SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Eric Bischoff: \”AEW Has To Grow Their Business. They Haven’t Thus Far.\”

    Eric Bischoff continues to be outspoken about All Elite Wrestling\’s level of success.

    The former WCW President has been critical about various aspects of AEW. He acknowledges they have amassed a \”super loaded\” roster, but doesn\’t feel the company has realized its full potential.

    On the latest episode of his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff explained what he believes are AEW\’s shortcomings.

    \”AEW has to grow their business,\” he began. \”They haven’t thus far. Now they’re inching up since NXT is no longer head-to-head. Dynamite, they’re probably 10% or 12% some are estimating ahead of where they were this time last year. But they’re still having a hard time consistently breaking a million viewers. It’s up and down with a super-loaded roster.\”

    AEW Dynamite viewership has increased year-over-year. The viewership trend is positive since moving to TBS at the start of this year. That said, there is still significant room for improvement.

    Appealing to a Wider Audience

    \"Eric
    Former WCW President Eric Bischoff & AEW President Tony Khan

    Bischoff\’s critique is sensible. AEW has all the star power they need at this point. So, what will it take for AEW Dynamite viewership to 1.5 million viewers each week?

    “At some point, they’re going to need a world champion, or two, a men’s champion and a women’s champion.. They’re going to need somebody that’s a legitimate larger than life star, not just physically, but larger than life to a broader audience.\”

    Bischoff says AEW and Turner might be satisfied with one million viewers each week. If they intend to draw viewership that rivals WWE Raw and SmackDown, they need to appeal to a wider audience.

    \”They’re going to need to focus on some larger than life type characters that are going to attract more than just the hardcore fanbase that they currently have.\”

    Eric Bischoff is a free agent who has appeared on WWE and AEW television in recent years. His most recent national TV appearance took place last month on SmackDown.

    Eric Bischoff Critiques AEW

    Here are some related articles covering Eric Bischoff\’s comments about AEW:

  • Britt Baker on Her WWE Tryout & Dental School Leading Her to AEW

    Britt Baker is one of the most successful women\’s wrestlers in the world, but it was a long journey to the AEW Women\’s World Championship.

    If you haven\’t heard, she\’s also a dentist. Baker somehow maintains two successful careers. This is a testament to her work ethic and determination. As it turns out, her dental school education kept her from fulfilling her dream of joining WWE.

    On the latest episode of the Talk is Jericho podcast, Baker spoke to Chris Jericho about her hopes of signing with WWE several years ago

    Baker had a tryout with the company and was in the same class as Lacey Evans. She felt confident WWE would offer her a contract, but her dental school education knocked those plans off course.

    At the time of her WWE tryout, Canyon Ceman was a top executive in the talent development division. Baker described him as \”the gatekeeper\” who brought independent wrestlers on board to the company\’s developmental system.

    \”He pulled me aside at the end of the tryout,\” Baker recalls. \”And he was like, ‘You know, you’ve just started dental school. As a father, I have a hard time pulling you from a professional degree.’ My heart dropped.\”

    Baker says she would have left dental school in a heartbeat if it meant she could join WWE. Looking back, she owes Ceman \”the world\” for not offering her a contract at the time.

    \”I would have left dental school in a heartbeat to go to WWE,\” she said. \”Because I was young, dumb, and I was like, ‘I’m going to be NXT Women’s Champion,’ like that would have got me far, right? He stayed in touch with me every few months after that. Like, ‘Let me know when you finish dental school, send me your matches.’ He always kept up with me.”

    Ceman was released by WWE last year after nearly a decade with the company.

    Britt Baker went on to join All Elite Wrestling in 2019. She captured the AEW Women’s World Championship at last year at Double or Nothing and is considered one of the most popular stars in the indsutry.

    Baker defends the AEW Women\’s champion against Thunder Rosa next weekend at AEW Revolution.

  • Corey Graves Teases a \”Familiar Face\” is Returning Before WrestleMania

    WWE fans can expect a \”familiar face\” to return before WrestleMania 38.

