SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Nick Khan Wants Las Vegas To Be A Major Destination For Wrestling

    WWE President Nick Khan wants to see Las Vegas, Nevada become one of the premiere wrestling cities in the United States.

    WWE is gearing up to invade the Vegas area later this summer. SummerSlam will take place on Sunday, August 21st from the new Allegiant Stadium.

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    Based on what we\’ve been hearing in recent weeks, WWE is hoping to make SummerSlam bigger than ever this year with a loaded card and \”all hands on deck.\”

    During an interview with the Las Vegas Sun, Nick Khan touted Vegas a world-class destination for live sporting events. The city has a long list of venues, including the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Mandalay Bay Events Center, the Thomas & Mack Center, the T-Mobile Arena and more.

    “There’s a surge of sports in Las Vegas and the mistake I think the sports world was making previously is looking at the local market without seeing the hundreds of millions of tourism dollars every year. With the NFL’s 16, now 17-week season, you’re figuring if the home games can attract enough out-of-town fans, and that’s easy. It makes all the sense in the world.\”

    WWE and Las Vegas city officials are betting that SummerSlam will provide another boost to the city\’s reputation a destination for sports. Khan noted that Allegiant Stadium is close to the strip, which makes it easily accessible.

    Visit the Las Vegas Sun to read the full interview with Nick Khan.

  • Jungle Boy Posts Photo Making Out With Anna Jay

    AEW stars Jungle Boy and Anna Jay of the Dark Order appear to be more than \”just friends.\”

    Jungle Boy had an impressive showing against AEW World Champion Kenny Omega this past weekend on Saturday Night Dynamite. Omega retained the gold, but Jack Perry showed once again that he can hang in the main events.

    On Monday, Jungle Boy posted this photo of himself making out with Anna Jay outside Jacksonville\’s TIAA Bank Field stadium.

    Colt Cabana replied to the tweet and jokingly asked Anna Jay if this was her way of trying to recruit Jungle Boy to the Dark Order.

    Anna Jay\’s Road Back To AEW

    Anna Jay has been out of action since February dealing with a shoulder injury that required surgery. At the time, AEW announced that she\’s expected to miss 6-12 months of action.

    Anna Jay recently tweeted that she \”can\’t wait to get back in the ring.\” Late July would be 6-months from the time of her injury, so she could be back in action as early as next month.

  • Samoa Joe Scouting Talent For WWE, Wants To Wrestle Again

    Samoa Joe is motivated to get back in the ring. During an appearance on the Out of Character podcast, Joe told Ryan Satin that he is \”absolutely\” working on getting medically cleared to compete again. He\’s been sidelined since February 2020 due to concussion-related injuries.

    He recently returned to WWE television after a 2-month hiatus. He was released on April 15th, but now serves as NXT General Manager William Regal\’s new enforcer. Since returning, we\’ve seen Joe cross paths with some of NXT\’s top stars.

    Samoa Joe sees several NXT competitors he\’d like to mix it up with. \”Karrion Kross and Pete Dunne are at the top of that list,\” he said. \”A guy like WALTER, people have been asking for it, I\’m not blind. It\’s for good reason. The guy is a powerhouse and people want to see some furniture moving.\”

    Joe vs. WALTER is a dream match that would have wrestling fans salivating. We can only hope it comes to fruition one day. He also named Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O\’Reilly and Bronson Reed as potential opponents.

    Samoa Joe: Talent Scout

    In addition Samoa Joe\’s new on-screen role, he is also scouting talent for WWE and doing other tasks behind-the-scenes.

    \”It\’s a transition into some of the other aspects of the business,\” says Joe. \”It\’s an evolution of my journey. It was a cool opportunity that Hunter offered me. It was a very nice understanding that we had come to.\”

    Joe is particularly well-suited for his job . He follows pro wrestling, MMA and other sports closely. His vast network of connections will be a valuable resource for WWE as they look to sign the next generation of athletes.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quotes

  • WWE Raw Preview: Orton vs McIntyre vs. Styles, 6-Woman Tag

    WWE returns to the ThunderDome tonight for an all-new episode of Monday Night Raw. We\’re on the road to Money in the Bank, which takes place in less than three weeks.

