SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Tony Khan Rules Out AEW Match, Wants To Avoid Altercations

    During the April 24, 2024, edition of AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan found himself the victim of an attack by The Elite, culminating with a spike piledriver by The Young Bucks that wrote Khan off of TV for months. While Khan has since made a full recovery and resumed his regular appearances for AEW, fans shouldn\’t expect him to engage in any more physical confrontations.

    Speaking to amNY Metro, Khan was asked if he has any interest in showing his mettle in the ring. While Khan is fiercely passionate about pro wrestling, The Elite has made the AEW President wary of future physical altercations.

    “I didn’t step into the ring voluntarily. I would hope to avoid such physical altercations in the future.\”

    Khan\’s injury, and the aftermath, were highlighted in NFL Films’ A Day in the Life of Tony Khan, which aired this week on FS1. He appeared wearing the neckbrace during the 2024 NFL Draft, and later auctioned off the brace for charity, raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support the fight against childhood diseases.

    Wrestling Authority Figures

    Khan\’s restraint from wrestling sets the AEW President apart from other executives with Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, and Paul Heyman all stepping in the ring over their respective careers. Some have even gone on to hold championship gold with McMahon boasting reigns as WWE and ECW World Champion, and even won the 1999 Royal Rumble. The former WWE Chairman, soon to be the subject of a Netflix docuseries, holds victories over Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Bobby Lashley, and even God.

    Khan may hope to avoid physical altercations, but wrestling fans have learned time and again to never say never. While the idea of the AEW President lacing up a pair of boots may seem far-fetched, so did the idea of Shane McMahon join AEW until his meeting with Khan earlier this year. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Tony Khan and whether the billionaire steps foot in an AEW ring as a competitor.

  • Jim Ross Pushes for Matt Riddle To Be Given AEW Shot Despite \”Baggage\”

    Since his WWE release in September 2023, Matt Riddle has competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling, AAA, MLW, and other promotions. One major company where fans have yet to see the Original Bro is All Elite Wrestling, though that could change if legendary commentator Jim Ross has his way.

    On his Grilling JR podcast, Ross shared that he believes Riddle should be given an opportunity in AEW, but understands why Tony Khan may be hesitant to bring him on board.

    \”I would suggest that he’d be given a shot. I understand Tony’s reluctance because Matt has a little baggage. How much that baggage weighs, I don’t know, but I know he’s a very talented kid.\”

    Riddle\’s \’baggage\’ includes being accused of sexual assault by Candy Cartwright in 2020, though she dropped her lawsuit against him in July the following year. Riddle was also notorious throughout his WWE run for stirring up trouble with other wrestlers including Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg. Shortly before his release, Riddle was involved in an incident at JFK Airport where he was reportedly intoxicated.

    While Riddle recently met with Tony Khan, the Original Bro isn\’t sure he made a good impression, stating \”I don’t know if he likes me\” during an interview with SI Takedown. With that in mind, AEW has worked with \’problematic\’ names before, including Ric Flair, so fans know not to count out the possibility of a Riddle appearance.

    With Jim Ross advocating for Riddle, fans know to never say never to the former U.S. Champion doing something with AEW down the line. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Matt Riddle and whether he one day competes in an AEW ring.

  • Elton Prince & Kelly Kincaid Welcome Their Daughter Into The World

    WWE SmackDown Superstar Elton Prince and NXT interviewer Kelly Kincaid are celebrating after becoming parents for the first time. On Instagram, the couple shared news about the birth of their daughter Poppy Faye Howley, who was born on Friday, September 20. Several WWE names issued their congratulations including Nia Jax, Natalya, Nick Aldis, Indi Hartwell, Thea Hail, and Prince\’s tag-team partner Kit Wilson.

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    Prince debuted for WWE in 2019 as part of NXT UK and is a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion as well as a one-time NXT UK Tag Team Champion. While Kincaid currently works as an interviewer, she has a background in in-ring competition and worked with Ring of Honor under the name Quinn McKay.

    Baby Fever

    Young Poppy is the latest baby born to a wrestler in 2024. In April, Luke Gallows announced the birth of his son Thomas, while Cassie Lee and Shawn Spears welcomed their second child into the world two months later. Earlier this month, WWE announcer Mike Rome welcomed a baby boy, Salem, who is \”20 and a half inches of awesome\” according to his proud papa.

    Tenille Dashwood and Mike Rallis recently shared that they are expecting their first child, while former WWE Women\’s Champion Ronda Rousey is currently expecting her second. The baddest woman on the Planet shared the news, and her baby bump, at San Diego Comic Con.