    We are now on the road to WrestleMania. The anticipation is building for WWE\’s biggest event of the year. Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey are on board to ensure WrestleMania is a box office success. However, WWE isn\’t done stacking the deck.

    On the latest episode of his After the Bell podcast, WWE broadcaster Corey Graves addressed rumors that another big name will soon be back on television.

    \”… and who knows, if the rumors do in fact prove to be true, we may have another familiar face back in the fold between now and the Showcase of the Immortals,\” said Graves. \”This is one of those ones where: if you know, you know. I’m not going to speak to it any longer.\”

    Graves says he knows exactly what he\’s doing: feeding the rumor mill.

    \”I’m stoking the flames and I am pouring gas on the fire,\” he added. \”If the rumors are true, I couldn’t be more thrilled.\”

    So, who is Corey Graves talking about? There are a few people rumored to be returning to WWE storylines ahead of WrestleMania 38. Three possibilities are Cody Rhodes, Vince McMahon or \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin.

    Cody Rhodes recently left AEW after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a new contract. WWE is rumored to be very interested in the American Nightmare\’s services.

    WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and Pat McAfee are reportedly scheduled to work a program at WrestleMania, while Steve Austin is rumored to come out of retirement to face Kevin Owens.

    The good news is that WrestleMania is just five weeks away and we won\’t have to wait much longer to find out who Corey Graves is referencing

  • NXT Star Ivy Nile Announces She Is Engaged

    WWE Superstar star Ivy Nile is engaged to be married.

    She posted the following photo on social media over the weekend, vowing to always love her fiancé.

    Ivy Nile (Emily Andzulis) currently wrestles for WWE\’s NXT 2.0 developmental brand. She is a member of the Diamond Mine faction.

    Prior to joining WWE, she was a mixed martial artist and was the first woman to win the Titan Games championship, the reality competition series hosted by Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson.

    Nile an Tatum Paxley recently entered the 2022 Women\’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. They were eliminated in the first round with a loss to Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter.

    SEScoops extends our congratulations to Ivy Nile and fiancé on their engagement!

  • Steve Austin Hosting Beer Bash During WrestleMania Weekend

    WWE Hall of Fame \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin is headed to WrestleMania weekend.

    The Texas Rattlesnake has announced Steve Austin\’s Badass Broken Skull Bash, presented by El Segundo Brewing company.

    Austin will be on hand at Billy Bob\’s in Fort Worth, TX on Thursday, March 31st for the release of his brand new American Lager beer.

    This will be El Segundo Brewing company\’s second Steve Austin beer following the popular Broken Skull IPA.

    According to BrokenSkullBeer.com, \”This beer is our take on the classic American Lager. Made for the working man and woman, this beer is brewed with the finest American-grown barley and hops and is the ultimate reward for a hard days work. Coming in at 4.8%, this beer goes down easier than a 3-day weekend.\”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cac66idPtFW/

    Steve Austin is rumored to be coming out of retirement to wrestle Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38. Austin has been involved with some of the promotional material for the event, but WWE has yet to confirm he will be there.

    It remains to be seen if this actually happens, but now we know Austin will be in town that weekend.

    Kevin Owens has been \”stirring the pot\” and getting people excited about the prospect of Austin wrestling again. In recent weeks, Owens has been dropping hints that he may in fact be having a confrontation with Steve Austin soon.

    Owens has been talking trash about Austin\’s favorite beverage (beer) and his hometown, Victoria Texas. More on that below.

    Kevin Owens Keeps Saying Stuff That Would Upset Steve Austin

  • Mick Foley on Cesaro Leaving WWE: Their Loss is Pro Wrestling\’s Gain

    Mic Foley is speaking out about Cesaro leaving WWE. Foley has long advocated for the company to get behind the Swiss Superman, as seen below.

    Cesaro has received occasional pushes during his 11 years with WWE. He\’s won championships and even main-evented a pay-per-view last year. However, many feel WWE never truly believed he could be a featured player like John Cena, Randy Orton or Roman Reigns.

