SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • New Jersey Used $7 Million of Covid Relief Funds to Secure WWE SummerSlam

    WWE SummerSlam will come to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey next year, in the first two-night edition of the Biggest Party of the Summer. This is a blockbuster venture for the state, which used Covid relief funds to secure WWE\’s second-largest annual Premium Live Event.

    New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority approved a resolution to allocate $7.125M to be used to assist MetLife Stadium with “securing and hosting the WWE SummerSlam,\” North Jersey reports. The money is part of the American Rescue Plan; funding that the state received from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money can be used to “respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.”

    The resolution expects WWE SummerSlam to generate over $80 million in \”total economic impact for the region,\” making the initial $7.125 million a sound investment. The state was given $6.24 billion in federal pandemic relief funding back in May 2021.

    WWE SummerSlam won\’t be New Jersey\’s first event to see funding from the American Rescue Plan. Last year, UFC 288 took place in Newark\’s Prudential Center with $3.5 million in pandemic relief funds being used to secure the event. In 2026, MetLife Stadium will play host the the FIFA World Cup Finals, with the entire tournament set to take place across the United States.

    As for SummerSlam, it\’ll be up to Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque and his creative team to fill the show\’s two nights and Liv Morgan already has a dream mixed tag-team match planned for her home state. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest in the build to the Biggest Party of the Summer on August 2, and August 3, next year.

  • WWE To Host PLE-Worthy Episode of Raw For 2025 Debut on Netflix

    On January 6, 2025, Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix as part of a decade-long, blockbuster deal estimated at $5 billion. With months to go before the move, expectations are high, and WWE plans on providing an episode of the red brand unlike any other, according to Fightful Select.

    One source told the outlet \”The show is likely to be one of the biggest episodes of RAW in history, from the standpoint of buzz.\” They added that the Netflix deal could be among the most significant in WWE’s history and compared Raw\’s debut on Netflix as akin to a Premium Live Event. WWE is opting not to host a PLE in January 2025, with the first major event of the new year coming on February 1, with the annual Royal Rumble.

    WWE Raw on Netflix: What Do We Know?

    With just under two months before Raw goes live on Netflix, little has been confirmed for the much-anticipated show. John Cena has confirmed his role on Raw as the WWE icon will be kicking off his retirement tour. There still remains questions about how long Raw on Netflix will be, with Paul Levesque saying it\’s still yet to be decided when asked during the post-Bad Blood press conference.

    Those outside the United States will get much more for their buck when Raw moves to Netflix. In addition to the red brand, international viewers will receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, PLES, documentaries, and original projects. WWE has already hosted its first PLE on Netflix, and that trend will continue very soon for fans outside the States.

  • GUNTHER Defeats Sami Zayn, Confronted By Cody Rhodes On Raw

    It took Sami Zayn weeks of pleading and goading to convince World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER to put his title on the line during this week\’s WWE Raw. In a rematch from WrestleMania 40, albeit for a richer prize, the two delivered another epic match, but this time, it was the juggernaut of Vienna, Austria, who was standing tall by the end of the show.

    Both men held nothing back in their efforts to leave WWE Raw as World Heavyweight Champion, with Sami Zayn even kicking out of GUNTHER\’s powerbomb at one count. In the end, GUNTHER trapped Zayn in a sleeper that the Canadian couldn\’t escape to get the win and retain the gold.

    After the match, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes interrupted GUNTHER\’s celebration and stared down the man he\’ll face at WWE Crown Jewel on November 2. The two will do battle to crown the first Men\’s WWE Crown Jewel Champion, a title introduced by Triple H at WWE Bad Blood 2024.

    Not Being At Bad Blood

    With such a high-stakes match between two Superstars who have history, many have questioned why this match happened at WWE Raw rather than the recent Bad Blood Premium Live Event. It was reported by Dave Meltzer that WWE felt that Bad Blood didn\’t need another match and that the bout was better served hyping up the latest WWE Raw.

    GUNTHER was able to retain on this night, and while his title won\’t be on the line at WWE Crown Jewel. He\’ll be in for the fight of his night next month in Riyadh. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE Crown Jewel including breaking news and live results.

  • CM Punk Is Going Away For A While, Teases Match With Seth Rollins

    CM Punk went through a war inside Hell in a Cell to defeat Drew McIntyre, marking the end of the pair\’s rivalry that has dominated WWE screens in 2024. With the Scottish Warrior in the rear-view mirror, Punk\’s future remains uncertain, but fans may not be seeing the former World Champion in the ring anytime soon.