    We at SEScoops would like to offer our congratulations to Elton Prince and Kelly Kincaid on this joyous addition to their family.

  • LA Knight Has Already Surpassed Logan Paul In Successful U.S. Title Defenses

    At WWE SummerSlam 2024, LA Knight defeated Logan Paul, ending the longest United States Championship reign of the past decade. While Knight has a long way to go before he has a longer reign than the Maverick, he has already surpassed Paul in one notable metric.

    On the September 20, 2024, edition of WWE SmackDown, Knight retained the star-spangled strap with a hard-fought victory over Andrade. With this win, Knight has now surpassed Paul in terms of televised title defenses. The megastar\’s 49-day reign has seen three successful title defenses on TV (equal to one every 16.3 days).

    Paul only had two successful title defenses aired over his 273-day reign (one every 136.5 days) with his defense at the Royal Rumble against Kevin Owens ending in a disqualification. Throughout his reign, many fans debated whether WWE was right to put the gold on the part-time Superstar with Kevin Nash recently calling Paul out on his schedule.

    LA Knight Addresses SmackDown Botches

    While Knight was able to retain against Andrade, one spot in the corner didn\’t go smoothly for the reigning U.S. Champion. Knight attempted to leap to the top rope multiple times to hit his signature top rope superplex on Andrade, only to repeatedly slip before hitting the move.

    Speaking after the show, Paul acknowledged this error and chalked it up to things never being guaranteed to work when you compete on live TV.

    \”It’s a game of inches, you can say it’s a game of chances, you can damn sure say you’re playing roulette out there. Things almost didn’t go my way.\”

    While Andrade will resume his feud with Carmelo Hayes on next week\’s SmackDown, the future remains bright for LA Knight. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WWE\’s megastar and his future as the reigning United States Champion.

  • Court Dismisses Wrongful Death Lawsuit Of Brian \’Grandmaster Sexay\’ Christopher

    In July 2018, Brian Christopher, known to WWE fans as Grandmaster Sexay, was taken off life support after attempting to take his own life in a Hardeman County Jail. One year after his passing, Christopher\’s father Jerry Lawler filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hardeman County, Hardeman County Sheriff John Doolen, and others who he alleged failed to protect his son.

    PW Insider reports that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee dismissed Lawler\’s lawsuit on September 4. The court ruled that Hardeman County could not be held liable for the actions of its employees under the legal framework required for such cases. More specifically, the court found that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the officers were aware of the risk that Christopher would harm himself and therefore, could not be held responsible.

    Jerry Lawler\’s Lawsuit

    Lawler\’s lawsuit alleged that Doolen had personally promised to \”keep an eye\” on Christopher after he was incarcerated for driving under the influence and evading police. It also alleged that the sheriff\’s office had \”failed to provide Brian with any treatment for his drug and alcohol issues\” despite being promised by Doolen that aid would be given.

    The WWE Hall of Famer has long disputed the idea that Christopher\’s death was self-inflicted. During an interview with WMC-TV in January 2019, Lawler explained that in photos, marks on the side of Brian\’s neck are visible but not at the front of his throat (where they would be if he died via hanging himself.) Lawler also stated that Brian\’s fellow inmates have told him they don\’t think Christopher took his own life.

  • Zilla Fatu Departs GCW As More Bloodline Family Are Teased in WWE

    As the son of the legendary Umaga, Zilla Fatu has the eyes of the wrestling world on him with fans excited to see how far he goes in the ring. The 25-year-old already holds gold in House of Glory and Reality of Wrestling but fans shouldn\’t expect to see him in GCW anymore.

    On Twitter, GCW shared that Fatu had been pulled from their September 20, Aura event and won\’t be appearing at any future GCW events for the foreseeable future. Fatu was set to face Matt Tremont at the show, who instead faced SLADE at the show.

    Fatu made his GCW debut in January 2024, teaming with his cousin Jacob Fatu, who has since joined WWE. His most recent match for the promotion came just last week and saw Zilla defeat Gringo Loco at Tha G-Code 2024.

    A Potential WWE Move?

    Zilla\’s abrupt exit from Game Changer Wrestling has had fans speculating that the multi-generation wrestler will soon be appearing for WWE. Fatu was spotted last month at SummerSlam in Cleveland and it was reported at the time that WWE \”naturally has their eyes on him.\”

    Jey Uso recently teased some surprises for the Bloodline story, including the possible inclusion of \”other family members,\” another potential nod to Fatu\’s arrival. With Fatu himself saying in May that he\’d prefer to join WWE over AEW, it could be just a matter of time before the 25-year-old talent makes waves as part of The Bloodline.