    On Friday, Foley released a video statement addressing Cesaro\’s time with WWE and his future. Foley says he\’s disappointed. He\’s been a fan of Cesaro since his early days on the independent scene. He thinks Cesaro can work anywhere in the world and tear down the house working all different styles of wrestling.

    Mick Foley called the 41-year old grappler \”one of the greatest workers of his generation\” who can and will be a world champion in the future.

    \”WWE\’s loss is going to be professional wrestling\’s gain\”

    – Mick Foley

    Watch Mick Foley\’s video statement about Cesaro\’s WWE release:

    Mick Foley Begs for Vince to Push Cesaro

    This is far from the first time Mick Foley has advocated for Cesaro to be pushed as a main event player. During his appearance on Steve Austin\’s Broken Skull Sessions, Foley literally begged Vince McMcMahon to give Cesaro a chance.

    “Can I talk to the camera? Vince, please… you [Steve Austin] started in 88 or 89? 60 years of experience, we know a little something. We both proved Vince wrong, right? He had us set for this level and I’d say we exceeded that level. Trust us and give him the chance. Let him prove… I’ll get down on my knees, and I’ll beg… Vince, please. All we’re saying is give Cesaro a chance. I just believe in that guy wholeheartedly. Give him a chance.”

    Steve Austin agreed with Foley\’s assessment.

    “Give him a chance, give him a gimmick. Just put a rocket ship on his back, no telling what the kid can do.”

  • Ronda Rousey Recalls Wanting to Curse Out WWE Fans

    Ronda Rousey is opening up about her adversarial relationship with the WWE Universe.

    On the latest episode of Ronda on the Road, Rousey spoke candidly about her departure from WWE in 2019 and her recent return.

    Rousey made history at WrestleMania 35 when she, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair became the first women to headline a WrestleMania. Unfortunately \”shattered\” a knuckle in her hand during the match. She was also extremely discouraged with WWE fans

    \”Everyone was booing me out of the stadium,\” Rousey recalls. \”I was just like, man, fuck these people, I can\’t wait to go home.\”

    She added, \”When I left WWE, I had been getting booed out of the stadium, like, every day for months.\”

    \”Do I stay true to myself and tell them to go fuck themselves?\”

    – Ronda Rousey

    Ronda Rousey has portrayed a babyface character for the majority of her time in WWE. However, she\’s found it difficult to play the hero when fans have rejected her so forcefully.

    \”I think one of the most uncomfortable and disingenuous I\’ve ever felt was when I had to be a babyface and the crowd was being hostile towards me and I couldn\’t just tell them exactly what I fucking felt,\” she said.

    \”I was stuck between, do I stay true to myself and tell them to go fuck themselves, or do I, you know, respect Vince who has done so much for me, and not go against what he wants me to do?\”

    When she\’s had the chance to act like a heel, she\’s loved it, because she could finally be herself.

    Advice from Paul Heyman & Vince McMahon

    Despite some unpleasantness, she really missed wrestling during her time away. She wanted to return, but knew fans might still harbor some animosity towards her.

    When Rousey returned at the Royal Rumble, she admits she was \”super defensive.\” At Raw after the Rumble, she was ready for fans to troll her into oblivion. She expected them to heckle her and bring signs with hurtful messages directed at her.

    During her promo at the post-Rumble Raw, Ronda Rousey seemed agitated. Backstage after her segment, Paul Heyman pulled her aside and told her Vince McMahon was going to tell her one thing: she has to smile. She met with Vince and thats exactly what he said. \”That was fantastic, you just need to smile.\”

    She told Vince the fans were booing her out of the building toward the end of her first run. Vince told her, \”Yeah, but they\’ve forgiven you for that.\” She said she hasn\’t forgiven the fans yet, but Vince told her it\’s not about her, it\’s about the fans.

    She\’s taken these words to heart and now has a more-balanced outlook on her relationship with WWE fans.

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

    Watch Ronda Rousey speak about her WWE return on the latest episode of her Ronda on the Road series:

    Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any of the transcribed quotes in this article

  • Owen Hart \”King of Harts\” AEW T-Shirt Now On Sale

    All Elite Wrestling\’s first merchandise featuring Owen Hart is now on sale.