    The following items are being advertised for WWE Raw:

    • Second Chance Money In the Bank Qualifier: Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles. As of this writing, qualified competitors for the men\’s MITB ladder match include Big E, Riddle, Ricochet and John Morrison.
    • Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose vs. Charlotte Flair and Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya and Tamina Snuka.
    • Former partners clash when Elias takes on Jaxson Ryker in a Strap Match.

    Plus, Kofi Kingston will confront MVP ahead of his match against WWE Champion Bobby Lashley at Money in the Bank.

    All this and more goes down in just a matter of hours on the USA Network.

    Head over to our WWE News page for more of our recent articles.

  • Edge & Roman Reigns Talk Trash Ahead Of MITB Showdown

    Edge will challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at WWE\’s upcoming Money in the Bank pay-per-view.

    The Rated R Superstar made a surprise return at Friday\’s SmackDown. He laid out the Tribal Chief and later demanded a shot at Reigns. WWE officials granted his request and the match is set for July 18th

    Some fans have questioned the logic of Edge being placed into the top feud on SmackDown after being away from TV for several months. However, Edge and Reigns are seasoned veterans. They are more than capable of building a captivating program as WWE returns to a road schedule.

    Over the weekend, Roman Reigns tweeted:

    Edge replied and reassured Reigns he\’s ready to face him head-on:

    WWE Money in the Bank takes place Sunday, July 18th from the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The show will stream live on Peacock and the WWE Network.

  • Several WWE Performance Center Recruits Receive New Ring Names

    Several recently-signed WWE Superstars have received new ring names.

    According to the Roster section of the WWE Performance Center website, the following changes have been made:

    • Harlem Bravado is now Andre Chase
    • Drew and Jacob Kasper are now Brutus and Julius Creed
    • Avery Taylor is now Jacy Jayne

    The United States Patent & Trademark Office database shows that WWE filed to trademark all four ring names earlier this month (June 11th).

    Julius Creed (Jacob Kasper)

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    Hopefully all four of these talented athletes have bright futures in WWE. The company has high hopes for Julius Creed (Jacob Kasper) in particular, a two-time All American heavyweight wrestler from Duke University.

    Last October, former WWE agent Gerry Brisco told ESPN that Kasper reminds him of a young John Cena.

    \”In my nearly 50 years in the wrestling business, I have seen only a few wrestlers who have such powerful personalities that when they come into a room, everyone there knows that person has arrived,\” Brisco said. \”Jacob Kasper has that type of personality, and he reminds me in many ways of a young John Cena.\”

  • Reason Why WWE Held Hell In A Cell Matches on Raw & SmackDown

    WWE presented Hell in a Cell steel cage matches on Friday\’s SmackDown and Monday\’s Raw. You could argue that these matches diluted the uniqueness of the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, but the company had a very specific reason for booking this way.

    SEScoops has learned that WWE ran the Hell in a Cell matches on Raw and SmackDown in an effort to provide their television partners (Fox and USA Network) a little \”something extra.\” The pandemic era was not kind to WWE viewership. Raw and SmackDown have drawn historic-low ratings this past year.

    In light of their massive TV contracts, WWE has been feeling the pressure to jumpstart things to renew fan interest.

    WWE initially had Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio booked for the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. That match was moved to Friday\’s SmackDown to boost viewership. The tactic worked, as SmackDown topped 2 million viewers.

    USA Network was said to be unhappy about WWE holding a special Hell in a Cell match on SmackDown instead of Raw. This was a a factor in the Bobby Lashley vs. Xavier Woods match airing on last night\’s Raw.

  • AEW Returning To Pittsburgh For Dynamite & Rampage Premiere

    All Elite Wrestling is returning to Pittsburgh, PA this summer with two live television tapings. Both events will take place from the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

    The first show is Wednesday, August 11th for AEW Dynamite. Doors open at 6pm and the action begins at 7pm.