    Punk opened up the October 7, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw by slowly making his way out, just far enough to speak to the audience. Punk explained that he was so banged up, he couldn\’t walk all the way to the ring. The Best in the World was taped up in multiple places, and added that he\’s as banged up as he\’s ever been in his life.

    CM Punk confirmed that he\’s going to go away for a while, and isn\’t sure when he\’s going to come back. Before his segment ended, Punk had a staredown with Seth Rollins, teasing a match that has been on the minds of fans since Rollins\’ volatile reaction to Punk\’s return back at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023.

    Punk\’s hiatus will likely see him miss WWE Crown Jewel on November 2, which doesn\’t come as a surprise given his past comments about WWE\’s relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Responding to a video of The Miz from WWE Backstage in January 2020, Punk told the A-Lister \”Go suck a blood money-covered d**k in Saudi Arabia you f**king dork.\”

    There\’s no word on when CM Punk will return, but Seth Rollins is clearly eager to face him when he\’s back. On Raw, NXT\’s Ethan Page was also on the show and teased a future program with his fellow AEW alum. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on CM Punk as the Best in the World prepares to heal up after his war at WWE Bad Blood.

  • Ethan Page Appears On WWE Raw In CM Punk Showdown Tease

    During WWE NXT\’s debut on The CW, Ethan Page lost the NXT Title to Trick Williams in a match officiated by WWE Raw\’s CM Punk. After the match, Punk leveled Page with a GTS, resulting in \’All Ego\’ making reference to Punk\’s \’locker room-ruining ways\’ on social media. During this week\’s edition of the red brand, an irate Page made his WWE Raw debut and was looking for answers about his least-favorite special guest referee.

    Page, visibly upset, sought answers from WWE Raw GM Adam Pearce, questioning why Punk was appointed as the referee for the title match. Pearce quickly clarified that he wasn’t responsible for the decision and instead pointed to Ava, who was standing next to him. The WWE NXT General Manager, however, shrugged off the situation, nonchalantly claiming she was “off the clock.”

    As things continued to escalate, Sexyy Red made an unexpected cameo, delighting the fans and further frustrating Page. Sexyy Red hosted WWE NXT Battleground in June of this year and has appeared for WWE NXT numerous times in the past.

    Later in the show, CM Punk addressed his future, which he said is uncertain after his recent victory over Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell at WWE Bad Blood. Before WWE\’s latest Premium Live Event, Punk did allude to who he hopes to face next, but it now looks like a showdown with Ethan Page is in the near future.

  • Maria Kanellis-Bennett Contract Expiring Soon, Says AEW Has Been Silent

    In October 2022, Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived in AEW alongside her husband Mike and Matt Taven, shortly after exiting Impact Wrestling. As well as AEW, the trio have also appeared and competed for Ring of Honor, but Maria\’s time working with Tony Khan may be ending within a matter of days.

    On Instagram, Maria shared an update on her retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy, sharing that she has been consulting with a surgeon and will undergo an operation soon. Maria was diagnosed in July of this year after a mass was found on her adrenal gland.

    Addressing her AEW future on Instagram, Maria shared that her contract is due to expire on October 31 and despite reaching out to AEW about whether she\’ll be re-signed, \”I haven\’t heard anything yet\”. Maria said she\’s trying not to dwell too much on her health concerns or her worries about her AEW future, but is instead getting into the \’spooky season\’ by setting up some Halloween decorations.

    With over 20 years in the wrestling business, Maria has proven herself in a variety of roles from being an in-ring talent to an interviewer to a manager of other wrestlers. Ultimately, it will be Tony Khan\’s decision as to whether Maria is presented with a new contract, and if so, her choice as to whether she\’ll remain with AEW/ROH or try herself in a different promotion. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Maria and other contracts in the world of professional wrestling.

  • Ex-WWE Star Aliyah Makes In-Ring Return After Two-Year Hiatus

    In September 2023, Aliyah was released from WWE, ending a lengthy tenure with the promotion that had begun back in 2015. Now working under her real name of Nhooph Al-Areebi, she has made her in-ring comeback at a Destiny Wrestling event in Canada, marking her first match since September 2022.

    Al-Areebi\’s return to the ring didn\’t just see her in action, but she also emerged victorious in an over-the-top-rope battle royal. On Instagram, Aliyah shared some footage from her first match back, writing \”What a time to be alive ?.”