    The \”King of Harts\” t-shirt is available for $24.99 at ShopAEW.com.

    \"Owen

    The t-shirt is part of AEW\’s partnership with the Owen Hart Foundation.

    The primary focus of this working relationship will be the Owen Hart Foundation Men\’s and Women\’s Tournaments. The participants have yet to be announced, but we know the finals of the two tournaments will take place at AEW Double or Nothing in May.

    Dr. Martha Hart, Owen Hart\’s widow, will be on hand to present trophies to the winners.

  • Tony Khan Hopes to Drop His Major Announcement on AEW Dynamite

    Tony Khan hopes to make his major announcement next week on AEW Dynamite.

    Earlier this month, the AEW President began hyping something \”massive\” that he wasn\’t able to reveal just yet.

    Khan appeared on Friday\’s edition of Busted Open Radio and provided some new details about what we can expect. He\’s been working overtime behind the scenes to get everything in place and hopes to let the cat out of the bag next week.

    \”I am going to tell everyone right now, you definitely will not want to miss Wednesday night Dynamite next week,\” said Khan.

    \”I promise you guys right now, I have a huge announcement coming and nobody knows what it is. It’s going to be something very important in the wrestling business.\”

    Khan previously compared the magnitude of this announcement to The First Dance, which turned out to be CM Punk joining AEW. However, Khan clarified that next week\’s announcement is not \”just one particular piece of talent.\”

    TK is setting high expectations, but he does have a track record of delivering on things like this.

    Some fans have speculated that AEW will announce a formal working relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling, a \”super show\” featuring talent from multiple promotions or the purchase of Ring of Honor.

    Listen to Tony Khan tease his big announcement on Busted Open Radio, courtesy of our friends at the Putting You Over podcast:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbwlR11QTus

  • Eddie Kingston: Cesaro \”Doesn\’t Have The Balls\” to Join AEW

    AEW star Eddie Kingston sounds ready to reignite his rivalry with Cesaro. In an unexpected turn of events, these two could cross paths again in the very near future.

    News broke earlier this week that Cesaro is no longer with WWE after the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new contract. Cesaro was willing to stick with WWE, but wasn\’t satisfied with the money WWE offered him.

    Due to his previous contract expiring, Cesaro is free to work anywhere else effective immediately. He is not bound by a 90-day non-compete clause, which is only for cases when wrestlers are released from their contracts.

    Cesaro (as Claudio Castagnoli) has a long, violent history with Eddie Kingston from their days in the CHIKARA promotion.

    Once it became public knowledge that Cesaro was a free agent, Eddie Kingston took to social media to address his former rival.

    Kingston tweeted, \”All I am going to say is, he doesn’t have the balls to come to AEW.\”

    https://twitter.com/MadKing1981/status/1497036893049036802
    Kingston, also known as the Mad King, later re-tweeted a video that someone posted of a match between the two men from their days in CHIKARA.

    AEW has been signing talent left and right, with some fans questioning if their roster is reaching maximum capacity.

    Former WWE Superstar Buddy Matthews made his AEW debut this week on Dynamite. Jeff Hardy and Shane \”Swerve\” Strickland are also expected to be joining AEW soon, as well.

    Hit up the comments section and let us know if you think AEW should sign Cesaro.

  • WrestleMania Changes, Rousey vs. Charlotte Set for Night 1

    WWE will be making some changes to the WrestleMania 38 premium live event.

    Since WrestleMania was expanded to two nights in 2020, the shows have been presented as \”WrestleMania Night 1\” and \”WrestleMania Night 2.\”

    This year\’s WrestleMania will instead feature “WrestleMania Saturday” and “WrestleMania Sunday.”

    WWE has already begun using this new naming convention, so expect to hear the branding hammered home on television in the weeks ahead.

    As the WrestleMania 38 card takes shape, WWE has confirmed that Ronda Rousey\’s match against Charlotte Flair will take place at WrestleMania Saturday.

