SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • MJF: \’Brodie Lee Gave Me A Message After His Passing\’

    MJF has claimed that he was able to speak with the late Brodie Lee via a medium, after the former AEW TNT Champion\’s sudden passing.

    Lee, real name Jon Huber, passed away in December 2020 at the age of 41. Lee\’s final match would take place in October of that year, where he lost the TNT title to Cody Rhodes. Lee\’s cause of death was ruled as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; a rare illness that thickens and stiffens tissue in the lungs.

    MJF Speaks With Brodie Lee

    Over three years after his passing, Lee\’s legacy stands strong in AEW and he is remembered fondly by fans and talent alike. Speaking about Lee this week, MJF shared that he initially visited a medium to speak to his grandfather who had passed close to when Lee died.

    \”Before I left, they said… \’Whoa, there\’s this big individual that has just walked into the room, he\’s got a big scraggly beard, and he said he needs you to send a message to his wife.\’ and I\’m like, who the hell is this? The medium looks at me and goes, \’his wife\’s name is Amanda. Amanda Huber.\’\”

    MJF was \”freaked out\” by the medium\’s comments, and this feeling continued as the medium spoke in the manner and cadence MJF associated with Lee. The conversation ended with Lee sharing a message to MJF to pass on to his widow Amanda.

    \”I walk up to Amanda at TV the next week, and I tell her this insane story. Her eyes start welling up because she was searching for this message. She had got her answer that day. So even in the afterlife, Brody really loved and cared about his wife and kids.\”

    .@The_MJF takes a special opportunity to talk about Brodie Lee and the #BrodieLeeLegacy to celebrate the @Champssport @Reebok Classic Leather Sneakers exclusively on https://t.co/Z3qwx7NTkr on July 1st! pic.twitter.com/2Py26ujHZA

    — All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 29, 2024

    Brodie Lee evidently had a profound effect on those who knew him and MJF is just one of many to have been impacted by Lee and the legacy of the late wrestler. To this day, Lee\’s influence carries on, with AEW & Reebok teaming up to create new footwear based on the star.

     

  • Latest On Penta El Zero Miedo As Contract With AEW Ticks Away

    More has come to light regarding Penta El Zero Miedo as his current deal with All Elite Wrestling continues to tick away.

    It was recently reported that Penta\’s contract with AEW will expire between August and September of this year. Penta joined the All-Elite promotion in February 2019. He is a former AEW World Tag Team Champion with Rey Fenix and the pair are also former AEW World Trios Champions alongside Pac.

    Latest On Penta El Zerio Miedo In AEW

    Penta is open to leaving AEW and going where the best financial offer is, Dave Meltzer reports. It\’s noted that Penta believes that his next contract will be \”probably his last big money deal\” as the masked wrestler is currently 39 years old. Penta is also said to have \”a lot of people counting on him\” which has left the talented wrestler with a very difficult decision to make.

    Penta On WWE Interest

    Should Penta leave AEW for a better financial offer, it\’s likely that nowhere else would offer him more than WWE. Speaking on COMIENDO CARNITAS, Penta was coy when asked about whether WWE has its eyes on him.

    \”I prefer to focus on my present and my present is currently with AEW. If any company like WWE wanted to offer me something, I would need to evaluate because there is a lot of interests on the way.”

    Ultimately, Penta El Zero Miedo will do what he feels is best for himself and those who rely on him. Time will tell whether we one day call him a WWE Superstar, but for now, the masked star is focused on his work with AEW.

  • SPOILER: WWE NXT Superstars Appears At TNA iMPACT! Tapings In Philadelphia

    Some of WWE NXT\’s top Superstars made his presence felt during the latest tapings for TNA Wrestling\’s weekly Television show iMPACT!

    At the tapings in Philadelphia, PA, Charlie Dempsey of the No Quarter Catch Crew appeared and attacked Trey Miguel, Leon Slater, and a referee. The son of William Regal, Dempsey earned loud NXT chants from the crowd in Philly.

    What’s Charlie Dempsey doing in the impact zone ? pic.twitter.com/PIOt7MSD7x

    — MuscleManMalcolm (@MalcolmMuscle) June 28, 2024

    Dempsey is no stranger to appearing for other companies despite being a part of the WWE NXT roster. Earlier this year, he competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling and unsuccessfully challenged for the AJPW Triple Crown Championship. Over WWE WrestleMania weekend, Dempsey was part of Josh Barnett\’s Bloodsport X as part of GCW\’s The Collective.

    Knockouts Title Action

    Dempsey wasn\’t the only name from WWE NXT to appear at the TNA iMPACT! tapings. Before the event, it was advertised that TNA Knockout World Champion Jordynne Grace would be defending her title in an open challenge. Her challenge was answered by NXT\’s Izzi Dame, but she was unable to dethrone the Juggernaut.