    Al-Areebi\’s preceding match came a year before she was released by WWE during the September 12, 2022, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. That match saw Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez lose the Women\’s Tag Team Championships to Damage CTRL (IYO SKY and Dakota Kai) ending Aliyah\’s first and only title reign in WWE at 13 days. Aliyah was dealing with injuries during her reign and she\’d never return to TV after the title loss.

    As Aliyah, Al-Areebi worked against some of WWE\’s top names, and holds the record for WWE\’s shortest match when she beat Natalya in 3.17 seconds. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Al-Areebi now that she\’s made her return to the squared circle.

  • Liv Morgan Sets Sights On AJ Lee For WWE SummerSlam In New Jersey

    As WWE Women\’s World Champion, Liv Morgan is one of WWE\’s most featured performers and appears each week with Dominik Mysterio by her side. Next year, WWE SummerSlam 2025 will come to Morgan\’s homestate of New Jersey, and the Judgment Day member has a dream match in mind.

    While speaking during a Fanatics Fest autograph session over WWE Bad Blood weekend, Liv was about her dream match for SummerSlam and hopes to step in the ring with AJ Lee.

    ”My dream match for SummerSlam in New Jersey is myself and Daddy Dom vs. CM Punk and AJ Lee. We’re two Jersey girls, Dominik hates CM Punk and I think that could be [a great match.]”

    Dominik certainly has his reasons for being opposed to CM Punk, as the Best in the World defeated Mysterio twice in December 2023, the first WWE matches for Punk since returning to the promotion. Punk recently put Mysterio\’s name forward as one of the stars he plans to face after his feud with Drew McIntyre is finished.

    WWE\’s Roster Wants AJ Lee

    Morgan isn\’t the only Superstar eager to see AJ Lee return as Cora Jade and Bayley recently shared their support for the idea on X. Lee, who hasn\’t competed since the March 30, 2015, edition of WWE Raw, had the following to say.

    CM Punk has said he\’d love to see his wife return to WWE, but he would not force the idea on her as such a choice will be her decision alone. With WWE SummerSlam 2025 set to be a two-night event in East Rutherford, the promotion will be needing a stacked card to fill both nights of the show. Stay tuned to SEScoops to see whether AJ Lee is part of that card as Liv Morgan hopes.

  • AJ Styles Legitimately Injured, Undergoing MRI

    The October 4 episode of WWE SmackDown was filled with significant moments, including the much-anticipated return of AJ Styles after months off of TV. Unfortunately, his return to television was marred by a setback during the show\’s opening match with Carmelo Hayes.

    Hayes initially declined the offer from the man he called an \”old-timer\” but accepted the bout when WWE United States Champion LA Knight offered him a title match if he could defeat the Phenomenal One. Styles suffered an injury mid-match, causing it to be called off, with Hayes being declared the winner.

    AJ Styles’ injury is legitimate, despite hopes that it was just a storyline. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI this week to assess the severity of the injury, according to Dave Meltzer.

    It appears this is the moment Styles was hurt:

    https://x.com/big_business_/status/1842363398853415303?s=46

    While Hayes got the win, he won\’t be facing Knight for the United States title just yet. During SmackDown, General Manager Nick Aldis said that he would not grant the title match due to the nature of Hayes\’ win, and that his focus was on Styles and his health.

    Styles addressed his situation on social media:

    We’re wishing AJ Styles a speedy recovery.

    This marked the second injury WWE faced last week, as Braun Strowman also suffered a groin tear during his Last Monster Standing match on Raw.

  • Rhea Ripley Teases a Showdown with DELTA Ahead of WWE NXT Debut

    As one of the biggest stars in WWE, Rhea Ripley has worked with some of the company\’s top names from Becky Lynch to Charlotte Flair, to Asuka. Now, Ripley is excited about the arrival of her fellow Australian wrestler DELTA who is coming to NXT.

    On a recent episode of UpUpDownDown, Ripley revealed that DELTA is at the top of her list of competitors she’s eager to face.

    “I mean, I feel like I have to say DELTA. I haven’t stepped in the ring with her, and she came after my time in Australia, so I think it’d be cool to meet up in NXT.”

    DELTA has yet to officially debut for WWE, but a vignette teasing her arrival aired on this week’s episode of NXT on The CW. Her debut is expected at NXT Halloween Havoc later this month given that the vignette had the numbers 10 and 27, a nod to the show\’s date of October 27. DELTA tried out for WWE earlier this year during the Elimination Chamber weekend festivities in Perth, Australia.