    WWE has yet to confirm that Rousey vs. Charlotte will be the main event of WrestleMania Saturday, although this is what we expect to see.

    WrestleMania 38 takes place over two nights on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The following is matches are confirmed for WrestleMania 38:

    • SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey
    • Winner Takes All: WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
    • RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair
    • Rey and Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz and Logan Paul

  • John Cena Receives Backlash for Peacemaker Tweet

    John Cena is receiving backlash on social media for a tweet that seemingly references Russia\’s invasion of Ukraine.

    The entire world is watching as Russian Vladamir Putin leads his army into its sovereign neighbor. Putin has called the Russian offensive a \”peacekeeping\” mission, which prompted Cena to reference his Peacemaker super hero character.

    John Cena says he wishes he could summon the powers of a real life Peacemaker to end the bloody conflict.

    John Cena\’s tweet is getting a lot of negative reactions. Some people are referencing an incident from last year when John Cena apologized to China for referencing Taiwan as an independent country while promoting his Suicide Squad movie.

    John Cena\’s HBO show The Peacemaker, a spinoff from his character in The Suicide Squad, has been a hit with viewers and critics.

    The Peacemaker was recently renewed for a second season.

  • Terminus 2 Results From Atlanta, GA (2/24)

    Jonathan Gresham\’s Terminus promotion held its second event on Thursday night from Atlanta, GA.

    The main event saw Gresham retain the ROH World Championship against AEW star Santana. The event aired live on FITE and is now available for on-demand purchase.

    Here are quick results from the show:

    • Chris Sabin defeated Tre Lamar, Kenny Alfonso, & Leon Ruff
    • Queen Aminata defeated Killa Kate
    • Joe Keys & Dante Caballero defeated Daniel Garcia & Kevin Blackwood
    • Serena Deeb defeated Liiza Hall
    • Sw3rve the Realest defeated Davey Richards
    • Jay Lethal defeated Baron Black
    • ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham defeated Santana

    At the conclusion of the event, Gresham announced there will be a third Terminus event.

  • AEW All Out 2021 PPV Buys Shattered Company Records

    AEW All Out 2021 garnered the most PPV buys in company history.

    All Out was AEW\’s first pay-per-view outside of Jacksonville, Florida since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main event saw Kenny Omega retain the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage. It also featured CM Punk\’s first match in seven years (he defeated Darby Allin), Chris Jericho vs. MJF and the AEW debuts of Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole and Ruby Soho.

    AEW All Out sold 205,000 buys across all outlets, according to the Wrestling Observer, and grossed over $10 million. To put this into perspective, AEW All Out 2021 surpassed the previous company record for PPV buys by over 40%.

    AEW All Out PPV Buys

    The following is an updated look at the AEW All Out PPV buys since the event was founded in 2019.

    As you can see, the estimated figures were largely steady for the first two years before more-than-doubling last year for CM Punk\’s return to the ring.

    • 2019: 88,000
    • 2020: 90,000
    • 2021: 205,000

  • Tony Schiavone Discusses Cody Rhodes Leaving AEW

    Tony Schiavone is sharing his reaction to Cody Rhodes leaving AEW.

    Schiavone\’s relationship with the Rhodes family goes back to the 1980\’s. He\’s very close to their family and considers Cody and Brandi to be dear friends.

    On the latest episode of his What Happened When podcast with Conrad Thompson, Schiavone opened up about the Cody Rhodes situation.

    Aside from Cody being a driving force behind AEW\’s formation, Cody is also the man responsible for introducing Schiavone to AEW President Tony Khan.

    \”Cody Rhodes, to me, was one of the faces of AEW,\” said Schiavone. \”Cody was the one who got me in touch with Tony Khan, and that’s why I signed,” he said.

    \”Of course, I’m very close to the family. We took many bus rides together to Jacksonville. I consider him and Brandi friends. I think we’re a better organization today because of them.\”

    It\’s Wrestling. It Happens.