  • Roman Reigns Warns Cody Rhodes Ahead Of WWE Bad Blood Tag Match

    At WWE Bad Blood on October 5, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes will team up to take on The Bloodline, represented by Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. With so much history between Reigns and Rhodes, including three WrestleMania main events as opponents, fans have naturally been skeptical as to whether the two will co-exist in Atlanta, Georgia.

    On the latest episode of SmackDown, the two met in a cinematic video package filmed at Georgia Tech’s football field. Reigns opened by reflecting on his past as a football player at Georgia Tech, declaring Atlanta his territory. He then challenged Rhodes\’ connection to the city, prompting Cody to cite his family’s deep roots in Atlanta, particularly their legacy at the State Farm Arena, the venue for Bad Blood.

    Looking To The Future

    Reigns then broached the topic of their tag match at Bad Blood and taunted his would-be tag-team partner by bringing up the Bloodline\’s dominance. Reigns vowed that while they will be allies on October 5, once Bad Blood is finished, he will be coming after the Undisputed WWE Championship.

    The segment ended with both men blocking each other\’s attempts to leave. Reigns warned Rhodes, \”You’re in my way in life,\” before finally walking off ending his meeting with the American Nightmare on a tense note.

    WWE Bad Blood 2024 will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Bad Blood including breaking news and live results.

  • WWE Fans Stunned To Learn True Lyrics of Attitude Era Entrance Theme

    Few things excite wrestling fans more than when a WWE Superstar debuts a new theme song, often due to a dramatic change to their on-screen character. In 1998, Sean \’X-Pac\’ Waltman returned to WWE with a brand new theme that has held a secret for many fans of the two-time Hall of Famer until now.

    The track, which borrows heavily from the D-Generation X theme, starts with some aggressive vocals that fans for years believed was the vocalist shouting \’X-PAC!\’ Thanks to Wrestling Bios though, fans are now learning, 26 years later, that the track instead starts with the phrase \”Make Some Noise.\”

    This revelation has certainly taken many fans by surprise who believed that the opening line was X-Pac\’s name.

    https://twitter.com/KingFelixG/status/1836972031516234223

    X-Factor\’s Theme Song

    Make Some Noise isn\’t the only notable theme that Waltman used during his time in WWE. After forming X-Factor, a group consisting of Waltman, Justin Credible, and Albert, the trio used What \’Chu Lookin\’ At? by Matthew \’Uncle Kracker\’ Shafer. The story goes that Shane McMahon approached Waltman and shared that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers would provide the X-Factor theme only for Waltman to refuse and request Uncle Kracker instead.

    Whatever song he uses, Waltman continues to get an ovation anytime he appears for WWE. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on the DX/New World Order legend.

  • Latest On WWE\’s Plans For NXT Level Up Amid Rumors Of Being Axed

    On October 1, WWE NXT will make its highly anticipated debut on The CW, concluding a five-year run on the USA Network. As part of the transition, the show will undergo several major changes, including plans to take the brand on the road. This week, it was reported that WWE would be ending NXT Level Up when the company\’s deal with Hulu expires next week, but now more has come to light.

    Despite rumors that NXT Level Up would be finishing, Fightful Select has since reported that WWE will continue broadcasting episodes of NXT Level Up for the foreseeable future. One source emphasized the importance of NXT Level Up in providing TV experience for debuting talent and claimed that discontinuing the show would be a serious mistake on the company\’s behalf.

    WWE NXT Level Up launched in February 2022, replacing 205 Live and has aired on Friday nights ever since. The show has allowed for up-and-coming talent to perform in front of a television audience for the first time before transitioning to the main NXT roster. Notable alumni include current North American Champion Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Thea Hail.

    While NXT Level Up is here to stay, WWE NXT will soon end its five-year run on the USA Network and debut on The CW. WWE has already loaded the first two weeks of NXT on The CW with title matches confirmed as well as appearances by CM Punk and Randy Orton. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on NXT as the gold brand prepares for a future on a different network.

  • Tony Khan Talks AEW TV Deal, The Top Woman In Wrestling & More

    AEW President Tony Khan sat down with Going Ringside With The Local Station this week to discuss a variety of topics related to AEW. When asked about reports of the promotion reaching a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, Khan confirmed with absolute certainty that AEW will remain on TBS and TNT for the foreseeable future.