    Just two days later, AEW returns for Rampage on Friday, August 13th. This is the series premiere of AEW\’s new show, which airs Friday nights on TNT at 10pm (Eastern). Doors open at 7pm and showtime is scheduled for 8pm.

    Tickets for the AEW Pittsburgh shows go on sale this Friday, June 25th at AEWTix.com. For fans who are interested in attending Dynamite and Rampage, a special price two-event combo ticket package will be available.

    Pittsburgh is one of the top wrestling cities in America and is the home of AEW Women\’s Champion Britt Baker.

  • Brock Lesnar In Talks With WWE About Potential Return

    WWE is looking to re-sign Brock Lesnar as part of the post-pandemic effort to spike business.

    The Beast Incarnate is currently a free agent. His most recent WWE contract expired in April 2020. It was not unusual for Lesnar to come and go for months at a time, but this has been his longest hiatus since returning in 2021

    WWE has been negotiating with Brock Lesnar as of late, according to Fightful Select. If everything goes smoothly, they hope to bring him back into the fold effectively immediately.

    Earlier this month, Brock Lesnar\’s profile was added back to the \’active\’ Superstars section of WWE.com.

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    Brock Lesnar is pro wrestling\’s top box office attraction over the past decade. WWE looking to make SummerSlam an \”all hands on deck\” event. Lesnar would certainly add some much-needed star power to the show. WWE had considered Lesnar as Roman Reigns\’ opponent for SummerSlam, but John Cena is now the frontrunner for that role. Other marquee names discussed for SummerSlam include Edge and Becky Lynch.

    Brock Lesnar was last seen at WrestleMania 36, when he dropped the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre. A lot has changed since then, including Lesnar\’s former Advocate, Paul Heyman, aligning with Roman Reigns.

  • The IIconics File Trademark Application For \’The Inspiration\’

    Former WWE Superstars Jessica McKay (Billie Kay) and Cassandra Macintosh (Peyton Royce) have filed a trademark application for the name, The Inspiration.

    According to the US Patent & Trademark Office Database, the trademark users covers entertainment services and merchandise.

    \”G & S: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personalities; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personalities; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer;\”

    “G & S: Hats; Shirts; Socks; Bandanas; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts – IC 041. US 100 101 107.

    The \’Inspiration\’ application was filed on June 15th by McIntosh and JTLM Inc., an entity owned by McKay and her husband.

    Following their release from WWE in April, the former WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions filed to traemark new ring names, Jessie McKay and Cassie Lee.

    They also recently launched the Off Her Chops podcast.

  • Katie Hebner Training Under Cody Rhodes, Hopes To Wrestle For AEW

    Earl Hebner is one of the most famous referees in pro wrestling history. His son Brian followed in his footsteps and currently works as a referee for Impact Wrestling. His daughter, Katie Hebner, is also looking to step into the ring. However, instead of officiating, she wants to wrestle.

    During an interview with Pro Wrestling Junkies, Hebner commented on his daughter\’s wrestling training. \”I wanted my son in the business, I don’t want my daughter in the business,\” Hebner joked. \”She’s at AEW training with Cody and Cody is giving her so much help, it’s unreal. Hopefully, she can be the next Gail Kim.\”

    Back in April, Katie Hebner posted a message on Facebook talking about her experience training with Cody Rhodes and her desire to work for AEW.

    She said Cody is, \”first and foremost is a wrestler but more importantly the VP of AEW, the company that I had my eyes set on.\”

    AEW has no shortage of second generation wrestlers on their roster, including Cody and Dustin Rhodes, the Gunn Clubb (sons of Billy Gunn), Hook (son of Taz) and Brock Anderson (son of Arn).

    Check out this video to see Katie Hebner in action (from last year):

  • John Cena\’s Vacation Friends Lands On Hulu August 27th

    John Cena is currently doing the media rounds to promote F9 (Fast and Furious 9), in theaters June 25th. Later this summer, the 16-time world champion has another movie coming out that will showcase his comedic chops.