    – Tony Schiavone on Cody Rhodes\’ AEW Departure

    Tony Schiavone wishes Cody and Brandi Rhodes the best and is grateful for everything they\’ve done for him and for AEW.

    Schiavone has seen it all since he started with Jim Crocket Promotions in 1983. That said, Cody Rhodes was an integral part of AEW and his departure is nothing short of shocking.

    \”But, after you get over the shock of it, you kind of think, ‘You know what? It’s wrestling. It happens. This is the first one that’s left our company, but it’s one of our biggest names that left the company, so that’s why it’s the biggest shock.\”

    Listen to Tony Schiavone discuss Cody Rhodes\’ AEW departure on the latest episode of What Happened When:

    H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription

  • Hit Row Members Reuniting Without Shane \”Swerve\” Strickland

    Members of the Hit Row faction will be reuniting during WrestleMania weekend.

    Hit Row was a popular group in NXT last year. The group was comprised of Isiah \”Swerve\” Scott, Top Dolla, Ashante Thee Adonis and B-Fab. Despite their initial popularity, the group was dismantled and ultimately released entirely by WWE.

    Shane Strickland (formerly Isiah Scott) is back taking solo independent bookings. The remaining members are headed to WrestleMania weekend to appear together for Game Changer Wrestling.

    Now known as HitMakerZ, AJ Francis (Top Dolla), Tehuti Miles (Ashante Thee Adonis) and Briana Brandi (B-Fab) have been announced for GCW\’s For The Fulture event on Friday, April 1st from Dallas, TX.

    \"Image\"/

    If you\’ll be in the Dallas area for WrestleMania weekend, GCW For The Culture tickets are now available at Eventbrite.com.

    Shane Strickland Moves On from Hit Row

    Shane \”Swerve\” Strickland is conspicuously absent from this reunion. The Beyonce to Hit Row\’s Destiny Child says he\’s focused on his solo career right now.

    Swerve did a virtual autograph signing for K&S Wrestle Fest earlier this week and commented on Hit Row\’s future. He had a fun time with the group, but he\’s moving on to greater things.

    \”The group going to another promotion together is always an option, but right now I\’m focused on myself and what I have to do,\” he said. \”I\’m at an older age. My persona with the pro wrestling business and being on screen is always maturing.\”

    He had fun with Hit Row and enjoyed feels they made history in NXT. However, \”I\’m maturing and moving on to something greater.\”

  • Goldberg Has a Unique Outlook on Other Wrestlers Using the Spear

    WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg has warmed up to the idea of other wrestlers using the spear attack during matches.

    Goldberg just competed at WWE Elimination Chamber, where he came up short against Universal Champion Roman Reigns. This was the final match Goldberg\’s WWE contract.

    At 55 years old, Goldberg needs to take special care of his body to continue performing at a high level. He recently paid a visit to Dr. Beau Hightower, renowned Chiropractor and strength and conditioning specialist.

    Hightower has a popular YouTube channel that shows him treating celebrities and athletes. Goldberg\’s visit was the subject of his latest video and of course they talked wrestling while Bill got worked on.

    Interestingly, Goldberg says he used to hate seeing other wrestlers use the spear, which has been one of his signature moves since the late 1990\’s. We\’ve seen countless WWE Superstars utilize the move since then, most notably Roman Reigns, Edge and Bobby Lashley.

    \"Roman

    Goldberg\’s Spear

    According to Goldberg, you can use the spear.. if he likes you.

    \”About 15 to 20 superstars at WWE use it, and I used to hate it, but now I like it,\” Goldberg said about the spear. \”I like it because you see them do it, and then you see the master do it. And there’s a huge difference.\”

    He continued, \”… and if I like you, I’ll let you live through it. If I don’t like you, I’ll put my head right in the middle of your chest and you’ll be in the hospital.\”

    Catch Goldberg\’s appearance on Dr. Beau Hightower\’s YouTube show:

  • Pat McAfee: \”I Guess Cody Rhodes is Coming to WWE. Who Cares?\”

    WWE broadcaster Pat McAfee has commented on the possibility of Cody Rhodes returning to the company.