    As for Ripley, she failed to regain the Women\’s World Championship at WWE Bad Blood from her rival Liv Morgan. The interference of the returning Raquel Rodriguez meant that while Ripley won the match by disqualification, it was Morgan who left Atlanta with the gold. This latest twist suggests the Ripley-Morgan rivalry will continue, with Ripley now having to deal with Rodriguez as she aims to reclaim the title.

  • Watch: Alexa Bliss Provides Voiceover For Netflix\’s \’The Queen of Villains\’ In BTS Video

    It\’s been close to two years since WWE fans last saw Alexa Bliss in the ring, but the former Women\’s Champion has kept busy during her time away. In September, it was announced that Bliss would provide her voice to the English dub of Netflix\’s The Queen of Villains, and now fans have been able to see the Goddess in action.

    Bliss voices Maki Ueda in the new series, a trailblazer in Joshi wrestling who is known for her tag team with Jackie Sato as Beauty Pair. Ueda was the first woman in AJW to hold the WWWA World Singles Championship, the WWWA Tag Team Championship, and the Hawaiian-Pacific/All-Pacific titles.

    The Queen Of Villains

    The Queen of Villains tells the story of professional female wrestler Dump Matsumoto, who achieved fame in the 1980s. After failing to make it as a babyface, Matsumoto transformed her wrestling persona into a vile heel that riled up Japan for years during her heyday.

    Alexa Bliss and WWE

    The Goddess hasn\’t appeared for WWE since the 2023 Royal Rumble when she challenged then-Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair. While a post-match segment teased a program with Bliss and Uncle Howdy, Alexa would later become pregnant and after giving birth that same year, has yet to return to TV.

    In July of this year, Bliss hit her signature Twisted Bliss move in a training video, fueling speculation that a return could be around the corner. Many have speculated that Bliss could be involved with the Wyatt Sicks, either as an adversary or as the group\’s newest member. With Bliss\’ doll Lily recently being spotted on WWE TV, rumors that her return is imminent have only continued to grow, though Bliss herself has yet to give any concrete news on her return.

    WWE fans are eager to see Alexa Bliss back, but in the meantime, they can catch her vocal skills in Netflix\’s The Queen of Villains. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Alexa Bliss and her role in and outside of a WWE ring.

  • Oba Femi Makes History, Now The Longest Reigning WWE NXT North American Champion

    Since arriving in WWE, Oba Femi has been a force to be reckoned with as the Nigerian uses his size and strength to dominate in the ring. This week, Femi added a huge accolade to his resume by becoming the longest-reigning NXT North American Champion.

    Femi has surpassed Wes Lee, who held the gold for 269 days from NXT Halloween Havoc 2022 to the July 18, 2023, edition of WWE NXT, where he lost the gold to \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio. Femi\’s own reign began on the January 9, 2024, edition of WWE NXT, where he cashed in his NXT Breakout Tournament victory to earn a match with then-champion Dragon Lee.

    Femi\’s reign has seen him retain against both Wes Lee and Dragon Lee, as well as NXT regulars like Duke Hudson, Joe Coffey, Brooks Jensen, and Lexis King. Not only satisfied with the NXT roster, Femi has also retained against main roster talent including Viking Raider Ivar and Alpha Academy\’s Otis.

    Oba Femi\’s push so far in NXT has shown that WWE\’s creative team is firmly behind the Nigerian star, whose future with the promotion, both in NXT and on the main roster, looks incredibly bright. On the upcoming WWE NXT in St. Louis, Femi will defend his title against Tony D\’Angelo, the man Femi bested at NXT No Mercy last month.

    Will Femi continue his historic reign with another victory over D\’Angelo, or will The Don finally overcome the man who has continued to have the number of him and his family? Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE NXT and the record-breaking reign of the NXT North American Champion.

  • Triple H: The Rock Can Do What He Wants, We\’re Grateful to Have Him

    In the closing moments of WWE Bad Blood 2024, The Rock returned to WWE, fulfilling a promise to come for Cody Rhodes made on the post-WrestleMania 40 episode of Raw. As a leading man in Hollywood with multiple business ventures to his name, The Rock\’s WWE appearances are few and far between, but when can fans next expect to see The Final Boss?

    On the WWE Bad Blood 2024 post-show press conference, WWE CCO Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque was asked about The Rock and his potential future appearances.

    \”The Rock’s The Rock, and he’s going to be able to do, whether we were on the air, off the air, still rolling cameras, not rolling cameras, he kinda does what he wants to do when he wants to do it. That’s the cool thing about being the Final Boss, I think. He’s The Rock; he can do what he wants to do.”

    Levesque also shared his gratitude to The Rock for making time for WWE within his busy schedule and for remembering where his media dominance first began.