    Cena will will star in Vacation Friends, directed by Clay Tarver and written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The cast also includes Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji and Meredith Hagner.

    The synopsis reads, “Vacation Friends will follow the story of a straight-laced couple that has fun with a rowdy couple on vacation in Mexico. When they return to the States, they discover that the crazy couple they met in Mexico followed them back home.”

    Vacation Friends premieres Friday, August 27th on the Hulu streaming service.

    John Cena in Vacation Friends

    Cena hyped the movie on social media this week. He wrote, \”A fun movie guaranteed to leave some … lasting memories. Come on vacation with Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji, Meredith Hagner and me in #VacationFriends, streaming August 27 on @Hulu!”

    John Cena has had a busy year in the entertainment world. In addition to F9 and Vacation Friends, he hosts the Wipeout game show on TBS and The Suicide Squad, premiering August 6th (in theaters and on HBO Max).

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CQM6Iakg5fs/

  • ACH Announces His Retirement From Pro Wrestling

    ACH (Albert Christian Hardie Jr.) has announced his retirement from pro wrestling.

    In a message posted on social media, ACH wrote, \”No need for the dramatic or emotional word play. As of today I will officially step away from professional wrestling. Thank you all for the support and love.\”

    ACH has been wrestling since 2007. He competed for various organizations, including Ring of Honor, NJPW, Chikara, CZW, Dragon Gate, Impact, MLW, PWG and more. He wrestled in WWE and NXT as Jordan Myles (2019).

    We wish ACH the best of luck in whatever he decides to pursue next.

  • Don West Diagnosed With Brain Cancer, Undergoing Immediate Treatment

    Legendary wrestling broadcaster Don West has been diagnosed with a brain lymphoma.

    In a letter posted online Tuesday afternoon, West explained his recent hiatus from the Don West Show, a talk sports radio show based out of Seattle, Washington.

    West revealed that he\’s been diagnosed with a brain lymphoma and will be undergoing immediate treatment.

    The former voice of TNA Wrestling thanked his wife Terri for her love and support, along with the rest of his family and co-workers.

    \”I am praying the chemotherapy will help me heal faster and hopefully I’ll be back on the radio soon,\” he wrote. \”I can’t wait until this is all over and I can be back with you all again, I love you all!\”

    You can read his full letter at News Radio 560 KPQ.

    SEScoops wishes Don West a full and speedy recovery.

  • A&E Biography: WWE Legends Full Season Viewership Numbers

    A&E\’s 8-week biography series profiling WWE legends concluded this past weekend.

    The series featured 2-hour biographies profiling some of the most influential names in WWE history.

    The premiere episode for \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin was the most-watched installment, followed by Roddy Piper and Randy Savage.

    You can see the full season viewership listed below in chronological order, courtesy of Reddit user IndianBoglehead.

    • Steve Austin: 1.062 million viewers, 0.38 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • Roddy Piper: 880,000 viewers, 0.27 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • Randy Savage: 790,000 viewers, 0.31 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • Booker T: 595,000 viewers, 0.24 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • Shawn Michaels: 634,000 viewers, 0.22 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • The Ultimate Warrior: 767,000 viewers, 0.29 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • Mick Foley: 518,000 viewers, 0.20 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)
    • Bret Hart: 643,000 viewers, 0.26 rating (Adults 18-49 demo)

    No word yet if we\’ll see another \’season\’ of this limited series, but we sure hope the viewership was strong enough to warrant it.

    What WWE legends would you like to see covered if there is another season of A&E Biography: WWE Legends?

  • Meiko Satomura Wins NXT UK Women\’s Championship

    Meiko Satomura is your new NXT UK Women\’s Champion. She captured the gold on Thursday\’s NXT UK broadcast on Peacock and the WWE Network.

    Satomura defeated Kay Lee Ray in a hard-fought match. Ray had been champion for an impressive 649 days before her reign came to an end.