    After his shocking departure from All Elite Wrestling, all signs are pointing to Cody Rhodes returning to WWE in the short-term future. In fact, WWE began teasing Cody\’s arrival on this week\’s Monday Night Raw.

    On Tuesday\’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show, the SmackDown color commentator addressed the buzz about Cody\’s future. He also addressed the Wednesday Night Wars and took a few digs at AEW in the process.

    \”I guess Cody Rhodes is coming to WWE,\” said McAfee. \”I guess. Who cares, dude, you know? Him and his little friends, they started something, it was terrible, we actually went head-to-head with them on Wednesdays, we beat \’em a couple different times, who cares? The hell with Cody Rhodes!\”

    McAfee must have realized there\’s money to be made with Cody Rhodes in WWE, because he pivoted his position pretty quickly.

    Taking on a more positive outlook, McAfee said Cody is a \”massive name\” and is excited by the prospect of working together.

    \”Now people are going to think I\’m starting an angle with Cody Rhodes,\” he joked. \”I\’m actually pretty pumped if Cody is coming back. [He\’s] obviously a massive name in Sports Entertainment. If he\’s coming to SmackDown, I\’m excited by it.\”

    You can catch Pat McAfee\’s comments about Cody Rhodes below:

  • AJ Styles Signs New Multi-Year Deal With WWE

    AJ Styles has signed a phenomenal new contract with WWE. The former WWE Champion has re-upped for 3 more years and will make \”well over\” $3 million per year, per Fightful. This makes him one of the highest-paid pro wrestlers in the world.

    Styles was due to become a free agent this summer. However, WWE never let things get to that point. They did not want a bidding war to unfold and made Styles an offer he couldn\’t refuse.

    Despite mass layoffs in 2021 due to budget cuts, WWE has not hesitated to throw big money at stars like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to keep them on board. As the wrestling war heats up with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), AJ Styles is somebody you do not want \”seeing what\’s out there.\”

    AJ Styles had a Hall of Fame caliber career before joining WWE in January 2016. He could have retired as an all-time great after his runs in Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Luckily for us, he was just getting warmed up. He\’s held the WWE Championship twice, the United States title 3 times, the IC title and the Raw tag titles (with Omos).

    Styles is not currently booked for WrestleMania 38, but he\’s stated in multiple interviews that he wants to wrestle Edge at WWE\’s biggest show of the year. He told Ariel Helwani earlier this month:

    \”There was that time when I thought there would never be an opportunity to wrestle him, and now, it’s here. The time is limited in which we can pull it off. Whether he or I retire first, who knows, but I want to get that match. I desperately want to get that match. I think it’s the one that most fans would enjoy.\”

  • XFL & NFL Partner For Innovation Opportunities & Player Development

    The XFL and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering to expand opportunities for player development both on and off the field.

    The leagues will work together on innovation opportunities, testing rules for player protection and officiating technology.

    XFL co-owner Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson released a video statement, which you can watch below. Johnson maintains that his top priority is the health and safety of the players. This working relationship will hopefully benefit players from both leagues and the entire sport of professional football.

    XFL President Russ Brandon tells ESPN the partnership gives the NFL a \”petri dish\” to experiment with new rules, test new equipment and develop prospective officials.

    The XFL is scheduled to relaunch in February 2023 under the new ownership of Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and RedBird Capital Partners.

    This will not be a talent sharing relationship, but this agreement is a stark comparison from Vince McMahon\’s initial vision for the XFL, which was adversarial towards the NFL. Co-Owner

    Danny Garcia maintains that the XFL will not sharing talent or developing talent for the NFL. \”That\’s a no,\” she said to ESPN. \”We are a spring league. We will play at the highest level in the spring. There is not the anticipation of any player sharing that changes the dynamic. That\’s not how we\’re executing our vision.\”

  • Updated WrestleMania 38 Card Following WWE Elimination Chamber

    The card for WrestleMania 38 is starting to come together.

    Elimination Chamber 2022 is in the books and the event brought a few changes to WWE\’s biggest show of the year.

