. So I\’ve known them for a long time. They\’re just tremendous guys. Jeff\’s super laidback, Matt\’s more always intense about the business stuff. I\’m super super happy for them.\”

    Gangrel also revealed that he\’s going to be wrestling against The Hardy Boyz somewhere in Virginia soon. It will be Gangrel and Joey Janela (the \”The New New Brood\”) against The Hardys (\”The Old New Brood\”).

    \"Gangrel
    Gangrel with The Hardys

    Steve Austin\’s Input on Theme Music

    The Brood\’s theme music is legendary (you can listen below) and really set the tone for the group\’s image. Gangrel shared a cool story about \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin giving him advice about the importance of entrance music.

    \”…One time Steve Austin asked me, \’What do you like about you like your music?\’ The music that I had with the Brood. I go, \’I could walk to it.\’
    And he goes, \’That\’s the key thing, you really want to become one with your entrance music. You really want to get that groove and that vibe and be able to gel with that coming out to get a feel.\’

    MLW\’s two next shows are scheduled for WrestleMania weekend, at Gilley\’s in Dallas, TX. If you\’re in town, visit MLWTix.com for ticket information.

  • AEW: Fight Forever Trademark To Be Used For Video Game

    A new trademark filing may be used for All Elite Wrestling\’s highly anticipated AEW console video game.

    On Monday (3/21), AEW filed an application to secure the phrase, AEW: Fight Forever. According to the US Patent & Trademark Office database, the Goods & Services usage is listed as:

    \”Downloadable game software; Downloadable computer game software; Downloadable electronic game software; Downloadable interactive game software; Video game discs; Downloadable video game programs; Downloadable video game software; Recorded video game programs; Recorded video game software.\”

    AEW also filed to trademark the term \”Undisputed Elite\” this week. The Goods & Services usage for Undisputed Elite is described as:

    \”Fan clubs; Providing a website featuring entertainment information in the fields of sports and entertainment; Providing entertainment information in the fields of sports and entertainment via a website; Conducting entertainment exhibitions in the nature of wresting exhibits and performances by professional wrestlers; Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network.\”

    AEW Video Game

    AEW is expected to release its first console video game later this year. Below are some recent articles chronicling the games development:

  • Triple H Retires, Details Near-Death Experience

    WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has provided an update on his health and future after undergoing a \”cardiac event\” in late 2021.

    The 14-time World Champion spoke with Stephen A. Smith for ESPN this week. A portion of the conversation aired on Friday\’s episode of First Take.

    Triple H said, \”I had a viral pneumonia. My lungs were inflamed, as the next couple of days went on, it got increasingly worse, and my wife saw some blood and stuff that I was coughing up. I went and got checked, and it was coming from the viral pneumonia, but I had fluid in my lungs, fluid around my heart.\”

    Doctors performed a thorough examination, including an EKG. Ejection fraction is the way your heart pumps blood and 55-60 is considered a healthy range. Triple H was down to 30.

    \”I got a quick text message saying \”Don\’t take time, pack your bag and head to the emergency room… by the time i got to the emergency room, my ejection fraction got down to about 22, which… I was in heart failure, bad. By the next morning, they figured that out, by the time I was going in to get a heart catheter my ejection was down to 12. I was nose diving and sort of at the 1-yard line of.. where you don\’t want to be, for your family and your future.\”

    https://youtu.be/o5N1AurWE3I

    As a family man, Triple H got emotional talking about his medical emergency.

    \”Let me tell you, its 99% .. it gets real, we have three young girls, 15, 13 and 11. Suddenly I come home, I\’m a little bit sick, and their dad who is strong, always, suddenly is in the hospital. I don\’t know if they understood the consequences of it, but there\’s moments in there where .. when they\’re putting you out for stuff and you think, \’Is this it? Do you wake up from this?\’ That\’s tough to swallow and makes you think differently… it makes you think differently about life. It doesn\’t make you any less driven for the things that you do, but it certainly makes you appreciate the things that you have more, your friends, your family.\”

    Triple H then confirmed he will never wrestle again because he had a defibrillator pacemaker installed in his chest.

    \”For me, as far as in-ring, which I get a lot, I\’m done. I will never wrestle again. I have a defibrillator in my chest, which .. It\’s probably not a good idea for me to get zapped on life tv.\”

    Stephen A. Smith\’s full interview with Triple H premieres Friday night on Stephen A\’s World, which streams on ESPN+.