    \”It\’s an exciting time for AEW, we\’re coming into the future. But I can tell you that 100% AEW is moving forward with TBS and TNT. They\’ve been great partners and you can count on us.\”

    On The Support of His Father

    While Khan works alongside his father Shad with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it wasn\’t until this year that the elder Khan appeared for AEW. While Tony wishes his father\’s debut had come under better circumstances than his ambush by The Elite, the younger Khan said his father has always supported the promotion and it \”means the world [to me] that he\’s so bought into AEW.\”

    On Mercedes Mone

    After appearing in the crowd at AEW All In: London 2023, Mercedes Mone officially joined AEW in March of this year at the Big Business: Dynamite. As TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women\’s Champion, Mone has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, one that Khan is pleased to be working with.

    \”I think she\’s one of the greatest pro wrestlers in the entire world. She\’s a huge, huge star, a huge signing for AEW… She\’s just at the top of her profession right now.\”

    On The Retirement of Sting

    At AEW Revolution 2024, Sting competed in his final wrestling match; teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks in an emotional send-off. Khan was unsurprisingly thrilled with how Sting\’s last match went and called it one of the greatest moments of AEW\’s entire five-year history.

  • Miro Requests AEW Release, Ending an Uneventful Four-Year Run

    Miro’s time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) appears to be nearing an end, capping off a largely underwhelming run. The Bulgarian powerhouse joined AEW in September 2020, amid significant fanfare. Tony Khan’s upstart company had earned its reputation as chance for disgruntled WWE talent to reboot their careers with and enjoy greater creative freedom.

    Four years later, and with much of that tenure spent off television, Fightful Select reports that Miro has officially requested his release from AEW. Creative differences were a significant issue in recent years.

    A Promising Start That Fizzled Out

    Miro went \’All Elite\’ in during the first year of AEW Dynamite, where he was introduced as Kip Sabian’s “Best Man.” He eventually dropped his \’gamer bro\’ image for a more serious persona, and was reborn as The Redeemer. He was a dominant TNT Champion for 140 days, until he was dethroned by Sammy Guevara. Unfortunately, the loss had a devastating affect on Miro\’s career trajectory.

    Contract Extension Amid Absence

    While Miro’s original AEW deal was set to expire in the spring of 2022, he signed a four-year extension around that time, which could have kept him on board for two more years. Per Fightful, Miro is on a lucritive seven-figure contract, despite only competing in 11 matches since since December 2021 (and none this year).

    Though Miro was sidelined by an injury, reports suggest he has been healthy for quite some time. Miro spoke with AEW officials earlier this year about getting a match with Jon Moxley, but that never materialized. Some saw the Casino Gauntlet match at All In: London 2024 as a chance to get Miro back in the mix on a big stage, but instead fellow WWE alum Ricochet was the big surprise there.

    A Disappointing AEW Tenure

    Miro\’s time in AEW was a bust, despite wrestling fans\’ excitement to see how far he\’d go in a fresh environment. Miro did have some good matches and fun moments over the past few years (see below), but we\’re optimistic the best is yet to come.

    Miro\’s Best Moments in AEW

  • John Cena Vs. Logan Paul Discussed For WWE Icon\’s Farewell Tour (Report)

    In January 2025, John Cena will be a part of WWE Raw\’s move to Netflix and kick off his in-ring retirement tour. The WWE icon will make appearances at the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania 41, and SummerSlam, and is expected to face some of the very top names currently on the promotion\’s roster.

    One name fans could see sharing the ring with Big Match John is Logan Paul. Wrestle Votes Radio reports that there has been discussions about a match within WWE between the two. WWE\’s creative team, led by Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque, is said to be high on the potential big-money match and both Cena and Paul have shown interest in working with each other.

    This isn\’t the first time that the idea of John Cena Vs. Logan Paul has come up. In November 2022, Paul told listeners of his ImPaulsive podcast that he wanted a match with the WWE icon at the following year\’s WrestleMania 39.

    \”I think me vs. John Cena would break the internet. I texted Triple H right away, ‘do you want to break the internet again?’ That’s a dream matchup.\”

    Instead, Cena faced then-U.S. Champion Austin Theory during the opener of Night One. Paul\’s match would fall on his birthday and see The Maverick lost to Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins.

    John Cena’s Retirement Tour

    As one of the biggest names in wrestling history, it’s hardly a surprise that several wrestlers have put themselves forward for Cena’s farewell tour. CM Punk hopes to team with John before the latter calls it a career while The Miz is hoping to get one last match with Cena after previously headlining WrestleMania 27 in 2011.

    WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker is ready to defend his title against Cena next year. The title in question is one of the few accolades John has not obtained in WWE and the only title Cena needs to complete the Grand Slam. Talent outside of WWE are also interested with Matt Cardona wanting a match while WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam is hoping for a One Night Stand 2006 rematch with Big Match John.

    Whatever WWE has planned, fans can expect quite the sendoff for one of the most significant wrestlers to ever step foot in the ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on John Cena and his final year in the ring.

  • WWE NXT With CM Punk Hits Show\’s Highest Ratings In Months

    The September 17, edition of WWE NXT saw a special appearance by CM Punk who was part of a segment with Giulia and Roxanne Perez. Later on, it was confirmed that Punk will be the guest referee of the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams when WWE NXT premieres on The CW on October 1.

    The arrival of the Best in the World was welcomed by the crowd in Orlando and judging by the ratings, also by those watching at home. This week\’s show saw an average viewership of 677,000, up eight percent from the previous week\’s 628,000, Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider reports. This week also marked the highest-viewed NXT of the past ten weeks, with the show only being bested by the June 18, show.

    While this is a success for WWE NXT in 2024, the show has seen a decline year-on-year. In 2023, this week\’s NXT drew 824,000, while two years ago this week the show was at 688,000.

    CM Punk at WWE NXT

    Punk made quite the impact at WWE NXT and his time at the show didn\’t stop once the cameras stopped rolling. On social media, it was shared that Punk stayed behind after the taping to ensure fans got a chance to meet him and get an autograph.

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    What\’s to Come?

    CM Punk\’s return to WWE NXT will come on the October 1, premiere on The CW, fittingly in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. The next week, WWE NXT will travel to Missouri where Randy Orton will take on the Young OG Je\’Von Evans. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE NXT ahead of the gold brand\’s move to The CW.

  • Time Will Tell – Adam Pearce & Nick Aldis Weigh In On WWE Showdown

    On WWE programming, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis lay down the law as the General Managers of WWE Raw and SmackDown respectively. Before either man became an authority figure, they enjoyed successful careers in the ring, and could a match between the pair take place inside a WWE ring?

    On Twitter, Pearce spoke about a possible match with Aldis, calling it \”a question I always get.\” After much build-up, Pearce was about to give the \’short answer\’ to the question about a match with Aldis, only for the video to end before he could give a yes or a no.

    In response, Aldis gave a more definitive answer than his Monday night counterpart and spoke about their respective careers outside WWE. While the Brit didn\’t confirm that a match with Pearce would happen, Aldis did give the always-ominous \”time will tell.

    Should a match take place, between the two GMs, WWE would need an impartial body to officiate the contest. On Twitter, Chelsea Green, who has had issues with \’Sir Nicholas the Nasty\’ and \’Peahead Pearce,\’ put her name forward as a guest referee.

    Aldis Vs. Pearce

    On Chris Van Vliet\’s Insight podcast last month, Pearce said that he doubts either himself or Nick Aldis intends to take the spotlight from a full-time talent to have a match. This December will mark ten years since Pearce\’s last professional match and the five-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion appears content with leaving his boots behind.

    Aldis debuted in WWE in October 2023 and hasn\’t wrestled for the promotion so far. Earlier this year, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion who held the title for over 1,000 days said that \”anything is possible\” when it comes to a match in WWE. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the two GMs and a potential match down the line.

  • Tony Khan Says AEW\’s Future Is So Bright, He Needs Sunglasses

    Fans of All Elite Wrestling can look forward to a very bright future for the promotion, according to AEW President Tony Khan. Sitting down with Dave LaGreca of Busted Open Radio this week, Khan shared an analogy of just how bright the future is for his first wrestling company.

    \”I didn\’t bring my sunglasses to the Sirius studio today, but the future is so bright, I need them.\”

    Khan went on to discuss the reported new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which is said to be worth $170 million a year. That figure was shared by Puck News and is considerably more than the promotion\’s current $70 million-a-year deal.

    \”I have not done any of the leaking. With all due respect to the fine people at the Puck establishment and the Puck people, I didn\’t talk to them. I know they have been reporting things that are very interesting.\”

    The Future of AEW

    In the ring, AEW will host its first stadium event in Australia next February with its Grand Slam show, while the company\’s first stadium event in the U.S. will take place on July 12, 2025, from Dallas, Texas. AEW will return to the UK in 2025 with its Forbidden Door crossover show with NJPW, and will return to London in 2026 for All In.