    Bianca Belair won the Women\’s Elimination Chamber match to become #1 contender to the Raw Women\’s Championship. That title is held by Becky Lynch, who successfully retained against Lita.

    Brock Lesnar captured the WWE Championship once again by winning the Men\’s Elimination Chamber match. In doing so, his match against Roman Reigns will now be Champion vs. Champion.

    WrestleMania 38 Card

    The following matches are now set for WrestleMania:

    • WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns
    • Raw Women\’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair
    • SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey

    Hit up the comments to let us know what you think about how this card is looking.

  • What Time Does Elimination Chamber 2022 Start?

    WWE Elimination Chamber takes place at a special time this Saturday, February 19th.

    Most WWE premium live events take place in the evenings (in the United States). However, this is not your typical WWE show.

    WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 starts at 12pm (ET) / 9am (PT).

    In case you forget what time Elimination Chamber begins, you can always catch the show on-demand on Peacock (US) and on the WWE Network (international).

    For more information, including the full match card and the latest news, visit our WWE Elimination Chamber event page.

  • Gangrel To Debut for MLW at SuperFight from Charlotte (2/26)

    Former WWE Superstar Gangrel is headed to Major League Wrestling (MLW).

    The Vampire Warrior has signed on to face Gnarls Garvin at MLW SuperFight, which takes place Saturday February 26th from Charlotte, North Carolina.

    This will be a TV taping for MLW Fusion.

    If you\’re in the Charlotte area, tickets are still available at MLWLive.com.

    MLW SuperFight Card

    Here is the updated card for MLW SuperFight 2022:

    • World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone vs. Davey Richards
    • Stairway to Hell Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger
    • Von Erichs vs. Ricky & Kerry Morton
    • Grudge Match: nZo vs. KC Navarro
    • 4-Way for National Openweight Championship: Alex Kane (c) vs. Matt Cross vs. ACH vs. Calvin Tankman
    • Mixed Trios Match: Puma King, Octagon Jr., & Mystery Man vs. Arez, Gino Medina, & Mini Abismo Negro

    Plus, Killer Kross arrives in MLW, a special appearance by Ricky \”The Dragon\” Steamboat and much more.

    For more information, visit MLW.com.

  • The Undertaker to be Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

    The Undertaker has been announced as the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame\’s Class of 2022. The news was first reported by the New York Post.

    The Undertaker made his WWE debut in November 1990. He would go on to become one of the most iconic performers in WWE history.

    His final match took place at WrestleMania 36 in the critically-acclaimed cinematic Boneyard Match against AJ Styles.

    He announced his retirement in 2020, capping off an incredible 30 year run.

    The Dead Man will take his rightful place amongst the immortals Friday, April 1st during WrestleMania 38 weekend. The ceremony will air April 1st on Peacock.

    For more on The Undertaker\’s legendary career, visit WWE.com.

  • Dustin Rhodes Vents About \”Too Many Egos & Too Much BS\”

    Wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes has seen it all since his debut in 1988. On Thursday, he went on social media and vented about \”too many egos\” and \”too much bullsh-t.\”

    It\’s unclear exactly what he is referencing, but the timing is curious in light of his brother Cody\’s shocking departure from All Elite Wrestling.

    Rhodes warned about the need to keep your ego in check and focus on lifting other people up.

    \”Too many egos and too much bullshit,\” said Rhodes. \”Work hard, keep your nose out of trouble, lift other up instead of treating them as they\’re below you. Do these things and succeed at anything. I\’ll beat ego every time.\”

    Fans immediately began wondering if he was referencing backstage politics that may have been a factor in Cody\’s decision to leave AEW. However, Dustin quickly set the record straight and let everybody know he couldn\’t be happier working for Tony Khan.

    Just a few minutes after the first tweet, Dustin Rhodes followed up with another tweet encouraging people to get on board with AEW. \”We are ever growing and making big moves.\”

    \”The Natural\” has been with AEW since the company\’s first pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing in 2019. His all-time record in AEW is 32-14. He\’s 0-1 so far this year.