    \”With everything he\’s got going on in his career and his life, to never have looked away from what brought him to the dance [is admirable.] Any time that we\’re at a place where he can take 30 seconds out of his incredible schedule to come back and feel that electricity that you can only get in WWE, he does it and I\’m thrilled for that and thankful to him for that.\”

    There are expectations that The Rock will be featured in the run-up to WrestleMania 41, as plans are reportedly in place for the Final Boss to compete next April. In the meantime, fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for The Final Boss as his issues with Cody Rhodes are clearly far from over.

  • Kevin Owens Snaps, Attacks Cody Rhodes In Parking Lot After WWE Bad Blood

    WWE Bad Blood 2024 went off the air with Cody Rhodes standing tall, but the Undisputed WWE Champion was left reeling after the PLE. In the main event, Rhodes and Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu, thanks to an assist from the returning Jimmy Uso. In the closing moments of the show, The Rock returned and stared down Reigns, Rhodes, and Uso from the entrance ramp.

    In fan-recorded footage from Atlanta\’s State Farm Arena, Rhodes and Owens can be seen having heated words before Owens strikes the Undisputed WWE Champion. Not finished, the Prizefighter pummelled Rhodes outside the latter\’s tour bus before security intervened.

    Tensions had been growing between Rhodes and Owens for weeks on WWE SmackDown, with the Canadian taking issue with Rhodes\’ willingness to team with Roman Reigns. Owens has his own painful history with Reigns, including defeats to the Original Tribal Chief at the Royal Rumble in both 2021 and 2023.

    Owens challenged Rhodes for the gold at WWE Bash in Berlin, and much was said about their friendship and Owens\’ lack of championship gold as of late in the run-up to their showdown in Germany. With Owens betraying his former friend, Rhodes now has another adversary to deal with on SmackDown. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the fallout of this attack.

  • The Rock Returns In Electifying Climax Of WWE Bad Blood 2024

    WWE Bad Blood 2024 went off the air in electrifying fashion with the return of The Rock inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. In the main event of the show, Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns defeated The Bloodline\’s Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu thanks to an assist from the returning Jimmy Uso. After the match, the Bloodline assaulted Rhodes, prompting Jimmy and Reigns to come to the aid of their unlikely ally.

    The trio of Rhodes, Reigns, and Uso were able to fend off The Bloodline, with Sikoa, Fatu, Tonga, and Loa escaping through the crowd. It was at this point that The Rock made his return and stared down the three men in the ring.

    Rumors of The Rock\’s return at Bad Blood had circulated after Pat McAfee spoke of \’The Big Guy\’ returning during an episode of his show with Cody Rhodes. The Rock had teased coming for Rhodes during the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of RAW. Now that The Rock\’s back, it remains to be seen what role he\’ll play in The Bloodline and their issues with Rhodes, Reigns, and now, Jimmy Uso.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on The Rock after his stunning return at WWE Bad Blood 2024.

  • Raquel Rodriguez Returns, Aids The Judgment Day At WWE Bad Blood 2024

    Rhea Ripley\’s efforts to finally get retribution on Liv Morgan went up in flames at WWE Bad Blood 2024, courtesy of the returning Raquel Rodriguez.

    In the penultimate match of the night, Ripley challenged WWE Women\’s World Champion Liv Morgan. With Dominik Mysterio confined to a shark cage suspended in the air, Ripley dominated Morgan and it appeared that a new champion would be crowned at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Things went from bad to worse for \’Dirty Dom\’ as his efforts to aid Morgan resulted in him dangling by his foot from the floor of his cage. Taking a break from Liv, Ripley delivered some painful kendo stick shots to Dominik before Rodriguez attacked Ripley. This attack resulted in Ripley winning by disqualification, meaning that Liv Morgan is still the Women\’s World Champion.

    Rodriguez had been out of action since February and has been battling Mast Cell Activation Syndrome this year. MCAS is a condition in which the patient experiences repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as allergies. These episodes may include hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and severe diarrhea.

    Rodriguez has a history with Liv Morgan and the pair are former WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions. It remains to be seen if Rodriguez will be officially brought in as the Judgment Day\’s newest member, but her intervention at Bad Blood certainly proved fortunate for Liv Morgan and her reign as WWE Women\’s World Champion.  

  • WWE Crown Jewel Championship Announced, Champions To Battle in Riyadh

    WWE Crown Jewel 2024 will see the crowning of two new champions, with some of WWE\’s very top names set to do battle next month in Riyadh.