  • WrestleMania News: Time Length, Ticket Sales & More

    We are just a week out from WWE\’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania. Once again, the event will be a 2-night affair, a trend that\’s expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

    WWE\’s decision to hold WrestleMania over two nights is based on several factors, most importantly, ticket sales and merchandise revenue. By splitting up the match card over two nights, WWE avoids a 7+ hour marathon show, which many fans found to be excessive.

    The current plan is for each night of WrestleMania to run for five hours, according to the Wrestling Observer. This includes a 2-hour kickoff show (6-8pm ET) and a 3-hour main show (8-11pm ET). There\’s a strong likelihood the main cards run over 3 hours.

    WrestleMania Saturday and Sunday will be shown in movie theaters across the United States and Canada. Fathom Events, the company bringing WrestleMania to theaters, lists a 4-hour run time for the main shows.

    The WrestleMania Saturday pre-show will air on the USA Network, in addition to it streaming on Peacock. As of this writing, we haven\’t seen anything about the WrestleMania Sunday pre-show airing on television.

    We\’ve received a few questions about whether or not there will be a battle royal at WrestleMania. WWE has featured these in the past, as a way to get more talent on the card. As of this writing, there are no plans for a men\’s or women\’s battle royal. There has been talk of holding an Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on WWE TV in the weeks ahead.

    WWE continues to move tickets for WrestleMania, with approximately 60,800 and 58,500 tickets sold for Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The stadium will be configured for 65,000 fans, but WWE will almost certainly announce an attendance above 70,000.

    For what it\’s worth, the secondary market for WrestleMania tickets has been softer than usual. That is likely a function of there still being thousands of seats still available, starting at around $35.

    Do not read too much into the fact that there are still a lot of tickets available for WrestleMania. This will be the most profitable WWE event by a long shot, in terms of ticket sales and merchandise revenue.

    H/T to the Wrestling Observer for information used in this report. Visit f4wonline.com for subscription information.

  • Bobby Lashley Still Not Medically Cleared, Despite WrestleMania Plans

    WrestleMania 38 is just one week away, but Bobby Lashley\’s status for the event remains unclear.

    Lashley has been out of action since January\’s Royal Rumble. The Almighty captured the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar (with help from Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns), but he suffered a shoulder injury during the match and hasn\’t wrestled since.

    The shoulder injury was so bad that it was feared that Lashley would require major surgery. That procedure never took place. WWE officials have been making plans for Lashley at WrestleMania. He\’s slated to face Omos at the event, if he\’s healthy.

    The fact that WWE has yet to announce Lashley vs. Omos this late in the game says a lot about where things stand. As of this week, Lashley is not medically cleared to wrestle, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    In the event that Bobby Lashley is not cleared over the next several days, WWE will have to act on contingency plans for Omos.

    Check out the link below for the current match card for WrestleMania, as well as start times and how to watch the event depending on your region.

  • Ric Flair Partners with Mike Tyson for New Cannabis Products

    WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and boxing legend Mike Tyson are now business partners.

    Tyson, who is no stranger to the world of pro wrestling, is also a player in the world of legal cannabis. Back in December, he launched Tyson 2.0, which produces a line of premium cannabis strains sold through select retailers in Massachusetts and Nevada.

    Tyson serves as the company\’s Chief Brand Officer.

    Ric Flair\’s Tyson 2.0 Cannabis Products

    Tyson 2.0 has acquired a majority stake in Ric Flair Drip Inc., an actual business entity owned by Ric Flair. The deal will see a line of Ric Flair-themed cannabis products.

    In a press release sent out on Thursday, Flair commented on his entry into the world of legal marijuana. \”Thanks to Mike Tyson and Tyson 2.0, I\’ve become a true cannabis advocate and enthusiast,\” said Flair. \”I am thrilled to partner with a long time friend and fellow warrior whom I greatly admire and respect.\”

    \”Tyson 2.0 products make me go \’WOOOOO!\’, and soon my fans everywhere can get in the Ric Flair state of mind – limousine riding, jet-flying, feeling good, and \’WOOOOO!\’\”

    – Ric Flair

    Flair says there are a lot of synergies between him and Mike Tyson. They\’ve both experienced extreme highs and lows throughout their personal and professional lives.

    The Nature Boy tweeted a photo with Tyson on Thursday from Mike Tyson\’s podcast studio, so it looks like Flair will be appearing on an upcoming episode of Hotboxin\’ With Mike Tyson.

    \"Ric

    Tyson 2.0 recently released Mike Bites, a line of cannabis-infused gummies in the shape of an ear with a bite taken out of it.