  • Latest On Kevin Owens\’ WWE Status, Potential AEW Interest

    As the largest wrestling promotion in the world, WWE is home to some of the most talented competitors from across the globe. In 2014, Kevin Owens joined WWE\’s ranks after a highly successful run on the independents, and now more has come to light about his current status with the promotion.

    Owens has been approached by WWE regarding a new contract, Fightful Select reports, but he has not signed a new deal as of yet. His contract with WWE will reportedly expire at the end of this year.

    Should Owens opt to leave WWE, he likely would not be out of work for long. AEW is said to have \”major interest\” in the former Universal Champion and WrestleMania headliner and has been interested in him for a long time. Unsurprisingly, AEW is expected to make Owens an offer if he reaches free agency.

    WWE\’s Re-Signings

    Although Owens has yet to ink a new deal with WWE, the company has locked down several major names in 2024 so far. In April, Drew McIntyre re-signed with WWE after months of rumor and speculation that he could be leaving for another promotion. For his troubles, the Scottish Warrior was gifted a sword by TKO\’s Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson.

    More recently, Randy Orton confirmed reports that he has re-signed with WWE with a deal that should keep him around until 2029. While Orton could have seen his previous deal frozen due to his time away due to his back injury, WWE reportedly felt it was fairer to let Orton negotiate a new deal given how much the handling of contracts has changed.

    WWE has signed a contract extension with Sheamus and is reportedly currently in talks with three top women they hope to re-sign. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE and its effort to keep top talent with new contracts.

  • First Look At Dave Bautista In George R.R. Martin\’s \’In The Lost Lands\’ Film

    Since leaving WWE in 2010, Dave Bautista has become a leading name in Hollywood with work in blockbuster franchises like James Bond and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This month, Bautista\’s newest project, The Killer\’s Game hit cinemas and fans have now caught their first glimpse at the former WWE Champion\’s next big role.

    Bautista will be part of In The Lost Lands, Deadline reports, a film that will be based on a short story by George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones). Sorceress Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter) is sent to the Lost Lands in search of a magical power. Alys and her guide Boyce (Bautista) must outwit and overcome both man and demons along the way.

    \"\"

    The film will be directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who has previously worked with Jovovich on the popular Resident Evil film series. The film will exclusively release in theaters next year. In addition to being an actor in the film, Bautista is also listed as one of the film\’s producers in a new step in the career of the Animal. Bautista has previously spoken of wanting to direct and being a producer on In The Lost Lands is certainly a step in the right direction towards that goal.

    The Animal is among the most successful names in pro wrestling to turn to the world of acting. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the acting pursuits of the future WWE Hall of Famer.

  • WWE SmackDown Expanding to 3 Hours in January (Report)

    Last week, SmackDown returned to the USA Network after five years on FOX with a star-studded show featuring top names of today as well as Hall of Famers. With Raw set to depart USA for Netflix in a matter of months and NXT\’s imminent move to The CW, SmackDown will soon be the only WWE show on the network and could see a major change.

    SmackDown will become a three-hour show when Raw moves to Netflix in January 2025, with the first three-hour show coming on January 3, Wrestle Votes reports. This will ensure that the USA Network has a three-hour weekly wrestling show, a role Monday Night Raw has filled since the brand\’s 1,000th episode in July 2012.

    This news comes one week after Dave Meltzer reported that WWE would have \”an easier path to move Smackdown to three hours if they wanted to\” now that the brand was back on the USA Network. Last week\’s show saw its own share of changes, including a new logo and theme song provided by Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS.

    While SmackDown could soon be a three-hour show, Monday Night Raw will soon be going back to a two-hour format. The red brand will drop an hour starting with its October 7, episode ahead of Raw wrapping up its time on cable that December.

    The three-hour runtime has been a point of contention among fans for years, with many claiming that the show’s quality has suffered due to its length.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on SmackDown as the blue brand continues to find its role as part of the USA Network.

  • Cash Wheeler Had To Be Talked Out Of Retiring After 2023 Arrest

    FTR is considered one of the most talented tag teams wrestling today and has held gold in WWE, AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and beyond. In 2023, the group faced a real-life obstacle, one that nearly spelled the end for the team of Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood.

    Just days ahead of AEW All In: London 2023, Cash Wheeler was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated assault with a firearm. Wheeler had been in a ‘road rage’ and had flashed his gun to another driver but was still allowed to travel to the UK and compete at All In, where he and Harwood defeated The Young Bucks.