    During WWE Bad Blood 2024, WWE CCO Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque revealed the WWE Crown Jewel Championship to the audience in Atlanta\’s State Farm Arena. The Game explained that at WWE Crown Jewel, the WWE Champion and World Champion of both the men\’s and women\’s divisions will face off. While neither champion\’s title will be on the line, the winner of each match will win the WWE Crown Jewel Championship.

    Currently, the men\’s match for Crown Jewel will see Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes take on World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. On next week\’s RAW, however, GUNTHER will defend against Sami Zayn in a match that could change the complexion of WWE Crown Jewel 2024.

    For the women, WWE Women\’s World Champion Liv Morgan will take on WWE Women\’s Champion Nia Jax. Like the men\’s match though, this could change, as Morgan is set to defend her title against Rhea Ripley at Bad Blood 2024. Similarly, Tiffany Stratton has teased cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on Jax, despite the \’friendship\’ between the two.

    WWE Crown Jewel 2024 will take place on November 2, from the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will be WWE\’s 12th PLE in Saudi Arabia. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE Crown Jewel and the new WWE Crown Jewel Championship.

  • AEW\’s Swerve Strickland Makes DC Comics Debut in Batman #153

    Since arriving in AEW in March 2022, Swerve Strickland has risen through the ranks to become one of the company\’s very top stars. Now, the first-ever African American AEW World Champion has taken a huge leap out of the ring and into the world of DC Comics.

    Strickland features in his own story in Batman #153, the latest issue from the Caped Crusader of Gotham City. The story not only covers Strickland\’s rise through the ranks of AEW, but also his military upbringing, his time in Lucha Underground, and his championship reigns. On Twitter, Strickland shared his excitement over his appearance in the comic book.

    Strickland\’s appearance in Batman #153 comes after AEW and DC Comic partnered at San Diego Comic-Con in July of this year. At the convention, AEW hosted a Ride Inside The Ring And Beyond panel which included Strickland, Will Ospreay, Toni Storm, and others speaking about their experiences as part of Tony Khan\’s company.

    AEW & DC Comics

    In 2019, AEW and DC Comics teamed up, thanks in part to both companies being partners of Warner Bros. Discovery. This partnership saw artist Howard Porter (The Flash) draw several AEW talent. Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus, Nyla Rose, Cody and Brandi Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega. and Awesome Kong all received the comic-book treatment as part of this partnership.

    Now, Swerve Strickland can add his name to those in AEW who have received DC\’s seal of approval. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Swerve Strickland as the former World Champion remains a top name in All Elite Wrestling.

  • WWE Bad Blood: Watch The Cold Open Short Film With Cody Rhodes and Metro Boomin

    WWE Bad Blood is mere hours away and expectations are high ahead of tonight\’s show from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was announced back in July by Cody Rhodes and Metro Boomin, who have reunited to deliver the show\’s exciting cold open.

    On Twitter, WWE CCO Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque shared the video that will open tonight\’s Bad Blood Premium Live Event. The video features the Game handing Rhodes a confidential document for the Undisputed WWE Champion\’s \’stake-out\’ of the arena with Metro Boomin. Together, the pair, who both have deep ties to Georgia, watch on for anything suspicious as clips hyping up the various matches planned for the PLE.

    WWE Bad Blood 2024

    WWE’s fourth Bad Blood event will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and like its predecessors, will feature a Hell in a Cell match. The full card for the show is as follows:

    • CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell Match)
    • Nia Jax (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
    • Damian Priest vs. Finn Bálor
    • Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s World Championship. Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage)
    • Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu)

    With a stacked card and the supposed return of ‘The Big Guy,’ WWE Bad Blood 2024 will be an exciting show for fans to check out around the world. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE Bad Blood including breaking news and live results.

  • WWE\’s Tiffany Stratton Wants To Tag Team With Sabrina Carpenter

    With Nia Jax by her side, Tiffany Stratton has proven to be a force to be reckoned with ever since she joined WWE\’s main roster earlier this year. As Miss Money in the Bank, Stratton\’s future in WWE already looks incredibly bright, and could that future see her team with Sabrina Carpenter?

    Speaking on the Sore Losers podcast, Stratton shared that she wants to team with Carpenter, given that many people think they look so much alike.

    “I’m trying to hit up my girl Sabrina Carpenter, apparently everyone thinks that we look alike so, I would love to meet her and hangout with her. [If she wants to wrestle her] No, I think we’d be more of a tag team.”