    The Japanese wrestling legend joined the NXT UK brand back in February.

    In this video, the Final Boss reflects on her monumental victory to dethrone Kay Lee Ray.

    Satomura commented on her victory on Twitter. She thanked everyone and it was very difficult defeating Kay Lee Ray, a true champion.

    Triple also H commented on the title change. He wrote on Twitter, \”An incredible title reign ended by one of the absolute best in the world. A new era for the ENTIRE #NXTUK brand. #AndNew\”

  • Tay Conti Joins Clubhouse BH Influencer House

    All Elite Wrestling star Tay Conti has signed with Clubhouse Media Group, an influencer-based marketing and media firm.

    The collaboration will see AEW\’s #2 ranked female competitor move in to Clubhouse BH, a 12,000-foot Beverly Hills mansion.

    She will be living with some of the top social media influencers in the world, including pro racecar driver Lindsay Brewer, YouTube stars The Dobre Brothers, blogger Michelle Kennelly, dancer Gabriella Saraivah, and many more who have a collective reach now exceeding 250 million followers.

    \”Joining Clubhouse Media as a resident of its popular content house, @TheClubhouseBH, is a huge step in my social media career,\” said Conti. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with some of the best content creators in the industry as well as the professionalism the Company brings to the process and the fun antics being a resident of the house will create.”

    https://twitter.com/ClubhouseCMGR/status/1402980126854422533

    Clubhouse Media brings together some of the most influential voices in the world. The social media reach of their talent roster now exceeds 250 million followers.

    Chris Young, co-founder of Clubhouse Media, says Tay Conti is a perfect fit for the influencer house. \”Tay’s background affords Clubhouse Media the opportunity to communicate with a new diverse audience of followers as we help her enhance her content, grow her audience and introduce her to brand partners.”

  • Jim Ross Says WWE Cut Adnan Virk Too Soon, But He Was In Over His Head

    Legendary wrestling broadcaster Jim Ross knows what it\’s like to be in the \’hot seat\’ as the lead play-by-play announcer of WWE Raw. JR held that post during the Attitude Era, the popularity pinnacle of WWE\’s storied history.

    Jim Ross appeared on the Dan Le Batard Show this week and discussed Adnan Virk\’s brief stint with WWE. Virk took over JR\’s old job as Raw lead announcer right after WrestleMania 37 and lasted just six weeks before getting cut.

    Ross feels that Adnan Virk is a talented broadcaster who probably should have gotten more time to prove himself. However, pro wrestling is a unique animal. It is unlike other professional sports. In hindsight, Adnan Virk may not have had enough product knowledge to make the most of the opportunity he was given.

    \”Adnan got put on TV in a very unique product before he was ready, from a product knowledge standpoint,\” said Ross. \”Wrestling fans today, with social media and all the information flow, they have a great sense of what they like and what might be wrong. He’s a solid broadcaster and they rushed to judgment too quick.\”

    JR also commented on what it\’s like for broadcasters to work for Vince McMahon. He says Vince likes to \”impose his will\” and has a very distinct vision for what he\’s looking for

    “The simple fact is, they mis-assigned Adnan. He should’ve had more work in other areas and other TV shows, lord knows they have plenty of them, to get his chops under him. Vince is a strange cat and he’s the boss. If he doesn’t hear something he likes, he makes a quick decision.\”

    You can listen to Jim Ross on the Dan Lebatard Show on Apple Podcasts.

  • Mickie James To Executive Produce NWA Empowerrr All-Women\’s PPV (8/28)

    The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) will host an all-women\’s pay-per-view this summer, NWA EMPOWERRR. Wrestling legend Mickie James will serve as Executive Producer for this historic event.

    NWA EMPOWERRR will take place Friday, August 28th from St Louis, Missouri. The event will stream live on FITE.TV.

    The multi-time women\’s champion made a surprise appearance on this week\’s NWA Powerrr to announce the show. James spoke passionately about the significance of this project:

    NWA EMPOWERRR will be part of a double-header for Billy Corgan\’s legacy wrestling league. The following night, NWA 73rd Anniversary show will also take place from St. Louis.