    NXT’s Izzi Dame is answering Jordan Grace’s open challenge for the TNA Women’s Championship pic.twitter.com/kHGkWnNq1s

    — Mario Candelaria (@TheOtherMarioC) June 29, 2024

    Dame\’s arrival in TNA comes after Tatum Paxley challenged Grace for the gold at Against All Odds 2024. Grace herself competed in WWE NXT earlier this year and challenged NXT Women\’s Champion Roxanne Perez at Battleground 2024.

    What\’s to Come?

    WWE and TNA\’s working relationship has built intrigue in both sides, and there is a belief that there will be more down the line. Following Joe Hendry\’s appearance at WWE NXT, both companies were pleased with his role and hoped for the collaboration to go further. It remains to be seen who\’s next to jump through the \’Prohibited Portal\’ but don\’t be surprised if more crossover comes between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling.

  • WWE\’s Shinsuke Nakamura To Corner Rei Tsuruya This Weekend At UFC 303

    WWE\’s Shinsuke Nakamura will have quite the role to play at the upcoming UFC 303 event, in the latest sign of synergy between the two companies.

    In an interview with Mizugaki Takeya, fighter Tsuruya Rei spoke of his debut match for UFC at this week\’s event. Rei revealed during the interview that WWE\’s resident King of Strong Style will be in his corner for the upcoming fight with Carlos Hernandez The fight will be a part of the early preliminary card and broadcast on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

    WWE & UFC Working Together

    Nakamura\’s involvement with the upcoming event is just the latest example of the two companies under TKO working together. The two companies recently merged their live events teams, a decision that has led to some layoffs in WWE. Earlier this month, WWE and UFC held its first weekend events with back-to-back shows in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

    WWE Superstars can often be spotted at UFC events in another example of cross-promotion branding. WWE NXT Battleground took place at the UFC Apex in Nevada, though there were some criticisms of the venue as an area to host wrestling shows. WWE’s Rezar threw out the challenge to fight some UFC heavyweights so fans may be seeing the former Tag Team Champion in the Octagon soon enough. 

  • Latest On Dijak\’s WWE Exit: Backstage Plans, Roster\’s Response

    More has come to light about the WWE exit of Dijak which has come as a surprise to fans and those within the company alike.

    This week, it was confirmed by Dijak that he will be leaving the promotion once his contract expires on June 28. The 37-year-old wrestler called up to the main roster this year made clear that WWE \’stonewalled\’ any attempts to discuss a new deal. He also claimed that he was set to feud for the WWE NXT Championship before his call-up to Raw as part of the 2024 WWE Draft.

    More On Dijak Leaving WWE

    Dijak learned that WWE would not be re-signing him at some point following his WWE Spped match with Xavier Woods, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports. This match aired on the June 19, edition of WWE\’s exclusive show on Twitter/X but it is unclear when exactly the decision was made by higher-ups. Dijak himself told Fightful that he had theories that WWE had planned to let his deal expire for a while.

    Dijak was wary that something was \’up\’ after he was not used for weeks following his call-up to the main roster. There were several weeks where Dijak was not brought to tapings. When he was, plans were often shifted around between WWE Main Event and WWE Speed tapings. It\’s noted that there were no creative plans in place for when he was called up.

    Roster Response to Dijak

    Dijak was well-liked within WWE and NXT and was praised by officials in the company, Corey Brennan of Fighful Select reports. Shawn Michaels was said to be a big supporter of Dijak despite the two having minor disagreements about creative differences in the past. The NXT head personally called Dijak to welcome him back to WWE NXT following his run as T-Bar on the main roster. Talent were also surprised that Dijak wasn\’t featured as a regular on Raw after being called up.

    What\’s Next?

    There is interest in and outside wrestling in Dijak, with two promotions in Europe set to reach out to him for possible appearances. Major companies have been in contact with Dijak\’s management to gauge things, Sapp reports. During the conference call for AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about Dijak but opted not to discuss the matter given that Dijak remained with WWE at the time of the call.

  • From Irish Jig To Standing Tall: Becky Lynch Hits 10 Years Since WWE NXT Debut

    It\’s been ten years since Becky Lynch made her WWE in-ring debut, and an unfortunate start would lay the foundations for one of the biggest stars in all of professional wrestling.

    Lynch\’s infamous in-ring debut on WWE programming came on the June 26, 2014, edition of WWE NXT where she faced Summer Rae. Lynch\’s arrival in WWE played heavily into her Irish roots, complete with green attire and Irish jig during her entrance.

    In her book The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl, Lynch reflects on her first steps (or rather jig) on WWE TV:

    \”Turns out, I really do have no shame… My God was it awful. It was possibly the most shameful debut in the history of wrestling, with all due respect to the 1993 WCW debut of The Shockmaster. If mine wasn\’t the all-time most humiliating debut, it was at least a contender for top three. And yet, the crowd seemed to like this silly buffoon.\”

    Despite her character, Lynch would win over the fans and would reach new heights after ditching her shamrock-inspired persona for a heel role with Team BAE (Best At Everything.) From there, Lynch would rise up the ranks and within a year, was moved to the main roster as part of the Women\’s Revolution. The rest, as they say, is history, with Lynch becoming one of wrestling\’s top stars of her time (regardless of sex) and capturing gold on Raw and SmackDown.

    What\’s Next for Becky Lynch?

    Earlier this year, Lynch\’s contract with WWE expired and she opted not to re-sign, making her a free agent for the first time in eleven years. Lynch\’s final match with WWE saw her lose a steel cage match to Women\’s World Champion Liv Morgan, who is glad to have \”retired\” The Man, according to a recent tweet.

    Despite Morgan\’s claim, Lynch is expected to return to WWE when the time is right, according to those within the company. While there are fans who would love to see Lynch join AEW, The Man has told those in WWE she doesn\’t plan on becoming All-Elite anytime soon.

    Lyra Valkyria: \’Becky Lynch Will Come Back Around When The Time Is Right\’

  • Randy Orton: \’It\’s A New Era, Those Who\’ve Joined TKO Get What We Do\’

    Randy Orton is pleased to be a part of WWE\’s new era under TKO and is glad that those brought into TKO \’get\’ the goals of the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. 

    A 22-year veteran of WWE\’s main roster, Orton has seen plenty of changes over his tenure but perhaps the biggest have come over the past 12 months. In September of 2023, TKO Group Holdings officially launched with the merging of WWE and UFC. Mere months later, Vince McMahon resigned from WWE for the second time and seemingly for good, due to the allegations against him in Janel Grant\’s lawsuit. 

    Speaking with Sportskeeda, Orton reflected on the changes we\’ve seen. The Viper was pleased that those brought in to TKO have been able to understand their assignment. 

    “All the opportunities he [Vince McMahon] gave me, it’s nice having him out of there and it’s nice having his son-in-law Triple H running the game. Nick Khan’s great. Everybody in TKO that’s come in, stepped in, they seem to get it, and it’s just a different era.”

    It\’s hard to dispute the idea that TKO has shifted WWE in a positive direction. While WWE had already been doing extremely well from a business sense, the launch of TKO has taken the promotion to new heights. Premium Live Events breaking records have become increasingly common, including WrestleMania 40, the first Showcase of the Immortals of the TKO era. 

    These changes have also been felt within WWE from a creative sense as Superstars are given more leeway than under the McMahon administration. Production changes, thanks to Kevin Dunn\’s Replacement Lee Fitting, have also been praised by fans. With this in mine, WWE\’s new era certainly appears to be a bright one, one that Randy Orton is pleased to be a part of. 

  • Trick Williams: \’If Ethan Page Wants A Title Shot, Let\’s Make It Happen\’

    WWE NXT Champion Trick Williams is ready to put his title on the line against Ethan Page following the ex-AEW star\’s surprise debut last week. 

    Page, who parted ways with AEW mere weeks earlier, appeared on the May 28, edition of WWE NXT and attacked Williams in the closing moments of the show. As WWE NXT went off the air, Page hoisted the NXT Championship aloft. Williams also made clear that he had been behind the attacks on Meta-Four, attacks the group had blamed Williams for. 

    Trick Williams Vs. Ethan Page

    Page wants a shot at the NXT Championship and Trick is ready to be a fighting champion. Williams, speaking on The Masked Man Show, expressed his readiness to defend his title against the AEW alum. 

    \”All you gotta do is [ask.] \’Hey man, I want a title shot.\’ Hey look… let’s make it happen.\”

    While there\’s no word on when such a match will take place, one would have to expect a showdown at the upcoming WWE NXT Battleground. The June 9, event has yet to see Williams booked for a match and it appears WWE have been waiting for Page\’s debut. Tonight\’s WWE NXT will be the final show before Battleground in the UFC Apex. 

    Trick Williams is ready to put the title on the line. 

    What\’s to Come? 

    Page\’s debut certainly had the wrestling world talking as the AEW alum was trending on Twitter/X for some time after last week\’s episode of WWE NXT. The gold brand will no doubt hope to continue that wave of momentum with tonight\’s show ahead of Battleground. It will also be interesting to see where Lash Legend falls into things as she and Trick have been increasingly flirty on TV despite Lash\’s status with Meta-Four. 

  • Watch: 15-Minute Preview Of VICE\’s \’Who Killed WCW?\’ Docuseries

    Fans have been able to watch the first 15 minutes of the much-anticipated \’Who Killed WCW?\’ show ahead of the docuseries\’ premiere later today. 

    As the name suggests, the docuseries will dive deep into the rise and fall of the legendary wrestling promotion which was acquired by the WWF in early 2001. The new series is being produced by Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson and Dany Garcia who are working with Dark Side of the Ring creators Vice. The new documentary series will feature several names from the industry including many who worked in World Championship Wrestling.

    Who Killed WCW? – The First 15 Minutes

    Ahead of the premiere of the show tonight, VICE shared the first 15 minutes of the new series. This clip focused on two of the men most synonymous with WCW: Eric Bischoff and \’Hollywood\’ Hulk Hogan. In the snippet, Eric Bischoff states that he had never heard of WCW before joining the company. This claim may be a stretch given Bischoff had spent years in the AWA prior to joining WCW and had established himself in the TV world. You can check out the clip below:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOfNAwp0n_E

    With this docuseries being about who is to blame for WCW\’s demise, there\’s no shortage of finger-pointing. Former WCW World Champion Bill Goldberg puts the blame on Vince Russo while Brad Siegel suggests that the wrestlers (and egos) are to blame for the company\’s collapse. 

    As this clip demonstrates, Who Killed WCW? will make for an interesting watch and offer a new perspective on the demise of the legendary promotion. And while it may not give a definitive answer, it\’ll certainly prove to be a captivating watch. 

  • AEW\’s Taz Has \”ZERO\” Interest In Having One Last Match, Happy With How Things Are

    Wrestling returning to action after lengthy hiatus\’ may have grown increasingly common as of late, but don\’t expect Taz to step back in the ring. 

    In recent years, fans have seen the in-ring return of the likes of Bryan Danielson, Adam Copeland, and Saraya, all of whom were told at one point or another that their careers in the ring were over. Ric Flair also returned to the ring for his final match in 2022 though his tag-team match in Nashville was not well-received by fans. 

    With stars from the past returning to the ring, it\’s hardly a surprise that fans are wondering whether Taz could have one final bout left in him. When the AEW commentator was asked though, the Human Suplex Machine made it clear he won\’t be wrestling. 

    Though Taz won\’t be donning his singlet for AEW, he has gotten physical in All Elite Wrestling in the past. During the April 17, 2024, edition of AEW Dynamite, Chris Jericho attacked his fellow ECW alum as part of Jericho\’s feud with Taz\’s son HOOK. 

    While Taz won\’t wrestle for AEW, the veteran forged an impressive career in the ring. The two-time ECW World and Television Champion also held gold in WWE and competed at several major events. These days, Taz can be found commentating for AEW as his legacy in wrestling continues to grow, this time behind the commentary table. 

  • Christian Cage: \’I\’m Not Sorry For Dead Father Comments, It\’s Allowed Me To Stand Out\’

    Christan Cage won\’t stop speaking his mind on AEW programming, especially when it comes to bringing up the deceased parents of others on the roster. 

    Since turning heel in June 2022, Cage has transformed into a loathsome individual in AEW who often shocks fans with his promos. One of Cage\’s most cutting lines sees him bring up an opponent\’s deceased father. Those subject to this particular line from Cage include Jack Perry, Brian Pillman Jr. (now Lexis King), Wardlow, and Nick Wayne.

    On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, Cage spoke about his promos in AEW. When asked if he can believe the stuff he\’s allowed to say, Cage revealed that he doesn\’t consult with AEW management before he grabs the mic. 

    \”I\’ve never told anybody what I\’m going to say. I\’ve never had it cleared with anybody. I\’ve never asked anybody. I just go out there and do it. It\’s one of those things.

    Addressing his dead father comments, Cage reflected on how this line of attack has allowed him the chance to stick out on AEW\’s massive roster.

    \”You have to be willing to go places others are unwilling to go to stand out, especially in this day and age. I saw an opportunity that I could jump on and I took it and I wrote it. Sometimes things happen and you\’re not expecting to happen. I said one phrase and it turned into a wildfire and I just embraced it and ran with it. 

    When asked if he felt any remorse, Cage made it clear he would not apologize for anything he\’s said. With that in mind, fans of AEW can expect plenty more shocking comments, many about parents, to come from the Canadian veteran. 

  • Braun Strowman Reveals Non-WWE Project That He Is Working On

    The WWE Universe could soon be seeing Braun Strowman out of the ring as the former Universal Champion is working on a TV show. 

    On his Instagram Stories, Strowman shared that he is working on a TV show and added that he can\’t wait to share more details about the project. Strowman shared his news from a diner and also said that he missed eating at diners during his time on the shelf. 

    A new TV show is certainly quite the leap for Braun Strowman. Such shows are typically reserved for WWE\’s top names such as Total Bellas and more recently Love & WWE: Bianca and Montez. 

    Braun Strowman Out Of The Ring

    Strowman\’s upcoming TV show won\’t be the first time fans have seen him on TV outside of the squared circle. In 2012, Strowman competed in The World\’s Strongest Man competition during that year\’s qualifiers in Katurzy, Poland. After making it to WWE, the Monster Among Men competed on Dus Ka Dum, an Indian game show hosted by popular Bollywood actor Salman Khan. In June 2023, Strowman appeared on an episode of \’Destination Polaris\’ in which he showed the host Alexa Score how to wrestle. 

    Fans could soon be seeing much more of Strowman, as well as other WWE Superstars outside of the ring. In January 2025, Raw will move to Netflix in a historic deal that will mark the end of WWE\’s flagship show on broadcast television. There are also plans for WWE-themed reality shows and documentaries on Netflix as part of this lucrative deal. WWE has teamed with A&E for the popular Biography series and also creates their own documentaries. 

  • WWE\’s QR Code Mystery Continues With Ominous Message On Raw Talk

    The compelling mystery of cryptic glitches and QR codes continued this week, both during Monday Night Raw and on the post-show Raw Talk. 

    During the June 3, episode of Raw, a QR code appeared on screen and led fans to more clues with cryptic imagery. It also teased that fans would see them later in the night and showed an image of Raw Talk hosts Megan Morant and Sam Roberts. 

    The clue from Raw teased something was coming on Raw Talk. 

    True to their word, whoever is behind this ongoing mystery did have something in store for WWE Raw Talk. Before the show began, a new video played with the following message:

    \”I have shown you signs and wonders. Yet you do not believe? I offered you hope. Freedom from the pit. You spit in my face. Mock my family. Question my timing. One last chance. An opportunity to repent. But my patience runs thin. There is a reckoning coming. Your belief is indifferent. It is inevitable. You will learn you are finite, and you shall all behold what we have become.\”

    What\’s to Come? 

    It is believed that all of these cryptic messages are building towards the return of Uncle Howdy as portrayed by Bo Dallas. The former WWE NXT Champion was rehired by WWE in 2022 and shared the screen with his brother Bray Wyatt before the latter was pulled from TV due to his health issues. Dallas is expected to return with a faction that will include Joe Gacy, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, and the recently rehired Erick Rowan.

    Many have speculated that we are getting close to the big reveal behind this mystery. Thanks to recent takeovers of Twitch, WhatsApp, and WWE\’s own website, teases of what is to come have grown increasingly frequent in recent weeks. On WWE TV, it\’s been teased that answers will be coming sooner rather than later.

  • Lyra Valkyria: \’Becky Lynch Will Come Back Around When The Time Is Right\’

    Lyra Valkyria is confident that Becky Lynch will \”come back around\” following The Man\’s reported exit from WWE. 

    Lynch parted ways with WWE after her contract expired on June 1, ending an eleven-year run in which the Irish Superstar became one of the company\’s top stars. Lynch\’s final match saw her lost to WWE Women\’s World Champion Liv Morgan in a steel cage match during the May 27, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

    One name who had learned plenty from Lynch is Lyra Valkyria, who had been an ally of The Man ever since her call-up to the main roster. Speaking at this week\’s Raw, Valkyria was asked about Lynch\’s loss last week and was confident Becky will return. 

    \”She\’s disappointed, but I know Becky. Becky is at her best when people think they have her beat. She\’ll take that loss and she\’ll come back around and use it to make herself better. That\’s how winning is done, real winning, something Liv Morgan knows nothing about.\”

    When asked about moving forward without Lynch, Valkyria said her focus is now on the Women\’s Money in the Bank ladder match. She was then attacked by IYO SKY, the woman Valkyria beat in the Queen of the Ring semi-finals. 

    What\’s to Come for Becky Lynch? 

    Valkyria isn\’t the only person who expects Lynch to return to WWE when the time is right. Sources in WWE believe The Man will come back around and sign a new deal after her break from the ring. While there are fans who would love to see Lynch join AEW, The Man has told those in WWE she doesn\’t plan on becoming All-Elite anytime soon. 

  • Pat McAfee Apologizes For Derogatory Description of WNBA Star Caitlin Clark

    WWE Raw Commentator Pat McAfee has apologized for using an unsavory remark to describe WNBA player Caitlin Clark. 

    On a recent edition of his \’The Pat McAfee Show,\’ the former NFL punter discussed Clark\’s situation. The 22-year-old has propelled women\’s basketball to a new level of popularity but has also owned vitriol from her fellow players. Chennedy Carter recently shoved Clark to the ground during a game and Clark has received little-to-no support from her team-mates. 

    While McAfee was attempting to praise Clark as a captivating performer, the Raw broadcaster referred to her as a \”white b*tch.\”

     “I would like the media people that continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class. Nah, just call it for what it is — there’s one white b*tch for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”

    McAfee\’s term spawned a backlash and after the show, Pat shared the following apology on Twitter. 

    “I shouldn’t have used “white bitch” as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark. No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening.. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe.

    \”My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize… I have sent an apology to Caitlin as well.

    \”Everything else I said… still alllllll facts. #Journalism #WNBAProgrum #SheIsTheOne”

    During this week\’s episode of Raw, McAfee referred to Braun Strowman as \”one big white son a b*tch\” during his segment with The Judgment Day. It remains to be seen how the WNBA reacts to the treatment Clark has received on court and whether Pat will think before he speaks on his podcast and on Raw. 

  • Shawn Michaels Talks \’Science\’ Of UFC Ahead Of WWE NXT Battleground At Las Vegas Apex

    WWE NXT hopes to hone the science of what makes a great Superstar when the gold brand teams up with UFC later this week. 

    WWE NXT Battleground will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend, the first WWE event ever held at the venue. The location marks a huge move for WWE after merging with UFC in September 2023 as TKO Group Holdings. 

    On a recent edition of The Arash Markazi Show, WWE Hall of Famer and NXT executive Shawn Michaels appeared to promote the upcoming event. Michaels highlighted the advancements at the UFC Apex which he hopes will benefit his roster. 

    \”The science that goes behind theirs and ours, and how all that has changed, is truly fascinating… Whatever it is you can do to enhance that, we’re always looking out for the latest and greatest.\”

    What\’s to Come for WWE and UFC? 

    While it\’s guaranteed that WWE NXT Battleground will be at the UFC Apex, questions remain as to what the future will look like for both companies. While no WWE Superstars have stepped into the Octagon yet, AOP\’s Rezar recently threw out the challenge to UFC heavyweights during the recent UFC 302 event. 

    We are nine months into the merger of WWE and UFC but it appears the two sides have done little together so far. At the UFC 302 event, Dana White said that the two companies are very separate outside of WWE using some behind-the-scenes names from UFC. TKO recently merged the live event teams of both companies which has led to some lay-offs in WWE. 

    There is a lot that WWE\’s third brand could learn from those at UFC. After all, White\’s promotion has become the global leader in MMA, similar to how WWE has reached the top spot in professional wrestling. As to what lessons Shawn Michaels and those at WWE NXT learn this weekend, however, remain to be seen. 

  • Finn Balor Reflects on Iconic LGBTQ+ Entrance at WWE WrestleMania 34

    Finn Balor was glad to show his support for the LGBTQ+ community as part of his entrance at WWE WrestleMania 34 in 2018. 

    Balor\’s first time competing at the Showcase of the Immortals saw the Irish Superstar compete in a triple-threat match for the Intercontinental Championship. In the lead-up to the event, many had predicted that Balor would use his \’Demon\’ persona for the show. Instead, Balor donned a jacket that featured the LGBTQ+ rainbow design and had fans with him on stage. 

    Speaking to TNT Sports, Balor recalled his entrance and shared how his appearance at WrestleMania 34 came to be. 

    \”It was about three weeks before ‘Mania, and I brought it to Hunter [Triple H] and Stephanie [McMahon], and they jumped on it straight away and said, ‘100%, you can do that.’ They helped me get in touch with the LGBT+ community in New Orleans, and they [the people who appeared] were actually members of the community from there. They weren’t extras or anything like that. It was legit having them up on stage.\”

    While some fans will have been disappointed that the \’Demon\’ didn\’t rise at WrestleMania, being able to express inclusion meant a lot more to WWE\’s first Universal Champion. 

    \”For me, that was a more important moment than any Demon entrance could have ever been.”

    LGBTQ+ Support

    F inn Balor is hardly the only name to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. For the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble, Chelsea Green wore an attire that featured the LGBTQ+ flag. The attire meant even more considering the event took place in Florida which many have criticized for its stance regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Green has previously teamed with Sonya Deville, WWE\’s first openly lesbian Superstar, and is currently teaming with Piper Niven, who is bisexual.

    In 2023, an AEW Rampage segment went viral as Harley Cameron spoke about Anthony Bowens being into her, oblivious to the fact that Bowens is gay. When Bowens corrected Cameron, this led to a positive \’He\’s Gay\’ chant from the crowd. Many at the time noted how the response to a wrestler identifying as gay was vastly different to how things were like during the Attitude Era. 

  • Mance Warner Wins GCW World Championship At Cage Of Survival 3

    The GCW World Heavyweight Championship is now in the hands of Mance Warner after capturing the title at the recent GCW Cage Of Survival 3 event. 

    In the show\’s main event, a Gauntlet of Survival match saw several wrestlers briefly hold the title including Nick Gage, Jimmy Lloyd, and Cole Radric. Like in a WWE Championship Scramble, it was whoever held the title at the end of the match\’s time limit who would officially become the GCW World Champion. 

    https://twitter.com/GIFSkullX/status/1797416664209727588

    When all was said and done, Joey Janela was the GCW World Heavyweight Champion but things weren\’t over just yet. After the match, Mance Warner cashed in Do Or Die title shot, which guaranteed him a World Championship opportunity at a time of his choosing. With Warner completely fresh, he made quick work of Janela to win the GCW World Title. 

    On Twitter, Steph De Lander, an ally of Game Changer Wrestling General Manager, shared a photo with her fiancee Warner. 

    The title had been vacated by Game Changer Wrestling\’s General Manager Matt Cardona. The Indy God, who is also a former GCW World Champion, stripped Blake Christian of the title in May of this year. Cardona made the decision after Christian opted to compete in New Japan\’s Best of Super Juniors event instead of the Tournament of Survival show on June 1. Now, the title and the responsibility of being champion falls on Warner but with the manner in which he won the title, expect plenty of challengers for the new GCW World Champion. 

  • Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda In \”Good Talks\” With AEW\’s Will Ospreay

    Fans could be seeing much more of Will Ospreay in Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda as the two sides are said to be currently in positive talks. 

    SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Ospreay, as well as TNA Wrestling\’s Jordynne Grace, donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs. 

    Ospreay has spoken in the past about wanting to compete for Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda and that could soon be the case. Responding to an article about the reigning AEW International Champion, the official SGW Uganda Twitter account confirmed that their promotion and Will Ospreay had been in talks. 

    What\’s Next? 

    It\’s possible that Ospreay will challenge for the newly-instated SGW Uganda Championship which was introduced earlier this year. The first-ever champion is Anoa who won the title in the finals of a tournament that saw him beat Tate Mayfairs

    Back in the United States, Ospreay has his sights set on capturing more gold in All Elite Wrestling. On the most recent edition of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay won a Casino Gauntlet Match to earn an AEW World Championship match at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. Ospreay has held the AEW International Title since Double or Nothing and barring a last-minute title change, he will challenge Swerve Strickland later this month in 

  • Updated Look At Marigold Wrestling\’s United National & World Championships

    Fans of Marigold Wrestling have received an updated look at the company\’s championships with more titles on their way. 

    Marigold, the brainchild of STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa, was confirmed in April 2024 after speculation that Ogawa was looking to make a new company. It was allegations that Ogawa was \’poaching\’ talent from STARDOM that led to his termination from parent company Bushiroad.

    This week, fans got a better look at the Marigold Championships than what had previously been offered. These new photos reveal an updated design that features blue accents to the World Championship and blue, green, and orange accents to the United National Championship. It has been reported that more titles are in the works, including planned Marigold Tag Team Championships. 

    The latest look at the Marigold Championships. 

    These titles are the latest creations from Belts By Dan, who has made several championships across professional wrestling. Creations of Dan\’s include the AEW TNT Championship, the AEW Women\’s World Championship, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

    The Future of Marigold

    After hosting its inaugural Fields Forever event in May, Marigold\’s next show will be the Summer Destiny event on July 13. The show will stream on on Wrestle Universe. Marigold has announced Giulia Vs. Sareee for the show, despite Giulia suffering a wrist injury during the Fields Forever show that has put plans for her on pause. 

    Marigold\’s future could also see involvement from WWE as Rossy Ogawa hopes to create strong ties with the world\’s most successful wrestling promotion. Giulia is expected to make a handful of appearances for Marigold after she officially joins WWE later this year. Marigold is hopeful that WWE Superstars IYO SKY and Kairi Sane (both of whom have worked with Ogawa in the past) will be available for upcoming events with WWE\’s blessing. 

  • Dana White: \’WWE Is Good At What They Do But Relationship with UFC is Very Separate\’

    WWE has proven to be very successful in the world of wrestling, but the TKO entity has done very little with the UFC according to Dana White. 

    Speaking at the post-show press conference for UFC 302, White was asked about working with WWE under TKO. The UFC President admitted that little has actually been done with WWE despite the merger. 

    “It’s very separate. I haven’t worked with them at all. I do what I do, and they do what they do. They’re using some of the people from my team to help them in different areas, business-wise, but as far as putting on live events, I mean, WWE is very good at what they do. And we’re very good at what we do. And yeah, that’s about as far as it goes.”

    TKO Group Holdings was launched in September 2023 with the merger of WWE and UFC. It had been confirmed back in April 2023 that Endeavor would be acquiring WWE as part of a $9 billion deal. Endeavor (known as WME/IMG at the time) acquired UFC back in 2016 for around $4 billion.

    WWE & UFC Together

    While White has stated that collaboration between the two sides has been minimal, that doesn\’t mean WWE and UFC have done nothing together. The two companies recently merged their live events teams, a decision that has led to some layoffs in WWE. In a matter of days, WWE and UFC will arrive at KFC Yum! Center Arena in Louisville, Kentucky to host back-to-back shows. WWE SmackDown will take place on June 7, while UFC\’s next event will be on June 8. 

    WWE Superstars can often be spotted at UFC events in another example of cross-promotion branding. WWE NXT Battleground will be held at the UFC Apex on June 9, the first time any WWE event has been held at the venue. During UFC 302, WWE\’s Rezar threw out the challenge to fight some UFC heavyweights so fans may be seeing the former Tag Team Champion in the Octagon soon enough. 

  • New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

    Fans at Major League Wrestling\’s Battle Riot VI event saw the introduction of the promotion\’s brand-new World Championship title design. 

    Before the show\’s World Heavyweight Championship match, the new title design was introduced. This design features a gold, black, and silver center plate with the MLW logo over the world. The title also includes silver and gold side plates. The previous design had been in operation since April of 2018 when MLW returned following a 15-year hiatus. 

    The MLW World Heavyweight Championship has been held since February by Satoshi Kojima. The 53-year-old Japanese star is currently in his second reign as champion and won the title from Alex Kane at SuperFight. At Battle Riot VI, Kojima retained the gold against former champion \’Filthy\’ Tom Lawlor. 