    In August, Carpenter\’s Short \’n Sweet album produced Espresso and Please, Please, Please, two of the 25-year-old\’s most popular hit songs. Carpenter recently appeared at the VMAs, where she descended to the stage atop a glittery swing and sang Please, Please, Please.

    Musicians And Wrestling

    Sabrina Carpenter hasn\’t competed for WWE yet, but if she does step into the ring, she couldn\’t be the first to get physical. In the 1980s, Cyndi Lauper\’s involvement with the WWF helped launch the \’Rock \’n Wrestling Connection\’ and she would hit Fabulous Moolah with a purse during a match during 1984\’s Brawl to End It All on MTV.

    In 2002, Toby Keith suplexed Jeff Jarrett during the debut edition of NWA: TNA, in a huge moment for the new company. More recently, Bad Bunny wowed fans with his skills in the ring which saw him compete in the 2022 Men\’s Royal Rumble and defeat Damian Priest at WWE Backlash in 2023. With those stars in mind, Carpenter has some big shoes to fill if she does team with Stratton, and stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from Miss Money in the Bank.

  • Artem Chigvintsev Seeking Protective Order Against Nikki Garcia

    On August 29, 2024, Artem Chigvintsev was arrested over alleged felony corporal injury, but the Napa County District Attorney later decided that he would not face charges. In September, Garcia filed for divorce, ending the couple\’s two-year marriage, and now Chigvintsev has filed a protective order against the WWE Hall of Famer.

    In a statement shared with The New York Post, Chigvintsev denies being the \”primary aggressor\” on the day of his arrest. Instead, he claims that he was arrested after Garcia lied to the authorities in an act that seriously harmed his public standing.

    \”As a result of his wife’s self-serving statement, Mr. Chigvintsev’s career suffered, with numerous opportunities being canceled due to these false allegations. Men can also be victims of domestic violence; Mr. Chigvintsev’s case highlights this reality. He was not the primary aggressor.”

    Chigvintsev also included photos in his complaint, which allegedly show some of the physical harm he experienced by Garcia.

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    Incident at Breakfast

    Both Garcia and Chigvintsev acknowledge that an incident happened over breakfast during the morning of August 29, though each side tells a different story. In his complaint, Chigvingsev claims that Garcia criticized him for not having their child’s breakfast and packed lunch prepared and complained that their son’s muffin was not toasted enough.

    \”She continued saying that she does everything, and I don’t help, which is absolutely false… [Garcia] completely lost it and started screaming ‘get the f**k out of my house, I am sick of all of it, I had enough.\’\”

    In Garcia\’s telling of things, Chigvintsev had become \”increasingly angry, snapping at me, and yelling\” after discovering he would not be returning for Dancing With The Stars\’ 33rd season. Chigvintsev got angry at Garcia over how their son Matteo\’s English Muffin was toasted, claiming she had turned the four-year-old into a \”picky eater.\”

    The former WWE Superstar has claimed that Chigvintsev \”tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present\” in court documents viewed by TMZ. She adds that she grabbed at Chigvintsev\’s neck to get him off her. Garcia has said that she was holding Matteo before Artem grabbed the child and barricaded himself in a room, a claim Chigvintsev called \”a complete LIE.\”

    What\’s to Come?

    Per the court order granting Chigvintsev’s restraining order request, the couple will share joint custody of their son with \”reasonable daily FaceTime contact between the child and non-custodial parent.” A judge has also declared that \”neither parent shall make negative statements about the other in the presence of hearing of the child.\” Similarly, neither Garcia nor Chigvintsev can question Matteo about the other parent. Both parties will be in court on October 21, for a hearing to consider their requests.

  • Details On AEW\’s Projected 2025 Profits Under New WBD Deal

    This week, AEW confirmed a new multi-year multimedia rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, the culmination of lengthy discussions between the two sides. Starting in 2025, AEW pay-per-views will be available on Max at a discounted rate per event while Dynamite and Collision will continue to air in their current time slots on TBS and TNT.

    Variety initially reported that the deal is valued at upwards of $150 million per year, though this number appears to be conservative. Dave Meltzer reports that the deal is actually worth $555 million over three years, or approximately $185 million annually, not including revenue from PPV events.

    AEW is estimated to earn $95 million in additional revenue from the deal, Meltzer adds, which would leave AEW within a profit window of between $61 million to $76 million in 2025. It\’s added that this window could be slightly lower if attendance, merchandise sales, or pay-per-view sales decline in the coming years.