    The NWA\’s Women\’s Division includes new NWA Women\’s Champion Camille, Thunder Rosa and Serena Deeb, Melina, Kylie Rae and more.

    Based on comments by Mickie James, the NWA will be outsourcing talent from other promotions for the pay-per-view.

    Additional details will be released in the days and weeks ahead.

  • Next WWE Draft Scheduled To Take Place After SummerSlam

    WWE is gearing up to \’shake things up\’ once again.

    Following the latest round of talent cuts, WWE is currently discussing plans to reshuffle the rosters for the Raw and SmackDown brands.

    According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast, the company is planning to hold the Draft on the Monday, August 30th edition of Raw and the Friday, September 3rd episode of SmackDown. Zarian also noted that he\’s heard this will a Draft format, as opposed to the (similar) Superstar Shakeup that we\’ve seen in recent years.

    WWE Draft

    This will be the the 16th WWE Draft event (including Superstar Shakeups). The past two WWE Drafts (2019 and 2020) were held in October. In recent years, we\’ve also seen a Wild Card rule, a brand-to-brand invitational, as well as other \’unofficial\’ talent exchanges between WWE\’s three primary brands.

    2021 has been an eventful year for WWE\’s roster. We\’ve seen dozens of wrestlers released, as well as some meaningful call-ups from NXT. This summer marks the next \’new chapter\’ for WWE, with the return of live touring and SummerSlam taking place from a 70,000+ person stadium in Las Vegas. The WWE Draft will be another way for WWE to jumpstart fan interest as we head into the fall season.

    We have reached out to WWE for comment on this report.

  • WWE Raw Preview (6/7): HIAC Contract Signing, 5-Team Battle Royal

    WWE returns to Tampa, Florida\’s Yuengling Center tonight for a live episode of Monday Night Raw from the ThunderDome.

    We are currently on the road to Hell in a Cell. The upcoming pay-per-view takes place in less than two weeks on Sunday, June 20th. Tonight on Raw, we\’ll get a HIAC contract signing between WWE Champion Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre.

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    We will also see a 5-team #1 Contender\’s battle royal. The winners will earn the right to challenge Raw\’s reigning tag team champions, AJ Stylers and Omos. Participating teams include:

    • RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Matt Riddle)
    • The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
    • Mace & T-Bar
    • Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Lince Durado)
    • The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar)

    Finally, WWE is also advertising that Shayna Baszler will visit Alexa’s Playground. This should be an interesting segment for fans who enjoy a healthy dose of \’sports entertainment.\’

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    Check back later tonight for our WWE Raw Results & Takeaways feature.

  • Shawn Michaels Touts NXT\’s Inspired & Passionate Culture


    WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels says the wrestlers in NXT are passionate and inspired. The Hearbreak Kid recently spoke with Brandon Walker for his Rasslin\’ podcast and had nothing but positive things to say about NXT\’s backstage culture.

    \”I think it’s great. I think it will continue to grow,\” said Michaels. NXT has a deep roster. In addition to headliners like Karrion Kross, Finn Balor and Adam Cole, the black and gold brand has performers like Cameron Grimes and Isaiah \”Swerve\” Scott fighting to climb the ranks. \”There are so many people coming from underneath and there’s a whole other group of young talent that are underneath that,\” he added.

    Shawn Michaels has been working behind the scenes in NXT since late 2018. The brand has undergone a significant transformation during his time there. He\’s proud of the culture they\’ve cultivated in NXT.

    \”That’s what I enjoy about this,\” Michaels continued. \”We never get out of that fun and enjoyable stage when wrestling is at its purest and you’re doing it for the sheer passion and love of doing it, and that’s what I like about it.\”

    He added, \”We’re still at the stage where they’re very inspired and very passionate. It really is a hell of a group down here, and there’s a hell of culture down here that everyone enjoys and buys into.\”

    NXT Takeover: In Your House takes place next Sunday, June 13th.