  • Trish Stratus Still Open To Wrestling Sasha Banks

    Trish Stratus says she\’s willing to step in the ring against Sasha Banks, under the right circumstances.

    Stratus will be on hand for this weekend\’s Road to WrestleMania live events from Canada. WWE will be in Kichener on Saturday and Toronto on Sunday. The 7-time WWE Women\’s Champion spoke with ET Canada this week to promote the the live events shows, as well as WrestleMania 38.

    During her conversation with Shakiel Mahjouri, Stratus commented on Lita\’s recent match at Elimination Chamber, as well as \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin\’s upcoming appearance on the KO Show next Saturday.

    Stratus has been discussing a \’dream match\’ against Sasha Banks for several years. The trailblazing Attitude Era star maintains that she\’s not scared of The Boss and knows this is a match fans want to see.

    \”I’ve heard that I’m running from her, which is absolutely untrue,\” she said. \”At one point, she had done this promo saying that I wasn’t ready. I posted a photo of my six-pack and said, ‘I am ready, girl.’ These little moments. Her and I had, maybe, a five-minute moment in the 2018 Royal Rumble and, to this day, people say that’s the match they want to see.\”

    \"Sasha

    She continued, \”Sometimes you just have this energy that is palpable. It’s like when Lita and I first faced off. People felt that. When The Rock and Austin faced off, they felt that. When Sasha and I faced off, I felt it too. It was a good moment. Will we follow up on it? If there is an opportunity, perhaps. Did I wish this was a SmackDown tour? Yes, I did.”

    Watch Trish Stratus\’ appearance on ET Canada:

    https://youtu.be/hz9_AKHt4Uc
  • Ric Flair Says AJ Styles is Superior to Bryan Danielson in Every Way

    WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is back with another \’hot take\’ that\’s sure to get wrestling fans talking.

    On the latest episode of his Wooooo Nation Uncensored podcast, Flair and co-host Mark Madden discussed the new WWE Evil series on Peacock. The show focuses on the greatest villains in WWE history, but Flair\’s conversation with Madden also covered some of the sport\’s best babyfaces

    Flair praised AJ Styles, who he\’s worked with in TNA/Impact and WWE. Flair said Styles is a versatile performer who is likable on and off screen.

    \”AJ is one of the greatest babyfaces of all time,\” said Flair. \”When he wants to be, he can be soft and mellow, which he really is in real life. He’s a very humble guy. He’s very likable. He can do anything.\”

    The conversation shifted to Bryan Danielson, who now wrestles for AEW. Flair said Danielson is \”very good,\” but he is not in the same league as AJ Styles.

    Flair wasn\’t just talking about Styles being a better babyface than Danielson. In fact, he said Styles superior in every way.

    \”Bryan Danielson is very good, but he’s not AJ Styles,\” Flair said. \”C’mon.. It’s a big stretch to say Danielson is in any way better than AJ Styles.\”

    Listen to the latest episode of Ric Flair\’s Wooooo Uncensored Podcast:

    Author\’s Opinion: Bryan Danielson and AJ Styles are regarded as two of the greatest pro wrestlers of this generation. There are many metrics one could use to evaluate a modern pro wrestler: In-ring work-rate, promos, memorable moments, career longevity, and many more. You could make a case that Styles it he superior wrestler, or vice versa. To say that Styles is better than Danielson \”in every way\” is quite a stretch.

    Watch: AJ Styles vs. Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan)

  • Jake Atlas Provides An Update On His Recovery From ACL Surgery


    Jake Atlas is on the road to recovery five weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL.

    Atlas began wrestling for AEW in late 2021. He worked the 12/28 AEW Dark Elevation tapings from Orlando and made his AEW Rampage debut on January 7th.

    The former gymnast looked great against Adam Cole, despite coming up short. Unfortunately, he tore a ligament in his knee during the match. He would later go under the knife, but assured his fans that we haven\’t seen the last of him.

    https://twitter.com/JakeAtlasReal/status/1494044856712409088

    Jake Atlas Injury Update

    Jake Atlas did a Facebook stream this week for the Highspots Wrestling Network and provided an update on his condition.

    Atlas reveals it was several days after he sustained the injury until he knew something was very wrong with his knee.

    \”I didn’t know it that night,\” he recalls. \”I didn’t know until probably a couple days after when I flew home but definitely couldn’t walk.\”

    He underwent surgery five weeks ago. Doctors gave him an estimated recovery time of nine months, but he\’s optimistic that he can get back in the ring sooner than that.

    Watch Jake Atlas\’ Highspots Wrestling Network Facebook stream: