SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Cody Rhodes Dominates WWE Merch Sales, Outshines CM Punk in Europe

    Cody Rhodes is the unquestionable face of WWE today and is riding high in his first reign as Undisputed WWE Champion. The American Nightmare has a legion of fans wherever he goes, and that was made perfectly clear during the promotion\’s recent European tour.

    The Undisputed WWE Champion topped the merch sales charts for the recent tour, Fightful Select reports, while WWE RAW\’s CM Punk took the #2 spot. The highest-grossing item at WWE Bash In Berlin was a weightlifting belt signed by Rhodes, the report adds.

    Both Cody and Punk triumphed at WWE\’s first PLE in Germany, with Rhodes retaining his championship against Kevin Owens in the show\’s opener. Later in the night, Punk defeated McIntyre in a strap match and WWE had a reason behind Punk\’s dominance over the Scottish Warrior.

    Cody Rhodes\’ Impressive Merch Sales

    Since his return to WWE, Cody has proven to be a merchandising powerhouse and can often be found topping WWE\’s ranking of best-selling Superstars. Over WrestleMania 40 weekend, Rhodes merch surpassed $1 million in sales as fans backed the second-generation star who finally \’finished the story\’ in Philadelphia. In the run-up to the two-night supershow, Rhodes dominated merchandise sales while The Rock barely scraped into the top 10.

    The next month, Rhodes proved that his merchandise success at WrestleMania was no fluke as he was the only wrestler to appear on Fanatics’ top ten list of overall sellers. This was no small feat for Rhodes as Fanatics carries NBA and NFL products amongst its catalog as well as WWE. Rhodes\’ popularity is proving to be undeniable in WWE and this latest European tour is just the latest sign that Cody Rhodes is truly undeniable.

  • Title Matches Teased For WWE NXT\’s Move To The CW Network

    Next month, WWE NXT will move to The CW as part of the biggest contract in the 14-and-a-half-year history of the show. WWE has already announced some big plans for the move and fans can expect multiple championships to be on the line.

    Giulia Wants Roxanne Perez

    At WWE NXT No Mercy, Giulia made her long-anticipated debut and confronted NXT Women\’s Champion Roxanne Perez following the Prodigy\’s win over Jaida Parker. On this week\’s WWE NXT, the two again came face-to-face. After Giulia dispatched of Chelsea Green, the Japanese sensation needed just three words to make her intentions clear.

    Ethan Page\’s Title Defense

    WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page was also around this week, fresh off his victory at NXT No Mercy over Joe Hendry. The All-Ego champion argued that he, not Trick Williams should be kicking off the show, while Williams retorted saying he\’s coming for the NXT title.

    Page said that he intends to defend his championship when NXT moves to the CW next month, though doubted Trick would make it to the premiere show on October 1. Williams was then ambushed by Pete Dunne. A double count-out finish during their match later in the night led to Ava announcing a Last Man Standing rematch for next week\’s show.

    WWE NXT on The CW

    It\’s not just high-stakes action that fans can expect when WWE NXT moves to the CW on October 1. With the premiere episode set to take place in Chicago, Illinois, CM Punk will be at the show. One week later, WWE NXT will travel to St. Louis, Missouri, and the city\’s own Randy Orton will be around. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE NXT and its impending move.

  • TNA\’s Jordynne Grace To Make History With 9/10 WWE NXT Match

    The partnership between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling has proven immensely popular with fans who\’ve enjoyed seeing talent work for the other promotion. Soon, this partnership will see history made when a TNA-sanctioned championship is defended in a WWE ring!

    On Twitter, TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace spoke about WWE Week, when RAW, SmackDown, and WWE NXT are all aired on the USA Network next week. The Juggernaut plans on making the week even bigger and shared that she will defend her title in an open challenge on the September 10, edition of WWE NXT. This match will mark the first time that any TNA championship, be it for the men or the women, is defended in a WWE ring.

    Jordynne Grace And WWE NXT

    After appearing in this year\’s Women\’s Royal Rumble match, Grace shocked fans in May by making her WWE NXT debut. At Battleground, Grace unsuccessfully challenged NXT Women\’s Champion Roxanne Perez for the gold.

    Over in TNA, Grace has had her fair share of NXT challengers. At Against All Odds, Grace retained her title against Tatum Paxley, and held onto the gold against Izzi Dame at TNA iMPACT tapings two weeks later. More recently, Grace defended her gold at a taping against NXT\’s Karmen Petrovic.

    WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling

    Grace isn\’t the only name from TNA fans can expect to see during WWE Week. Next week\’s episode of WWE NXT will also see The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and X-Division Champion Zachary Wentz) challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championships. The Rascalz earned a title match on this week\’s show by defeating the O.C. and Hank & Tank, and now have a chance to bring the NXT Tag Team Championships to TNA Wrestling.

  • Hulk Hogan Cites Chris Benoit To Address Wrestling Fan Forgiveness

    Hulk Hogan\’s legacy has been a topic of debate in recent years, as while no one can deny his influence on wrestling, many are opposed to the Hulkster and his many controversies. In recent years, Hogan has received mixed-at-best responses at WWE events, and now the Hulkster has evoked the name of Chris Benoit to address fan hostility.

    On the ImPaulsive podcast, Hogan brought up Benoit, arguing that there are fans who still love the disgraced Canadian despite the tragedy of June 2007. Hogan then argued that fans can be very forgiving when they want to be, and hopes he is shown the same treatment given his \”major mistakes.\”

    “If Chris Benoit can do the crap he did and the fans still love him [why not me?] they are forgiving… I have made some major mistakes… they are very, very forgiving.”

    While some fans may be willing to \’love\’ Benoit (at least in Hogan\’s eyes) WWE has done what it can to distance itself from the former World Champion. The promotion has made no reference to Benoit on TV since June 2007. While Benoit’s matches remain available in WWE’s extensive archives, the company goes to lengths not to reference him by name, often labeling his matches in ways that omit his involvement entirely.

    Hogan referencing Chris Benoit has not gone down well with fans, many of whom took to social media to critique the Hulkster\’s argument that fans have forgiven Benoit.

    Hulk Hogan\’s Controversies

    Hogan was fired from WWE in 2015 after racist remarks came to light. His exit saw him removed from WWE\’s Hall of Fame, though this would only be known in 2018 when he was readmitted into the Hall of Fame. More recently, Hogan spoke of bodyslamming Kamala Harris and made a \’joke\’ about Native Americans that he quickly blamed on his drinking.

    Despite this, WWE has signed a new five-year deal with Hogan that will see the wrestling icon serve as an ambassador and have his license used for merchandise. While Hogan\’s comments continue to rub many the wrong way, the Donald Trump endorser is sticking to what he believes about the fans and their willingness to forgive.

  • Hulk Hogan Inks Five-Year WWE Deal, Continues as Company Ambassador

    Hulk Hogan is no stranger to controversy, from his racist rant that was exposed in 2015 to his recent comments about bodyslamming Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite this, Hogan remains one of the biggest names ever in wrestling, and fans can expect to see much more of him as part of WWE.

    Recently, Hogan sat down with Logan Paul—another WWE personality known for his own share of controversies—to discuss his career and future in the industry. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer shared that he has signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. This agreement secures Hogan\’s image for merchandise and ensures he will continue serving as a WWE ambassador.

    \”I signed a five-year deal. I’m 71 years old in a few weeks. I signed a five-year deal for the licensing and merchandising stuff, and ambassador stuff.\”

    Hogan also reflected on working with Nick Khan after decades of working with former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. The Hulkster praised Khan\’s cut-and-dry nature of doing business compared to his predecessor.

    \”He doesn’t overthink the creative. Nick Khan is strictly business… I said, ‘Hey brother, this artwork that hasn’t been used for 35 years. I need it for my Real American Beer.’ Nick Khan says, ‘Let me get back to you in a couple of days…\’ He made it really easy on me. Vince was great, too, but I don’t know if Vince would make that quick of a decision.\”

    Hogan\’s most recent appearance for WWE took place in January of this year when he made a special appearance on RAW to celebrate 40 years of Hulkamania. As with many of his recent appearances, the reaction from the WWE Universe was mixed. While Hogan still enjoys a large and loyal fan base, there are many within the WWE community who remain critical of him due to his past controversies.

    Nevertheless, Hogan\’s new contract with WWE shows the company\’s continued support for him and faith in the Hogan brand. Whether through merchandise, licensing, or special appearances, Hulk Hogan\’s presence in WWE is far from over.

  • AEW All In 2024 Attendance: How Many Fans Really Filled Wembley?

    AEW returned to Wembley Stadium for a second consecutive year last month for AEW All In: London 2024. The pay-per-view featured an exciting card of matches from top to bottom, capped off by Bryan Danielson winning the AEW World Championship. Like its predecessor, there’s plenty of interest in how many fans were on hand for the company’s biggest PPV of the year.

    WrestleTix reported that 53,393 tickets were distributed for PPV. Two days later, Tony Khan shared that over 50,000 tickets had been sold for the show. New information obtained by Wrestlenomics shows the actual number of fans who went through the turnstiles was significantly lower.

    A representative from London’s Brent Council states 46,476 fans went through the turnstiles at All In 2024. Wrestlenomics adds, figure reflects a 36% decline from the prior year.

    Fluctuating Figures

    AEW announced an historic 81,035 were in attendance for AEW All In: 2023. A FOI request filed later that year uncovered the turnstile attendance was actually 72,265. While still very impressive, the discrepancy generated significant negative attention online. Unfortunately, Will Ospreay got the inflated number tattooed on his body. He expressed regret over the decision and said his mom, \”f**king hates them bruv.\”

    AEW All In heads to Arlington, TX in 2025 and returns to London’s Wembley Stadium in 2026.

  • Ricochet Reveals Triple H\’s Parting Words, Leaves WWE Return Open

    After six years with WWE, Ricochet left the promotion in June 2024 and wasted little time in joining AEW. Now, the One & Only can be found appearing on Dynamite and Collision, but that doesn\’t mean the door has been closed with his former employer.

    On The Ringer Wrestling Show, Ricochet reflected on his final days as a WWE Superstar. The inaugural WWE Speed Champion was pleased to end his tenure on good terms, so much so that a return to WWE isn\’t out of the question.

    \”Triple H had a little talk and he was just like, ‘Anytime…\’ I think they were just trying to give me a good out that made me, you know, something that was open-ended.\”

    – Ricochet

    Ricochet explained that WWE was aware that he didn\’t intend to re-sign before his exit from the promotion was confirmed. Ironically, reports of Ricochet\’s departure created a \’buzz\’ among fans before he actually left, so much so that WWE reportedly pitched him making a final appearance before he left. That ultimately didn\’t happen, but the high-flyer was wisely able to leave WWE on positive terms, meaning that a return is not out of the question.

    What\’s to Come?

    After debuting at AEW All In: London, Ricochet made his singles in-ring debut on last week\’s Dynamite with a victory over Kyle Fletcher. Post-match, Will Ospreay appeared to confront Ricochet, teasing a rematch to their Battle of the Super Juniors instant classic. Before either man could go much further, PAC ambushed Ospreay, who he\’ll face at All Out, and told Ricochet to get to the back of the line.

  • Nikki Garcia Seeking Divorce Lawyer After Artem Chigvintsev\’s Arrest

    Last week, Atem Chigvintsev, the husband of WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia, was arrested and charged with domestic violence. Now, TMZ reports that Garcia, known to WWE fans as Nikki Bella, has been actively searching for a divorce lawyer since the day after the arrest, and intends to file for a divorce from Chigvintsev.

    It\’s further reported that Chigvintsev is no longer staying at the family\’s home but is instead living with a friend.  The couple\’s son Matteo is remaining with his mother in their family home, the report adds.

    Artem Chigvintsev\’s Arrest

    At 8:30 AM on August 29, 2024, a call went out to emergency services from the Garcia-Chigvintsev home, stating that a \”medical emergency\” had occurred. While paramedics and the fire department were en route, Chigvinstev called 911 again to cancel the request though did not explain why.

    At 10 AM that same day, Chigvintsev was arrested for felony corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant. In this particular felony, the injury must be visible and officers observed injuries on the victim\’s body, an earlier TMZ report notes. Since the incident, Garcia has not worn her wedding ring in public, including at Netflix\’s recent competitive Hot Dog eating special. Chigvintsev was released shortly after his arrest after posting a $25,000 bail. 

    \"Artem
    Photo: TMZ

    Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev 

    Garcia and Chigvintsev first met during the WWE legend\’s appearance on Dancing With The Stars in 2017. In January 2019, less than a year after Garcia\’s engagement with John Cena ended, she and Chigvintsev began dating and got engaged on January 3, 2020.

    That July, Garcia would give birth to Matteo. This already joyous occasion was even more special for Garcia, whose relationship with John Cena had seen the pair at odds over whether to have children. The couple tied the knot in 2022 and marked their second anniversary just days before Chigvintsev\’s arrest.

  • Why WWE Booked CM Punk\’s Dominant Win at Bash in Berlin

    At Bash In Berlin, CM Punk scored his first televised win on WWE programming in over a decade with his Strap Match win over Drew McIntyre. Not only did Punk get the win at Germany\’s first PLE, but he dominated the much larger McIntyre for a good portion of the bout.

    Punk not only made McIntyre tap out but also hit four GTS finishers on the man who has goaded him since January. The finish of the match saw Punk touch all four turnbuckles without any issue from McIntyre, a sign of just how truly beaten Scottish Warrior had become.

    But why did Punk win this match in such a decisive manner? WWE reportedly felt that Punk needed a big win, Dave Meltzer reports, as he\’d yet to have one since returning to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2023. Before Berlin, Punk\’s only wins for WWE post-return had been live event victories over \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio.

    The reported belief within WWE was that McIntyre could handle getting so thoroughly beaten by CM Punk. It\’s added that those in charge will have been aware that McIntyre would be getting his \’heat\’ back mere days later.

    Not Over Yet

    On RAW, Punk said that his feud with McIntyre is behind him and set his sights on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Moving on will prove easier said than done as Drew McIntyre ambushed Punk mid-promo and destroyed the fan-made bracelet gifted to Punk that has been pivotal in their feud.

    McIntyre\’s destruction of Punk in Denver, CO has left many believing that a third rubber match will take place at a future PLE, potentially next month\’s Bad Blood show. Some have suggested that such a match would take place in Hell in a Cell, a match-type used at every Bad Blood PLE so far.

    RAW also saw Sami Zayn come face to face with GUNTHER and make his own case to challenge the World Heavyweight Champion. With the WrestleMania 40 enemies on track for a rematch with a much richer prize, Punk will have to wait before he steps in the ring with the Austrian, giving him time to have one final showdown with Drew McIntyre.

  • Kairi Sane Shows Off Stitches After Gruesome Eye Injury on Raw

    Injuries are a workplace hazard of being a professional wrestler and all in-ring talent have to deal with them at one point or another. On the latest WWE Monday Night RAW, Kairi Sane was in action and suffered a gruesome injury to her eye during a match with some very high stakes.

    Sane teamed with IYO SKY to take on the Unholy Union for a shot at the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships. With new champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair at ringside, both teams held nothing back to get the win. During one spot in the match, Sane dove to the outside and hit Bianca Belair, but her face also hit the edge of the announce table.

    Sane\’s painful landing resulted in her bleeding from the eye but the Pirate Princess would not stay down. In the end though, it\’d be the Unholy Union who got the win, earning another shot at the titles they lost at WWE Bash in Berlin. Post-match, Belair and Cargill stared down Damage CTRL, insinuating that the issues between the two teams are only getting started.

    Kairi Injury Update

    Late Monday night, Kairi posted this backstage photo of the \’damage\’ –

    On Tuesday, Kairi posted a photo showing off the stitches she received:

  • Watch Rhea Ripley YEET After WWE Raw

    The excitement didn\’t end after this week\’s episode of WWE RAW went off the air from the Bell Arena in Denver, Colorado. In the main event of the show, Jey Uso and Damian Priest defeated WWE World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & JD McDonagh in non-title action. While Liv Morgan tried to aid her Judgment Day allies, Rhea Ripley, who\’d been attacked earlier in the night, neutralized the Women\’s World Champion.

    After RAW, Jey, Ripley, and Priest celebrated in the ring. Despite her ankle injury, Rhea joined in with a \’Yeet\’ and after some convincing, Priest joined her and Jey for a three-person \’Yeet.\’

    What Happened On RAW?

    This week\’s RAW dealt with the fallout from last Saturday\’s Bash in Berlin, the first WWE PLE to ever take place in Germany. On RAW, CM Punk set his sights on the World Heavyweight Championship, only to be ambushed by Drew McIntyre and have his bracelet destroyed. Sami Zayn also confronted World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER who declined the challenge of the man who beat him at WrestleMania 40.

    Kairi Sane suffered a nasty eye injury during RAW but still finished her tag-team match for a shot at the Women\’s Tag Team Championships. That bout saw the Unholy Union defeat Damage CTRL to earn a rematch with new champions Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. The show also marked the commentary debut of WWE\’s newest announcer Joe Tessitore.

  • Andre the Giant\’s Jockstrap: A Colossal Piece of Wrestling Memorabilia

    The late Andre the Giant was a true legend of wrestling and in 1993 became the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. Instantly recognizable for his trademark singlet, a much different piece of Andre\’s in-ring attire has received a spotlight this week.

    At the Sports Immortals collection, Jim Platt revealed quite possibly the most unique piece of Andre memorabilia; his jockstrap. With a size 60 waistband, the item fits eight grown men, Platt explained to Gabby Gonzalez. The jockstrap is fittingly colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the flag of Andre\’s native France.

    Remembering Andre the Giant

    Fans may be hesitant to come face-to-gusset with Andre the Giant\’s jock-strap and thankfully, there is plenty more memorabilia of the Eighth Wonder of the World. In August 2023, Andre was celebrated for a weekend in Ellerbe, North Carolina, where the legendary wrestler lived while working in the United States. These days, Andre\’s ranch is a museum featuring several personal effects of the wrestler.

    It\’s been over 30 years since the death of Andre the Giant but the memory of the legendary wrestler lives on to this day. Andre\’s giant physique is matched only by the giant legacy he has had on the wrestling business, as fans still remember the iconic French wrestler.

  • Joe Tessitore Evaluates His Performance After WWE RAW Debut

    The September 2, episode of WWE RAW marked the commentary debut of Joe Tessitore, whose arrival was confirmed earlier this year. Tessitore has been thrown in at the deep end as the lead announcer on WWE\’s flagship show, but how does he think he did?

    In a WWE RAW Digital Exclusive, Tessitore said that he felt the passion and intensity of the WWE Universe in Denver, Colorado at his first ever RAW as a commentator.

    “I was very into them, it was a great reception. It meant a lot to me. I brought out the little kid in me tonight.\”

    Assessing his performance on Raw, Tessitore said that he feels he wasn\’t at his best, but is optimistic for his future on the red brand.

    \”I wasn’t great tonight, I wasn’t great tonight, but I was a passionate fan tonight.\”

    Tessitore also spoke about the show bringing out \”the little kid in me\” and recalled buying a bunch of merchandise from the show. Tessitore is pleased that \”Night One [is] in the books\” and is excited to have many more.

    Joe Tessitore

    Tessitore may be a fresh face to the WWE Universe but he\’s no stranger to high-profile sports broadcasting. Tessistore also works with ABC and ESPN and leads the latter’s world championship fight broadcasts as the blow-by-blow broadcaster for Top Rank Boxing. 

    Tessitore has also provided play-by-play for Monday Night Football, preparing him nicely for calling the intense action of WWE. While Tessitore will be kept plenty busy as a WWE RAW commentator, his role with the promotion will allow him to remain working with ESPN and ABC.

  • WWE Director With 36-Year Tenure Reportedly Gone

    Since TKO Group Holdings launched in September 2023, several names associated with WWE have parted ways with the promotion, either willingly or via termination. Now, another longtime employee of the wrestling promotion has reportedly been shown the door.

    Michele Carlucci, WWE’s Director of Production Travel, has been \”let go\” from the company, the Wrestling Observer\’s Daily Update reports. Carlucci had been with WWE since 1988 and had spent 14 years as Director of the Freelance Crew, Travel & Special Projects. She was elevated to the position of Director of Production Travel in 2019.

    WWE Departures

    WWE has seen several longtime figures in the company part ways, including Kevin Dunn who had been the promotion\’s director of production. While WWE reportedly hoped for Dunn to stay on as far as WrestleMania 40, he left WWE in December 2023 and has since been replaced by Lee Fitting. Fitting\’s work, including more dynamic camerawork compared to Dunn\’s incessant cuts, has earned praise by fans.

    In September 2023, shortly after the launch of TKO, over 100 people were cut from WWE\’s offices in effort to create synchronicity with UFC. These layoffs included veterans of the company as well as Dana Warrior, wife of the Ultimate Warrior. Dana had previously worked as part of WWE\’s creative team.

    The biggest exit WWE has seen over the past year is, of course, that of Vince McMahon. Not only has McMahon stepped down from WWE, but he was scrubbed from WWE 2K24 archival footage as part of the game\’s 40 Years of WrestleMania mode.

  • Bracelet Creator Responds As Drew McIntyre \’Destroys\’ Gift for CM Punk

    In recent months, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre\’s feud has grown increasingly personal, with a bracelet of Punk\’s playing a pivotal role in their beef. The bracelet, which bears the names of Punk\’s wife and dog, was gifted to him by a fan, but it seemingly met a grisly fate on this week\’s WWE RAW.

    Punk appeared to address his Bash In Berlin victory over Drew McIntyre and shared his plan to challenge World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. That match will have to wait as McIntyre ambushed the AEW alum, leveling Punk with three Claymores. McIntyre destroyed the bracelet Punk was wearing before shoving the beads in his mouth.

    Victoria, the fan who created the bracelet, watched what transpired on RAW and took to Twitter to thank WWE for \”the craziest 5 months ever.\” Victoria was grateful to have played a part in WWE programming and warned Drew McIntyre to watch his back.

    Not just satisfied with attacking Punk, McIntyre took aim at Victoria and blamed her for the beating the former AEW World Champion took on RAW.

    The Bracelet Lives!

    While this week\’s RAW may have been shocking, some fans were skeptical that Punk would allow such a personal gift from a fan to be destroyed as part of a storyline. On his Instagram Stories, Punk shared that the bracelet broken on RAW was a replica that had been constructed for the segment, and he still has the real thing.

    \"\"

    What\’s Next?

    Punk may have his sights set on the World Heavyweight Championship but it\’s clear his feud with Drew McIntyre isn\’t over just yet. Many have predicted a tie-breaking match at WWE Bad Blood, potentially inside Hell in a Cell. WWE\’s first Bad Blood event in 20 years will take place next month and the PLE has always featured a Hell in a Cell match in the past. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and their increasingly personal feud.

  • Joe Tessitore Joins WWE RAW as New Lead Announcer

    This week’s WWE RAW from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado featured the ongoing tournament to determine Bron Breakker\’s next challenger and the fallout from Bash in Berlin. We also saw the debut of Joe Tessitore, the veteran sports broadcaster who is the show’s new announcer alongside Wade Barrett.

    Michael Cole, who had previously been on RAW, has been moved to WWE SmackDown where he\’ll call the action alongside Corey Graves starting next Friday when the show returns to the USA Network.

    Joe Tessitore Joins WWE

    Tessitore\’s signing was confirmed back in July and while he\’ll soon be debuting in WWE, he\’s no stranger to broadcasting. Tessistore also works with ABC and ESPN, and leads the latter\’s world championship fight broadcasts as the blow-by-blow broadcaster for Top Rank Boxing. Tessitore has also provided play-by-play for Monday Night Football, preparing him nicely for calling the intense action of WWE. Joe\’s deal with WWE will allow him to remain employed with ABC & ESPN.

    Tessitore\’s passionate announcing was documented in a 2012 feature from Sports Illustrated. In the feature, College Football Live producer Nick Sciallo described Tessitore\’s calls as the work of \”a hyper, hyper-intense guy who\’s passionate about what he does.\” Gifted with an encyclopedia-like mind that\’ll come in handy every Monday night, Tessitore can recite Heisman winners as if he\’s rattling off the alphabet, the feature adds.

    Tessitore has been praised for his ability to deliver unique calls, for better and for worse. In 2016, Tessitore declared \”Texas is back, folks!\” at the end of a Longhorns overtime victory over Notre Dame. The line became something of a meme among football fans as the Longhorns experienced its fair share of struggles after the call.

    Raw’s Revolving Door

    Joe Tessitore will certainly hope to do better than those who\’ve joined WWE\’s commentary teams only to fall flat. In May 2021, Adnan Virk was cut by WWE mere weeks after his signing was announced. Many at the time felt that Virk failed to demonstrate the skills needed for a lead WWE announcer and lacked chemistry with Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.

    Jimmy Smith replaced Adnan Virk in 2021 though he too was not long for WWE and would leave in October 2022. In 2008, WWE did all they could to make Mike Adamle succeed on TV, including giving him roles as an interviewer, as RAW General Manager, and as a commentator. He was gone by July of that year.

  • Odyssey Jones Removed from WWE Roster Page

    In wrestling, plans are always subject to change and plenty of stars have fallen victim to stop-start pushes. Odyssey Jones, who recently seemed poised for a significant role on WWE RAW, is now facing uncertainty about his future with the company.

    This week, Jones\’ profile was removed from WWE.com in a worrying sign for the 30-year-old Superstar. This change comes mere weeks after Jones was brought to RAW to aid the New Day in their ongoing feud with the Final Testament. Jones\’ arrival has also played a part in a teased split in the New Day, with Xavier Woods concerned that Kofi Kingston has brought Jones in to replace Big E.

    Jones\’ removal from the site does not confirm he has left WWE, but in the past has been an indication of a departing talent. Earlier this month, Beth Phoenix\’s profile was removed from WWE\’s active roster. Mere days later, the former WWE Women\’s Champion confirmed that she is not under contract with WWE. Similarly, Ricochet had his profiles scrubbed from WWE\’s roster earlier this year and joined AEW at the All In: London 2024 pay-per-view.

    Jones tried out for WWE in June 2018 and was hired by the promotion the following February. At WWE\’s Performance Center, he would set a trap bar deadlift of 800lb in May 2019, besting the previous record of 775lb held by Otis. Jones has competed 70 times for WWE since his arrival and boasts a 38-30-2 win/loss/draw record.

    Jones was a huge talking point among fans just one month ago but now his future remains uncertain. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Odyssey Jones as more is made known.

  • Sonny King, First African-American WWE Tag Champion, Dies Aged 79

    The wrestling world is once again in mourning as another legend of the squared circle has passed away. This time, it is Sonny King, real name Larry Johnson, a trailblazing performer of his era, who has died at the age of 79.

    News of King\’s passing was shared on Facebook by his son John Tighe who described his late father \”the most remarkable man I\’ve ever encountered.\” King was shown respect wherever he went according to Tighe, which \”spoke volumes to the type of man he truly was.\”

    Sonny King in Wrestling

    After beginning his career as a boxer, King turned to wrestling after befriendly Ernie Ladd. In 1972, King and Chief Jay Strongbow dethroned Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea to become the fourth-ever WWWF Tag Team Champions. The win made Sonny WWE\’s first African-American Tag Team Champion, beginning a path that\’d be followed by the likes of the New Day, Rocky Johnson, D-Von Dudley, and others. King and Strongbow held the titles for a month before losing the gold to Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji.

    Away from the future WWE, King held gold in the NWA, including the Alabama Heavyweight Championship one time and the Gulf Coast Tag Team Titles with Eddie Sullivan. During his career, he\’d share the ring with some huge names including Ric Flair and Terry Boulder, who\’d burst onto screens years later as Hulk Hogan.

    On Twitter, Mark Henry paid tribute to King.

    Sonny King Out of the Ring

    After exiting the squared circle in the early 1980s, King earned a living running a junkyard in South Florida, buying cars and selling parts. While King stepped away from the ring to lead a more conventional life, the legacy he made will never be forgotten by his fans.

    We here at SEScoops would like to send our condolences to King\’s family and friends at this sad time.

  • Asuka Inks New WWE Contract While Recovering from Injury

    Since 2015, Asuka has dominated on WWE programming as part of RAW, SmackDown, and WWE NXT. Though she\’s currently out of action, fans should expect to see more of the Empress for years to come as PW Insider reports that Asuka has signed a new deal.

    Asuka is a former RAW, SmackDown, and NXT Women\’s Champion, in addition to being a Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank winner. The 42-year-old Superstar is a four-time Women\’s Tag Team Champion and boasts the record for the most reigns with the titles.

    Asuka hasn\’t competed since WWE Backlash: France in May of this year, where she and Kairi Sane lost the Women\’s Tag Team Titles to Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. That same month, Asuka underwent knee surgery which has kept her out of the ring ever since. During WWE\’s recent tour of Japan, Asuka appeared sans crutches in support of her Damage CTRL allies.

    WWE Talent Signing New Contracts

    The \’new era\’ of WWE has proven its immense popularity and success, with several top Superstars re-signing with the company in 2024.

    In January, Logan Paul reaffirmed his commitment to WWE by signing a new contract. Following his lead, The Judgment Day\’s Finn Balor renewed his contract in April.

    That same month, Drew McIntyre also re-signed with WWE, quashing rumors of an \’Elite\’ move ahead of a show at Wembley Stadium. The Scottish Warrior, who received a ceremonial sword from TKO\’s Dwayne Johnson, has since established himself as a top heel on WWE RAW throughout 2024.

    In a significant development last month, Randy Orton confirmed reports of his new WWE contract, reportedly a five-year deal that will keep the Legend Killer with the company until summer 2029. Additionally, Nikki Cross has reportedly signed a new contract with WWE. Although Cross hasn\’t competed since November 2023, she remains a prominent figure on WWE RAW due to her involvement with the Wyatt Sicks.

  • WWE Raw Preview (9/2): Berlin Fallout, Tournament Matches

    Tonight’s WWE Raw broadcasts live on the USA Network at 8pm ET from the Ball Arena City in Denver, Colorado.

    Raw will deal with the fallout of last weekend\’s Bash in Berlin PLE, the ongoing tournament to determine Bron Breakker’s next challenger and much more.

    Here are the confirmed matches and segments for the show, as WWE begins its build to its next premium live event, Bad Blood:

    • IC Tournament: Sheamus vs. Bronson Reed vs. Ludwig Kaiser
    • IC Tournament: Ilja Dragunov vs. Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio
    • Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler
    • American Made (Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, and Ivy Nile) vs. Alpha Academy (Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri)
    • Women\’s Tag Titles Contenders: Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) vs. Damage CTRL (IYO SKY and Kairi Sane)
    • New WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair will celebrate their title win at Bash in Berlin

    Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest WWE News and coverage of WWE Raw.

    What Happened Last Week

    Catch up on the Top 10 moments from last week’s show:

  • WWE Alum: I Was Punished For Prioritizing My Pregnant Wife

    Being a part of WWE\’s roster is no easy feat, as you\’re expected to make shows around the world, often making the trip out of your own pocket. It\’s not just the in-ring talent who have to deal with this demanding schedule, and one ex-WWE name allegedly got in trouble for choosing family over the company.

    In the run-up to WWE Bash In Berlin 2024, Randy Orton spoke with Michael Cole and said he feels WWE is 100% now than it has been before. Orton shared that locker room morale has skyrocketed, thanks in part to WWE letting talent time off to be with their families.

    One person who\’s especially pleased to see this change is Jonathan Coachman. On Twitter, Coachman recalled being punished for not going to a Tribute to the Troops event in Afghanistan as his pregnant wife wanted him to stay.

    The Coach and WWE

    Coachman was with WWE full-time from 1999 to 2008 and returned as a RAW commentator and pre-show host from 2016 to 2018. Despite the positive changes Coachman is pleased to see though, fans should not expect to see him on WWE programming again. In November 2023, Coachman said he would never return to WWE due to how he was treated during his second run with the promotion.

    Changing for the Better

    Randy Orton is not the only person who believes WWE has changed for the better. Earlier this year, Austin Theory claimed that the current era has surpassed the Attitude Era thanks to the compelling stories and in-ring action. Brian Gewirtz, who was a writer in the Attitude Era, has agreed that WWE today has a bigger \’buzz\’ than what it held during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

  • TNA Stars Set Sights On WWE NXT Tag Titles After No Mercy Clash

    WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 saw the gold brand\’s tag team championships change hands as Chase U lost the gold to Nathan Frazer and Axiom. Now, the high-flyers once again hold the richest prize in NXT\’s tag division, but the champions are already garnering interest from outside WWE.

    NXT\’s latest Premium Live Event also saw Zachary Wentz, fresh from his X-Division title win at TNA Emergence, defeated former ally Wes Lee. Speaking after the match, Wentz and Trey Miguel challenged Frazer and Axiom. While Wentz mentioned that he and Lee previously challenged the pair, he pointed out that Frazer and Axiom have never faced The Rascalz (Wentz & Miguel.)

    WWE NXT\’s camera crew also caught up with Frazer and Axiom after WWE NXT No Mercy 2024. Despite the pair having issues as of late, Frazer was thrilled that their differences were put aside for the show.

    \”We still maybe need to work on our communication a little bit a little bit, but put it this way, we’re kicking each other in the face, and we’re still the best tag team in the world. Let’s go celebrate.\”

    WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 saw more TNA involvement as Joe Hendry unsuccessfully challenged NXT Champion Ethan Page. The NXT-TNA partnership has proven to be very popular and if The Rascalz are to be believed, expect to see much more of this partnership this year.

  • Giulia & More React To Japanese Sensation\’s NXT No Mercy Debut

    WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 is officially in the history books and proved once again to be another exciting night from WWE\’s gold brand. Not only were titles on the line and the partnership with TNA Wrestling on full display, but the show also saw the long-awaited NXT arrival of Giulia!

    In the show\’s main event, NXT Women\’s Champion Roxanne Perez retained her gold against Jaida Parker of OTM. After the match, Giulia made her debut and confronted The Prodigy. Reports of Giulia signing with WWE have circulated for much of 2024 and the STARDOM/Marigold alum appeared at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver in April.

    The Wrestling World Reacts

    Giulia\’s arrival has had the wrestling world talking and for good reason. On Twitter, Kairi Sane, who has worked with Giulia in the past, made clear she\’s keeping a close eye on WWE\’s newest signing.

    NXT General Manager Ava shared a photo of herself, WWE SVP of Talent Developmental Shawn Michaels, and Giulia. A single handshake emoji shows that fans can expect plenty of Giulia in NXT.

    Damage CTRL\’s IYO SKY is also pleased to see Giulia join WWE. The former WWE Women\’s Champion shared a photo of herself and Giulia following the latter\’s debut. Judging by the attires, this photo was taken at the Marigold Summer Destiny show SKY was a part of.

    And Giulia herself has gotten in on the reactions. In a tweet of her own, the new signing made clear that she sees Roxanne Perez and the NXT Women\’s Championship.

  • Jade Cargill Silences AEW Talk, Wants To Focus On WWE Future

    From 2021 to 2023, Jade Cargill was a force to be reckoned with in AEW and was also the promotion\’s first-ever TBS Champion. Cargill\’s 508-day reign remains the longest in history and the longest of any champion AEW. Nowadays, she is a WWE Superstar and is ready to focus on the future, not her past.

    At WWE Bash In Berlin, Cargill and Bianca Belair regained the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships. On the post-show press conference, Cargill\’s AEW past was brought up and the \’Storm\’ made it clear she\’s looking ahead.

    “You know what, I’m so tired of answering questions about AEW. I’m proud to be from there; however, I’m here. The answer is that I’m here, and I want to focus on what’s next, and that’s solidifying and owning these tag team titles and making a name for ourselves.”

    Despite being a WWE Superstar, Cargill has been asked about her AEW past numerous times since joining the bigger promotion in 2023. On the eve of her WrestleMania 40 debut, Cargill shared multiple reasons for her AEW exit when asked about departing the company.

    Now, Jade Cargill is looking to the future and her second reign as a Women\’s Tag Team Champion. Not only that, but Cargill has also set her sights on winning singles gold when the time is right. While AEW helped establish Jade Cargill as a name in wrestling, she\’s ready to move forward with WWE, and with her booking thus far, the future looks very bright for the SmackDown Superstar.

  • Lisa Marie Varon Signs WWE Legends Deal: I\’m So Freakin\’ Ecstatic!

    During her WWE tenure, Lisa Marie Varon made a name for herself as Victoria, becoming a two-time Women\’s Champion and feuding with the top women of her time. Now, fans can expect to see much more of the mistress of the Widow\’s Peak finisher, thanks to a brand new contract.

    Fighting back her emotions, Varon shared via video that she has signed a WWE Nostalgic Contract, better known to fans as a Legends deal. Varon shared her love and excitement for the future, stating that she\’s \”so freakin\’ ecstatic over what\’s to come. Varon also shared her big news to fans in attendance at the OVW event she was appearing at.

    Outside WWE, Varon is known for her time as Tara in TNA Wrestling. With the promotion, Tara held the Knockouts World Championship on five occasions and is also a former Knockouts World Tag Team Champion.

    WWE Nostalgic Contract Explained

    A WWE Nostalgic Contract sees the promotion pay a name from the past to cover royalties for merchandise including action figures and potential WWE video game appearances. Typically, those on these contracts will make occasional appearances on WWE programming.

    Varon is joining some huge names signed to Nostalgic Contracts, including The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, and JBL (though said deal didn\’t stop him from appearing at TNA Emergence.) Varon\’s news comes days after Jesse Ventura shared that he\’s signed a Nostalgic Contract with WWE, so fans can expect to see more of both legends in the years to come.