  • WWE SummerSlam Announced For Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (8/21)

    This year\’s WWE SummerSlam will take place Saturday, August 21st from Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada outside Las Vegas. The announcement was made during Saturday\’s Belmont Stakes broadcast on NBC.

    Allegiant Stadium is the new home of the NFL\’s Las Vegas Raiders. The state-of-the-art venue is expected to accommodate over 70,000 fans.

    This will be the first time SummerSlam has been held in an NFL stadium. SummerSlam will also be one of the first sporting events held at full capacity at stadium.

    SummerSlam tickets go on sale Friday, June 18. Fans can sign up for pre-sale information at SummerSlam.com/presale.

    \”Coming out of the pandemic, it was important to us to have a big event like SummerSlam in Las Vegas. We expect to deliver a great night of sports entertainment for the people of the city and a boost in foot traffic for the casinos and local businesses,” said WWE President Nick Khan.

    WWE is looking to \’stack the deck\’ with headline attractions for this blockbuster occasion. In recent weeks, there have been reports about WWE considering appearances by John Cena, Brock Lesnar and even singer Cardi B.

    More on those stories below:

  • Andrade Comments On Joining AEW, Details On His Negotiations

    Vickie Guerrero shocked the wrestling world Friday night on AEW Dynamite when she introduced Andrade as her new client. The former WWE Superstar once known as La Sombra in Meixco is now known as Andrade El Idolo.

    Andrade cut a brief promo on Dynamite telling viewers that he intends to be the new face of All Elite Wrestling. On Saturday, he posted a message on Instagram touting new goals, new opportunities and more success.

    \”The NEW ANDRADE EL IDOLO. New goals. New opportunities to achieve. More Success. Thank you so much for great introduction @guerrero_vickie thanks for the wonderful welcome @allelitewrestling @aewontnt Nuevas metas. Nuevos rivales. Recuerden lo valioso que son y lo muchos que luchan por cada una de sus metas. Ve y busca el éxito, el éxito no está en el locker room!”

    Per Google Translate, the Spanish portion translates to, \"New goals. New rivals. Remember how valuable you are and how many you fight for each of your goals. Go and seek success, success is not in the locker room!\"
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CPvdYhUHgLR/

    Andrade was released by WWE on March 21st. This came several weeks after he informed WWE management of his desire to leave. Andrade was not bound by the common 90-day no-compete clause and began talks with AEW President Tony Khan just days after becoming a free agent. According to Raj Giri, Andrade also negotiated with Impact Wrestling before closing a deal with AEW. He signed with AEW just a few days ago after the terms of his deal were finalized.

  • Kenny Omega vs. Jungle Boy Moved To Saturday 6/26 Live AEW Dymamite

    AEW President Tony Khan made his weekly appearance on Busted Open Radio on Friday to promote tonight\’s episode of Dynamite on TNT.

    During his discussion with Dave LaGreca and Mark Henry, Tony Khan announced AEW Dynamite in three weeks will take place on a Saturday night. The show will be live and will feature a big main event.

    The Saturday, June 26th edition of AEW Dynamite will feature AEW World Champion Kenny Omega defending against Jungle Boy.

    Jungle Boy earned the title shot by winning the Casino Battle Royale last weekend at AEW Double or Nothing.

    This match was initially scheduled for next week\’s show, but Tony Khan wanted to make the June 26th Dynamite a special one.

    Kenny Omega and Jungle Boy now have a few extra weeks to prepare for their match. This is good news for both competitors, however Omega was not happy that he learned about his title defense being rescheduled from a \’local wrestling tabloid.\’

    AEW Saturday Night Supercards

    Tony Khan mentioned that Saturday Night Dynamites are typically newsworthy. Last time, Brodie Lee captured the TNT Championship from Cody Rhodes in Dramatic fashion.

    Khan also AEW will hold quarterly Saturday Night Supercards in the future, a reference to the AEW specials that will air on TNT next year once Dynamite and Rampage move to TBS in 2022.