    The new title is the latest creation from Belts By Dan, who has made several championships across professional wrestling. Creations of Dan\’s include the AEW TNT Championship, the AEW Women\’s World Championship, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

    While Kojima is proud to hold the re-designed MLW World Heavyweight Championship, his reign is in serious jeopardy. MLW Battle Riot VI also saw Matt Riddle win the titular 40-man Battle Riot match. With this win, the former WWE United States Champion has earned an MLW World Title match for any time of his choosing. If WWE\’s Money in the Bank contract has shown anything, then this stipulation puts Kojima at a distinct disadvantage. 

  • WWE Raw Preview: Liv Morgan Appearance, Rey Mysterio Vs. Damian Priest

    The road to WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will continue forward with the June 3, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

    WWE\’s first Premium Live Event in Scotland will take place on June 15, from the OVO Hydro venue in Glasgow. With less than two weeks to go until the historic event, the Superstars of Monday Night Raw have plenty to do ahead of the event. 

    Liv Morgan To Appear

    Merely seven days after her win over Becky Lynch as well as THAT kiss with Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan will be appearing on Monday Night Raw. What will the reigning WWE Women\’s World Champion have to say now that Lynch is gone and after locking lips with \’Dirty\’ Dom? 

    The New Day Vs. AOP

    Karrion Kross has set his sights on Xavier Woods in recent weeks and has even offered Woods a role with the Final Testament. Instead of accepting, Woods and Kofi Kingston will take on AOP (Akam and Rezar) in a tag-team match on the upcoming show. 

    Sheamus Vs. Ludwig Kaiser

    The feud between these two European Superstars has already gotten very physical and fans can expect much more of that on tonight\’s Raw. The four-time WWE World Champion will meet the right-hand man of Imperium in a match we imagine King of the Ring GUNTHER will be watching very closely. 

    Damian Priest Vs. Rey Mysterio

    It was last week that Damian Priest attacked Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee after Rey\’s match with Carlito. Now, the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Hall of Famer will do battle. With a title match with Drew McIntyre looming and the internal issues in the Judgment Day, will Priest be able to keep his mind on the task when he faces WWE\’s Ultimate Underdog? 

  • Matt Riddle Wins Battle Riot VI, Earns MLW World Heavyweight Title Match

    Matt Riddle has a guaranteed MLW World Title match at a time of his choosing after winning the sixth-annual MLW Battle Riot match. 

    The 40-man match came down to Riddle, Sami Callihan, Davey Boy Smith Jr, and Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher would eliminate Smith but in the process accidentally eliminated himself. Riddle then eliminated Calihan to clinch the victory.

    Chris Danger, Paul Walter Hauser, Violent J, and Ernest \”The Cat\” Miller were among the notable names in the match at the sold-out show. Scotty Riggs and Minoru Suzuki were among the surprise entries. \’Filthy\’ Tom Lawlorpulled a Mick Foley at Royal Rumble 1998 by entering the match three times. Lawlor entered once as himself before returning as \’The Masked Assassin\’ before a comeback as \’Arachnidman.\’

    What\’s to Come? 

    Riddle will now receive an MLW World Heavyweight Title match at the time of his choosing. Ironically, Riddle had (according to himself) been scheduled to win the WWE Money in the Bank contract in 2022 which would have given him a similar opportunity. The briefcase instead went to Austin Theory that year. 

    Satoshi Kojima is the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion. During the MLW Battle Riot pay-per-view, the new MLW World Heavyweight Championship was revealed and Kojima retained the title against Tom Lawlor in the latter\’s first of two matches on the night. 

  • Drew Gulak To Appear For Beyond Wrestling In First Post-WWE Booking

    Former WWE Superstar Drew Gulak will mark his return to the ring as part of an event for Beyond Wrestling in July of this year. 

    Gulak will be a part of the Americanrana 24: Where Eagles Dare show that will fittingly take place on July 4. The show will take place at the White Eagle in Worcester. The doors will open at 6:30 pm a special 7 pm ET bell time. 

    Beyond Wrestling\’s Americanrana 24: Where Eagles Dare will mark Gulak\’s first wrestling event following his release from WWE earlier this year. During an appearance with NewsNation, Ronda Rousey alleged that Gulak had pulled on the drawstring of her pants which made her uncomfortable. Gulak claimed that while an incident like this did happen, it was an accident and he apologized to Rousey at the time. 

    Gulak was quickly pulled from WWE NXT programming and his name was removed from the titantron for the No Quarter Catch Crew. It was later said on TV that the faction had paid the D\’Angelo Family to \’take care\’ of a former member of the group and avoided mentioning Gulak by name. This led many to speculate that Gulak\’s days with WWE would be numbered and it was later confirmed that he was no longer with the company. 

    The circumstances surrounding Gulak\’s release would also prove to be controversial. When Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque was asked whether Rousey\’s claims had factored into Gulak being released, WWE\’s CCO refuted the idea that Gulak had been released and said that his contract had expired. Levesque also questioned the credibility of sources who had reported about Gulak though those sources were later sent an apology.