    Speaking to Renee Paquette on AEW Close Up, Harwood revealed that Wheeler was ready to retire from wrestling after the arrest, as he didn\’t want Harwood to get caught up in his arrest. Thankfully, Harwood was able to pull his friend away from the proverbial edge.

    \”He said, \’I think I\’m going to retire because I don\’t want to subject you to any of this stuff that I\’m going through\’… . \’I\’m just going to retire. You don\’t have to worry because your contract is with you. I\’m going to leave wrestling.\’ I had to talk him into not retiring.\”

    The case against Wheeler was dropped in May 2024 mere days before the AEW wrestler was due to stand trial. He has fortunately been able to avoid any more legal trouble since then and continues to cement his place as part of one of AEW\’s greatest tag teams.

  • Mercedes Moné Regrets Talking About Potential Megan Thee Stallion Collab

    When SmackDown premiered on the USA Network, it did so with a new song, Neva Play, from Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS. It\’s since been reported that Stallion had plans to collaborate with AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Moné before the award-winning had her song used for WWE\’s blue brand.

    In the latest edition of her Moné Mag, Mercedes said it was a mistake for her to tease the idea of collaborating with Stallion during a recent interview. The CEO insinuated that WWE must have caught wind of her plans to work with Megan and swooped in to prevent the popular artist from colluding with their competition.

    \”It could all be a coincidence, of course. But then, they don’t call me the blueprint for nothing.

    In hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut about it, but all you can do is live and learn.\”

    If WWE\’s decision to work with Stallion did stem to nullify a potential Stallion-AEW partnership, then Moné is \”flattered and honored\” to still carry such influence in the promotion she left two years ago. While plans ultimately did not come to pass between herself and Stallion, the TBS Champion is happy to see Megan succeed.

    \”I’m still happy for her. She’s a great person and talent who will get exposure to the vast wrestling audience.\”

    As for Moné, she is coming off a successful title defense at AEW All Out against Hikaru Shida. Moné has promised \”a lot more brewing\” in her future, but whatever she has in store it won\’t involve Megan Thee Stallion.

  • Queen of Bliss: WWE Star Reveals Role in Netflix Wrestling Series

    In January 2025, WWE Raw will move to Netflix in a blockbuster ten-year deal estimated to be worth $5 billion. Within a matter of months, WWE Superstars will be regulars on Netflix, but one Superstar is already making waves on the streaming giant.

    On Instagram, Alexa Bliss revealed that she voiced Maki Ueda for the English dub of The Queen of Villians. Bliss was appreciative to Timmy Red, the director of the English voice cast and fans will even get to hear Bliss\’ singing voice in the new Netflix series.

    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.

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

    Latest On Alexa Bliss

    Bliss has been absent from WWE since the 2023 Royal Rumble PLE where she failed to dethrone then-Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair. That same year, she and her husband Ryan Cabrera welcomed their daughter Hendrix into the world. In July, Bliss was seen training for an in-ring return as fans continue to await the return of the goddess.

  • LA Lakers Champion Derek Fisher: Sports Have Changed To Be Like WWE

    WWE is the leading name in professional wrestling and despite recent competition from the likes of AEW, has remained in this top spot for decades. While WWE\’s influence can be felt across the wrestling landscape, basketball legend Derek Fisher feels the promotion\’s impact is being felt in the wider world of sports.

    Speaking to Bryan Scott\’s Fast Break podcast about how the NBA and basketball has changed, Fisher said that the sports has become far more about putting on an entertaining show than focusing on the game. The five-time NBA Champion compared this change to the WWF\’s transformation into WWE in 2002 and the fan-centric experience of the modern-day product.

    \”When I watch the NBA today, I sometimes compare it to [when] the WWE was WWF, World Wrestling Federation, and then it shifted to World Wrestling Entertainment… you listen to guys that have played before and coached before. It’s a different game, and it’s not a negative thing. It’s just built more for the entertainment value maybe than the competitive value.”

    Fisher went on to say that this isn\’t just a basketball matter, but that all sports have made efforts to become more fan-centric like WWE. The promotion\’s new era has certainly favored the experience of attendees, with smaller stages allowing for more fans to attend weekly episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown.

    The NBA and WWE

    Though two very different industries, many in the NBA have taken notice at the efforts of WWE and its roster. In April of this year, Charles Barkley gave props to The Rock and his work as the \’Final Boss\’ since returning to WWE. During this week\’s WWE NXT, Tyrese Haliburton appeared with some of his Indiana Pacers allies in his latest appearance for WWE. While Haliburton focused mostly on NXT and its plans for the October 1, premiere on the CW, he couldn\’t help but take aim at the Orlando Magic, eliciting boos from the crowd.