    In recent years, AEW has seen a worrying record of declining attendance figures, though has a reason for sticking with large arenas. Similarly, AEW has seen a fall in its ratings, with this week\’s fifth anniversary of Dynamite seeing a drop from last week\’s episode (702,000 to 680,000 according to PW Torch) despite a stacked card including multiple title matches.

    It\’s worth considering that these are estimated figures, and since AEW is not a publicly traded company, they are under no obligation to disclose their real numbers. Nevertheless, these figures certainly paint a bright future for AEW, Tony Khan, and the company\’s roster of talented individuals.

  • Update On Taz Being Removed From AEW TV As Fans Consider Suspects

    AEW Dynamite celebrated its fifth anniversary this week but while many of the company\’s biggest personalities were around, Taz wasn\’t among them. Mere hours before the show went live, it was reported that Taz had been attacked in a parking lot, leaving fans uncertain when he might return to his role behind the commentary desk. With the ECW legend temporarily out of commission, Nigel McGuinness stepped in to join Tony Schiavone and Excalibur.

    The Human Suplex Machine was written off of TV so that he can undergo full knee replacement surgery as his knees have been bad \”for years,\” Dave Meltzer reports. Taz has suggested in the past that he needed the surgery but kept pushing it off to focus on his commitments. On X, Taz vowed that whoever attacked him had payback coming their way.

    In another tweet, Taz said \”Those guys got me good,\” implying that he may have been assaulted by multiple assailants.

    During Dynamite, an angry, emotional HOOK also vowed to get vengeance for his father.

    It hasn\’t taken long for fans to point the finger of suspicion at potential attackers. Suspects so far include Christian Cage, who\’s segment aired immediately after HOOK, Nigel McGuinness, who was able to commentate in Taz\’s absence, and even HOOK himself.

    https://twitter.com/TJArcherMN/status/1841653132863971510

    The AEW fanbase has a new mystery on their hands as it remains to be seen which person or persons is revealed to have attacked Taz. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the Human Suplex Machine and the search for his assailant.

  • Will Ospreay & Ricochet Respond To Backlash To Their Dynamite Match

    On the fifth anniversary of AEW Dynamite, International Champion Will Ospreay faced Ricochet, eight years on from their NJPW Best of the Super Juniors showdown. With expectations astronomically high given their previous encounter, Ricochet and Ospreay held nothing back this week, but this match has come under serious criticism.

    On Twitter/X, some fans lambasted the match, arguing that their highly athletic, choreographed spots don\’t equate to real pro wrestling. Responding on social media, Ospreay, who\’s been eager for the match for months, said that all the feedback the match has received only helps himself and Ricochet grow.

    Will Ospreay\’s Reaction

    Ricochet\’s Reaction

    Ricochet had a more direct approach to dealing with critics of the match.

    While the match had its detractors, countless fans loved seeing the two high-flyers back in the ring, proving that there\’s more than one form of wrestling that fans can enjoy. Part of AEW\’s appeal is that it has various types of wrestling, from the violent brawling of Jon Moxley to the technical wizardry of Bryan Danielson. In the company, Ospreay and Ricochet provide some of the most impressive high-flying maneuvers, with both men earning massive fanbases because of it.

    Those who did enjoy the match will get to see Ospreay and Rack back in action again next week. As their match was cut short by Konosuke Takeshita, a triple threat for the title was announced for AEW WrestleDream on October 12.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from AEW WrestleDream, including live results and breaking news.

  • Bad Blood 2024 Listed On Netflix Brazil Ahead Of WWE Raw Move

    In January 2025, WWE Raw will begin streaming on Netflix as part of a lucrative decade-long deal estimated to be in the ballpark of $5 billion. For those outside the U.S. they will also receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events, but this weekend\’s Bad Blood will be WWE\’s first Netflix PLE according to a recent listing.

    WWE Bad Blood 2025 is slated to air on Netflix in Brazil this Saturday at 7:00 PM Brasilia Standard Time. While this is the case for Netflix in Brazil, the show will not air on the streaming juggernaut in other countries in South America. WWE has yet to publicly promote Bad Blood for Netflix in Brazil.

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    WWE Bad Blood 2024

    WWE\’s fourth Bad Blood event will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and like its predecessors, will feature a Hell in a Cell match. The full card for the show is as follows:

    • CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell Match)
    • Nia Jax (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women\’s Championship)
    • Damian Priest vs. Finn Bálor
    • Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women\’s World Championship. Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage)
    • Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu)

    With a stacked card and the supposed return of \’The Big Guy,\’ WWE Bad Blood 2024 will be an exciting show for fans to check out around the world. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE Bad Blood including breaking news and live results.