  • Bianca Belair: Women\’s Mid-Card Title Would Highlight Our Division\’s Talent

    Since 2015, WWE has made a conscious effort to take women\’s wrestling more seriously, with the \’Women\’s Revolution\’ proving to be a hit with fans. Earlier this year, NXT brought in WWE\’s first women\’s mid-card title with Kelani Jordan\’s North American Women\’s Championship, and could this happen on the main roster?

    Speaking to the Battleground Podcast, Women\’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair added her voice to those calling for a women\’s mid-card title on WWE\’s main roster. Belair, who\’s also a former Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Women\’s Champion, believes such a title would be a net benefit for the women\’s division.

    \”Our roster is so stacked… everybody\’s trying to fight for a spot on the card. I feel like another title would really highlight the true talent of our division.\”

    The Call For A Women\’s Mid-Card Title

    Bianca Belair is the latest WWE name to speak in favor of a women’s mid-card championship. In 2022, Dana Brooke (now TNA’s Ash By Elegance) said that during her tenure with the 24/7 Championship, she hoped to transition the gold into a women’s Intercontinental Championship. While Brooke believed the change would motivate women outside the main title picture to strive for something, the idea never got off the ground. 

    In April of this year, WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker agreed that WWE\’s deep women\’s division could benefit from not one, but two women\’s mid-card titles, one for Raw and one for SmackDown. Raquel Rodriguez, who has held gold in both WWE NXT and the main roster, said in 2022 that she was pushing for a mid-card title for women.

    There have been discussions within WWE about introducing women\’s mid-card titles to the main roster, Fightful Select reported back in July of this year. While there are no current plans to introduce new titles, it is something that a number of talent have pushed for over several years.

  • Buddy Matthews Evokes Chicken Tenders To Roast Dominik Mysterio

    In 2022, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley began an on-screen relationship that would last until Dirty Dom\’s betrayal of \’Mami\’ at WWE SummerSlam 2024. Away from WWE, Ripley recently tied the knot to her real-life partner Buddy Matthews who has had some choice words for the treacherous Mysterio.

    During an Instagram Live stream, Matthews was asked about a potential showdown between himself and Dominik Mysterio. The former AEW Trios Champion was immensely confident, and suggested the only way Mysterio would have a chance was if Matthews was one of Dominik\’s favorite foods.

    “Dom and me would be one on half. Only way Dom would beat me is if I was a chicken tender and he was hungry.”

    Matthews joined AEW the same year that Ripley and Dominik became an on-screen item, though this relationship wasn\’t an issue for the real-life couple. In August of this year, Ripley said that there is \”a level of respect\” between herself and Matthews, and since he\’s in the wrestling business, he knows that what airs on TV shouldn\’t be taken as real.

    What\’s To Come?

    Ripley will challenge Women\’s World Champion Liv Morgan at WWE Bad Blood on October 5, in a rematch from their SummerSlam encounter. With Dominik Mysterio set to be in Morgan\’s corner, the odds will be against the Australian as she intends to capture the title she was never beaten for.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Rhea Ripley and WWE Bad Blood 2024, including breaking news and live results.

  • The Outrunners Join Season Two of Popular The Luchador Podcast

    The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) have proven to be a hit with AEW/Ring of Honor fans as of late, as fans can\’t get enough of The Youngest Men Alive. Now, The Outrunners are set to show their talent out of the ring as part of \’The Luchador: 1,000 Fights of El Fuego Fuerto.\’

    The pair have been confirmed for the podcast\’s second season which will drop in winter 2024. A description of the podcast reads:

    \”The mighty Lucha Libre champion of Mexico City does battle in and out of the ring with deadly vampires, dangerous mobsters, and the ethical complications of maintaining a rigid moral philosophy. A biweekly fiction adventure series created by Daniel Valero Fletcher, starring a Latinx lead cast and special guest stars from the real world of professional wrestling.\”

    The Outrunners won\’t be the only AEW names to appear for the latest season of The Luchador as Mina Shirakawa has also been confirmed.

    The show\’s first season launched in 2021 with a five-episode run and saw guest appearances by Danhausen, Raven, Luchasaurus, Colt Cabana, Effy, Lufisto and more. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The Outrunners as they prepare to demonstrate their talents outside of the squared circle.